Chasing Paradise

Alpine Woods Shifters - 2

by

Sondrae Bennett

For my parents. Your unwavering support has given me the strength to follow my dreams. Thank you for cheering me on during this journey.

Chapter 1

Perfect. Ethan devoured the golden-haired woman with his eyes as she walked past in a red string bikini. Her lithe form was flawlessly displayed in red cloth swatches tied behind her neck and at each hip.

As he looked around, Ethan breathed the crisp ocean air. Not a wolf searching for a mate in sight. Just plenty of sexy shifters in skimpy outfits. What more could a man ask for?

He’d been wanting to vacation here for a long time, but this place was even better than he imagined. The beachside resort, located on the Californian coast, was renowned throughout the world as one of the best catering to shifter needs. Beside the beach, a large thick forest spread out for miles and was kept fully stocked with prey for their inner animals to hunt. Supposedly there was also a playground of some sort on the ocean floor for the aquatic shifters. Not surprising considering a family of otters owned and ran the place.

Ethan smiled as he remembered the very friendly female otter who had checked him into the hotel earlier. The flirtatious woman had basically invited him into a closet for a quickie. In fact, all the female staff had been particularly forward.

Ethan glanced around the beach again as he sipped his drink. Sunshine, warm water, umbrella drinks, and plenty of scantily clad women…this place was as close to paradise as he would ever get.

Man, was he glad to get away. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed a vacation until he got here. He’d never really thought about it before. But after his older brother, Jason, Premier of their wolf pack, had mated, every single female in his pack had turned their mate-trapping gazes on him. Vultures–the whole lot of them. Ethan had known he needed to escape if he wanted to retain his freedom–and his sanity.

Sharing the responsibilities of the Alpine Woods pack with Jason and their younger brother Danny, was an honor he didn’t take lightly. But between his position in the pack and building the software business from the ground up with his brothers, Ethan was wiped out. It had been past time he did something for himself. His duties left him little time to enjoy the simple things in life. But for the next two weeks, he was a free man. He was determined to spend every minute of his vacation enjoying all the pleasures available before going back to the meat market his town had become, with him as the prime cut of fillet.

The woman in the red bathing suit, a cheetah judging by her scent, twitched her hips as she walked past again, enticing him with her smile. The string ties swayed gently, begging his hands to untie them. Women were definitely high on the agenda.

Although he never lacked for female attention, ever since his brother had started seeing his mate, Samantha, he’d had to be more cautious. Remembering all the grief he’d given Jason for not taking full advantage of the female attention he’d gotten as Premier, Ethan wondered why Jason hadn’t hit him. He would have if their positions had been reversed. He hadn’t understood until it was his turn. Those females didn’t want a night of hot sex. Well, they didn’t only want a night of hot sex. They were hunting for a mate, and Ethan had no desire to be trapped anytime in the near future. He loved women way too much to limit himself to just one.

Scanning the beach he counted numerous women he wanted to know intimately. What a the perfect place for him to let loose and unwind. People traveled from all over the world to come here, and after seeing the place for himself, he wasn’t surprised. Every type of shifter imaginable wasn’t just welcomed, but catered to. Ethan fully intended to sample all the variety this resort had to offer. He winked at a group of giggling foxes when he caught them staring.

A trio of female otters emerged from the water, drawing his attention. He watched as they shifted to their human forms, chasing each other around the beach. Their curvy forms and ample breasts were bare to any who cared to look as they scampered around. Ethan took another swig from his drink. Yep, this was going to be a great trip. The staff alone pretty much guaranteed it.

Otter females were known for their lack of inhibition and playful spirits but he’d never met one before today. Based on what he’d seen so far, the rumors were spot on. They loved to flirt and fool around as much as Ethan did. He’d also heard they were one of the more promiscuous shifter breeds. Many of the staff had already made it clear he would be welcome to take things further than harmless flirting.

He looked around once again and wondered which one he’d take to his bed first. So many choices and he fully planned to explore them all. A woman walking down the beach caught his eye. At first, his eyes moved past her, but they jumped back, staring as she moved away from the hotel.

What was she wearing? Dressed in a black skirt and a button-down sapphire blue shirt, complete with clunky black heels, the woman stomped over to the giggling otter females. Her brown hair was pulled back in a severe bun and oval-shaped glasses framed her large round eyes. She captured his attention for being so completely out of place. What kind of woman wore a business suit to the beach?

Sitting up a bit straighter, Ethan expected her to strip and go for a swim. The desire to see what she hid beneath all those clothes kept him from looking away. Something about the woman pulled at him. But instead of joining the other otters in their playful teasing, she stood next to them and gestured toward the hotel.

As soon as she started talking, the other women stopped playing, wrapped themselves in towels, and nodding contritely, made their way back inside. Too bad. Ethan had been enjoying the view.

But despite knowing the party was over, he couldn’t take his eyes off the austere-looking woman. The desire to take down her hair and strip her, right here for all to see, warred with his strange need to protect and shield her. What was wrong with him? He shook his head, trying to clear out the cobwebs.

The woman wasn’t at all his type. Not only was her clothing rigid, but her whole personality radiated structure. Ethan preferred to think of himself as a “take it easy” kind of guy. The life of the party. But this woman looked like she’d never even been to one.

The otter females had been having fun, but after one look from this woman, they headed inside. It was hard to imagine her ever letting loose or running around the beach naked. No, there was no reason he should be thinking of this woman in any light, except how to avoid her. But for some reason his eyes wouldn’t obey the command to look away.

The woman was curvy like all the other otters. Not fat, but with a Marilyn Monroe figure many women would kill for. Her hips, even encased in the business-like black skirt, begged a man to grip them as she rode him.

Ethan shook himself out of his musings. What was he thinking? This woman probably made love fully dressed so only necessary parts touched. Not his type at all.

He continued to stare as one of the male waiters who brought drinks to beach dwellers walked over and spoke with the woman. A deep possessive growl rumbled from somewhere nearby. A clear warning to back off. Surprised, Ethan looked around trying to find the cause.

The shifters lying on the beach glanced at him warily. Him? Had he made those growling noises? No way. He took a hasty sip of his drink and glanced back toward the otter, only to realize she was gone. Panic gripped him, his wolf frantic until he spotted her climbing the stairs back inside. Without stopping to think, Ethan grabbed his towel and chased after the woman who held his attention, desperate to keep her in view.

* * *

What a horrible day this was turning out to be. She loved her job. She really did. But it wasn’t always easy being manager of an exclusive shifter-only resort. Some days were worse than others, and today happened to be one of those days.

Word among the staff was that a very handsome, very alpha, and very flirty wolf had checked in this morning. As a result, the female members of her romp were doing anything and everything possible to get his attention.

She wasn’t a strict boss. There were no rules against the staff flirting with the guests. They had freedom to take guests into their beds if they chose to, as long as it didn’t interfere with their work.

But for some reason, this particular wolf had her entire staff giggling like they’d never seen attractive shifters before. As if handsome alpha men didn’t check into the resort every week. The level of irresponsibility this particular shifter inspired didn’t make sense. Taking time out of her busy schedule to go reprimand some staff who had been playing naked in the water instead of doing their jobs should never be something she had to do.

Like she didn’t know they were trying to attract attention. She would’ve known even if she hadn’t watched them take their time covering up their nudity after shifting. Personally, Gwen thought running around the beach stark naked to attract attention was a bit…desperate, but it wasn’t breaking any rules. Clothing was optional on the beach, considering the main appeal for their guests was the ability to shift whenever the mood struck, but most guests preferred bathing suits.

There’d been no point looking for the man who held their attention. While she didn’t mind if her staff fooled around, she, as manager, had to remain impartial. The fact was, she held herself to a higher standard and as a result had strict guidelines in place. It had taken her years to rise to the top and become manager and she wasn’t about to ruin everything she worked for on a night or two of fun. It was all about priorities. Hers might not line up with those of the other otters in the romp, but Gwen had a good grasp on what mattered.

Besides, she’d never been like the other otters she grew up with, who tended to fall just short of promiscuous. She might not have waited until her mating, but she did believe sex should be reserved for someone who meant something. Someone special. So far only a couple of men had made the grade.

Even her mind’s chuckle sounded bitter. If she’d waited until she found a mate to have sex, it would’ve been an awfully long wait. It wasn’t that she was old exactly, but most otters found their mates in their early twenties. At twenty-nine, she was starting to wonder if she was ever destined to find a mate of her own. Granted, most otters also mated within the romp, something Gwen had realized at a young age wasn’t in the cards for her.

One reason she’d stayed at the resort was the hope he’d come to her. Every kind of man and shifter imaginable came through the doors of the resort. Many more than she could have met on her own. But never had she felt a tingle of awareness signaling the presence of her mate.

Maybe she’d missed him. Maybe he had been here and she had been too absorbed in work to notice. And now she’d missed her chance. Or maybe she just wasn’t destined to have a mate.

She shoved the depressing thoughts away. They’d been coming more and more since her birthday a few months ago. Life without a mate got harder every time she had to watch one of her friends pair up and start having pups.

Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn’t see the wall in front of her until it almost smacked her in the face. Strong hands caught her arms as she stumbled to a halt.

“Whoa, easy there.” The man behind her chuckled. The deep voice rolled through her, making her shiver in new awareness. It lit fires inside she hadn’t known existed until now. Looking over her shoulder into the chocolate-brown eyes twinkling down at her, she lost a little piece of her soul in their depths.

Her breath caught in her throat as a warm smile curved deliciously edible lips, drawing her gaze to his mouth. No wonder her staff was so enamored. Without a shadow of a doubt, this was the man who had her staff on high alert.

Breathing deeply, Gwen inhaled his woodsy scent. Her nose twitched as the scent stoked those fires inside higher. Without pulling out of his grip, she turned around to face him, wanting to get a better look at the man. His hair hung past his ears in a careless mass, giving him an easygoing look matched perfectly by his open smile and laughing eyes. The light brown was liberally streaked with blond highlights, making it look like he spent a lot of time in the sun.

Her eyes were drawn downward as she took in the whole picture. Except for a towel slung over one shoulder, he was bare from the waist up. Although he was obviously not a bodybuilder, subtly defined muscles could be seen under the light sprinkle of chest hair. The dark blue bathing suit encased his hips, falling to his knees. It was rude to stare. She knew that. But Gwen couldn’t help herself. Before her stood her fantasy of the perfect guy.

“Uh, um.” Words would be nice. Any words really. But nothing came to her. Why wasn’t her brain working? The dimples at the sides of his mouth deepened, mesmerizing Gwen.

“I did catch you before you hit the wall, didn’t I? You didn’t hit your head?” The laughter in his eyes told her he already knew the answer. And how much he enjoyed her current inability to process words.

“Thanks.” The word burst out, making her cringe. That was the word she had been searching for. Apparently, looking cool and collected was too much to ask. “I mean… yes, you caught me before I hit the wall. Sorry, I was just startled.”

He raised one eyebrow and coherent thought fled once again.

Husky laughter alerted her they weren’t alone. The one time she lost her head, it had to be in the lobby of the hotel, where anyone could witness her blushing and blustering like a twit.

A tall lean cheetah in a fire-engine-red bathing suit strutted up behind the wolf. If the few strings barely on the right side of decency could really be called a bathing suit. And they call otters promiscuous.

The cheetah put her hand on the man’s shoulder, shooting a glare at Gwen before turning her attention to the wolf.

Gwen didn’t wait to hear what she said, seizing the opportunity to make a hasty retreat down the hall. God knew what her pathetic ogling of the man must have looked like. So much for professionalism.

Disappearing into her office, she shut the door against the noise outside. She leaned against the heavy wooden barrier, closing her eyes on a deep breath.

Sweaty, tangled images of her and the man played across her closed eyelids. Her eyes popped open in surprise. What was wrong with her? It had been a long time since her schoolgirl crush days. Concentrating on evening her breathing, she slowed the rapid beating of her heart, but couldn’t dispel the images of the wolf.

For a moment she’d thought she had found her mate.

But that was ridiculous. Obviously, the cheetah had already captured the wolf. Her otter was just confused. Having been longing for a mate moments before his appearance, her mind hooked onto the first attractive man she’d seen. Besides, who wouldn’t think of mating that man?

Stupid. How could she chastise her staff when she’d fallen into the same trap the rest of them had? She had to do better. It was time to get back to reality. Whoever her mate might be, it was unlikely he would look anything like the hunky wolf in the hallway.

Checking her watch, Gwen started at how late it had gotten. Almost dinnertime. Most of the guests would be making their way to one of the hotel restaurants in the next hour or two. If she worked late, she’d be able to go for a swim and hunt up her dinner without disturbing any of the guests. With that resolve in mind, Gwen sat behind her desk and got to work.

* * *

Ethan watched his prey scurry away. Damn it. He hadn’t been that entertained in awhile. Seeing her reaction to his presence made him want to push her up against the wall she’d almost run into and kiss her senseless. Chances were she wouldn’t even complain. There had been interest in her gaze as it raked over him. Surprise too, but definite interest. It might as well have been written on her forehead in black permanent marker. It would have been easy to guide her into his bed, something he realized he’d craved from the moment he put his hands on her arm. But she’d scampered away like a frightened rabbit as soon as the cheetah had walked up.

Ethan looked down at the woman clinging to him. When he’d seen her out on the beach, he’d thought she was one of the sexiest women he’d ever seen. Yet, for some reason, the attraction he’d felt earlier had vanished. Sure, she was pretty. Gorgeous even. But he no longer wanted to hump her leg.

Something was definitely wrong with him. The woman was sex personified. Of course he was interested. Who wouldn’t be?

Acting on reflex he’d taken years to perfect, he flashed the woman his most charming smile.

“I don’t believe we’ve met before. I’m Jacqueline,” the woman purred.

Common sense made him swallow the laugh before it could escape. Here she was, her body practically wrapped around his, introducing herself. But he didn’t think he would gain any points by drawing attention to the fact. She was so close, Ethan felt her breasts rise and fall against his chest with every breath.

“I’m Ethan. Can I buy you a drink, Jacqueline?” He forced the words out. Whatever reluctance he had, he needed to get over it. This vacation was about letting loose and having fun. Jacqueline seemed like the perfect place to start.

The cheetah stepped impossibly closer, pressing against him from toe to chest. “I’ve got a bottle of wine in my room I’ve been dying to try out. You like wine, don’t you, Ethan?” The fake pout on her lips should have turned him on, but instead had the opposite effect. Man, he needed to get a grip.

He hoped the wooden smile he threw her was believable. “Oh, I definitely like wine.” It felt like a lie and hung heavily in the air, taunting him.

With a come-hither look, Jacqueline led the way and Ethan forced himself to follow. The elevator doors had barely closed when the cheetah pounced. Her tan arms clung to his shoulders as her tongue forced itself into his mouth.

Ethan had kissed his share of women, and Jacqueline was an expert. But as the elevator made its way to her floor, he realized, kissing skills aside, the hard-on he’d sported from the moment he’d put his hands on the otter, had deflated in the presence of the cheetah.

Whether it was the way she’d thrown herself at him, or perhaps that he’d found more appealing prey, he wasn’t the least bit interested in a night of debauchery with Jacqueline. His wolf wanted to chase. She wasn’t giving him much of a run.

Ethan was gentle but firm as he pushed the persistent cat away when the doors opened onto her floor.

“I think I’m going to grab a drink downstairs instead. Another time, maybe.” Ethan tried to be polite but there was no easy way to turn her offer down. Apparently I didn’t try hard enough, he thought as Jacqueline’s expression quickly give way to anger.

“Excuse me?” A lesser man would have winced at the incredulous tone. “I know I didn’t hear you correctly.”

“Afraid you did. I’m sure you can find a replacement easily enough.”

Jacqueline huffed, sticking her arm out as the elevator started to close between them. “You won’t get another chance.”

“I understand. Have a nice vacation, Jacqueline. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” She didn’t bother responding, whipping her head around and storming down the hallway. Ethan watched her tight butt as the elevator doors closed and couldn’t help but question his sanity. What the hell was holding him back?

Chapter 2

The sun was no longer visible on the horizon as Gwen dove under the water, using her thick tail to twirl and spin. Eyes closed, she let her other senses guide her. Her whiskers tingled from all the vibrations in the water. She sensed the gentle sway of seaweed on the ocean floor and a school of fish swimming behind her. When human, this skill wasn’t quite as strong, but she did possess a greater sense of her surroundings than other shifters.

She resurfaced and gently paddled on her back, keeping her nose and eyes above the water. The gentle waves supported her, and she let the peace of the ocean surround her. This was her favorite time of day. The guests were mostly inside, eating their dinner. A few lingered on the patio after watching the sun set, but the more vibrant colors had already disappeared, leaving behind a dusky purple glow.

Whenever she felt overwhelmed or stressed out, this was her escape, her haven. She loved her job, but it constantly left her feeling strung out and tense. Lately, she’d been restless. The senior romp members were putting more and more responsibilities on her shoulders and she reveled in it. But most days, she was stuck inside dealing with paperwork. In the past, she’d been able to interact with the guests, walk around the resort, and talk with the staff. Lately, she just hadn’t had the time and she missed the human interaction. She’d always felt separate from the others, but more and more often she found herself truly alone.

