Chapter 13

Roz had invited Morgaine to her apartment for a cup of tea, hoping to get a little perspective on the wolf-man in Apt 2-A.

She carried an antique silver tray to the living room and set it on the coffee table. Two bone china cups filled with Constant Comment tea steamed and scented the air with the fragrant orange blend.

“What a beautiful tea set,” Morgaine commented.

“It was my grandmother’s. I’m happy to finally have a use for it. No one has fancy tea parties anymore.”

“Well, I’m glad you brought it out. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”

Morgaine lifted her cup and blew on the hot liquid.

“No, don’t worry. I’m not the kind to make watercress finger sandwiches.” Roz stuck her pinkie finger out as if to make the point.

Morgaine chuckled. “No, I’m not either.”

Roz couldn’t get over the change in her friend since they’d done her makeover. “So, are you getting used to your new look?”

Morgaine took a sip of her tea and smiled. “Sort of. I’m used to getting negative attention for the Goth stuff. Now, because I’m a blonde, I’m getting the opposite kind of attention. It’s weird.”

“Oh really? Sounds like a good thing to me. Maybe I should have gone even lighter?”

Morgaine grinned. “How did Konrad like the highlights?”

Just the mention of his name sent a knife through Roz’s heart. She set down her teacup. “He—um… He liked them, but we’re not…” She took a deep breath and forced the words past her lips. “We’re not seeing each other anymore.”

Morgaine gasped. “What? My Goddess! What happened?”

Roz was unprepared for such a strong reaction. “Morgaine, I had to call it off. He lied to me.”

Morgaine stared at her, open-mouthed. When she finally spoke, she didn’t ask what he lied about. It was as if she already knew.

“Well, of course he did!”

Roz blinked. “What do you know about it—and how?”

“Duh, psychic, remember?”

Roz had to chuckle. “Okay, so if you know what he is, maybe you know what I should do about it?”

Morgaine reached over and squeezed her hand. “Put yourself in his shoes. If you had the kind of secret he has, would you blab it to everyone you knew right off the bat?”

That stopped Roz, for a moment. “I’m not just anyone, Morgaine. I’m his…I mean, I was his girlfriend.”

Morgaine shook her head. “You were a lot more than that, sweetheart. You were his mate.”

There was that word again. “He’d said that a couple of times. Well, not when he thought I could hear him. It—confused me.”

There was something about Morgaine’s expression that made Roz uncomfortable. Her lips thinned and anger brewed in her eyes.

“If he’d chosen me for his mate, I’d be damn grateful. He’s one of the few men who never judged me. Instead, he picked you. And it sounds like you’ve judged and condemned him—and tossed away any hope he ever had of a happy life.”

“What?” Roz frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Wolves mate for life. Or didn’t you know that?”

“N…no. I didn’t,” she said in a small voice.

Morgaine placed her hand on her hip. “Well, at least you know he’s monogamous.”

Roz straightened. Merry had said the same thing about falcons. Would knowing that have made a difference? “But there’s still the physical danger…isn’t there?”

“Clearly you know nothing about wolves. They don’t attack humans—unless they’re protecting themselves or their families. Tell me what you do know,” she demanded.

“I—uh, well…”

“That’s what I thought. You didn’t bother to find out, did you?”

“It…it was such a shock. How often does a girl hear that she’s been dating a werewolf?”

Morgaine took a deep breath, as if finally remembering Roz’s point of view. “Look, it couldn’t have been easy, but I pushed him to tell you. I don’t know how he went about it, but I guess he wasn’t all that tactful. What did he say?”

Roz felt tears forming. Yes, she had jumped to conclusions. No, she didn’t know the first thing about it…but a werewolf? What was there to know?”

“Well?”

“Huh?” Roz looked up and realized Morgaine had asked her something. What was it? Oh yeah. She wanted to know how he’d told her.

“We went skydiving and his parachute failed to open properly. He came down in the trees so hard, I thought he was dead. Honestly, my heart was in my throat. He was bruised and bloody, but thank God he was alive. Only a few hours later, I caught him naked in the hallway without a mark on him.”

Morgaine leaned toward her. “And that’s bad, because?”

“Well, because…he lied to me. He pretended to be a normal guy.”

“So, it would have been better if he’d crashed and died.”

