She chuckled and reached out, dragging a fingernail up the prominent ridge in his pants.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He sighed. “Next time.”

“Oh yeah.” She sauntered out and he watched her sway. She had quite a lovely ass. In fact, he couldn’t wait to see her naked. To really see her. That interlude in the maze was too brief and he was so crazed with need he didn’t even really get a chance to look at her.

“I’m on the right. 1905.”

She waited for him at the door and he couldn’t unlock it fast enough. She walked in and he slammed the lock home and dropped the bags. One corner of her mouth slowly slid up into a sexy smile.

“Bedroom is right behind you,” he murmured, pushing her with his body.

When they got inside she stiffened and he did too, closing his eyes at his mistake.

“It stinks of her in here.”

“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t know you this morning. I didn’t know you last night. I didn’t know.”

She sighed and looked at the big bed, sheets still rumpled, the scent of sex faint in the air. The room stank of this other woman. She inhaled again. The redhead she’d met this afternoon who seemed good-natured enough.

“The redhead.”

He looked at her, surprised. And then he nodded. “It wasn’t ever anything between us. Just sex.”

“Oh, I feel much better now. Gee, let’s f**k in a bed drenched in your come for another woman!”

“I didn’t know! How can you be angry when I didn’t know?”

“It doesn’t have to be rational!” she yelled.

“Well, that’s good, because it isn’t.”

Her eyebrow, the one with the ring, slowly slid up and he wished he could take the words back.

“Okay, let’s just deal with this. I have clean sheets, I’ll change them.”

He bustled past her and went to a closet and came back, arms filled with dark blue sheets.

She wandered out of the room as he worked and he found her minutes later, staring out the windows near the fireplace.

She stared out into the night at the lights of the city and the river reflecting the moon and stars. Her skin itched with need for him, with the desire to touch and be touched by him. But her head, well, that was another story. She felt off balance. It was all happening so fast. She knew how it was, she accepted that he was her mate and most certainly she felt that way. Loved him, needed him, wanted him desperately.

But at the same time, she wondered why it was she had to be the one continually giving up stuff.

“I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted our first night together to be,” he said, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her waist. “The sheets are changed, I opened the windows to air it out. I’m running a bath, would you like to join me?”

She leaned her head back against his shoulder. “Yeah. And I know. We’ll get past it.”

“I’m going to grab some champagne. Why don’t you call your family while I get everything ready?”

She turned and looked into his eyes. He wasn’t that much taller than she was, just shy of six feet, so all she had to do was ease up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips softly. “Okay. I’ll be in in a few minutes.”

“Phone is right there behind you.” He kissed her once more and left her alone to make the call.

She didn’t bother calling the house, she knew that Cade and her parents would be at the resort by now with Lex and Nina, so she called Cade’s cell.

“Hey there, I was getting worried about you.” Cade’s voice was a comfort. “Congratulations, sweetie.

I’m so pleased for you.”

“Thanks, Cade.” Her breath hitched and she held back tears. She was happy, finding Nick was amazing, but she still felt sad at losing her old way of life. “I met his family today and they were all very nice. The joining is tomorrow night at seven at the Pack house.”

“Yeah, I worked out the visit with Ben. We’ll be there. I took the liberty of bringing down some more of

your clothes.”

She smiled, knowing that it would have been Nina’s idea. “Thanks, Cade.”

“You want to talk to Mom? She’s over the moon.”

“Uh, yes, but not right now. I’m getting ready to, uh, that is, we’re going to… I just don’t want to right now.” She truly would cry if she heard her mother’s voice, and she didn’t want to deal with that right before being with Nick.

“Gotcha,” he said, laughing. “Please do not elaborate. I’ll tell her you’ll call tomorrow. I love you, honey.

We all do and we’re so proud and happy that you’ve found your mate.”

“Thank you. I am too. He’s a good man with a good family.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow then. I love you.”

“I love you too, Cade.” Smiling, she hung up the phone and went off in search of her husband.

She found him in the giant bathroom, lighting candles. He was in his shirtsleeves, his tie off and his feet bare. The bathroom smelled of him and only him and she relaxed.

“Hi.”

He turned. “Hello there. Everything fine with Cascadia?”

“Oh yeah. Great. They’re all very happy and will be there tomorrow night. But enough about them. I’m so glad you’re still clothed because I want to see you strip for me.”

She stood there in the doorway, watching him, delighting in the way his breath hitched.