Chapter 18

Dottie and Ralph had called everyone to their apartment. When Konrad arrived, he was nearly the last one.

“Hello, Konrad,” Dottie said. “It looks like all the chairs have been taken, so I guess you’ll have to stand.”

“Nonsense,” Ralph said as he sprang out of his chair. “Here, Konrad. Have my seat.”

Dottie glared at him.

“No, thanks,” Konrad said. “Standing is fine.”

Roz patted the armrest and gave him a come-hither look. He balanced on the arm lightly as he pictured upending Dottie’s couch, Roz rolling into his lap and launching a couple of witches into the air.

Gwyneth asked, “Where’s Nathan, y’all?”

People murmured, but no one seemed to know. Dottie checked her watch. “Well, I guess we’ll have to start without him. You snooze, you lose, as they say.”

Nathan walked in at that moment. “I wasn’t snoozing. I was watching TV. I hope this is important.”

Dottie folded her arms. “I’m glad you could join us. It’s very important.” Then she turned to her husband. “Ralph, do you want to tell them?”

“Me? This is all you, dear. I thought you’d want to make this announcement.”

She huffed. “Oh, all right. Ralph and I are leaving.”

Nathan voiced what most were probably thinking, “That’s great. Happy trails. Can I get back to my apartment now?”

Jason held up one hand. “Whoa. I knew you guys were thinking about a change, but when is this happening? I thought you’d give me some time to find a replacement superintendent.”

Ralph clapped Jason on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We wouldn’t leave you in the lurch. I found someone interested in taking over the maintenance job. And we won’t leave until you find someone else if he isn’t exactly what you want. He sounds perfect though. Loads of experience.”

“When can I meet him?”

Dottie glanced at her watch again. “In about five minutes. I asked him to come by.”

“Well, this really doesn’t concern the rest of us,” Nathan said. “Can I get back to my program now?”

“Wait,” Roz said. She turned to Dottie and Ralph. “Where are you two going? I hope you have something else lined up.”

Dottie brightened. “Oh, yes. We bought an RV. We’ll be traveling the country and I’ll be writing magazine articles for the travel industry.”

“Well, tarnation,” Gwyneth whined. “I was hopin’ ya’ll would be here to help me correct my grammar before I send in my sexy books. Now how am I supposed to make a livin’?”

“In other words,” Morgaine said, “Congratulations. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity.”

Gwyneth shot her a look filled with hostility. “Y’all don’t have to correct my manners, Morgaine. I’m not your little prodigy anymore.”

Morgaine folded her arms and turned away from her cousin.

Merry jumped up and gave her husband’s Aunt Dottie a hug. “Yes, I think congratulations are in order. You’re going to make a wonderful travel writer.”

Roz added to the distraction. “And what a great way to see this big, beautiful country! Where will you start?”

“We’ll be starting in Bar Harbor, Maine and driving southwest. We’ll criss-cross the country over the summer ending in San Diego this fall, we’ll go across the South during the winter and head to the Pacific Northwest next Spring. Then across the Trans-Canada Highway until we arrive back here in New England the following autumn.”

“You’re going to miss two whole baseball seasons,” Jason said.

Ralph shook his head. “Not if we’re near any of your away games. I’ll have to do something to keep myself occupied while Dottie’s working.”

“I’d love to see a familiar face in the stands, but,” Jason scratched his head. “This is happening so fast.”

The doorbell buzzed.

“Oh, that must be him,” Dottie strode to the intercom beside the door and pressed the button. “Who is it?” she sang out happily.

The unfamiliar male voice said, “Jules Vernon.”

Nathan burst out laughing. “Jules Vernon! That’s not really his name, is it?”

“As far as we know it is,” Ralph said.

Nathan grinned. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Dottie shushed him. “Come on up. We’re all gathered in 2B.” and she buzzed the front door open. Pointing at Nathan, she hissed, “You behave. Or better yet, just go. You don’t want to be here anyway.”

Ralph opened his mouth to intervene, but Nathan held up his hand. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He left the apartment door open and was heard cackling all the way down the stairs.

