Page 24 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
Darcy reached for her glass. “So, alpha, who does the crystal belongto? Why all thisfuss?”
He patted his mouth with the linen napkin. “It belongs toPeggy.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “And?”
Adrian set down his fork, his expression somber. “Peggy’s slowly dying, Darce. It’s her last wish that the gem is returned to her. It contains great magick and is powerful enough to help prolong herlife.”
The delicious lamb turned to cardboardin her mouth. Darcy swallowed the mouthful. “Oh, Adrian, I’m sosorry.”
His jaw turned to stone. “I made a promise to her, Darce. I promised I would deliver the crystal to her personally. I wouldn’t risk your life, but you’re the only one I know who has the capacity to find it in your otherform.”
Humbled by his devotion to an elder, she swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Iam honored to help, Adrian. Anything forPeggy.”
His mouth quirked in a faint smile. “Thankyou.”
After dinner, when the dishes were stacked in the washer, he made hot chocolate and brought it out to the living room. For a few minutes, they sat in comfortablesilence.
“This is nice.” She sighed. Snow outside, a roaring fire inside, hot chocolate and Adrian, his muscled bodyclad in a green cable knit sweater, jeans, and socks on hisfeet.
He set down his mug on the coffee table. Slid an arm around her. Darcy’s breath hitched but not fromalarm.
“Could you see yourself settling down with me?” He nuzzled her neck, his warm breath tickling her ear. “Making a home, a life, with myself and the pack? I would always take good care of you,Darcy.”
Gods,he smelled so good, felt so good, his hard body next to hers. For once, she wanted to throw caution to the winds. Damn the consequences. She’d spent all her adult life thinking of others, doing everything to helpthem.
It was time to help herself. She wanted this, wantedhim.
Adrian’s voice dropped into a sexy murmur. “What do you think,Darce?”
She considered. Stroked a handfrom his chest down to the waistband of his jeans. Upagain.
“I think it’s time we went to bed.” She toyed with a lock of his black hair. “But not tosleep.”
