“Pretty much,” Fane responded.

“Well, I can’t very well hold a gun to your head and make you tell me Although, Jen would think that a perfectly acceptable response. Then again, Jen also thinks going to football practice and lying out in her bikini is amusing so, ya know, gotta keep it all in perspective,” Jacquelyn explained.

“Okay, I’ll go out with you. When is our little adventure and how should I dress?” she asked.

“Tomorrow, wear something comfortable to ride on the motorcycle and don’t worry, I bought you a helmet.”

“You did what?” she asked in disbelief. “You were that sure I would say yes?”

Fane stepped closer to her, lowering his face towards hers. He whispered, “I felt my chances were pretty good. I can be very persuasive when I need to be.”

Fane stayed there a minute longer, but decided it best that he back away from her a little because he was very tempted to kiss her. She shook her head as if to clear it when he stepped back, and looked at him with what he thought might be longing in her eyes.

Time to go, Fane told himself. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, never breaking eye contact with her.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening. I truly enjoyed your company, my Luna,” Fane said quietly.

Jacquelyn was having trouble getting her brain to tell her mouth what to say but she finally spit out, “Me too.”

Fane didn’t want to leave her. It was against his instincts and his wolf growled at the thought. She was supposed to be with him, where he could take care of her and keep her safe. But it wasn’t time yet, so he would have to take advantage of the time they did spend together and soak up her presence. He leaned in quickly and took a deep breath. Then he blew gently next to her ear. She shivered. What Jacquelyn didn’t know was that he wasn’t trying to be sensual by blowing next to her ear – he was putting his scent on her so other Greys would know she was his.

The scent wouldn’t last long, only a day or so. The only permanent way to put his scent on her was to complete the bond. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite there yet.

With that, Fane turned away from his mate and walked back to the Henrys'. At the door, he turned one last time and found her still standing there, watching him. He lifted his hand to his mouth and blew her a kiss, sending her a thought. “Sweet dreams, meu inimă. Dream of me. I will be dreaming of you.”

Chapter 13

Jacque stood on her front porch, staring as Fane retreated to the Henrys'. She wanted to call him back, didn’t want to spend a second without him. Get a grip, woman. She took a few deep breaths, trying to clear her mind, and when she did she noticed the subtle scent of woods and spice. Strange, but the scent called to her, comforted her, like she could wrap herself in a blanket of it.

Shetook one last look at the Henrys' house and turned to go in.

“Mom,” she hollered. “I’m back in.”

“Okay, the girls took some brownies upstairs. Are you okay? Need to talk about anything?” her mom asked.

“No, I’m good,” Jacque told her. “Oh, there is one thing. Fane asked me out on a date for tomorrow night. That okay?”

Lilly looked at her daughter, trying to decide if she thought it a good idea for her daughter be with him. After all, she did know who and what Fane was, not that anyone else knew that. Although, she was beginning to think that Fane might suspect something.

“Yeah, that’s fine. You two know what you’re going to do?”

“Not yet,” Jacque answered, then went upstairs to give the latest news to her two partners in crime.

Jacque opened her bedroom door to find Jen and Sally lying on her bedroom floor, happily munching on the brownies Sara had brought over.

“Soooo, did he confess his undying love for you and ask you to run away to his Romanian castle?” Sally asked in a wistful voice.

“Oh my gosh,” Jacque said sarcastically. “How did you know?”

“I’m just good like that. Ya know, with the knowing the future and what not,” Sally answered.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a real gypsy,” Jen told her.

“So, do we have to beat it out of you or are you going to confess willingly? ‘Cause you know I’m into the whole torture thing, it’s how I roll,” Jen said, sounding absolutely sure of herself.

“Well, he told me that we had things to talk about but that tonight wasn't the night to do it. He wanted to talk to his father first, whatever that means. Then he asked me out on a date, and then he leaned in close to me…” Jacque started to explain, but Jen interrupted.

“He kissed you?! Was it good? Were his lips soft? Were his lips closed or were they slightly parted like he might want to wrestle with…” Jen asked rapidly, not even taking a breath.

“Step back, Don Juan. Don’t even finish that sentence, let me,” Jacque scolded.

“Well, if he didn’t kiss you then lie to me so I can live vicariously through your pretend love life,” Jen told her with a pout.

Jacque ignored that comment and continued with her story. “So he leaned in close and at first I thought he was going to kiss me, but then his head went slightly to the right and his mouth was right next to my ear. He blew on my neck.”

“Why?” Sally asked confusedly.

“I know, right? I don’t know. I do know I nearly grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him myself. He must have been blocking his mind from mine because I didn’t pick up anything.”