Chase blew out a breath as he looked at himself in the mirror one more time. He was even more dressed up than he’d been when he went to Hannah’s house to plead his case last week. He had on a pair of charcoal dress pants and a white, long sleeve button up. He’d even dug his old loafers out of his closet. They were creased and covered with dust, but he cleaned them until they shined.

He looked alien in these clothes, but he was taking Hannah to Alejandro’s tonight, and it was fancy. He didn’t want to embarrass her, and even his good Western clothes weren’t good enough for that place.

It had only been a week, but things were going so well. Better than he dared hope. Hannah was everything he’d ever wanted, and more than he’d thought he would be lucky enough to find. She was funny and warm and smart. He hated when she belittled herself and called herself dumb. She wasn’t—at all—and he could wring her parents’ necks for making her think otherwise. He vowed he’d change the way she thought of herself, one way or another.

His heart had ached for her crushed dreams when she told him about her ankle, but he couldn’t deny the little thread of relief that wound through him, either. If that hadn’t happened, she never would have moved back home. She might even still be with Donahue the Douche, God forbid.

He felt like a total ass for feeling like he did. Dancing had been her dream, and she’d lost that. He couldn’t replace her dream or make up for what she lost, but he’d damn sure spend his life trying to make her so happy, she didn’t mourn the loss anymore. He paused in the act of trying to stretch the collar of his dress shirt away from his neck, amazed at the thought. He knew he wanted her, but he hadn’t been thinking in terms of forever, at least not consciously. Not while his wolf still hadn’t said the words.

But it felt right. Yeah. Yeah, okay, he did want her forever. He just had to convince her she wanted him the same way.

He swallowed hard. It would be hard enough, just based on their history and the way he’d treated her in the past. Add in the fact that she was human and didn’t know he was a wolf shifter…

It suddenly felt impossible.

He didn’t know how to tell her. Couldn’t even figure out where to begin, or how to say it in a way that ensured she didn’t either think he was crazy, or take off running as fast as those long legs would carry her.

He remembered when Ty agonized over telling Parker what he was. Chase had laughed his ass off, so amused by the whole situation. Mostly because seeing his big brother worry about something, and actually nervous, wasn’t anything he’d ever seen before, and it was entertaining as hell.

Ty hadn’t been amused by Chase’s laughter, and he remembered Ty telling him something along the lines of, “Wait until you fall for a human.”

Chase had laughed and replied that his wolf would have the good sense to fall for another shifter.

Famous last words and all.

This was karma, pure and simple, for having so much fun at Ty’s expense.

Chase glanced at the clock on his dresser and cursed. He was going to be late picking Hannah up if he didn’t get a move on, and that wouldn’t be a great first real date impression. He shoved his wallet in his slacks and snatched up his phone and keys before heading out of his room and down the stairs, groaning deep in his chest when he reached the bottom just as Ty and Parker were coming through the front door.

Ty’s eyebrows shot up as he took Chase in, and he let out a booming laugh. “What the hell are you wearing now, Chase?”

Parker smacked Ty hard in the stomach and scowled at him until he stopped laughing. Satisfied, she turned to Chase with a soft smile on her face.

“I think you look very nice, Chase.”

“My God, you’re even wearing dress shoes,” Ty muttered in disbelief. He quickly raised his hands when Parker moved to smack him again. “I’m not making fun of him, babe. I’m just surprised, is all. I didn’t even know he owned anything except boots.”

“Well, I do, obviously,” Chase replied with a scowl, shifting his weight uncomfortably. He wanted to get out of there and away from his brother, who was taking too much delight in his discomfort.

“Seriously, why have you been dressing differently? What could possess you to dress like… this?” he asked, waving his hand at Chase’s dress clothes.

“I have a date tonight,” Chase replied, deciding to come clean about what he was up to.

“A date? With who?”

The disbelief in his brother’s voice really was insulting.

“With Hannah.”

Ty and Parker’s eyes both betrayed their shock, but it was Ty who spoke first.

“What happened to hating her?”

“I changed my mind.”

“Is she your mate?” Ty asked with a raised brow.

Chase hesitated. “Maybe? I don’t know yet. My wolf hasn’t said the words to me, but he’s so into her, I have my suspicions.”

Parker suddenly squealed, making him and Ty jump in surprise, and then she rushed forward and threw her arms around Chase’s waist.

“This is so awesome,” Parker gushed as she pulled back. “You and Hannah are perfect for each other. I always thought so, even when you were being an ass to her. And she deserves so much to be happy.”

“I’m not sure if she is yet, Parker,” he cautioned her.