At an early age, Gwen had discovered she was different from other otters in her romp. While most pups spent their days playing, she spent her days swimming and reading. She’d never developed the flirting skills her friends and family had, and her more traditional views on love and sex had left her out of the dating game for most of her teen years. Whereas she was responsible and liked to think she worked just as hard as she played, she often felt like a mother, even to the older members of her community, reining in the hotel staff and forcing them to do their jobs. Even her own parents needed gentle reminders to pay the bills. It wasn’t that things wouldn’t get done. They would eventually. But eventually wasn’t good enough for Gwen.

Some days she was amazed the resort had succeeded as well as it had before she’d taken the helm. But she wanted more. The yearning to be a real mother, not just a figurative one to her romp, made her heart ache.

As the water rushed over her small body in a comforting caress, her thoughts drifted once again to the wolf. She’d managed to get very little work done after her run-in with him this afternoon. Whenever she closed her eyes the images of them naked and entwined played in her mind. By the time she finally called it a day, Gwen was annoyed, horny, and aching for his touch.

These foreign feelings left her off-balance. Sure, there’d been men who attracted her. Even some she’d bedded. But she’d always been able to separate work from play before. Never had someone consumed her thoughts so completely. It was annoying. If she hadn’t seen him walk off with the cheetah, she would seriously begin to wonder if she’d found her mate.

Inside her head, her otter yelled at her, telling her she had indeed found her mate, but the woman remained skeptical. She wasn’t naive enough to compare herself to the other woman, who had radiated sexuality with every breath, every step. There was no hope of competing against someone like that. Sighing, Gwen let her senses guide her toward a school of Coho salmon swimming close to shore. Slowing briefly as she neared, Gwen used her tail in a burst of speed, propelling her forward into the school. Her sharp teeth dug into her prey and she surfaced with a large fish.

Pleased with her find, Gwen paddled back toward shore to consume her meal.

* * *

Ethan walked out of the sliding glass doors and breathed a sigh of relief. The cool evening air soothed his frayed nerves as he leaned on the railing of the deck to stare into the darkening ocean.

He’d come to the hotel bar hoping to find female companionship for the night. There’d been plenty of opportunities. His genuine interest in people and friendly attitude tended to draw others to him, especially women. But not one woman inside had attracted him on a sexual level.

Worry trickled down his throat, settling heavy in his gut. The thought of having sex with any of the women he’d met tonight left a sour taste in his mouth. He hadn’t felt the vaguest tingle of interest.

Out of nowhere, an image of the serious-looking otter he’d met earlier came to him. The look of wonder as she’d gazed at him had caused her already round eyes to widen. The deep brown had pulled him in and held him captive. Her heart-shaped face was tanned but lighter than the other staff. Best of all, she had a slightly upturned nose and pouty lips just begging to be kissed. If only that encounter had ended differently. He could be in her bed, her legs wrapped around his waist this very minute instead of trying to solve his sudden disinterest in women.

Cute women had never appealed to Ethan before. He preferred sexy or beautiful. But something about this particular woman tugged at him. His mind wouldn’t let her image fade. He had to find out who she was.

Movement on the beach caught Ethan’s attention. He searched the waves, trying to figure out what it was, and saw a small wet otter waddle out of the surf with a large fish in its mouth. Maybe his imagination was playing tricks on him, but he somehow knew without a shadow of a doubt this was the woman. His woman.

He watched from the deck as she devoured her meal and started drying her fur with her mouth. What was it about this woman that fascinated him, even the most mundane things? Ethan stared, mesmerized while she puffed air into her fur. His focus paid off as the figure on the beach began to shift, the pops and cracks drowned out by the noise of the ocean. Straightening, Ethan sucked in a startled breath as the human woman’s curvaceous form took shape. As she lay on the sand panting after the change, Ethan absorbed every aspect of her body. A small groan escaped as his eyes moved past her hips and down her legs. He could only imagine how phenomenal those legs would feel wrapped around him, and he wanted to taste the salt from the ocean on those voluptuous breasts. As his imagination ran wild, his pants became uncomfortably tight, forcing him to shift his weight. Whatever had been ailing him all evening fled with the arrival of his mystery woman. There was only one thing he wanted tonight. One woman.

Suddenly, the form on the beach sat up and turned in his direction. How had she known he was here? He strove for a nonthreatening pose even as his wolf cried out for him to hunt and take. Scaring her wouldn’t help him accomplish his goals.

As she continued to stare, Ethan could almost feel her mind grappling with a difficult decision. He held his breath, anxious to discover his fate. Something whispered to him that the next few moments were vitally important. Eventually, she bushed the sand from her body, pulled on her clothes, and fiddled with her long, waist-length hair, pulling it back into the same drastic bun from earlier. The determination to take her hair down and run his hands through it burned in him.

Ethan let out the breath he’d been holding as she made her way to him, his eyes riveted on her hips gently swaying with each step. A breeze rushed over his face, bringing her scent with it. He breathed it in like a drowning man. The scent blended perfectly with the smell of the ocean. He licked his lips, tasting the salt on them and imagined he was tasting her. He wanted to bury himself inside her until she was as crazy as he felt.

When she stopped in front of him, her eyes locked on his and he was powerless to look away.

“Hi.” Her gaze shifted to the side as if searching for something to say. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier, or thank you for saving me from the wall. I’m Gwen.”

She thrust out her hand to shake his, and Ethan stared at it. How would she react if he pulled her into his arms and ravaged those beautiful lips like he wanted to? Instead, he gave her a smile and shook hands.

“Actually, you did manage to thank me.” Utterly charming him in the process, too. The blush that stole over her cheeks only endeared her to him more. “I’m Ethan. Can I buy you a drink, Gwen?”

Her gaze drifted to the open doors behind him. “I probably shouldn’t. I try not to mingle with guests.” She continued to stare into the bar before glancing back at him, her doe-like eyes hiding nothing. She wanted to stay with him and was fighting an internal battle with her conscience. It would be easy to tip the scales in his favor.

With any other woman, he’d swing his arm around her shoulders, and guide her toward the bar with a charming smile. Instead, using his intuition as his guide, he cupped her cheek with his hand. Her eyes closed as she nuzzled her face against him but flew open moments later as he drew her closer. His other hand slipped around her waist as he tilted her chin up, aligning her lips with his.

As soon as his lips brushed against hers, his wolf growled low in his chest. Something about this woman captivated him. The need to touch her, taste her, move inside her, was unbearable. Resisting the urge to crush her against him proved difficult and he struggled to keep the kiss light.

Despite his resolution, the feel of her lips parting in silent invitation proved too much for his tightly-strung control. His tongue thrust inside, exploring her mouth as his arms pulled her tighter against him. Her hands closed into fists, pulling at him as if to draw him closer. Breaking away, he gasped for air, need setting him on fire. Gwen rested her head on his shoulder, panting as well.

“What say we skip the drink and go back to my room?” Ethan suggested, desperate to know her better.

“No.” Her quick reply was so unexpected, it took him a moment to process.

He stared down at her in confusion. No? He thought they had been on the same page. Her hands were still fisted in his shirt, her body a comfortable weight in his arms. Everything indicated she had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had. Hell, she’d practically melted against him. What had he done wrong?

Fighting the urge to growl, Ethan took deep breaths to calm his wolf. The woman sorely tested his laidback attitude. If she thought she was getting away from him, she was crazy.

With his charisma and handsome face, he wasn’t often without a playfellow. It didn’t hurt being one of the officers in his pack with significant influence. Women usually fell at his feet.

His sexual appetites tended to be fairly large, but the moment he’d met this woman, everyone else had ceased to matter. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. It devastated him to think she might not feel the same way. Letting her go tonight would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. But if that was what she wanted, he’d find a way to walk away. But it wouldn’t end there. Wolves were persistent when they wanted something and he wanted Gwen. Nothing would stop him from coming back until she was ready for him. He’d win her over eventually. No other outcome was acceptable.

“My room is bigger.”

It took a moment to process the meaning behind her words, but once he did, his soul leapt and he fought the impulse to howl. No waiting. Gwen would be his tonight.

* * *

Gwen’s mind whirled. What was she doing? Each step brought her closer to the elevators, but she couldn’t dispel her doubts. This was so unlike her. She never acted impulsively and certainly not about something like sex. Glancing back at Ethan, she bit her lip and wondered what it was about this man that made her ignore all her rules.

It wasn’t as if the rules regarding sex were strict or overwhelming, but she never jumped into bed with hotel guests, never slept with a guy on the first date, and she never had sex with someone without knowing what would happen the next day.

With Ethan, she pretty much threw all three rules out the window. But the moment he’d put his arms around her, nothing else mattered. Her otter glorified in this wolf’s touch. With each beat of her heart, the word mate thrummed through her body.

Each step closer to the private staff elevators brought a new doubt. Could she actually go through with this? No. It was too irresponsible. But as she turned around to apologize and call it off, she looked up into Ethan’s smiling eyes, already altered to his wolf’s golden shade. They glowed in the darker corridor, and her excuses died on her tongue. Some things were worth the risk.

Neither talked on the ride up to her floor, but the way his hand stroked her side reassured her as no words could have. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied him.

There was no denying he was handsome, probably the most handsome man she’d ever met and certainly the most handsome she’d ever been intimate with. But more than that, there was an aura about him that soothed her nerves, making her relax.

After her moment of hesitation, Ethan placed his hand on the small of her back just above the curve of her butt. The heat of his hand through the thin material of her blouse made Gwen shiver in anticipation of the night ahead. What would his skin feel like against hers with nothing in between?

Wiping her sweaty hands on her skirt, Gwen turned back around and led the way to her door. At least they’d have some privacy. As manager, Gwen had one of the suites in a separate wing to herself. Every glance back at Ethan reassured her she was making the right decision.

She expelled a breath, smiling at him over her shoulder as she walked toward her door.

“Here it is.” Her hand shook so badly trying to slide her key card into her door, she couldn’t manage it. Ethan’s hand, the one not currently caressing her butt, covered hers and helped guide the card into the lock.

The heat of his breath caressed her ear as he whispered, “Easy, pet,” causing another delicious shiver to run down her spine.

* * *

Ethan barely registered his surroundings as he stepped into the hotel suite. All his focus centered on the beautiful woman in front of him. Her tantalizing scent drew him to her as nothing had before.

“It’s okay, Gwen. We’ll take this at your speed.” He could tell she was nervous, that she didn’t do this kind of thing often, and for some reason, the thought pleased him. Which was strange. Never before had he cared about his lovers’ previous experience. Those thoughts hadn’t crossed his mind until now. But with Gwen, he felt…possessive. Just the thought of her with another man made his skin crawl.

“I know.” The soft words drew him back to reality and he wrangled in his wayward thoughts. There was here and now. Nothing else. The past didn’t matter. And right now, the need to taste her overwhelmed everything else.

Closing the door behind them, Ethan drew Gwen into his arms. Pulling her up his body, he gripped her hips, his hands splaying over the cheeks of her ass. Her hands rested on his chest.

Ethan’s eyes drifted upward, focusing on the hair piled at the top of her head. The damn bun had hidden her beauty from him at first. It needed to go.

Reaching up, he unwound her hair from its confines, letting it spill down her back. Her hair was glorious, long and thick. It fell to the small of her back, tickling his hand where it rested on her butt. He ran his free hand through the silky locks.

“Why do you hide all this beautiful hair?” Ethan tilted her face toward his, then, not waiting for an answer, claimed her lips.

“Ethan.” The word escaped in a breathy plea. Hearing his name whispered with such need drove his desire higher. He wrapped the thick strands of hair in his hand and took advantage of her open mouth. Thrusting his tongue between her lips, he explored the recesses of her mouth. When her tongue joined the play, he groaned, pulling back only to allow her teeth to lightly nip at his lower lip. Who knew the woman could kiss so well? Returning the favor, Ethan sucked at her top lip before diving back in.

Her hands fisting in his shirt as she tried to pull him closer, arching her chest toward him. Ethan pulled her hips tighter, his erection straining against his zipper. He had to get inside her soon, but not before he tasted every inch of her delectable flesh.

They were both gasping as Ethan pulled away. Pushing Gwen so she leaned against the door, Ethan slowly unbuttoned her shirt, kissing a trail down her torso with each luscious inch he revealed. Satin smooth skin quivered under his tongue wherever he kissed.

“Ethan, wait.” Gwen’s tentative hands stopped him as he reached her belly button. But he couldn’t resist dipping his tongue inside before stopping. There was hesitation in the eyes looking down at him.

“What’s wrong, pet?”

“The lights are on.”

Uh oh, please don’t let her get prudish on me now. He stared at her, trying to see past her anxious face into her soul. Her teeth worried at her bottom lip, but her eyes looked over his form appreciatively. It certainly didn’t appear to be a moral issue. So what was the problem? Reaching up, Ethan ran his thumb over the lip she tortured. He had plans for those lips.

“You’re beautiful, Gwen. I want to see you.”

“It’s just…I have a few more curves than your average woman. I–” Gwen stopped and took a deep breath, forcing her chest closer to his face. “I saw the woman you were with earlier. I don’t look like her.” The tentative whisper told him where the problem lay. Her self-consciousness showed in every tense line of her body.

But there was no need. His hands ached to run up and down her curvy figure. He couldn’t even remember why he’d once found Jacqueline attractive. All his thoughts focused on Gwen.

Needing to reassure her, he caressed her stomach as he whispered, “Your curves fit perfectly in a man’s hands. Never doubt that, Gwen.” The answering smile lit up her entire face. Seeing the joy his words had brought, he realized there wasn’t anywhere in the world he would rather be, and no one he’d rather be with.

Releasing the last button of her shirt, Ethan moved on to her skirt, slipping it off her hips to reveal black lace panties. He chuckled against her belly at the discovery. “Who would’ve thought these hid under your straight-laced suit.”

His tongue darted out, tracing her lightly tanned skin above the line of her underwear. A slightly salty taste infused her skin from her swim in the ocean. The new flavor drove his wolf wild.

“So good. I have to taste more,” Ethan whispered against her stomach. The little shudders darting down her body, causing her to quiver in his arms, delighted him.

Without wasting another moment, Ethan finished undressing her and lifted one of her legs over his shoulder, exposing her completely to his gaze.

“You are so gorgeous.” Ethan placed small kisses along her bare inner thigh before closing his mouth over Gwen’s clit and sucking deeply.

* * *

Oh, God. This was better than anything she’d ever experienced before. Gwen’s head fell back against the door with a thud but she barely felt it. All her thoughts were focused on the incredible things the man was doing with his tongue. Her hands fisted in Ethan’s hair as he teased her, kissing and sucking until she couldn’t stand anymore. As her leg gave out, Ethan caught her and lowered her to the floor. The movement was her only reprieve before his mouth returned to its teasing ministrations.

Gwen writhed, her breath coming in desperate pants. His thumbs pushed into her as his mouth continued to tease her clit. The man was good. No. The man was amazing. She cried out as Ethan pulled away, blowing cold air over her tender flesh.

“Please, Ethan. I need…” Gwen sobbed, unable to finish. Sex had always been pleasant. But not like this. Nothing like this. Her hips rose as Ethan found the perfect spot to nibble. She felt connected to him in a way she’d never experienced before. It was almost as if she could feel his pleasure which in turn heightened her own. She squirmed, her body tight as a bowstring. His teasing kisses against the inside of her thighs only pushed her higher.

“But I’m having so much fun. Your taste is addictive.” His tongue trailed down and replaced his fingers, plunging inside her.

Gwen groaned. If he didn’t let her come soon, she would cry, beg, scream.

“Please, Ethan. Next time go slow. I need you, now.” Her patience was at an end. Her inner animal demanded he fill her completely, her need for him almost desperate. She needed to feel his weight covering her, blanketing her in his strength. To be reassured by his body that he was real, that she had finally found her mate. That she would no longer be alone. Because she knew only a mate could know her body so well.

Ethan’s lips blazed a trail back up her body, claiming her mouth in a bruising kiss. The taste of her flavored his tongue making her moan against his mouth. His hands played with her nipples as his tongue plundered deeper.

“Are you ready for me, pet?” The teasing humor in his voice urged her to scream at him and beat her hands against his chest. He knew she was, damn him. Instead she groaned against his throat, no longer able to form words.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” His hands trailed down and held her hips steady as he worked himself inside her. He was so big! For a moment, Gwen feared he wouldn’t fit. She shifted in discomfort as he pressed insistently forward.

Eyes closed, Ethan rested his forehead against hers. Gwen felt the moisture where they were connected and knew she was well prepared. It was a tight fit, but a fit nonetheless. He was holding back. She could see it in the lines of his face and the way his body vibrated with barely checked desire. This wasn’t what she wanted. As much as she admired his consideration of her, she wanted this to be as mind-blowing for him as it was for her. This was the start of the rest of their lives. There could be no doubt.

Gwen clutched his shoulders to urge him on. He opened his eyes, assessing her before pressing forward until he was buried to the hilt. A low growl rattled his chest.

