Marie Harte: A Matter of Pride

If she gave him twenty bucks, he’d probably spend it on beers for his friends. The man needed her money like he needed a hole in his head. Dear God, he really loved her. She swallowed hard. “Yeah, well, what do I get if I take you on?”

“My wonderful family,” he deadpanned.

She laughed, then remembered she was supposed to be freaking out about her future.

“And my fine body. Come on, Stace. You have to admit I have a stellar tongue.”

“Hmm. There is that. But how do I know you won’t throw me over for some other woman?”

He snorted. “I’ve already been through the ladies out here. Hello? Still single.” His eyes darkened as he looked her over. “Or I was single, until you.”

She teetered on decision’s edge, ready to change her life forever. “So maybe if we stayed here, I’d be more comfortable. I mean, there’s less competition for me. You’ve already slept with most of the town,” she added to be nasty.

His breath hitched. “Yeah. That’s true. No one else for me here to work my wiles on.”

“I guess your family will keep you busy enough that you’re not always clinging to me while I’m working. I’ll have my hands full trying to bring style to this poor little town.”

“Yep. Think about Cougar Falls, baby. They need you. Miami doesn’t need you as much.”

“Hmm. But how do I know I’ll be happy here?”

He shook his head. “That was my line. Seems to me you still owe me for not trusting me from the beginning. Lying about Quince. About Lex. Getting me all beat up.”

“You’re healed.” But she choked up, remembering him so helpless, so hurt while Hunters and rogues surrounded them.

His expression softened. He caught a tear from her eyelash. “Uh-uh. You’re not getting off so easy.”

“What?”

“I’m not buying the tears. I’m the walking wounded. I’ll carry scars on my fine body for life.”

“You mean until you shift back and forth a few times and heal.”

“Well, yeah, but it will feel like forever.” He shook his head. “I think you should take at least one pain away.”

“Oh?”

He glanced down at his erection.

The schemer. God, she loved him. Dean used jokes and laughter to work through his problems. She’d seen him joke his way out of bigger trouble, and right now, the love she felt vibrating through their tied spirits radiated joy.

Only a moron would walk away from a future with Dean, and Stacey refused to be led by fear. If Dean tried cheating or messing her over, she’d make him pay. The thought encouraged her.

“So wounded,” he said again and tugged his pants down to free himself. He didn’t wear underwear. “I bet a few kisses would make everything better.”

“I’ll just bet.” Stacey scooted down the bed and gently pried his legs apart, aware of his real injuries still healing. “Throbbing, is it?”

“You have no idea,” he answered, his voice gravelly.

She didn’t give him any warning and took him to the back of her throat.

He groaned her name and arched off the bed, his hands in her hair, his cock hot and wet. She sucked and licked, teasing his balls while she loved him with her body, mind and spirit.

“God I love you,” he moaned as she stroked the underside of his shaft and scraped his inner thighs with sharp nails.

She flicked her tongue along his slit, lapping up his cream, and she purred when his animal spirit crept through her, petting her cat.

“Christ, I’m coming. So hard, baby. Oh God. Stacey. Take me.” He pumped and filled her mouth with seed. And while she absorbed his essence, his cat entwined with hers, scent layering over them both and settling into a connection that would never fade, never end.

She finished swallowing and let him fall from her mouth. Rising to her knees, she stared at the puckered flesh of claw and bite marks. Saw the play of strong muscle there beneath her thighs and gaze. Dean Chastell—all hers and only hers. The way it should have been all along.

“You’re looking at me like you’re going to eat me again,” Dean teased in a thick voice. “I like it.”

“You should, Jethro. Not just any man can handle me in all my glory.”

He grinned, and his smile made him absolutely beautiful. “You’re going to want a really big house, aren’t you?”

“And an even bigger ring.”

He chuckled. “You’re paying for it, moneybags.”

“I know. But we’ll pretend you hocked your life savings just for me.”

“I will if you want me to.”

And she knew he would. Money didn’t mean much to Dean. Family, love, a mate. Those were his riches. And now hers too.

“I just want you, Dean.” She paused. “There’s just one thing.”

“What?”

She liked that he looked wary. He might play dumb, but the man had an uncanny way about him. “No jeans and no flannel at our wedding. And when we have date nights twice a month, you wear the clothes I set out for you.”

“Hell. You’re going to be a pain in my ass about this, aren’t you?”

“Every damn day for the rest of your life, Gomer. Count on it.”