“Dad, what’re you calling for? Mom messaged me not long ago.”

“Noelle, things have changed a little since her message. It’s nothing bad, but it might affect you on your hunt in retrieving Drake from Sanders.”

“I think you’d better explain everything to me nice and slow.”

Garrett ran through things as quickly and as simply as he could while explaining. The army had screwed up, the gas wasn’t the danger, although it could send people demented before they died. The military also used an operative who was undercover in the pack, and they’d vanished.

“That’s Tiffany.”

Garrett was stumped for a second. He’d explained everything and the part he’d assumed was the most secretive, Noelle already knew. “We guessed. Maria emptied Tiffany’s backpack, and we found cash, passport, and a gun. Plus; she kept a journal of everything she did or saw.”

“The one bit of information I got from Max, the colonel. He said the tests they’ve conducted have all been on humans. It’s a liquid that they’re using, and if Sanders finds out, he can distill the gas, and he might come up with a beast which is far more powerful than his daywalkers.”

“Crap. We thought we might have a handle on things and now the ballgame changes again. Same-old same old,” Noelle said.

“Your mom and I are going to see what else we can find out. If we spot Megan or the other girl, we’ll let you know,” Garrett remarked. “Be safe when you set off. I think you’ll be okay until you get closer to him, or at least until we know more. Megan’s left the Creek again and is on her way to meet him.”

“That bitch might have a wait she’s not aware of. There’s a huge storm coming, and Sanders might be delayed.”

“I hope so. Let us know how you get on and make sure Declan’s fully aware of what I’ve told you.”

“Okay, Da...” Noelle started to say when the line was cut.

Noelle glanced at the clock. It was Drake’s usual feeding time, and wherever he was (she had her fingers crossed) she hoped he was being taken care of. The second thought which flashed through her mind was where the hell’s Declan? He’d been gone almost two hours.

Gabriel’s such a bad influence.

Noelle walked to the bathroom and started to fill the tub. A hot soak would kill time until Declan returned home. It was a long time since they’d had a night to themselves with no interruptions. Maybe he’d take advantage of her once he saw her naked body in the tub. She hung her clothes on the back of the door and looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

Not bad considering you’ve had a kid.

She ran her hands over her body and cupped her breasts. She blew a kiss to her reflection and turned off the faucet. She dipped her toe in the hot water and lowered her foot. She stepped in and grabbed the chrome handrails to lower her body. The smell of jasmine filled the bathroom, and the candles flickered when she rested her head back.

She breathed deeply and the aroma was relaxing her body. The hot water breaking her brow into a sweat. Noelle grabbed her nose and closed her mouth. Her body and head dipped under the water. She held her breath and counted. One Mississippi…two Mississippi...

She pushed her head back to the surface and exhaled. She reached for the corner of her robe and wiped her eyes. She heard a noise from the living room area.

“Hello, Declan. Is that you?”

Noelle tuned into her wolf senses. Her smell was blocked because of the candles. She listened. The sound was like a faint rustle. A mouse? It went silent, and she thought she’d been hearing things. The bathroom door creaked while it partially opened.

“Who’s there?” Noelle started to lift herself from the tub. The door opened and Declan walked in.

He was naked.

“You scared the crap out of me,” Noelle said. She lowered herself back into the warm water. “And why are you naked?”

“Wong took us for some Chinese tea. I’m not sure what was in it, but it’s potent stuff.”

“And you think you can waltz in here at whatever time you choose and have your wicked way with me?” Noelle scowled.

“Of course not. I heard you in the bath and thought I’d join you for a while.”

“Good. Once you get in the tub, I’ll tell you what happened to me.”

Declan slipped in behind Noelle and wrapped her in his arms. She leaned forward so he could soap her back. The sponge glided over her body. He leaned forward and kissed her on the neck.

“Dad called.”

“Oh yeah.” He kissed her again.

“Tiffany’s a definite undercover operative.” Declan brushed Noelle’s hair from her other shoulder and kissed her again. “There’s a burst pipe under the mine in the Creek. The army’s pumping some liquid, and the gas has come from a leak due to the blasting.” Declan ran his hands over her bare shoulders. His lips made light kisses all over her skin. “The army has been trying to make super soldiers,” she explained.

