I carefully folded myself into the passenger seat in Red’s car. After the pain medication wore off, my shoulder started to throb, but I didn’t care. The drugs they gave me weren’t as good, but at least now I could carry on a coherent conversation. I winced slightly as I remembered our conversation after I woke up.

I had been all over the place. If I had been thinking more clearly, I would've told her right out the gate that I knew we were mates. It was much easier to discuss things as the drugs wore off.

Red’s door opened and she slid into her seat as she gave me a grin. I smiled back, content. A purr rumbled out of me and Red looked at me with surprise. I couldn’t help myself. My mate was by my side and about to take me home.

"I can’t believe you didn’t tell me," Red said as she started her car.

I had to focus my thoughts to figure out what she was talking about. Okay, so maybe the drugs were still affecting me a little.

"What didn’t I tell you?" I asked warily. We’d talked a lot over the past couple days while I was confined to the hospital bed.

"That Meghan was carrying twins," she said, exasperation in her voice.

"It never occurred to me to mention it," I said.

She looked over at me briefly and narrowed her eyes. "Well, not all of us have super-shifter hearing and can hear double heartbeats."

"Meghan and Joseph always said, 'the baby,’ so we all sort-of followed along. I guess I figured Meghan would have mentioned it to you."

"Nope. Not a word. I was completely shocked." She shook her head and pulled out of the parking lot and into the street.

I chuckled and Red shot me a suspicious look. "What?"

"She probably figured you already knew and didn't want you spoiling their genders."

Red opened her mouth outrage on her face. "I would never . . ." she trailed off and her righteous outrage faded to consideration. "Okay, maybe I would."

"So, woman who knows all, do you know where we’re going?" I asked in a casual tone as I paid careful attention to the route she drove.

She glanced over at me, her brows drawn and that adorable confused expression on her face. "To the same cabin you always rent?" she asked tentatively.

I only barely suppressed a smile. "Turn left at the light."

"Why?" she asked suspiciously as she followed my direction and got in the turning lane.

"Trust me," I said as I fought to keep my excitement hidden.

"Maddox, what've you done?" She sighed. "If you were planning things from your hospital bed instead of resting . . ."

I grinned. "Turn right at the next street."

"I don't know anyone who lives out here, do you? I mean, you’re never even here. And when you are, you don’t have a lot of time to visit other people . . ." A blush crept across her face and I knew where her thoughts took her. When I was home we spent almost my entire visit with each other.

She cleared her throat. "Seriously, Maddox? What are we doing out here?"

"Turn right at the next street," I said. "Have you seen this area before, you 'living spoiler machine,’ as Meghan says?"

I could tell her curiosity was killing her. With her clairvoyance, surprising Red was hit-or-miss. But when I did surprise her, I considered it a victory. And I still tried. I always would. My cat stretched out inside me, contented by that thought. I would have a lifetime to plan surprises, spoiled or not.

"I’m not a living spoiler machine," she grumbled. "But this looks familiar. Maybe I have seen it. Only a little. But I don’t know why."

As we approached my house, it was all I could do to stay relaxed. I wasn’t surprised when she slowed down and said, "Next house, right?" and turned into the driveway without direction.

She parked and sat still. I watched her study the house. I was suddenly nervous. She slowly opened her car door and got out. I quickly followed, softly closing the door behind me.

"I know this house," Red said quietly. "I’ve seen it, but I’ve never been able to see who lived here." She turned to me. "Whose house is this, Maddox?"

"Come," I said as I held out my hand. I had to do this right.

She studied my hand before she took it. We walked slowly to the front door.

"Look at all the snapdragons," she said with awe in her voice. "So many colors. It’s like a giant bouquet."

"I’m glad you like them," I said as excitement and nerves ran together in my blood.

"Maddox," Red said, drawing out my name. She wanted answers, and I would give them to her soon enough.

"The color of the front door matches your hair," I said with an effort to keep my tone light.

She turned her startled gaze to the door, then flashed back to me. Her brow furrowed with confusion.

"Whose house is this?" she asked again, a little more insistent this time.

"This house is empty," I said, "and waiting for its family. It's been empty for years."

"How would you know? This place looks like it’s pretty well taken care of. Someone has to be living here, I mean . . ." Her eyes roamed around as her confusion grew.

