Page 41 of Brick

They hurried to the house, where he changed, and then met with Adam and Cinder, who were seated at the kitchen table playing a card game, which Cinder was clearly beating Adam at, much to his chagrin.

“Absolutely we can do the mating ceremony tonight,” Adam said, putting down the cards. “No worries at all. You two spend the afternoon together and come here an hour before sunset. Cin and I will get everything together. We’ll have the ceremony, a cookout, and a shift and hunt with the pack. We could use the distraction from everything that’s been going on.”

“Thanks,” Brick said. “We’ll see you guys before sunset.”

Cinder pushed the cards into a pile to shuffle. “Enjoy your time together, and don’t worry about anything. We’ll handle it because you’re family, and that’s what family—and pack—does for each other.”

Jade smiled at the couple and thanked them, and then left with Brick.

“So where are we going?” she asked as he opened the door to his truck and helped her inside.

“Where I used to live.”

“Your parents’?”

“Yes and no.” On what turned out to be a very short drive, Brick said, “When I was a teenager, I wanted more privacy, but I wanted to also be close to my folks, so my dad and I built a stand-alone garage with an apartment over it. It’s a large studio basically, with a kitchen and bathroom.”

“That’s really awesome.” She’d only ever lived at home. In her old pack, females didn’t move away from their parents’ home until they were mated.

He parked in front of a large two-car garage. As she got out of the truck, she looked at the house next to the garage. “That’s where your folks live?”

He led her up the metal stairs to a small landing. He used his thumb on a keypad and the door unlocked. “Yep,” he said, holding the door for her. “Sometimes I crash here when I don’t feel like being around the noise of the alphas’ house, especially on the prep days leading up to the full moon. It’s like the house is never quiet. When we wanted privacy, this is the first place that came to mind.”

She looked around the space. A bed was along one wall, a dresser with a lamp, a small couch and TV hung on the wall, and a kitchenette. He pointed to a door and said, “Bathroom’s in there. The fridge is stocked. Are you hungry or thirsty?”

She put her hand on the door and pushed it closed. “I’m good.”

He hooked his hand around her waist and drew her close. “You look like you’ve got wicked things on your mind, sweetheart.”

“I do,” she said. “Even though we haven’t known each other long at all, it feels like we’ve been together so much longer.”

“Well, a lot of seriously messed up shit happened in a short amount of time,” he said with a chuckle.

“Definitely. But even if things hadn’t gone to hell… several times… I’d still want to be yours in truth, to wear your marks and join the pack.”

“We’re truemates. That kind of connection makes everything feel accelerated.” He pulled her a little closer and she felt the ridge of his erection. “You’re so fucking sexy, Jade. Everything about you calls to me on a cellular level.”

“You’re pretty damn sexy yourself.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, setting her on the edge and standing between her parted legs. He cupped her face and gazed down at her. She could see his wolf, the edges of his eyes simmering with amber.

“I love you,” they both said at the same time.

And then they both laughed.

He leaned down for a kiss. “I do, sweetheart. Love you.”

“I love you too,” she said. “Great minds think alike.”

He kissed her again. “I have a great mind with great ideas.”

“Do tell, sexy male.”

“I’d rather show you.”

He leaned into her, kissing her again, deeply and sweetly. She fell back onto the bed and he followed, climbing up the bed over her. While she pushed up on his shirt, he undid the buttons of her top and spread it open, rubbing his fingers lightly over the swell of her breasts. He straightened enough to take off his shirt.She wiggled from her shirt and unhooked her bra, and he helped free her from the satin and lace.

He leaned down and kissed her nipples, taking one into his mouth and sucking on it gently. She closed her eyes and reveled in his attentions as he drove her wild with his talented tongue.

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