like Rob, but still, I know it’s because your wolf is pushing you. I don’t want to base a relationship on that biological urge. Especially when I don’t have the same one.”
I gripped her thighs. “You don’t…” I shook my head. Freaking out. After all these days… hell, all these nights we’ve spent together. I’ve shown her how I feel for her. In every action, every word. And she didn’t— “Fuck that. I know you feel something for me.”
She pulled my lips to hers. “I definitely feel something. I just… it’s too soon to call it love. And I want love. Not wolf lust.”
I dropped my head in the crook of her neck, stifling my roar of frustration. “I think we’re talking about the same thing. But I’m gonna give you time.”
I pulled my head back, so I could look her in the eye.
“So are you… going to show me your wolf?” Her voice held a teasing quality that went straight to my dick.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll show you my wolf if you play your violin for me.” I knew her feelings about music had taken a nosedive in grad school. I could smell the pain of it on her when she spoke of it. I didn’t want to pick the scab, but if there was any way I could help her find her way back to her love of music, I’d bet she wouldn’t feel quite so lost in Cooper Valley.
Her eyes widened. “The violin? I thought you’d say you wanted me to ditch the bikini or something.”
“That too,” I replied, reaching down to shift my dick in my jeans.
“Why do you want me to play?” she demanded.
I shrugged. “I want to hear you. It’s a huge part of your life—or it was—and I haven’t heard a note since you were a kid. Please?”
Her expression softened almost to wonder. “You really want to hear?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not that good. I mean, I’m okay, but my professors—”
“I couldn’t give a shit about your professors. I’ll bet you’re incredible.” I stepped back and gave her room.
She blushed and hopped off the kitchen counter. “Okay, I guess. Right now?”
“Bring it to the swimming hole. We can pack a picnic. I’ll bet the sunset over that waterfall is magnificent.”
Her expression went soft again. She rose up on her tiptoes to brush a kiss on my lips. “Sounds good, cowboy. I’ll get a blanket and my fiddle. I’ll play and you can shift and howl right along with me.”
That idea made me laugh, and for the first time since I pulled up, content.
“You want to grab some food from the fridge?”
“On it.” I gave her ass a smack as she left the room and checked her refrigerator. I made us some sandwiches and washed a bunch of grapes. She had a few bottles of iced tea that I grabbed and packed it all in the lunch cooler I took from my truck.
“Last one there is a rotten egg!” Natalie yelled, racing out the back door ahead of me, her arms laden with the blanket, towels, and violin.
I laughed and locked her place up before I took off running after her, catching her easily and grabbing her around the waist. “As if you could outrun a wolf,” I said, spinning her around before I set her, laughing, back on the ground.
She shoved her red curls out of her face and smiled up at me. The sunlight hit her face, giving her skin a luminous glow. “There’s probably nothing I can do better than you, is there?”
“A million things,” I said. “Starting with that.” I lifted my chin toward the violin. “Let me carry this.” I took the blanket, towels, and instrument case from her arms.
“Now you’re carrying everything,” she protested.
“Yep. And that’s the way I like it, darlin’.” I tossed her a wink, and she shook her head, but she was smiling.
She jogged ahead in her flip flops looking like a summer dream with her flaming red hair glowing bronze in the sunlight.
It didn’t take long to get to the swimming hole since it was on her property. I spread out the blanket while Natalie stripped out of her clothes.
“What I want to know,” I drawled as I strolled over to her, “is if you knew you were coming here with me—why you bothered with this bikini?” I tugged the string on the bow in back, and it sprang free, sending the bikini top flapping. I did the same to the bow at her nape, and