Fane shuddered and that made her grin. Take that you little seducing hound, she thought to herself. She let her breath flow over his ear as she told him. “How do you like them apples, wolf-boy?”

Fane scooted forward to get away from her mouth and she could see the rise and fall of his back – he was breathing quickly. She found herself rather intrigued by his behavior. She could not think of a time that Trent had responded to her like that…Oops. She'd let her wall down during that thought.

Fane stood up so abruptly that Jacque fell forward and had to catch herself to keep from falling on her face. She looked up and saw Fane pacing her room quickly, in obvious agitation.

“Fane, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that. I wasn’t trying to think about the physical part of my relationship with Trent, I was merely comparing your reactions…” Jacque tried to explain, hoping to calm the wolf currently wearing a hole in her carpet.

“Jacquelyn, you are not helping,” he told her with a growl. “I realize you do not understand the intensity of my feelings for you, but I cannot change my nature. In the wild, wolves mate for life, and a male wolf will kill any who tries to take his mate. It is the same with my species. I realize this Trent,” Fane said his name in obvious repugnance, “was a part of your life and you can’t change that. It’s not that I dislike him as a person, it’s just that I am jealous of the obvious affection you felt and still feel for him. I don’t like the fact that you were intimate with him, when that is my right alone.” Fane closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths, pressing his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

When he looked up at Jacque, she could see the struggle going on inside him. He wanted to honor her and give her the space she needed because she had not grown up with his kind, he could not expect her to just accept his ways without compromise. But his wolf did not see things in such muted colors. He thought in absolutes. Jacque was his mate, she belongs with him and no other, her thoughts should be for him alone, and she should give herself to him completely just as he was giving himself to her completely.

Jacque got up off the bed and walked to him. This time she was not trying to beat him at his own game, she was not trying to seduce him, she only wanted to reassure him. In that moment, she realized she wanted to be his and she desperately wanted him to be hers and no other’s.

She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Fane answered her unspoken thought. “I am only yours, my Luna. I was yours from my first breath and will be until my last.”

Jacque closed her eyes as tears ran slowly down her cheeks. She pulled him closer to her as his hands rubbed her back and he kissed the top of her head. When she pulled back to look up at him, he gently held her face. Then he did the sweetest thing Jacque had ever experienced.

Fane kissed her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and her nose; he kissed her chin and when she thought she couldn’t wait any longer, he kissed her lips. It was soft and slow and sweet. Jacque let out a soft moan and that made Fane growl. He increased the pressure of his lips on hers and the kiss became much more passionate.

Finally, Fane pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers. To Jacque’s relief he was just as breathless as she, and it took him a moment to compose himself.

“I think it’s time for me to say good night, love, or my good intentions of keeping your virtue pure until we are bonded might take a backseat to my hormones,” he said honestly, completely unashamed at his obvious desire for her.

Jacque smiled at him. She didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want to be separated from him for even a minute, but she knew her mom would never let Fane spend the night, no matter if he was her mate or not.

“Sorin is staying here to protect you and your mom. If at any point you feel unsafe, call to me. I realize your mom is not completely comfortable about you and I being mated, but I need you to understand, your safety comes first and I will not leave you unprotected just to appease your mom. Do you understand this?” Fane asked her earnestly.

Jacque knew her mom would want her safe even if that meant Fane being at their house everyday, and that idea suited her just fine.

“Are you always this bossy?” Jacque asked him, ignoring his question.

“When it comes to your safety, yes, I retain the right to be bossy,” Fane told her. He hugged her close one more time, then let her go. Jacque immediately felt lonely without his touch. It shocked her because she felt close to tears. Good grief, Jacque, she thought to herself. Get a grip, he’s just going across the street.

“That is part of the bond, love. It is hard for mates to be apart for very long and not share their thoughts. A mate’s soul is not complete without the other and mates need that closeness, they crave it,” he explained to her.

“So what am I supposed to do while we are apart? I mean good grief, Fane, you haven’t left yet and I’m sad over the mere idea of you gone,” she told him desperately.

Fane placed his hand on her neck, on the very spot his lips had been earlier. “I will come to you the instant you ask for me. If I have to sleep on the floor right outside your door, I will do it if that’s what you need.” Then Fane said the one thing Jacque did not expect to hear.

“I love you, my Luna. I was made to love, protect, and provide for you. Never hesitate to tell me or ask me for what you need.”

Jacque stood up on her toes and kissed Fane firmly on the lips. She pulled away quickly and said, “You better go now, before I beg you to stay.” She turned him toward her bedroom door and pushed him out.

She didn’t want to watch him walk away from her, as silly as that might be. Instead of using words, she sent him a picture from her mind. It was of him holding her close. She was tilting her head to the side like wolves do to show submission, like a female would do for her mate to fulfill the blood rites. She had absolutely no idea where the thought came from, maybe it was her subconscious letting him know she would submit to the blood rites ceremony. That’s news to me, she told herself.

In her mind she heard Fane growl in response and all he said was, “Soon, my love. Very, very soon.”

Jacque shivered at his words. “Oh goody,” she responded sarcastically.

Hey, what else would he expect from her? Sarcasm was her specialty.

Jacque went to her window and sat in the seat, staring out at the street. She was waiting for Fane to leave her house, so she could watch him walk across the street. Yep, she had it bad. She saw Sorin step out and then Fane. Sorin hugged Fane again. Man, they really are a touchy bunch, aren’t they, she thought. They talked for a few minutes. When they finally parted, Sorin positioned himself directly in front of Fane, put his hand over his heart, bowed slightly, and turned his head to expose his neck. The only response from Fane to acknowledge Sorin’s obvious submission was a curt nod. Then Sorin turned and walked back into Jacque’s house.