James pulled the IV out of his arm and gave the puncture a lick. It healed almost instantly. His only thought was to get to her and change her mind. She was his mate, he was sure of that, and he would not let her go without a fight. James nodded to Freddy, who was now standing outside his door. “Sir?”

“Get out on patrol; your services are no longer needed in here,” James all but growled at him.

“You haven’t been released yet. I just asked the nurse and she said tomorrow at the earliest. You need to get back into bed, James,” Freddy cautioned him.

“My mate just broke it off, so this is not important anymore. I need to get across town. Now either you can go out on patrol or you can give me a ride. Either way, I am not staying in this hospital while she is hurting. Make a choice, Freddy.”

Freddy nodded and walked with him to the elevator.

James was beginning to shake the drugs off now that the IV was out of his arm, but he was still unsteady on his feet.

Freddy gripped his upper arm and set him right.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Cap.”

“Not yet.”

Freddy grinned and looked up at the ceiling.

“What do you know?”

“Your promotion came through yesterday while you were in surgery. You’re getting a commendation, too. You know, it’s rare for captains to go out in the field,” Freddy mused. “They also are not required to wear a piece, and since your girl hates guns, you can use that bit of information to get her back. Think about it. You get to stay a cop, but nobody will be shooting at you and you won’t be shooting at anyone else.” Freddy’s eyes flashed at James.

A slow smile crept over James’s face as they got onto the elevator. A nurse was hurrying down the hall, calling after him, as the doors closed, and James waved goodbye to her. He flexed his shoulder, which was losing stiffness by the minute. It wouldn’t be very long before he would be totally healed. By morning, the scar wouldn’t be visible. That thought calmed and made him anxious at the same time. Would he wake up with her? No. Not yet. It wasn’t time.

James sat quietly in the passenger seat while Freddy drove like a bat out of hell across town with his lights flashing. It was forbidden to run the lights when there was no emergency, but the siren was off. If anyone asked, he forgot he’d turned the lights on. Besides, this was a mating emergency.

Freddy pulled right up to the front door of her building and let James out. “I’ll park over there for a half-hour and call Charlie. If you need me, give me a buzz. After that I will assume that she’s keeping you.”

James nodded and shut the door, then hurried up the stairs.

When he got to her door, he could hear her inside, sniffling. She was crying. For him. Good. James tried the door and found it unlocked. As a cop, he found that infuriating, unsafe, and unacceptable. How many crime scenes had he worked where the unsuspecting person left the damned door unlocked and ended up robbed or killed? Too. Damn. Many. She would never leave a door unlocked after today because he would make sure of it. But not right now. Right now, his girl needed comfort and understanding. He found Jess curled up in the corner of the couch where they’d slept the other night. She looked up at him with red watery eyes, and he grimaced.

“I’m fine, see? You have nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart.”

Jess sniffled loudly, and James came around the couch. She scrambled into his arms.

“Everything is going to be fine, my love.” James held her tightly and closed his eyes as he kissed her temple.

“It’s not. You’re a cop, and cops get shot, James.” Jess buried her face in his neck, and he sat down with her.

“No, not anymore. I mean, I’m still a cop, but my promotion came through yesterday, and so I will be riding a desk. It’s an administrative position, so no guns, okay?”

She looked up at him.

“Promise. Okay?”

She gave him a watery smile and nodded.

“Now, your door was unlocked. I don’t ever want to find it that way again. If something were to happen to you…well, that would kill me faster than any bullet. Tell me that from now on, as soon as you pass through your door, you will lock it so I know that you are safe.”

She sniffled and nodded.

“Jess…”

“I promise. Where were you shot? They didn’t tell me what part of your body was hit. And what are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the hospital.” She leaned back with knitted eyebrows and studied him.

He grinned. “Right here.” He pointed to his shoulder. “If I wore a bigger vest they would’ve missed me.”

“I want to see.”

James unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it back to reveal his gauze bandage.

Jess peeled the tape back gently and looked at the swollen red pucker. Her mouth scrunched up. “Is that it?”

