Page 34 of Forbidden Moon
It pulled up in front of the house, and the driver’s door opened. A long-legged female got out. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
His heart stopped in his chest.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It didn’t take much convincing for Caleb to tell her where Garrett was. In fact, he was willing to go with her, but she declined. This was something she had to do on her own. Isaac followed her out of the conference room, trying to convince her to change her mind, but she was oddly at peace with her decision. She was leaving everyone behind—her family, friends, her job. But she was gaining something she never thought she’d have. A true mate. And he was worth it.
She should have known that he would be with the former Tri-State pack members. Not quite rogues and not quite pack. They would be a safe space for the short term. Garrett stared at her as if he had never expected to see her again, his feet up on the railing of the porch, a beer dangling forgotten from his fingers.
Alex, sitting in almost the same pose next to him, got to his feet slowly. “I know when I’m a third wheel. I’ll be inside if you need me. We made up space in the smaller guest house out back for you, if you want more privacy.”
He ambled inside, the porch swing door slamming behind him. Maya stood at the bottom of the steps and stared up at Garrett. “You left me. After promising to always be there for me.”
He let the bottle drop to the floor. “I thought it was for the best. You have everything to stay for. I have nothing to offer you.”
She walked up the steps. “You have yourself, and that’s everything to me. That’s all I want. I broke my pack bonds. So, I hope Alex has room for another wolf here.”
Garrett surged to his feet and gripped her shoulders. “What the hell were you thinking, Maya? The life of a rogue is not the life for a female. It’s hard, brutal and often dangerous. You should have waited to talk to me before you decided on anything.”
“I did talk to you. We said we were mates, and we’d figure out the rest together. So, now we figure it out. Together.”
“Fuck, Maya.” He dropped his hands and paced the length of the porch, running his hands through his hair. “You should have waited until I was settled then. I could send for you once I found a place.”
She cornered him at the end of the porch. “Where you go, I go. That’s what being mates means, Garrett. You just lost your family. I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling. But you have me, if you want me. And if you don’t, tough shit. I’m kind of hard to get rid of. So, get used to me because I’m sticking around. You made me a promise and I’m here to see you keep it.”
He stared down at her as if not sure whether to believe she was really there. She slid her arms around his waist and hugged him, pouring all of her love and emotion into the mate bond. He was hurting. She could feel that through the bond. He may have had a fucked up family, but they were his family. It hurt to walk away, to kill his own father. He needed her, needed a pack, whether they could ever find one or not. They’d cross that bridge after they completed the mating.
“What do you say we check out that guest house and complete this bond?” She stood on her tiptoes and nipped his jaw where a muscle jumped.
His arms tightened around her, hard, then he moved around her, tugging her after him as he strode down the steps and around the house. She stumbled, trying to keep up, laughing at the same time. Guess they were finally on the same page.
* * *
Garrett dragged Maya into the small guest cottage behind the house, which was really no more than a two-room bungalow. He was grateful to Alex for offering the privacy for them to complete the mating, though he was sure none of the Tri-State pack members wanted to be reminded of something many of them had lost—their own mates.
He shut the door and fixed a look on Maya. “Strip, or I won’t be responsible for the state of those clothes when I’m done.”
She laughed, a throaty sound. “Good thing, because I didn’t exactly stop to pack my things before I left.”
He frowned, a spurt of anger at the Dirigo leadership denying her what belonged to her. “They didn’t let you take your things?”
“Did you gather your stuff?”
He gestured to the duffel bag in the corner. “I hadn’t had time to unpack from my time with Council. I travel light.”
She scowled. “Well, I guess I made the bigger gesture. Someone will probably get me my things and, if not, I’ll get new ones. But, since I don’t have anything else for now, I’d better preserve these, so I don’t scandalize our hosts.”
She quickly stripped out of her clothes, tossing them on the chair near the bedroom door. His mouth went dry as he watched her honey skin slowly revealed until she stood in all her glory. She turned and headed for the bedroom, turning her head and giving him a come-hither smile.
“You’d better hurry or I’ll start without you.”
Fuck that. He shucked his clothes, tossing them anywhere, and raced after her, catching her right at the edge of the bed. “This is going to be fast, Maya. I don’t think I can wait much longer to make you mine.”
She pulled her hair to the side. “Nor would I want to. We’ve waited long enough, Garrett. Make me yours.”
Fuck, he loved this female. He pulled her close and kissed her, relishing in her taste and sounds as she pressed herself to him. He lowered her to the bed, following her down. He trailed kisses down her neck to the spot where he couldn’t wait to place his mark. He sucked lightly and nipped the spot. She gasped and arched into him. He pulled away and looked down at her.
His heart swelled with the love. Her eyes were dark and dilated. Her scent was intoxicating. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen. He knew she was close to losing control. But he wanted to pull her over the edge, make her shatter, and then show her how much he cherished her.