Page 28 of Howl for Me (Moonlight Magic Studios #1)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Johnny

The second I hear the car engine, I’m already heading toward the front door, pretending I wasn’t just pacing like some love struck fool. I catch my reflection in the hallway mirror on the way and snort at myself. Jesus. If I had a tail, I’d be wagging it like a goddamn idiot.

She steps out of the car, hair pinned up, sunglasses pushed back, script binder clutched under one arm. She makes her way up the driveway and I can’t take my eyes off of her. God, look at her. My mate.

She finally looks up and sees me. Her face lights up in this easy, familiar way, like she expected me there all along. She steps right into me, kisses me quick, a press of lips, then walks past, already slipping off her shoes and dropping her bag by the table.

“Long day?” I ask, following her inside.

She exhales through a tired laugh. “You could say that.”

I close the door behind us, then catch her by the waist and pull her in slowly. Her back settles against my chest and my arms slide around her middle. She relaxes into me without hesitation. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.

“I had the pleasure of working with your favorite today.” She murmurs.

I groan. “Please don’t say who I think you’re about to say.”

“Oh, it’s exactly who you think.” She turns in my arms, eyes sparkling with wicked delight. “Frankie Fountain herself.”

A full-body shiver runs down my spine. That woman’s scent is like napalm. I still cringe at the thought.

Cassidy leans close, presses her chest into mine with a slow grind and whispers, “Actually, I think there might still be a little of her ‘fountain’ right here…”

I stumble back, horrified. “Cass, what the fuck!”

She pounces, dragging me down with her as we fall in a heap onto the living room rug. She’s laughing, straddling me, her hands on my chest, her body warm and alive against mine.

“Come on,” she teases, rubbing her chest against me again. “Don’t you miss it? Come on, take a sniff.”

“Stop,” I choke, half-laughing, half-gagging. “You’re going to give me PTSD.”

She presses her forehead to mine, still breathless with laughter. I settle beneath her, my hands squeezing her ass as I drive my hips up into her. She laughs again and the sound always warms my chest.

“You’re evil,” I whisper, kissing the corner of her mouth.

“You love it.”

I meet her eyes. There’s something quieter in them now. The room stills. My hands drift down to her waist, then slide under her shirt to splay across her stomach.

“I do,” I murmur. “I love you.”

She goes quiet. Her eyes flicker, because I haven’t said the words out loud yet. Not really.

“I love you too.”

She kisses me, sweet and open, and something in my chest finally exhales and bursts all at once. But my hand doesn’t leave her stomach.

“You think there’s a chance?” I ask softly.

She doesn’t play dumb. She knows exactly what I mean. Her eyes drop to where I’m touching her.

“It’s only been a week,” she says. “I don’t know yet.”

“I feel like I robbed you sometimes. You have your whole career taking off and now..”

“And now what?” she interrupts, covering my hand with hers.

“Johnny, If I’m pregnant, it won’t change a thing.

I can have it all. You make me feel like I can have it all.

The career, the baby, you. The only thing this changes is that we have a family.

I never thought I would ever want that, but I do. ”

I search her face. “You sure?”

She nods. “I’m not scared either. At first, I felt like I should be, but I can’t force myself to feel that way. It all just feels right. Like fate.”

My throat tightens, and for a second, I can’t speak. I just look at her; this woman who walked into my life and turned everything upside down.

“I’ve never had anything feel right before,” I say, my voice low, rough with emotion. “Not the pack. Not the studio. Not even myself.”

I slide my hand along her cheek, brushing my thumb across her lips.

“But you?” I whisper. “You feel like the only thing that’s ever made sense. If you are pregnant then our baby is the luckiest in the world. Because you’re the strongest, smartest, most impossible woman I’ve ever known. And I swear on everything I am, I’ll protect you both with my life.”

She exhales shakily, and I feel her heart beating hard under my palm. Then I kiss her like it’s a vow, because it is. My mate. My everything.