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Troy, underneath one of the empty tables, finished his second steak. He licked the plate clean, then ducked out from under the tablecloth. Trevor had asked for the entire restaurant and dance floor to be reserved just for them, and the resort had agreed, for a price. Trevor was willing to pay because Wade had given him approval to use department funds that came directly from Rhen’s gold in personal matters that involved the One True Mates.

Troy wound his way through empty tables with his head held high, liking the idea that he was on Rhen’s payroll. He found a spot in the corner of the room where he could see everyone and jumped up to sprawl across a few stacks of chairs.

The back door opened and Graeme and Heather walked in along with Trent. Troy was glad to see Graeme and Heather. They brought a lot of power to the team, and they were just plain cool. Trent stayed near the door while Graeme and Heather went straight to the buffet. Trevor went over to talk to Graeme for a few minutes, then returned to his table.

When he got there, Ella pulled out a wrapped present and gave it to him. Trevor smiled and fished out another wrapped present from under the table and gave it to her. They opened their gifts at the same time, and each had gotten the other family photos in expensive frames.

Next to them, Graeme and Heather sat at an empty table, each of them shoveling down food like they hadn’t eaten in days. Just watching them made Troy think about a third steak.

Across the room, Crew and Dahlia were exchanging gifts, and they both got books for one another. Big surprise there. Boring gift if you asked Troy, but Crew and Dahlia both seemed happy. Dahlia shoved her tongue down Crew’s throat and Troy looked away at that point.

Near them, Cerise was opening a large square gift. It was a picture inside a mahogany frame and she gazed at it with an amazed smile on her face, then gave Beckett a big hug and kiss.

“Let’s see it!” Trevor yelled from across the room, and Cerise turned it around to show everyone. It was an aerial picture of their cabin from directly overhead.

“I want one,” Ella called.

“I’m taking orders,” Beckett said.

Cerise put the picture on the table and gave Beckett his gift. He ripped it open. It was a camouflage baseball cap, similar to the one he had on. He took that one off and put the new one on his head then he pulled Cerise’s chair close and gave her a serious thank-you kiss.

The music changed and a lively song came on. Ella bounced to her feet and cat-walked to the dance floor, then turned and beckoned to her mate. Trevor wiped his mouth, whipped his napkin across the table, then he was on the dance floor, moving fast, grabbing Ella and twirling her under his arm. She laughed as he caught her against his body and they swayed to the music with him nuzzling her neck. Graeme and Heather joined them with their hands raised, doing a waltz or some shit, smiles plastered on their faces.

Troy grinned. It was good to see the big guy, and the other big guy, relaxed and enjoying themselves.Beckett and Cerise were next on the dance floor, and Crew and Dahlia were not far behind, but the four of them were doing less dancing and more making out.

Troy snorted. He’d show ‘em how it was done. He jumped lithely down from the chairs, then loped over to Trent.

Come on, Trent, let's dance.

Nope. I’m on patrol anyway. I’m out.

Trent went to the back door and stared at it for a few seconds, then Bruin opened it from the outside and Trent disappeared.

Suit yourself.

Troy ran in between the couples and bounded around, shaking his hindquarters and howling with the song.

“Go, Troy,” Ella called.

“Where’d you learn to twerk, Troy?” Beckett shouted.

Ella moved into the middle of the dance floor, motioning to Troy and Trevor. They got into position, Troy in the center, Ella and Trevor on either side of him. Ella started the line dance and Trevor followed, and so did Troy, executing the footwork they’d worked out perfectly.

Left, left, back, back, right, right, forward, forward, spin, bend, and then do it again.

Troy spun, and saw Beckett and Cerise stealthily slipping out the front door. He knew where they were going, and why. He waited till the song was over, giving them plenty of time to get to their room, then he asked Trevor to open the door for him.

Troy loped out into the hallway, following their scent, making sure they’d gotten where they were going safely. When he knew they had, he picked a spot across the way, where he could see their door and waited patiently, snow falling on him steadily.

See me, Rhen? I’m guarding the shit out of those two.

A lone star twinkled in the semi-cloudy night sky and Troy watched it, thinking the snow would stop soon.