Parker just waved her hand dismissively. “She is, I can feel it in my bones.” She moved back to Ty and took his hand, tugging him away from the door. “Let’s let Chase leave so he can go get Hannah.”

Parker gave him the perfect opening to get out of there, and away from the teasing comments he could see forming on his brother’s tongue, but he hesitated.

“You’re friends with her,” he said to Parker, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “Does she know about us? About shifters?”

“No,” she told him softly. “She doesn’t know. But with Hannah, I don’t think you have anything to worry much about. She’s pretty open minded. Just don’t wait too long to tell her. That might upset her.” She gave him a happy smile. “This really is great news, Chase. You two will be very happy together.”

Chase nodded and smiled as he moved to leave the house. He’d been hoping Hannah knew, but Parker thinking it wouldn’t freak her out was encouraging news.

“You’d better not disappoint my mate, little brother,” Ty muttered as Chase walked past him and opened the door.

He rolled his eyes, not replying as he headed to his truck. Like that was something he could control. He thought there was a very good possibility Hannah was his mate, but he couldn’t be sure she was until his wolf said the words. So far, he hadn’t.

Chase headed toward town, unable to keep from going over the speed limit, too anxious to see Hannah again. In no time at all, he was pulling up in front of her little house. He jumped out of the truck and forced himself to walk to her door like a normal person, but what he really wanted to do was sprint.

When he knocked, the door flew open, and there she was.

His mouth dropped open as he looked at her. Her light blonde hair was loose, falling over her shoulders in a silky cascade. Her green eyes appeared even brighter with smoky eye shadow and eyeliner, and she had bright red lipstick slicked onto her bee-stung lips.

His eyes dropped lower, and he swore he went a little weak in the knees. She had on a body-hugging black dress that hit her mid-thigh, making her long legs look like they went on forever. The swells of her breasts were pushed up even higher, emphasized by the curve of the dress, and it had thick shoulder straps holding it up, showing off her toned arms. He swept his gaze over her again, lingering on the curve of her breasts and hips, before tracing her shapely legs. She was wearing strappy black open toe heels, and her finger and toenails were painted the same bright red as her lips.

“Chase,” she said breathlessly. “You look amazing.”

Shit, that was supposed to be his line.

He cleared his throat, willing his vocal chords to respond to his commands. “Hannah, I just… I have no words. You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready to go?” he asked, stepping to the side.

“Yep.” She turned and grabbed a clutch from the table by the door and walked out in front of him.

Chase followed behind her, mesmerized by the sway of her curvy hips, and the way the dress showcased her truly spectacular ass.

And that’s when it happened. What he was expecting to happen, what he was waiting for. It still had the power to stun the breath right out of him.

She’s our mate, his wolf sighed out.

Hannah watched as Chase they drove back into Eagle Creek town limits, eyeing his muscled forearms as he drove. He’d rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up after they’d finished dinner and were back in his truck, and she’d been watching the play of muscles and veins ever since. She squirmed a little in her seat, a bit in disbelief that just that bit of skin could get her so worked up.

She’d say it was because he was dressed up tonight, but that wasn’t it. Sure, he was mouth wateringly gorgeous in slacks and a dress shirt, but she preferred him as he usually was. Old, worn jeans with rips and tears, a simple t-shirt, and boots.

“Next time, let’s go grab some BBQ, or go to the diner, or something,” she told him as he pulled into her driveway.

He slanted a look at her. “Did you not like the restaurant?”

“Oh, I liked it fine, and I had a great time tonight,” she was quick to reassure him. “I think I’d have a good time no matter where you took me. But I’m a big fan of laidback and relaxed, too. We don’t have to go somewhere fancy or expensive for me to have fun.”

“Whew. You made me nervous for a second there,” he told her, relief flashing in his eyes. “I just wanted it to be special.”

“It was,” she reassured him softly. “But it would have been just as special even if we went to the diner. It doesn’t matter where we go. What makes it special is being there with you.”

Chase’s brown eyes warmed as he lifted her hand to her mouth and placed a gentle kiss on the back. “I’m glad. It was special for me, as well.”

Hannah shivered as the touch of his lips against her skin shot lightning through her body. “The night doesn’t have to be over. Do you want to come in?” she asked cautiously.

He searched her eyes for a long moment, no doubt trying to guess what exactly she meant by that. “I’d love to.”

They walked to the door and Hannah opened it, going inside and tossing her clutch on the table. He closed the door behind him, and she turned to face him. They stared at each other for a moment before suddenly lunging for each other. Their lips crashed together in a fiery kiss, and Hannah moaned as Chase filled his palms with her butt and tugged her into him. She plastered herself to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He was hardening against her already, and she gave an inward smile of satisfaction when she felt it.