James looked down at it. Originally it looked nasty, but when you’re a werewolf, you heal faster than a human does. “Big deal. I thought that half of your shoulder was going to be blown away. When that policeman Leland called, he sounded so serious, like you were near death.”

James chuckled and made a mental note to kick Leland’s ass. “Yep, no big deal. Now, when I got here, I didn’t get my kiss.”

Jess wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Is that all I get? I was in the hospital. I need more cheering up than that.”

Jess rolled her eyes and shifted herself around so she was straddling him and kissed him thoroughly.

“Love those noises, sweetheart,” he murmured, making Jess’s cheeks flush. “Don’t be embarrassed. I like them, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” James shifted her around so that her back was on the couch and he hovered over her.

Jess giggled as he nuzzled her neck then took control of another kiss. He sucked her tongue into his mouth, and she trembled. His growl was soft, but her eyes widened, and he smiled then nipped at her neck again.

“I thought this was going to be the worst day of my life, I’m glad you’re okay.”

James studied her.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.” He pressed his lips to hers once more, then sat back on the couch.

“Not yet what?” Jess sat up next to him. “Tell me.”

“You aren’t ready. Come over here next to me and we’ll watch TV together. I missed you.”

“I don’t want to watch. I want to know what I’m not ready for yet.” Jess folded her arms over her chest and all but pouted. “Tell me, James. I’m a big girl.” She exhaled sharply.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a long breath.

“Well?”

“I have a feeling you aren’t as painfully shy as your friend Lolly thinks. I see a little fire in you.” He grinned.

“Stop deflecting and answer my question.” Jess waited with narrowed eyes fixed on him.

“Jess…” His mouth was a hard line and his eyes flashed.

“Tell me or get out.” She was getting angry, but he wasn’t ready to share. “James. I mean it.” Jess stood up.

“Shit,” he breathed. “You aren’t ready to hear it, Jess. Not today. I don’t want to ruin today any more than it has already been ruined.” His cell beeped, and he pulled it out then texted someone.

“Who is that? Are you married?” Jess straightened her spine. “Girlfriend, then?” she spat when he shook his head.

“No. Sit down please.”

“No, I don’t think so. I can’t show you out if I am sitting down.” Her chest was heaving, and she looked pissed, but he wasn’t having it. They may not be mated yet, but he was the Alpha. Period.

“Sit down,” James commanded, and her knees buckled of their own volition. That was better. “That was Freddy. He’s another cop, and he is waiting in the parking lot for me. He asked if I needed a ride or not. I told him to wait since you’ve decided to throw a tantrum.”

Jess’s eyes widened and she recoiled.

“Yes, a tantrum. I’m sore and I’m tired. I told Freddy that I was on my way down.” James stood up slowly. “You’ve had an emotional day, and I am going to leave you alone so you can compose yourself.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Call me later when you’re on a more even keel.” He closed the door behind him after locking it. It clicked shut.

***

Jess sat and stared at it. A tantrum? Seriously?

She blew out a breath, making her bangs dance. Jess punched the red button on her remote. The television came to life, showing another episode of the cooking show that they’d watched together. Why had she acted that way? It wasn’t in her nature to be that demanding. Or that bitchy, another word for tantrum. She smirked. Now he was gone and all she had to keep her company was her new backbone. Crap.

He left the hospital to see her and she’d treated him like shit, hadn’t she? She’d been domineering and demanding when she should’ve been sweet and comforting. She had to be honest with this man, though, or it was never going to work out, and she wanted it to work out. So much. She wanted more of him, but it felt like he was hiding something. He said it was something that she wasn’t ready to hear, but how did he know if she was ready? And what was it? If he wasn’t married and he didn’t have a girlfriend, then what was so scary that she couldn’t hear it? The not knowing was worse than whatever he had to say. She’d bet on it. Besides, she was an adult! She should decide when she was ready to hear what he had to say.

He was a police officer, so he wasn’t an international spy, and hopefully he wasn’t a criminal, so what was left? Jess bit her bottom lip hard and tasted blood. “Damn it,” she spat. She hated not being able to figure things out, and she hated secrets.

