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Okay. Jennie had them sign the contract with the offer and Ethan gave her the earnest money.

Let me call them and see what they say. Jennie called the owners in a conference call.

You have an offer on the house. She gave them the dollar amount.

The offer is cash, so no loan approvals, which can be a real incentive to sell quickly.

Sometimes the loans fall through, so you have to start the process all over again with someone else, and getting a loan approval can take a lot longer.

We haven t shown it to anyone else, but they need to do some work on the place—painting, replacing the carpeting, and refinishing the deck.

Jennie waited for a minute and then smiled. All right. I ll draw up the contract and get the ball rolling on this. Thanks so much. Then she smiled at Charlene and Ethan. You ve got another house.

Yes! Charlene said.

Smiling, Ethan squeezed Charlene s hand.

I ll email the contract to you within an hour if that works for you.

Yes, perfect. We want to look through the house again one last time before we leave, Charlene said.

Yes, by all means do.

Charlene and Ethan walked back into the house, and she threw up her arms and said quietly, Yes! I would have paid the full price. I think if the couple didn t jump at the chance to sell the house to us, they might have had some other offers. Maybe even a bidding war since it had just been listed.

They were too eager to just sell the house and split the proceeds, Ethan said, gathering Charlene in his arms and kissing her soundly. Which worked out great for us. I m so glad we got it. I should have talked to you first about me paying cash for the house, but as a couple, my money is yours.

We ll have plenty of funds to do any renovations we want and fully furnish this house too then. She kissed him back, loving how kissable he always was. Let s take this other business to our other home and get on with it.

All right. Now you re talking.

They left the house and thanked Jennie and headed home. When they arrived there, Noah let them into the house. No one came by. What happened?

Ethan told him what had occurred. Grainger was glad we caught Thor, even though Renault now knows I m not retired. He told Renault he can t tell anyone else at work.

Oh, that s not good. But at least following Renault resulted in capturing another of the men we needed to take down. Noah sounded pleased. How did the house hunting go? Noah asked Charlene.

We found the perfect place to buy and made an offer and it was accepted, so we re just waiting to sign the contract and get it done, Charlene said.

Noah looked a little surprised that she said we .

Then he nodded. Great. Did Ethan tell you I ll grill steaks for us when you want to have dinner at my place one of these nights?

Maybe tonight and we can celebrate both successful endeavors today.

Noah looked hopeful that they could. Charlene felt sorry for him.

Not only had he lost out on Charlene as his girlfriend, but he hadn t even been able to help take down Thor.

Yeah. Tonight will be great. Will six be good for you? Charlene asked.

Yep, and I ll get us some champagne, Noah said.

That sounds great, Ethan said.

Then Charlene got the contract from her real estate agent in an email.

Charlene and Ethan said goodbye to Noah, and Charlene was glad Ethan hadn t told him they were mating. They could tell him tonight, which would be another big reason for celebration, but they needed to do this first.

We were thinking alike about not telling him what we were doing, Charlene said. I got the contract. Let s get this done first.

They read it over, signed the contract, and sent it back to Jennie.

Then Charlene put her phone on the table and Ethan swept her up in his arms. Time to make all my dreams come true.

Mine too.

He carried her into the bedroom and set her down on the bed, then slipped off her sandals. I never dreamed I would be pairing up with a red wolf who was a former homicide detective.

I never thought I would end up with a DEA special agent who was still actively with the force. We make a great pair.

I totally agree. Everything about you makes me know this is the perfect match. I thought so before, but when you asked me to help you decide on the other house, even before you said you wanted to mate me, that clinched the deal that you were the right wolf for me.

I love how protective you are, and yet even when you re perturbed with me about things, you just get it over it in a heartbeat.

He smiled. Yeah, with you it s easy. Then he removed his boots and socks and she rose from the bed to pull off his black growling wolf T-shirt.

I love this T-shirt, perfect for undercover.

He laughed. Black is for the intimidation effect.

She smiled and ran her hand over his chest. The wicked teeth of the snarling wolf add to the effect.

