Page 44 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

His expression softens.“Okay.”

“But I want to be.”

His eyes darken.“I want that too,” he says.“When you’re ready.”

“You’ll wait?”

“As long as it takes.”

“What if I make you crazy?”

“Holly, you already make me crazy.”

I laugh softly.His smile curves, and the bond between us glows warm instead of hungry.I rest my head on his chest, and his arm tightens around me just a little.

Above us, the moon watches.For once, I don’t feel like it’s judging me.I feel like it’s witnessing.

After a while, Daniel says, “For the record, that sneeze was caused by pollen.”

I smile against his skin.“Of course.”

“It was very masculine.”

“Extremely.”

“Alpha-level sneeze.”

“I almost submitted from awe.”

He pinches my side lightly.I yelp and slap his chest.He laughs, and the sound rolls through the clearing, easy and warm and alive.My wolf curls contentedly beneath my skin, and I close my eyes.

This is still a bad idea.Probably.

But lying naked under the moon beside Daniel Reed, with my body warm, my heart scared, and my wolf happier than she has been in years, I can’t bring myself to run from it.Not tonight.

Tonight, I let myself stay.