“My wolf is out of patience and wants to claim you.It’s the only way you’ll get away on your tour.I don’t mean that to sound like a threat, either.It’s… It’s my primal side.But I don’t want to force this on you either.We can wait until you’re ready.Somehow.”
Maia met his gaze without hesitation.“I adore all of you.I love your human sensibilities and the sharp edges of your wolf.It’s what makes you Henry.You’re not forcing me to do anything since I’m with you one hundred percent.”
Relief swept across his features.His warm breath puffed against her neck before he swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed.He set her in the middle of the mattress and grinned.
“My, Mr.Anderson.”Maia fluttered her eyelashes at him.“What big teeth you have.”
He snorted.“Yes, I’m your big, bad wolf, and don’t forget it.”
“You forgot, handsome.You scrub up well.”
“Thank you.Your little red dress is sexy, but you’ll look better out of it.”
Maia fluttered her lashes again.“Thank you, kind sir.I love you, Henry.You know that, right?I get that occasionally you still wonder if we’re doing the right thing because I’m younger, but think of the adventures we can have together.”
“Starting right now,” Henry said, shrugging off his jacket and setting it aside on a chair.He sat to slip off his leather boots and socks.Maia watched with interest when he stood again, unbuttoned his steel gray shirt, and tossed that on top of his jacket.He yanked on his belt, and it slid free of his black trousers.Soon, his trousers joined the pile, leaving him in his tight-fitting boxers.
Maia’s brows rose.“Surely, you’re not stopping there?”
“I find my willpower lacking with you.”
“Oh?”
“Tease.”Henry hauled her to the edge of the bed.At his urging, she stood and turned to present her back.Henry’s warm hands slid down her zipper, and he helped her lift the dress over her head.
“Sexy underwear,” he said, running a calloused finger along the shoulder strap of her black bra.
She turned to him, studying the face of the man, the shifter she loved.“You told me that when I was dressing.”
“And unfortunately, we were in a time crunch.”
They exchanged a grin.
“We’re not in a hurry now,” she pointed out.
Henry tilted his head, his brown gaze meeting hers.“My wolf is impatient.He sees this as the start of our official mating.If you have any doubts at all, now is the time to tell me because—”
Maia placed her fingers over his mouth, exasperation giving way to understanding.Henry had no doubts about her, and London and Megan had told her if you found a mate, that was it.No divorce.Not if it was a true mating.“Henry, this is the last time I will say this.I fell for you when I saw you during the school trip to visit your dogs.I didn’t understand then because I was so young.But after that, I measured every man I met against you.When I started writing, I used a pen name.Do you know what name I used?”
He shook his head, his gaze still on her.
“Henrietta M.March in salute of you and Middlemarch.You have always been with me, and it was you who drew me back once I secured my rugby contract.I have no doubts.We’re going to explore life and have children in the future.We’ll grow together and be happy.So happy.Do you understand?”Maia sucked in a breath, realizing that she hadn’t breathed through that rant.And it had been a tirade because Henry needed to understand.
He cocked his head.“Henrietta M.March?”
She stomped over to her phone and pulled up her website to show him.
“Huh,” he said.“You told me you wrote fantasy.When I have time to read, I like action thrillers and mysteries.Henrietta March.”When he met her this time, his eyes were more golden than brown.“You’ve always been mine.”
“And now he gets it,” she murmured.
“Maia.”The passion and love in his face and the amber flashes in his eyes stole her breath.“Mine.”
“And now he gets it,” she repeated.
“Yeah, I’ll admit I pushed you from my mind because you scared the hell out of me.I’m a male and can be stubborn—if you haven’t noticed.But once you came back, you made it impossible to ignore you.I wanted to protect you.Still do.”
“I’m fine with that as long as it works both ways.”
