“Get naked. Now.”

“You’re awfully bossy,” I said with a delighted laugh as I yanked my shirt over my head and kicked out of my black combat boots and pants. My bra and panties quickly disappeared in a frenzy of groping hands and toe-curling kisses. My inner wolf was a very happy camper.

“You’re so damned sexy,” Hank muttered with a wide grin and lust filled eyes. He stalked me like prey and backed me into the corner of our living room.

My stomach clenched with excitement. It was so freakin’ hot I was pretty sure I had a mini orgasm before he’d even touched me.

“Come and get me, Big Bad Wolf,” I challenged.

He didn’t need a second invite. Hank plastered his rockin’ hot body against mine and I sighed happily. He was my home. Sometimes when we were together like this, I forgot where I began and he ended. It was like we were one single being

“I am so in love with you,” I whispered against his lips.

“Right back at ya, baby,” he said running his hands over my body with such reverence and need, I giggled.

Hank pulled back, cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes playfully. “You think this is funny, little missy?” he asked with a chuckle as he scraped his fangs along my neck sending a shudder of desire shooting through me.

“Hilarious,” I purred as I greedily skated my hands over his broad chest and ridiculously defined abs.

My fangs descended and I felt my eyes turn icy blue with desire. The cinnamon scent of lust unique to Werewolves laced the air. Our breathing became labored as Hank’s hands molded my breasts and sent happy zings of pleasure through me.

“Wait,” I choked out, squishing Hank’s face in my hands. “Should we be doing this?”

Hank’s utter confusion and smooshed face almost made me forget my point. His massive erection didn’t help either.

“Is someone here?” Hank demanded, glancing around wildly. “If they are, I can just kill them real quick. Not a problem. Well…” He paused and tried to get his lust-addled brain to work. “I won’t kill your parents… or my parents… or any of our friends. But if it’s Junior, I’ll do some major damage.”

“No one’s here,” I assured him. “It’s just that…”

“What?” he asked, calming down and pressing his forehead to mine.

“How can we have sex when the world is falling apart? I mean, we might cause a Zombie freakin’ apocalypse in the next few days.”

Hank sighed and smiled. Taking my hand in his, he led me to the couch and pulled me down on his lap. Gently running his hand through my hair, he pressed my head to his chest.

“Do you hear my heart?” he asked quietly.

“I do.”

“Do you know what it’s saying?”

I smiled and peeked up at him. “Probably the same thing my heart is saying.”

“And that would be?” Hank asked with a lopsided grin that made my insides melt.

“My heart says it loves you.”

“As does mine, baby,” Hank said, pulling me closer. “Tomorrows are never guaranteed. The world will always be a beautiful and horrible place at the same time.”

“Shouldn’t we be solving the horrible part?” I questioned, feeling guilty.

“We are,” Hank replied, kissing the top of my head.

“We are?”

“Yep. We’re solving the horrible by making it more beautiful. There is nothing in my life more beautiful than you and the way I love you, Essie.”

I was quiet for a moment as I made little circles with my finger on Hank’s chest.

He was right. Again.

And it was a dang relief… I was some serious horny.

“You ready to get back to business?” Hank inquired politely as his hands began to wander.

“I believe that can be arranged.”

I straddled the love of my life and feathered his face with kisses. However, it got serious fast.

“How does this keep getting better?” I moaned as Hank’s open mouth made its way from my neck to other overheated places on my body.

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Hank muttered as his mouth took possession of my breast.

My body tingled and I arched my back, wantonly begging for more attention. Tangling my fingers in his dark hair, I held on for dear life as his hands joined the party. I was the happiest rag doll alive. Every part of me was weak with insane desire. His talented fingers found my most sensitive spot. An explosion of lust claimed me and I came with a scream.

“So fucking gorgeous,” he whispered.

Aftershocks continued to rock through me as Hank gently laid me on the couch.

Hank’s touch went from wild to careful. My lover stroked every inch of my still trembling body. His hands led and his mouth followed. Every part of me tingled with delight as he nipped and kissed his way down my body.

“Wait,” I gasped out as my hips undulated under his expertise. “It’s your turn now.”

“Baby, if you so much as look at my dick, this will be over,” Hank said with a sexy laugh that I felt right down to my toes. “Not that I don’t love a blow job, but I plan to come inside you.”