***

Cerise hit the wall and Beckett stopped just long enough to turn his hat around, then he pressed in close to her, tilting her chin up and kissing her roughly. They were just outside the restaurant in the empty, darkened hallway. They’d barely been able to keep their hands off one another all day, and it’d gotten worse once they got dressed up—Beckett in tight jeans, cowboy boots, a black Henley shirt, and of course his new baseball cap; and Cerise in her form-fitting dress with a cropped sweater over it, and ballet flats.

Her hands were around his waist and she melted into him as they kissed. He took one of her hands and put it on his cock through his pants, dragging her hand up and down the length of it. He let go of her, and trapped her with his palms on the wall behind her head, gently touching his tongue to hers, as their lips met. She palmed him through his pants again, while his clean, masculine scent flooded her senses, driving her crazy. He’d been teasing her all damn day and she was ready for him.

“It’s going to take forever to get back to our room,” Beckett whispered between kisses.

“We can’t do it out here,” Cerise breathed.

“Right. Come on, darlin’.”

Beckett kissed her one last time, then pulled her gently but steadily toward the room, adjusting himself in his pants several times, swearing softly and walking stiffly. Cerise couldn’t help but giggle at that, and in very little time, they were inside their room with Beckett kicking the door shut.

Beckett backed her against the wall just inside the door, then he kissed her, and while they were making out, she pulled her dress up to her waist, revealing her panties.

He ran his hand down her body. “Easy access, I like that.”

He caged her in with his body, leaning to take her lips roughly, then he wrapped his hands around her thighs and lifted her up against the wall. She wound her legs around his waist, meeting him kiss for kiss.

“I knew you would,” she told him, breathy, panting. “It’s why I bought the dress.”

He growled and nuzzled her neck until he took her lips again. She ran her hands up under his shirt. “Take it off me,” he rasped, helping her. When his chest was bare she dipped her head and kissed his skin while he ground against her.

“I’ve been waiting all day to get you naked,” he rumbled.

Ella’s pendant was around Cerise’s neck and she unclasped it, tossing it to the dresser, then she took off her sweater and dropped it to the floor. He growled approvingly, thumbing her nipples through the fabric of her dress.

Beckett released her to stand, and then he kicked off his boots. He crowded her against the wall, then dropped to his knees and put one of her legs on his shoulder, kissing her through her panties, making her suck in a breath. He kissed her, teasing her, moving the lace to the side and breathing on her.

“Mmmm,” he said, his lips right on her, making her hips thrust forward. After the day they’d had, it was too much for her to handle.

“I’m going to come already,” she whispered. She pulled at him, wanting him inside her when she did. He stripped her panties off, then stood and kissed her, making sexy growly noises deep in his throat. He dropped his pants and lifted her with his strong forearms, then lowered her onto him, inch by inch. Cerise moaned and cried out, then dropped her head to bury her face in Beckett’s shoulder, not wanting to be too loud.

He eased her lower and lower, until he was as deep as he could go, and then he lifted her slowly, then lowered back down just as slow, thrusting on the downstroke. Cerise ground against him, gripping his shoulders as he thrust and withdrew, picking up speed and force.

“You feel so fucking good,” he gritted out, eyes closed, working her over.

Cerise buried her face deeper into Beckett’s neck, crying out as an orgasm rocked her. He thrust into her several more times, and then he stiffened.

“Fuuuuuuck,” Beckett groaned, and he came hard, deep inside her, holding her close.

They recovered together, Beckett still holding her up, as their breathing and their bodies calmed. He let her down, quickly went and found a towel and gave it to her. She wiped herself up and righted her clothes and put the pendant back on under her sweater.

Beckett gave her a lopsided smile and took his hat off, then rubbed the back of his neck. “That was hot,” he said.

She smiled and he put an arm around her shoulders. They squeezed past the bed together, to the tiny bathroom to clean up.

After a bit, they left the room holding hands, and when they made it back to the restaurant, they slipped back inside without anyone noticing they’d been gone.

“I wanna dance,” Cerise said.

“Alright, let’s boogie.”

They went to the dance floor as a slow song was playing and Beckett pulled her in close. Cerise rested her head on his chest as they swayed back and forth.

Trevor passed them and Cerise watched him curiously. He opened the front door and Troy came in. Cerise gave him a small wave and Troy smiled at her, which made her laugh, because it was such a scary beautiful smile, with all those sharp teeth.

“Fun day,” Beckett rumbled.

“So fun,” Cerise said. “The best day ever.”