Once Natasha was with Jacques, she was at ease and no longer anxious. She was where she wanted to be and with whom she wanted to be with. Even when they talked about their problems together, it never caused her any stress. Talking about her past issues with Jacques was…pure relief.

They’d just finished their deep-dish pizzas with the half empty box sitting on a long beach towel that Natasha always kept in her car. But this time, she wasn’t at the beach alone…she was seated by the lake under a dogwood tree with a hot shifter—the man she looked forward to being with.

“Do you ever wish that you could see your parents again?” she asked him.

Their conversation had gotten pretty deep over the last several minutes.

Jacques took a few long swigs of water and placed the bottle nearby on the grass. “I stopped wishing a very long time ago. The older I grew without them in my life, the more I gave up hope that they would ever come back. I used to tell people that they were dead. I didn’t want to have to keep explaining that I was left behind. Most of my Pack mates know better though. They know I’m a Shalane.”

“Shalane. You used that when you introduced yourself to me.”

“It’s my mother’s surname. The Shalane bloodline is a mix of both shifters and those of the Cherokee wolf tribe.”

“You’re Native American?”

He nodded. “And my father is French.”

“Sounds like your family has a lot of history here.”

“They do. On both sides. My understanding is that most of the Shalane’s who are like me branched out into other regions with every new major change of leadership in Aspen Valley and that includes both humans and shifters.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Many reasons. Maybe personal…maybe political. But maybe it was just time to move on.”

“Will you move on one day?”

He paused and gave her a thoughtful stare. “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. It’s like something is holding me here. There are so many memories, both good and bad, plus I’m a pretty loyal guy to my Pack and anyone here who I would consider a friend.”

“And you always have the opportunity to make more good memories,” she suggested.

“Of course,” he said, his stormy gray eyes seemed to lighten. “Like this one.”

She blushed. “Yes…like this.”

Natasha stared out over the lake at the flock of ducks moving about in the water. With it being a little after one, the sun was highest in the sky, providing just the right amount of warmth and creating a nice backdrop against the surface of the lake. Nothing but fresh breeze floated toward them, reminding her of the peaceful jogs she used to go on along the wooded trails behind her apartment building in Florida.

“Now I understand why you like having lunch out here,” she said.

“I’ve come almost every day except for the times I’ve been out with you.”

She nudged him on the arm playfully. “Well, why didn’t you say so? This is much better than the congestion of the cafeteria.”

He smiled. “Sometimes I need a change of scenery anyway. It’s good for the soul.”

Jacques leaned back against the dogwood and folded his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the sun. Natasha realized that he was more perfect than he realized despite the flaws he claimed to have.

“Can I ask you something really personal?” he inquired while she was stealing glances at him.

“Yes.”

He opened his eyes and turned his full attention toward her. “I don’t think your dad likes me.”

“My dad is suspicious of everyone,” she replied.

“No really. He…ah…let me just put it this way…it’s clear to me that he wants me no where near you.”

“Fortunately, I’m not six years old any more. I talk to who I want.” She shrugged. “He’ll live.”

“I don’t want to upset anyone,” he said.

She smiled. “Well, I’m certainly not upset. Doesn’t that matter?”

“It most certainly does. I know you’ve been through a lot and I’d hate to cause any more stress in your life, especially if you’re getting flak from your parents because of me.”

“Since you and I have been talking, I haven’t been feeling sorry for myself anymore over my breakup. I know that’s kind of personal, but I went through a rough time after realizing that I wasted so much time with him.”

“Did you love him?”

Natasha swallowed and frowned. “Yes. We were almost married.”

“Do you think you could ever be with someone again?”

“Yes. I mean, I hope so. I want to. I don’t want to be alone,” she replied.

“Me either,” he said, quietly. “I never wanted to be alone.”

That’s when it finally dawned on her. Besides those he knew from his Pack, he had no one here. No family. He was practically alone.

“Well you’re not alone anymore, because I’m here,” she said.

As he assessed her with nothing but adoration, his eyes narrowed and his irises turn to vertical slits. His animal had awakened…or maybe the wolf had always been present. Whenever she was with him, it always felt that something else—someone else—was among them. He made her feel safe.

“Yes, Natasha…you’re finally here.”

She did something seemingly out of character for her. She leaned in and kissed him. A gentle press of her lips against him felt like magic to her. She pulled back, a little lightheaded. It was funny how all it took was one touch, one kiss, and she was already craving more of him.

His lips were slightly parted and he blinked once…twice, as though he were in disbelief.

“Sorry…I shouldn’t have kissed you like that.”

“Don’t be sorry for that because…” He slid his palms gently across her cheek and then back to settle on the back of her neck. “…Because now I’m going to kiss you like this.”

Jacques took her lips, moving slowly over hers, breathing in her breath and allowing her breath in his. He coaxed her lips apart and the first brush of his tongue against hers sent butterflies dancing in her belly. From there on out, they put their full efforts into deep, roving kisses. All her senses were focused on the taste of him, the smell of him, the feel of him…

She’d never felt this way before. Not with another man. Not with anyone. This was different. This feeling of blinding attraction and hungry need.

Desire stirred within her and she felt elevated just as if she was on cloud nine. And then she realized that she’d leaned in further and that he pulled her thigh over his legs so that she was half straddling him. The flat of her palm was against his chest and she panted, breathing his animalistic scent in deeply as they kissed. Her leg brushed against his hard length and she moaned against his lips. She imagined what she wanted to do with him. More than this. She needed more than this kiss.

Suddenly, there was a splash in the lake and the ducks fluttered wildly about before they took full flight above the trees. Only then did Jacques and Natasha pull away.

Natasha pressed her fingertips against her lips and slid her heated thigh from over Jacques’s legs. “Oh…”

“I forgot where I was there for a moment,” Jacques exclaimed.

“Me too,” she said, looking around her. They were alone, but she really wouldn’t have cared if they were in an arena full of viewers.

“I really hate to have to go,” he said.

“I know,” she said. “You don’t have to explain. Let me drive you back to work.”

“Sure.”

They both rose with him taking her hands and helping her up. They scooped up the trash, their belongings, and headed to her SUV. It took them all of about a few minutes to reach the Reverie building. The emotion and sexual attraction between them were still thick, especially in the cozy interior of her SUV.

“Thank you for the lunch,” he said when she pulled up next to the front door. “Is it fair to say the next one’s on me?”

She grinned. “Tomorrow. I’ll actually be at work. We can take our food down to the lake again if you like.”

“I’d like that.” He paused for a moment as if he wanted to say something else, but then he grasped the door handle and pushed it open. “Have a great night and see you tomorrow.”

After Jacques left the car, Natasha let out the biggest breath she’d exhaled in a long time.

“God, he’s a good kisser,” she exclaimed to herself.

She daydreamed about his lips on her all the way home.