Jane sensed Reese’s presence, his heavy gaze resting on her as she rocked Connor for the thousandth time. He patiently waited for her to lull him to sleep.

A baby that’d been asleep for ten minutes already.

But could anyone blame her for pretending he still needed attention? Once she laid him in the little crib tucked in the corner of the room, Connor would stay asleep until the early hours of the morning. Which meant the moment she released him, she’d face a whole night without distraction. She’d have uninterrupted time to focus on the worries swirling through her mind.

Reese padded into the room and carefully extracted Connor from her arms. Though he squirmed a little, his soft snores let them know he was still sound asleep.

“You can’t hide in here all night,” Reese whispered and then turned to the crib, gently placing their son down. “He’ll be fine.” He stroked Connor’s back and then returned to her. “You’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

Reese took her hand and she closed her eyes, allowing his warmth to thread up her arm. It soothed her as he tugged her through the door and into the adjoining room. The moment she stepped through, he closed the door behind them, releasing her hand while he leaned against the room’s exit.

“Now, want to tell me what’s going on? You’ve barely said two words since we spoke with the healer.”

Jane nibbled her lower lip, searching for the words to explain her tumbling emotions. The fear, the joy, the panic, the confusion.

The hurt.

It all gushed from her in waves too intense for her to describe with simple words.

“I’m…” She sighed and shook her head. Padding to their bed, she crawled atop the thick mattress. “I’m conflicted.”

“Yeah?” Reese prompted.

She nodded. “I’m thrilled my dad is better. That even if he’s physically different, the healer says he’s well.”

“But?”

“But he might not want to come back? Why?” Jane’s eyes burned, the tears she’d been holding at bay threatening to slide down her cheeks. “Is it because I mated you? Does he still think our son is a half-breed—“ She couldn’t finish the thought.

Silence followed her, the oppressive quiet weighing down on her shoulders.

“He still loves you,” Reese whispered, Jane’s wolf easily helping her hear the words.

She pressed her lips together and shook her head, not meeting his gaze. “That’s not enough, though. “If he can’t welcome you… If he can’t love Connor…”

“Jane.” Reese closed the space between them and crawled onto the bed, not stopping until they were side by side. “I know this is hard for you, but we’re going to face tomorrow together. No matter what it holds. I won’t let him hurt you again. I won’t let anything hurt you ever.”

Reese’s words pushed Jane over the edge and a single tear snaked down her cheek. Her love. Her mate. She wasn’t sure what she did to deserve Reese, but she wasn’t ever going to let him go.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Reese leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “You don’t have to thank me for taking care of you, but if you’d like to show your appreciation…”

He waggled his eyebrows and she rolled her eyes, a chuckle escaping her lips. “Yeah, yeah…”

“What? I’m caring for my mate. You need to rest and relax. Who better than your mate to give you everything you need?”

A dark gleam glittered in her mate’s eyes and she allowed him to lure her from the bed. He led her to the door on the far side of the room, nudging it the moment they were close enough. The door swung into the space beyond to reveal what lay inside. A room lined with mirrors, every angle covered by reflective surfaces, a decadent bathroom she couldn’t wait to explore. A bathroom complete with a glass-enclosed shower big enough to fit the National Circle.

Reese drew her forward, urging her to step around him until his front pressed against her back, his hard body cradling hers. Jane leaned against him, letting him take her weight while she waited for his next move.

She didn’t have to wait long.

In the mirror, she watched as Reese’s rough hands slid around her waist, gliding over her stomach and down until he reached the hem of her shirt. Those talented fingers tugged on her top, urging it to rise and reveal her bare stomach and then the lace of her bra. He retreated a moment, a quick flick releasing her bra and then he was back, urging the straps to slide down her arms. Cool air bathed her breasts, her nipples hardening to firm points with the rush of cold.

He cupped her breasts in his callused hands, thumbs tracing tiny circles around her nipples. She arched into his touch, her body responding to his gentle caresses in an instant as his teasing strokes stoked her need.

Reese rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck for a moment before speaking. “Look at yourself in the mirror. Look at how gorgeous you are.” He scraped his fangs across her bare skin. “So beautiful. So mine.”

Jane shuddered with those few words, her pussy responding to his tone and nearness. Her wolf whined and whimpered along with her, the animal aching to be close to their mate.

“Reese,” his name came out as a whispered moan.

“I’ll give you what you need.” The “eventually” went unsaid. Her mate had a deliciously orgasm-inducing habit of drawing out her pleasure.