He pulled off her camisole blouse and then reached lower to slide her breezy skirt down her hips and pulled it off. You re beautiful. He kissed her jaw and neck and moved his mouth to her throat, his hands on her breasts, massaging her through her bra.

He always made her feel so sexy and impassioned. Then he rubbed his package against her mound, and she smiled and kissed his mouth with pent-up need. You are beautiful. She unfastened his belt and unzipped his cargo pants, then pulled them off his hips and he kicked them aside.

Then she saw his injured arm. She couldn t believe he could take down Thor when he was still injured. She gently kissed Ethan s arm.

It s getting better with your tender loving care.

Right, like him lifting her and carrying her to the bedroom?

He removed her bra and panties, and she removed his boxer briefs and smiled to see his full arousal. Always ready for you, he said.

She quickly moved onto the bed so he wouldn t try to lift her and set her on the mattress. He was soon nestled between her legs, kissing her again. He rubbed his stiff erection against her, connecting with her mound, stirring their pheromones to the nth degree.

God, how she loved making love to him. But this time it would be all the way. A consummation—a wolf s mating, no longer two wolves on their own, but a couple, the start of a pack of their own.

He was kissing her slowly, surely, deliberately taking his time to warm her up, but she was already hot and eager to consummate their relationship.

Their pheromones were heating up and teasing each other, testing their resolve, enticing each of them to make this the ultimate and permanent connection.

Her need grew sharper, more profound, and she was filled with deep happiness.

She had finally found her mate. He made her feel empowered, uplifted, like she was the only one who mattered.

Just like he was the only one who mattered to her.

She kissed his mouth and he surrendered to her completely.

She stroked his tongue with hers, telling him in no uncertain terms that she was already completely warmed up.

He responded with the same enthusiasm, kissing her, running his hands over her shoulders, ramping up the need between them.

This was what she truly needed in a partner—the passion and the love he shared with her.

His kisses were magical, intensely pleasureful as she licked his lips and kissed him again.

She was wet for his penetration, enjoying the foreplay but wanting the consummation that would make them mated wolves forever. He moved his mouth down her neck, making her skin tingle. He kissed her breasts with lingering gentleness, his hand sweeping down her bare tummy to her short, curly hairs.

Then he began his exploration, finding that spot that screamed with pleasure as he began to stroke it. He made her feel glorious, and she loved him for it.

Such a lover, she whispered against his ear.

So easy to love, he whispered back, his heated breath warming her to her toes.

A wind was blowing off the ocean, the waves crashing against the shore, the air cool in the house, but she was on fire. She nearly lost it when he poked a finger into her feminine channel, and she climaxed before he could stroke her further. She cried out with shocked pleasure.

He was about ready to enter her but quickly said, I love you.

Oh, I love you too. Do it.

He smiled and pressed his engorged erection all the way in and began to thrust.

Yes! They were a wolf couple forever! And she kissed him with no holds barred.

***

Ethan couldn t have felt any more right about this—taking such an exquisite lover and friend as his mate. He felt empowered to save the world with Charlene right beside him.

He didn t expect her to push at him to roll off her, but he wasn t parting from her until they were done, unless of course she really wanted him to.

The next thing he knew, she was riding on top of him, rocking to his thrusts, looking thrilled, enthusiastic, sexy, on fire.

Their hearts were beating wildly, and they were united in the moment, coming together until he felt he was coming apart and orgasmed deep inside her.

He rolled over so he was on top again, continuing to thrust until he was completely spent.

Their bodies were sweaty, her smile contagious.

He kissed her soft, sweet mouth again, glad she was the only one for him.

Then they embraced, enjoying the moment of mated bliss. Emotionally and physically sated, they were happily mated.

A wolf run? she asked, kissing his ear. Oh, wait, what about your arm?

I ll be okay. He smiled at her, loving her, and yes, he wanted to go with her for a wolf run too—their first mated wolf run, but he was so enjoying being with her like this, just holding onto her.

In a little bit, she whispered. This is just too nice.

I agree. He didn t want to release her for anything.