"Red," I said as I raised a hand to cup her cheek, "I’ve been an idiot. I bought this house for my future family, and when I planned the renovation, I thought of you. I had the door painted that color with you in mind. I planted snapdragons for you. This house is for you, Red. For us. For our family. I’m sorry I’ve been such an idiot all these years. Can you forgive me?"

Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly. "Oh, Maddox. You're such an idiot. God, we both are. You really had me in mind when you did all this?"

I nodded and leaned down and kissed her. She responded as she always did and I lost my thoughts in an instant. I pulled her into my arms and my hand cupped the back of her head. She moaned low in her throat, then pushed on my shoulder and pulled her head back. I moved forward to follow, the scent of her arousal surrounded me and I grew hard, my jeans becoming an uncomfortable prison.

"Maddox, we’re in public," she said.

"So?" I wasn’t done kissing her. "It's mostly just trees around here. They won't mind."

She laughed and the throaty sound felt like she’d grabbed my straining cock. I wasn't going to have hold of my control for long.

"So, let’s go into this empty house for some privacy," she arched a brow, "or do you want to put on a show for our new neighbors?"

My mind cleared for a moment. Our new neighbors. I liked the sound of that.

"The key is in my pocket," I said with a grin.

"Oh no," she shook her head, "I’m not falling for that one. You get the key out of your own pocket."

I chuckled and went to fish the key out myself. My fingers brushed against a small box as I found the key. Suddenly I was glad she hadn’t taken me up on my offer to reach into my pocket. I pulled my hand out and held out the key to her.

"You do the honors," I said, eager for her to see the inside of the house.

She shot me a cheeky grin, put the key in the lock, and turned it. "Isn’t it your job to put the key in the lock?"

"You name the time and the place, baby," I said jokingly, but my throat was thick. I meant it. Anytime. Anywhere. I would be happy to have her. Hell, I was happy to simply be with her.

She turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. Suddenly nervous, I grabbed her arm before she could step in. Red turned and looked at me, her eyebrows raised.

"I thought we were going in?" she asked. "Y'know, to avoid that show and all?"

"Red," I hesitated. I didn’t want her stepping into the house without knowing how much she meant to me.

"What’s wrong? Is your shoulder hurting?" She looked concerned, but I hadn't meant for that to happen.

"No." I shook my head and swallowed. "Red . . . " I took her hand in mine.

"Maddox, you’re scaring me." She frowned.

I knew her anxiety would be gone in a moment, so I pushed forward. I squeezed her hand. "Will you marry me, Red? Be my mate, be my wife, be mine forever?"

"Oh, Maddox," she said as she caught her breath, "I’ve always been yours."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes." She nodded eagerly. "Of course it's a yes."

I pulled the small box out of my pocket and opened it. I took out the ring and slipped it on her finger as a feeling of satisfaction coursed through me. She closely watched my movements, but I made sure to block her sight of the ring until it was on her finger.

She gasped as she studied her hand. I followed her gaze. Three strands of white-gold were interwoven together. Colorful gems, all cut in ovals, graced the ring. They were inset so they wouldn’t get caught on anything while she worked, but that wasn’t what made it the perfect ring for Red.

"Maddox, it’s beautiful," she whispered.

"The gems immediately reminded me of you. The rubies made me think of your gorgeous red hair and the sapphires are as deep and blue as your eyes."

She smiled but didn’t take her eyes off the ring. One of her fingers traced the gems and ran over a fire opal.

"See how the color twists and moves?" I asked, unable to contain my excitement.

"Like my clairvoyance," she said. "And the emeralds, they’re the same color as your cat’s eyes when you watch me."

"That way a small piece of me can always be with you."

"It’s perfect." Her hand continued to trace the gems on the ring.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I’d gotten it right. My attention shifted to the house. Suddenly I was impatient to see if I got that one right, too.

"It’s traditional for the bride to be carried over the threshold," I said.

She pulled her eyes from the ring and glared at me. "Uh, no way! The doctor said to take it easy. Lifting me over the threshold isn’t taking it easy."

I held up my hands in surrender. "Okay, after the wedding."

"After the wedding." She nodded, her gaze back on the ring. "When did you get this, by the way?"

I shrugged, uncomfortable. All the signs had been there, but I hadn’t seen them. "About the time I purchased this house."

Her head snapped up and her gaze met mine. "Really?"

I nodded. "I don’t know why, but I wandered into a jewelry store. I’d been thinking about you, and saw that ring. I had to have it." I found out after I purchased it that it was a custom-made piece. One of a kind. Like my Red.

