Rachel sat in the circle of Chris's arms, wondering exactly how she'd gotten here and why she didn't want to leave. Normally, she couldn't stand being too close to anyone, well, anyone she didn't know well. And to be touched or held tightly, that usually sent bolts of panic through her. But here in Chris's arms, it felt right somehow. Even when he laid his cheek on top of her head.

“Yes, I know, but the question is whether you think I'm full of charm or full of bullshit.”

She thought he was teasing but couldn't tell from his voice alone. Leaning back, she looked up at him and found a playful smile lighting his eyes. “I'm thinking probably both.”

Chris’s banter was infectious and she couldn't help but respond in like as she smiled back. He leaned closer and the look in his eye changed, his gaze dropping to her mouth.

Rachel hoped he was going to kiss her. Chris stopped a few inches away, and he glanced up at her eyes. Kiss him. Her dragon's voice whispered through her mind, pushing for what Rachel already wanted. Uncertain why he stopped, she closed the distance between them and closed her eyes as her lips touched his. A jolt of awareness shot through her body, and she wrapped one arm around him as he responded to her kiss, covering her mouth with his.

Heat flooded her body and lust clouded her mind in a way she'd never experienced in all her life. Her dragon rose and rubbed along the inside of her body as if trying to rub up against Chris. Rachel noted that it was odd but not odd enough to pull her out of the moment or away from the intense rush she felt as her tongue tangled with Chris's. Without thinking about it, she pressed her body closer to his and wrapped one arm around his neck to pull him nearer.

Chris pulled away and stared down at her a moment.

“I should go.”

“Why?” Rachel resisted the urge to curl her fingers into his skin and clothes to keep him from moving away.

“It's getting late, and this isn't what I came for.” Chris gently slid her off his lap and moved back to the far end of the sofa. “I don't want to take ad-vantage of the situation, or you, though I would like to get to know you better.”

“I'd like to get to know you better, too.” Rachel reached across the empty space but stopped short of touching him. Make him stay. Her dragon wanted him too, but she didn't know how to convince him, and she wasn't going to beg. “Please stay.”

Chris froze, watching her for several long seconds. “Are you sure this is what you want? I can go now and nothing will change, but if I stay, things may go even farther than they already have.” He watched her carefully, as if he didn't want to miss any small reaction.

I hope things go farther, way farther. Rachel ignored her dragon and reached out to take Chris's hand. “I'm sure.” She took a deep breath and let it out while still meeting his gaze. “I have wanted you from the moment I first set eyes on you, before we'd even spoken.”

“At the party?” Chris tilted his head to one side as he waited.

“Yes.” Rachel glanced away. “I noticed you long before you spoke to me. I tried to ignore you and concentrate on what I was doing, but for some rea-son I couldn't.” She turned and met his gaze again. “It's only gotten worse since we spoke. I can't keep you out of my head. And my dragon won't stop pushing me toward you,” she sighed, “Please stay.”

Chris's eyes narrowed when she mentioned her dragon. “Your dragon?”

Rachel nodded.

“Has she been more aggressive and possessive than usual? Making demands she doesn't normal-ly?”

“Yes,” Rachel frowned, wondering where Chris was going with this, “why?” something occurred to her. “Oh, has your wolf been doing the same?”

“Very close. He's been demanding and restless when I'm not with you since I first scented you last night, and he wants to take a chunk out of my hide for trying to leave right now.”

Rachel glanced away then looked askance at Chris. “You're gonna tell me this means what I think it does, aren't you?”

“That depends,” Chris gave a careless shrug, “on what you think it is.”

“You're going to make me say it, aren't you?” Rachel said with a small laugh.

“Better you than me.” Chris met her gaze without hesitation.

Rachel glanced away and gave a nervous laugh as she wondered why the words were so hard to say. “It means we're mates, doesn't it?” She didn't look back to him until after the words were out. She couldn't stand to see the look on his face if he rejected her.

“I'm pretty sure it does. There's something more though, and I'm not sure what it means.” Chris frowned.

“What is it?”

“Last night at the party, I was drawn to you in a way I'd never experience before, it was really disconcerting. I've heard rumors but never experienced anything like it.”

“I get that, it was the same for me.”

“But here's the weird part,” his frown grew deeper, “you weren't the only one I was drawn to.”

“You think you might have another mate?” Rachel frowned. A spike of jealousy shot through her. MINE, her dragon snarled. “I've never heard of someone having two mates. Is that a werewolf thing?”

“Not that I know of. Besides, the other person I was drawn to was a man, and I don't swing that way. I don't care what anyone else does in their bedrooms but men don't do things for me.”

“That is odd.” Rachel thought about it for several long seconds. “And you say the draw was the same?”

“I wouldn't say it was the same, but I was drawn to you both. He doesn't haunt my thoughts the way you do, and my wolf didn't behave the same way, but I never spoke to him.” Chris ended with a shrug.

“Tell me about him, what did he look like?”

“Well, he was tall, muscled, I think he was younger than me, but you know how age is with the supernormal.”

“I'm not sure who that is off hand.”

“Oh, he was a wolf shifter.” Rachel narrowed her eyes.

“Wait, a wolf shifter, there were only a few of those there last night. That narrows it down. Let me think about it for a while and see if we can figure it out. In the meantime,” she squeezed his hand, “I'd still like you to stay. We can talk more if you like and see where things go from there.”

“If you're sure.” Chris slid back against the back of the couch and tugged her close.

“I’m sure.” She took his hand and pulled him into the bedroom.