Page 41 of Resurgence of the Pack

‘A while,’ I admitted. ‘I didn’t know that I was supposed to ask if you’d be my mate, so I was kind of waiting for you to ask me – and then you didn’t. I thought that maybe you didn’t want to, and then I didn’t want to bring it up and, like, trap you. You know?’

Tension left his shoulders. ‘That’s why you haven’t asked me?’

‘Yep. Erm. I’d better do it, hadn’t I? You can’t really propose through inference.’

A slow smile crossed his face. ‘Asking properly would be nice.’

‘Great. Okay. I don’t know how you guys do this shit all the time.’ I swallowed, feeling absurdly nervous even though I was all but certain of his answer. And because it was tradition, I slid to one knee in front of him and took his hand, though I had no ringto offer.

I cleared my throat nervously but the pretty words I’d practised in the shower had fled. Damn it, I’d have to wing it. ‘Greg, when I met you I fancied the pants off you, even though you wouldn’t let me into the church to speak to the gargoyles. And then we both became werewolves, and I was so grateful I had an ally I told myself to table that attraction. I was your boss and you were forbidden to me.

‘But like all forbidden fruits, I couldn’t resist a little taste. That kiss after we’d rescued Ares changed everything. The chemistry was off the charts and I couldn’t pretend we were just co-workers any more. And then – you kept being there for me, not just with work but with finding my birth family. You held me while I cried about the loss of my parents.’

My emotions were so near the surface that my eyes welled up. ‘You’ve become as essential to me as breathing,’ I said as the tears started.

Greg slid to his knees and pulled me onto his lap. ‘God, Lucy, don’t cry.’ His voice was suspiciously thick.

‘This is why girls don’t do this!’ I half-laughed, half-cried. ‘Greg Manners, will you do me the honour of becoming my mate?’

‘Yes, Peaches, I absolutely will.’

He crushed his lips to mine, his tongue invading my mouth with practised ease. Urgency gripped me and Ireached down to try and rip off my towel. I’d wrapped it round me tightly so it didn’t fall off when I strode out, but now my hands were fumbling as I tried to get it off.

‘Allow me,’ Greg purred, his hands stilling mine. Before I could blink, he had removed it.

‘How did you do that?’

‘I’m feeling very motivated right now,’ he admitted with a wolfish grin.

‘Well, you’re also very dressed. Remedy that. Now.’

He gave me a slow sexy smile. ‘Yes, my Queen,’ he murmured as he stood to do just that. I expected him to peel off his T-shirt but instead he grasped it by the collar andrippedit off. He stood there with its remains bunched in his hands and his magnificent abs on display. My brain went blank, my mouth went dry – and other parts went very wet.

‘Show off,’ I said, but my voice came out breathy and panting, wanton with need. The man knew what he was doing.

‘I live but to serve,’ he teased as he picked me up and threw me onto the bed. ‘You remember my PowerPoint presentation on making you scream?’

I nodded: I’d made notes.

‘We’re going to do slide three and then moveonto slide four.’

‘Yes, please,’ I managed.

He hooked his fingers into his combat trousers and they followed the same path as his T-shirt. I hoped he’d brought spare clothing with him to Rosie’s.

Then again, maybe not.

Chapter 22

Alas, Greg was fully clothed when we left Rosie’s. It was probably for the best; his naked form was good enough to start riots. When we arrived back at the mansion, Finley immediately disappeared to go and ‘rescue breakfast’, as he muttered.

I wasn’t quite ready to face Kearns. ‘I’m going to see Ares,’ I said to Greg. ‘You want to find Kearns? Subtly?’

‘I’m on it,’ he promised. ‘Bastion is due any minute so I’ll wait for his arrival before I do anything.’

‘Good idea.’ Feeling much lighter, I kissed him fleetingly. I’d been dragging that mate stuff around my neck for weeks and I felt so much happier knowing it was sorted. He was mine! And I was his. Soon, it would be official – the full moon was tonight.

YOU ASKED HIM TO BE YOUR MATE?Esme shrieked in my head.Why wasn’t this the first thing you told me?she demanded, outraged.

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