“No! Look, I’m more confused than ever. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Does he turn into a monster at the full moon? Am I in danger? What if we had kids? Would they be normal? Would they be in danger if he shifted?”

Morgaine’s look was cold. “And you never bothered to ask him about any of that, did you?”

A sudden ruckus in the hall alerted them to trouble. Roz stood but didn’t know if she should get involved or not.

Morgaine strode to the door and opened it wide. Two cops had Konrad in handcuffs and were wrestling him down the stairs as he tried to explain some kind of mistake.

“Look, I don’t know what kind of evidence you think you have, but I’m innocent and I can prove it.”

“Tell it to the judge, buddy,” one of the cops said.

“I don’t want it to get that far. There’s got to be something I can do to convince you I didn’t do it.”

Roz stepped into the hall. “What are you accusing him of, officers?”

“Look lady, it’s none of your business.”

Konrad froze and stared at Roz. The cops couldn’t budge him another inch. “It might be her business. Roz, is—er, was my lawyer.”

“Great, you saved a phone call,” the other cop said.

Roz tried to stay calm. “What are the charges?”

Konrad didn’t wait for the cops to provide details. “They’re accusing me of the nineteen ninety-one Gardener Museum Heist, Roz!”

She reeled back. “What?”

Morgaine stepped into the hall behind Roz. “That’s impossible. He’s been helping me solve the case.”

“So?” One of the cops said as he tried to push Konrad toward the door. “Ever heard about criminals returning to the scene of the crime?”

Morgaine grabbed Roz’s arm and shook her slightly. “Do something. I know he didn’t do it. I’d have picked up on that in a heartbeat.”

Roz shook her head. “There’s nothing I can do if they have a warrant.”

The first cop said, “We have a warrant all right, and if your client doesn’t come with us right now, I’ll add resisting arrest to the charges.”

Konrad’s gaze dropped to the floor. She realized he could probably break out of the handcuffs and toss the officers aside easily, but he wasn’t doing that.

“Okay, I’ll go, but you’re making a mistake.”

“Roz, for the love of God, if I ever meant anything to you at all…”

Even though she still had plenty of unanswered questions, that was one she could answer easily. Yes, he meant something to her. She might wish he didn’t, but she’d be lying.

“I’ll meet you at the station,” she said, softly.

Konrad hung his head and rested his clasped hands on the small table in front of him. It seemed like he’d been waiting an eternity for his lawyer to show up. Did she decide not to represent him and now had to find someone else? If so, could he blame her?

At last, the door opened, and Roz walked in. She wore her professional gray suit, tortoise shell glasses, and her pretty highlighted hair was gathered in a bun. Their gazes met briefly, but she quickly shifted it to the papers in her hands as she sat down.

“Mr. Wolfensen, we’re looking at a high-profile grand jury case. More seasoned lawyers may offer to represent you. Are you sure you want a public defender?”

“I want you to represent me. I need someone I can trust.”

“Then I’ll need to ask you a few questions.”

“Of course.” Do we have to be so formal?

She shuffled the papers, as if trying to organize them. “Konrad, don’t respond to my telepathy out loud. As you can imagine, we’re being watched.”

She folded her hands and raked her stare over him as if sizing him up. “I think I may have an idea about what happened. I’ll have to get you out on bail so we can talk privately with each other and with Morgaine.”

He sat quietly, trying not to react.

“According to this, the Gardener Museum’s curator was made aware of some new evidence. Upon following that lead, you were named as a suspect, or at least someone who might be complicit in the robbery.”

“I’m curious what that evidence could be.”

“Where were you at the time of the robbery?”

“Newton, Massachusetts, I suppose. I lived and worked there. I was probably sleeping in my apartment.”

“That’s still close enough to have been involved.” “Damn. I wish you’d said Australia.” “Do you have an alibi for that night? Was anyone with you?”

“I—I’m not sure. That was a long time ago. Why would anyone suspect me out of the blue?”

“I need to know more about this so-called evidence before I answer that. The state wants to obtain some of your DNA. I’d like you to refuse that for now.”

Konrad cocked his head. “But wouldn’t that make me look guilty?”

“I need to stall for time.” She licked her lips. “Right now, all that needs to happen is your arraignment and a bail hearing. In one month there will be a pre-trial conference where the prosecution and defense will compare notes and I’ll have a better idea of what we’re dealing with.”

“Bail, huh? How much will that be?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow.”