She burned where they were connected, and she couldn’t seem to get any air into her lungs. She squirmed under him, struggling to draw a breath but her lungs wouldn’t obey the command. Ethan filled her too completely.

He must have sensed her discomfort because without moving his hips, his hand slid down her body, his thumb circling her clit. She drew in an involuntary breath as a wave of pleasure crashed into her.

With her distress gone, Gwen wrapped her legs around his waist. Ethan pressed deeper with the new position, drawing another gasp from her. This time one of pure pleasure. He reached all the right places inside her with each slow glide, filling her deliciously.

Pleasure radiated through her body until Gwen bucked, driven on by mindless need. She begged him, but for what exactly she didn’t know. He thrust into her with increasing fervor. His fingers continued to tease, her toes curling as the sensations bubbling inside approached the peak of ecstasy.

Just as she was about to round the bend and tumble over, he stopped. Gwen sobbed as her pleasure settled. Her climax retreated. Over and over he teased her, bringing her to the edge before pulling back. He wouldn’t let her pass the brink of pleasure.

Whimpering against his neck, Gwen begged for release. Time and place ceased to matter. All that mattered was Ethan and the delicious ache he kept building upon. The more he pressed, the more frantic she became. How much more could she take? She clung to his sweaty shoulders, moving in time with each thrust. At last, he pushed her right over the edge.

Screaming his name as she came around him, Gwen felt him empty inside her as he grunted his release against her neck. His warm breath caressed her ear as they both struggled to catch their breath.

“Wow.”

Gwen wasn’t sure which of them uttered the breathless exclamation. She felt his hands gently caressing her hips and upper thighs. His lips nuzzled the sensitive skin behind her ear. Never before had she felt so…cherished. Loved.

“You’re incredible.” The soft whisper caressed her skin. “Absolutely incredible.”

Gwen smiled at the words and ran her hands slowly up and down his cooling back. A small coo of utter contentment escaped from between her lips. His hand reached up and caressed her cheek.

“You sound like a little bird.” He chuckled.

“Sorry. It’s just something otters do when happy.” She tried not to do it around non-otters. Other men had teased her about it in the past.

“Don’t be sorry. I like it.” He kissed her ear and another small coo escaped.

Chapter 3

A shaft of sunlight invaded the room from the windows, waking Ethan. Giving his mind a minute to process, Ethan took stock of his situation. He was curled around a soft, warm body. As the memories of the night before assailed him, he wrapped a possessive arm around Gwen’s waist and buried his nose in her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent with each breath. Every impulse urged him to cuddle her closer, to wake her with kisses and strokes.

Ethan couldn’t believe how responsive the woman had been. Who would’ve guessed it from the uptight businesswoman she presented to the world? Her body had taken him in, embracing him as none other, and her scent had overwhelmed his senses. The mindless pursuit to give her an experience she’d never forget had driven him forward.

He liked to think he succeeded. Three times. It was certainly a night he wouldn’t soon forget.

After they had gotten enough energy to get up from the floor, they’d moved to the shower, where he had taken Gwen against the wall as water pounded against his back. They were both ready to go again by the time they finally made it to bed. It was hard to believe how many times he had taken her, or how perfectly she had responded. As if she was made for him.

Every sound she made, every move, pushed him higher until, in the end, he experienced a pleasure greater than ever before. Almost as if he’d found where he belonged.

Shaking his head, Ethan slowly disentangled himself and eased out of bed. Those feelings were dangerous. Gwen had been a perfect bed partner, but sex was all this would ever be. He wasn’t looking for anything more.

If he were… He stopped himself before completing the thought. Best not to go there. The whole point of this vacation was to have fun and to get away from clingy females, not to start a relationship.

His chest tightened as he slowly pulled on his clothes and crept from the room.

Without giving himself a moment to second-guess his decision, Ethan gently closed the door behind him, hearing the lock click into place. No turning back now. Although he was tempted to pound on the door and beg for forgiveness. Instead, Ethan turned from the door and walked away from the woman consuming his thoughts. He was moving on.

* * *

The snick of a door closing pulled Gwen out of sound sleep. Pushing her long hair out of her face, she blearily looked around the room.

“Ethan?” She hated the tentative tone of her voice. Ethan had more than convinced her how sexy he found her last night. Clutching the sheet higher, Gwen sat up and looked around. His clothes were gone from the floor and the bathroom door stood open, the dark alcove mocking her with its emptiness.

Glancing at the clock, Gwen was startled to see it was almost ten in the morning. She never slept this late. Then again, she didn’t usually stay up as late as she had with Ethan, either.

The late hour encouraged her. He’d probably gone downstairs to get something to eat. Wolves weren’t the most patient shifters, especially when it came to food.

Chuckling to herself, Gwen quickly flung the covers aside and jumped out of bed. If she hurried, she might be able to catch him in the hotel restaurant and share a meal. Another giggle escaped as she pulled on some clothes. She was so damn happy.

How lucky was she? Just as she despaired, wondering if she’d ever find her mate, he strolled right on through the doors of her resort and straight into her arms. He hadn’t been able to resist her any more than she had been able to resist him.

Her otter cooed in contentment within her chest as her future with Ethan played out in her mind. There would be children and love and affection. Everything she’d ever dreamed of.

Eager to join her new mate, Gwen hurried through her morning routine and rushed out the door, turning down a shortcut that would take her through the staff kitchens and hotel bar.

* * *

Ethan sat at the resort bar with his head in his hands.

“What would you like, sir?” He looked into the cheerful face of the male otter and had to resist the urge to growl. What was wrong with him? He hadn’t felt like himself since leaving Gwen this morning. The urge to lash out at those around him, to fight with any male in the room, kept rising up. Every second he stayed away was a fight with his wolf.

“Ugh, something strong.” Ethan groaned, hoping a drink would take the edge off his nerves.

The bartender’s eyebrows rose and he glanced at his watch before moving to pour the drink. Ethan’s wolf tried the whole time to pull him back to Gwen’s room, but he refused to give in. His wolf would thank him one day. Until then, he needed something to dull his senses.

Although he was only a couple years younger than his brother Jason, unlike him, he wasn’t ready to mate. Yes, his wolf would understand someday. But in the meantime, it felt as if his body was being torn in two.

A long growl grew in Ethan’s chest, causing the bartender to stare at him warily as he set a glass of straight whiskey in front of him.

“I saw you with Gwen last night, didn’t I?” the man ventured. Ethan looked at him, wondering where this conversation was going.

“Yeah?”

“She never sleeps with guests, you know? You must mean something special to her.”

There was a calculating gleam in the man’s gaze that set Ethan on edge. The bartender better be careful. With his wolf this close to the surface, Ethan didn’t have as much control as normal.

“It was just a one night stand. It didn’t mean anything for either of us.”

“You sure? If I know Gwen, she wouldn’t have behaved that way for anyone but her mate.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s not my mate.” His wolf cried inside him as the words left his mouth, fighting hard for control. But for good measure, he went one step further to hammer the point home. “Besides, she isn’t the kind of woman I’d choose for my mate. A jaguar or a coyote is a good mate for a wolf.” Ethan didn’t believe a word he was saying. The woman he’d just left would be a perfect mate for him.

“Mating is a long way off for me,” he muttered.

* * *

Gwen leaned against the wall in the kitchen behind the bar listening as Ethan discussed the reasons she was ineligible for his mate. A small mewl of distress escaped her before she could contain it.

A jaguar or a coyote is a good mate for a wolf… Her heart almost burst. No matter how hard she tried to put a positive spin on his words, nothing came to her. Ethan didn’t want her.

Tears tracked down her cheeks but, even though they were silent, she still caught the sympathetic gazes as the staff milled around her. All her hopes and dreams for the future crashed around her in jagged shards, cutting into her on the way down. No matter what Ethan claimed, she knew the truth. Ethan’s wolf was mate to her otter. She’d never been more certain of anything in her life. But despite what his wolf wanted, the man didn’t want the woman. Their animals were made for each other, but that didn’t guarantee a happily-ever-after.

Ignoring the staff, Gwen continued to listen as Ethan denied everything between them. She forced herself to stay, needing to hear this. All of it.

After it appeared he had wound down, Gwen silently crept away, avoiding the gazes and concerned hands reaching for her. When she made it back to her room, she collapsed on the bed, allowing the sobs of grief to escape her at last. No one would hear her in her room as the weight of despair crushed her.

In her darkest hours, she had imagined not finding her mate, or finding him after she was too old to have children. Never did she imagine not being good enough for her mate once she found him.

With fierce resolve, Gwen rose to a sitting position, wiping the tears off her cheeks. Screw that! He wasn’t good enough for her. She was successful and smart and had a good sense of humor. She managed one of the most successful shifter resorts in the world. Who the hell was he to claim she wasn’t good enough?

A knock at the door interrupted her silent rant. She thought about ignoring it, but as if reading her thoughts, the knocking became more insistent.

“Gwen, I can hear you crying. You’d better open this door right now or I’m breaking it down.” Alyssa’s voice drifted through the solid panel of wood. It figured her best friend would find her eventually. Gossip among the staff always spread quickly. Why would her failure be any different?

Throwing open the door, Gwen took one look at her friend and burst into renewed sobs. Strong arms encircled her small frame and eased the door shut, enclosing them in Gwen’s room. Alyssa was her rock, the one person she knew without a doubt would always be there for her. They’d been inseparable since childhood, despite Gwen being older by three years.

“Oh, sweetheart. What happened?”

Gwen sniveled out the whole sordid affair between sobs, letting her anger and frustration bleed through. Shocked silence met her story until Gwen revealed what she heard in the bar.

“Bastard!” Gwen smiled at the affronted anger expressed on her behalf. “You deserve so much better. Want me to beat him up for you? Say the word, I’ll do it. I may not look like much but I have a mean right hook.”

“You’re a good friend, you know that?” Alyssa always knew how to cheer her up.

“Of course I do.” Both women sat, lost in their own thoughts for a moment. “So what are you going to do now?” The quiet question hung in the air, taunting Gwen.

What was she going to do? The thought of watching Ethan flirt with other guests and staff for the next two weeks was more painful than she could bear. She feared she wouldn’t be able to stand it. Would beg him to come back to her, destroyingher pride along with everything else. Or worse, that he’d use her and she’d be unable to resist. She couldn’t let that happen.

Seeming to sense her distress, Alyssa bumped shoulders with her. “Don’t worry. I give him one day before he’s banging on your door again, crawling back.”

“No.” The statement was quiet but resolved. “He doesn’t want me, Lyssa. It’s not just him denying I’m his mate. He doesn’t want a ‘woman like me’ as his mate. I’m better than that. Damn it, I deserve more than that.” Gwen was quiet for a moment, contemplating her next course of action.

“I have some vacation days saved up. Maybe I’ll go visit Ty’s ranch in Nevada I haven’t seen him in a while.” Ty had worked at the resort for a summer a few years ago and the three had become fast friends. Gwen and Ty had even dated for a while, but it had never been serious. Both had known the other wasn’t a mate, simply good company. After he left to make his own way in the world, she’d kept in contact and they remained good friends. “Besides, it might be good to get away for a few days…or until Ethan checks out.”

A vacation sounded like exactly what she needed. The risk of running into Ethan was too high here. It would kill her to live through the heartbreak of his words over and over. Her worst fear was that the mate attraction was a pull neither of them could resist. She deserved to be wanted for who she was, not forced into a future that would be miserable for both of them. Being alone was preferable to that fate.

Distance was what she needed. The more distance between them, the safer they both were. It was the only option.

* * *

Ethan couldn’t sit still. Lying on the beach hadn’t helped. Swimming hadn’t helped. Hell, he’d even shifted and run through the woods. Nothing eased the restlessness consuming him. There was only one cure, one thing guaranteed to still the animal inside. One woman. But when he’d searched for her, she wasn’t where he expected her to be. Nor could he find her anywhere else he looked.

So he went back to the first place he’d looked, pacing the hallway outside Gwen’s office. His nose told him she wasn’t inside, but she had to come to work sooner or later. When she did, he’d be waiting.

The need to see her, smell her, hold her, overwhelmed him. The feeling of being caged continued to grow as more time passed. Where the hell was she?

“Sir, is there something I can help you with?” The voice was friendly enough, but the young otter’s eyes were cold. She looked him over with a sneer, as if finding him lacking.

“Waiting for Gwen,” he managed to growl out.

“I’m sorry, sir. She’s not here. I’d be happy to get our acting manager if there’s a problem you need addressed.”

His heart skipped a beat in his chest.

“What do you mean, she’s not here? I was just with her this morning.” If possible, the eyes looking him over grew colder, and the smile fell from her face.

“Just what I said, she’s not here.” Even the friendliness in her voice had disappeared.

Panic burned in his belly. If she wasn’t here, where was she? What if she’d gone for good? No, he wouldn’t accept that. She was his. Made for him, just as he was made for her. This wasn’t how things were supposed to work.

The woman turned to leave, but Ethan caught up with her and spun her around.

“Where is she?” Ethan demanded. He knew he was being rude, but he couldn’t care about that now. All that mattered was finding his mate.

“She went on a little vacation of her own.” She started to turn away, but Ethan stopped her again.

“When does she return?” A deep rumble built inside him. She hadn’t mentioned a vacation. Had last night meant nothing to her? How could she just leave after everything they’d shared? And without a damn word.

“I believe she mentioned coming back once you checked out. Now, if that’s all, sir, I have other duties to attend to.”

Half-mad with impatience, Ethan’s wolf had reached the end of it’s rope. Grabbing the woman by the shoulders, Ethan spun her around and demanded to know where his mate had gone. He was through denying what he wanted. He needed Gwen more than he needed his next breath. How dare she run away from him.

If it was the last thing he did, he’d find her, and then find out why she ran. She was his mate and her place was by his side. Forever.

* * *

Anger and resolve overtook her best friend’s mate. Watching it happen before her eyes was fascinating.

The last thing she wanted to do was betray Gwen, the woman was like a sister to her. But some sixth sense compelled her to help this wolf, screamed at her that this was the right choice. He’d have to do a lot of crawling and begging to win her back after everything he’d said, but Gwen deserved her mate, deserved happiness and family. Sighing in frustration, Alyssa wrote Ty’s address down on a slip of paper and handed it to Ethan.

“You hurt her again, I’ll castrate you,” she threatened calmly as he reached for the paper. If there had only been surprise in his gaze, she would have snatched the paper away before he could read it. But pain and determination were also in the look he shot her as he nodded. Determination to make this right. Taking the paper, the wolf ran down the hallway like the hounds of hell were following.

Looks like Gwen is in for quite a surprise, she thought with a smile. Hopefully the wolf would live up to the faith she’d just placed in him.

Chapter 4

“What do you mean she’s not here?” Ethan shouted at the beefy man who answered the door. This was the address the woman had given him. Gwen was supposed to be here. It was becoming increasingly harder to maintain control. The wolf inside him was distressed and struggling to get free. Seeing another man in the same house as his mate, a mate who had run from him, was a shock he hadn’t prepared for.

To hear he had spent the better part of the day traveling for nothing was testing his restraint. His wolf was itching for a fight. The horse shifter in front of him might just find himself on the wrong side of his anger.

“And who the hell are you to her, anyway?” His hands fisted, his frustration reaching its boiling point. It drove him mad seeing this male standing between him and his woman.

The man calmly leaned against the doorway, blocking Ethan from seeing inside. Clearly, the man either didn’t know the trouble he was courting or he didn’t care. “An old friend. A good friend. But, like I said, she’s not here.”

Taking a deep breath, Ethan strove for calm. The barest hint of an ocean breeze floated in the air. He knew that scent. Gwen.

The shifter was lying. He didn’t know why, but he knew his nose wouldn’t. Gwen was inside and he would find her. Even if he had to go through this man to get to her.

Everything around him took on an amber hue as his eyes shifted. His mate had run from him. Soon she’d learn running from a wolf only opened herself up for a hunt. Now that he’d cornered his prey, Ethan would make sure she didn’t escape him again. It was time to claim his mate. Right here. Right now.

“If you don’t step aside, I will tear you apart.” His voice was more wolf’s than man’s. The shifter didn’t rush to get out of his way as expected, but stared at him, raking his eyes over Ethan from head to toe.

“Let’s get something straight, wolf. I’m not scared of you. I’ll let you in because ultimately I believe it’s what Gwen needs, but if you hurt her, I will take you down. We clear?”

Ethan jerked a nod. Twice today someone had stood between him and his mate. His wolf wouldn’t stand for much more. It took all his willpower not to attack him just for the pleasure of fighting.

He couldn’t understand why Gwen was here in the first place. She should be cuddling with him in bed, wrapped up in the sheets, not trying to ditch him. What had he done so wrong to cause her to flee? The night had been as good for her as it was for him. He’d made sure of it.

Okay, if he were honest, sneaking out of her bed the morning after such mind-shattering sex had been a shitty thing to do. But his emotions had been in turmoil. The whole reason he’d come to the resort was to escape mating, not to head straight toward it. He’d thought he had more time.

