Chapter 11

I'd purposely stuck to beer since it took a lot to get me tipsy. Didn't consider I hadn't been drinking lately. My shifter's metabolism would burn off the alcohol in no time, but as we walked out of the diner, everything seemed a little brighter, my steps less steady than when we'd gone in. Michael had pretended to drink more than he actually did, so I was sure he was fine to drive.

A few snowflakes landed in my hair. The storm was rolling in. By morning, if things went as predicted, most of Baltimore would shut down for the day. For now, our breath steamed in the frigid air, though with my buzz I didn't feel the cold.

When I reached the passenger side door of our SUV, I turned and started to say, "What do you think—" when Michael's lips smashed down on mine.

I grunted but kissed him back, opening for him without thinking. He swept his tongue inside, and I was undone by how ravenous he seemed. Damn, he tasted good. And the way he kissed made me lightheaded. Forceful, though not as dominating as I assumed. Passionate. Could get addicted to it.

Not bad for a first kiss.

When we broke apart, both breathing heavily, Michael said, "Fuck. Is there anyone you can't charm? You're so damn perfect. Wanted to throw you over the table and take you right there."

I blinked, my thoughts hazy, my body zinging with pleasure. "That so? Maybe I would have thrown you over the table."

Shit. Why was I flirting? And why was I still gripping his shoulders hard enough to bruise?

"We could wrestle for it." He pressed into me until almost every part of us touched.

I felt his interest, and my cock was just as hard. I shouldn't do this . . . but couldn't exactly remember why.

I brushed my lips against his to get one more taste. He kissed me back with so much hunger, I melted. I'd had lovers hot for me before, but he devoured me like he'd die if we stopped. Caught between him and the SUV, I didn't have a lot of room to move. He took care of that by rutting against me, our bodies both straining for each other. Fuck, this was hot.

He gripped my hips, lifting me slightly, digging his fingers in, and increased the pace. At this rate, I'd come in my jeans.

When he pulled back, I chased his mouth. He dodged my clumsy attempt.

"I want to take you to bed." His breath came in pants, and his eyes darkened to pure predator. With a shuddering breath, he rested our foreheads together, his body vibrating with barely leashed power. "But not like this. I shouldn't have kissed you—"

I grabbed his hair and yanked him back down into a scorching melding of mouths. Even bit his lip. He growled. Felt like coming home.

Still, he pulled away again. "Shit. I want you."

Had to be the drink, but I didn't have the will to resist. "So, have me."

His eyes flashed a brilliant green, and his fangs dropped. His lust was like a match to my own. He shuddered.

"Abe, I don't want a single night. I want you as my mate. You're worth waiting for." The damn wolf stepped back, completely releasing me. Only my grip on his shoulders connected us.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he said, "You've had too much to drink. We shouldn't be discussing this now. I'm taking advantage of you."

I scoffed. Taking advantage of me? "I'm not some innocent. I make my own decisions. Something you better get used to."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Yeah, I'm learning that. Only I don't want regrets between us. Or more regrets than I already have."

"You regret us?" My lip curled, and something in my chest shriveled. I pulled away like he'd burned me.

His gaze shot to mine, his eyes wide and shocked. "What? No. That's the last thing I regret. I regret the way we met and my previous actions. They reflected poorly on my character. You just . . . you threw me off my game from the moment I first saw you. I hadn't shifted to my wolf form for . . ." He blew out a breath. "Too long. If I had, I would have understood why my body went haywire when you came into the room. Why I felt so out of control around you."

Since Michael was a pretty stoic guy, hearing he felt out of control was a nice ego stroke. Glad it wasn't only me. And maybe I needed to stop hauling my baggage into every exchange we had. He'd said he didn't regret me. Maybe I should believe him.

"I forgive you," I heard myself say. Wait, did I? Yeah, I guess I did. "Everyone makes mistakes. Why should you be any different, wolf?"

He swallowed, reaching for me, then stopped. "You don't know how much that means to me."

I shrugged, kept my voice steady. "No biggie, man."

He reached out a shaking finger, stroking a loc that had fallen into my face, his touch light. "Yes, it is."

His gaze softened, the lust banked. I was still hard as stone, but the time for tipsy decisions had passed. I spun around and fumbled for the car door.

"Allow me." Michael reached over my shoulder, pressing our bodies together as he opened the door and waved me inside.

His hot breath along my neck gave me goosebumps, especially as it skated over the spot where a mating bite would go. I'd never thought of that patch of skin as sensitive or erogenous, but now it tingled. My breathing sped up. So tempted to lean back into him, let him support my weight, or shove my hips back so he could put me over the car instead of the table.

I did neither. I thanked him and slid into the SUV. When he climbed into the driver's side a minute later, he reached over and slipped his hand in mine.

I let him.

* * *

By the timeKennedy and the other guys climbed into the SUV, I was so relaxed I almost dozed. Michael's hand felt perfect in mine, strong and warm.

I'd kept expecting her to call us at the diner, though we'd actually had to wait for her. Guess there was even more damage to the LittlePinta than it looked.

Michael relayed what we'd learned, and I chimed in with the news report about the floater.

Kennedy sat quietly through our explanations, her head tilted like she was listening to something the rest of us couldn't hear. She stayed silent when we were done.

"Everything go okay with the ship?" Michael finally asked.

She waved her hand dismissively. "I need a new captain."

Michael and I exchanged a knowing look.

She snorted. "I didn't kill him. A kraken did. Though I might have if that overgrown squid didn't. No common sense."

We returned to the Lord Baltimore, and Ike and Jagger scouted the area ahead. I was relieved. Most of my buzz had worn off, but my limbs felt heavy and slow. A good night of sleep would do me right. I yawned.

Ike and Jagger signaled everything was safe. At least for now.

Michael squeezed my hand before letting go and went around to let Kennedy out, then me. "Come on, let's call it a night."

Surrounded by her most trusted guards, she headed inside the hotel's majestic lobby with the enormous glittering glass chandelier that drew the eye. The painted ceiling and polished brass accents added a classy touch, too. We made a beeline to the elevator. I could already hear my bed calling my name.

"Mikael!" a husky voice rang out. We all went on high alert and, in a blink, weapons appeared in our hands.

"Oh, sorry," a dire wolf called from across the lobby. A gorgeous dire wolf. Red hair, expensive form-fitting clothes. "Didn't mean to startle you. I just came by to visit my mate."