“How exciting!”

Noelle was in two minds. She embraced the kissing. It felt good. She also wanted to make sure Declan understood the last part of what she was telling him.

“Sanders has all he needs to make his race unstoppable without the shaman.”

“How very...” Declan’s head snapped upward. “He has WHAT?”

Kelvin huffed and puffed while he walked back to his apartment. Gabriel reminded him to speak to Sascha in the morning about his headaches. If he’d had his headaches as long as he’d said he had, it might be something important. Kelvin said the only time he bumped his head was when he jumped down the rubble shoot at the Towers, and that was so long ago, there was no way it could be related.

Gabriel walked inside Sascha’s apartment and saw her laid on the couch wearing a black satin robe.

“Have I come to the wrong apartment?” he asked, and he pretended to turn and walk out of the door.

“If you do that, you’ll miss out on these.” She pulled on the bow and let her robe fall from her body.

Her creamy white skin was a contrast against the black-as-night fabric. Sascha’s bare breasts were plump and ready to feel Gabriel’s touch. He exhaled under his breath and felt the effects of the Chinese tea working already. His pants bulged now, and his manhood began to swell. He casually sauntered forward and knelt at the side of the couch.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“You know… Women have urges as much as men. And wolf mates have urges as strong as any alpha.”

Gabriel’s mind flashed to Sascha being in the shower with Maria. How good it’d feel to be in-between the two of them. He shook his head.

You’re a one woman man. Don’t screw this one up.

Sascha told Gabriel to stand. He stood. She swung her legs off the couch and let the silk robe slip off her shoulders. Gabriel removed his shirt while she loosened his belt and provocatively tugged on his zipper.

“I see you’re almost hard.”

Her hand slipped in the top of his open pants. Her fingers brushed over the head of his hardening shaft.

“Wong took us for a couple of cups of potent tea. He reckons I’ll be up all night and he doesn’t mean awake.” Gabriel started to slide his pants toward the floor.

“Don’t I get a say in that?”

“Of course. It was Wong saying it; I was only relaying what he said.”

Sascha smiled. “A few hours would be nice though.”

She smiled and yanked Gabriel’s shorts over his hips. His manhood fell toward her. Her fingers wrapped around his shaft and she flicked her hair over her shoulder. Gabriel looked down into Sascha’s eyes.

“We’d better see if this tea works wonders,” she said.

She pushed her head forward and wrapped her plump lips around the head of his shaft. Her free hand caressed his inner thigh then tantalized his balls. Gabriel started sucking in short breaths through his clenched teeth. His shaft throbbed and ached. It felt more sensitive than usual.

Damn, that tea’s good stuff.

The heat from Sascha’s mouth warmed the full length of his cock as she lowered her head and enveloped his full length. Gabriel pushed his hips forward as Sascha bobbed her head. Her tight lips were clutching at Gabriel and teasing him toward sexual satisfaction.

Her head pulled back, and she wiped her mouth. Her shoulders hit the rear of the couch once she leaned backward. The cool leather sent tiny shivers up and down her skin. Gabriel knelt before her and parted her legs. She nibbled on her lower lip while he ran his tongue up her inner thigh. Shivering sensations flooded through her hips, and her horny body quivered with excitement when Gabriel pushed his tongue hard against her hot and most-sensual place.

“Mmmph,” she mumbled under her breath.

Gabriel’s tongue lapped and teased her nub before pushing inside her. Sascha exhaled and forced her hand on the back of his head. He responded and probed deeper inside her secret place. Sascha cupped her breasts and fumbled with her nipples.

Gabriel raised his head and stared deeply into her eyes. She smiled and nodded. Sascha lifted her feet and placed them onto the edge of the couch. Gabriel inched forward and pushed his hips closer. The head of his shaft rubbed against her peach-like skin. He filled her fiery depths with one wild push of his hips.

“Oh, God!” Sascha squealed with delight and pushed her ass forward to accommodate the full length of Gabriel’s manhood.

