Surprised by the mention of the party Rex stood as Margery entered.
She immediately smiled at him, taking his breath away—something she seemed to do at least once a day. “I love your manners,” she murmured as she shut the door behind Grant.
Rex was from a different time, just like her, and not standing for a female simply wasn’t done. He pulled her into his arms as he sat back against the chair, tugging her into his lap. She settled right over his growing erection, making him groan. “What else do you love about me?” he murmured, nipping at her jawline.
She wiggled over his hard length once, teasing him. “I’ll tell you later. What did you guys talk about? Is there any news about the missing vamp?” The hope in her voice nearly shredded him.
She’d known he was coming up here to discuss hunting down Franz, and Rex had wanted to give her good news. “Nothing yet but we’re going to find him. But, I do have good news. I’m joining the pack.”
Her dark eyes widened before she kissed him, brushing her lips over his sweetly. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me earlier, sneaky vampire,” she said as she leaned back, her expression clearly pleased.
Not that he’d been worried she’d be disappointed. Okay, he’d been fucking nervous. What the hell was happening to him? It was like he’d turned into a lovesick fool. Shit. He loved her. That’s why he felt overly protective and insecure. This had nothing to do with the electric pull he experienced because of what he knew was the mating call. This was different, deeper.
He loved her.
How had he not realized sooner? The past week they’d barely left her place. They’d had a lot of sex, but he’d also gotten to know her. He loved every single thing about her from the way she took care of so many of her packmates, just lending an ear to listen, right down to the way she sang horribly off-key in the shower.
Margery lightly thumped him on the chest and he realized he hadn’t responded. “What are you thinking?”
“Living arrangements. I’ll need to move all my stuff down here.” Most of it was in a private, secure storage facility anyway because he traveled so much for work.
“The pack—your pack—will help. Will it be weird for you to be a vampire in a wolf pack?” Biting her bottom lip, she watched him curiously, and maybe a little nervously, as she waited for his answer.
“Hell no.” He was certain he’d have to deal with the occasional challenges from pack members wanting to display dominance, but it would have been the same if he’d been in a coven. Supernatural beings were a lot more primal than humans in some ways.
She instantly relaxed, sliding her fingers over his shoulders. Even through his shirt the feel of her elegant fingers brushing against him turned him on even more. Because he’d been rock hard since he’d scented her out in the hallway. “We better get back to the condo. I don’t think Grant would appreciate us going at it on his office floor.”
The wicked gleam in her eyes told him that she was considering doing just that. Which made him even hotter. “I guess so.” Sliding off him, she dragged her hand over his erection.
He groaned as he stood. “We’re going to have to be quick. Grant’s throwing a party in an hour.”
“That’s what he was talking about when he left? I didn’t think he meant a real party,” she said as he opened the door, heading out into the hallway first.
It was instinct for him to enter any space first to check for danger, even in their alpha’s house.
“After you see how shifters party, you’re never going to want to leave the pack,” she continued, excitement lacing her voice.
He nearly snorted. He’d never leave. Not unless she did. And then he’d follow her anywhere. “Grant said there’s an empty place next to yours I can take,” he said abruptly. But I don’t want to stay there, I want to live with you, he silently thought. Grant was right, he really was a coward.
“Oh…is that what you want?” she asked carefully. The shift in her scent was subtle as she stepped out behind him. It was sharper, one he’d never scented before, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
No, that wasn’t what he wanted. He scrubbed a hand over his face as they paused outside the office door. He didn’t want to live in another place. He wanted to be with Margery every second he could. If it was practically any other situation he could use his strength to get what he wanted. When hunting for someone he depended on strength, research and understanding the habits of his prey.
With Margery he felt impossibly out of his depth. This wasn’t a game and while it was a hunt in a way, it wasn’t one where there was one winner and one loser. He’d never been in a real relationship before and he couldn’t screw this up. Not with her.