Epilogue
Several years later…
“Kane? Kane!”
“Hmmm?” He frowned, tugged from sleep by the sound of Elise calling his name. Yawning, he opened his eyes and blinked at the brightness of the bedside lamp. A quick glance showed it was still dark outside, definitely not time to get up. “Is something wrong?”
Elise was propped up on one elbow, her hand on his chest. “That’s what I want to know. You were mumbling to yourself, tossing and turning. It woke me up.”
“Sorry.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I was dreaming.”
“A good dream or a bad one?” She stroked his cheek, concern in her voice.
He turned to press his lips to her palm, her touch always affecting him. “A bit of both.”
“Oh. Do you want to talk about it or is it top secret Alpha stuff?”
He chuckled. “You know there are no secrets between us.”
“Just checking.” She grinned at him.
“Sneaky wench.” He pulled her closer so she was lying on top of him. “Did I mention I love that about you?”
“Not in so many words but there is definitely evidence to support your statement.” She wiggled against his growing erection and he groaned in appreciation.
“Keep that up and we won’t be getting back to sleep anytime soon.”
“Well, if you’re too tired…” Her voice trailed off as she began to slide off him but he held her in place.
“I’m never too tired for my mate.” He flipped them over so she was pinned beneath him and then brushed the hair from her face and stared deeply into her eyes.
His love for her grew each day. She completed him, kept him grounded, balanced his sense of duty by reminding him he was more than just an Alpha. He was a father, a mate, a lover, a friend. He kissed her softly, tenderly, then with growing passion.
“The pups?” Elise pulled away.
He glanced at the door that separated their suite of rooms from their children’s. Recently, his son had taken to getting up during the night. Some preventive measures seemed prudent.
“Just a minute.” He left the bed and flicked the lock on the door.
“Good solution.” Elise smiled her approval.
“I’m Alpha for a reason.” He smirked as he joined her once again.
Soon they were lost in the throes of passion, the soft rustling of bedding, murmured words and stifled cries becoming the soundtrack of their love. Branding kisses and tender touches, gentle nips and masterful strokes; he brought them to trembling need before easing into her, rumbling in pleasure as her warmth encased him.
“You’re so beautiful, Elise.” Braced on his arms, he stared down at her, watching as she bit her lip and her eyes lost their focus.
“And so are you.” She arched her back, her nails scoring his skin, marking him with proof of the heights to which only he could bring her.
“Alphas aren’t beautiful. We’re rugged, strong, tough...” He emphasized each word with a slow stroke before pausing, holding himself still, enjoying the feel of her heat surrounding him.
“I changed my mind. You’re a teasing bastard.” She gasped the words.
He grinned before giving her a kiss. His mate, his love; he could watch her writhing beneath him forever, however his self-control was slipping. Giving in to his own need, he began to move, increasing the pace of his thrusts, going deeper, striving to blend them into one.
He drove them to the edge of exquisite tension, and then, after drawing out that perfect moment as long as possible, pushed them over so they touched the stars and exploded in a burst of sensual gratification.
Hearts pounding, sweat sheening their bodies, they drifted in a haze of satisfaction, languidly stroking each other, enjoying the closeness that came after sex.
Eventually, he sighed and rolled over, tucking Elise to his side and pulling up the covers as the night air chilled their dampened skin.
“You never did tell me about your dream,” Elise murmured as she drew an idle pattern on his chest.
“I didn’t?” He gave a lop-sided grin. “You distracted me as I recall.”
“Mmmm…It never takes much to distract you.” She gave a soft laugh. “But the dream…?”
“It was about the first time I saw you.”
“At my father’s house? I remember walking into the room and seeing you. You were gorgeous with your dark hair and broad, muscular shoulders but the look you gave me…” She shivered. “It was as if you were stripping me naked and it turned me into a nervous wreck!”
“Really? I didn’t notice,” he replied tongue-in-cheek. “But the fact is, I’d been fantasizing about you already.”
“What do you mean?” She turned so she was looking him in the eye.
“I saw you at a movie theatre a few months earlier.”
“You never told me that!”
He shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it for ages. For some reason my mind dredged it up tonight.”
“Maybe it’s that article Lycan Link wants to do about you.”
“Could be.”
“Well, whatever the reason, I want to hear the story first before it gets spread all over the world.” She pinned him a stern look. “Spill the beans, Mr. Sinclair.”
“Yes ma’am!” He gave her a mock salute, then hitched himself up against the headboard.
Giggling, she snuggled against his side.
He stared down at her, tracing her features with the tip of his finger, memories of a day long ago filling his mind once again. “It all started when I was at the movie theatre and saw the most beautiful girl in the world…”
~FIN~