will. When I know you’re not just rolling over under me because you don’t know anything else to do.”
In a heartbeat, she crowded into his space, pressed close with a challenging growl. “Rolling under you is not my first instinct right now.” Climbing him like a tree and riding him to the floor, on the other hand…
He slid his fingers into her hair again. “Do you know why you like this, honey? It’s the control. You think you want it, but you don’t. Just the fight. You still want me to win.”
The words resonated, but she wasn’t about to admit as much. “That doesn’t sound very progressive of me. Don’t werewolves get to have feminist pride?”
“Who said you aren’t proud?” His gaze warmed as it traveled over her face. “You’re amazing, Eden. After what happened to you, you could have given up. But you came up fighting instead.”
She’d been joking, but the sincerity in his words made her self-conscious. Dropping her gaze, she traced a finger along the neckline of his T-shirt. “Maybe that’s just luck. Whatever made me turn early and made me a powerful wolf. If it wouldn’t hurt more, I think I’d still be whimpering under your bed.”
The pulse throbbing at the base of his throat sped at her touch. “Hiding? Not you, no way.”
“You’d be surprised.” Edging her finger up a fraction allowed her to touch skin, and she hissed out a breath and jerked away as desire jolted through her. “Would you have asked me out if you’d known I knew about werewolves? Or is this all just because I am one now?”
“I would’ve.” He smoothed his hands down to her shoulders. “I wasn’t about to start something based on a lie, that’s all.”
That was how every relationship in her life had felt. “It’s not easy. Even when the lie’s not yours.”
“Doesn’t matter now.” He stepped closer, looming over her. “Nothing else to hide.”
Her insides were melting. She’d screwed around with enough guys in college to know she’d like giving up control to him when the time came—
When the time came. “Is this the part where you handcuff me to something?”
He bent his head and kissed her, his tongue edging her lips apart as soon as his mouth met hers. Nothing tentative this time, just an unrelenting kiss, deep and a little rough, and she rocked up on her toes and shoved her fingers into his hair to drag him closer.
His tongue slid over hers, and a moan vibrated deep in his chest. Only a moment later, he broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. “This…is where we have dinner.”
The world was still spinning in lazy circles, but all the built-up tension had vanished. “How do you keep doing that?” she whispered. “She twists up inside me until I think I’m going to pop, and you make it all go away with a kiss.”
“Don’t know.” A low chuckle escaped him. “Talent?”
“Maybe.” She rubbed her cheek against his. “I don’t know werewolf rules, but if we’re not having a—a thing here, you’d better tell me now. I’m feeling territorial.”
“Dinner,” he said again, firmly this time. “The rest is up to us.”
It wasn’t enough of an answer to satisfy her, but it didn’t look like she’d be getting a better one. Biting back a sigh, she stepped away. “You said you wanted me to make a salad?”
“Unless you want to go strictly carnivore tonight.”
“That is uncomfortably appealing.”
He grinned. “Do we dare?”
The smile was infectious. Eden laughed as she rolled up her sleeves to wash her hands. “No. I need something to do while you’re burning meat.”
Jay clucked his tongue and shook his head. “Always a good girl, huh?”
“Don’t taunt me, Chief Ancheta.” She lowered her voice to a husky promise. “I might decide to try my hand at naked cooking.”
He passed her a bamboo cutting board and pulled a knife free of the block. “Sounds kinky.”
“Maybe I am kinky.” She eyed the knife with a grin. “Not that kinky.
Conn Iggulden
Lori Avocato
Edward Chilvers
Firebrand
Bryan Davis
Nathan Field
Dell Magazine Authors
Marissa Dobson
Linda Mooney
Constance Phillips