But fate had its own schedule and, apparently, it was done waiting. Time had run out, and he had found his mate. The more he thought about it, the happier he grew. How could he be upset when he thought about Gwen? She was a beautiful, sexy, and smart woman who belonged to him. Just as soon as he claimed her.

The sting in his gums intensified as his fangs extended, poking his lipin anticipation. He felt almost feral. Taking the stairs two at a time, Ethan followed Gwen’s scent to a room at the end of the hallway. Quietly, he eased open the door.

She sat on the floor across the room putting clothes in the dresser drawers, her back rigid. She didn’t turn around when he entered the room and shut the door.

“Did he leave, Ty? Thanks for chasing him away. I really don’t want to see him,” she muttered quietly, sniffling into a tissue.

Ethan stood back examining the scene. It was obvious Gwen was upset. The anguish in her voice broke his heart. He never wanted to hear her crying again even though he knew he would at some point if they spent a lifetime together. No matter how perfect their relationship would be, or how well suited they were, tears were bound to happen. Still, he’d do everything in his power to make sure it didn’t happen often. All he wanted was to make her happy.

Right now, he was more concerned by the cause of these particular tears. He knew it was his fault. That knowledge sat heavy on his shoulders.

Whatever hurt he had caused Gwen, he vowed to fix it. But right now, he had a more pressing concern. No matter what boneheaded thing he’d done, he was her future mate. A mate she’d left twiddling his thumbs in California. His wolf demanded to know she’d never run from him again. There was only one way to make certain.

He snarled as he crossed the room until he stood directly behind his woman. She stiffened at the sound and ever so slowly looked up into his yellow eyes.

“Ethan?” she squeaked. She stood in a rush and backed away from him. A growl burst from his throat. Backing away was just another form of running in his mind. Ethan still stood between her and the exit, but seeing her running from him yet again caused something to shift inside him. Some primal side he tried to keep buried broke free.

He stalked her until her back hit the wall behind her.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered.

Instead of answering, he pressed her body further against the wall with his own and leaned down, capturing her lips in a heated kiss.

Her hands floated in the air above his chest. This was a moment of truth. Either her hands were raised to push him away or clutch him closer. Her hesitant response cut a path through the red haze of anger, allowing reality to intrude. Frustration swamped him. If Gwen didn’t acknowledge they were destined to mate, he couldn’t in good conscience take the next step. Mating was for life. It wasn’t something he would force on anyone, destiny or not. If time was what she needed, time was what she’d get. But she could damn well spend it with him. At least in the same state, if not in the same room.

Just as he started to back off, her hands fisted in his shirt, clinging to him desperately.

The primal beast within went wild, the scent of her arousal floating in the air around them. He pushed her roughly against the wall, his body flush against hers. Her small groan of desire caused Ethan’s need to grow impossibly larger. The clothes needed to go. Now. His hands snaked up her body, pulling her shirt up and off.

Barely breaking contact with her lips, Ethan threw the shirt to the floor before he thrust his tongue into her mouth once more, devouring her taste. He was a starving man and Gwen was his favorite dish.

Massaging her nipples, Ethan became frustrated with the barrier of her bra and brutally ripped the straps, shoving it down her torso and baring her breasts to his gaze.

Without warning, Ethan leaned down and assaulted Gwen’s nipples with his tongue. Drawing one rosy peak into his mouth, Ethan sucked hard, letting her feel the edge of his teeth. A strangled moan escaped Gwen as she twitched against him.

* * *

How did he do this to her? Heat engulfed her until all she could do was mewl in need. God, she was on fire. She clung to Ethan’s shoulders, her nails sharpening as her inner animal clawed toward the surface.

This rough side of Ethan was completely opposite from the calm, collected party guy she’d met the night before. But damned if she didn’t like it.

She would have laughed if she had the breath for it. Like it? Hell, she didn’t just like it. She worshipped it. This man demanded and took until Gwen could do nothing but offer him anything he wanted.

The tender peaks of her breasts brushed against his shirt as he moved back up her body, capturing her mouth once again. The delicious flame of desire in her belly burned brighter.

The brush of his clothing against her naked skin set her on fire. Her hands moved toward his shirt buttons, but before she reached the first one, she found her hands raised above her head and held against the wall. The helpless pose pushed her breasts out, opening her further to Ethan’s caresses.

The vulnerable position, as well as the small grunts he was making, caused a blast of renewed heat through her blood. The whole thing felt so…primal. Gwen had never been more turned on. She moaned and thrust her breasts against him.

He understood her silent plea. Clutching her hands in one of his, he reached down with his other to remove her skirt. He struggled for a moment and Gwen was sure he’d have to release her hands to work the zipper. The wall scraped against her back as she writhed against it. This was taking too long.

A tearing sound rent the air.

The sound cleared some of the haze of desire from her brain. Opening her eyes, Gwen looked down in shock. Ethan’s claws were out and her skirt lay shredded on the floor, completely ruined. A protest rose to the surface–that was an expensive skirt–but his mouth covered hers before the words left her mouth. Argument forgotten, she sank into him with a moan as his tongue tangled with hers. Need returned with a vengeance, drowning her in longing.

Without warning, he tore his mouth away from hers and buried his face against her throat. She mewled in protest, animal instinct driving her now. Why did he always pull away when she needed him? His breath fell hot and heavy against her neck as his hands gripped her hips, stilling their movements.

“Stop me now if you don’t want this, Gwen. I can’t stop if we go any further,” Ethan whispered against her skin.

Stop? Gwen could no more stop this than she could stop breathing. If Ethan pulled away now, she’d spontaneously combust.

“Please, don’t leave me.” Gwen didn’t care that she begged. She needed Ethan. She needed her mate. The past hours had been torture as her otter yearned for her wolf.

Pausing only to unzip his pants, Ethan thrust into Gwen without removing them. There was something wicked about being naked and fucked against a wall by a man fully clothed. His groan joined hers. The feel of him inside her, the delicious stretch as her body struggled to accommodate him, brought tears of pleasure to her eyes. As Ethan pulled Gwen’s legs up, wrapping them around his waist, he slid deeper, sending shards of pleasure through her body.

* * *

“Never. I’m never leaving you and you’re never leaving me again. You’re mine, Gwen.” Ethan continued thrusting inside her, his cock pulsing with impending release. His release burned in his balls as he struggled to hold it back. He wasn’t going to last, his lust was too great. When his muscles tightened, he knew he was out of time. Before he could let go, he needed to finish the mating.

“Who do you belong to, Gwen?”

Staring down at her, he waited for a response. She didn’t appear to have heard him. Her hands were fisted in his hair, her head thrown back, exposing her throat to his wandering mouth. A desperate moan escaped and she pulled on his hair when his hips stopped moving.

“Gwen. Who do you belong to?”

“You,” The admission burst from her on a sob. “I belong to you. Please make me yours.”

It was exactly what Ethan needed to hear. Giving his wolf free reign, he licked her neck just above her shoulder. The spot would perfectly display his mark of possession. Ethan bit down hard, sinking his canines into her flesh and releasing the enzyme that would bind her to him for all time. The link began to form, uniting them as one. He could actually feel it, their souls weaving together. There were no words.

Mate, his wolf whispered in his mind right before his world exploded into a blaze of colors and sounds. His body shuddered at the onslaught of sensations.

Through the haze of pleasure, he felt Gwen clench around him. Her cries of release tangled with his, echoing throughout the room.

Finally, Gwen was his. No one could stand in his way or deny she belonged only to him. Tranquility swamped him. All was right in the world, as long as Gwen was in his arms. He nuzzled her sweat-soaked hair and kissed her temple. He couldn’t wait for his family to meet her. His mate.

* * *

What had she done? Leaning against the wall, surrounded by Ethan’s warmth, by his scent, Gwen struggled to push down the panic bubbling to the surface. All she wanted to do was burrow against him, to take comfort in his embrace. Instead she silently cursed herself and her otter. Her shoulder throbbed where he’d bitten her. No, not just bitten her. Where he mated with her. And God, she’d never felt anything like it. Never experienced pleasure like that before. It was as if her very soul had exploded, and reformed intertwined with Ethan. And therein lay the problem.

Lost in passion, Gwen hadn’t even considered the consequences. Had never imagined it would go this far.

Now it was done and all she could do was curse herself. If she had one damn ounce of willpower, maybe she wouldn’t find herself mated to the one man capable of causing her irrevocable despair. Would he regret his decision now that it was too late to change it? Stupid question. Of course he would. Every word she’d heard him utter in the bar came back to haunt her. Just her luck, stuck with a mate who didn’t want her.

Reaching out, Gwen felt her tie to Ethan thrumming through her veins, his very presence pulling at her from the inside out. But mated or not, it didn’t change the facts. She knew the truth. Knew how Ethan felt about her. Being mated didn’t change anything.

She’d tried her hardest to save them both from this fate. Yet, here she was, mated to a man who didn’t think she was good enough for him. Who didn’t think her otter was good enough for his wolf.

Some part of him must have thought she was good enough. A shifter’s animal sought out their perfect match. But the human had their own thoughts and feelings separate from its beast. And this human didn’t want her. He’d already made that perfectly clear, whether he knew she’d heard or not.

The more she thought about it, the more Gwen’s spirits sunk. She wanted to cry, to wail at Fate. It just wasn’t fair. Why was she always the odd one out? The one who didn’t belong. Why was it her mate who didn’t want her?

* * *

Sensing Gwen’s retreat after such mind blowing pleasure cut a path through Ethan’s happiness. Pressed up against the wall and his body, he felt her physically and mentally withdraw from him. The wrench on their bond as she pulled away was downright painful.

What had happened? First, she had run and now, after sharing so much, she shut him out. All he wanted to do was strip out of his clothes and cuddle her warm body, but he knew without having to ask, it wouldn’t be welcome. How had things gotten so complicated?

Yesterday, Gwen had been warm, eager to please and be pleased. After their lovemaking, she had curled her body into his, arms wrapped around him. Today, her body fairly shook with distress and the need to retreat. Her small mewl of grief had his wolf rearing up. He swallowed the growl before it could escape, compelled to protect her from the cause of her misery. But how could he protect her against something he couldn’t see?

“Gwen, we need to talk.” He felt a shudder work through her system and cringed. That wasn’t a shiver of desire but one of distaste. Whatever had happened, it was bad. Nothing about this was going to be pleasant. But it had to happen.

All he wanted to do was tell her about his life in Alpine Woods, about his pack, and the house he hoped they would fill with children and laughter. Instead, he was faced with trying to determine what had gone so wrong in their relationship. And finding a way to fix it.

“Okay.” She seemed so vulnerable, her head bent back, avoiding his gaze. Looking down, he saw her nude body still surrounded by his almost fully dressed one. Of course she felt vulnerable. This wasn’t the way to have this discussion. They needed to be on equal ground if they were going to solve anything.

“Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll take you out to dinner? I haven’t eaten much all day.” As soon as the words left Ethan’s mouth, he remembered why he hadn’t eaten and his anger and pain surged forward. “Why, Gwen? Why did you leave me?”

* * *

Left him? Yes, Gwen had run away physically, but Ethan had run away emotionally before she had.

If Ethan thought she was the kind of mate who would wait around until he wanted to acknowledge her, he was in for a big surprise. Her otter might not have enough strength to hold back from the wolf who didn’t think she was good enough, but the woman sure as hell had enough pride to withhold herself from the man who didn’t want her.

“I didn’t ‘leave you,’ Ethan. I didn’t have you to begin with. I went on a vacation. I’m allowed to do something for myself, you know. It’s not always about what you want and need.”

The words sounded harsh even to her. After all, the man had chased her across state lines. But she needed to get a few things straight. Ethan might not want her, but it wasn’t always about him and his wants. If they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, Gwen needed him to know she wasn’t going to be stuffed into a corner like a toy he pulled out when he wanted to play. Gwen had needs, wants, and desires too. If he didn’t care enough to seek them, she’d make sure he listened. She was used to taking care of herself anyway.

“Easy, honey. Of course you’re allowed to do something for yourself.” His voice soothed her rough edges as his hand caressed her thigh. Things could be worse. He might not love her, but at least Ethan was kind. Many women weren’t so lucky. In her heart, she knew he would never intentionally hurt her. Everything had happened so fast. There was no time to brace herself, to wrap her head around her new situation.

Breathing deeply, Gwen tried to settle her nerves and get some perspective. Life had dealt her a tricky hand, but she was a strong woman. She’d take it and make do the best she could. After all, she still had her family and friends, a job she loved, and hopefully the future would bring children to spoil. The thought of children brought an ache to her chest. More than anything, Gwen craved children of her own.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. I didn’t mean to sound so defensive.” Gwen sighed. She needed to stop taking everything so personally. If she didn’t stop jumping down his throat all the time, they would be forever at odds.

* * *

Her apology touched him. Here was a woman who wasn’t afraid to admit her faults. Touching his forehead against his mate’s and cupping her cheek, Ethan vowed to be just as brave in admitting his faults. If only she’d tell him what they were.

Through the bond they now shared, he experienced the turmoil within her as if it was his own. He wished he could set her at ease. Women had never puzzled him before. Never had he struggled to figure out what to say or do. Yet he found himself scrambling with the one woman who mattered most. If only he could get her to Alpine Woods, he would make things better. His family would help him show her how perfectly matched they were for each other.

“It’s okay. Come on down when you’re ready. I’ll be waiting.”

Chapter 5

Disbelief and shock stole the words from Gwen’s mouth. All she could do was stare at Ethan across the kitchen table as he continued to talk, seemingly oblivious to her devastation. He couldn’t be serious. Yet she knew he was. He intended to move her to his home, in Colorado. Away from everything she knew. She’d have to leave her romp, her home, her friends and family who she’d been counting on to help her adjust to her new circumstances.

And giving up her job! Her work meant the world to her. It defined her. She’d worked her butt off to rise to management level, all for nothing. Did he just expect her to drop everything?

As he continued to elaborate on his plans, Gwen realized how pointless arguing would be. He was an officer in his pack, a position he claimed held almost as much power as the Premier, and owned a business with his brothers. There was no way he would completely change his life, especially not for a mate he didn’t even want to begin with. This wasn’t fair. Why did she have to be the one to give up everything? She was important to her pack, too. But the answer came to her before she could voice the question.

As much as Gwen liked to think she’d be fine without Ethan, that they could live completely separate lives, she knew her otter would slowly wither away without her mate. Her hands were tied as much as his had been in claiming her. She needed Ethan more than she needed her job and her family. One of them had to give up everything, and it appeared Ethan had no plans to give up his life. The insensitive alpha was as necessary to her as food or sleep.

Dejectedly, Gwen began planning her move. She’d need a couple days at the resort before leaving them. Her assistant manager was capable, but not ready to take over completely. She’d need at least a week to bring him up to speed.

Moving her possessions wouldn’t be a problem. Most of her furniture belonged to the hotel. Living at the resort her whole life had allowed her to bank most of her weekly paycheck. Lucky for her, she was currently sitting on quite a nest egg for anything she might need to replace.

A hazy idea began to form in her mind. A crazy idea. She’d never be able to pull it off. But, the possibility appealed to every side of her. Maybe she could do it if she got help. In fact, if it worked she could gain back some of what she was losing. Of course, she’d need to see the town first, to confirm her idea was possible, but she saw no reason to completely abandon the work she loved. If the town was anything like what Ethan described, a bed-and-breakfast might prove to be a very successful endeavor.

A B&B would certainly be different from the huge resort she managed, but it had potential to be even better. It would allow her more hands-on interaction with her guests, something she missed in her current job. This could give her life purpose, a bright spot in the future.

Everything else was manageable. She’d find a nearby lake to swim in. As long as there was some source of water, she’d be fine. And if she could, she’d take her most important friend with her. She could make this work.

* * *

Nothing about Gwen was quite what he expected. The gap between them stood out like a sore thumb and he had no idea how to mend it.

As soon as Ethan had begun talking about his plans to move Gwen home, she’d looked at him with something akin to horror. He tried to assuage her fears by telling her all the things he loved about Alpine Woods, but the more he talked the more upset she became. He grew desperate when he caught the tears in her eyes. The last thing he wanted was to make her unhappy. So he started telling her about the nearby lakes and his favorite fishing spots. Granted he always fished with a pole, but however she wanted to do it was fine by him.

Then suddenly, almost as suddenly as it had appeared, her depression flew away and she seemed excited, almost giddy. What could possibly be going through her head?

At least now she appeared happy. Her depression had made him fear he’d have to do something drastic. Leaving his home wasn’t anything he ever wanted to do, but if Gwen was unhappy there, his hands would be tied. He’d do whatever it took to keep his mate happy, no matter what it entailed.

Reaching out with the bond between them, Ethan tried to gain a deeper understanding of her emotions. He barely skimmed the edges of her mind before running into her block. Most mates were connected on multiple levels, having an eerie connection that let each know what the other was thinking, but Gwen held him at arm’s length.

If only he knew why she had erected this barrier between them and why she refused, even now, to take it down. Always before, he’d been able to charm women out of information–and clothes–but with Gwen he felt like an awkward teenager. He couldn’t seem to say anything right.

