Page 139 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

Teased me.

Distracted me.

The woman was everything I could have ever wanted, and then some.

And as worried as I was, I was ready to make her mine. Permanently. In every possible way.

twenty-seven

NOVA

On the dayof the full moon, we lounged in bed. Our wolves were quiet and calm after spending so many days in the forest.

“I’ve never felt this much peace before,” Clay mumbled, still running his hand slowly over my back. “My wolf is sleeping, Gorgeous.Sleeping.”

“He’s just a wolf,” I murmured back. “A good wolf. A strong wolf.” I flexed my muscles half-heartedly, still laying on the bed with Clay’s arm under my back.

Clay chuckled. “Sure.”

“He is. Just a strong, scarred wolf.”

“I’m glad you think so.” He kissed my forehead. “Are you sure you want to seal the bond? We can wait. Give you time to make sure you’re not going to change your mind.”

I rolled to my side and propped myself up on Clay’s chest, so I could look him in the eyes. “I’m not going to change my mind, asshole. Stop thinking that. I didn’t drive all the way here and force you not to kick me out just so I could change mymind about mating with you. I’m all in. Doyouwant to wait a month so you have time to change your mind? With your wolf’s newfound sanity, you could literally have any unmated woman in Crimson River.”

Clay’s arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer. “Gorgeous,” he said, his voice lowering. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you. If anyone else had shown up at my door the way you did, my wolf would’ve killed them.Iwould’ve killed them. But you?” he chuckled. “I belong to you, body, heart, and soul. I will never change my mind about that.”

“Good.” I leaned down and kissed him lightly, before rolling to my back again. “Because Aspen said I’ll be going through heat again as soon as we seal the bond.”

He squeezed my hip. “Is that supposed to deter me? Did you somehow manage to forget how much I fucking love heat?”

“I was just giving you a heads-up.”

“Noted.” He kissed my temple. “Where do you want to do it? In the forest?”

“No. We’ve spent way too much time out there this week. We should do it here.”

“In the cabin?”

I nodded. “In the kitchen, where you left me on my ass when you were trying to be a gentleman.”

“I’m in.”

“Good. We should nap until then, though.”

He laughed. “Deal.”

We dozed until dinner time,and spent the evening talking while we cooked.

“What’s life going to be like when we go back to Crimson River?” I wondered, leaning against the cabinets and watching Clay spoon butter over two thick steaks.

“Fun.” He flashed me a small grin, though I could tell he was still worried about his wolf.

We’d get past that.

There was no rush.

“You’re going to move into my house, right?” I checked. “We picked everything out together, except the pink couch. She’s nonnegotiable. You’ll have to pick another mate if you refuse my couch.”

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