***

James let himself in the front door of his house. The fellas usually kept it neat, but it looked neglected. The living room had newspapers, food wrappers, and empty cans thrown around. The kitchen sink was full of dishes and the fridge was empty. He’d been gone one day. What happened here? It looked like they’d had a party.

“Oh, hi, Cap,” Mark said, coming into the kitchen from the small fitness room in the back. “Let me get that. I worked late and went straight to bed, but it was my turn to straighten the house. Go sit down and relax. I’ll do the living room first so you can kick back and get better.” Mark was a good male and one of the few wolves not vying for Jess’s attention. He had his eye on his own human female.

“Thanks, Mark. I think I will. Who is doing the shopping?”

“Leland and I are doing that after his shift today. Do you need anything?” Mark asked, wiping dishes quickly and loading them into the dishwasher.

“Food.” He grinned at Mark’s chuckle. “Get a roast. I feel like a big Sunday dinner, and since I’m off duty for a week or so, I will cook.”

“Wow, Cap. Are you having your girl over for that?”

James shook his head. “I don’t think so. She’s pretty mad at me right now. I think I misspoke earlier and gave her a little more Alpha than she deserved.”

Mark’s brows rose.

“Not like that. I dressed her down like a child right after I accused her of acting like one, but really, I was the child. She was scared and I did nothing to comfort her. She was upset and I yelled at her. I should’ve stayed in the hospital, but I was so insecure that she was going to bolt that I busted out and went after her.” James shook his head. “Then I told her to call me when she’d cooled off.”

Mark sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth with his face scrunched up.

“I know. I suck. I wasn’t ready to tell her about the wolf. I said that she wasn’t ready to hear it, and I don’t think that’s quite true.” He blew out a breath. “I think maybe it’s me who isn’t ready.”

“You should send her flowers and beg her forgiveness. I’ve seen Jess. She’s gorgeous, and I know there are a bunch of guys…” He stopped at James’s look. “Sorry. It’s just that I know how much time you put into the recon on her and how much you like her. You should do anything and everything to salvage this before she slips through your fingers.” James nodded. “I mean, she’s human and they are funny creatures, fickle.”

“You’re right, of course. I will, but right now, I just need to sit for a while. The doc had me on some strong shit and I’m feeling it. Maybe it explains my lack of patience.”

Mark smirked. “Yeah that must be it. First thing, tomorrow morning is soon enough, I reckon. She’ll do well to sit and think about it for an evening. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.” Mark closed the dishwasher and went to the living room. He picked up all of the papers so James could sit, then found the remote control to the entertainment center that took up an entire wall. Mark finished in less than five minutes and started to leave.

“How’s your hunting going?” James was referring to his interest in his female human. Her name was Bobbi, Robbie, or something. James couldn’t remember right now. His head was still fuzzy.

“Oh, it’s good hunting. I’d like for you to meet her sometime, once she’s marked, of course.”

James nodded.

“You probably wouldn’t be attracted anyway. She is full of piss, vinegar, and fire. She is obstinate, opinionated, and doesn’t like me in the slightest.”

James’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll convince her. It just makes it that much more interesting than when they swoon and fall at my feet. There is just no sport at all in that. I like them with fire. She’s bossy, too, and damn, is that sexy.”

James didn’t think so and made a face, but to each his own.

“I got no problem saying ‘yes, ma’am.’” He waggled his eyebrows. “I have to go downtown in a few minutes. Her shift will be starting at the coffee house, and she is going to screw up my order at least four times today.” Mark smiled broadly and James laughed.

Mark left and James lay down on the couch. He was asleep within seconds. Wolves came and went all afternoon. Occasionally, James heard them but kept his eyes closed. Someone covered him with a blanket at one point and someone turned the television off at another. He woke up later than his usual time to the smell of coffee and breakfast cooking. James scented the air. He also smelled springtime. Throwing the blanket off, James got up and followed his nose. She was in his kitchen and she was making him breakfast. James crossed the kitchen silently and wrapped his arms around her. Jess sank back into him.