“I need to go back to California for a week or so. Get my affairs in order and make sure the romp is taken care of.”

“Of course. We can head there first.”

“I think it might be best if I go alone.” Her whispered words hung heavily in the air. “I’m going to be working, not playing. Besides, it will give us both a bit of time to think and you time to explain the situation to your family before I arrive.”

“What’s to explain? They’re going to love you.” Ethan flashed Gwen his most charming smile, the one he knew women swooned over, only to see her eyes narrow warily. It should frustrate him that she didn’t fall for his tricks, but for some odd reason, a wave of heat swept over him. But his desire fled when she spoke. The hard edge in her voice shocked him.

“I don’t want to hear over and over again about how an otter isn’t good enough for you. Just make sure it’s out of their system by the time I get there.”

Stunned, Ethan didn’t know how to respond. Was this the root of their problems? Gwen didn’t think she was good enough for him? Samantha, his brother’s mate, hadn’t believed his brother Jason would love an arctic fox, but her fears originated from her past. Gwen was the exact opposite. For Christ’s sake, she managed her entire romp. Two different people had threatened him just for trying to get close to her. She was loved and respected.

There’d been that moment when they’d first made love when insecurities had reared up, but he’d done his best to rid her of doubts. He’d thought he succeeded too, judging by the way she was prancing in front of him naked as the day she was born later that night.

“Gwen, my family would never judge you. They’re going to love you because you’re smart and funny and beautiful.” Why didn’t Gwen realize what a catch she was?

Harsh laughter interrupted him. “You don’t need to convince me. You need to convince them.” Gwen shrugged before continuing. “Plenty of breeds are elitists. I just don’t want to have to hear about how much better you could’ve done with someone different.”

* * *

No matter what Ethan said, his prejudices came from somewhere. Family seemed like the obvious choice. Being criticized for the rest of her life didn’t interest her one bit. Moving away from her home was going to be hard enough. She didn’t need to hear recriminations upon her arrival. Asking Ethan to act as a buffer was a perfectly reasonable request.

Later, Gwen apologized and said goodbye to Ty, who had heard everything and wasn’t above teasing her about it, much to Gwen’s embarrassment. Some things went with the territory of old friends. After Gwen and Ethan had re-packed her belongings, they took off for the airport.

It took some convincing, but Ethan finally agreed to separate. She thought she had needed time to adjust, but the farther she got from Ethan, the more she realized it was an empty victory. Almost as soon as she’d boarded the plane, her otter cried out, desperate for its wolf. The restless feeling continued throughout the flight, amplifying until she wanted to crawl out of her own skin. The more unpleasant the feeling became the more confused she got.

What had she been thinking to leave him again? The first time had been bad enough, and they hadn’t even been mated at the time. Now it was downright unbearable.

She had to constantly remind herself of her reasons. Time. She’d thought the time away would clear her head. God knew it wasn’t clear when he was around. But as more time passed, she realized how futile her efforts were. There was no way she was going to clear her head with her otter crying so loudly for her mate, pulling her back toward him until she felt as if she were split in two.

Chapter 6

Looking around her boxed-up hotel room, Gwen wasn’t sure what to feel. Her emotions swirled around her in a confusing mass. It was nice to be home, even if it was only her home for a few more days. Still…she missed her mate. Just thinking of him brought a sharp pain to her heart. But being surrounded by people she loved and who loved her in return felt like a warm blanket shielding her from reality. Love. The word mocked her as she thought about her future without that particular joy.

Stop it! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. She was being overly dramatic and she knew it. Things would be fine. Alyssa would be with her, having already agreed to move and help her open her business. Her exact words had been: “What, are you crazy? Be a waitress my whole life and be hundreds of miles from my best friend, who’s like a sister to me, or be part owner of a B&B with said best friend? Gee, tough choice.”

Alyssa would keep her sane. They would look out for each other. Because that’s what sisters did, even when they weren’t related by blood. And hopefully there would be children to love. Even though children were possible outside mating, for a shifter, it was easier with their “one and only.” She’d never dared dream of children before. But now…they hadn’t used a condom. For all she knew she could already be pregnant. She smiled thinking about the possibility.

Hopefully, one day, she’d be able to surround herself with pups and she wouldn’t even notice Ethan’s lack of love. Wolf, otter, or something in between, the species of her children wouldn’t matter. She would love them all exactly the same. She only hoped Ethan’s prejudices wouldn’t extend toward his offspring. While she could take the pain of his rejection, she’d put her foot down when it came to her children. Nothing would make her future children feel anything but special, not even their own father. Especially not their own father.

With a sigh, Gwen sat down and shifted gears toward planning her newest business endeavor. It was silly to worry about her children feeling special when she didn’t even have any yet. One hurdle at a time. First, she needed to get her business of the ground. Then she could worry about her relationship with Ethan.

At least she’d be too busy in the upcoming months to give any depressing thoughts time to fester. She would throw herself into preparation for the inn. She and Alyssa had already determined they wanted to be open by summer if possible. It was a long shot and it meant they had to find a location almost immediately, but they were ready for the challenge. And they wanted to be open in time for the tourist season.

Picking up the phone, Gwen dialed the number she had Googled the night before, waiting with bated breath as the phone rang.

“Good morning, Apex Software,” a deep male voice answered. It sounded a bit like Ethan’s, but it was deeper and didn’t send shivers through her body.

“Hi. I’m looking for your CEO? Or the head of the company.” Gwen cursed herself for not paying closer attention when Ethan told her about life in Alpine Woods. She remembered the software company he owned with his brothers, the oldest being the Premier of the pack, but she didn’t recall his name.

“What is this regarding?”

“Well…” how much did this man know? She couldn’t exactly say she was looking for the pack leader if he was just some full human who worked for them. That was a sure way to get on the Premier’s bad side. “I just need to speak to…the oldest brother. It’s a personal matter.”

There was a pause on the end of the line. For a moment, Gwen feared the man would hang up.

“That would be me.”

“Oh. Hello. My name is Gwen. I’m not sure how much Ethan has told you about me.” Gwen paused as a horrifying thought struck her. Oh God, what if Ethan hadn’t gotten around to telling them anything? She didn’t want to spring the news on him like this, or make Ethan angry if he hadn’t talked to his family yet.

“Ethan’s Gwen? Hey! Ethan has told us all about you, and I can’t wait to meet you. Let me get him for you.”

“Wait! I wanted to talk to you actually. You’re the Premier, right?”

There was another long pause on the phone, making Gwen wonder if he was still on the line.

“Yes, I’m the Premier. But if there are any problems, Ethan can handle them as well as I can. We work as a team.” Which was exactly what Ethan had told her. In their unusual leadership style, he admitted to having almost equal power as the Premier, but it was hard to believe. She’d thought he had been trying to impress her. Still, for this particular matter, it was probably best to go straight to the top.

“I want to open a shifter bed-and-breakfast in your town, and I need your approval to get the ball rolling. I have managed a resort for years now and have the experience and finances to make this a reality. I would also like to request approval for my friend to move with me to help me open and run the place. She’s a fellow otter shifter and would be a good addition to any town.” Gwen rushed through her requests. She was asking a lot, but hopefully, the man would understand the benefits he and his pack could gain from this endeavor. The business would bring revenue to the town and would be a good thing for the whole pack in the long run.

“Does Ethan know you’re planning this?”

Gwen stiffened, her hands tightening on the phone. Why would the Premier ask her a question like that? Would Ethan demand she be a stay-at-home wife, waiting on his commands hand and foot? As his brother, the Premier had the ability to enforce those wishes. Questions whirled in her head, but she was too afraid to voice them.

“Relax, Gwen. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled with the idea. I’m just not sure why you needed to talk to me. Ethan would’ve approved this for you. It’s a great idea. The pack will even be able to help you with start-up costs, as it will bring new business to the town. Why don’t we discuss it more once you get here?” It took a moment for his words to process. She’d expected a little resistance or at least a few questions. That had been so easy!

“And we’d be happy to have your friend here. Any friend of your is a friend of ours.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Gwen hung up and danced in a circle. No matter what else the future brought, she was going to have her own business, and her best friend would be there every step of the way. Suddenly, things were looking up. She would make this work.

* * *

Jason stared at the phone. The dial tone sounding from the earpiece told him Gwen was no longer on the line, but she hadn’t even asked to speak to Ethan. Jason couldn’t understand any of it.

It had been a shock when Ethan came home mated, but without his mate. Usually, it was uncomfortable for a shape shifter to be separated from their mate, ranging from mildly irritating to downright painful. He remembered the one night he’d spent away from his mate, Samantha. They hadn’t even been joined yet, but neither of them slept a wink, too uncomfortable without the presence of the other. Since then, they hadn’t been separated for longer than the average workday, and even that felt too long.

Ethan was acting strange, too. Jason had attributed his anxiety to being apart from his mate, but now Jason wondered if there was something else going on, something deeper.

It couldn’t be easy for Gwen having to move away from her family and everything she knew. He was glad she had plans to open a business here and thrilled her friend would be joining her. It would make the transition easier and give her someone from her home to take comfort in. She was not just a part of his pack now, she was a part of his family. He’d have to make sure Samantha and his sisters did everything possible to make them feel welcome.

Chapter 7

It took all his willpower to wait until she came through the front door of his house before pouncing. Not seeing Gwen for almost a week had been pure torture. When she’d called from the road, letting him know she and Alyssa were almost to town, he’d rushed home, needing to see her the second she arrived at his place. No, their place. Now that his mate was here, his wolf was done waiting.

The past few days, he’d been irritable to such an extreme his family and friends had avoided him like the plague. Jason and Danny had even kicked him out of the office yesterday because they couldn’t take his brooding anymore. The reason was the absence of the doe-eyed woman in front of him. He never wanted to be separated from her again. As soon as the door closed behind her, nothing stood in his way.

Pulling Gwen firmly against him, Ethan claimed her mouth in a scorching kiss, his hips grinding against hers through their clothing. As her arms reached up and circled his neck, pulling herself flush against his body, a small whimper of need escaped her and Ethan’s control snapped.

His claws tore the clothes from her body as his mouth continued to plunder hers. He released her lips only once they were both naked.

“Are you ready for me, Gwen? I can’t wait much longer.”

“I’m ready. I can’t wait, either.” Her breath fell hot against his shoulder as he thrust into her welcoming heat. She arched her back, pushing her chest into him at the invasion, but her moan told him she was just as wrapped up in the pleasure as he was.

Knowing he wasn’t going to last long, Ethan leaned over Gwen and covered the small mating scar on her shoulder with his mouth.

She must have sensed his intent, tilting her head to the side to give him better access to her throat. The desperation in her moans matched the thrumming in his blood, and Ethan knew he was on the brink of a powerful explosion. There was only one way to guarantee she came with him.

The sting in his gums signaled the emergence of his canines, allowing him to bite down on the small scar on Gwen’s shoulder, reopening the wound and strengthening the bond between them.

Intense pleasure flooded him as the connection between them deepened. Briefly, he wondered if it would always be this intense or if eventually, they’d grow used to the extreme rapture. Just being in her presence was enough to bring him joy.

He thought about his parents, married for thirty-four years and still making puppy-dog eyes at each other when they thought no one was watching. Judging from their example, he knew he would never become fully desensitized.

Seeing his parents so in love used to make him uncomfortable, but thinking about it now, he completely understood. He gazed down at the woman he loved, and swept a lock of hair from her cheek. Looking at Gwen made him understand, even if she did hold him at arm’s length.

He frowned as he pondered the problems in their relationship. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be with his mate, so tense and removed. It wasn’t that she was cold. The sex was great. More like amazing. But sex wasn’t everything. Two weeks ago he never would’ve believed those thoughts would come from him, but a lot had changed in two weeks.

The sex allowed Ethan a glimpse at the real Gwen. The woman she deliberately kept hidden from him. What he saw stunned him in her brilliance, but she refused to allow him more than a glimpse. Already, he felt the barriers rising between them. The pain as the bond was blocked almost caused him to yelp. He was determined to scale those walls, no matter what it took.

“Gwen,” Ethan whispered, lowering his forehead to hers and steadying her hips with his hands. “What happened? Why are you hiding from me?” His heart nearly broke when she stiffened in his arms. “Don’t. Don’t run. Just tell me what’s wrong. Tell me how to fix this. Why won’t you open up?”

* * *

Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, Gwen examined the ceiling. He seemed so sincere. The words were everything she ever wanted to hear, but the emotion in them couldn’t be real. She knew Ethan didn’t love her. Had heard the words straight from his mouth. Still, his heartfelt request made her second-guess everything she thought she’d heard. Shaking her head, Gwen firmed her resolve. Forgetting would only lead to illusions and eventually more heartbreak.

She looked up into his eyes, as he patiently waited for her response. How much should she reveal? Should she tell him everything she’d heard back at the resort or should she keep quiet?

Obviously he knew something bothered her. What was the big deal in telling him the truth? He couldn’t leave her now any more than she could leave him. Happy or not, they were tied together forever.

What held her back? Her stupid sense of pride? In the end, what was more prideful, being miserable and holding everything in or admitting to knowing the facts and being strong enough to deal with them?

Gwen stared into Ethan’s eyes, so close to her own. The intensity in their depths only enhanced his good looks. And didn’t that just figure. If only he cared for her even a little bit, she would be the happiest woman alive.

She really wasn’t being fair. She was his mate, after all. They were now linked, his soul entwined with hers. He would protect her and keep her safe. But he would never care for her the way a man cared for a woman he loved. And that was just something she’d have to work toward accepting. Things could be a lot worse and the more she remembered that the happier she’d be.

Sure, many people might think a mating was deeper than love, and in some ways they’d be right. Mating did deepen the bond between two people who loved each other. But Gwen understood what many shifters never would. Mating without love, without even the potential for love, was an empty shell of what could be.

Taking a deep breath, Gwen prepared to tell all. Holding herself back from her mate was downright painful, and Gwen didn’t want to do it anymore. She didn’t need him as her best friend. She had Lyssa to share her thoughts and dreams with. But she needed to feel comfortable around him, and she never would with this secret between them.

“I heard you back at the resort. I know how you feel about me. I thought if I left, we wouldn’t be forced into a mating we didn’t want.” Gwen laughed. The empty sound mocked her as it echoed off the walls. “I guess my plan didn’t work out so well.”

“Gwen, what are you talking about? I don’t know what you think you heard, but I think chasing you halfway across the country should prove how much I wanted this. Isn’t this what you want, too?”

Needing to put some space between them, Gwen wiggled, trying to get away, but he held her firmly in place.

“I need some space, Ethan. And I don’t really want to have this conversation naked.”

“Oh?” He sounded mildly interested as if they were discussing the weather. “I can’t think of a better way to have this conversation. I think I’m going to keep you here until I know exactly what’s going on between us.” A hard edge entered his voice, and Gwen knew he meant exactly what he said. The alpha wolf putting his foot down. She wasn’t getting up until she revealed everything. And talking about this wasn’t going to be any easier in an hour.

Exhaling in frustration, she clenched her hands to her side. It was going to be much harder admitting everything with him so close and still inside her. As if reading her thoughts, Ethan stiffened inside her.

“Uh, Ethan?”

“Ignore it. We’re not moving until you tell me what you think you overheard.”

An inhuman hiss slipped past her lips but she knew it was useless to fight. Reluctantly, she continued. She knew he would stay true to his promise and keep them here until she admitted everything. Unable to look into his eyes while so vulnerable, Gwen gazed over his shoulder as she spoke.

“I heard you in the bar after you left my room that first night. I went down to find you, to see if you wanted to get breakfast together, and I overheard you talking about how you didn’t want a woman like me, an otter of all things, as your mate. I heard you talk about wanting a cheetah or a jaguar.” Gwen’s voice hardened with determination. “But you know what, you got me. You may not love me, and that’s okay, but we are mated, so I think it would be best if we at least try to be friends, or friendly.” Gwen finally brought herself to look into his eyes and was dismayed by the horror she saw reflected there.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have my own life. Alyssa is here and I’m starting my own business, so I shouldn’t get in your way much. But there’s no reason why we can’t get along.” Gwen stumbled to a halt, not sure what else she should say. Ethan was looking more horrified by the second. Was being friends with her really so bad?

* * *

Please God, let him not have been this big of an idiot. How had he been stupid enough to say those things? He hadn’t meant a word of it. Even at the time, it had been aimed to convince himself, not to deny what Gwen was to him. Gwen was everything he wanted in a mate and more. Intelligent, beautiful, and sweet. He’d been excited by the prospect of getting to know her better, of affection sliding into love during the next few weeks. Now it appeared he’d have to work just to get out of the hole he’d dug for himself first.

Thinking about all the hurt he’d caused with his careless rejection killed him. Despite her prideful bravado, it was obvious Gwen carried wounds inside. As she stared up at him, he saw the uncertainty she tried to hide. How could he have done this to his mate? More importantly, what could he do or say to fix it?

Keeping a tight grip on Gwen, Ethan sat up and shifted his precious bundle until she was curled on his lap. She held herself rigid against him as he ran his hands up and down her back soothingly.