Roz had to talk to Konrad, so she followed him to his apartment after the tenants meeting. She had decided that Merry was right. She should have some idea of what to expect of her mate every twenty-eight days.

“I have a few questions for you. Some of them might be kind of embarrassing.”

“Sure.” He patted his lap. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

She sat on his hard thighs and twined her hands around his neck. “I need to know some things about your—condition at the full moon.”

He nodded.

“First of all, what if I have my monthly? Will the scent of blood do something to you if you’re in wolf form at the time?”

He laughed. “I might sniff your crotch, but that’s all.”

Talk about embarrassing questions—and answers!

He chuckled. “Don’t be embarrassed. I was teasing. I might nuzzle you a little bit, but I’d do that in human form too.”

Jeez, these answers aren’t making me any more comfortable. Still, Roz needed to satisfy her curiosity and embarrassment couldn’t get in the way. “So, it sounds like you expect to be around me as a wolf sometimes.”

“Are you worried about your safety? Because, I thought I assured you—”

“No. No that. Merry told me that Jason can tell the difference between her pet rabbit and food when he shifts, so I’m guessing you can too?”

“I can guarantee you’re safe with me when I’m in wolf form—maybe even more so than at other times. I may be a pussycat as a human, but as a wolf…well, let’s just say that I’d chomp someone’s ass if I sensed a threat to you.”

It was Roz’s turn to laugh. “If it ever comes down to that, let me bite the bastard’s ass myself before you jump in to defend me, okay?”

“No promises.”

They shared a short tender kiss before she continued.

“So, the shift. Is it painful?”

“Hell, yeah. Imagine your nose stretching to the size of a wolf’s snout, then your legs collapsing and jointing the other way, your hands and feet—”

“Okay, I got it. I got it.” Her stomach churned.

“It’s usually less painful shifting back, Roz. Sometimes I’m so tired from running, I just fall asleep, and it happens without my even knowing it.”

“Oh, well, that’s good—I guess. So where do you change?”

“Right here in the building. I used to take my clothes off in a park and hide behind the bushes, but almost getting caught a couple of times put the kibosh on that. Now I run down the stairs, naked, wedge open the back door, shift, knock the wedge out, so the door closes and locks automatically, and I’m on my way.”

“That sounds like a lot of trouble, and you could still get caught.”

“It’s been hard with Dottie snooping around. I hate to be rude, but I won’t miss her.”

“I don’t think many of the residents will. How do you get in?”

“I paw the basement window. Sly lets me in as long as I return before the sun comes up. If I’m late getting back, I shift behind the bushes or the dumpster and knock on Nathan’s window until he lets me in.”

“Well, that’s just nuts. How about if I let you out and back in again?”

Konrad’s eyes widened. “You’d do that for me?”

“Sure. If I’m your mate, why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re not afraid to see me in wolf form?”

“I already did, remember?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t know it was me.”

She shrugged. “And now I will. So, what? Can we try it tonight?”

He punctuated his words with kisses all over her face. “You’re smack amazing, smack Roz. I smack love smack you.” Then he possessed her lips like never before and kissed her until her toes curled.

Roz moaned and moved against him as he kissed her and rubbed her hips, her sides, and her bare ass on either side of the lacy thong beneath her skirt. Every part of her fit his palms as if made for his touch the way she rubbed her hard nipples on his chest nearly took his control, but he held on.

In seconds, his hand moved between her legs, hiking up her skirt and finding her damp, and ready once more. This time, however, he did not stop at her swollen button. He thrust first one, then two fingers straight inside her.

”More,” she begged against his lips.

Konrad laughed. “Patience, angel.” As he flicked his tongue against hers, he fucked her slowly with his fingers.

She raised one leg and wrapped it around him, then rode him, moving back and forth, vaginal walls tightening on his digits with each rocking motion.

Konrad slipped his thumb over her clit, and that’s when Roz cried out and shattered.

”Incredible,” Konrad murmured. He slid his fingers out, lifted Roz to his chest, and carried her to bed.

