To Save His Mate(37)

Could she really handle having a werewolf as a lover?

Well, as of about thirty minutes ago, she had! Guess that was a moot point.

What am I thinking?

He had to go. There was no way to get her brain to function normally when he was nearby. She had a case to solve! There was no room for werewolves in her life right now.

So why did she feel as if her heart was shredding in her chest? She knew she was upset, but it was mainly unanswered questions and a good bit of shock.

Hello! My boyfriend turns into a freaking dog! I’m entitled to a mini-meltdown if I want one, thank you.

But that wasn’t what had her feeling as if a Mack Truck was parked on her sternum. Could it be Ethan? Was he that distraught? Over her?

Perhaps, he really did love her.

Right now though, she had to focus on solving this case. It had to be her primary concern at the moment, though she knew it would be nearly impossible to keep this situation with Ethan from the forefront of her mind as long as he remained nearby.

Bracing herself, Lacy slowly pulled away from his warm embrace, trying to keep her eyes from roaming over his incredible, naked body—which could turn into a wolf at a moment’s notice.

“I need some space, Ethan.” She couldn’t bring her voice above a whisper for fear it would crack. “I can’t think straight when you’re near me, and I really need to keep my head clear. The lives of these models depend on it.”

Surely, he could understand that, but she felt a tidal wave of loss wash over her. She watched as he rose and pulled on his jeans before picking up his shirt and heading for the door.

“Ethan,” She couldn’t let him leave like this. Despite her confusion over everything, she still cared for him.

He turned to face her, and the emotion in his beautiful eyes floored her. They looked so forlorn. She crossed to him, uncaring of his earlier display, and wrapped her arms around his neck before giving him a soft kiss.

Now, with hope warming his gaze, he promised, “I’ll give you the space you need. It may kill me to do so, but your needs will forever come before my own. Remember that, sweetheart.” With an achingly tender kiss to her brow, he exited her room, closing the door softly behind him.

Lacy slowly crossed the room and locked her bedroom door. Not against Ethan, but in case their resident killer decided to visit.

She should have known she wouldn’t be that lucky. After calling in a rather late report to a grumbling Murphy, Lacy remained awake the entire night.

As the sun crept over the horizon, she sent a text to Stephanie asking if she could talk to her. Her new friend’s prompt reply of, It took you long enough, made Lacy smile and told her that Ethan had already spoken to Stephanie.

They agreed that Stephanie would pick her up, and they would head to the site for the photo shoot early. Lacy quickly grabbed her things, throwing on a pair of shorts and a tank and making sure to tuck her small handgun into her holster at the small of her back, before pulling on a loose button-down blouse to ensure that it wasn’t seen.

The house was quiet when she stepped from her room. Upon entering the living room, she spotted Jose snoring softly on the sofa. She tried not to laugh at his strange sounds or how his legs twitched as she made her way out. Once past the front door, she saw Stephanie was parked at the curb.

Opening the passenger side door, Lacy heard Stephanie say, “Just keep an eye on him, Abe. He shouldn’t be alone.” Then she was hanging up her cell, and Lacy found herself enveloped in an awkward hug. “How are you holding up?”

“Not too well, I’m afraid. I take it Ethan spoke to you?” Of course, he had. He’d encouraged her to talk to Stephanie, after all.

“No, he talked to Abe, and Abe talked to me. According to him, Ethan is a real mess. Between his own emotions and what he’s picking up from you, I don’t think he’s slept at all.”

“That makes two of us,” Lacy replied. “I can feel him, and it’s amazing and scary as hell all at once.”

“I understand, trust me. These guys are taught young about what it means to find a mate, and what it means to lose one,” Stephanie explained as she maneuvered her little car down the seriously bumpy dirt road leading to the site. “But for us, we only hear about these sorts of things happening in stories.”

“So he knew I was his mate before this happened? Why didn’t he talk to me first, give me the chance to make my own decision?”

“No! That’s what’s got him so upset. He was so wrapped up in his attempts to impress you and do everything he could to help with the investigation that he never noticed the signs. And with you being human, there’s no way you would have noticed them,” Stephanie assured her.