He paused as he considered it. “All right. Agreed. Now, my house is bigger and closer to your job. I have a home office there where I do a lot of work so I don’t have to be at the station all the time. Still, I’m willing to consider living here. I like the neighborhood and if it makes you happy, we can work things out.”

As a cop, she knew his getting called into work all the time in the middle of the night was a possibility. She often had to go in at odd hours as well. In truth, while she loved the house and it was hers, it was inconvenient to have to commute and his house was nicer.

Bigger. More convenient for both. But she had a few things to clear up.

“Did your ex-fiancée live there?”

“No. I bought that house after. But other women have been there. Spent the night.

The weekend. But they aren’t what you are. If you want though, we can buy a place together. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“I don’t know. I may have to spend the night a few times to see. My wolf doesn’t like it.”

He cocked his head, taking her measure. “Explain that. Your wolf?”

“I don’t know if I can but I’ll try. I’m one person. My wolf is a part of me like my skin, like my liver or my lungs. But she’s primal. She’s the least reasonable part of me.

I’m not a different person when I shift into my wolf skin. I’m the same person just with four feet and fur. But my vision is different. My perception is different. I’m not out of control or in a killing rage like in the movies.”

“I know that. I’ve seen Lex in wolf form when he tracked a suspect. He was…” Ben chewed his lip, “…still Lex. But different.”

She nodded. “Yes. I’m still in there, and she’s inside my human skin right now. And she does not like the idea that other women have been in a bed where I’ll be. She doesn’t like that at all.”

He smiled. “She’s got nothing to worry about. You have nothing to worry about.

Tegan, I…I love you. There’s no one else, there never has been anyone who meant to me what you mean to me. There never will be. I don’t have a wolf inside me to know that.

And yet, I’m utterly certain of it.”

Tegan knew there’d have to be a lot of give and take if they meant to make a go of things.

“Okay, we can live at your place. For now. And I’m buying us a new bed. Today.”

“Thank you, Tegan. I know this is difficult and I appreciate all you’re doing to work with me. I’ve been meaning to get a new bed anyway. I don’t suppose my luck has held out long enough for you to have reconsidered not being on this team?”

“I laugh at your feeble attempts.”

Standing, he moved quickly to her, pulling her against him. “You need to be sure to get a four poster bed. Sturdy.”

He loved the way her eyes blurred just a moment and a sexy smile curved her lips.

“That so? You use those toys on any other women? Because the woman and the wolf won’t be having any of that.”

“No, ma’am. The toys I’ve used on you are all new, I bought them for you. I’ll be sure to get rid of any old stuff. The rope is new but since that got shredded when, well when we bonded, I’ll need more. We’ll need more.”

“Good. Now, I have to get to Cade’s. I’ll see you at two for the meeting.” She rifled in a drawer in the kitchen and pulled out a ring with two keys on it. “Here. House and garage.” She gave him the code to the security system but he walked out with her, leaving when she did. He didn’t want her to be out there alone when he could be there too.

Tegan walked through Cade’s garage and up into the house. Milton, Tracy’s crazy three-legged dog, barked and bumped her with his head until she bent and scratched behind his ears and gave him a squeeze. Damned dog was nearly as irresistible as Ben was.

“So without further ado, are things okay?”

“Hi, Nina, good morning to you. No, traffic wasn’t too bad today.” Tegan poured herself a cup of coffee and rolled her shoulders. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before.

“Har. Now that your attempt to be cutting has failed miserably you were going to tell us about Ben.”

Tracy, who’d wandered in and grabbed a bagel, sat at the table, laughing.

“Yes, things are fine. More than fine. I’m moving into his house this weekend.”

Nina grinned. “I take it he finally admitted the truth of the bond? That he loved you and not just f**king you?”

“He did. We talked a long time in between other things. Anyway, we’re good.

There’ll be trouble in the future, he’s very much like a male wolf. He’s as stubborn as Lex, if such a thing is possible. Not pleased at all I’m going to be on the Pellini team. I told him to get over it. Puhleeze, does the man not get that I’m a freaking werewolf? He’s seen me change, it’s not like he hasn’t dealt with Lex in a full-on rage. Still, it’s kind of nice in a stifling and yet sort of cute guy way.”

Nina hugged her. “Yes. When they’re not being annoyingly over-protective, they’re good in bed, they carry groceries and are nice to look at. I’m glad he finally came to his senses. Tracy said he looked like he wanted to kill Josh last night.”

Tegan told them about Ben’s reaction and they were all still laughing as Megan came in and they traded notes between shifts.