Page 19 of Under A New Moon

Darla looked like she was going to be sick.

The sandwich lost its flavor, the bite going stale in his mouth. He abandoned it on the counter with a plop. “Jesus. I know I’m not the most handsome guy out there but I’m not forcing you into anything, either.”

She’d gone paler than usual. “That’s not it.”

“Then, what?” He crossed his arms. “You look like we’re about to get another visit from your breakfast.”

“Lucky for us, I didn’t eat, huh?” she said with a mirthless laugh, leaning against the counter as if to steady herself. “Sorry, I just- this isn’t exactly something I was expecting to deal with. We’ve already got PEACE and that pack on our asses. Who has time for this shit?”

He nodded. At least that was something they could agree on.

Darla’s color was coming back.

He wanted to grab her hand and let her know everything would be okay but held back. Hedidn’tknow everything would be okay. “Me, neither. Back at the diner, I’d have written you off as just another mundane. Not that I didn’t think you were kind of cute.”

She shot him a wry smile. “Kind of?”

“I mean, for a human, yeah.” Galen didn’t want her getting a big head about it. He also liked the way she wriggled with irritation. “I just don’t understand why I didn’t smell it before. I should have noticed the moment we met.”

Darla gripped the counter tighter, her knuckles going white. “Yeah, there’s a reason for that.”

He scooted closer, sensing her powerful draw. “Oh?”

She didn’t pull away. “There were chemical agents they made me use in the field. It throws off my scent for most shifters. I guess it even worked for you.”

“Hm,” he said, finding that he’d rested his arm behind her on the counter. If he scooted just a little closer, he had a feeling she’d fit perfectly against him. Galen chanced a sniff, keeping it brief. “I think I prefer you this way.”

Darla glanced up at him, her pale blue eyes full of uncertainty. “Damn it, Galen.”

He bit back a smile. “What’d I do now?”

“I’m not supposed to get involved with the target.” She licked her lips, her breath coming quicker like a rabbit caught in a trap. “But- I guess it can’t be helped, can it?”

Galen’s fingers tangled in her fiery locks when he wasn’t paying attention. He enjoyed the way her body responded to him, though she was fighting it every inch of the way. “The thing about mates is we don’t get much of a choice. Sometimes, though, it’s like nature knows what’s best for us, even if we don’t.”

She was in the circle of his arms, burning up in her indecision with her gaze cast to the floor. He could sense the heat welling up inside her. “How can I trust it?”

He leaned in further, his nose almost brushing her hair. “Personally? I’ve found the best way is to just go with the flow.” Galen mastered himself and leaned back, her scent doing that thing to his head again. “Maybe that’s just the hormones talking.”

Fingers slipped into the band of his new jeans. “No- I feel it too.”

Darla pulled herself in closer, testing the firmness of his taut stomach. His body clenched when her fingers reached the fair hairs beneath his navel. He caught her hand like he’d wanted to all this time. “You’re sure?

“I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later.”

She looked up at him again, stopping his world mid-rotation. Resolve sparkled in her eyes. “My lifestyle has never afforded me regret.”

Galen opened his mouth to speak when she stole his next breath, her lips crashing into his. He caught her around the waist and dragged her against his hard form. It was a battle, their stubbornness colliding with their warring tongues.

She fought hard, resisting defeat until he hoisted her onto the counter and caught her cheeks with both hands, demanding her surrender. When his lips burned, she yielded with a moan, tearing at the buttons of his shirt.

Galen was growing hard again, and this time, her sumptuous body promised favorable reciprocation. He caught the loop of her pants and dragged them down, finding her naked beneath. Two fingers, he pressed against her blazing crotch.

Her breath came hot.

He caught her lower lip between his teeth and dragged her in. Her whine cut off with a gasp when he found that swollen nub and pinched it between two fingers.

Darla’s eyes widened, and she went stiff.

---