“Do you know where Ashton Harding lives?” Makayla asked the girl at the gas station mini mart.

“The Harding’s old house is on First Street around the corner from the high school.” The girl went on to explain how to get to the big Victorian house from the filling station while Makayla stood fidgeting in the fluorescent lights.

She walked out into the cool darkness and got back into her BMW. She closed the door and put her hands on the wheel, taking a deep breath. She’d made the decision to come all the way here. It was well after midnight, and she had no idea if Ronan would still be here or if Ashton would know where he had gone.

All she knew was that she was going to find him. She’d made a mistake sending him away like she had. He was probably so hurt that he wouldn’t be willing to open up to her again. Makayla knew about Ronan’s past. She knew he had been hurt terribly when he was young, and her rebuke had probably brought up all his old feelings.

She started the car and drove in the direction the girl had told her to go, her heart pounding all the way. When she found the big Victorian, she parked across the street and stared at the house for a long time. She was terrified to go to the door. What if he was there? Would he be angry? Would he still want her?

Finally, she gathered her courage and opened the car door. Stepping out into the pavement, her heels echoed down the quiet street. She stepped up the stairs on the porch and peeked through the windows. She couldn’t see anything beyond the heavy curtains. She straightened her skirt and took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her ears. She knocked on the door.

No one came. It was really late. She should go, but she saw lights on and could hear music faintly beyond the carved oak door. Someone was awake. The door swung open. Ronan stood before her, obviously drunk, holding a half empty bottle of rum to his chest. Her eyes widened. She’d never seen him like this. His face was red and puffy, his eyes open in slits. He stared at her as if he didn’t quite see her. She covered her mouth, unable to speak.

“Ronan…”

“Makayla. You came.” His voice was slurred and low. She reached out and touched his chest, and he covered her hand with his. “Come in,” he said, almost as if he were expecting her.

She followed silently and took a seat in a leather arm chair in the living room. Ronan smelled strongly of alcohol and so did the entire room. He must have been sitting there getting drunk for some time. For a man who lived in the wild without any human conveniences, he probably hadn’t had a drink in quite a while.

“What brings you back to Mystic Harbor, Makayla?” he said, falling into the couch.

“I changed my mind. Or I had. What’s going on Ronan?”

“Nothing. I’m doing what regular folks do. Drinking away my problems.” His voice was so slurred it was almost incomprehensible.

“Is this because of me?”

“What else would I poison myself over, woman?” he said, his words biting as he shook the bottle at her. He only had on eye open and his mouth was red and swollen.

“Ronan, I’m sorry. I was wrong… I… Maybe I should go,” she said, standing.

“No.” He burst to his feet and dropped the bottle on the hardwood floor. He grabbed her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. He blinked as if trying to focus. “Makayla. I love you. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

He staggered backward and fell on the couch, his head in his hands. “Damn it. I’ve fallen into weakness. I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again after this.”

“Ronan, no. I understand.” She sank to her knees beside him and stroked his hair. “We need to get you into bed. After venison and potatoes for fifteen years, all this alcohol isn’t good for you. Come on.”

She helped him to his feet, and they made their way upstairs until she found what looked like a guest room. Ronan fell face first into the bed and was out almost as soon as he hit the pillow.

Makayla pulled off his boots and drew a blanket over him before she turned off the light and left the room. Out in the hallway, Ashton stepped from a bedroom down the hall.

“He’s a mess,” he said. “I’ve never seen him like this. Well, no. I have, but it was a long time ago and I was a young kid.”

“I know about Nelly.”

“Then you know that Mr. Tough Guy is actually a love-sick boy. And now he’s love sick over you.”

“I made a mistake. I came to make it right.”

“You can sleep in the second guest room right here. He’ll be himself in the morning.”

Makayla got her bag from the car and made herself comfortable in the guest room. She fell asleep, worried about what would happen in the morning. Late in the night, she felt the blankets move and weight sink into the bed beside her. Her eyes flew open as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

“Ronan?” she asked into the darkness.

“Yes,” he said. He smelled fresh and clean like soap and man without a hint of alcohol. His voice sounded completely sober.

“Aren’t you hung over?”

“I’m a shifter. We recover quickly.”

“Oh,” she said as she felt his hand run over her body. She was instantly aroused and laid back in the bed, waiting for him to touch her more deeply.

Still half asleep, she felt as if she was in a dream. Ronan’s fingers flipped open the buttons on her pajamas and found her bare breasts underneath. His wet mouth fell on her skin, and his tongue flicked her stiff nipple.

She sucked in a deep breath as his hand cupped her breast and he pulled her nipple into his mouth, biting gently and then harder. His teeth grazed over her skin as he moved down her stomach.

Makayla’s body inflamed with desire as she held him in her arms. She stroked his hair and ran her hands over his bare broad shoulders. Ronan was totally naked and damp from a shower. She could feel his erection hard against her body as he moved over her.

He sank to her waist and pulled her pajama bottoms down her legs and off her feet. His mouth dipped between her legs and lapped at her slit. His tongue pressed through her folds and flicked over her swollen clit.

Makayla moaned, her legs shaking with excitement. Her pussy gushed moisture as she ran her fingers through Ronan’s shaggy blond hair. His raspy tongue pressed hard against her arousal, moving in tight little circles that brought her to the brink of ecstasy.

“I love you Ronan,” she breathed. With that, he moved up to her mouth, kissing her deeply. She could taste her fluid on his tongue, the taste turning her on even more.

His wet fingers replaced his tongue as he kissed her. They slipped inside her pussy as his thumb moved over her clit. He drew his fingers in and out of her in a tantalizing rhythm that made Makayla groan against Ronan’s mouth.

She could feel herself coming closer to the brink of orgasm. His fingers grazed her desire, and she suddenly shuddered, the flood of pleasure flowing over her body and mind. Her entire body clenched as the pleasure ran through her.

Ronan rolled his body between her legs, his tongue still deep inside her mouth. Makayla clung to him, her body vibrating with desire. She could feel the tip of his cock press against her slick pussy. She took a deep breath as he pushed inside her.

She let out a long moan as his massive manhood filled her, sinking to the base, all the way inside. She panted as her body stretched to accommodate him. Ronan moved his mouth down to her neck, licking and kissing her as if he were starving.

He held her hip with one hand and held himself up with the other as he began to move inside her. Makayla panted his name as his thick cock pushed her into another intense orgasm.

Ronan’s piercing teeth pressed against Makayla’s neck. Before she knew what was happening, he punctured her flesh. His tongue lapped up the blood that ran from her open vein.

Makayla’s orgasm rolled on as he bit down into her and licked up her blood. She couldn’t stop coming, the pleasure just moved over her like waves crashing against the shore.

She could feel something happening inside her, something bigger and greater than the increasingly intense orgasms. She felt a cord like energy form between hers and Ronan’s hearts, their stomachs, their minds, and their sex. They were becoming bonded.

Ronan pulled away from her neck and moaned. His manhood grew harder and wider inside her channel. Makayla trembled with the final throws of orgasm she shared with Ronan as he shot hot jets of seed deep inside her womb.