“So, I’ll have to stay locked up tonight.”

She nodded. “What can you afford so I can get bail reduced to something you can manage?”

Shit. He couldn’t afford much. He only had a few thousand left in his savings and stock portfolio.

“Well, I’ve had a lot of unexpected expenditures recently. If I liquidated every investment I have, I might be able to scrape together fifty-thousand dollars.”

She jotted down the number and rose. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

“Wait!”

She turned to him, eyebrows raised. “Whatever you do, don’t say anything that might connect us as lovers.”

He looked down at his hands. “Never mind.”

“Yes, well, if there’s nothing else, I need to make some calls.”

She paused with her hand on the doorknob. “I’ll do my best for you, Mr. Wolfensen.”

I know you will.He looked up at her anxiously. “What are my chances?” Is there any chance at all for us, angel?

She smiled sadly as she passed through the door. “I’ll have to get back to you on that. We have a lot of work to do.”

Work?Did she mean on their relationship or on the case? It didn’t matter. He’d work his nuts off to make things right in both areas.

Roz opened the door to her Smart Car and smirked as Konrad folded himself to fit inside.

“How did you get me out with bail set so high?”

“I called in a few favors. And found an anonymous donor.” She had been saving that money for a down payment on a condo, dammit.“This is a high-profile case. I had to agree to include a team of publicity seeking lawyers.” She started the car and pulled into traffic. “That’s not a bad thing, though. The more power players sitting on our side of the isle, the better.”

Konrad sighed. “As long as you’re the one doing the talking, I guess it’ll be all right. Do you think Reginald has something to do with this?”

“That’s a theory I intend to look into. I asked Morgaine to expect us to drop by.”

“What a schmuck. I’d like to ring his virtual neck.”

“You need to stay the hell away from that museum—and every other art museum. Remember, I vouched for you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m serious. And even though you’re not considered a flight risk, you’d better curb your nocturnal activities for a while too.”

“The full moon is going to happen, like it or not. As long as I can shift before I leave the building, no one should suspect a thing.”

“If I’m really safe with you in wolf form, I’ll let you out—Doggie.”

Konrad laughed. “Thank God your sense of humor is returning.”

After a short silence, he asked, “Why didn’t Morgaine warn us, if she was the one interpreting for Reginald? She must have been aware of what he was up to.”

“Either she didn’t realize what he was up to, or she was sworn to secrecy.”

“Yeah, and she really lives by that Witch’s oath-thing. It’s one of the reasons I admired her. Now, I’m not so sure I like it.”

“Maybe we can use it to our advantage. What is it exactly?”

“I think it goes something like, if it harms no one, do what you want.”

“Hmm… If she refuses to divulge what she knows, it could be considered harmful to you. We’ll find out anyway at discovery, but I’d like as much advance warning as possible.”

“Yeah, maybe we can get Chad to talk to him. Ghost to ghost.”

“Do you think Morgaine can persuade him to do that?”

Konrad shrugged. “We can ask.”

As much as Morgaine doubted he’d be willing to travel to the Gardener museum, she told them she’d ask Chad to help. She confirmed that Reginald had reported new evidence but wouldn’t tell them what it was until she double and triple checked the legality of doing so with an independent legal expert.

Konrad and Roz had done all they could do for the case and decided to continue following their bliss list for a while. Culinary classes were next up. It would take their minds off the case, Roz had said. Konrad hoped it would accomplish more than that.

Now at her apartment, meeting up with her for their cooking date, he said, “Thanks for agreeing to another date, Roz. I don’t know what changed your mind, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“Are you calling me a horse?”

“No!” Oh crap.

Roz laughed. “I knew that. I was just teasing.”

Konrad rolled his eyes. “Don’t do that. I feel like I’m walking on thin ice with you as it is.”

“You are.” She looked down pensively. “But I talked to a couple of friends. They seemed to think I was being a jerk.”

“You were scared, not a jerk. I would have been frightened too.”

“Yeah, and it didn’t help that you were hiding things from me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I couldn’t figure out how to do that without alarming you. I know your need for proof. I guess I was scared too—of losing you.”

“So, you waited until I fell for you and then you gave me the good news, ‘Guess what, Roz? You’re dating a werewolf!’ How was I supposed to deal with that?”

He eyed her, sadly. “I know. I should have prepared you for it…somehow. I just couldn’t come up with the right words.”

