Page 53 of Taken by Moonlight

Face to face. Skin rubbing against skin. Nearby, Alex and Gabriel slept on, unaware of what transpired. Our breaths grew harsher as we moved, Dante gritting his teeth in an obvious effort to remainquiet.

Not because he didn’t want to awaken his betas and have them see us. But rather, he simply wanted to allow them torest.

Dante bent his head and whispered into my ear. “I need you Peyton. I need you, damn, I needyou.”

Caught up in the passion, I didn’t ask what he meant. We moved together as one, my heart tangled in knots as he lifted me into his arms, his sighs almost like a cry of thesoul.

We came together, shuddering, me in his arms burying my cry into his shoulder, Dante gritting histeeth.

So verygood.

And yet, more than the sex was that feeling of connection andbelonging.

Something I did not want, but could no longerdeny.

Idon’t remember fallingasleep in the limo, or being carried into the lodge, upstairs into a private guest room. When I woke up, sunlight streamed past the lace curtains, pooling on the white carpet. I saw up, rubbing my eyes. The room was sweet, with blue-sprigged floral wallpaper, a coverlet matching the wallpaper, and a four-poster Cherrywoodbed.

Satiny sheets rubbed against my naked skin. Blushing, I searched around the room for covering. I guess the guys had put me in here last night and let me sleep nude. After what we’d shared, it was a logical conclusion I’d wish to sleepnaked.

But not in a strange lodge with shifters I’d never met before roamingaround.

Thankfully, I found a white terrycloth robe at the bed’s foot. I shrugged into it, wondering where my clothingwas.

The bedroom had a pretty Cherrywood dresser. I opened a drawer and found new satin panties, just my size, with the tags still attached. Another drawer held an assortment of bras, all my size aswell

After exploring the closet, I found several dresses, blouses, T-shirts in various colors, pants and jeans. All in mysize.

It was as if someone had intimately measured me and went shopping to get me whatever clothing suited my fancy. I fingered a pretty yellow and red floral sundress that still had the price tagattached.

The dress was designer, more than my biweeklypaycheck.

After showering and dressing, I wondered what came next. I had no idea of the time orprotocol.

A soft knock came at thedoor.

“Come in,” I called out, unsure if one of the boys would enter, or someone else. Hopefully a friendly someone else who didn’t mind a human in the guestroom.

A woman in a black uniform and starched white apron entered, bearing a silver tray on her outstretched palms. She set the tray down on a table for two beneath thewindows.

“I’m Gert,” she told me, extending herpalm.

I shook it. “Peyton.”

“Dante told me. He said you were asleep when you arrived last night and thought you’d like to sleepin.”

Glancing at the window, I wondered what time it was. “Where’s mystuff?”

Gert went to a wood chest at the bed’s foot and opened it, withdrawing my purse and personalbelongings.

At least now I didn’t feel quite so….stripped. My cell phone still had a charge, but was running low. I plugged it in at the deskoutlet.

It was well after nine, and from what I knew of ranch life, very late as most got up long before dawn towork.

“He thought you’d enjoy a tray in your room alone. Breakfast here is usually on our own and since you don’t know your way around, he didn’t want you to behungry.”

Coffee, sugar, a small pitcher of cream, scrambled eggs and bacon, a toasted, buttered English muffin, a bowl of fresh fruit, oatmeal with blueberries and a container of yogurt. This was more than I usually ate all day, let alone forbreakfast.

“Thanks. Are you a live-in or just work here?” Iasked.