Rex threw his body over hers, tackling her against the soft sand. Something thudded behind them. An arrow. It took her less than a second to realize they were under attack.
“He’s shooting from the water. Stay low,” he ordered as he practically dragged her down the beach.
She shoved up from the sand and sprinted with him. A few thuds trailed after them, but none too close.
“You want to end this now?” Rex’s eyes glowed intensely bright.
Without him having to explain what he wanted to do, she nodded. If that bastard out there thought he could hurt them on pack land, he was dumber than she thought. She heard the engine and knew they had only moments to make a decision. She stripped off her dress and shoes, leaving her in her bathing suit, as Rex slid his shoes and shirt off. Without a word, they both hurried toward the water, using their incredible speed to swim toward the boat.
It was starting to pull away, the shooter likely realizing the mistake he’d made. He might be good with a bow and arrow, but aiming from a moving boat had to be damn hard.
Rex pulled ahead of her, using his incredible speed as he cut through the water like a torpedo. The engine roared and panic jumped in her throat as the boat started to flee. She wanted this to end now, not wait for this asshole to come after them again.
Calling on all her strength, she stroked harder. Her fear blossomed into something sharp when she saw Rex jump from the water into the boat. As she reached the idling vessel, full-blown adrenaline took over. She clutched at the side and pulled herself up only to collapse in relief when she saw Rex standing next to a pile of ash already turning muddy as it mixed with the ocean water. She’d known he was strong, but damn.
Before she could swing herself over, Rex grabbed her under her arms and hauled her up, pulling her close. She shuddered at the sensations punching through her. He was safe, unharmed.
“It’s over,” Rex murmured. “Stupid fucker thought we had the money Stanley stole. He wanted it back.”
Which meant the money was still out there. Not that Margery cared about that. She kept her arms wrapped tight around him as she leaned her head back to look up at Rex. She might be relationship challenged, but when it came to this male she had to tell him how she felt. If something had happened to him and she’d never gotten the chance it would have shredded her. He deserved to know this was more than just physical attraction and more than just the mating call. “I love you, Rex.”
His eyes glowed brighter than she’d ever seen them, his expression dark, hungry and so full of love it made her knees weak. He wasn’t holding anything back now. “I love you too, and I’m not moving into that empty, fucking condo. I’m moving in with you whether you like it or not.”
She laughed at his almost angry declaration. “Good.”
“Good?”
“Uh, yeah. I don’t want to live without you.” Even with her loving and supportive pack this week she realized that she’d been missing something. Rex was it.
“Thank God because I can’t live without you. Hell, I can’t believe I’ve lived hundreds of years without you. You make everything better, Margery. I sound like an idiot but around you everything is brighter and more beautiful.” He looked almost bewildered as he spoke.
As if he couldn’t believe he’d found her. She knew what he was feeling because she felt the exact same way.
She grabbed his face in her hands and tugged him down to her, needing to taste him. Their salt-slicked bodies molded to each other as their lips and tongues clashed in a fervent erotic mating. Something told her that as soon as they made it back to shore and got this mess straightened out, they’d be skipping the rest of the party and spending it back at her—their—place. That was more than fine with her. She wanted to seal their bond physically and have him drink from her again—claiming her in the most primal way.
Epilogue
Two months later
Rex’s body tightened in anticipation when he heard the front door open, just as it did each time Margery walked into a room. The front door quietly closed and that sweet lavender scent made him go rock hard. He was like a trained monkey. All he had to do was smell her unique, erotic scent and he was ready to go.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he called out from the living room. It was still daytime so the drapes and hurricane shutters were pulled tight, but the sun should be setting in less than an hour. And he had a date planned for them. They’d gone straight from sleeping together to living together and now he was making up for it, taking her out every chance he got. He’d also put an engagement ring on her finger.