“We have to be careful. My boyfriend is asleep on the couch,” she giggled. James nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear.

“He said it was okay. I already asked.”

Jess turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his. “I’m sorry for being a brat. Can you forgive me?”

James grunted and kissed her again, pressing her back into the counter. His body pressed into hers, melded with hers, and rubbed against hers. “Oh God… James,” she moaned.

“Shhh, baby.” James eased off her. “There are other people in the house.”

“Who was the guy who let me in?”

James shrugged and turned the bacon over in the pan behind her. “What did he look like?” Who had contact with his female, and how much contact had they had? He hoped it wasn’t Alex.

“Tall, dark hair, and intense blue eyes. He was kind of grouchy.” Another one of the wolves that had pursued her, but he was also one of the first to submit to the Alpha’s demands.

“Duane.” James kissed her temple.

“He just grunted at me and walked away. Then someone named Mark found me and sent me in here to make you breakfast. He said that you would appreciate it since you’d been asleep almost eighteen hours.” Jess watched him expertly flip the bacon.

“I passed out as soon as I got home.” He stirred the scrambled eggs that she was cooking on low. “Do you want toast?”

Jess nodded.

“It’s over there.” He pointed at the bread and the toaster.

Jess loaded the machine and pushed the lever down. She opened cabinet doors until she found the mugs and poured two cups of coffee. “Make it look like mud, sweetheart, and no sugar, I am sweet enough.”

Jess grinned and poured the milk into his cup.

James spooned the eggs onto plates and added the bacon. When the toast popped up, he spun over to the fridge and grabbed the butter.

“I really am sorry about yesterday,” she said when they were seated side by side. His thigh pressed warmly to hers from knee to hip on the bench.

“I am, too. We had a bad day and we’ll have those, but the trick is for us to recognize them and forgive each other for them.” He leaned over and kissed her temple again. “Now eat,” he demanded.

Jess dipped her fork into the eggs.

“I like over easy best,” he murmured in her ear.

She shivered, and he smiled then went back to his breakfast.

“Morning, Cap,” Freddy said, coming through the kitchen in a pair of low-riding sweatpants. A dark trail of hair that began between his massive pectorals created a path down the center of his six-pack and ended in thick hair below his belly button.

Jess flushed when James growled.

“Oops, sorry, Cap. I didn’t know you had company.” Freddy spun around and went back the way he came. Freddy returned a minute later with a sweatshirt covering his chest.

“Good morning, Freddy. There might be enough left for you.” James hiked a thumb at the stove.

“Thanks. I don’t mind if I do.” Freddy grabbed a plate and started filling it.

“Freddy never turns down food, so if you want something, either eat it or hide it.”

Jess nodded.

“Are you done? I want to show you our room.” James said.

Jess’s cheeks heated again. “When you’re ready to share it with me.” Jess put her fork down, and James grabbed the last small piece of bacon that she hadn’t finished.

He gazed into her eyes as he slid it into his mouth, and her cheeks grew pinker and hotter. James carried their plates to the sink then came back and took her hand. “Bring your coffee.”

Jess picked up her mug and let him lead her down the hall into the belly of the house. “All of these are bedrooms, and all of them are occupied by someone. Mine is at the end of the hall. There is a bathroom there.” He pointed. “But I have my own, too.”

He opened the door to his room and closed it behind them then locked it. His bed was low and modern. The furniture was sleek and light colored. It looked like it came from the Swedish furniture store at the mall. “This is not what I would’ve picked, but it was already here and it was free.”

Jess nodded. That explained the less-than-masculine furniture. He would’ve picked dark and heavy.

“Come.” He pulled a cord, and the vertical blinds opened to a private deck. He opened the French doors and led her outside.

Jess went to the large wrought-iron chair and sat. She kept her coffee in her hands to keep them warm. It was chilly outside, and she left her jacket in the kitchen.

“Hold this.” He held his coffee out to her and went back inside. He came out with a quilt and wrapped it around her shoulders. “That’s better, huh?” James sat beside her in the other chair.

