She sighed and headed to the elevators.
“Erica…”
“Yes?”
“Give the man a chance,” he said after a moment.
She stopped in front of the elevator bank and glanced up into Brock’s concerned eyes.
“What are you talking about?” She gulped. Was it that obvious that she had feelings for Trent?
He shrugged. “Trent cares about you.”
Did he? He’d said he loved her, but what if he didn’t mean it? Maybe that was adrenaline and fear talking, because he thought was going to die. “He cares about all women, Brock.”
“If you love him, why not take a chance? Why not give him the benefit of the doubt?” Brock smiled with understanding. “He put his own life at risk for yours. I really think you need to think about that before cutting him off.”
How much more did she need to trust him? If she were going to follow her heart, something she’d never done before, then she needed to know he was fully committed too. The way things stood she had no idea what Trent was thinking. They hadn’t had a single conversation since he’d been brought home.
“You’ve made it difficult for him to speak to you. He wakes up sometimes, and when he does, you’re all he asks for.” Brock sighed in frustration.
She looked up at her long-time friend and finally admitted her biggest concern. “I’m scared. What if he decides I’m too weird for him?”
Brock pulled her into a hug. “I don’t think there’s any chance of that. You’re amazing, and he knows it.”
But he hadn’t told Erica that. And she needed to hear it from him before she jumped into a pool without knowing how to swim. Relationships were scary things. She had never committed to anyone, so it was weird to think of being committed to someone like Trent. The truth was that underneath all the bullshit, he was a nice guy. And he made her happy. She pulled away from Brock and walked into the elevator.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” She waved when the door started to shut. Brock nodded and turned back toward the room. Trent was going to be fine, and she needed a break after the last case. Brock had insisted she take vacation. Her time off, away from the aftermath and paperwork, was needed for her mental health.
Two days later, Erica was home, still wearing her pajamas, when her bell rang. She had just finished her first cup of coffee. She opened the door and was immediately grabbed by a pair of hands and hauled into a muscular body.
She gasped. It took nanoseconds for her resistance to melt. A whimper sounded in the back of her throat when he licked and nipped at her lips. His tongue flicked over hers in slow, sensuous waves that pushed her to rub closer to him. Fire erupted in her veins, and all her focus narrowed to just feeling him touch her. His hands gripped her hips and held her in place while the steel of his cock rubbed against her belly. A sliver of logic broke through the sensual haze. Jesus, what the hell was she doing?
Blindly, she stepped back out of his grasp. She needed to put some distance between them.
She cleared her throat and watched him try to catch his breath. The smoldering look he gave her did nothing to help her think. “Trent. How…um, how are you feeling?”
Erica stepped back and away from Trent. His eyes were bright, and his wild side was visible in his tightly drawn features. Her pussy clenched and desire flooded her body.
“I’m feeling like you are trying to hide from me.” He took a step toward her.
She blinked at his accusation. “Why would I try to hide from you?”
“I don’t know. I tell you I love you, and all of a sudden I never see you again.” He took another step toward her.
She tried to focus on his words, but it was hard when he looked so good and she’d missed him so much. All she could think of was licking his jaw and biting his sexy lip. Holy crap. How the hell was she supposed to stay away and work with him while feeling like that?
She folded her arms over her chest. “You love all women, Trent.”
“No, I don’t. I’m nice to all women. I’ve never told anyone I love them other than my mother.” He was closing the distance between them fast.
Erica, shocked into immobility, almost jumped out of her skin when he grabbed her by her arms. She looked up into his sexy eyes, and warmth spread through her. “You’re the first woman I’ve said I love you to. It would’ve been a lie to say it before, so I never did. Erica, you’re my mate. My mate.”
“Trent, I don’t know…”
His hand moved up to caress her cheek. “What about your family? You’re a shifter! What will they think of you being with a human?”
She gnawed on her lip.
“Once you meet my mom and sisters, you’ll see there’s nothing to fear. They’re amazing. They’ll love you. They know you’re my mate. You’re the woman I love, and that’s all that’s important to them.” He rubbed her arms, soothing her concern. “You might think me a Casanova, but the truth is I have never been out with more than one woman at a time.”
He continued to hold her, giving her that soft look that melted the insides of her heart. “My mom always says that just because something didn’t work out didn’t mean I had to become an insensitive jerk. Besides, my mom and sisters would have my head if I treated any woman poorly. Trust me they’re going to love you as much as I love you.”
“I’ve never had a family. What if I mess up? What if I don’t fit in?”
“That’s what I’m here for, to help you up whenever you fall. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Take a chance on me, please.” His voice was rough and emotional. She wanted to leap away from the fear and into what he was proposing, but she was scared.