“I’m not sure there are any right words.”

“Now that you’re willing to listen, you can ask me anything and talk to me about your feelings. I promise not to hide the truth anymore.”

“Really? You promise?”

“It’s hard to hide anything from each other now that we have the dubious gift of telepathy.”

She chuckled. “By the way, did you ever find out what that weird ability is all about?”

He took a deep breath. “As far as Nick and I know, it only happens between true mates.”

“And are werewolves like regular wolves in that they mate for life?”

He leaned over and rested his forehead against hers. Looking right into her eyes, he said, “Yes. You’re the one, Roz. I’ll never look elsewhere.”

She sighed. “I’m so confused.” She said it so quietly, he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

“What did you say?”

She moved so she could look up into his eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you forgive me.”

“I forgive you.”

He lifted her off her feet and kissed her.

“Whoa! Put me down.”

“Still don’t think I’m strong enough to carry you?” He lifted her a few more inches, as if he were lifting weights.

She chuckled. “No, I just prefer to feel the floor under my feet.”

He set her down. “Want to skip the class and…” He nodded toward the bedroom.

“Maybe later. We paid for the class, and I really do want to find another career. Roz Wells can’t take many more strange cases. Besides, I think I’d enjoy the culinary arts.”

“Even though my case might make you a famous lawyer?”

“Especially so. I hope this will be my last case, Konrad. The public will be rooting for the prosecution. They want a fall guy—someone to punish. If I succeed in getting you off, and I intend to, I won’t be popular.”

“Crap. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I really want and need another job.” She looked at her watch. “We’d better get going. Maybe I’ll become a famous chef instead. That I could live with.”

“And after, maybe we can cook up something spicy in the bedroom. That I could live with.”

Roz rolled her eyes. “Horndog.”

Even though Roz still wondered about her sanity, being with Konrad felt right. All the way to the class, Konrad had spanned the short distance between them in Roz’s car to stroke her thigh or touch her hair. Each time she glanced over at him, he was smiling, and his eyes seemed to confirm his sincerity.

Now that they had made it to the class, she tried to concentrate on what the chef was saying. Not an easy task when fifteen of them stood arm against arm along the crowded prep counter. She remembered how Konrad’s warmth seeped into her when they first met. If anything, she was even more aware of it now.

The chef was French, arrogant, and short. Didn’t matter. She’d brave anyone, even a jerk with a Napoleonic complex, for the chance to change her profession.

“Sweetheart,” Konrad whispered.

She gazed up at him and lost herself in his eyes. “Yes?”

“All these knife techniques are great, but I’m barely able to concentrate. All I can think about is you. I’m afraid I’ll chop my fingers off.”

She smiled and stifled a chuckle. “Pay attention, then,” she whispered back. “We need your fingers.”

He grinned and slipped an arm around her waist. When he pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead, the instructor looked over at them.

“Excuse moi, am I interrupting you?” he asked, with obvious sarcasm.

Konrad cleared his throat. “Um, no. Sorry.”

Roz elbowed him playfully and pulled her attention back to the matter at hand. Yes. Chopping veggies without chopping off one’s digits—always a good idea.

“Now, everyone take the vegetables in front of you. Use the proper knife to seed and chop them. I’ll come around and watch each of you.”

Roz picked up the small paring knife and cut open a green pepper. She glanced over at Konrad and noticed he was using the huge butcher knife for the same job. Yup, one of them hadn’t been paying attention.

“The gentleman with the blond hair, what’s your name?”

Konrad stopped struggling with the pepper long enough to see his instructor frowning at him.

“Konrad.”

“Well, Konrad, are you inventing new ways to seed a pepper? Perhaps you can explain your reason for using the largest knife in front of you?”

“Yeah, I have big hands.”

The class tittered. Roz grimaced.

“We pick our instruments based on the size and texture of the ingredients, not our thick meaty hands.”

“Oh. I guess I’m not very good at this.”

The chef rolled his eyes. “All you need to do is watch and repeat the technique I use—exactly.”

“Okay, I’ll try to do better.”

The annoying man sighed and moved on to the other students. “Very good. I’m glad some of you managed to watch and learn. Now when you all have your vegetables prepared, we’ll move on to meat.”

At last, everything they needed for the recipe was ready and they were instructed to split into pairs and find a stove. Next, they had to turn on the gas, then add olive oil to a large, hot, frying pan.