His right hand left her breast, palm scratching her stomach as he slid it down her body. He reached the waist of her skirt and teased the taut edge before continuing south. He traveled further, warmth of his touch sinking through the thin fabric. Down past the curve of her belly, he didn’t stop until the heel of his hand rested just above her cloth-covered pussy.

Reese increased the pressure there, touching her and yet not. A curl of his fingers stretched the cloth of her skirt tightly against her thighs until he cupped her center. He rubbed her there in small circles that gave her a seductive tingle but weren’t nearly enough to bring her the ultimate pleasure. It was just enough to tease and hint at what could be.

“You need me here, don’t you?” His voice was hoarse in her ear. She nodded, but apparently that wasn’t what he wanted from her. He increased the pressure, grinding against her until she shuddered in his arms. “Say it, Jane. Say it.”

She trembled once more and eased her hips forward, fighting for more of that blunted pleasure his touch gave her. “Need it. Please.”

“Look at yourself.”

Jane hadn’t even realized she’d closed her eyes, but she opened them then and did as her mate asked. She looked at herself in the mirror—face flushed, nipples hard, her mate’s hand between her thighs…

Her pussy clenched and another sliver of need raced along her nerves. “Need you.”

The hand between her thighs released her, fingers moving to tug and pull on the hem of her skirt. He drew it up her legs, exposing more and more of her body with every tug. Her mate didn’t slow. Not when the first hint of her black silk panties was revealed. Not when her hips came into sight. He didn’t cease until the cloth was bunched around her waist.

“Look at your panties, Jane. Look how wet they are.” Reese made more demands. Demands that went straight to her core. Her clit twitched and center clenched on air. As if it begged to be filled, to be fucked.

Reese’s voice went deep, huskier with an added hint of his wolf’s growl. “Look at how wet you are.” She rocked her hips, rolling them in a silent plea to be touched and stroked, but her mate chuckled in response. “Something you want?”

“You.” She wanted him. Always. “You promised to help me relax.”

He captured skin between his teeth, the pressure of his sharp fangs stinging but not breaking through. The pain added to her need and simply rocketed her desperate craving for him even higher. Her body thrummed with desire for her mate—his touch, his mouth, his cock.

Reese released her shoulder and lapped at the red flesh, soothing the delicious ached he’d caused. That done, he met her stare in the mirror. “I will.”

She couldn’t tear her gaze from his amber eyes, captured by his intent stare. A stare that promised their night would only get better and better. Focused only on her mate, she didn’t realize his hands were busy until his mission was accomplished. He’d ripped the side of her panties, claws slicing through silk, lace and elastic with ease. Then came the tear of cloth, her skirt losing the battle with her mate’s inner wolf.

Both halves of her mate wanted her naked and bared to him.

Jane had no problem with that.

Except instead of touching her, stroking her and playing her body like a maestro until she came, he stepped away. She watched him in the mirror as he slowly went to that massive glass shower and opened the door. He leaned in and turned the levers until water flowed from the rainfall showerhead.

He remained in place until steam coated the glass and drifted over the enclosure walls. The mirrors fogged over, a hint of condensation blurring her sight.

Jane turned and took a half-step forward, anxious to get back to the love play they’d started. “Reese?”

Her mate exited the shower, a wicked grin in place. “Ready for your shower?”

“Only if you’re with me.” She licked her lips, her gaze scanning him from head to toe and back again. Gorgeous. Lickable. Hers.

Reese simply hummed and reached behind him, snaring the fabric of his shirt between his shoulder blades and giving it a tug. His shirt whipped over his head, baring his upper body to her gaze.

The sunlight from the beach had turned his skin a soft bronze, outlining each and every muscle. From the contours of his chest, hard pecs, and stone biceps. Then further south to his eight pack abs and the deeply carved lines at his hips. She loved licking him there, tasting his skin as she made her way to his thick cock…

He flexed as he unzipped his jeans and then sent them falling to the floor in a messy heap. It took every bit of her strength not to drop to her knees and tug his boxer briefs away with her teeth. Then she’d have access to what she—and her wolf—craved.

Jane took a step forward to do just that, but he slowly shook his head. And though he was smiling, she knew better than to disobey. It would be so, so, so much better if she did as he asked.

Not saying a word, she watched him pull his boxer briefs from his hips. They joined his jeans on the ground, revealing his thick length. Already the tip glistened, her mate’s arousal readily evident to her. She licked her lips, anxious to taste him, swallow him.

The little twitch at the corners of his lips told her that he’d read her thoughts. He knew what she craved.

Reese held out his hand, beckoning her to join him. “C’mon, let’s get you relaxed.”