He plunged his hands into her hair and angled her head the way he wanted it, running his tongue over her lips, seeking entry. She opened immediately, gasping into his mouth as she felt his tongue rub against hers. He tasted her over and over, and Hannah felt like her blood was boiling in her veins.

And he hadn’t even really touched her yet.

She felt like she was going to explode if he didn’t get his hands on more of her, and she wanted her hands on him, as well. Especially the hard dick straining against her belly. She couldn’t wait to see with her eyes just how impressive it was.

With that in mind, Hannah broke the kiss and peeled her body away from his. Backing away, she ignored his protest and reached behind her, pulling her zipper down. His protests died in his throat and he watched her without blinking, every bit of his intense focus on her.

She smiled at him, hoping it came off as sultry, and reached up, placing her fingers lightly on the straps of her dress. His lust filled eyes followed her every movement closely, and it made her feel powerful and wanted.

She pulled her straps down slowly, revealing herself inch by agonizing inch. First her lacy black bra, then her smooth belly, and finally, her high-cut matching panties. She dropped the dress to the floor and stepped out of it, feeling a moment of crippling uncertainty, worried he wouldn’t like what he saw.

But then he let out a strangled groan, and when she got the courage to look into his eyes, they were filled with so much heat, she could feel it singeing her, the flames from that look licking up her skin. She smiled, her confidence returning, as she trailed her fingers along her belly.

She bent down to take off her shoes, but Chase stopped her.

“Leave the heels on,” he told her, voice hoarse and gravelly.

She smiled as she straightened up, and then gasped as he moved forward quickly, reaching her in two long strides. He grabbed her ass again and lifted her up so she had to wrap her legs around his waist. He nipped her lower lip, hard, before plunging his tongue back into her mouth.

Their tongues dueled as Hannah writhed, unable to stop herself from rubbing against him, needing some kind of pressure against her aching sex.

“Fuck,” Chase cursed as he yanked his mouth away from hers, panting. “Bedroom? Where’s the bedroom?”

“Back that way,” she replied breathlessly, flinging her hand in the direction of the hallway, still chasing the friction she craved.

“That’s real helpful,” he said with a strained laugh as he walked to the hallway.

He peeked into the open bathroom and the guest room before striding quickly to the only door left. He walked in and set her on the bed, and then stepped back to tear his clothes off.

Literally. Hannah heard a few buttons ping against the floor. He had a white t-shirt on underneath, and he quickly yanked it over his head. Hannah drank his chest in, marveling anew at how sculpted and powerful his pecs and abs were.

But it was when he kicked off his loafers and reached for his belt buckle that her breath caught in her chest. Everything in her went on alert as she sat up straighter, already straining for a glimpse. She’d wanted to see all of him for so long, and she was finally about to get her wish.

Chase tore open his belt and opened his pants, hissing out a breath as he eased the zipper past his straining dick. Once he had it open, he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his boxers and slacks, and pushed them both off in one go.

Hannah’s eyes widened and the breath rushed out of her body as she stared at him, completely naked. He was beautiful. Maybe beautiful wasn’t the right word to use when describing a man, but he really was. His thighs were big and powerful, and his calves were strong. She even liked his feet, and she’d always thought feet were kind of gross.

She forced her eyes up to the part of him she’d suddenly become too shy to look at. She’d been bold when she stripped for him, and she needed to find that boldness again—

Every thought left her mind in a poof of magician’s smoke when she saw him for the first time. He was huge, far larger than anyone she’d been with before. His cock jutted proudly upward, incredibly long and impossibly thick, and he had mouthwatering veins she wanted to trace with her tongue.

Oh, that was going to feel so good inside her.

Chase moved to the bed, and she laid back as he knelt over her. He kissed her passionately before trailing his mouth over to her ear, sucking her lobe and biting softly. She arched her back, pushing her hips into his as electricity shot straight to her middle.

He softly kissed his way down her throat to her collarbone and trailed his mouth to the center of her chest, his restraint evident, his arms shaking as they held him up over her.

He licked a path down her cleavage and Hannah moaned at the resulting fire that heated her blood. Chase pulled her up and reached behind her, quickly unsnapping her bra and pulling it off. He inhaled swiftly at his first sight of her, and cursed softly under his breath.

“Fucking hell, you’re gorgeous,” he growled, his eyes lightening to an almost feral yellowish shade, before he leaned down and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth.