She bit her lip and looked at the ring. Then, as if she couldn’t resist, she turned to look at the partially opened front door. "Can I see it now?"

I grinned and pushed the door open all the way. Red immediately walked in, but came to a halt after a few steps.

"There isn’t much furniture," I said, a nervous ball curling in my stomach. "I figured we’d decorate it together."

She slowly walked around the house and didn’t say a word. I followed her from room to room like a lost puppy. I tried to see it through her eyes. Would she like it? Did she want to change things? I realized I didn’t care if she wanted to. This was her home, too. If she wanted to sell it, we could. Without her, it wasn’t important. The only reason the house meant anything to me was as a symbol of my future life. Red was my life, she was all that mattered. The house was nothing without her.

She came to a halt in the master bedroom. This was the only room fully furnished. The dressers, nightstands, and bed frame were a matched set of solid wood. The bed was made and had a bunch of jewel-toned decorative pillows. The colors of the pillows matched the gems in her ring.

The comforter was a soft champagne and was thick and fluffy. I saw the bed set online and thought it was something Red would like. Not that I admitted it to myself when I bought it.

"When I finished the renovation on the house, the timing worked perfectly," I said quietly as I watched her run her hand along the oak dresser. "All the construction work was wrapped up when I was home for a visit. Right before I came home I had completed a large job and had a big paycheck, so I splurged and bought this bedroom set. It was delivered the day before I left."

"It’s beautiful," she said, her voice thick.

I nodded, even though her back was to me and she couldn’t see. "I thought you'd like it."

She turned around, her face serious, and my heart dropped. She hated it, I knew it. Then she started laughing.

"Red, you okay?"

She couldn’t seem to stop laughing. "I can’t believe," she said as she gulped air, "you bought all of this. My taste, my colors. All of it was like, made for me. And you had no idea I was your mate. And I can see the future, but I didn't have a clue. About any of it."

I started to chuckle as relief flowed through me. "All those years sneaking around."

She grinned and walked over to me. Her arms went up to clasp behind my neck. "You're an idiot, and so am I."

"So, fellow idiot, do you like it?" I asked as I slipped my arms around her. I needed to know for sure.

Her smile was breathtaking. "Yes, I like it. It’s perfect," she paused and her brow furrowed. My heart skipped a beat. What had I missed? "Well, except for the fact that it’s missing a lot of furniture. Like, a whole lot."

"Guess we’ll have to go shopping, won’t we?" I said as relief made me light-headed.

"Oh, the horror," she said, a grin split her face as she leaned against me. She was pressed tightly to me and I knew she could feel me grow hard against her.

"Want to break in the bed?" I said as I lowered my head down to kiss her.

Her response was to eagerly kiss me back. An action that was so simple, yet capable of igniting a fire within me. I tasted her, nibbled, teased, but wanted more. I tore my lips from hers and pressed frenzied kisses along her jaw, moving downward.

She tilted her head to the side to give me better access as I moved down to pepper small kisses on her neck.

I moved down to her collarbone with small licks and kisses. My hand went to her breast, rubbing her nipple through her shirt and bra. I was instantly rewarded with soft moans. I moved up to her ear and nibbled on her earlobe. My hand moved to her other breast, my finger circled her nipple until she arched into my touch.

Red moaned deeply in the back of her throat, then pushed on my shoulder and arm. I pulled my head back, my hand still on her breast.

A coy smile crossed Red’s face as she took a step back out of my hold, then another, until the bed was right behind her. "You had the bed ready and everything, you boyscout, you. Always prepared."

She reached down and took off her shirt. My eyes devoured her. The demi bra cupped her breasts, the lace edge perfectly framing her lush mounds. Her tight nipples pushed at the bra and begged for my attention. I eagerly took a step forward and she waved her finger at me.

"Nuh-uh," she said, "you’re too dressed."

She toed off her shoes and unbuttoned her pants. I watched as she shimmied out of them. She stood there for a moment in her underwear and seemed to encourage me to enjoy the view. Then she sat on the bed and crawled backward. Her eyes never left mine.

I grinned as she paused her seduction for a moment to push the mound of decorative pillows off. I was content to watch her as she bounced and moved to get the comforter pushed back. Her movements made me think of what I wanted to do on that bed. She finished adjusting the fabric and propped herself up on her elbows. The motion pushed her breasts up.