Konrad snuck over to Roz and copped a feel as he poured the oil into a cold pan. She squirmed and giggled. Finally, she slapped his hand away. When he lit the burner, a huge flame shot up setting off the fire detectors—and Roz’s hair began to blaze!

“Crap! I must have missed the pan.”

Roz ran to the sink to fill a pan with water, not realizing her hair was burning. Konrad tackled her and patted out the fire with his bare hands.

The chef yelled, “Stop! Turn off the gas. I’ll get the fire extinguisher.”

Roz bolted back to the stove and shut off the gas, but the flame continued to burn. The chef charged toward them with the extinguisher and sprayed foam all over their stove, covering their meat and vegetables.

He set the fire extinguisher down and crossed his arms. “I’m afraid you two must leave. When you can pay greater attention to food preparation than to each other, you can come back.”

“Damn,”Konrad muttered.“I’m sorry. Are you sure we can’t have another chance?”

“Another chance to burn down my kitchen? I think not.” The chef tipped his nose in the air and waited for them to gather their things and go.

As they entered her apartment, Konrad said sheepishly, “Roz, can you forgive me for ruining the cooking class—and your hair? I’ll cook dinner for you and pay a hairdresser to make up for it.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I feel really awful about it. It seemed like you were getting more out of the class than I was.”

She sighed and set her purse down. “I’ll get over it. Since all I learned to do was chop stuff, if we stay together you’ll probably get nicely cut up meals. I can’t guarantee their taste, though.”

“That’s fine. When I’m old and have no teeth, I’ll appreciate bite sized pieces.” He grinned. “But at the moment, the only thing I want to eat is you.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”

“But consistent.”

It had been hard to look at him and try not to want him. Roz felt her panties dampen. Can he smell my arousal? If he’s part wolf, and a canine’s sense of smell is so much better than a human’s...

“Yes, I can,” he said.

“Oh damn. You heard me?”

“Heard, smelled, and noticed a few other signs. You’re ready to mate, sweetheart, and I can’t wait much longer.”

“Fuck. I’m ready to fuck. I don’t know about mating yet. You’ll have to convince me.” I’m not going to respect myself in the morning, but who cares?

He stepped into her space and pulled her close. “I intend to.”

Roz’s nipples hardened and brushed against her blouse. He lifted her, tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed then laughed as he headed to her bedroom.

He tossed her on the bed and crawled over her. “I’m in love with you, Roz. And now that you know what I am, I want to take you the way a wolf takes his mate.”

She shivered inside but tried not to let him see her need. “And exactly what does that mean?”

“Doggie style.”

“Appropriately named.”

He laughed as he began unbuttoning her blouse, but his hands shook. Was he nervous? Afraid of rejection? If what Morgaine had told her was true, he had a lot at stake.

“Here, let me. It’ll save time.”

He jumped off the bed and stripped out of his jeans and t-shirt before she reached the last button.

“You seem as anxious as you did when we first made love,” she noted.

“I am. It’s been a while, sweetheart, and I can hardly wait. I’ve missed you.”

She nodded at his huge erection. “I can see that.”

At last, her blouse was unbuttoned, and she sat up so she could remove it. Everything was taking too long in Konrad’s estimation. As soon as it was off, he reached behind her and popped open her bra, then he flung it across the room. He pushed her onto her back and began to suckle her breast as he tugged open the zipper of her slacks.

She moaned her pleasure, and he stripped her pants down over her ankles and off in seconds.

“Well, I thought it would save time if I did it myself. Clearly, I was wrong about that.”

He leaned back to take in the view of Roz’s naked body. “Dear lord, I’ve missed seeing you like this.”

“Like what? Nude?”

“Nude, ready and primed. Waiting for me to make love to you as my own.”

He moved to her other breast and suckled harder. She arched and moaned some more. His hand slid over her abdomen, reminding her that he didn’t mind the extra flesh there. His hand kept traveling downward until he kneaded her thighs. There was a bit more flesh than she liked there too.

Eventually, his fingers slipped into the crevice at her apex, and she shuddered at the sensation. Oh, how I’ve missed this.

“Me too, sweetheart.”

Would she ever get used to the intrusion on her thoughts? At least they weren’t able to hear every little nuance that traveled through each other’s brains, but when a strong thought “voiced itself” to one of them, it was as if the thought occurred in the other one’s head too.

