Rocky’s body was thrumming with barely contained power as he led Connie back to his home. He’d came so close to transforming in the middle of the street and attacking Cody that it scared the hell out of him. He was the one that kept to himself, never got involved with other Shifters, and sure as hell didn’t cause any trouble, far less face off with one of the strongest Wolves in the area.
Hell, Cody might not be an Alpha, or a Beta, but that was only through his own choosing. Rocky could sense the man’s power and had known him since he’d moved to the town, he knew full well that Cody was Alpha material but for whatever personal reasons the man preferred to run Silvers. He sensed Cody’s beast struggling with his overt threat, but he didn’t react, reining in his Wolf and stepping aside and removing himself as the barrier between Rocky and his mate: Connie.
Shit, did Cody know? Was the Wolf aware of what Connie was to him? If he did, would he run to her Alpha and tell him, and if he did would her Alpha intervene? Damn it to hell. The anger that engulfed him when he’d exited Heavenly Scents and caught sight of Connie and Cody together was . . . insane. There was no other word for what had taken control of his mind, body and soul when he’d seen another male so close to his mate that their bodies were actually touching.
His Lion roaring in his head as he sped toward them, fur rippling along his skin as he fought to control his transformation from taking hold. He’d wanted to rip Cody’s heart from his chest and feast on it before tearing his liver from his body and offering it up to Connie as the delicacy that’s normally cherished in any Lion hunt. Fuck! He had it bad.
When they turned at the side of the bakery, she stumbled, and he realized he’d been hauling her as he stomped quickly toward his home. Shame and regret rising in him in equal measures as he steadied her, pulling her against him. “I’m sorry, Connie. I’ve been going too fast.”
“It’s okay,” she said quickly. “You seem upset and I thought it best to get you home before you, well, before you bit someone else’s head off. And, to be honest, I want to get to the bottom of what the hell is going on.”
“Soon.” He pushed the gate open and inclined his head. “This is my place.”
“Well, I didn’t expect this . . . a cottage surrounded by nature right in the middle of town, complete with a white picket fence. You’re full of surprises, Rocky.”
“Let’s get inside and eat.” Rocky rushed forward, opening the door and waiting for her to enter his home. Hoping she’d like it because if things worked out then she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
Connie looked around as she followed him inside, her appraising look taking in his neat and tidy living room as he opened the pizzas on the coffee table. “I’ll get us plates and napkins.” He darted away toward the kitchen.
“Don’t bother on my account, I’m happy to eat from the box,” she called after him.
“Just napkins then.” He arrived back with them and a couple of bottles of beer. “You want one?”
“Yes, I could do with one.” She snatched one from his hand, quickly opening it and chugging half of it down. “Sorry, that wasn’t very ladylike.”
He grinned, opening his own and doing the same before motioning to the sofa. “Why don’t we sit, eat, and talk.”
“Good idea.” She walked around the sofa and perched herself on the edge, nervous energy swirling around her as she leaned forward to snatch a slice.
“How’re you feeling? How’s your Wolf?” he started as he grabbed his own pizza.
She had a mouthful, chewing rapidly before swallowing and turning those gorgeous blue eyes up to his, he could see her cheeks blush before she replied. “She’s still acting out and I’m feeling okay, sort of.”
“Okay?” He cocked an eyebrow. “If we’re going to have a frank discussion, we have to be honest so I’ll admit I’m not okay, Connie. I’m anything but okay. I feel like I’m going insane . . . with the need to kiss you. Run my fingers through your hair and hold you beneath me as I . . .”
Connie held a hand up, halting him. “All right! I get it. I do. And I feel the same but we’ve just met and I don’t do one night stands . . . well, not normally. Then there’s the whole ‘sleeping with the boss’ thing. That’s never a good idea and I’ve no freaking clue what’s going on with my Wolf. She’s acting nuts and, shit, Rocky. What the hell is going on?”
He slid closer, popping his pizza back in the box, and gazed into her upturned face, reaching up to grasp her chin softly. Her eyes widened, her breathing increased at his touch, her breast heaving against her shirt. “You seem intelligent to me, Connie, you can’t piece this together? Really?”
Connie’s tongue darted out, running along her bottom lip briefly before she nibbled it nervously for a moment. Her eyebrows puckering as she thought. He held her in place, watching as she tried to figure out what was happening. He saw her mind at work, saw her eyes darkening and then popping wider as they latched back onto his, her mouth opening and closing silently before she whispered. “No, it can’t be. Can it? Is it?”
“What? What do you think is going on, beautiful?” Rocky moved his head closer, his lips a hairsbreadth from hers. “Tell me, baby. I know . . . I’m certain. Are you?”
“Holy shit,” Connie gasped. “You’re him . . . aren’t you? You’re . . . mine?”
At last! Rocky grinned, nodding. “I am. And you’re mine! You’ve been driving me crazy all day, Connie. But I wasn’t going to do anything about it. Hell, I was going to send you away . . . because you’re a Wolf and I thought you lived within a Pack and I couldn’t do that. I could never do that. Then you told me you didn’t, that you’d left your Pack and that changed everything . . . fucking everything.”
Connie’s heart was thudding wildly in her chest. He could hear it clearly as she whimpered, “I’m not sure I understand. Why? What?”
“I’m a loner, baby. I left my Pride as soon as I could, remember I told you that? Well, I couldn’t live within a Shifter Pack so when I recognized you this morning and I realized you were a Wolf, hell, that nearly killed me. I thought it would be better if I sent you away, but then we talked and you said you lived here in town, away from the Pack . . . and that changed the whole damn thing. My plans to send you away changed right there, baby, and I knew I couldn’t do it. I knew I couldn’t live without you and I had to make you mine . . . shit, you are mine. You are my soulmate, Connie, and I’m desperate to claim you, to love you, to show you what you mean to me.”
Her body quivered, actually quivered, and he knew why. She felt it too. Their bond. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“Now I understand why my Wolf’s been acting like a bitch in heat.” She smirked at him cheekily. “I’ve been a little slow to understand though but I guess that’s because you were acting weird and now I know why. Rocky, I’ve no plans to go back and live within the Pack, but if we are soulmates, I’d have to let my Alpha know, shoot, and my parents.”
Rocky frowned, worried. “Would he object, because I’m not a Wolf? Could he force you back to the Pack? If he said you had to go back . . . would you?”
Connie shook her head. “No, we have mixed Shifter matings in the Pack. Chad’s not like that and he wouldn’t force me back either, but if he tried . . . I wouldn’t go. I’d refuse.”
Relief flooded his system in huge waves, his body relaxing and he’d not realized he’d been waiting on her confirming this until she had. He smiled. “Good. Because if he tried then I’d have to challenge him, and I would, Connie. I fucking would . . . for you. I’d do anything to have you right here with me. Anything.”
Her eyes sparkled, tears suddenly appearing, and a soft sob escaped. “R-R-Rocky,” she stuttered, her hand reaching up to hold the side of his face. Such a small hand with tiny fingers that felt light as a feather as they stroked his cheek.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Not a damn thing. Everything is perfect.” She leaned forward, her lips touching his and fireworks exploded in his head.