Her eyes were wide, and her lip trembled a little. It reminded him of when they made love, and how open and vulnerable she had been to him. His wolf responded to that sweetness and surged inside him, wanting to protect her from anything and everything that might hurt her. Including mating with him, if that was how it had to be.
“Having a mate…” He swallowed thickly, the words getting caught in his throat. “Well, it’s not something I thought I would be able to have. But thanks to you, my wolf and I have a new understanding—one that doesn’t involve him rampaging at night, out of control. And one where I listen to him, keep him close. As it should be. And right now, he’s telling me to sink my fangs into you and claim you for my own.”
Her lips parted, and he could feel her chest heaving. He pushed one hand back through her hair and pulled her in for a quick kiss, soft and light and full of the tenderness he held in his heart for her.
Then he pulled back and continued, “It wasn’t possible before, but now, I think I could—and I have you to thank for that. You’ve settled my wolf in a way he never was, even before what happened in Afghanistan. I have a faith in him that I didn’t have before, now that I know the truth about what he did. What we did, together. But that doesn’t change how you feel about mating—I understand that.”
She shook her head in small rapid movements. “You should have a mate. It’s not right for you to finally know the truth and not be able to reclaim everything an alpha like you should have.”
He smiled. “I won’t lie. Having a mate would be… incredible. Everything I’ve ever wanted. But it doesn’t matter… all I want is you, Piper. You said before that you would stay—did you mean it?”
She visibly swallowed, and he didn’t want to push her, but he was dying to know—was this just a three-day torrid affair like many she must have had before? He didn’t think so, but he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t just walk away, now that her brother had been found. He needed to hear it straight from her lips, whatever the answer was going to be.
“Well, Seattle is a pretty city,” she said, her voice trembling, “and there’s plenty of counterintelligence work to do here—not least, I’d like to figure out what Krepky is really up to.” She was changing the subject again.
And he wasn’t going to let that happen. “I thought you liked traveling the world.”
“I think, maybe, I’ve had enough of the world for a while.” She touched him again, tracing her fingers from one scar to the next. She seemed to be searching for words, so he waited. “There’s only one person my wolf has ever cried for,” she whispered. “Only one she was ever willing to do anything for… including submit.” She dragged her dark eyes up to meet his.
His heart swelled. “You would?” He held perfect still, holding his breath, unsure he had even heard her right.
“Only for you.” She bit her lip.
The joy welling up inside him was almost too much to contain. He let his hands slide to her shoulders and pulled her in for another kiss.
“Are you sure?” he gasped, his lips brushing hers. “If you do this, Piper, I promise—I’ll never be anything like your father.”
She smiled, her lips curving against his. “I know.” She pulled back to look him in the eyes. “You’re already a better man than anyone I know. And your wolf… goddammit, Jace, your wolf is fucking hot.”
A bubble of laughter rose and burst out of him. “I’m fairly certain you’re the only person who’s ever thought that.”
She looked askance at him. “I doubt that.” She slid her arms around him and rose up in his lap, pressing her T-shirt clad chest against his bare one. “And if so, then everyone else is a complete idiot.”
He gripped her hard, kissing her, barely believing she was actually doing this. Actually willing to do this. For him. With him.
He had to ask one more time. “Piper Wilding, I’ve never wanted anything so badly in this life as I’ve wanted to claim you as my mate. Please tell me you mean it. Please tell me that you believe me when I say I’ll do everything in my power to love and protect you all the days of my life.”
This time, there was no hesitation, just a smile. “Love is daring to be who you really are with someone. At least, that’s how it should be. How I want it to be. And I want to take that dare with you.”
His wolf growled in his need for her. Jace tipped her back on the bed so that she was lying on top of the blankets and his body was covering hers. “Goddammit, I want you so badly,” he growled into her neck between hungry kisses. He really didn’t need the words—his rock-hard cock was already pressing into her belly, explaining everything for him. What he needed was to remove all her clothing instantaneously.