She kissed his broad shoulders as he carried her, and when he laid her down, she spread her legs wide.

He undid the buttons of her blouse, then studied her as he had when he first saw her revealed. Her full round nipples jutted out toward him. Her large breasts seem to beg for kneading, for kissing, for sucking. Her shape pleased him to no end.

She lay still as he removed her clothing. He stared at the red triangle of her thong, awaiting his hands, and his pulsing cock.

The smell of her womanly musk roused Konrad”s desire.

”You are so beautiful. I have never seen, never imagined, a woman as perfect as you.”

”I”m not,” Roz started to protest, but the words degenerated to moans as Konrad leaned forward and snared one hard nipple between his teeth. In seconds his fingers were back inside her, pumping away as she writhed and thrust herself against him.

Their connection was so strong he knew every thought, every muscle was ready for him. He sensed she wanted Konrad as she”d never wanted another man, and that pleased him.

”Fuck me,” Roz begged, her voice heavy with desire. ”Your hands, your tongue, your cock. Fuck me anyway you want to.”

Mine, he thought-whispered, again and again as he sucked her nipples.

Her reactions told him what she wanted, and he gave it to her with no reservations. Moving down on the bed, he removed her thong and opened her labia. Then he moved his tongue around the ridges.

She wriggled against his grasp on her hips. “Don’t make me wait. Please.”

Konrad heard himself growl as he traced the outline of her mons, stopping to kiss and suck anywhere that struck his fancy.

“Tease!” She beat his shoulder.

He merely laughed. She couldn’t punch hard enough to hurt him if she tried.

He inched closer to her swollen center. His tongue moved in slow circles, making promises.

“Damn it, Konrad.” Roz’s breath came in rough gasps. She thrust her hips higher and rubbed herself against the stubble of his chin.

Giving in to her craving, Konrad slid his lips and tongue over Roz’s clit.

She cried out, shivering, as he sucked it gently and stroked it with his tongue. His cock felt close to exploding as she came, and he didn’t know how much longer he could ignore his own immense needs.

He guided her through every aftershock, then let up on the pressure, but didn’t stop.

She pulled his hair. “Stop,” she pleaded, but he didn’t. He held her tight, increased his pressure and built her excitement to another fevered peak. “I can’t come again,” she cried.

You can.

She let go of her resistance and allowed the intense sensations he offered her. He sensed her insides coiling, tightening.

Angel, there’s nothing I won’t give you. No pleasure I want you to miss.

And then Roz came with the power of a volcano. Her legs gripped the sides of his shoulders and shook as she convulsed and screamed into his pillow. When had she grabbed that?

He continued until she whimpered with her release.

Satisfied at last, he pressed kisses to her thighs and mons, letting her recover. Roz’s body entered a state of deep relaxation, and Konrad rested his face on her soft pubic hair. I love you.

She sighed her accord.

Roz opened her thoughts to him even further. The man was desperate. He hoisted himself from between her legs and lay down beside her. She knew he intended to let her rest, yet his want and need for her burned. She could almost feel his cock ache.

You’re an incredible lover. She managed to roll onto her side and stare into his blue eyes.

He ran his hand over her hip, to her thigh, and stroked her back. “I just follow where your body leads me.”

His gaze never wavered. She saw no guile in his expression. Tears burned behind her eyes and came dangerously close to spilling. She could hardly believe how much love they were sharing and enjoying.

Roz sensed deep layers in this man. Things she couldn’t begin to understand. But for the first time in her life, she was in love with someone who loved her just as deeply.

“Lie on your back.”

“I had hoped you’d rest awhile. I know I drained you.”

She grinned. “Yes, you did. But I want to give you your pleasure now. I need to.”

“What would give me the most pleasure would be if you’d let me take you as a wolf takes his mate. I should warn you, though. I may want to mark you—and you need to be ready for it. I don’t want to scare you.”

“I’ve heard about marking. The Newton pack asked to see my mark.”

“What did you do?”

“I said I had no intention of showing them that, then acted all huffy.”