Hannah let out a moan as he bit down lightly, rolling her nipple around between his tongue and teeth as Hannah pushed her hips up into him again.

The sensations, the heat, were almost unbearable. She’d never known her breasts were so sensitive.

He trailed his other hand down her belly and without hesitation, plunged it into her panties, cupping her mound. She slammed her head back against the pillows, her eyes rolling back into her head as he immediately slipped his fingers inside, finding her swollen nub and circling it with the calloused pads of his fingertips.

She loved the texture of his hands, rough from years of working his farm. She always thought the softer the better for such a sensitive area, but damned if he wasn’t proving her wrong with every stroke of his fingers. He switched his attentions from one nipple to the other, and began rubbing faster circles around her clit. Her head thrashed on the pillow at the overwhelming dual sensations.

“Chase… yes, God yes. Don’t stop.”

He didn’t. If anything, he upped the intensity, slipping a finger inside her as his thumb took over on her clit. Then he eased another finger inside and curled them up, finding the spot she’d always thought was a myth, at the same time he pressed down on her clit with his thumb. She exploded instantly, her insides clenching tight around his fingers, and she cried out with the force of her orgasm. It felt like it lasted forever, and she fought for breath, her body tense with the spasms rolling through her.

She opened her eyes, still panting, to see Chase smiling cockily at her. She felt the urge to wipe that smug grin off his face, but hell, he’d earned the right to be smug right now.

She decided to make it disappear a different way, and she pushed him back enough that she could hook her fingers in her panties and pull them off. She watched with satisfaction as he let out a strangled curse as his eyes glazed over.

She’d waxed today. Everywhere. All that was left was a small landing strip, and apparently, it was enough to knock Chase stupid.

Her pleased smile was replaced by a fresh wave of passion when he pushed her legs open more and settled between them.

“Do you have any condoms?” he pushed out in a voice desperate and gritty.

“I’m on birth control,” she assured him before pausing. “I understand if that isn’t enough for you. I’m okay with—”

Her voice abruptly cut off and she gasped as he plunged into her without warning.

Fucking hell, he felt amazing. She didn’t curse much, let alone used that particular word, even in her thoughts, but if there was ever an occasion that called for it, this right here was it.

She was stretched deliciously around him. It had been a long time for her, was almost too much and she felt almost too full, but it felt good. He was holding himself still, giving her time to adjust, but while she appreciated it, it wasn’t necessary.

She wanted to feel it all, even if what she felt was a little uncomfortable.

With that in mind, she wrapped her legs around his waist, hooking her feet, still encased in heels, at the small of his back, and moved her hips, encouraging him to move with her. He sucked in a breath and pulled out slowly, so slowly she swore she could feel every vein and ridge on his cock, and then slammed home again.

She couldn’t have held in her moan if she tried. Her blood was molten lava, and she was going to melt into a puddle right underneath him. Bucking her hips up into his, she lost control, causing him to curse and move faster and harder, like he was losing control, as well.

Their lovemaking turned frenzied, both of them unable to hold back any longer. Chase was thrusting into her hard and fast, and Hannah thrilled at the sound of their bodies slapping together.

It didn’t take long before she felt her core tingle and tighten in preparation of letting go again.

“I can feel it,” he gritted out between pants. “Let go, Hannah. Let me feel you fly apart in my arms. I want to feel you coming around my cock.”

His gritty words pushed her over the edge, and she obeyed, her body splintering apart with the force of her orgasm. She felt Chase stiffen moments later before he gave in as well, and the pulsing of his body as he released his warmth inside her set fireworks off in her mind as her body soared to new heights.

Chase buried his face in her neck, his hips still rocking slowly as he came back down from his orgasm. Hannah held him tightly as she fought for breath, her body still tingling with pleasure.

Good gravy, she’d never in her life imagined sex could feel like that. It was better even than romance novels made it out to be. She loved reading them, but she always scoffed at the sex scenes, all of it seeming a little too intense and mind blowing to be real, and she’d thought authors had hella good imaginations to come up with crap like that.

She now knew it could be that intense and mind blowing. Maybe it was just Chase, but it could be. She’d never read a sex scene the same way again.

Chase pulled out of her gently and collapsed on his back beside her, pulling her into his arms.

“I’m sorry. I planned to take my time when I finally got you in bed. I’ve been fantasizing about you for years, so I’ve had plenty of time to plan. I didn’t mean for it to be over so quickly.”

Hannah kissed his chest before laying her cheek back down. “It was perfect, Chase. Everything about it was absolutely perfect, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Good,” he replied, rubbing his hand up and down her back. “Because neither would I.”