When he stopped kissing her, she opened her eyes, met his gaze.
“So deep,” he murmured.
She smiled. “I feel you in my soul.”
Her hands came up to cup his face, and he had to stop moving.
“I see you, too. So beautiful. Everything I needed and didn’t even know.”
Her words filled him. He’d always been a people person, been good with relationships with friends and family. But he’d never known how pale that was to holding his everything in his arms, and knowing he was that, to her, as well. He wanted nothing more than to fill that position for her for the rest of his life.
She smiled, then arched her hips. “So deep,” she said with a grin.
He began to move again, slow and steady, their gazes locked. Her breath had evened out, but now it hitched again. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and he wanted to do the same, but not when it meant losing eye contact. He ground his hips, knowing he hit her clit by the way her eyes went vague. Okay, soul searching satisfied for now, he let go.
She moaned as he sped up and pulled his face down to hers. Giving her what she wanted, what she demanded, he kissed her hard and fierce, his mind going blank as he found his release. He had just enough awareness to listen as her moans turned to a cry of release, her body shuddering under his.
He collapsed to the side, pulling her with him so that she lay mostly across his chest instead of on the floor.
Chapter Eight
Setting up the party took hardly any time, since Cindy had both Tasha and Jonas helping out. And she had her lists. The other two fought over who would get to climb the ladder to hang the banners and lights, but in the end, they both shared the job. She rolled her eyes at their antics, but loved seeing how quickly Tasha seemed to be opening up and losing some of her shyness.
Myra had asked everyone in the pack to come about half an hour before the guests were to arrive, so they gathered in the library. Cindy sat in Jonas’ lap and looked to her alphas.
“I know we just had our pack meeting last week, so we don’t need to go over everything again, I just wanted to take a minute to say I’m really happy with how this pack has pulled together so far. Everyone taking time to help each other get settled in has been awesome. We’ve got a great group going, but we need more people. Try and talk to everyone who comes today and let someone in the hierarchy know your thoughts on them.”
She paused to take a sip of her wine. “It’s probably impossible that we’ll have one hundred percent agreement from everyone in the pack on all the potential new members, so please don’t be hurt if someone you like gets rejected or someone you don’t like gets accepted. We value your opinions and impressions and need to gather all of them to make an informed decision.”
Adam put his arm around her shoulder. “And remember that while first impressions are critical, and instincts are a part of who we are, there are people who can surprise you, so don’t make the mistake of locking in your opinions on someone too strongly. Everyone knows I was a cantankerous hermit when Myra met me, and look at us now.”
“Now that you’re a cantankerous busybody?” Cindy asked demurely.
Everyone laughed, and they all chatted easily until Adam looked up. “We have visitors, people. Let’s do this thing.”
They followed him to the door and greeted their first guests, the Chang family from Toronto, who wanted to escape the weather. Parents, teenage girl and middle-school boy. Cindy put her arm around Tasha and nudged her towards the girl.
“Hi, Blaire, I’m Cindy, and this is Tasha. Tasha just started at the school you would be going to, last week. She said so far it’s pretty okay. Have you been to the States before, or is this your first time?”
By the time she’d maneuvered the girls to the snack table, they were deep in conversation. Cindy glanced to the parents and met Sofia Chang’s gaze. The woman gave her a happy smile and a nod. Pleased, Cindy moved to Jonas, who was talking to an older woman who’d just arrived.
“Latisha Bogan, meet my mate, Cindy. Cindy, Mrs. Bogan is visiting from Peachwood Pack, near Atlanta.”
Cindy was gentle taking the elderly woman’s hand into her own, but had to smile when the woman’s strong grip surprised her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bogan.”
“I’ve already told Jonas to call me Latisha, and you will to. The young ones can call me Miss Latisha. I was a kindergarten teacher for thirty years, so that’s what I’m used to.”
“What brings you to New Mexico?” Cindy asked.
“My George passed on a couple of years ago. He wasn’t the healthiest wolf around, and wouldn’t listen to a word I said about diet and exercise. Overweight wolves are the exception, I know, but that was George.”
Jonas’ fingers twined with hers and she squeezed. The pain in Latisha’s voice was obvious.
“I’m sorry.” Jonas’ voice was gruff as he laid a hand on the older woman’s shoulder.
She smiled at him. “I suspect you two are newly mated, so don’t let this get you down. He had his faults, as do I, but I loved that man for most of my life. I sort of lost a year of myself when he passed. I existed without really living. My children came to visit, tried to talk me into moving in with them, but I couldn’t bring myself to make any changes to the life we’d had together.”
Cindy’s throat burned at the love and grief she witnessed. She couldn’t even let herself think about the possibility of losing Jonas.