“I think we both can fit, this chair is so big,” she said, then smiled. James patted his lap for her to join him, and she moved over to his chair. She eased down beside him, and he tucked her into his side, then put his arm around her. Jess laid her head against the hollow of his good shoulder. “I missed you last night. I feel so stupid.” She sipped her coffee.

“No, don’t. Forget it, sweetheart. I think you are ready to hear what I wanted to tell you. I was afraid you couldn’t handle it, but I think that you are stronger than I give you credit for, and I know that I can trust you with this. I also think it was me who wasn’t ready.” He smirked.

“You don’t have to. I know it’s personal, and if you aren’t ready, it’s okay. I can wait as long as you need me to wait.” Jess leaned up and kissed his throat.

A growl rumbled through his chest.

“That’s so sexy when you do that.” She smiled up at him.

“You’re ready and I’m ready. I owe you that much. I’m different from most men. My eyes change colors when there’s an emotional charge, I growl and I snarl.”

Jess nodded.

“Human men can’t do that.”

Jess’s eyebrows lowered over her eyes and knitted.

“If you aren’t human, then what are you?” she whispered, looking up at him with huge eyes.

***

“I’m a shifter, a wolf shifter, or werewolf if you like.”

Jess gasped because suddenly it all made sense and no sense at all. She nibbled her lip.

“Do you understand?”

She nodded, but her only thought was to run.

“Are you okay?”

Jess nodded again. Wolf shifter, werewolf, whatever, and hell no, she wasn’t okay.

“Jess, I’m scenting fear, and you have nothing to be afraid of, especially not me.”

She nodded again, but her heart was beating a staccato like the snare drum rolling before a high school football game.

“Jess?”

Her knuckles showed white as she gripped the coffee mug.

“Jess, look at me.”

She raised her gaze slowly to his face, and he smiled at her. “It’s still me. James. The same guy who brought you coffee and took you to Dan Dan’s.”

“I know.” She looked down into her cup. “It’s a lot to take in, though.” She swallowed the huge knot lodged in her throat.

“It’s okay if you need to think about it. It’s a lot to process.”

She nodded and sipped the coffee, not tasting it. He squeezed her shoulders, and she stiffened. She watched James’s mouth turn into a hard, thin line, but he let her mull it over for a moment.

“You do believe me, don’t you?”

She nodded because she didn’t know what else to do. Whether she believed him or not didn’t matter. He believed it. Whether he was insane or could really turn himself into one of those huge, scary, snarling monsters didn’t matter either. What mattered was that she needed to get away from him, and quick, because either insane or snarling, both scared the crap out of her.

“I’m supposed to meet Lolly in an hour, so I need to go, but I’m glad you’re better.” She started to get up, and he pulled her back down.

“You’re lying.”

Jess’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. “That was one of the things that I loved about you most. I never scented deception on you, but it is a vile smell, Jess, and you reek of it now. If you need to go home and think things through then just say so. I know it’s a lot to handle, but don’t lie to me. Never. Lie. To. Me.” His eyes went amber. Jess’s chin wobbled and her eyes grew moist. She swallowed again and took a breath. He watched her, his gaze intense. His fingers gently lifted her chin and he pressed his lips to hers chastely.

“Okay,” she said quietly and gathered all the nerve she had. “I need to get away from you because I am terrified right now. I need to sort out my thoughts and process all of this. I need to be alone to do that.”

He gave her a sharp nod and helped her to stand.

“Thank you for your honesty. I understand and I will wait to hear from you, but if I don’t in the next few days, I’ll stop by so we can discuss it.”

Her brows knitted tightly over her nose making her squint at him.

“I want to be with you, Jess. You are mine,” he growled.

She swallowed again, unable to pass the knot this time, and hurried through the house. When she got to her car, she realized that she didn’t have her jacket but she still had his coffee mug. Luckily, her keys were in her pants pocket and she’d left her purse on the passenger seat. He could keep the jacket. It was old anyway. Jess turned the key to the Civic and tried to drive calmly, but it was difficult since her heart was still pounding and she couldn’t draw a deep breath. A werewolf! Not possible.