“But…but what if you change your mind afterward?” The thought alone made her want to cry.
“You’re my mate. Don’t you understand what that means? You are the only woman for me and my wolf. There will be no changing my mind. I don’t want anyone else. I love you. I know you’re unique, and you don’t see things like other women.” He stopped, lowered his head, and gave her a light kiss on her lips. “But that’s what makes you so special, and I wouldn’t change that about you for anything in the world.”
He stepped away from her, and she wanted to ask him to hold her again.
“You care about these victims more than anyone, because you know how much they suffered. I know you find it hard to trust people. I’m not going to rush you into it. We can take things slowly. But I can’t let you go.” He stepped in front of her again and cupped her face with his hands. The determination in his gaze turned possessive. “I won’t let you go.”
The feelings she’d been trying to suppress bubbled up inside her and made her eyes water. She fisted her hands at her sides, hoping to control the need to jump him and hug him to death. He must have seen her emotional turmoil, because his voice lowered to a soothing whisper. “I love you, Erica. Only you. No one else but you. Can you love me back?”
She nodded, unable to fight her feelings any longer. “I love you too, Trent.” The words came out a watery whisper. Her hands went up around his neck and hugged him close to her.
“Thank god, sweetheart.” He pulled back and glanced down at her. “So can you give us a chance? You and me together. No timestamp and no expiration date?” He looked at her straight in the eyes. The love she saw in his eyes made the decision for her.
Her throat closed up but she managed to answer him. “Yes. But know this means you won’t be able to date other women. If you do I’ll have to kick your ass.”
He laughed. “We seriously need to talk about this violence, love. I told you, I only want you.”
And then he kissed her with so much tenderness her heart soared. For the first time in her life, she felt someone truly cared. And she wanted to trust him. He’d put her life before his own. He understood she was different and loved her anyway. No one had ever done that.
When he picked her up in his arms, she squealed and pointed him to the bedroom. Now that she had agreed to be his, she wanted to f
eel his body filling hers again.
“Let’s go to bed.” He nuzzled her lips. “I want to show you how much I love you.”
She sighed, dropped her head into the curve of his shoulder, and smiled as he carried her to her room.
Epilogue
Erica lay back in Trent’s arms, taking in the sunset and the warm Caribbean air caressing her skin. His lips trailed the back of her ear down to her shoulder. She sighed and turned her face to allow their lips to meet in a hot kiss.
“So what did Brock want?” Trent asked after nibbling on her lips and turning her brain into a useless puddle of goo.
“Hmm?” Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the feel of her new husband’s hands sliding up and down her stomach.
He laughed and moved his hands up to cup her breasts over her bikini.
“You are such a tease.” She groaned.
“Tell me what Brock wanted, and I can make this so good you’ll be screaming my name in seconds. And I know you love screaming my name,” he whispered and licked the shell of her ear, making her shiver.
“He wanted to complain about his new boss.” She sighed and melted back into him. Her legs widened, allowing one of his hands to dip between her thighs and into her bikini bottom. His fingers spread her pussy lips and massaged her clit. She moaned and rolled her hips on his digits, looking for penetration.
She growled. “He’s not happy… The new team member is a woman he knew…from when he was in college. Apparently they have…uh, unresolved issues.”
Trent’s hands stopped moving. “What do you mean a woman he knew? As in someone he dated?”
She nodded. “Um hm. Trent, please. I’m dying here.”
“I got you baby. You’ll be calling me god in about a minute.”
She laughed. She was glad she’d taken a chance on the love of her wolf, because he was well worth it.
Continue the series with Dangerous Protector
THE END
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our kids, and our fur babies: Speedy, Stormy and Teddy. I have a serious addiction to chocolate and cake.
I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there.
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Also by Milly Taiden
Find out more about Milly Taiden here:
Email: millytaiden@gmail.com
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Also by Milly Taiden
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy the following by Milly Taiden:
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Also, check out the Sassy Ever After World on Amazon or visit http://mtworldspress.com
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In the Roar Book Nine
Scrooge Me Hard Short One
Bearfoot and Pregnant Book Ten
All Kitten Aside Book Eleven
Oh My Roared Book Twelve
Piece of Tail Book Thirteen
Kiss My Asteroid Book Fourteen
Scrooge Me Again Short Two
Born with a Silver Moon Book Fifteen
Sun in the Oven Book Sixteen
Between Ice and Frost Book Seventeen
Scrooge Me Again Book Eighteen
Winter Takes All Book Nineteen
You’re Lion to Me Book Twenty
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