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RILEY

We bumped down the dirt road to Cody’s cabin. Had it only been five days since he brought me here last? I was unconscious, then. Kidnapped by the man who the night before saved my life.

The late afternoon sun was bright in the sky, the weather a perfect late summer day. The windows were rolled down, and the breeze caught my hair. I had to keep tucking it back behind my ear, but eventually gave up.

It wasn’t the gorgeous scenery I saw. It was Cody. All Cody. The glorious older man who loved me. He drove with one hand casually atop the steering wheel, the other on my bare thigh. I couldn’t stop staring at him. His dark hair, that trimmed beard I loved. His eyes. Nose. Those broad, strong shoulders.

He’d showered earlier while I grabbed a pair of my dad’s sweats for him to put on. So he was driving bare chested. Bare footed. Bare everything except for the track pants.

“You keep staring at me like that, you’re going to give me a complex.”

“I’m wondering if I should tell you you have a boogie.”

He laughed, but his hand instantly went to his nose. “ What ?”

I laughed, too. “Kidding.”

He growled, but a wink softened it.

I loved both. That deep rumble and the silent praise.

We’d spent the night in my bedroom at Dad’s house, remaining quiet as Dad and the others did their thing with the dead body. Then the house went empty since, I assumed, Dad went to the station. I stayed awake watching Cody heal, knowing I had a second chance with him. I wouldn’t waste it. By morning, he was curled around me, big spoon to little spoon .

Then I finally fell asleep, too, and we slept until noon.

We’d been a mess, me in bloody clothes, Cody covered in it as well. So was the bed.

It was a stark reminder in daylight what had happened.

How close I had been to being killed. I’d have nightmares, I was sure, but I knew Cody would hold me all night. Not in that bed. Hell, no. I doubted I could ever stay there again. I wondered about Dad, too. Would he have a hard time sleeping in a house where a man had been shot?

But it didn’t matter at the moment.

I’d carefully climbed from the bed, so I didn’t wake Cody and showered, dumping my clothes in the trash first. When I came out in my ratty old robe I left behind when I moved to Nana’s, he was up. He was remarkably healed. He’d let me check his body because it was unbelievable–the bullet wound had completely closed up. The wound looked months old rather than twelve hours. We didn’t touch. Or kiss. We definitely didn’t have sex. Maybe it was because it was my Dad’s house, and he could return anytime. Maybe it was because things had changed. They were raw. Like an open wound that had yet to heal .

“You okay, sugar?” Cody broke me from my thoughts. He flicked his gaze from the road to me.

I nodded. “Yeah. Just… it’s a lot,” I admitted.

He took the turn that brought his cabin into view then parked. “Stay right there.” He climbed from his Jeep and came around. When he opened my door, he reached in and undid my seatbelt.

Then he remained, his face right in front of mine. “I love you, sugar.”

Simple. Sincere. Complete.

I smiled. Beamed.

“I love you, too.”

His look softened for a second, then narrowed, and heated. His fingers found my hips and gripped them. “I took your virginity, but I need to fully claim you. The way a wolf claims his mate. That means I’m locked in for life. Are you ready for that?”

My breath caught in my chest.

Was I? It was so hard to absorb. But yes. Yes, I wanted all of Cody. I wanted forever with him.

“Yes.”

“Good. ‘Cause I want there to be no doubts. No questioning. No worrying.” He ran a thumb down the little crinkle in my forehead. Traced it across my lower lip. “You’re mine, Riley Abbott. ”

I took his thumb into my mouth and sucked as the words seeped into me. Into my heart. When I released him, I replied, “And you’re mine.”

“I’m yours.”

Then he kissed me.