“You look beautiful. Even in jeans and a plain shirt you knock me out,” he murmured as his arms encircled her waist and she allowed herself to lean back into him.

“Thank you.”

Gently, he turned her in his arms until she faced him. “It feels so good to have you in my arms.” Leaning down, he kissed her quickly and then returned to her lips for a more thorough kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth like a lover.

She moaned softly and molded her body to his, putting her arms around his neck as she opened to him.

His taste rushed through her as her senses recognized him, her mate. Her loneliness was gone then, replaced by home and warmth. He filled the Ben-shaped space in her heart.

When he broke the kiss he looked into her eyes for long moments before smiling. “I hope you’re hungry. I cook when I’m nervous.” Keeping hold of her hand, he pulled her toward the dining room and sat her in a chair. “I’ll be right back, the salmon should be done.”

He ducked outside through sliding glass doors and opened a grill on his back deck.

The man had grilled steaks in January. Okay, then.

Smiling, she watched him come back inside and put a plate of heavenly smelling salmon on the table between them. Plates and bowls filled with all manner of vegetables and other side dishes littered the entire table top.

“Wine?” He held up a bottle of white wine and she nodded. Pouring it, he indicated the table. “Dig in.”

If she’d been human, Tegan doubted she’d have much of an appetite. Her nerves jangled and she felt wary and concerned even as being with him was comfortable. But her wolf needed the calories and protein so she dug in.

“This is really good. You’re an excellent cook.”

“Thank you. My mom and dad owned a restaurant in Renton for twenty-five years.

My sister runs it now. We’re all good cooks.”

“Really? I’d love to go there. That is, well, if you’re going to expose them to me.”

Sighing, Ben put his fork down and looked at her. Surprise bit into him as he realized he felt her agitation acutely, like it was his own. “Can I feel what you do?”

Wary, Tegan nodded. “There’s a link of sorts between us. When we’re in the same room we should be able to feel emotions from the other one. Strong emotions more so.”

“Okay. Then I can feel how upset and uneasy you feel. And I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be hurt or upset. This is all way over my head but even if you were a woman I was merely dating I’d want them to meet you. I’m very close to my family. I haven’t told them about this mating thing, but it’s more that I don’t quite know how to describe it than my being ashamed of you. I’m not. Confused as hell, but not ashamed of you. You’re beautiful, Tegan, strong, smart.”

Her eyes met his and she let out her tension, nodding.

They ate and talked around the elephant in the room until Ben stood and held his hand out. “Let’s just talk about all of this. Okay?”

Standing, she took his hand and followed him into the living room where they sat on the couch together.

“I’m still shocked after last night. I can’t lie. It took me by surprise and I don’t quite know how to feel about it all. But I know that I’m strongly attracted to you and I want us to see each other. I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know you. I can’t say I love you. I don’t know you. But I want you. So much my hands start shaking in the middle of my day when I think about you. And I like you. That’s a good start, isn’t it?”

“What are you saying?” Tegan eyed him cautiously, afraid to hope just yet.

“I’m saying I’d like to continue seeing you. If this is some kind of magical fated mate thing, it should work out that after we’ve known each other for a while, things will just move to the next step. Everything we talked about last night before we had sex still holds true for me now.”

“And what if I don’t want that?” Tegan pushed up from the couch and began to pace.

“What if I don’t want you to toy around with me while you decide if I’m worth being with?”

Panic surged through him for a moment at the thought of her walking away.

“Tegan, I don’t plan to toy around with you. Well, I’d like to use toys on you, but I truly want to get to know you. I think you’re worth being with. But for me, marriage is for when you love someone. And I don’t love you. I’m sorry if that’s hard to hear but I just met you. It takes time. I want to spend that time. Can’t you meet me halfway here?”

Sighing, Tegan went to look out the window and he followed, needing to touch her.

He stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. The scent of her body, the sweet smell of her shampoo tickled his senses and made him slightly crazy with need.

“I can’t say I understand what this is like for you. I’m not a werewolf. I only know how I feel and what I can sense through the link. I believe in this mate thing more every second I’m with you. I don’t want to hurt you. Can you help me get through this?”

“Yes. I’ll try.” Her voice was quiet and he wanted everything to be okay, wanted her to turn to him with joy in her eyes.

“Are we okay?”

She shrugged. “How the hell should I know? I hope so. I think so. I can’t not be a werewolf, Ben. My family is going to want to meet you. Those who haven’t already. We have a ceremony. I can put that off for the immediate future, but my family is important to me and I want you to know that going in.”