Page 45 of Stealing Sloane

She expected a sassy comeback, but to her surprise, he caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “I should have said this back at Blood Moon but didn’t get the chance. Don’t think I don’t want you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. This conversation was turning into something unexpected, and she shifted uncomfortably. “It’s fine, really. We don’t have to talk about it. And if you’re having regrets now and think we shouldn’t have?—”

“No, not at all. The only regret I have is that we didn’t talk more about this. Sloane, the reason I didn’t sleep with you that first night is that I didn’t want things to get complicated.”

“Because of Cliff and Stella.”

“Yeah.”

“And it’s not because you thought I was too crazy or annoying.”

He let out a laugh. “That’s what I told myself. But … really, I think I just didn’t want it to be a one-time thing.”

“I’m sure you’re used to one-night stands.”

“Yeah, that’s me all right.” He let go of her hand. “Just some pretty boy hothead with a revolving door of women.”

The hurt in his eyes was evident. Did he really care that people thought of him that way? “Hey, you’re more than that,” she said. “You also have a nice body.” When he didn’t even crack a smile, she grew nervous. “I was trying to make a joke.”

“I know.”

“I just …” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize sex was important to you. I just … I’ve never really been serious with anyone. It’s all been for fun, for scratching an itch. But I guess when I asked you to fu—to do that when we met, I didn’t really think about your feelings on the matter.”

“It’s not that it’s important but”—reaching out, he cupped her face with his hand—“I didn’t want you think I was using you.”

“Why not? I would have been using you too.”

“But maybe this is all going too fast.”

Her stomach twisted. So, he was regretting what happened between them. “I don’t know what you want from me. Youfollowed me here. You kissed me first.” She did let it happen, but she didn’t invite him to run with her or even asked him so bluntly like the first time. “I thought you wanted this.” She attempted to move away from him, but he was much too quick and caught her with his arms.

“I do.” He moved closer to kiss her, but she turned her head away. “Sloane, look at me, please.”

Blowing out a breath, she faced him, but avoided looking into his eyes. “But why don’t you want to have sex, then? And don’t give me the condom excuse. You know how our bodies work and even then, I’m pretty sure if we go back to the house, we’ll find at least one in your cousin’s bathroom.”

A strange look crossed his face, something unreadable, but nonetheless made her skittish. “Will you trust me on this? Be patient with me and wait until the time is right?”

The right time? What did that mean exactly? “I mean, yeah, I’m not gonna pressure you to put out if you don’t want to.”

Now that brought a genuine smile to his face. “I’m not asking to marry you,” he said. “Just … we obviously get along, so do our wolves. Let’s take our time before we decide on the big step. We have a lot going on.”

She would, of course, respect his wishes if having sex was a big deal for him. Plus, he was right about having a lot going on. Did she forget that there was still the matter of revenge against Ronan?

“I mean, I suppose that’s okay.” Still, a small part of her was screaming ‘DANGER. DO NOT PROCEED.’

He loosened his grip on her, but pulled her on top of him before kissing her again.

She sighed into him as his talented mouth teased her, making her forget her own name.

They spent the rest of the evening together, entwined in each other’s arms, giving each other pleasure until they dozed off under the moonlight. At some point, they woke up and it was still dark. They shifted into their wolf forms and ran back to the house, the sky turning pink as they dressed in their discarded clothes. When they walked back into the house, holding hands, clothes rumpled and smelling of each other, every single person at the kitchen table seemed too shocked to say anything.

Lily, however, flashed them the brightest smile. “Good morning,” she greeted. “Breakfast?”

“Don’t mind if we do,” Jacob said as he pulled out a chair for her.

“So, what were you saying about the calves?” Lily asked Jackson. The Alpha was still staring at Jacob and Sloane, not responding. When his wife elbowed him, he blinked. “Uh, yeah …”

The meal proceeded as normal, though Sloane avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. Once they were done eating, she made a beeline for the stairs.

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