A shiver traveled up her back. “He’s never set foot in here. Not when my father was alive and definitely not afterwards either. Are you saying he came in here when I was gone? I can't smell anything different.” She turned to open the hutch near the kitchen and removed her grandmother’s porcelain cookie jar. Reaching inside, she sagged in relief. “Oh, thank you, God.
The savings bonds from my parents are still here.”
“He wasn’t after your money.” Ethan took the container and put it back on the shelf. He gathered her hand in his, led her to the couch and sat beside her. He pulled her close. “You’re not safe here, little one. I want you away from Drover. Let me take care of Greggoire, get your brother back, and win my place back within the pack. You mean too much to me to put you in danger.”
“You want me to go away?” Heaviness settled around her heart. They’d fallen in love, mated, became closer than any human ever could…and he wanted to send her away? She stared at her hands clasped together in her lap. “Just leave it all up to you? I would never give up finding Jordan. I don’t plan on giving up even with your help. No.”
“Dani—”
“Don’t Dani me, Ethan Tolene.” She turned and seized the front of his shirt. “Do you know how hard I worked at keeping myself hidden in this house while my body craved to mate? It drove me insane, but there were two reasons why I succeeded. One…If I could save myself for you, I knew it would be the answer to finding my brother. Two…Somehow, I knew you were my mate without even meeting you. I love you, but I won’t give up bringing my brother home where he belongs. I owe my parents, I owe Jordan and without him, I’d never be content.”
“I can bring him back to you.”
“I can’t let you do it alone. Most days it feels as if someone is pulling my heart out of my chest. I miss the way his warm head used to lay against my chest when I rocked him to sleep.
Sometimes, I swear I can smell the sweet, moist scent of him and I panic. He’s out there, Ethan, and he’s all alone. He needs me as much as a child needs his mother. I…need…him. Don’t ask me to give up this fight.”
Ethan ran both hands through his hair. “I didn’t stand a chance, did I?”
“No.” She kissed his lips. “How about we slip outside and go for a run? You need to relax a little before all hell breaks loose tomorrow.”
“Too dangerous.” He pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. “I have something else that’ll help.”
She smiled. He caressed the base of her throat with his tongue. She squirmed against him. Her lower stomach quivered, and juice rushed to the surface of her pussy. “Mmm. I think I really like your other idea. We’ve worked too hard the last few days. I need you.”
“I don’t even know where your bed is, little one.” He cupped her sex. His gaze softened.
“You’re all warm.”
“Bed. Down the hall. Right door.” Tugging his hair, she pulled his mouth off her throat.
“Please. I need…” She whined and clung to his shoulders.
Ethan marched down the hall with Dani in his arms. Kicking the door open, he set her on her feet and took off his shirt. She turned on the lamp beside the bed, squinting as the light filled the room. Having her wolf’s vision made her forget such ordinary things, like that she could see in the dark as well as the daylight.
“Let’s keep the light off, little one. The fewer who learn that you’ve returned to Drover with a mate, the better it’ll be.” Ethan stepped out of his jeans. He stripped out of his clothes and stood in front of her in all his splendor.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
She lowered her gaze to his chest, following the narrow path of hair down to his flat stomach to his cock. She reached out. “Can I taste you? Like you did to me the other night. Please.” She dropped to her knees.
A simple nod answered her question. She wet her lips. Leaning forward, she gently licked the slit at the end of his engorged cock. His hips twitched, and he growled. Encouraged, she sucked more length into her mouth.
Ethan’s hardness covered in smooth, baby-soft skin glided in and out over her moist lips.
She swallowed, tightening her hold, and he sank his hands into her hair. She marveled at how big, tough, and strong he was; yet, the very part of him that brought her so much pleasure was a mix of power and gentleness.
The sweet musky scent associated with his wolf filled her nostrils. She shivered. A rush of intense pleasure flooded her lower stomach. Her panties became damp. She’d have to get used to that…no matter what Ethan did, she seemed to exist in a constant level of hyper-awareness.