I rolled us so I was on top and caged her in with a hand on each side of her shoulders.
“No.” It came out more growl than word. I glanced at my hands and saw fur covering the skin.
Damn it. I tried clearing my throat and focusing on holding my form. But it was hard when she was still smelling like breakfast and I was a starved man.
I lowered my head, intent on another taste.
“If you change into your fur, we’re done,” she whispered a moment before she lifted her lips to mine.
I didn’t hesitate this time. My tongue swept the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. She opened for me with a small, desperate sound, and I lost myself in her taste. Her hands drifted to my shoulders, her fingers digging into my skin. The feel of her body under mine burned into my memory. The touch of her tongue as she tentatively explored my mouth in return brought me to my mental knees. She owned me. I teetered on the edge of reason. I wanted to lose myself in the moment…in her.
Patience.
That one word had me pulling back.
I gazed down at her beautiful, flushed face and listened to her gasp for air. A look of wonder filled her expression as she gazed back at me. I’d done that.
Something in her eyes changed. They reflected a promise to fulfill my dreams. My slim grip on self-control weakened, and I leaned in to nuzzle her neck. She shivered. Unable to help myself, I tasted her skin. Her head rolled to the side.
“Emmitt,” she gasped. She moved restlessly under me, her hands petting my chest.
My teeth extended fully, and I opened my mouth. Just one nip. It wouldn’t establish a Claim but it would feel so good.
“We need to stop.”
It took a moment for the words to reach my ears.
“Emmitt, please stop.”
It took a moment more for them to register. Her hands weren’t petting. They were pushing.
I rolled away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. What had I almost done?
My teeth were full wolf. The ache in my cheek and jaw bones said the rest of my face wasn’t far behind. My control was non-existent. Years of military training. Years of suppressing the change in the face of aggression and annoyance. All of it meant nothing when it came to the scent of my Mate in need. I wasn’t a leader. I was a mess.
Her hand touched my arm.
“Are you mad?”
Mad? At her? Never. She should be livid with me, however. But she wasn’t. She was confused, though.
Unable to speak yet, I shook my head.
“This thing between you and me,” she said softly, “it’s definitely right. I don’t doubt it. I just don’t want to get so involved that we forget why we’re here. Once I deal with my past, I can focus on our future.”
Our future. Words I’d longed to hear. I turned toward her.
“As long as it takes, I’ll wait. I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me. The feel of her comforting me brought back a measure of control. But, a catch in her breathing had me pulling back slightly to study her face. She had that vacant look in her eyes again.
“Another vision?” I asked as she blinked and focused on me.
“Yeah. There’s an angry redhead out there somewhere who I wouldn’t want to run into. I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do with this information.”
“We’ll figure it out.” My stomach grumbled.
“Go shower,” she said, “and then let’s get something to eat.”
I hesitated, and she grinned at me. Was it so obvious I didn’t want to leave her? If she tried putting distance between us after that good morning kiss, it would be a long day.
* * * *
After a companionable breakfast where we talked about what we both wanted to do once Blake was no longer an issue, we went back to our room.
Michelle paced around restlessly and stopped by her bag. She opened it and pulled out her bikini. I hadn’t really thought about what I’d packed when we’d left the house. I’d jammed everything I could into her bag. Now, seeing it, I was so glad I had.
“Did you pack a suit, too?”
“I have something that’ll work.”
“Good. I’ll change in the bathroom. Let me know when you’re ready,” she said, closing herself in the room. I pulled a pair of loose athletic shorts out of my bag and was changed in seconds.
“Ready,” I called.
She laughed and the door remained closed for a few more minutes. When she opened it, she stood there in almost all her glory.
“I love that suit.”
She grinned and blushed slightly.
“Come on. Let’s go find the pool.”
I followed my nose. The burn of chlorine grew stronger as we got closer. Inside the glass doors, my eyes watered, and I tried breathing through my mouth. Hanging back while trying to adjust to the smell, I watched Michelle gingerly test the water with her toe.
Didn’t she know? Slow was never the way to enter the water.
I took two quick steps toward the pool, hooking my arm around her as I jumped over the edge. She squealed as I twisted midair and pulled her close to me. Water enveloped us, but I used a strong kick to keep us from going all the way under.
Michelle wrapped her arms around me and laughed. Under the cool water, we were pressed together, skin to skin. She read the direction of my thoughts, kissed my cheek, and told me to behave. Then, she slipped out of my arms and swam away from me. I dove under the water and came up a few feet in front of her.
“Going somewhere?”
She splashed me in the face and started a small war.
We played in the water and soaked in the hot tub before heading back to the room. I was starving. While Michelle showered, I ordered room service again. Two half-pound burgers and fries.
When she was done in the bathroom, I stepped in for a quick rinse. The stink of chlorine clung to my skin, messing with my sense of smell. It was probably why I was more interested in food than Michelle at the moment. The chlorine completely overpowered her scent.
She was sitting on the bed, flipping through channels, when I left the bathroom.
“What are we watching?”
“This movie looks interesting,” she said, showing me the description. “But it’s not on for another twenty minutes.”
I sat next to her and almost groaned when she turned on a cooking show. They were making steaks. My mouth watered, and my stomach cramped. Traveling away from home meant human-sized portions. While in the Army, it hadn’t been too much of a problem. The mess halls fed me, and I could grab food elsewhere. As long as my weight stayed within their standards, no one questioned how much or how often I ate as long as it was on my time.
My stomach continued to beg for food for the next twelve minutes. That was exactly how long it took before I heard someone moving outside our door. Michelle made an amused noise as I rushed to the door and yanked it open. I didn’t care. I wanted food.
I took the covered plates from the guy’s tray, tossed him a tip, and closed the door in his face.
“Remind me not to forget to feed you. You turn a bit feral.”
I grunted as I took a large bite of burger. She didn’t comment when I handed the burger with the bite out of it to her and started in on the other one. The movie came on just as she finished. I put the dishes in the hall again and joined her on the bed.