He chuckled. “And they just dropped it?”

“Well, yeah. There wasn’t much they could do. I figured they wouldn’t strip search me to find it.”

He laughed. “First of all, it wouldn’t have been more embarrassing than showing them your bra-strap. A male wolf marks his mate with a bite between her neck and shoulder.”

It was as if she hadn’t heard his words right and had to wait three seconds for a replay. Her heart momentarily lodged in her throat. “B—bite? Did you say you’re going to bite me?”

He shrugged. “L’il bit.”

She gasped. “Isn’t that how you became a werewolf in the first place? You—you promised I was safe with you!”

“And you are! I can mark you without turning you. But the mark provides more than just official evidence of our bond. You would have been even safer if you’d been able to show them my mark. Then the whole pack would have protected you with their lives. It’s our way.”

“Oh.” What now? She had accepted him for what he was. Didn’t that include his customs and traditions? But wait, he’d said he might want to. Did that mean he didn’t have to?

“Is this marking something you can control? Like, if I don’t want you to do it, can you skip it?”

“I’m afraid not. It’s instinctual. I’ve fought it up to now, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold off. That’s why I had to prepare you.”

“I—I see. Once you do it, does it have to be done again, or is it a one-time thing.”

“One time. I’ll try not to hurt you, but I’ll have to break the skin. Then the bruise won’t go away.”

“So that’s the mark? A bruise? It won’t infect me and turn me into a werewolf too?”

“Not if I’m careful, and I will be—unless you want to go all the way.”

“Not that way! Jesus. Become a werewolf? I’m so not ready for that.” She felt his body stiffen and realized she may have offended him.

He relaxed. “No need to worry about that now. If you change your mind later—”

“I don’t think so. I accept all of who you are, but it’s not who I am.”

He toyed with the hair curling against her cheek. “I just always imagined my mate running beside me under the full moon.” He stroked his fingers up and down her neck until she shivered. She remembered that he was waiting for her answer.

“I—uh…I guess it’s all right if you can mark me without turning me. But just so you know, I don’t need any mark to tell me I’m yours.”

He smiled. “I know that, angel. I don’t either, but it’s not a matter of choice.”

At last, she relented and reached for him.

He dove into her arms and whispered into her ear. “I promise you won’t be sorry. I’ll always be good to you, and I know we’ll be happy together.”

She kissed his neck. “I believe you.”

He rose enough to give her a long, deep kiss that stirred her soul. Her chest squeezed with happiness.

He cupped her bottom and pulled her closer. His cock, still hard as steel, throbbed against her thigh.

She pushed on his chest and as soon as he let go, she rolled onto her hands and knees. “Take me.”

He groaned. She sensed his tight coil of desperation dissolve into relief along with excited anticipation. He positioned himself behind her with his hands on her waist.

Without another word, Konrad drove into her balls deep. When she moaned, he quickly asked, “Did I hurt you?”

“Not even a little bit. It feels good and—right.”

“You feel so damn good,” he thought as he started his rhythm.

She answered him with her mind. Give me everything. Fuck me. Fuck me hard.

Growling like a wild animal, Konrad hammered into her. She slammed forward with each thrust, but he held her waist in a vice grip and didn’t allow her to inch away from him.

“Roz,” he roared, pistoning over her. And then in his thoughts, “My mate, my mate, mine!”

She threw herself into the moment and sensed, rather than felt, him break into a sweat. Heat poured off him as he escalated into a frenzy. Her breasts jerked and bounced, her sensitive nipples scraping the cotton sheet.

Her heart raced. She gritted her teeth, then stopped holding back and an enormous orgasm ripped through her. She spasmed hard, buried her face into his pillow and screamed over and over. When she was hoarse and her body went limp, his grip kept her from collapsing.

And still he fucked her. “Please let me do this gently,” he prayed.

Dizziness swept over Roz as she realized what he was about to do. “Mark me!” she cried out, not knowing what else to say.

Minds locked. He bent over her and his teeth clamped onto the skin between her neck and shoulder. She felt his animal pleasure and embraced it.

