Chapter 15: Slow

That night the midwife took Lark again and shut my door behind her without a word.

Rowan stood in the middle of my den with his coat still on.

"You don't have to," he said. "Not tonight. You stood in front of three packs today."

"I know what I stood in front of."

I crossed the floor and undid his top button.

"Six years, he was in my bed and I was still alone in it," I said. "Tonight I want someone in it."

He caught my hand against his chest.

"Then I'm slow tonight," he said. "Last time you made me fast."

"I did."

"This time you'll lie there and let me."

My whole body answered before I did.

"Make me," I said.

He took my face in both hands and kissed me until my knees went.

It was a long, deep kiss. His tongue stroked mine, and I felt his beard against my chin and the heat of his palms along my jaw.

He walked me back to the bed.

He undressed me an inch at a time.

He pulled my sweater up and kissed the skin as it showed, my ribs, my belly, the pale scar low on my stomach.

He kissed that last.

I put my hand in his hair.

"Rowan."

"I'm here."

"Tell me what you saw at the Council gatherings. All of it this time."

He lifted his head, and his hazel eyes were dark.

"The first time, I came in late," he said. "Every Alpha in the room was staring at Bram's gold."

"I looked behind him, and there was a silver wolf, taller than his, standing so still."

"She never looked at anyone. She watched the door. She watched where he would run if it went wrong."

"I thought, whoever that is, she's the strongest thing here, and she's been told to be quiet."

My throat closed.

"I went home and could not stop thinking about you," he said. "I'm not saying it to be kind. It was a long, stupid four years."