“Gwen, oh pet, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it. I didn’t think I was ready for a mate, but, Gwen, I was wrong. Leaving your room was the worst mistake of my life. Please believe me when I tell you that you are perfect. You’re everything I dreamed my mate would be and more.”

“Except I’m not a jaguar.” The whisper was so soft, Ethan wouldn’t have heard it without his extra-sensitive wolf hearing. Her pain bled into her voice and scent. Knowing he was the cause destroyed him. He was supposed to be her rock, her partner. When the rest of the world hurt her, he was supposed to be the one she ran to, the one to set it right. He’d failed before he even started.

Whatever he had to do to fix this, he would, he silently vowed to himself. His mate would know what an amazing woman he thought she was. Never again would she doubt for one moment that she was the very center of his world.

“Gwen, what can I do to convince you I didn’t mean what I said? Please, I’ll do anything. I don’t want a jaguar or a coyote. All I want is you.”

As her shoulders straightened, Ethan knew it would take more to convince her of his sincerity. “It’s okay, Ethan. Like I said, I think we should come to an understanding. I would like to consider you a friend.” The walls were back in place. He could feel their solid bulk between them. Nothing more was going to be gained tonight. His hasty denial of her had struck too deep for him to overcome it by mere words. He needed to prove his devotion.

At least now he understood what had complicated his mating so badly. He had no one to blame but himself.

One way or another, he’d fix this. He’d spend the rest of his life showing her exactly how special he thought she was. Eventually, she’d have to believe him. He just had to wear down her resistance.

* * *

No wonder Ethan hadn’t wanted to mate with her if these were the types of females he surrounded himself with. Gwen couldn’t help but gape as she took in the women in the room.

This was supposed to be an intimate welcome to the pack at the Premier’s house for her and Alyssa. Only Ethan’s siblings were present but every one of them was stunning.

The Premier’s mate was a petite woman with long white-blond hair. Elegance and grace were evident in every move she made, but her smile was warm and welcoming. Gwen had been a bit surprised to discover Samantha was an arctic fox. After all, foxes weren’t too far up the food chain from otters. And she was mated to the Premier no less. But the pair seemed happy, which just led to all sorts of questions. If Ethan didn’t get his prejudice from his family, where had it come from?

His two sisters were equally friendly but equally intimidating. Julie, who was apparently on break from school but leaving in just a few days, was arguably the prettiest of the group. Her delicate bone structure and long wavy chestnut hair created an elusive beauty. But despite her big smile and welcoming eyes, a sadness lurked in their depths. Her siblings didn’t seem to notice, but Gwen sensed a comparable sadness to her own and couldn’t help but wonder at the cause. Samantha seemed to be the only other one to sense Julie’s pain, which wasn’t terribly surprising since foxes tended to be hypersensitive to emotions. Hopefully Julie’s pain would shield her own from the Premier’s mate.

Gwen hadn’t realized Julie was related to Ethan at first, even though they shared the same earthy coloring and bone structure. Her scent indicated Julie was full human and although not unheard of, shifters rarely gave birth to full humans, even when one parent was one. The shifter gene was dominant, and infused much of the DNA.

Laurie didn’t have her sister’s abstract beauty, but she radiated strength and confidence, drawing Gwen’s eye to her again and again. She had a statuesque grace that undoubtedly served her well with the opposite sex.

And his brothers! If her romp ever saw these wolves, no work would ever get done. All three men looked like they belonged on the cover of magazines, not running a software company in the-middle-of-nowhere Colorado.

Thank God Alyssa was here with her. She needed the reinforcement and support. Meeting her mate’s family was hard enough. Seeing how gorgeous they all were didn’t help settle her nerves.

“So, Gwen, share! I want to hear all about how you met Ethan. I must say, it was a bit of a shock.” Samantha began the quizzing after they were all seated at the dinner table. Gwen tried to find judgment in Ethan’s sibling’s eyes but only saw friendliness and genuine interest.

“It’s not a very interesting story, really. My romp owns the resort Ethan vacationed at. I ran into him there and, well, you know how hard it is to resist your mate once you find him.”

Ethan’s hand rested on her thigh and slowly stroked up and down soothingly. His touch steadied her even as she tried to resist the comfort it offered.

Looking into his eyes, she saw openness and caring. Almost as if she meant something to him. No, he gazed at her as if she meant everything to him.

Shaking her head, she looked back at Samantha. Believing such nonsense would only hurt her in the end. Of course he was trying to be supportive after throwing her, quite literally, into the wolves den. She couldn’t allow her imagination to get carried away.

“Couldn’t resist each other, huh? Must’ve made for one interesting night.” Laurie’s frank reply caused Gwen to blush. The rest of her family groaned.

“Laurie, are you setting out to embarrass all of our mates when they arrive?” Jason asked.

Laurie waved away his concern.

“The good news is, you all can get some revenge soon. Her mate is showing up next.” Danny wagged his eyebrows at Laurie across the table.

“Whoa, wait a minute, who said I’m next?”

“Well, Jason’s oldest, Ethan’s second oldest, and then comes you. Only logical to think you’d be the next in line.”

“Nope, it’ll skip me. Guess that means you’re next, Danny Boy, so don’t get too comfortable.” Their teasing reminded her of home and her romp, bringing a smile to her face. It reassured her as nothing else could have, even if all the mating talk was making her a bit uncomfortable. Glancing around the table, Gwen noticed Julie seemed as uncomfortable as she was, especially whenever Laurie mating was mentioned. Curious.

“What about you Alyssa? Are you hoping to follow Gwen and find a wolf mate?”

The conversation buzzed around her but Gwen focused on her plate. When the conversation moved on to safer topics, she breathed a sigh of relief. Talking about her relationship with Ethan left her feeling tense and strung out. Pretending they were a happily mated couple was especially hard around his family, whose happiness for them seemed so genuine. Every question, no matter how innocent, left her heart hurting.

After dinner, the women all retired to the living room while the men cleaned up the kitchen. Gwen watched Jason place a loving kiss on top of Samantha’s head. It was obvious throughout the evening how much the Premier doted on his mate. He had been attentive, and their love was a palpable thing in the room whenever he looked at her, adoration shining in his eyes.

She sighed wistfully. “It’s obvious to see how much Jason loves you, Samantha. You’re very lucky.”

Four sets of eyes turned on her. Alyssa’s held sympathy but the others were full of confusion.

“Yes, but you have Ethan,” Samantha responded frankly. Her shrewd gaze bore into Gwen, causing her to fidget in her seat.

“Well, yes…it’s just…different for us…” She stuttered to a stop. Somehow she’d managed to back herself into a corner. She couldn’t explain their problems to his family.

“How is it different?” Laurie asked. Her eyes were still warm but there was a sharp curiosity in them, and Gwen knew she’d have to say something. She also knew Ethan’s sisters wouldn’t hesitate to defend him if she wasn’t careful. The last thing she needed was to make enemies on her first night in her new home, and certainly not with her mate’s family. Trying to think fast, Gwen wondered what she could say to get out of this mess.

“Well, you know.” All of them continued to stare at her.

“Samantha, why don’t you tell us about your wedding. Gwen and I…” Alyssa started.

“Later.” Laurie cut in. Alyssa threw Gwen an apologetic look as her three sisters-in-law, or in-mating, turned their attention back on her. She fidgeted in her seat, knowing it was futile to try to escape their stares.

“I’m an otter, and you know how Ethan feels.” Gwen hoped her words would satisfy them, but the women shook their heads, making her elaborate. “He wanted a predator for a mate. He said he wouldn’t have chosen an otter.” Now the gazes held one thing, shock.

“Ethan would never say that. Gwen, you must have misunderstood.” The other females nodded, echoing the sentiment.

She shrugged uncomfortably. “Yeah, I guess.” Of course Ethan’s family would think only the best of him. She should never have said anything to begin with. Berating herself for letting her guard down, she reminded herself how dangerous opening up was, especially to wolves. Ethan had taught her that lesson but apparently not well enough. She needed to watch her words more carefully from now on.

Luckily, Alyssa filled the uncomfortable silence and helped steer the conversation to the upcoming wedding and Gwen found herself agreeing to be a bridesmaid.

It was easy to like Ethan’s family. They were warm and welcoming and didn’t seem to judge her on either her animal or her earlier misstep. Samantha had even mentioned the possibility of a “girls night out,” but Jason had popped his head into the living room from the kitchen and given Samantha a quelling glare. Gwen didn’t understand until Laurie told her about their last girls night. Something about drunken skinny-dipping in the town fountain.

Still, the stress of the evening and the attentive way Ethan acted, confusing Gwen more than she’d ever admit, was starting to wear on her. No one seemed to notice Gwen didn’t talk much as she retreated into her shell. At least she didn’t think anyone noticed.

* * *

Ethan watched Gwen surreptitiously rub her neck again. He had hoped seeing his family, having them give her a warm reception, would put her at ease. Instead, she seemed drained by the whole thing. He tried giving her his undivided attention and saw confusion enter her eyes again and again. Hopefully, he was getting through to her but he knew he had a long climb ahead of him to earn back her trust. It would take more than a night or two of attentiveness to prove his love. He just hoped he was putting a dent in the wall she’d built up.

It broke his heart to hear Gwen talk about mating him with such hurt in her voice. The men heard the whole painful conversation from the kitchen where Ethan and his brothers had been cleaning. The wistfulness as she talked about Jason’s love for Samantha made him physically ache. Whenever he’d imagined finding his mate, he’d thought he would sweep her off her feet. Instead he’d pushed her to the ground trying to run away. He was the biggest idiot in the world for not treating Gwen like the goddess she was from the very beginning. For the thousandth time, he wondered how to fix this. Looking over, Ethan saw both his brothers staring at him angrily.

“What’s going on with you two? She watches you like someone watches a coiled snake, and why does she think you don’t want an otter as a mate?”

With a sigh, Ethan rubbed his hands over his face. He had hoped to keep the full extent of his stupidity from his family. Not that he blamed Gwen for saying what she did. He knew it wasn’t done with malicious intent. She’d even left out the worst parts. It was still hard to believe he had hurt her as badly as he had.

Staring up into his brothers’ angry faces, he wondered once again how to fix things. Maybe it was best to tell his family. He needed all the help he could get. And he knew, after their anger abated–and he had no doubt there would be anger–his family would help him climb out of the mess he created and get back on track.

“I screwed up. I didn’t want a mate, and when I met Gwen, after I’d already slept with her, I denied she meant anything to me. I might’ve said something about wanting to mate a jaguar or a coyote in my denial. She happened to overhear the conversation and it’s caused a huge rift in our relationship. Nothing I say seems to penetrate her distrust.”

Both brothers started talking at once. They kept their voices down so the women wouldn’t hear, but their fury bled through their whispers.

“Are you fucking brain-dead?”

“That woman is sweet and smart and absolutely adorable. Why would you not want her?”

Ethan had never seen his brothers so angry. Jason looked ready to take him out back and beat him to a pulp, and Danny, usually the calm one of the group, looked ready to hold Ethan down rather than help him.

“I am fucking brain-dead. I never said I wasn’t. I screwed up and I screwed up bad, but I’m trying to make it up to her now. I just don’t know how to take those words away. She doesn’t believe me when I tell her how much she means to me.”

Collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs, Ethan put his head in his hands and groaned out in frustration. He didn’t need his family getting on his case. What he needed was their help. He knew exactly how badly he’d screwed up.

“What am I supposed to do? She means the world to me. Already I can feel the bond between us. It’s like she’s a part of me now. But she won’t let me get close enough to fix this.” There was a long silence and Ethan felt the heated gaze of both brothers as they silently assessed him.

“Well, sounds to me like you have to woo her. Don’t just tell her, show her,” Danny suggested after a lengthy pause.

“I don’t know how.” Ethan had never “wooed” a woman before in his life. They’d always sought out his attention. It figured his charm would disappear when it was most important.

“Well, sounds to me, baby brother, we need to come up with a game plan.” Jason’s wide grin reassured Ethan. Operation Woo Gwen was underway. And with his brothers’ help, she didn’t stand a chance of resisting. He wouldn’t fail. This was too important.

Chapter 8

His siege began the next evening. Gwen had spent the day with Alyssa, looking at locations for her B&B, and Ethan knew how difficult searching for a house could be.

As she walked through the door of their home, Ethan had a glass of red wine ready for her. He’d already enlisted Alyssa’s help, finding out all of Gwen’s favorite things. Upstairs a bubble bath waited, candles scattered around the room.

Surprisingly, Alyssa had been a huge help. He’d been a bit reluctant to approach her, considering she had threatened to castrate him if he hurt Gwen. And he had hurt her. He only had to look into her eyes to see how deep that hurt went.

So her enthusiasm to help him had been a shock. But as she’d explained, she wanted her friend happy. It seemed he had yet another ally on his side, and this one might prove to be the most valuable of all. Although, her help did come at a price. The hour long lecture hadn’t been fun, but a small price to pay for insider knowledge.

He hated seeing the confusion and wariness in Gwen’s eyes as he held out her glass of wine and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“I don’t understand,” Gwen said as he led her to the bathroom, where the scent of vanilla spiraled up from the warm bubble bath. Another favorite.

“What don’t you understand, pet?”

She looked at him warily, almost as if she waited for him to jump her.

She honestly hadn’t expected anything from him, he realized with a start. Except sex. She thought sex was going to be the extent of their relationship. That he would use her to slake his lust and not take any interest in who she was or what she did. Would he ever stop feeling like a complete ass?

“Why?” Her simple question hung in the air between them.

Nope, he thought, always going to be an ass.

“Because I know you’ve been on your feet all day and I want you to relax. Do I need a reason to spoil my woman?”

Appreciation slowly seeped into her eyes, replacing the wariness. Relief crashed through him. At least he was making some headway.

“Thank you, Ethan. I hadn’t expected… I’m sure you’re hungry. If you give me a little time to enjoy this, I can whip something up for us afterward.”

“Already taken care of. All you have to do is relax, enjoy, and leave the rest to me.” He thought she’d be pleased and was dismayed to see her eyes fill with quickly hidden tears.

“Gwen, what’s wrong?” Anything else he could deal with. But her tears made his wolf crazy. He’d do anything to keep her from crying. Couldn’t he do anything right? Even trying to spoil her, he made her cry.

“Nothing, Ethan. Everything is perfect. I just didn’t expect any of this. I thought things would be more impersonal.”

Yep, I’m an asshole, Ethan thought once again.

“Things are not going to be like you expected, Gwen. You are the woman of my heart, and it’s my pleasure to take care of you.”

She didn’t believe him. The skepticism shone from her eyes. But at least she was smiling. Smiles were better than tears.

“Thank you, Ethan.” She leaned up and kissed him gently on the cheek. “You’re a good man.”

Instead of feeling considerate, her gratitude made him feel lower than scum. He had hurt her immeasurably, and she was calling him a good man.

Leaving her to the bath, Ethan went downstairs to finish dinner. His heart ached at how deeply a few careless words could wound another. She didn’t trust him. Not that he could blame her. But her amazement at such simple courtesies bothered him. The determination to make it up to her burned through him. No matter what it took, he’d fix this.

Occasionally, he’d catch glimpses of the woman hidden behind the wall she erected between them, a woman who stunned him in her brilliance.

This morning, Alyssa had come over early to meet with Gwen before they went house hunting. He’d overheard their discussion about the inn and stopped outside the room to listen as they discussed their plan of action. Gwen took charge, her tone confident. He’d been impressed by her real estate savvy. But as soon as he entered the room, the shutters fell over her eyes and the bright aura surrounding her dimmed. Her words had stumbled to a halt until he left. Seeing the pain and uncertainty he had caused was the worst kind of punishment.

Gwen came into the kitchen as he was putting the finishing touches on the salad. She wore a red bathrobe he’d bought for her. Her long wet hair fell down her back, clinging to her damp skin. Ethan caught her hand as she moved to sit at the table. Her pulse skittered as his thumb gently stroked over the sensitive area. Leaning down he placed a delicate kiss in the center of her palm before holding her chair out.

“Keep her off balance,” his brothers had advised. “Don’t give her time to second-guess anything. If she can’t second-guess it, she’ll have a hard time ignoring it.” Sound advice and Ethan took it to heart. He’d show her love and caring over and over again until she believed him, no matter how long it took.

“How was your day?” Ethan asked as Gwen stared at their dinner in shock. It wasn’t much, pasta and breaded chicken with salad on the side, but Gwen looked more than pleased with the fare.

“What? Oh, all right. We found one place on the edge of town we really liked but we’re hoping we can get a better price on it. I didn’t know you could cook. This dinner is amazing.”

“Hopefully it lives up to your expectations.” Ethan threw Gwen a dazzling smile. “Tell me more about this B&B and the house you guys found. You haven’t told me much.”

Assessing eyes stared back at him. “I didn’t think you cared.”

Ethan carefully placed his fork on his plate and took Gwen’s hand where it rested on the table. “Gwen, I wish you would forget what you overheard back in California. It wasn’t meant to push you away. And I certainly don’t feel like that. You are my mate, and I want to know what happens during your day. I want to know your hopes and plans for the future and share mine in turn. I’m not only invested in what happens to you, I’m genuinely interested. But most of all, Gwen, I want to take care of you. I want to cherish you, because you deserve to be cherished.”