Practically panting with need, she nodded and took his hand once more, following him into the glass enclosure. He stepped beneath the downpour first, liquid caressing his body much like she wanted to do with her hands. Then he was pulling her closer, dragging her beneath the heated spray and the hot droplets slid down her bare body.

Some of her tension vanished the moment the water sluiced over her skin. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to embrace the heat of the feigned rainstorm, to tip her head back and soak the long, strawberry-blonde strands of her hair.

“How did I get so lucky?” Reese whispered and she turned his attention to him, finding him with a bar of soap in his hands, gradually forming lather. His gaze seemed to drink her in, caress her with his eyes while she ached for the touch of his hands.

“I’m the lucky one,” she murmured in return.

“Hmmm… You could be right.” He smirked and winked.

Jane just glared at him. She took a step toward the door, anxious to play this little game he’d started. A low thud echoed off the walls and then his soapy hands were on her, tugging her back beneath the water.

Reese growled, the rumble of his beast vibrating through her. “Did I say you could go anywhere?”

She whimpered and squeezed her thighs together, anxious to sate some of her ever-increasing need. “No. Are you going to punish me?”

He turned her around and slid his fingers into her hair, gripping the strands and urging her to tip her head back to meet his eyes. “Only if you’re a good girl.”

She shivered, body suffused with desire. One so strong and demanding she wasn’t sure how she still managed to remain upright. Her eyelids fluttered closed while she waited for what came next.

Reese’s hand withdrew, releasing her. “Stand there.”

Jane did as he demanded, staying perfectly still while the sprinkling shower continued to blanket her in liquid warmth. She listened as he moved around the shower—bare feet on tile, a splash of water, and then the low whoosh of his breath when he was close once more.

His large hands found her shoulders, palms sliding over her skin with ease while the delicate scent of flowers teased her nose.

“You’re…”

“Bathing you,” he answered before she could finish speaking.

Those two whispered words were followed by the softest of kisses. Reese followed the path of the soap, pausing long enough for the water to rinse away the suds before licking and kissing her.

She kept her eyes closed, reveling in his sensuous attentions. He teased her arms and fingers slowly, methodically, sliding in between hers. A prelude of what they’d soon share—his cock delving into her slick sheath.

Then he returned to her neck, palms gently stroking her throat while his thumbs came up to tease her lower lip. Jane opened her mouth and drew one thumb inside, suckling the single digit in a slow rhythm.

Another hint of what was to come.

She swirled her tongue around his thumb and sucked hard, imagining it was his cock deep in her throat. But he didn’t let her keep playing for long. No, he moved on, taunting her breasts.

He cupped the mounds, tweaking her nipples between thumbs and forefingers. Then he pushed her abundant breasts together, one thumb teasing the spot where they touched. This brought back memories of their first night together over a year ago when he’d slipped his cock between her breasts and…

Reese gently released her and then came the sound of him kneeling on the tile. She kept her eyes closed but could just imagine him there, kneeling with his mouth so close to her pussy. So close it wouldn’t take much to delve into her folds and find her clit. Just one flick of his tongue, maybe two. Jane would fist his hair and ride his mouth, coming as she screamed…

“Jane,” his breath fanned her sensitive skin and his voice added to her fantasy. Then he spoke again, louder this time. “Jane, look at me.”

She didn’t want to look at him—she wanted to come.

A blunted pain added to her burgeoning need, her thigh aching because… Jane forced her eyes open and lowered her attention to Reese. “You bit me.”

He rubbed his cheek over the red spot, nuzzling the mark, and she shivered with the pleasure that followed. “I can stop. I can let you finish on your own.”

She shook her head. “No. No, I…”

He nuzzled her hip next—a soft kiss followed by the flick of his tongue. “You?”

She swallowed hard, unable to remember what the hell she was going to say. His mouth was so close to the center of her need, and his nearness sent her spiraling ache flying even higher. Her body was prepared, ready to bask in the ecstasy of his touch.

“I want to come.”

Reese placed his mouth just above her mound and…hummed. The vibrations traveled through her flesh, just enough to make her core tighten and her toes curl.

“Do you?” he murmured, mouth still in place. “Is that what you want?” He eased slightly lower, every breath ghosting through her closely cropped curls. “Say it again. Say ‘I want to…’”

Instead of repeating that last word, Reese flicked out his tongue. He dipped inside her and found her clit with ease. He tap-tap-tapped the nub and Jane let out a scream. He’d stoked the fire and now he made it burn hotter and hotter.

Her knees went weak and she struggled to find a wall, to use it to keep her from collapsing. Meanwhile that tongue…