His tempo quickened once he dug his fingers into her thighs. His body rocked in a pagan rhythm. Their bodies locked together, skin against skin. Low murmurs flooded from Sascha’s mouth between her panting breaths. She gyrated her hips and raised her legs. Gabriel lifted them over his shoulders. He drilled his body hard against her and filled her with every stroke. Sascha whimpered with delight. The hottest depths of her womanhood were teased and stimulated while her body sheathed Gabriel’s burgeoning erection.

His tempo eventually slowed. Gabriel paused and grinned at Sascha. Her eyes pulled together at the same time her brow furrowed.

“I want you on top,” he whispered.

He stepped away from the couch and helped her to her feet. Gabriel laid back and rested his head on the arm of the couch. Sascha stepped forward and straddled his body. Her fingers wrapped around his shaft as she lowered her hips toward him. She guided the head of his cock toward the door of her femininity and lowered her hips. Her body slumped and she pushed her hands into the couch at the side of his head.

Her hips rose and fell. Gabriel took hold of her breasts and lifted his head. His tongue teased her swollen breasts, and waves of sensations flooded through Sascha’s body. She ached all over with want for him and embraced Gabriel’s sexual prowess. Her hips ground against his thrusting loins. Sascha squirmed and rotated her hips in gentle sexual swirls. She felt the full length of Gabriel’s shaft throbbing, wanting her.

“Come for me baby,” Gabriel whispered while he brushed the damp strands of hair from Sascha’s face. Her head flicked back and she arched her back, now pushing her hips harder against his body. He thrust his hips up with every stroke; their bodies crashed together in the height of passion.

Gabriel had never experienced or felt the way he did with Sascha, he felt in his heart she was the last one on his list. He knew there was a future to be made (as long as he didn’t screw it up) and that’d please him more than getting his wolf back.

“Sascha...” he started to say.

“Not now. I’m almost there. Push harder.” Sascha sat up. Gabriel bucked wildly, driving his hot erection deep inside.

She tossed her head from side to side and caressed her breasts. Her hips swirled, and every thrust of Gabriel’s shaft made her inner depths clench at his manhood. His fingers dug into her hips while his body seized in a frenzy of wantonness. Together they reached their final moments.

Sascha let out a low groan of satisfaction and her eyes rolled back. Her mouth widened and panting breaths signaled that her body had fallen over the edge. Her hips quivered while she supported herself and her hands were flat and clawing at Gabriel’s chest.

“I’m there. I’m coming,” she squealed.

Gabriel sucked in a huge breath once his body jerked. His hips pushed and thrust upward when he felt a rush of sensations spilling from his loins. Lightning bolts of fulfillment spilled from his cock. He shoved and jerked a final time when love’s hot seed flowed into her.

Sascha rolled from Gabriel’s body and pulled herself close to his side. Her belly pulled in tight once the waves of sexual rapture had washed over her. The heat of her body melded with Gabriel’s body. He let out a ragged sigh and his composure returned. He turned his head to look deep into Sascha's eyes. She smiled and stared back.

Damn, I love you.

Gabriel froze. He’d never thought in such a way before. He’d guessed his partner (in the past) at whatever time, had equated to love. Now he knew he’d been wrong all the time.

“What’s wrong?” Sascha asked.

“I’ve had an extraordinary feeling.”

Sascha caressed Gabriel’s cheek and pushed her plump lips against his. The soft fleshy meat of her kiss filled him with more thoughts. He knew it was right and he needed to say it.

“I lo...”

Sascha pushed her finger against his lips. She smiled, and he looked deep into the glint of her eyes.

“Don’t say it if you feel you have to. Say it because you want to.”

I want to, and I need to. It might be the last chance.

Gabriel’s heart raced. He’d never said the L word to any woman. He wasn’t sure how to say it without sounding like a ‘love you virgin.’ He sucked in a deep breath and got the words ready in his head. He lifted his body up and took hold of Sascha’s hands.

“Sascha I...” he started to say.

Sascha looked back at him. She waited to hear those words.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Sascha I...I...”

“Yes?”

“I’m scared.”

“Would it be a sin if I couldn’t help falling in love with you?”