Keri Arthur - Circle of Desire

She might love this man, but they really didn't know each other. And right now, she wasn't certain they ever would.

She put down her coffee and turned around. The nut-

coloured eyes that had haunted her dreams the last few nights met hers, his gaze all but consuming her. Her breath caught somewhere in her throat, and for a second all she could do was stand and stare. Then his hands slid under her shirt and around her waist, his touch sending a flash fire of desire across her skin as he pulled her close to him. But that flash fire was nothing compared to the heat in his eyes. Her heart snagged right along with her breath, and the whole world seemed to spin around her. He leaned forward, his mouth capturing hers, his kiss passionate and tender and oh-so wonderful.

"I missed you," he whispered, his breath warm against her lips when he finally pulled away.

"It's was only two days." Even though it had felt like an eternity.

"Two days and one night," he corrected, gently brushing the back of his finger down her cheek. "You have no idea how angry and how scared I was to arrive back at our cabin the following morning to discover you and Gwen gone."

His words sent hope and joy tumbling through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lightly kissed his chin. "You were scared? I can't even imagine that."

"Then walk away from me now, and you'll see true terror."

His words seemed to echo through every fibre of her being. Never had she heard eleven sweeter words. She smiled and let her gaze search his. "Do you want me to walk away?"

"Not ever." He hesitated. "Can you ever forgive me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For hanging on to a dream that didn't exist."

"Jacinta?"

He nodded. "I loved her, but I don't think I was ever in love with her. As my brother pointed out, I was never tempted to perform the moon ceremony with her."

Her throat went dry, and the giddy sense of happiness died a little. "But you did perform it — the night before the full moon. It was Jacinta you were seeing, not me."

The smile teasing his wonderful mouth made her heart do another heady dance. "Did I ever say her name?"

"No — " "Then how do you know I was seeing her and not you?"

"Because you said a witch had told you the woman of your dreams would be waiting for you."

"And a witch did tell me that, didn't she?"

"Well, yeah, but — " He cut her words off with a kiss. When he pulled back a second time, his feelings were in his eyes. The air sang with the sheer depth of them, so that it felt like she was breathing in his love with every breath.

"I was seeing you," he said. "I howled your name to the moon. It appears my animal half was certain that I loved you even when my human half continued to dither."

"Then I'm glad the full moon was close and the wolf took charge, because I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you."

"Then marry me. Let's finish what the moon began."

The tears in her eyes made his face shimmer before her.

"Yes. Though there is something I should tell you."

"If it's the fact that you're a shifter, I know. Gwen told me."

"I bet she didn't tell you I'm pregnant."

"No." Amusement tugged his lips, and his eyes shone. "I figured that out myself. There could only be one reason why you were so certain you didn't get pregnant the night we made our promises — because you already were." He brushed his hand down her hair. "I don't think I can ever describe how happy I am. Or how fiercely I want to see you round and fat with our child."

"Children," she corrected with a smile. "Gran tells me I'm carrying twins."

He didn't seem surprised. "I hope they're girls. I hope they have their mother's beautiful green eyes and midnight-coloured hair."

She cupped a hand against his cheek and ran a thumb over the lips she could kiss forever. "I thought most men wanted sons."

"I'm not most men."

She let her fingers trail down his chest and stomach until she touched the hard length of him. "Definitely not."

He grinned and pressed her back against the gazebo's wall. "I can feel the wolf taking charge again."

His hands slid up to her breasts and slowly, teasingly, he brushed his thumbs across her aching nipples. As the ripples of sweet sensation flooded across her body, she found herself hoping there was no one else in the garden.

If there was, they'd be seeing a little more than trees and shrubs all too soon.

"This wolf of yours seems to have an exhibitionist nature," she gasped His touch slid down her waist, and the sound of the skirt's zipper being pulled down filled the silence. "It's the company I keep. She drives me insane."

A feeling that was totally mutual. "Promise me two things."

"Anything," he murmured, pushing her skirt past her hips.

"Promise to give me lots of children."

He looked up, and his eyes were filled with such fierce love her heart quaked. "I intend to."

"And promise never to curb the wolf's desires."

His wicked grin was the only answer she would ever need.