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"Ah." That started clicking pieces of the story together in her head. "So these treasure goblins, they were the ones hunting you down, trying to take your fortune."

He nodded. "Now that you know that part, you might as well know the rest of the story: the treasure was theirs to start with. Our pack made a mistake, thinking that it didn't belong to anyone. But it turned out that the treasure was cursed, making us easy targets for the goblins when they came looking for it later on."

A curse didnotsound good.

Mark must have noticed the alarm in her expression because he immediately said, "the curse isn't in effect right now, it's okay. What happened today was a long-awaited result of what happened to my pack ten years ago." He looked out into the trees, where, far in the distance, they could hear the faint sound of howling wolves. "It all ends today. We get to return to ourlives. And you and I ... we get to start ours, if that's what you still want."

It was a lot of information that was thrown at her all at once. Goblins and dragons, as well as presumably other types of creatures. People who could turn into wolves and bears. A cursed treasure. Mark's long-lost pack, returned.

But in the end, even though it was a lot, it wasn't enough to scare Jennifer away. Now that she knew the truth, so many more things started to make sense about Mark and his strange behaviors.

And none of that changed how she felt about him. If anything ... it made her love him more.

For days, she'd been worried about whether it was too soon to fall in love. But after all the craziness that just happened, she didn't want Mark to go another second not knowing how she felt about him. She was ready to hear how he really felt about her.

Jennifer leaned in close, wrapping her arms around Mark's neck. She stared into his dark green eyes, and they glittered like gemstones in the light, curious and so full of love.

She smiled. "I love you, Mark. You being a wolf shifter doesn't change a thing. You're my one and only. No matter what's happened, or what happens in the future ... I want you."

Mark tightened his hold on her, dipping his face closer to capture her lips and breath. She gasped under the ferocity of his mouth, so hungry for her. A wave of heat rose inside her to match him, ready for more. For him to make her his all over again.

"I love you too," he murmured against her lips. "Ever since you came here, I've been drawn to you ... you're the one for me, Jen. You're my mate."

He traced her jaw, rubbing her cheek when she drew back. She didn't know what that meant—to be a wolf shifter's mate. But she had an idea ... and she liked it.

They kissed again, and Jennifer crushed his mouth against hers, eager for more. Just kisses weren't enough.

"Why don't we go clean up first?" Mark said. "I think we'll have a lot more fun that way ..."

Jennifer peeled away from Mark, remembering how he was covered in the blood from various slain goblins, as well as his own, and she gave an embarrassed laugh.

"That sounds like a good idea," she said.

But still, he swooped her up in his arms, carrying her up and into the house.

Chapter 14 – Mark

Mark wanted Jennifer in the shower, and if it hadn't been for the blood, he would have helped himself to her.

Instead, he waited until the water was off. He toweled himself off, and when she turned away, drying her back, he came up behind her, pulling her soft, supple form against his muscular body. The towel fell to the floor between them, and Mark enjoyed the feel of her nakedness pressed against him.

His cock, already hard, pressed between her ass cheeks, where he ground against her. She moaned and arched against him.

"Have I ever told you what an amazing body you have?" Mark said.

"No, but I like where you're going with this ..." Jennifer moaned again when he kissed her neck.

"I love your neck." He ran his hands up her stomach, taking her perfect breasts in his hands. "Your breasts"—he pinched her nipples, and she shivered in his hold—"your nipples."

He kneaded her breasts. slowly working her up from quiet panting to louder moans, cries of eagerness. Just like him, she wanted more ... but Mark was enjoying himself, keeping her at the ready. Now that there were no treasure goblins out there, at least not any that would be coming after him any time soon ... he had all the time in the world. And he planned to take it—starting with spending as much time as he needed to properly worship Jennifer's body.

His wife, his mate, the love of his life.

He wasn't in any rush to have his way with her. They had a whole lifetime of that ahead of them. But now, basking in his victory, their confession of love, he wanted to be slow, careful, to enjoy every moment.

"What else?" Jennifer gasped.

"Mmm." He pushed against her butt again. "Your ass." He released his hold on her breasts, leaving her shivering by the time he was done with her. His hands traveled downward, where he squeezed her thighs. "Your thighs ..." And he spread them apart, a finger roamed in search of the precious territory hidden within. He found what he was looking for, and she gasped, squirming in his hold. "Your clit ..." Slipping his finger further between her folds, a groan escaped Jennifer, turning into a gasp when he found her entrance. He twirled it around the edges before pushing inside. "Your pussy."