“Do it!”

He bore down. Ouch. Suddenly her senses came alive in a whole new way. His balls slapped her ass and the smell of sex filled the air. At last, he came with a bellow, and she climaxed with him. Her vaginal muscles contracted around his cock and milked every drop of his essence.

At last, they stopped moving and fell forward. Both of them took in deep, gasping breaths.

Konrad’s weight on top of her felt good, as if she was covered by his protection. Owned and yet not without her desire to be. Possessed, in a splendid, freeing way.

He shifted his weight off of her. Still panting, he murmured, “I love you.”

“Mmm…love you too.” She touched the ache where her neck met her shoulder. When she looked at her fingers, she saw only a tiny smear of blood.

Then they both drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

“Are you serious?” The mattress dipped as Konrad propped himself up on his elbow. “You want to see me shift?”

Roz nodded.

Why would she want to do that?“Are you sure? It can be frightening for a human to witness. I remember the first time my brother and I watched a whole pack shift. I dropped to my knees, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t breathe for a minute or two. I almost passed out.”

Roz sat up and hugged her knees. “I want to be part of your life—all of it. This is a big part of who you are.”

“No, Roz. It’s what I am, not who I am.”

“Wrong word, same diff’. I should know what to expect. Wouldn’t it be better than springing it on me sometime?”

He rubbed her back. “Why would I do that?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe by accident? Merry said Jason unintentionally shifted in front of her without preparing her for it. She totally freaked.”

“That wouldn’t happen. I have great control over my shifts. I can arrange to be elsewhere at midnight when it has to happen, if I haven’t shifted voluntarily before that.”

“What if I walked in on you as you’re halfway transformed?”

Konrad thought about it as he got out of bed and stepped into his black jeans. It might not be a bad idea. If she can handle watching, I won’t have to send her to another room every time.

“I know. And if we were away someplace where I didn’t have a separate room to go to…”

“Oh, you heard that, huh?”

She smiled. “Yeah.”

He pulled his t-shirt over his head. “Well, I’d say, “I’ll think about it, then put it off until you forget the whole thing, but that’s no use.”

She chuckled as she got out of bed. “I’m not apt to forget something like this.”

“Uh huh. Besides, you can probably tell what I’m not thinking as well as what I am thinking.”

“Handy, considering how much I hate being lied to.”

“And there’s that.” He hung his head. “Boy, I can tell this is going to be a fun and challenging marriage.”

Roz stopped buttoning her blouse, turned and stared at him. “Did you just say marriage?”

“Well, yeah.” He shrugged. “Since we’re mates for life, I just assumed…”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t even get a proposal? You just assumed I’d want to marry you?”

He cocked his head. “Don’t you? I mean, you’re a woman. Don’t little girls dream about their wedding day from the time they get their first Barbie doll?”

She folded her arms and didn’t look happy.

What the hell did I do wrong?

“If you don’t know, you’re an idiot.”

He sank down onto the edge of the bed. “I—I guess I probably should have had a ring and arranged a fancy candlelit dinner…but I can’t afford those things right now, Roz.”

She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t need those things.”

This is damned frustrating. “What do you need then? I’m obviously missing something important. Don’t make me guess what that is. Just tell me.”

She heaved a huge sigh. “You’re right about every little girl dreaming of their wedding. And being proposed to is part of it!” “Stupid.”

I heard that.

“I don’t care if you did.” She tried to stomp off, but he caught her wrist before she made it to the bedroom door.

Hanging onto her wrist in an iron grip, he dropped to one knee, rolled his eyes and asked in a sing-song voice, “Roslyn Wells, will you? Oomph!”

She kicked him in the groin. As he cupped his balls in pain and groaned, she marched out of his apartment.

Roz ran down the stairs and managed to slam and lock the door to her apartment before he reached her.

“Roz!” The door shook as he pounded on it.

“Go away.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Don’t you dare tell me what I mean!”

Konrad slumped, leaned his back against the wall and slid to the floor.