Mila gazed over her shoulder. Rafe was asleep behind her. His chest rose and fell in slow, rhythmic breaths.
He appeared so at peace in sleep, no visible signs of the pressures of an alpha weighing on him—pressure that she was partly responsible for. She frowned, displeased with herself for contributing to his distress. He didn’t deserve it.
What now?
Last night was supposed to be just about sex. It was supposed to scratch their wolves’ itches, so they could get the desire out of their systems. It had been more explosive than she’d fantasized, and she’d struggled with the overpowering urge to bite him, bonding them together as mates. But she held off.
With curious lust out of the way, she was supposed to focus on other things, like snooping around his place, searching for anything about him that might be useful to her pack to bring him down. She now knew where he lived and slept.
With him so vulnerable right now in sleep, she could slip down to the kitchen, grab a kitchen knife and…
No!
Her wolf woke in a fearful sweat. Mila was just as agonized. She couldn’t think of anything that horrid. The idea of Rafe in any sort of pain filled her with a pervasive, overwhelming grief.
She would never,never, do anything to harm him.
Desperate to banish that vile thought, she snuggled back against him and calmed herself with his heat. His chest rose and fell against her, soothing her with the rhythmic reminder that he was all right.
Their time together had been phenomenal as he’d described—and it had shattered whatever excuses she’d used to convince herself that she could ignore her wolf’s calling. Mila could no longer deceive herself. She couldn’t tell herself anymore lies that she was here to help her pack, and that she would exploit his weakness for her to gain information. She couldn’t do that to him. Wouldn’t.
As she’d gotten to know him, those declarations, although once true, became feeble excuses to assure herself that she was still fulfilling a duty to her pack. That truth had slowly shifted to another. She was here because she wanted to be with him.
And she couldn’t hurt her mate.
Rafe stirred behind her. He snuggled closer to her. “Good morning, gorgeous.”
His voice was hoarse with sleep and oh-so-sexy.
“You’re awake,” she said.
“I am. How did you sleep?”
“Great,” she answered automatically, but then considered the question. It was far better than that. Despite her conflict, she felt content, wonderfully content. “You?”
“So well-rested,” he murmured and nuzzled the back of her neck. “I had you in my arms.” He pressed his erection against her ass. “Mmm, you smell so good.”
The promise in his hard length sent tingles right through her core. All her thoughts and questions scattered. She melted against his hard body and moved her rear against him in invitation.
What a promising way to start the day. She turned over her shoulder at him and smiled.
He flipped her onto her back and she squealed with laughter. When he kissed down the front of her body, from her neck and then to her breasts, she fell silent and waited with breathless anticipation.
Three exceptional orgasms later,Mila sat across from Rafe at the polished mahogany table. He’d cooked up a hot breakfast with pancakes and sausage, while she’d sliced up bananas and brewed coffee.
His hair was even more mussed up, and he looked adorable. Since he only wore a pair of loose, black, drawstring pants, she had a spectacular view of his muscular torso. It drew her attention even more than the view outside of the mountain waking up for the day beneath bright sunlight breaking through wispy clouds. Birds sang just outside the window.
“Do you need to go into the office today?” she asked.
“I do.” His face turned grim.
“What’s wrong?”
One side of his mouth curled into a devilish grin. “I’d much rather spend the day here in bed with you.”
A lick of heat curled within her, rising up to her cheeks. “I could use a few hours to recover.” She flashed him a naughty glance. “Besides, it will give us something to look forward to later.”
“True.” He stabbed the large piece of pancake and stuck it in his mouth. After he swallowed it, he put his fork down stared at her with a grave expression. “I’m sorry, Mila, but the plan failed.”