"Ready now?" A hint of humor mixed with the heavy desire in my voice.

She smiled, then bit her bottom lip. "Come get me."

I pulled my shirt off and threw it on the floor. My boots came next. My erection strained against my pants, but I didn’t take them off. I wanted to take my time and knew if I had only the thin barrier of my briefs and her panties, I wouldn't be able to control myself.

I slowly walked along the side of the bed, my eyes feasting on Red. Her smile was pure seduction. I could smell her arousal and it made me even harder. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. It had always been like this—our appetite for each other insatiable.

I ran my hand up her leg but paused at her thigh. I cupped her center and she let out a little cry of passion. I crawled on the bed to lie down next to her and slipped my hand inside of her panties and dipped down into her molten core. She was slick, hot and wet for me. I pumped my finger once, twice. I was so hard it felt like I might break. But I didn’t want to stop playing with her, not yet.

She lifted her hips, pressed against my fingers. "Maddox," she moaned.

I slid my finger out of her and moved it up to rub her clit, her juices making it slick. She bucked her hips against my hand. Over the years I made it a point to become an expert at listening to Red’s body. I paid close attention to her moans and cries and knew what to do to make her scream my name.

"Like that, do you?" I said, my voice a growl. I knew my feral side had come to the front, the beast inside of me taking over.

A wordless gasp that melted into a pleading moan was her reply. It was almost more than I could stand. But I wasn’t done yet. I pushed the cup of her bra down to expose her nipple. It was tight and hard. I closed my mouth over it, licking, sucking, and lightly biting it. My finger rubbed her clit. Faster. Harder. I felt her hands on my head as she tried to hold me in place, but I couldn't resist looking up. I pulled back from her breast. I loved to watch her reaction to my touch.

She opened her eyes and met mine. "Oh my God, Maddox," she moaned as her hips moved up and down. She already sounded as if she was teetering on the edge.

"You're mine," I said, rubbing faster as I pushed down the other cup and moved over to lavish attention on that breast. Her hands gripped my head and her head thrashed from side to side. Her moans grew louder with each circle of my finger over her clit.

"Yes, yours," she said between gasps. "I'm yours."

Her breath grew harsh and I knew she was about to go over. I rubbed faster and when she arched her back with a cry, I slid two fingers inside her, the heel of my palm pressing against her clit. Her body squeezed my fingers as she came, and I wanted nothing more than to mount her. But I continued to lick and suck on her breast as I flexed my fingers inside and kept pressure on her clit until her throbbing stopped.

I pulled back but left my hand inside of her. She slowly opened her eyes. They were hazy and unfocused as a smile spread across her lips.

"We're both too dressed," I said with a grin as I slowly pulled my fingers out of her. She arched her back a little in protest.

I got off the bed and pulled off my pants and briefs. When I turned back around, Red had already removed her bra and panties. I met her gaze and arched an eyebrow in question.

"You said I was too dressed," she said with a lazy smile. "As much as I'd like to let you do the honors, I like these panties. I don’t want you to shred them with your claws."

I grinned and was about to run my claws gently down her side when I took a deep breath. The smell of her arousal was a potent aphrodisiac—not that I could get any harder. I crawled on the bed and she spread her legs wide in invitation. I laid over her. I moved the head of my hard length against the wet heat between her thighs. It called to me, and I wanted nothing more than to slide inside.

Red made it clear that she wanted it, too. She arched her back as she pushed her hot pussy against me and tried to urge me inside. I pushed forward, slipped inside her a fraction, then pulled back out.

"I want you inside me," Red protested.

"Soon enough," I said. I was tempted to take her hard and fast, but I told myself this was going to be slow. There was something more I wanted first. I moved down her body and rested my head against her thigh.

"Maddox," she said, "I want you in me. Now." I couldn't help but smile at how demanding her voice was.

"If you insist," I murmured before I darted my tongue inside her.

She whimpered and arched even higher. "That’s not what I meant."

I ignored her protest and continued to slide my tongue inside her as I rubbed her clit with my finger. She tasted of honey and I was forever hungry for more. She bucked against me with each curl of my tongue and her hands clenched fistfuls of my hair.

"Maddox."

My name sounded so good on her lips when she moaned. "I’m so close. I want you inside me."

