Page 68 of Touched By Moonlight

“Just one. Please! I play better when I have cookies.” Carmen pouted. “I need thesugar.”

He laughed, a deep vibrant sound that sounded joyful and sexy at the same time. “Little scamp. You’re sweetenough.”

With a gentle tousle of her hair, he sent her on herway.

When Carmen left, his expression turned inscrutable. “Did you like the garden I created foryou?”

I nearly choked on a sip of lemonade. “Created forme?”

“I borrowed the images from our dreamsharing. We did everything we could to make it grow, but the plants were dying. Until you camealong.”

Knowing I had infused the garden with new life gave me a satisfaction I seldom felt since I’d been on the move. Plugging numbers into a data entry system as I do in the day job is hardly fulfilling for a Fae likeme.

“Why did you take the time to dothat?”

“I know what you like, and I wanted you to make you happy. Working with the earth makes youhappy.”

That might be considered an invasion of privacy in some circles. Truth was, I felt flattered and touched he wanted to make me feel welcome in hishome.

“Why do you want me happy here, Grayson? We barely know eachother.”

He stood and went behind me, massaging my shoulders. I moaned with pleasure as he kneaded out the knots in my tenseflesh.

“We know each other better than you care to admit, Sienna. Simply because we haven’t communicated in person for very long doesn’t mean we haven’t connected in a deeper, much more intimate way.” Grayson leaned over, lips warm against my ear as he whispered. “Much more intimate, although the reality has surpassed my wildestdreams.”

“Your dreams are pretty wild, big guy, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” I turned so he could kissme.

Grayson pulled me upward for better access. He kept kissing me leisurely, sipping at my mouth as if we had all the time in the world and were totallyalone.

Still, he hadn’t answered my question. I pulled away, the need to know urgent. “Why the added security? Do you anticipate problems? A turf war with anotherpack?”

The alpha smoothed back my hair. “No turf war. The packs in this area have been peaceful for decades. Just taking precautions to protect myown.”

I glanced down at the paperwork, saw writing in elegant script that glowed a little. “Spellcasting?”

Understanding filled me. “Carmen’s parents aren’t at a conference forwitches.”

“They are, but not for the express purpose of meeting with their former coven. They’re procuring potions we need. They’ll return and we’ll tighten our perimeterbarriers. ”

“You’re warding the land with witch spells? That’s extreme.Why?”

“Certain magick forces are at work and I must secure the safety of all within myborders.”

Now he sounded like a politician. “Tell me about Carmen’s parents. This is a wolfpack.”

“They needed a place to live with their daughter, who was considered an outcast by the coven due to her lack of powers.” Grayson circled me and resumed the massage. “In case you have not noticed, my pack provides refuge to many creatures of magick other than pure werewolfshifters.”

With my powers suppressed it was difficult to ascertain the physiology of his pack members. I could tell some were different, but not exactly what was unusual aboutthem.

“You offered refuge?Why?”

“Everyone needs a home, and I’m not a purebred snob like some of mybrethren.”

Yet I sensed he hid part of the truth. “And you use their talents to safeguard your home. And increase your businessprofits.”

His chest heaved in a chuckle as Grayson drew me back against his body. “Clever Sienna. They share what they can, and in turn, they have a home. Is not the same true for any family livingtogether?”

“Not mine.” I thought of my family, and my throat tightened. Not going there. So not going back in thatmemory.