As they lay together, legs tangled and arms entwined, still recovering from the most mind-blowing sex of his life, Sawyer reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.

“How come you’re not mad at me?” he asked.

“Who said I’m not?”

With his other hand, he tangled his fingers in her hair and tugged enough to tilt her head to the side so he could look at her eyes.

“I’d say the two explosive orgasms, that’s who.”

A light tinkling laugh sounded from her. “Have you never heard of angry sex? I’ve heard it can be quite ‘explosive’ as you put it.”

His hands stilled at the serious tone of her answer. Was she kidding him right now? He rolled over on top of her and pressed her body deep into the mattress.

“That’s not funny, Agent Bishop,” he spoke sternly.

She smiled up at him. “Sure it is. And you’d agree if you could see your face right now.” As if to emphasis her point, she stretched her arms to reach for his ass and give it a squeeze.

“I was being serious. I expected you to hate me when you found out what I’d done.”

For a moment, her eyes shuttered and he could no longer read her expression. However, when she opened them again and their gazes met, he realized why. Her emotions were as intense as his. Maybe more so.

“I was shocked. And scared. But it’s a little hard to be mad at someone for doing whatever they could to keep you alive. Since we still don’t know for sure if I will become a wolf, I think being mad is entirely premature.”

“Oh, she’s in there. I felt her and I know you did too. I think with another bite, the transition will complete.”

“Is that what you want?” she asked. “For me to become a wolf shifter like you?”

“I want you to be mine. That’s what I want. Whether you’re human or shifter is not that important.”

“I want that too,” she whispered, her words barely audible.

He lifted on his elbows. “What? Are you serious? When? I mean—how—”

“Yes, I’m serious. And as for the when—well, that started from the moment you sat down in front of me. I just didn’t want to admit anything. I had a job to do and handling that professionally was the most important part of my life up until then. Of course that changed when you kissed me. No, before then if I’m honest with myself. When you told me the story about what happened to you at Club Diablo and how you saved your friend’s girlfriend and unborn baby, I knew right then and there you were special. Then you kissed me.”

She paused, biting her lip.

“Eventually, I had no choice but to admit I was a goner. Although, admittedly, the wolf thing rocked me off my axis for a while. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around that one.”

“Understandable. That’s why we tend to guard our secret above all else. Too many people knowing of our existence won’t be safe for anyone.”

“And whether I’m a wolf or not, I have to keep the secret too.”

He nodded. “It’s best for everyone that way. Safer.”

“It’s not as if anyone would believe me anyway. Half of the agency thinks I’m an idiot. If I came forward with tales of men who turn into wolves, I’d be a goner.”

“And what does the other half think?”

“That I only got my job because of my father’s position inside the FBI. I’ve lived in that shadow all my life, but it wasn’t until I met you that I began to realize it was past time for me to move out of that shadow.”

“You mean quit the FBI?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I mean you never know how I could be useful, but for now I’m on an indefinite leave of absence. I gave my official statement about what happened out here, which corroborated your sworn statement and now I’m free as are you. No one is going to refute my account.”

Sawyer sucked in a deep breath and tried to process all of this. He knew she’d been busy since she left the hospital, but he had no idea how deep it had gone.

He leaned down and gave her a hard, quick kiss. “I think I’m in love with you.”

She smiled, a grin so wide it lit up the entire room. “I sure hope so since I know I’m in love with you. I don’t think I’d be here otherwise.”

“Dammit, woman.” A low rumbling growl sounded from his chest and grew in intensity. He rolled to his back and brought her down on top of him. When their bodies aligned and she pressed her hips into his hard erection, her eyes went wide and a smile ghosted across her face.

“Sawyer!”

Now it was his turn to smile. “What can I say? You just earned yourself another orgasm.” He tilted his hips and pushed inside her one easy inch at a time. And this time they were going to take it nice and slow. He’d prolong the pleasure and drive his mate to the height of mindless pleasure. Then and only then would he let them come. And then after, if he was very very lucky, she’d accept his bite and officially become the mate he never thought he deserved.