Last night had been amazing and intense and overwhelming, not that anyone had made me feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. The exact opposite, actually. They’d all acted like I was a part of the family already. Kind of like Nick was my husband, congratulating him when they thought I wasn’t watching or listening.

I’d never experienced anything like it. Or like the way Nick had fallen on me once we’d been alone, his mouth hot and insistent against my skin, sliding down my body and licking me into orgasm before I’d even had a chance to close the bedroom door. It was a good thing he had wide shoulders, because they’d been the only thing holding me up by the time he’d finished having his way with me. Unfortunately, his control was firmly back in place and he had been immune to my wriggling and pleading, distracting me with his wicked hands and equally talented tongue.

I knew I shouldn’t be complaining, I was sure it was every woman’s wet dream to have a man devoted to her pleasure. But I was about ready to chain him to a wall and climb him like a tree. What did he want from me, a damn proposal?

Frustrated and horny as hell, I stomped down the corridor and out to the pool. Zara had taken Alex out for the day somewhere, citing that I needed—and deserved—a day off. She probably hoped I’d spend it in bed with a certain someone, but he was nowhere to be found either. My phone beeped and I slid it out of my pocket, thumbing it open, distracted by a commotion over by the patio area. What was going on?

My phone beeped again and I glanced down.

The agency had finally messaged. Scrolling through the usual chatter, I found my answer. They had another job for me, if I wanted it. Back stateside. Like I’d requested weeks ago. I continued scrolling and a message flashed up.

I think I just threw up in my mouth. Swallowing back the bile, I re-read the message from Tony. A ring? Hinting? Where the hell had he got that idea from? All I’d wanted was for him to stop treating me like shit and be honest with me. Turns out honest meant catching him with his dick in another woman’s mouth. He’d tried to make out like it was nothing, but really, there wasn’t much he could say. His deodorant was in her bathroom and his clothes in the laundry basket.

It didn’t mean anything… Well, it had meant something to me! Everything. Claire had been my best friend. I’d popped over to pick up a top she’d borrowed from me and found out our tastes were more similar than I’d thought.

I jabbed the reply button so hard, the phone nearly bounced out of my hand. Tapping away furiously, I barely noticed my hands shaking, only the vibration of the screen before my eyes giving it away.

I hit send and took a deep breath, sliding the phone back into my pocket while I wrestled my emotions back under control. The anger was still there, but it was driven by the sharp pain of betrayal and not the heat of vengeance. When I thought of Claire, my heart hurt. Physically hurt, dammit. But, Tony? I made myself remember him, remember our time together, the man himself. I pulled up a mental image of him, his crooked smile, mouth a touch too small for his face. The way he’d grown a goatee to hide his softening jaw. How he’d looked slobbing on the couch with a beer in his hand, grunting in answer to my questions.

I felt … nothing. Absolutely, amazingly, awesomely—and yes, that was now a word, my favorite—nothing!

Because when I thought of home, of a man in my life, of his face and smile and his goddamn chin, it was Nick.

Just Nick.

Hot awesomesauce with extra cheese! I was cured!

And I couldn’t find the man to tell him. To jump his bones and promise him anything he wanted. To tell him that I lo—

The commotion silenced and the crowd parted, revealing Nick. I took a step forward, my smile already stretching my lips. He stood, his arms around someone, helping them to stand.

I ground to a halt, jaw dropping. Whoa. Naked skin. Lots and lots of naked skin. Nick was butt naked and … and … my eyes couldn’t stop staring as I memorized every inch of him. And I mean every inch. It had been a while since I’d seen him naked. Not since our first meeting, actually. Then it clicked, the whole scene shoving my hormones aside and demanding I pay attention. The person in his arms—the woman—she was naked too. And she was clinging to him. Plastering herself over his naked body, her arms around his waist and head against his chest. My chest.

No. No, no, no! It didn’t mean anything. They could have fallen. Been swimming. Practicing naked kung-fu, for all I knew. And then she dropped to her knees and pressed her face against his thigh, virtually rubbing her cheek against his crotch. Okay, not quite on his crotch, but it was damn close. Too close. Especially with the amount of … inches he was exposing right now.

A strangled noise broke free from my throat and his head whipped around.

Damn, were his eyes glowing?

“Tahlia!” He followed my gaze, promptly removing the woman from his crotch area and passing her to one of the bystanders, then strode toward me.

I didn’t think; I ran. Swallowing back the tears, I fled through the palace, darting into my room and slamming the door. Backing away from it, I waited, riveted to the spot. He would follow. He would spout excuses and lies. Try to explain. Make everything okay. But—

“Tahlia?” He didn’t even bother to knock, just strode in like he owned the damn place.

Which … I supposed he did. I swallowed the bitter laughter before it had chance to choke me and took a step back.

He froze. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“It never is.” I nearly choked on my bitter laugh, my hands tightening where they’d wrapped around my waist.

He shoved a hand through his hair, knuckles turning white as he tugged on the strands. He clamped his mouth shut, eyeing me with sensible caution.

“Let’s have it then.” I waggled my fingers at him, fixing my eyes on his face, despite their overwhelming desire to go lower. How the hell was I meant to have this conversation with him standing there letting it all hang out?

“She’s a member of my … court,” he eventually said.

“And you’re okay with the members of your … court getting on their knees in front of you?” I mocked his earlier hesitation, then screwed my face up. “No, wait, getting naked and on their knees, I meant,” I muttered.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“So you keep saying,” I shot back. “What was she doing down there?” I almost groaned. I couldn’t believe I’d actually asked that.

“I was comforting her and she was showing her appreciation.” Every word out of his mouth sounded like it had been forced, his eyes begging me to understand.

But I didn’t. How could I? “What, by sucking your dick?” My attempt at crudeness didn’t have the required effect, his eyes widening and startled laughter erupting.

“No. Never.” The force and conviction that he put behind each word had me wavering.

“Then … what?” Please explain it to me, so I don’t have to accept that you’re just another asshole…

“I would never cheat on you, I swear it, min älskling.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped, near breaking point. He’d moved closer, the devious barbarian asshole, his eyes beseeching me to listen. To believe him.

“I would never cheat on anyone. I think it’s uncalled for.” At my glare, he stopped moving. “If someone wanted to be with someone else, then they should be honest. Then they can move on.”

“And do you?” The words were out before I could wrench them back.

“No. You’re the only one for me.” His hand cupped my face, gently, as if I might break. Or bite him. Or knee him in the balls. Hey, a girl had options, and a man should always be wary of a woman scorned. “You’re it for me, Tahlia. The end of the road. My one and only. I won’t ever move on.”

He hesitated, and the foolish girl that I was couldn’t help but ask, “What?”

He took a deep breath, his jaw firming and eyes flashing with something I couldn’t decipher. “You’re my mate.”

“Your what?” I shook my head. “Is that a Swiss thing?” I still hadn’t taken the whole kneeing him in the balls option off the table, but his answer had thrown me.

“No, it’s a wolf thing.”