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His gaze centered on hers, and she smiled. He told himself he hadn’t known her long, but what little time they’d been together with all their wild adventures just showed him that he sure wanted to be with her more. Though maybe not on those kinds of adventures in the future. More like running as wolves tonight, preparing and sharing a meal together, fishing, scuba diving—just fun things.

He slid his hand down her belly to her waistband, and she held her breath in anticipation. He slipped his hand under her waistband, his fingers sweeping over her short, curly hairs, until he found the dewy softness between her feminine folds. Her body was definitely ready for him, but he couldn’t consummate the relationship or he would be mated to her for life. He ran his finger over her nubbin and began to stroke.

She quickly slid her pajama shorts down her hips, and he removed them the rest of the way. Then he was back to stroking her feminine nub, hoping he was doing it the way she liked best. She arched her back, pressing herself harder against his finger, wanting more. She was tense as he rose up to kiss her mouth again, his finger keeping contact with her, stroking, bringing her to climax.

He could tell she was about to come, and he quickly covered her mouth with his as she cried out against his lips, their tongues stroking hard, her arms wrapping around him tight and holding him there for a long moment. “Oh God,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you caught me.”

He thought she meant about muffling her cry so William and Anne wouldn’t hear her. But then she said, “The fishhook.”

He smiled and kissed her nose. “That was the best fishing I ever did. Definitely the catch was a total keeper.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” She pushed him onto his back and removed his briefs, which was a bit of a struggle because he was fully aroused. She smiled and threw the covers aside. She began stroking him, making him feel as though he’d gone to heaven.

In the worst way, he wanted to enter her and consummate the relationship, mate her with his heart and soul. But he could be impulsive at times, and he wondered if she was too.

Right now, she was stealing every thought he had from him, and all he could do was smell her beautiful she-wolf scent of flowers and sweet wine, of sex and pheromones that were still through the roof, telling them to do it, to mate, to go all the way.

She leaned over to kiss him and continued to stroke him all the way to the end. He was absolutely in ecstasy as he climaxed and pulled her against him, wanting the intimacy to continue between them after what they’d shared.

Then he rolled over with her in his arms and out of bed to avoid messing up the sheets and carried her to the bathroom. Finishing up in the shower only added to the sensual pleasure he’d experienced with her so far.

***

The next morning, Maisie woke to see Robert smiling at her. He kissed her forehead and then her mouth. “No regrets,” she said, “in case you’re worrying about it.”

“I definitely have no regrets. I’m glad you have none either. You are sure nice to wake up to.”

“Hmm, I feel the same. I didn’t disturb you by cuddling with you during the night?”

“No, it was really nice.”

She sighed. “Same here.” Better than nice.

They smelled ham and eggs cooking in the kitchen, and she pushed her covers aside, got up, and began getting dressed. “Anne is up making breakfast for us. I should help her, then after we eat and clean up, we’ll make breakfast for our guests.”

“Can I help at all?” Robert looked perfectly happy to stay in her bed, which she loved.

“No. Stay in bed and continue to look sexy, but I won’t be able to come back to bed with you.”

He chuckled and got out of bed.

“Or,” she said, eyeing his package, “you can getoutof bed and look sexy.” She gave him a quick hug. “See you in a few minutes.”

Before she changed her mind and returned to bed with him, she left the bedroom and joined Anne in the kitchen. “Where’s William?”

“He’s out looking around the property for any other clues of what had happened.” Anne served up their breakfast. “What about you and Robert?”

“Hmm, it was good.”

“I heard the guys talking about the case last night.” Anne poured cups of tea for them.

“I meant to ask Robert what they had talked about, but we didn’t do a whole lot of talking once he joined me in bed.”In truth, Maisie had totally forgotten about it, which was really unusual for her.

Anne smiled. “I’m not surprised. I would have been worried about the two of you if all you’d done was talked about the case. What about Jude’s phone?”

“Nothing on it except he was dating a woman named Chelsea. Nothing connecting him to Gus or mentioning coming out to the inn or harassing me.”

Anne shook her head. “Figures we wouldn’t discover anything.”