* * *

The man was good, Gwen thought, staring at her plate. Everything Ethan said was everything she’d ever hoped for. What woman didn’t want to be cherished by the man she loved? But it was so hard to let go of the hurt he’d caused with those few careless words. He’d made her feel like she wasn’t good enough for him, and that wasn’t something she could just ignore.

“I wish I could forget those words too, Ethan. But the fact is, I can’t. I don’t blame you for them and I’m not angry…well, not anymore. I was. I was so angry with you for thinking I wasn’t good enough because, damn it–” Gwen slammed her hand down on the table, causing the silverware to jump with a clatter. “I am good enough and I deserve a mate who wants me.” Gwen paused, taking a moment to collect herself. “But I do believe you said what you said for a reason. I can’t just pretend that reason doesn’t exist. I won’t set myself up for a fall like that.”

Gwen hoped Ethan understood. She wasn’t trying to make things tense between them, and she wasn’t trying to be difficult. Already, Ethan had given her more than she’d ever expected out of this union. Inadvertently, he’d also given her a new direction in life with the B&B, a direction she was looking forward to pursuing. But she couldn’t just forget what had happened. She couldn’t ignore the so-called elephant in their relationship.

It wasn’t just about holding on to her hurt. It was about protecting herself. Protecting her heart. Ethan had more power than he realized.

After their first night together, Gwen had honestly believed she was falling in love with him. Maybe it was naive after only one night together, but he was her mate, after all.

Hearing his words in the bar afterward had been a blow, not just to her pride, but to her heart. If she let herself pretend those words never existed, she’d be setting herself up for an even bigger fall. And that was something she couldn’t do. She wouldn’t survive another fall.

Hopefully Ethan understood. She didn’t blame him for his feelings. But she couldn’t allow herself to forget.

* * *

Ethan stared at the top of Gwen’s head as she pushed the food around her plate. Her dejected pose tore at him. He didn’t blame her for her feelings. Learning to trust him again wasn’t something she could will herself to do. Trust had to be earned.

Whatever it took to take away those careless words, he’d do and more. He’d fix this and after he had, he’d make sure she never doubted exactly how important she was to him again.

“It’s okay, Gwen. I understand.” Her head shot up, her surprised gaze meeting his. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to do everything in my power to change it.” Ethan sent her a dazzling and slightly wicked grin. The tentative smile that curved her lips lightened his soul.

Picking up his fork, Ethan dug into his dinner, hoping she would follow suit. Silence reigned until Gwen’s soft voice drifted toward him. “It’s this beautiful gray Victorian house. There’s a creek running through the backyard that feeds into a pond. It’s smaller than the ocean but large enough to put some live fish in for hunting, and the whole yard is surrounded by forests.”

Joy lit up in Gwen’s face as she described the house. Her pleasure in the inn was obvious, and for just a moment, Ethan’s jealousy soared. He shook his head. Jealous of a house, he never thought he’d see the day.

“There’s this one room inside the turret. The room is circular with windows on every wall, everywhere you look. In the morning, the sun will flood into the whole room and already I can picture pale, cream-colored walls with a bold canopy bed in green or maybe chocolate brown. There’s life in every room, a vision for every space.”

Her eyes shone. Her pleasure made her come alive with every word. This was her gift to him, he realized. Opening up and showing him this little piece of her heart. It wasn’t much, but it indicated a crack in the wall between them. He’d work on that crack until the whole wall collapsed.

“It sounds perfect,” Her smile widened at his honest reply and his chest swelled. Bringing her pleasure made him feel ten feet tall.

“It is. We’ll get it. We’ll pay full price if we need to, but we low-balled them. I want to see how low the seller is willing to go. There’s not a big market for a house that size.”

Sitting was suddenly very uncomfortable as he stiffened under the table. Hearing Gwen’s savvy businesswoman come out was a powerful aphrodisiac apparently. Who knew what a turn on a woman with a brain would be for him? He glanced down at her half-eaten dinner. He really should let her finish before dragging her upstairs for dessert.

Gwen stared blankly into his eyes for a moment before pushing her plate aside, standing, and very deliberately crossing to the doorway into the living room. Had he said something wrong? At the doorway, she turned around and glanced back at him.

“Are you coming?” she asked, a sparkle in her eyes.

“Coming where?”

In answer, Gwen deliberately untied her bathrobe and let it slide to the floor.

“Where that look on your face promised to take us both.”

Ethan stared for a moment at her retreating back, unable to believe this was the same woman who’d asked him to turn off the lights the first time they made love.

As her feet hit the first stair on her way to their bedroom, Ethan shot out of his chair and raced to her, swinging her into his arms. She squealed and giggled, her arms wrapping around his neck as he carried her up the stairs and into bed.

Chapter 9

Gwen looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Even though Ethan had more than proven he loved her body over the past couple weeks, she still thought she could stand to lose a few pounds. Although if they kept up the bedroom gymnastics they’d been doing, it wouldn’t be too hard. Still, the outfit was hot. She never would have picked out the corseted teddy look, but the sales woman had shoved it into the fitting room for her to try on. It would have been rude not to at least look at it. The results were surprising to say the least.

Another trip to that store was definitely in order if tonight went well. Gwen turned around, examining the back side. In reality, the corset didn’t really support all that much. There wasn’t enough cloth for that. But the illusion of support and the strategic peeks of flesh were damn sexy. The transformation downright stunned her. She hardly recognized the woman in the mirror, or that wicked smile sporting her lips.

The kitchen timer going off startled her. Here she was woolgathering when she needed to get downstairs and finish dinner. Ethan would be home any minute and she wanted everything to be perfect. The past couple weeks had been better than she could have dreamed. Ethan had been treating her like a queen. And while she loved the attention he paid her, she was beginning to feel a bit…selfish. He was always cooking her meals, watching movies she wanted to watch, and making her laugh. Well, it was time to repay the favor. The whole night would be all about him.

Gwen had gotten the recipe for one of his favorite meals from his mother. She’d even rented one of those action movies with no plot but with lots of explosions and fighting. And of course, there was the outfit. But it wouldn’t do any good to burn the meal. Leaving the bathroom, she hurried down the stairs and walked quickly into the kitchen. She’d barely passed the archway that separated the room from the rest of the house, when Ethan walked through the door at the side of the room leading to the garage. They both froze, staring at each other across the room. Ethan’s hand hovered over the counter, clutching the mail in a fist.

Clearing her throat and pushing down her nerves, Gwen chirped, “Hi, honey. Welcome home.” If only she could read his expression, she wouldn’t be so nervous. But he remained silent, his assessing eyes raking her form. Maybe this had been a horrible idea.

Just as she turned, ready to rush up the stairs and forget this whole bad idea had ever come to her, Ethan pounced. Leaping across the room, he spun her around, and took her mouth in a consuming kiss. Heat blasted through her, melting her bones until her legs gave out on her.

Without missing a beat, Ethan swept her into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. If someone had asked her a month ago what type of mate she hoped for, she would have chosen a fellow otter, maybe some other small creature. Wolf would never have crossed her mind. Boy was she glad Fate had taken matters out of her hands. Being around Ethan made her feel dainty and feminine. Like a woman, without the business always in front.

Jumping a little as her butt met the cold table top, Gwen giggled against Ethan’s lips. The laugh ended on a moan as he moved down her throat and across her chest. As the heat of his mouth blazed a trail along the lace edge on her breasts, she threw her head back, closing her eyes to savor every sensation.

It wasn’t until she’d heard the rip that she’d realized Ethan had ruined yet another of her outfits. The third this week. Her eyes popped open and she looked down at the shredded material. He had a bad habit of using his claws on her poor clothes.

“Damn it, Ethan. I just bought that nightie!” It hadn’t been cheap, either. Not to mention the way it looked on her or the way it made her feel like a sex goddess. She’d never been obsessed with lingerie before. Didn’t see much point since it had to be taken off before the good stuff started. But the more she wore it, the more she liked it. Liked the power she felt when she put on something lacy.

But she wasn’t going to keep throwing money away if Ethan kept insisting on ruining her outfits every time she wore one. Ethan didn’t seem the least deterred by her exclamation, lifting his mouth from her breast and skimming up to nibble on her ear.

“If you keep ripping my clothes, I’m not going to have anything left to wear,” Gwen managed to gasp as his tongue circled the rim of her ear, dipping into the crevice. Stringing words into coherent sentences was becoming harder and harder as the fire his hands and mouth lit inside her blazed higher.

“I like you best naked anyway.” She didn’t know when Ethan had learned how to talk while nibbling and sucking with his mouth at the same time, but she was extremely grateful for the talent.

“Although I must say, this get-up is a very close second to naked. I’m going to buy you ten just like it and rip them all off anytime you wear them.” The raspy words, as well as the roguish smile on his face as he raised his head to look in her eyes, made her chuckle. She loved that he made her laugh, even in the middle of sex. Loved that he didn’t take sex too seriously. She loved everything he did…

The breath stuck in her throat as the world around them froze. Love. She loved him. Dear God, what had she done. Tears filled her eyes as she considered the implications. She’d gone and done the one thing she told herself she could never do, fallen in love with the man.

A strong tug on her jaw forced her to look at Ethan. His eyes burned into her, filled with concern. His thumb brushed away a tear on her cheek.

“Gwen? Are you okay?” She stared into his concerned eyes and watched as the wolf in them slowly retreated in the face of her tears. She forced a smile and shook her head. Tonight was supposed to be for Ethan. There’d be plenty of time later to analyze her feelings for Ethan.

“I’m fine. Must be the onions from earlier.” He looked skeptical until she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him down for a brief kiss.

“Jeez, don’t scare me like that.” Ethan murmured, sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear. His concern for her was apparent in every line of his face. He wouldn’t be this worried if he didn’t feel something for her, right? Something beyond mere liking. Maybe he didn’t love her yet, but the look on his face didn’t match up with the scorn in his previous words.

For the first time, a spark of hope flared to life in Gwen’s heart. Maybe a future with Ethan wasn’t as bleak as she’d originally feared. Reaching up, Gwen traced his bone structure with his face, adoring the man in front of her. The eyes that met hers as the lids slowly rose were full of devotion.

“Make love to me Ethan,” she whispered. For a moment, she was afraid he would ask questions she wasn’t ready to answer. But either he sensed her need for time, or his beast, demanding they finish what they started, overpowered his curiosity.

This time, when his lips brushed against hers, the greedy passion had simmered into a slow burn. The tenderness in his hands and lips took her breath away and brought tears to her eyes. Eventually she’d have to sort out her new emotions. There were more important things to concentrate on at the moment. Like the wicked things he was doing with his hands. There’d be time to contemplate what loving Ethan entailed later.

*****

Conflicting emotions whirled through Gwen’s head as she paced inside the entrance of the house she and Alyssa had recently purchased for their B&B. Everything was falling into place as far as the inn was concerned. But her relationship with Ethan was a whole different story. It had been almost a month since she’d admitted what she’d overheard at the resort, a week and a half since realizing she loved him, and she didn’t know what to believe anymore.

She’d accepted in the beginning that Ethan didn’t love her, that he didn’t want her. Had come to terms with it and made her peace, even taken steps for her future, to keep herself happy and occupied. But lately everything had changed. She loved him. And as her feelings grew, so did her doubts about everything she’d heard at the bar that morning.

It wasn’t just that he was attentive. If she only read kindness in his actions, she would brush it off as sympathy. But it was so much more than that. He’d not only been taking her out on dates, but kept doing thoughtful little things for her, anticipating her desires before she could voice them. Like this morning. She’d woken up to the smell of coffee and hot cheesy eggs, a favorite of hers, as he brought her breakfast in bed. He’d even fixed her coffee just the way she liked it.

How the man kept figuring out her favorite things was a mystery she fully intended to get to the bottom of. A single red rose had been placed on the side of the tray. It was the kind of thing Gwen would’ve hoped for in a love match, certainly not a match of convenience. Or whatever her relationship with Ethan was.

It wasn’t just breakfast in bed, but the way he looked at her, as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Her blissful sigh filled the air. Just thinking about that look made heat pool in her belly.

And the sex. Jesus, the sex was absolutely unreal. Gwen never thought she had such a vamp in her. With Ethan she simply couldn’t help it. All he had to do was smile at her, and she pounced on him, tearing his clothes off.

Not that he was a paragon of self-control, either. If he didn’t quit using his claws on her poor clothes, she was going to start billing him for the damages. Although that would probably just fire him up, she thought with a chuckle..

For someone who had always found sex pleasant but not anything mind-blowing, the way Ethan drew out her pleasure amazed her. He knew exactly how to play her body, bombarding her with sensation after sensation until she was quivering with need. Not to mention, the man had incredible stamina. Much to her surprise, he usually managed to get her off more than once each night. Each and every night.

She hadn’t anticipated how good her sex life would be. Nor had she anticipated how hard she would’ve fallen for him. She had been so sure she could separate her emotions from the situation, that she was strong enough to resist his charm. After all, she knew her worth. Knew she deserved someone who loved her and who saw her for the incredible and strong woman she was.

Yet, that was exactly how Ethan made her feel. There was more there than mere heat. He acted like someone who loved her. Ever since that night when she realized she loved him, their lovemaking had changed into something different. Sure, he still pushed her up against the bathroom wall every now and again. But more often than not, he didn’t just screw her, he made love to her. Treated her with tender consideration. And every night, he asked her about the inn and seemed genuinely interested in her life.

Maybe she hadn’t really given Ethan a fair chance. A shifter couldn’t prepare before meeting their mate. There were no signs to signal their impending arrival.

It’s not like she’d been expecting her mate to walk through the doors at the resort. And yes, she had been thrilled when Ethan appeared. Of course she’s been happy. She had wanted to find her mate. Ethan hadn’t. It made sense that he would be a bit freaked out by the whole situation. She hadn’t really looked at this from his point of view.

Everything happened so fast. If Samantha was to be believed, and Gwen saw no reason for her to lie, Ethan had taken the vacation to escape being trapped into mating. Instead he’d smacked right into his true mate. His behavior made absolute sense. And considering his behavior since then…

“What has you so deep in thought?” Alyssa walked through the front door, Samantha in tow.

Gwen felt her face heat in a blush. “Uh…Ethan.” Both women laughed.

“Are you blushing? Never mind, I’m living through the first blush of mating myself so I know exactly what that thought was.” Samantha smiled at Gwen, her eyes shining mischievously.

Gwen still had a hard time believing how welcoming and helpful Ethan’s family had been. All of them had stopped by the B&B and offered to help. One Saturday when Alyssa and Gwen had planned to spend the day painting, the whole group had shown up, Ethan and his brothers loaded down with enough pizzas to feed a small village. The amount of food had seemed outrageous, but the need for it had become clear as other members of the pack had started to arrive. Almost everyone in the pack, human and wolf, had stopped by and volunteered.

Gwen shook off the memory, and focused back on the two women in front of her. Samantha wore a blush, probably remembering some of the more wicked encounters she and Jason had shared as new mates.

“Well, I don’t have a mate. I’m living vicariously through you, so spill.” Alyssa said, an impish smile curving her lips.

Looking at Alyssa, more like a sister to her than a best friend, the desire to tell her everything, to lay her burden down for a minute and let someone else carry the weight, rose up to choke her.

She couldn’t figure this out on her own. There were too many angles to consider. She needed advice. And who better to give it to her than her best friend and Samantha, an arctic fox mated to a Premier wolf?

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” she burst out. Both Samantha’s and Alyssa’s smiles faded into concern. Samantha hurried over, pulling her to the couch in the adjoining room.

“About what, honey?”

“About me. Ethan. Everything’s just so confusing and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or feel.” Gwen paused to gather her thoughts. “Before, when I thought he didn’t love me, at least things were clear, focused. I had a plan. Hold myself back, live my life separate from him and make my own happiness. But now, I’m having a hard time holding myself back–and the things he does and says. It’s downright painful. The way he looks at me. It makes me think things, long for things I’m scared I won’t ever have.”

Samantha grabbed Gwen’s hand and forced her eyes to meet hers. “Gwen, I know we don’t know each other well, but I already feel like we’re sisters.”

“I do too.” It was true, Gwen realized with a start. Within weeks Samantha had become one of her favorite people. A person she’d come to count on.

“When I first came to town and met Jason, I didn’t think he could possibly want me. Sometimes I still don’t know what he sees in me. Besides being a wolf, he has everything, the pack, his family, his career, and then I look at myself and I don’t have anything to offer him. But every time I have those dark thoughts, all I have to do is look at Jason, at the way he gazes at me, and I know what I bring him. I love him. I love him more than anyone else ever will. I loved him before I thought he loved me.”

“Didn’t it hurt? Loving him, but not knowing if he felt the same way?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes it hurt a lot. At least it did until I came to a realization. It didn’t matter if he loved me or not. My heart was already sunk, and no matter how he felt about me, I would still love him. So I guess the question is, do you love Ethan?”

“Yes,” Gwen whispered. “It terrifies me.”

