“You’d love Washington State. I know you would because where I live it’s as green as it is here. It rains a lot, but I don’t mind. And we have wild horses roaming around the Seattle Wolf Pack—”

From inside her wolf, Juliette listened to Kendall’s soothing voice. She nudged closer to him, her nose sniffing his now-familiar scent. It was amazing how habits could form within mere hours of meeting a person.

“And I’ve thought of a solution to manage our combined packs—” He sat on the bed, petting her wolf with long strokes.

Although Juliette’s wolf felt at ease, it was time to leave that room. So many things needed to be addressed, and Kendall’s mention of their packs reminded Juliette that the next chapter in her life was about to start. She had dallied enough, healing her broken body, but now she was ready.

Her wolf barked happily, jumping on all fours on the bed, startling Kendall into a joyous laugh.

“Finally!” He dropped his forehead against her large head.

Her wolf’s tongue sneaked up to lick his face.

“Hey, Juliette is going to be jealous,” he said, letting her wolf lavish his jaw and cheeks with wet kisses.

Enough, Juliette told her wolf. Now it’s my turn.

Kendall scooted away on the mattress to give her space when she initiated the shift, but she found herself in his arms a moment later.

“You are back,” he whispered to her lips.

“What were you saying about our packs?” she asked, smiling against his mouth.

“All business already?” he asked with mock effrontery, one hand pressed against his chest. “Not ‘I miss you, I want to make mad love to you—’”

“That too, but I want to take a shower and leave Johanna’s house first.” She tapped his nose with her finger and jumped out of the bed, pulling him with her. “Lend me a shirt and let’s go to my house.”

Kendall threw a large, white shirt her way, then scooped her up in his arms before she could fully cover herself. He ran through the house as she lowered the shirt as much as she could with his arms holding her tight against his rock-hard chest.

At the door, they almost collided with Johanna, who was entering.

“I see that you’ve recovered.” She winked at Juliette. “See you in a few days?”

“A week,” answered Kendall, resuming his sprint. “Where to?” he remembered to ask Juliette when he was halfway through the compound.

“My place is behind the pack hall.” She directed him through the small streets crossing the Honolulu Wolves’ pack, and he was barreling through her apartment’s door a few minutes later.

Without losing momentum, he whisked her into her bathroom shower, still wearing his shirt. He looked like a man possessed but that didn’t scare her. Instead, she grabbed the lapel of his shirt and dragged him under the shower jet.

The water plastered the white shirt on her body, and Kendall’s hooded gaze emboldened her to stretch the fabric over her breasts. His mouth descended upon her peaking nipple. The moment his lips latched onto her stiffening bud, she arched against him, already lost.

His hands moved up and down her shirt, fueling the warmth spreading through her body. Water cascaded upon them, caressing her skin, and adding to the sensual onslaught. Juliette couldn’t stand idle and yanked his shorts down to his thighs with one hand as she popped his shirt open with the other.

“Underwear optional?” she asked at the sight of his proud manhood, standing ready.

“It’s a philosophy of life.” He moaned when she closed her hand around him.

“I like it,” she purred low as his fingers inched down toward the apex of her legs, and she pressed against his probing touch.

“I aim to please.” He growled loud at her increasing caresses, his mouth searching for hers.

“I don’t think I can resist much longer this first time,” she hoarsely whispered, gulping water in between heated kisses.

“I’m glad you said that.” Kendall reached for the collar of her soaked shirt and tore it. “Because I can’t either.” He grabbed her waist with both hands, pressed her against the tiled wall on the back of the shower, and with one swift motion aligned their bodies and entered her.

She gasped at the feeling of being filled so thoroughly, but when he started thrusting in and out, all thoughts fled her mind and she let her body take the lead.

His body slammed into hers mercilessly, and still she craved more.

Her head canted to the side, showing him her throat. Kendall’s blue eyes darkened as he lowered his lips to the spot where her neck and shoulder met, his fangs gently grazing her skin.

“Now,” she implored him, angling her mouth for the same spot on his body.

Their fangs lowered at the same time, piercing skin as their movements became frantic. Pain and pleasure mixed into a crescendo of sensations that transcended the physical realm. His blood poured into her mouth, filling her at the same time as he took gulps from her. She moved against him, her hand lowering between them, caressing them both.

His thrusts intensified, pushing her against the wall over and over, and the frictions of the tiles against her back coaxed a strangled moan from the back of her throat. She gulped his essence one last time before she shouted his name and convulsed around him.

“Juliette,” he growled before shuddering his release.

They remained under the cooling jets for a long time, still united, their lips kissing as their hands softly caressed each other.