“Sounds like a solid plan,” I said on a shriek as his fingers did magic on me that set me right on the edge of another orgasm. “Pun intended.”

His laugh made me so happy that I almost felt guilty again. But he was right. Our love was a beautiful thing. I loved him more than I thought it was possible to love anyone. I was so lucky… and so was he.

“Forever,” he whispered as his eyes blazed such an intense crystal blue, my breath caught in my throat.

“Forever,” I promised.

He plunged into my welcoming body, filling me completely. His thrusts were deep and wild. My legs wrapped around his strong body and I joyously met each thrust with abandon. It was every kind of perfect.

“Bite me,” I begged as I felt myself begin to go over the edge.

Arching, I offered him my neck.

“Together,” he hissed as his eyes hooded with desire and our lovemaking turned frantic.

My fangs sunk into his neck as his sunk into mine. The pleasure was so immense I was sure I would black out… or possibly die. However, death by sex would be a great way to go. Hank’s shout of ecstasy was all I needed to fly to places I could only go when he was inside me. My need for him increased to the point of absurd.

“Are we dead?” I choked out as powerful aftershocks continued to rock through me.

“Nope,” Hank said with a very, very satisfied grin. “But we could try again and see if we live through it.”

I didn’t even have to think.

“I’m in.”

“That’s my girl.”

“What does one wear to greet a Demon and his jailbird pappy?” I asked as I pulled outfit after outfit out of my closet.

“Armor?” Hank suggested as he slid the enhanced crime scene photos back into the black briefcase the Bobs had given us.

We’d spent most of the day dissecting the photos and trying to find a clue. Granny did indeed have x-ray vision, but she wasn’t able to find anything more than we could. But she too felt like something was in the pictures that we were all missing. Dwayne thought we should have Belphegor and Zeernebooch look at them, but none of us felt right about that.

After five long depressing hours, everyone had parted ways to get ready for the party. Dwayne was a bundle of nerves—more so than usual. Even a call from his eight adopted Were Cow daughters did nothing to calm him down.

“Do you think Granny will be safe?” I asked Hank, deciding on a colorful Alice and Olivia patchwork mini-dress with kick-ass combat boots. It was sexy and ballsy. Plus, I could hide several daggers in my boots.

“We’re all going to be there. If something goes wrong, the Demons die,” Hank said in a matter of fact tone.

“Well, that would suck all kinds of butt to have the Underworld on our ass,” I said with a shudder.

“Agreed,” Hank said as he pulled on a sport coat over his t-shirt.

His jeans hugged his ass to the point I really considered suggesting a quickie. However, with us, there was no such thing as a quickie. It was marathon or nothing. I was surprised either of us could walk today.

“Do you want kids?” I asked before I realized the question was going to come out of my mouth.

Hank froze and looked at me strangely.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” he inquired with so much hope in his beautiful eyes I already had my answer.

“Umm… no,” I said with a giggle. “I mean, I know you want kids—and so do I. I was just wondering when you wanted… you know, kids.”

Hank grinned wide and pulled me close. “Considering I want at least ten, we can get started anytime.”

“Duuuude, I am so not blowing out ten little Werewolves. You’re nuts.”

“I’m in love,” Hank countered. “I want ten beautiful little girls who look just like their mama.”

“And what if we have ten little boys that look just like you?” I demanded with a laugh, pushing at his chest.

“Interesting,” Hank said.

“What’s interesting?”

“I didn’t think you wanted ten.” His eyes sparkled and he bit down on his lip to keep from smiling.

“I don’t,” I shouted and punched him in the shoulder. “I was just making the point that we could have boys.”

“I’m good with that,” he said, pulling me toward the door. “How about eight.”

“No.”

“Six?”

“Umm… not unless you can give birth to some of them.”

“Four,” he tried again, lowering the threshold.

“Let’s start with one,” I told him with an eye roll. “Cool?”

“Cool. Wanna start tonight?” Hank asked, waggling his brows.

That sobered me. We couldn’t start tonight. With the jobs we had, I had no clue when we could start our own little family unit. Hank read my mind.

“Soon,” he promised, gently kissing my lips. “Someday soon.”

I nodded and swallowed back the lump in my throat. I probably wouldn’t have even thought about having kids if it wasn’t for Sandy and Junior’s amazing news.

The timing was wrong.

And timing was everything.