Page 8 of Love in the Forest
Chapter Three
Braden knew in his gut this was a bad idea. He was already partially bonded to a woman who shouldn’t be anywhere near Savage Territory.
But his internal wolf was racing inside his body and his heart felt like fire had engulfed the entire organ. He’d always imagined this would be how he’d feel when he found his mate.
But a vampire?
Absurd beyond words, imagining or thinking.
Yet how could he refuse her invitation? He was already hard and ready. He wanted nothing more than to sink himself between her legs and to hear her cries as she came.
He spoke the truth to her. “I want you like I want air.”
“Oh.” Her turn to seem surprised. Her brows rose and her arm slackened from around his neck. “Am I hearing a ‘but’ in there?”
He nodded. “I have to think of my pack and you’re a vampire.”
She let her arm go and took a step back. The color on her cheeks told him she was embarrassed. “The no-strings doesn’t make a difference?” Her gaze had slid to his sternum.
He reached within himself and found that odd cord where they were attached because of the bond. He gave a gentle tug or what he hoped was gentle.
She gasped softly. “I forgot. We really are in trouble, aren’t we?”
“We are and I have to be wise.” His turn not to look at her. “There’s something about you, Abby. You get to me as no other woman has. But I think my pack would hang me up by all fours if I got involved with one of your kind.”
“Right. The pack. The same reason you want the chalice.”
The steaks were done. He’d made a salad. Well, he’d thrown lettuce and a chopped-up tomato into a bowl. It would have to do.
He’d already put silverware on the table. “Would you like wine? A cabernet sauvignon maybe?”
“That would be nice.”
“Go ahead. Sit. This is ready.”
She sat down, but she’d grown quiet, sobered.
He served up the meal then poured two glasses. She sipped several times, one arm pressed to her stomach.
“Hey, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s just that…” Her eyes were pinched, her face drawn.
“What?”
She shook her head and there were tears in her eyes, very unexpected. “I haven’t been with anyone since I was with you.”
He couldn’t say the same. Yet it pleased him like crazy that she’d been celibate. Damn, he was in so much trouble here. “What are you saying?”
She shook her head several times. “I don’t know. We got along so well that night. I mean really well.” She chuckled.
Once again, he was drawn back to making love to her. How many times had he come? Seemed like a dozen. A lot, even for him. As a wolf, he was not shy about his need for regular, even acrobatic sex. She’d been game as hell. Worse, he’d loved the feel of her fangs when she’d fed from him. He grew hard just thinking about it.
He cut into his steak and slid the bite into his mouth. He groaned slightly. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
She set her wine down and followed suit. She had a similar response and from that point dug in.
Halfway through, he said, “I Googled you after we were together. You do a lot of good in Crescent.”
