Venus Moon

Liana had never felt so satiated, so replete, in her life. So emotionally fulfilled. And so scared. Would he be back? Would he want more from her than sex? When he cleared his throat, she tried not to tense in anticipation.

“Problem?” he asked, his warm breath fanning her cheek.

She shook her head. “How could I have a problem? This was unbelievable. You’re unbelievable.”

“Good.” He was so silent she could almost hear the gears shifting in his brain. “Listen, Liana….”

She pressed her fingers against his lips. “Don’t say it. Please.”

He took a closer look at her face. “Don’t say what? What’s the matter?”

“It’s all right, Charlie. You didn’t force me into anything. This was my choice. And I know—”

“Know what?” He sat up so fast his arm yanked out from under her. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“It’s one thing to intellectually know about shifters. Even to see them. But it’s hard to—”

“You must think I’m some piece of shit.” He was angry, his voice harsh. “You think all I wanted was a quick fuck with someone who’s…different and then I’m going to run away? Even after a year, you don’t know me very well.”

“I just—”

He bent his head and kissed her, hard. “I was about to ask you if I could come by again tomorrow night. And not just for sex. To talk. To spend more time together.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I know it’s late. Jesse and I don’t get the primo shift. But I was hoping…. Damn it, anyway.”

This was the last thing he’d expected, but he should have known. He remembered how hard it had been for Jesse at first. But also how quickly he and Alexa got past their…differences.

Liana sat up and put her small hands on either side of his face as he willed the anger to leave him.

“Charlie, I’m just letting you know you have an out if you want it.”
“Well, I don’t, damn it. I want more. Much more. How does that sound to you?” She kissed him then, and he felt her lips smile against his. “It sounds wonderful.”

“I love you in both forms, Liana. Yeah, that’s right. Love. I haven’t been hanging out here for a year just because of some sick fascination. I love you.”

She took one of his hands and pressed it against her left breast. “Feel how hard my heart beats?”

He nodded.

“That means I love you, too. But let’s not wait until tomorrow night. Come into the house with me. We’ll talk and hang out together.” She touched her mouth to his again. “And have more wonderful sex. But right now, we’d better get inside. When I strip you naked, I want the sight all to myself.”

She rose lightly to her feet and held out a hand to him. He gathered his clothes and the quilt and followed her to the back porch. A strange peace had stolen over him, the first he’d had since he and Jesse had started working on the gang task force, putting their lives out there every night.

Inside the house, she stopped, tugging at his hand.

“In case you wanted to know, I won’t shift any more tonight. It takes energy, and you certainly made sure I used up plenty of it.” She grinned at him.

“It won’t scare me if you do,” he told her in a low voice. “The only thing that could scare me is if you told me you didn’t love me.”

She threw her arms around him and pressed her body to his. “No worries on that score, big boy. The wolf and me—you’ve got us for life.”