Afterwards, when his breathing had slowed and his body had stilled, he cupped her face in his hand and turned her head so she was staring up into his eyes. His beautiful brown eyes, which were glowing amber with passion.
“Say you’re mine,” he commanded.
“I’m yours,” she whispered, heart beating a thousand miles a minute.
He nipped at her lower lip.
“Say I’m the only one for you.” He growled it into her mouth, and she let out a little moan of pleasure.
“You’re the only one for me.”
“And you for me.” He gathered her into his arms, crushing her up against him.
“I feel…That burning inside me, that madness that took over me, it’s…better. It’s lessening. As long as I have you with me, I’m all right,” he rasped.
“I’m with you,” she promised.
She felt him relaxing, and gradually his breathing slowed until it matched hers, and they were breathing in rhythm.
“We should get back,” she sighed, glancing at the sun sinking below the horizon. “The professor…everyone will be waiting and wondering. I wish we could stay out here forever.”
“We have forever,” he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her. “We’ll have all the time in the world.”
He reluctantly let go, sliding off her.
The two of them shifted again and dashed back through the woods, the cooling night air delicious in their fur. When they reached Loch’s parked patrol car, they quickly shifted back and changed into their clothing.
As they pulled to a stop in front of the boarding house, Loch suddenly turned to Ginger. “Come spend the night with me,” he pleaded.
She hesitated, biting her lower lip. “I want to, more than anything. But this thing with the shifter council…that’s no joke. I think we should keep this on the down low for a little while. Let people get used to me.”
He let out a low growl of frustration.
“All right…for now,” he said reluctantly. “But I don’t know how much longer I can wait to publicly claim you. I’m on fire when you’re not with me. My wolf claws at me from the inside.”
“I know,” she groaned, and reached for his hand. He pulled it away, clenching it into a fist. “If you touch me and I know I can’t have you…” His voice were harsh and his eyes dark and gleaming.
She nodded, and swallowed hard. “Soon. A few more days. Let’s give it a few more days. Maybe Portia will calm down and get over it.” Somehow, she doubted it, but she didn’t think it was a good idea for her and the sheriff to rub their relationship in Portia’s face right after Portia had basically been booted out of the sheriff’s office.
She climbed out of the car and headed back to the house.
Marigold and the students were all in the sitting room, and they looked up anxiously when Ginger walked in. Ginger shook her head. “I’m sorry, guys. There’s no news.”
The students faces fell, and they went back to muttering among themselves.
“You missed dinner, but we can reheat something for you in the kitchen,” Marigold said. “And by the way, you’re going to tell me absolutely everything.”
“You first. What about you and loverboy?” Ginger said, following.
Marigold shrugged, looking unhappy. “We went out. He was very nice to me. He’s funny. He kissed me good night and he’s a great kisser.”
“So?” Ginger grabbed a plate from the refrigerator and carried it over to the microwave.
“So, I already told you what I saw as our future.”
“But-“
“No buts,” Marigold grumbled. “My mother’s been divorced six times. She’s getting ready to marry number seven. I’m an expert in how relationships end. That’s why I try to avoid them.”
“So you’re not going to see him again?”
“Well, after he kissed me I found myself agreeing to let him cook me dinner at his place tomorrow night. I guess after dinner, I’ll tell him it’s over.”
Ginger shook her head, sighing. “You’re being ridiculous, but I can’t live your life for you.”
Under much prodding from Marigold, she gave her a g-rated description of her afternoon with the sheriff, including the fact that the niece of the local Council member had it in for her.
“What a bitch,” Marigold shook her head.
“You don’t know the half of it. I don’t know, I’m still…I’m so confused about everything. He says I’m his fated mate. He’s so completely different from me, this town is so different than everything I’ve grown up with, but it feels so right.”
“If it came right down to it, you could teach here just as well as you could teach in New York. I’d come visit you here.”
“Do you think that the whole fated mate concept is really a thing?”
“It’s a thing,” Marigold nodded solemnly. “A thing that I’ll probably never have. If he says that he’s your fated mate, then you are. The sheriff may be many things, but he’s not a liar. I can tell. Why fight it?”
Ginger fell asleep that night with a deliciously satisfied ache between her thighs, and was woken up early the next morning by a pounding on her door.
With a groan, she made her way across the room and yanked the door open.