“That’ll work,” she said, and they headed over to Jefferson’s car.
The whole way there, she sat and fumed. What was David thinking? Macy was awesome. Macy was amazing. Why did some men have to think with their dicks?
To her surprise, when she got there, the Watering Hole was empty. She walked in and looked around in confusion. The bar should have been packed.
Instead she saw that only one table had been set, and there were two place settings on it, with a big juicy prime rib on each china plate.
She looked around and saw David washing off a table top with a wet rag. She stormed over and grabbed him by the neck with one hand.
“Cheat on my friend, will you!” she yelled, squeezing hard. He flailed his arms in panic as his face turned red.
Macy rushed out from the kitchen. “Dakota, no! He isn’t cheating on me! I just said that to make sure you’d come here right away!” she cried.
“Urk?” David made a strangling noise and gestured at his neck.
Dakota let go of him at once. “Oh, David, I am so sorry.” Then she looked at Macy. “What the hell, Macy? I nearly murdered your mate.”
David gave Macy a wounded look, rubbing his neck and backing away from Dakota. “Why would you tell her that? You know I’d never cheat on you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You got that right,” Macy agreed. “But I had to make it sound urgent.”
Miles strode out of the kitchen, and he had a huge grin on his face.
“What’s happening, and why are you guys all acting weird? Why is the restaurant empty? Guys, where are you going?” Macy and David were hurrying out the side door.
“It’s just you and me,” Miles said. “I booked the whole bar.” He gestured at her to take a seat, and she sank down into her chair, surprised.
“For me?” she said, looking around.
“Of course, for you,” he said. She turned back to look at him, and he was down on one knee.
“I want you to be with me for the rest of my life,” he said. “I know that with you by my side, I’ll be strong enough to face anything that comes at me. I want my claiming mark on your neck, so that every man who looks at you knows I’m the luckiest wolf alive. And I want your claiming mark on my neck, so that every woman knows she shouldn’t even bother trying, because I am happily hitched.”
“You…you want…” She felt as if all the air had been sucked from the room.
“Jamie Roberts, will you be my mate?”
She should have told him the truth, right then, right there, but she didn’t.
There seemed to be only one word she was capable of uttering.
“Yes,” she breathed.
He glanced at the windows. The curtains were drawn; nobody could see in. His breathing grew heavy, and he moved closer to her –then swept both of the dishes off the sturdy oak table with a crash. He picked her up and put her on the table top.
“Miles, there’s a whole restaurant full of empty tables,” she protested.
“Yeah, but it’s more dramatic this way,” he said. “Shut up, woman – don’t ruin the moment.” But a smile played on his lips.
He reached over, grabbed the front of her shirt, and ripped it open.
“I’m claiming you now,” he growled.
Chapter Twenty
She melted in his arms as they kissed. It wasn’t gentle or exploratory, it was just a raw expression of need. You’re mine. I’m yours. And our bodies know it.
She moaned throatily as he slipped off her shoes and yanked down her pants, throwing her clothes over his shoulder, not caring where they landed. He stripped off his own clothes just as quickly until they were both gloriously naked, pressed against each other as they touched and tasted and claimed.
Dakota turned and gave him her back. Between wolves, that was a big deal. A sign of absolute trust – and she did trust him. No matter what, she knew Miles would always keep her safe, as part of his pack. As his mate.
He crowded up close behind her, sandwiching her between his hot, muscular body and the cool surface of the table pressing into her lower belly.
She could feel his warm breath puffing against the nape of her neck, stirring the fine hairs, and it sent shivers of anticipation over her skin. He pushed his hips against her backside, letting her feel the rigid length of his erection, telling her without words how much he wanted her.
Dakota arched her back, offering him access to her pussy. She was beyond wet and ready for him. She moaned her approval as he wrapped her hair around his fist and pushed her down against the table top, then kicked her feet apart, opening her to him still further.
The table top was cold, and her pebbled nipples pressed against its varnished surface. It flickered across her mind that she’d probably never be able to eat here again without blushing like a maniac – or without her panties getting damp.