“Do you think Ethan loves you?”

That was harder to answer. So many things to consider. She thought about the overheard conversation. Then she thought about everything that had since transpired.

“I don’t know.” The whine reeked of desperation. “After the things he said, I was so certain he couldn’t. But now, every time he looks at me and the little things he does for me…it makes me wonder. I don’t like questioning myself.”

Samantha didn’t answer immediately, but when she did, her voice was quiet. “Now for the really important question. It shouldn’t be too hard to answer. You either know the answer or you don’t. Does it matter if he doesn’t? Does it change the way you feel about him?”

Gwen thought about everything he did for her. She thought about the way his arms surrounded her from behind as she washed dishes, and the way he held her as they watched television on their couch. She thought of the way his hand stroked her leg under the table as they ate dinner, as if he wasn’t even fully aware he was doing it. How his hand always reached for hers when they walked down the street.

Whether he loved her or not, it didn’t change the person he was. And it didn’t change how he made her feel. It didn’t negate the thoughtful things he did for her with the sole intention of making her smile. Looking up, she saw the truth reflected in her friends’ eyes.

“Why don’t you go surprise your man and take him out to lunch?” Alyssa suggested.

“You guys don’t mind?” The three of them had made plans.

“Not at all.”

Gwen kissed Alyssa on the cheek and did the same for Samantha without thinking about it. It was a standard form of showing gratitude in the romp, but Gwen froze as she realized she’d done it to Samantha, unsure how she would take the affection. Before she had time to worry, Samantha leaned up and kissed her cheek in return.

The open affection brought a smile to Gwen’s face as she ran out the door. She never thought she’d fit into this pack as well as she had her romp. Plenty of packs had stayed at the resort throughout the years. She’d seen the way shifters of all kinds treated outsiders. Their pack rules varied, some going so far as to not socialize with other species entirely. She’d seen enough to know that without Jason’s unique leadership, she and Alyssa would have never been accepted as easily.

Unlike the other Premiers she’d seen, Jason didn’t use intimidation and fear to keep his rule. Instead he thought out every decision he made, looking at it from all sides. And lucky for her, he accepted non-wolf pack mates, treating them as one and the same. Besides his fox mate and Gwen and Alyssa, most of the town, including the humans, were considered pack. No one was excluded because of who or what animal they had been born. It was the perfect environment to raise little wolf-otters.

Little wolf-otters… Just thinking about it gave her the giggles. She’d need to talk to Ethan about starting a family right away. Too much time had been wasted already.

* * *

Walking into Ethan’s office, Gwen wasn’t surprised when he immediately got up from his computer to greet her. Instead of giving her a simple peck, he skimmed his lips across her cheekbone. The caress had her closing her eyes as a wave of desire rushed through her body. He made her feel so special.

“Hi, pet. What are you doing here?” There was such unadulterated affection in his gaze and tone of voice. How had she ever hoped to resist him?

“I was hoping to take you out for lunch. If you’re not busy.”

“Give me a few minutes to wrap up. When do you have to be back?”

“Whenever. Nothing major is happening today.” Ethan smiled and kissed her cheek, making her whole body sigh. Would she ever become immune to his charm? She stared at his butt as he walked over to his brothers.

She watched him surreptitiously from across the room. After a moment, he caught her gaze and winked. Warmth flooded her. “All right. I have the rest of the afternoon off,” he said, coming up and embracing her from behind.

“How’d you manage that?”

“Jason owes me a favor. What do you think about picking up some take-out and taking it back to the house?” Gwen knew where this was going. There was no way they wouldn’t end up naked long before they got to their food. Still, how many people could say they had such an amazing sex life? She’d wager the number was fairly small.

As Gwen threaded her fingers through his, she knew with absolute certainty that she was making the right decision. Everything would turn out all right.

* * *

As anticipated, Ethan barely got her inside the house before ambushing her and trying to, once again, tear her clothes from her body.

“Stop.” Gwen had no idea where her sultry voice came from, but Ethan did bring out the shameless hussy in her. “Upstairs,” she all but purred.

Ethan looked like he wanted to protest being ordered around. The alpha wolf in him needed to have control, and she knew that. But today, she needed control. His face scrunched up and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head, but he obviously didn’t want to squash her confidence. Just as she sensed his inner struggle, the moment he decided to let her have things her way was displayed on his face.

For now. She heard the words as clear as if he uttered them out loud.

Meeting Ethan’s stare, Gwen saw more than just heat and desire. She saw devotion. Why had she held herself back from this, from him? Since moving to town, he had been nothing but considerate, showing her with more than words he wanted to try to have a real relationship with her.

He had already opened up his heart to her. Every day it was there in his touch, look, and voice. Why hadn’t she seen it before?

“Gwen?” Ethan asked softly. “Where did you go?”

She looked into his eyes and melted. There was such openness in his gaze, such caring and kindness and…love? It was time she put the past and that stupid morning behind her. Behind them. It was time to move on with their lives together.

Gwen smiled and shook her head, then pointed toward their bedroom, her sultry gaze back in place. Ethan grinned wolfishly and hurried to do her bidding as she followed him up the stairs and into their bedroom.

“What now, pet?” Ethan asked, looking like he wanted to grab her and have his wicked way.

“I want you naked and on the bed.” This afternoon she would show him exactly how she felt. Show him what she still couldn’t yet admit in words. She loved him, no matter how he felt about her.

The past few weeks had been an eye opener. Ethan was more than just the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with. He was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

“Am I the only one getting naked tonight?” Resting on his elbows, Ethan watched her with lazy satisfaction. She loved his voice when it got all growly.

Instead of answering, Gwen sauntered to the foot of the bed and unbuttoned her top, never taking her eyes off him. As he stared into her eyes, they shifted to the golden hue of his wolf.

“I love seeing your eyes change.”

Ethan smiled a large toothy grin, his canines already down. But she couldn’t let him bite her tonight. Tonight it was her turn.

Removing the last of her clothing, Gwen crawled up the bed until her mouth was even with Ethan’s jutting erection. Her breath caressed him as she paused, raising her gaze to his.

* * *

Ethan groaned as Gwen’s hot mouth closed over him. Never in his life had he been more turned on than he was with this woman. She drove him wild, her tongue stroking the vein running along the underside of his cock as she took him deeper. He felt himself hit the back of her throat but instead of pulling back, Gwen swallowed against him and almost brought him off the bed as he arched up.

Was this actually happening? Many nights he’d dreamed exactly of this but he hadn’t wanted to rush her. Gwen had been opening little by little over the past weeks, but even this morning he’d seen the distrust in her eyes. The walls had still been up, solid as ever, preventing him from connecting fully with her.

Something had changed between this morning and now. He sensed the transformation the moment she’d entered his office this afternoon. Although thrilled, he wanted to find out what had caused this transformation. There had been something new in her eyes this afternoon. The distrust was gone, replaced by something he couldn’t quite define but that made his heart soar. The wall between them was starting to crumble.

Ethan grunted, fisting his hands in the sheets as Gwen swallowed his length once again. The woman was doing wicked things with her tongue. Absolutely amazing.

He caught her gaze as she took him deep into her mouth again. The fire in her eyes drove him crazy. Knowing going down on him gave her pleasure was the biggest turn on of all.

Releasing his shaft, Gwen straddled Ethan and slowly guiding him inside her. He almost lost it when her heat encased him. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts toward him, but when he tried to sit up to suck on one of her nipples, she pushed him back down. He growled, but followed her lead. The little tease.

Thinking back to the woman he’d first seen on the beach, her hair tightly coiled in a bun and her curves hidden behind austere clothing, he was amazed at the transformation. Her long hair fell around them, tickling his skin as she rode him. Her lips were swollen from swallowing him, and her eyes held such passion and heat they practically scorched.

He wasn’t going to last long, especially not if she kept clenching around him like that. Panting, he raced toward the cliff edge, ready to tumble with her into oblivion. But before he could explode, her hips stopped their movement. A whine escaped before he could stop it. She couldn’t be this cruel. Ethan’s eyes popped open and regarded Gwen quizzically. What game was she playing?

“Ethan…I want…”

“What do you want? Anything, I swear I’ll give it to you.” It was the truth. Anything within his power would be hers.

Gwen looked deeply into his eyes as if puzzling something out. After a moment, she leaned against him, nuzzling his chest. Ethan started to protest. Really, what kind of person would leave a man hanging like this? But as he drew in a breath, a sharp sting pinched his chest.

Without warning, his world exploded in a flood of ecstasy. His whole body convulsed as he emptied himself inside her. He felt her jerky release but his brain was slow to process what had happened. Neither of them had moved, yet he’d had one of the most amazing orgasms of his life.

It took Ethan a moment to get his bearings. Gwen cuddled against him making the sweetest cooing sounds as she rubbed her nose on his chest. Suddenly the stinging pain made sense. Glancing down, Ethan’s suspicions were confirmed. There, just above his right nipple, were two small puncture wounds. Bite marks.

Happiness flooded him. Gwen had bitten him. She had marked him as hers. Finally, she wasn’t merely accepting their mating, she had chosen to actively mate with him as well. Searching within, Ethan felt his bond with Gwen thrumming stronger than ever. There was a give-and-take now, an exchange in the connection.

Ethan’s arms curled around her, and he buried his nose in her hair as she continued to coo. He loved hearing the sound of her pleasure. He hadn’t heard it since their first night together and hadn’t realized he missed it until right now. If he had his way he would keep her making that noise every night for the rest of their lives.

* * *

Gwen awoke, utterly sated, surrounded by the arms of her wolf. She burrowed her nose against his side and a small sound of contentment escaped her.

“Mmmm, I love that sound.” Ethan’s husky voice ran over her like a warm blanket as he pulled her closer. His lips hovered above hers and Gwen closed her eyes in anticipation of the kiss she knew would melt her soul.

A deep rumbling interrupted them moments before Ethan’s lips would’ve crashed down on hers. She looked up at Ethan in wide-eyed embarrassment. “Sorry, I haven’t eaten much today.”

His rich laugh filled the room. “Guess I’ll have to give you sustenance before I ravage you again.” Ethan began to crawl from the bed but stopped Gwen when she started to move as well. “You stay here. I’ll warm it up. Besides, I like the thought of you waiting for me in bed.”

Gwen smiled as Ethan strode out of the room. The stairs squeaked and Gwen heard the microwave being turned on in the kitchen.

Accepting her love for Ethan was like a weight lifting off her shoulders. It didn’t matter if he loved her or not, she knew her life with him would be everything she dreamed of and more.

Grabbing his dress shirt off the floor, Gwen swung it on as she made her way to the bathroom. The shirt arms engulfed her hands and the waist fell around her hips, landing mid-thigh. Looking at her reflection in the mirror as she washed her hands, Gwen thought she looked delightfully tumbled.

Ethan was already setting the food up on the bed as Gwen made her way out of the bathroom but he paused to stare at her. The wicked smile he threw her warmed her heart.

* * *

Abandoning his chore, Ethan grabbed Gwen around the waist and pulled her tight against him.

“I do love you in my shirts.” As he leaned down for a kiss, her growling stomach interrupted them once again. “Come eat before your stomach starts scaring my wolf with its ferociousness.”

Gwen blushed again and looked away. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Ethan saw Gwen pull at the hem of his shirt self-consciously, and her words of their first night together echoed through his mind. I’ve got a few more curves than your average woman. He thought they’d gotten over this. Where was the woman who had just boldly ordered him to strip?

Pulling her in close, Ethan whispered reassurances against her temple. “Gwen, you are the perfect woman for me in every way. I love gripping your curves in my hands as I plunge inside you. Besides, you’re going to need the energy because your curves are so enticing, I plan to keep you up and occupied all night long.” Ethan placed a love bite on the side of her throat.

Her arms snaked around him, and he felt her lips gently brush his jaw. “Thank you.” Keeping his arms around her, he pulled back so that he could look into her eyes. After what she’d given him tonight, he needed to make sure she knew how he felt about her. The trust in her gaze mesmerized him.

“I love you, Gwen.”

Shock reflected back at him, but as he watched, belief and acceptance slowly crept into her eyes.

“You do?”

“I love everything about you. The strength you exude with your business, the vulnerability you show only to me. Just being in your presence sets my wolf at ease, as if everything is right when you’re with me. I love you for everything you are, Gwen, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, but a large smile curled her lips, reassuring him. “Oh Ethan! I love you, too! I never thought you’d love me back.”

“I’m so sorry for the things I said before. They were stupid and selfish and I didn’t mean a word of them. Even as I uttered them, I knew they were wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. None of it matters.”

Holding Gwen at arm’s length, Ethan stared into her eyes.

“It does matter, Gwen.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I hurt you. That matters to me. I swear to you, you’ll never have a reason to doubt me again.”

“You’ve already made it up to me and more.”

“I’ll never stop.”

She started to say something, but Ethan cut her off, claiming her lips in a scorching kiss. He’d known Gwen loved him from the moment she’d sunk her teeth into his chest, claiming him as hers. The words hadn’t been necessary. Still, it was nice to hear them. It had been the last piece missing from their union, the last thing holding her back from him. Her mark was now forever on his chest, proof for all to see.

Dragging her to the bed, he pulled her down and placed a plate full of steaming seafood alfredo on her lap. She waited until he got situated before digging in, her enthusiasm for the meal making him smile. Everything about her made him smile. She caught him staring and gently set down her fork. But he was having none of that. Picking up her fork, he fed her a bite of his pasta. The next bite, he deliberately missed her mouth, leaving a large smudge of sauce at the corner. He leaned over and sucked the pasta off, moving his lips across hers and capturing her lower lip between his teeth.

“Mmm, tasty.” Sitting back, he grinned at the dazed look on her face. He’d never get tired of looking at her, or kissing her until the haze of passion clouded her eyes. Ethan planned to treasure every moment.

Epilogue

Gwen jumped as strong hands clamped on her shoulders. “Relax,” Ethan murmured in her ear, running his hands up and down her arms. “Everything is going to go off without a hitch. And if there is a problem, knowing you, there are three or four back-up plans ready in case of an emergency.”

“Five,” she muttered under her breath but Ethan, damn his wolf hearing, laughed. But this inn was Gwen’s future, her livelihood. Because of her dream, Alyssa had moved here, spent her time and money, with the sole intention of opening a successful B&B. What if she couldn’t pull it off?

For the opening of Moonlit Burrows, Gwen had invited Premiers from some of the most influential packs, prides, troops, and, of course, romps, in the country. They boasted seven guest rooms, and all of them were booked. There’d been such a huge response they’d had to schedule alternate weekends as too many people tried booking for the opening. It seemed she hadn’t been as invisible and unnoticed as she’d thought back in California. If things went well, word would spread quickly and they’d have an overnight success. If things didn’t go well…

Gwen didn’t want to think about that. She let Ethan’s warmth surround her, relaxing against his chest and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder.

“Distract me.”

“And how would you like me to distract you, my love? Somehow, I don’t think our usual method would be appropriate right now.” She had to fight back the urge to arch her back as his hands ran down her spine. Gwen giggled. “No, not like that. Well, later like that. I meant talking. Talk to me.”

“Julie’s coming home from school on Sunday. We wanted to throw her a graduation party, but she said it would be too much with Jason and Samantha’s wedding so soon.” She felt Ethan frowning behind her, displeasure changing his scent. He obviously didn’t want her day to go unnoticed, and she guessed Jason and Samantha didn’t either, wedding or not.

“She was sad.” Gwen whispered after a moment of silence.

“What?” Ethan turned her to face him. “What are you talking about?”

“When she was here over spring break. She was sad. She tried to hide it, but it was there if you looked closely enough.”

The scowl on Ethan’s face made Gwen shrink into herself. Would he blame her for not telling him sooner?

His frown lines deepened as he stared at her. “Why do you look like that?”

“Like what?” Gwen tried to muster up a neutral expression but knew she failed miserably. Things had been so perfect between her and Ethan the past few months. Ethan was better than any childhood Prince Charming she had conjured. And now, with her silence, she faced the possibility that she’d already ruined everything.

“Like you’re expecting an attack. You’re looking at me like you think I’m going to tear into you.”

“I just don’t want you to be upset because I didn’t tell you my suspicions earlier. I don’t want you to think I’m keeping things from you.”

His scowl seeped from his expression. “Gwen, stop expecting me to turn from you. I’m not going anywhere. Yes, we will fight. Everyone argues. But I would cut off my arm before hurting you again. Am I upset my sister was sad and tried to hide it from her family? Sure. Am I going to verbally assault you for not telling me? Absolutely not. We may argue, but I will never tear into you. Ever.”

Gazing into her mate’s eyes, Gwen knew he told the truth. He would do everything in his power to never hurt her again. Whatever happened with Moonlit Burrows tonight, she would be fine.

She was wrong in thinking the inn was her future. Ethan was her future. And somehow that knowledge was all she needed to face the evening ahead with steady nerves. She had the utmost confidence the opening would go off without a hitch, but no matter what, she’d always have her wolf at her side, and that made all the difference in the world.

Content

Chasing Paradise
Alpine Woods Shifters - 2
by
Sondrae Bennett

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Epilogue