“Where do you want this?” Scarlett pointed to the box of research books one of the Feral Breed prospects carried, raising an eyebrow. “I bet they’re heavy. I mean, I’m not finding out because Shadow would kill me for picking that up in my delicate condition, but they seem heavy.”

She’d been using that “delicate condition” line since she found out she was pregnant three months ago. The next half a year was going to be long.

“You can put them here.” I grabbed the three laptops sitting on the walnut monstrosity we’d be calling a desk and moved them to a safer location so the prospect—Pup, of course, since every prospect carried that name until they’d earned their patch—lugged the box over.

Scarlett smiled at the prospect and directed him back downstairs before turning and inspecting the books. “Coding, electrical wiring, HVAC—these look like vocational school textbooks.”

“They are.”

“Why do you have them?”

“Because sometimes I need to be creative to find a way inside. Or don’t you remember that first job when you blew the power to the building for me?”

“Oh, right. Good times.” She shot me a wink, her red lips pulling up into a small smile. “Though from what I hear, finding a creative way inside is Julian’s skill.”

My cheeks burned, and I tried to shrug off her raised eyebrow. “We’re newly mated, and he’s still not always in control of his wolf.”

Both true, both probably affecting his sex drive. But really, I gave no fucks for how loud or rough or often we had sex. My mate had grown since his turning, adding a handful of inches and some serious pounds of solid muscle. Where wolves like Rebel, Bez, and Shadow tended to have a leaner frame, Julian bulked similar to Phoenix. He looked like some sort of body builder—not the scary ones, but the hot as fuck ones dropping pics on Instagram. Yeah. My man made women drool. Who could blame me for wanting to ride that at all hours of the day and night?

But apparently, our mating had become a problem when Rebel and Charlotte no longer felt comfortable walking into their own garage, so we were in the process of moving both our home and our business.

That’s right—our business. Five item-recovery jobs booked and completed after that first bear shifter one, and we’d officially opened our doors to clients. Harley and Shiloh’s word-of-mouth campaign had definitely helped. We’d been busy retrieving items for bear-shifter clans and had four more cases waiting to be worked on. At that rate, I’d need to hire help soon just to keep up.

I still couldn’t get over the rush of pride when I thought of how much we’d accomplished already. Rebel had rented us a storefront on the corner of his denhouse in the city, and Beast had found us a townhouse for rent just a few blocks away. The setup seemed perfect—easy commute, a neighborhood we knew and loved, plus all the Feral Breed guys around to jump in if we needed backup. What more could I ask for?

Scarlett suddenly spun, staring out the door like a kid waiting for Santa Claus. “Ooh, I hear Shadow. Our mates must be back.”

Okay, I could always ask for more time with my mate. I set down the files I’d been about to put away and hurried to the front of the desk. “You should probably go meet him. Not that I’m kicking you out or anything.” I was totally kicking her out. Luckily, Scarlett never seemed to get offended when I dismissed her so I could get my mate alone.

“Subtle, kid. Real subtle.” She pinched my arm teasingly on her way toward the door. “I can take a hint, though. We’ll leave you and your boy toy alone for a bit. Pretty sure the prospects are tired of carrying your shit all across town anyway.”

Her words barely registered because at that moment, three men walked in the front door and strode down the hall toward us. Julian led the way, his dark sunglasses in place and his stride long. Heavy boots hit the wood floor in a rhythm I could feel in my soul, but when he took off his glasses and looked right at me? That thumping turned into a pulse I felt right between my legs. He still couldn’t truly see like before the accident that took his parents, but his vision had returned somewhat in the transition. Colors and shadows was how he explained it—fuchsia for me, specifically. However it manifested, he seemed happy with the change, and I definitely liked the way his eyes followed me whenever he was around. Especially in moments like right now. He’d been to the gym, then on a run with the guys, something they did daily to keep his wolf happy. The animal worked well with Julian but sometimes tried to overpower him when presented with something his animal instincts found appealing. Like food…or me.

And right now, I could see the hunger in Julian’s eyes, the need. His wolf was close to the surface, which called to mine. That animalistic edge also always led to great sex.

Game on.

“C’mon boys,” Scarlett said, intercepting the crew and directing Shadow and Rebel back toward the door. “Let’s leave these two alone so they can figure out what files go in which drawers.”

“Pretty sure they figured that out a while ago.” Rebel lifted a chin, smiling my way. “Come on over to the den when you’re ready for more help. I like to keep my prospects busy.”

I nodded but said nothing, too enraptured by the look on Julian’s face. Too aroused to deal with others. And when they shut the door behind them, leaving Julian and me alone, I took my chance.

Smiling, I hopped up onto the edge of the desk and crossed my legs. “Welcome to Feral Breed Bounty Hunters. How may I be of service?”

Julian quirked an eyebrow. “Are you offering to service me, mate?”

Fuck, those words should not have made me as wet as they did. Of course, it helped that Julian had reached the desk. He wasted no time grabbing my legs and spreading them around his thick thighs, opening me up for him. Dominating me in the best possible way.

I dragged a heel across his ass, pulling us tighter together. “I’m always offering.”

Rough hands stroked my thighs, warming me. He smelled like rain and forest as he leaned closer. Smelled like mine. “How do you want it?”

“Hard.” I grunted when he yanked me closer, his thick fingers already pulling on the edge of my panties. “And right here.”

“You want to christen our desk?”

“I want to remember you fucking me on this desk every time we’re quietly working across from one another.” I pushed him off me, just enough so I could roll over. So I could bend across the desk with my ass in the air. A position I knew would drive his wolf crazy, making Julian’s actions harsher, more aggressive. Hotter.

He didn’t disappoint. Callused hands tore my panties even before he flipped up the soft skirt I wore. So close to losing control. So close to simply taking what he wanted. But Julian always thought of me first—of my needs and desires. So instead of simply taking, he teased. Smacking my ass with his heavy hand, making me jump, making my pussy grow wetter with a sharp slice of pain that melted into pure pleasure.

“You like when I do that, mate?”

I loved it, but I didn’t need to tell him that. He knew. He always knew.

With a growl that had me shaking all over, Julian pressed a finger inside me, rumbling in his throat. “Fuck, you’re soaked already. I love that you’re always so wet for me.”

I grappled to hold on to the edge of the desk, lifting my hips for more. “Only for you.”

The growl he released almost drowned out the sound of him removing his belt and unzipping his jeans. I waited, knowing he’d grab his heavy cock and stroke it once, maybe twice, before lining himself up. Before nudging the thick head across my clit. Before thrusting home.

But he shocked me by leaning forward to kiss the back of my neck with a sweetness that stole my breath. “Love you, Leelee.”

I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer, tugging his arm around me. “Forever, Julian. We’re going to have the best forever.”

And it would be. He’d come through the turning safely and more in tune with his wolf than anyone Bez or Rebel had ever seen, we had a home, and our business of recovering things lost or stolen for whatever paranormals could pay the fee supported us. Julian would go back to school next semester, transferring to Wayne State to stay close. And me?

My love for Julian had turned me into a thief, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that fact. Together, we could do anything. Together, we’d finally get our happily ever after.