Forest chuckles softly and pulls me closer to kiss the side of my head.
“That’s true, you got him where it hurts, and he acted on impulse,” Leonard agrees before looking at us thoughtfully. “You know, the other alphas were right, with what they said: You do look like a couple.”
“That’s because we are,” Forest says promptly.
Leonard’s eyes widen. “You plan on staying together?”
“I won’t have anyone steal Rose away,” Forest says firmly. “She will become my pack’s luna.”
“And that’s what you want, too?” Leonard asks me. “I’d hate to fail you a second time. You have options, Rosea. But do you want to stay with Forest?”
I smile, my fingers entwining with Forest’s. “Yes.”
thirty-three
No Way Back
*ROSEA*
Itoss my shoes to the side, relieved to finally get them off my feet. Forest does the same, before shrugging off his jacket and blazer as well. “Finally, home,” he groans.
“But it was a successful evening.”
“It was,” Forest exclaims, grabbing me by the waist and twirling me around. “You were amazing.”
I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. “No, you were amazing.”
“Let’s stick withweboth were,” he smiles impishly before lifting me up in his arms. I wrap my legs around his middle, letting him carry me through the apartment.
“Bathroom first,” I command before he can reach the bedroom.
Forest nods and carries me to the bathroom, letting me down when we are inside. He looks at me so adoringly that it makes my heart flutter.
“You are stunning, Rose,” Forest says, cupping my cheeks and looking at me. “One of these days I might go into cardiac arrest thanks to you, but I’d die a happy man.”
“No dying,” I say. “If one day one of us passes, then only when we are old and crumpled, and preferably die with each other.”
“So, you see a future with me in which we are old?” Forest asks, his eyes lighting up in joy. “A future in which we will grow old together. Old and happy.”
I pause at his question, realizing what I just hinted at, but I don’t want to take it back again. I want to have Forest, and I want to have him now. “I can’t let any other luna be at your side. It has to be me.”
Forest smirks. “I love when you are being possessive.”
“Don’t forget, I carry alpha blood in me,” I say.
“And now?” Forest asks. There is a hint of insecurity in his eyes, like he is scared I might push him away now.
I don’t wait for the insecurity to fester. “First, you could help me out of this dress.”
Something in his eyes flashes, his more wolfish side coming forward now. “Turn around,” he says, his voice a velvet drawl that sends a shiver down my back.
I turn around, closing my eyes when I feel Forest stepping closer until his chest hits my back. His hand moves to my neck and then brushes down my body, oh so very slowly. His hand lingers at one of my breasts, adding pressure to his touch and making me arch my back. He leans his chin against my shoulder before kissing my neck. His hand moves downwards until he stops at the lower part of my stomach.
I feel the heat pooling between my legs, wanting him to move further, to get rid of the fabric between us and touch me everywhere.
“I believe I asked you to take it off,” I say.
“I've wanted to do that ever since you came out of the room with this dress on,” he mutters.