What had he said that was about? True mates? Didn’t she have a choice in this?

He crawled down her body and replaced his fingers with his tongue. She lost all train of thought as he teased her nether regions. He feathered light licks and kisses over her mons at first—then zeroed in on her clit.

By the time he lapped her bud, she was so sensitized she yelped, and her body bucked involuntarily. She grasped the pillow and stuffed it over her face in hopes of stifling the scream she knew was coming.

He flicked his tongue over her mercilessly until she was vibrating inside and gripping the sheet with her other hand. Sooner than expected, she came apart.

He held her tight and continued his assault on her clit while her thighs shook violently. The pillow barely contained her muffled screams. Blissful release blasted from her core and radiated over, through, and beyond her body.

At last, when she settled down and removed the pillow, her hair, except for the back, flew out in soft, straight strands from the static electricity. She peered up at Konrad. He was grinning.

“Pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you, stud?”

He chuckled. “If I accomplished my goal of giving you the best sex of your life, then yes. I’m darn proud. Of course, we’re not finished yet.”

He nudged her legs open with one knee then crawled up between them. “Are you ready for me, angel?”

She could have offered to give him some oral too, but not only was she still spent, she wanted to let him show her the best sex of her life. Hey, that was his goal, after all. Who was she to get in the way of a man’s goal?

She bent her knees so she could lift her hips to meet him and then remembered something. “Didn’t you want to take me doggie style?”

“You look tired.” He cocked his head, “Of course I could let you lie back and relax while I make love to you now, and then flip you onto your knees and do it all over again later.”

She giggled. “Pretty sure of your endurance, aren’t you?”

He hung his head. “Yeah, maybe I’m being overconfident. It’s been quite a while, and I can’t wait to get inside you.”

“Then don’t.”

His gaze shot to her eyes. “What? Don’t? What do you mean, don’t?”

“I meant, don’t wait. Fuck me now.”

He exhaled audibly. “Thank God.”

Without waiting for anything to happen that might change her mind, Konrad positioned himself at her entrance and in one smooth motion, plunged inside her. He let out a low moan of satisfaction and stayed fully seated, as if savoring the moment.

Roz welcomed his heat as he stretched and filled her. How she’d missed him. The long hiatus between lovers in the past hadn’t bothered her nearly as much as how she’d been longing for Konrad.

He’d said it to her first. You’re the one, Roz. I’ll never look elsewhere. Could she say it to him too? She felt it. She’d felt it ever since they’d confessed their love for each other. She wanted no one else. Just him, for the rest of her life.

Konrad began his slow rhythmic thrusts. She answered each one. Their building desire increased the tempo naturally. Since her heart knew the truth and her head could no longer deny it, she let herself go and threw herself into the moment. Before long, he was hammering into her, and she clung desperately to his neck while she welcomed each lunge.

A subtle sensation began building, but there was something different about it. The only direct pressure reaching inside of her apex was Konrad’s cock. He must have been stimulating her G-spot. Concentrating on the sensation, waves of heat flowed into her face and perspiration broke out on her forehead, meanwhile something else yielded inside her. Somehow deeper, richer, this new feeling shook her to the core. Tears filled her eyes, yet she didn’t know why.

Konrad let out a soft grunt and the pistoning gave way to a few jerky motions. At last, he stilled and collapsed.

“Oh, God,” he groaned.

When she didn’t answer he levered himself up on his elbows and gazed at her face. Shock registered in his eyes. “What’s wrong, angel?”

“Nothing.” She sniffed. “Not a damn thing. Everything’s right—except you’re a werewolf.”

He inhaled deeply. “We’re back to that again, are we?”

She chuckled, realizing that she must be confusing the hell out of him. “No, it’s not like that. I just…I don’t know. Maybe you could call it a breakthrough or something. I just realized that…Well, like you said to me before. You’re the one, Konrad. I won’t look elsewhere.”

He dove for her mouth and slanted his lips over hers, kissing her deeply. When she thought she was going die if she didn’t take a breath, she pushed against his chest lightly and he broke the kiss.

“Whew,” she said and panted.

He smiled. “I know.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “God knows how we wound up together…the werewolf and the human.”

“The lawyer and the thief…”

“But we belong together.”

“Thank God.” He laid his head next to hers and whispered, “You’ll never regret loving me. I’ll be good to you. I promise.”