Unable to resist any longer, I climbed up her body and slid inside her with a groan that was accompanied by her sigh of satisfaction. I kissed her deeply, my lips still wet with her juices. She kissed me back, licking and sucking. I tried to hold myself still, enjoy the way it felt to be inside of her, but she started to move her hips and it was more than I could take. I thrusted in and out, slowly increasing my pace, but Red suddenly pulled her head back from our kiss.

I froze. Her eyes found mine.

"No," she said. "Wait."

I looked down at her in hazy confusion.

A smile curved her swollen lips. "On your back."

I slid out of her and missed the feeling of her warmth wrapped around me the moment I was no longer inside her. I flipped on my back and was thankful she didn't make me wait. She took hold of my length and her tight heat soon surrounded me once more as she straddled me.

She raised herself up and down twice, her head thrown back as she moaned. I echoed the sound. It felt so good. I reached up and fondled her breast with one hand and rubbed her clit with the other. I could tell she was trying to be patient at first, but it didn't last long.

She lifted and lowered herself along my shaft with increasing speed. I gritted my jaw as I let her set the pace. She tossed her fiery red hair back with another loud moan that echoed off the walls and into the empty hallway. I bucked my hips up, desperate to be as deep inside her as possible.

"I’m so close," she said, a faint whine in her voice.

I put more pressure on her clit and twisted her nipple between my fingers, switching between breasts. She arched her back with a cry and her body throbbed around me as she came. Each wave of her climax brought me closer to the edge of my own release.

She laid herself down with her breasts flush against my chest and wildly kissed me. Her teeth scraped at my bottom lip. I held onto her hips and thrusted with frenzied abandon. I groaned against her soft lips as our mouths matched the rhythm of our bodies. When I remembered to take a breath, it was short and raspy. I tore my lips from hers and buried my face in her neck as I gently bit down on her flushed skin. "Let go, Maddox," she whispered in my ear. "Come for me."

That was all I needed to push me over the edge. I could never resist that sweet voice. Her words sank deep into my skin, turned to liquid fire that ran through my veins and pulsed outwards. I gripped her tight as my body shuddered and my hips rolled with release. She let out a small gasp as I spilled my seed deep inside of her, and I tightened my hands on her hips as I groaned into the crook of her neck.

As we lay there in bed and caught our breath, Red put her head on my good shoulder and petted my chest. I had just found release, but I already felt myself getting hard inside her again. It was as if we hadn’t seen each other for months.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you, too," I said, my heart huge in my chest. "I always have. That’s why I came home so often."

"Not just for the amazing booty call?" she asked, her tone teasing.

I smiled against her head. "Oh, the sex has always been a huge motivator," I conceded.

She lightly bit my peck above my nipple and laughed when I growled softly.

"What did your family think of this house and it sitting empty for all these years?" she asked as she lightly brushed her fingers over my skin.

Desire ran hot in my veins again. This conversation wasn't going to last long like this.

"They don’t know about it."

"Really?" She pulled back to look in my eyes. "How did you do work on it and keep it a secret? And how did you manage to keep it a secret from me?"

I grinned. "I had to do something when you were at work. It was hard keeping it from you. I wanted to tell you about it. Almost did, many times. But I was stupid and blind."

She shook her head. "I don’t know how I didn’t clue into this." She bit her lip, and my eyes homed in on her mouth. "This makes total sense when I think about it."

"How so?" I asked. I touched a finger to her lush mouth. I couldn't resist if she was going to keep on biting those lips. Her tongue flicked out and licked my finger. I was no longer semi-hard. This conversation was about to be over. My mind focused entirely on what I wanted to do with her.

"Well, y'know, I saw it," she said breathlessly as I started to thrust in and out, my movements achingly slow.

"You saw it?" I repeated as I lowered my head to her breast and flicked my tongue out over her nipple, then blew on it. I watched it tighten up and satisfaction curled inside me. I slid my hand down her body to rub her clit.

"Mhm," she said as she arched her back.

I acted on her invitation; I took her nipple in my mouth and gently rubbed it with my teeth.

"I couldn’t," she paused and sucked in a breath, "figure out why I kept seeing this house. It felt important."

I pulled back and scraped my teeth along her nipple. I gave it a flick with my tongue before I released it. "Your future home," I said as I met her gaze.

"Our home," she said.

Her look was hot as I began to move a little faster. Her eyes started to glaze over, then fell shut with a small gasp as I rubbed her clit.

"Welcome home," I whispered.