“My ass isn’t dimpled,beautiful.”
“Not the point, mylove.”
“You two are just too cute,” her mom said with a beamingsmile.
Well, at least her parents didn’t want to pack him up and send him back. That was something,right?
* * *
Cindy Morgan watchedas Costin helped her daughter from the car. She watched how his eyes lit up when they landed on Sally and how his hands were almost always touching her in some way. It all made sense now that the spell had been lifted. When the girls originally left for Romania, Alina Lupei had used some sort of pack magic on them to convince their parents all was normal. Then, months later, a woman named Peri came to them and used magic on them again. Four months ago, the magic Peri had used to distort their beliefs in regard to the location of their daughter and what she was up to, broke. With a little bit of digging into the few history books she still had from her own kind, Cindy got the answers she needed. She and Chris realized that there was a lot Sally was keeping from them, but she was a grown woman and could make her own choices. Cindy couldn’t help but regret not telling Sally the truth. Then she wouldn’t have had to run off to Romania with a bunch of werewolves without telling her parents what was goingon.
From the look of things, Sally had a werewolf mate, which meant she could only be one of two things: a healer or a wolf, and since Cindy knew her daughter wasn’t a wolf, then Sally had been chosen to be a gypsy healer. It was an incredible honor but, at the same time, a huge burden as well. She could admit part of her wished that Sally hadn’t found herself a part of the supernatural community, but, then, the odds were against her. Their family was steeped in supernatural ties, and it was only a matter of time before one in Cindy’s family line waschosen.
“Mom?” Sally’s voice caught her attention. “Youokay?”
Cindy smiled. “I am. And it looks like you are quite okay aswell.”
Her daughter smiled, but there was a light missing from her eyes. Cindy saw past the mask Sally had been trying to wear to the sadness that was attempting to overwhelm her. She wouldn’t ask her any questions in front of her mate, but soon enough, Cindy was going to find out what had happened four months ago that broke the spell and put that haunted look in her daughter’s eyes. She didn’t think it was Costin. He was completely head over heels for Sally. But if for some unimaginable reason itwasthe werewolf who’d hurt Sally, Cindy wouldn’t hesitate to make wolf stew and give it as a treat at the local animalshelter.
* * *
Costin likedhis mate’s parents immediately. Though he’d already talked to Cindy Morgan on the phone just before Sally and he had gotten bonded and married, he hadn’t been able to get a feel for what she was like. Now, being in front of her and watching how she interacted with Sally, he could tell Mrs. Morgan was not nearly as clueless as she was attempting to appear. He saw the keen intelligence in her eyes and the interest that piqued them every time she looked at him and Sally. And she looked at them a lot. Part of him wanted to grab his mate’s tempting backside just to see how her mom wouldreact.
“Don’t you dare. There will be no grabbing of the backside.”Sally growled into hismind.
“What about your breasts? Can I grab your breasts to see how shereacts?”
“Sure.”
“Really?” He was so shocked he didn’t even realize he was speaking out loud and not through thebond.
Sally turned just as she reached the foot of the stairs that lead to the second floor. “No, not really, youbutthead.”
Costin threw back his head and laughed as he carried their bags and followed his mate up thestairs.
“I’m sure y’all are tired,Costin.”
Mrs. Morgan’s voice brought him to a halt just as he reached the top step. He turned to look down ather.
“We’re going to call it a night,” she continued. “If you two need anything, don’t hesitate toask.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Morgan,” he said. “I look forward to visiting more with you and Mr.Morgan.”
She gave him a small wave and turned, heading in the opposite direction. He realized that meant the master bedroom was downstairs, while his mate’s old room was upstairs. A grin spread across his face as he turned to follow Sally’s scent down thehall.
“You can wipe that grin right off your face, Costin Miklos. There will be no hanky panky in my parents’ house.” Sally had her arms folded in front of her chest and a frown firmly in place when he entered herroom.
“So let me get this straight,” he said as he set down their bags. Costin stretched his arms above his head, trying to get his tired muscles to relax. “There will be no grabbing of backsides or breasts and no hankypanky?”
“Exactly. My parents live here, Costin. They could, like, I don’t know, walk in orsomething.”
Costin took a step toward his irritated mate. “Sally mine, you do remember that we’re married,right?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Of course, Iremember.”
He took another step toward her. “And that means we are allowed to, neigh, we areexpectedto participate in lots of hanky panky. Your parents aren’t going to scold you for having a boy in your room, beautiful.” He took one final step and then cupped her face in his hands. He leaned down, his lips barely touching hers as he whispered, “Hey.”
She breathed out a laugh. All the irritation seemed to melt out of her at his touch. “Hey,yourself.”
