tucking her hands in his jeans and pushing. “Now.”
He pushed inside her, going slow, easily holding her, his body warm and strong. “You merely like me?”
Pleasure rippled through her, so much and so strong. She laughed, enjoying everything about him. He was more than she could’ve ever wanted—and she gave herself over. Finally. “All right. I love you. Happy now?”
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” He moved then, driving inside her, taking everything she was. “I think you knew exactly who I’d be. Who I am.”
Maybe. Although admitting that to herself hadn’t been easy. She’d been alone for so long, and now she’d found somebody who’d never let her go. Yeah, it was a dream she’d always held but hadn’t thought would work out. So much for handling him. “Harder.”
He went harder, his hands digging into her butt. The ripples were fast, the tide strong. She broke, the room flashing hot, the orgasm stealing her thoughts.
Dropping his head to her neck, he shuddered with his own release. “I love you, too.” Then he lifted his head, his gaze bright. “That’s fast, right?”
She laughed, happy and not alone. Not even close. “That’s immortality, Detective.” The faded mark on her palm tingled. “Or maybe it’s fate. Does it matter?”
“No.” He kissed her deep. “So long as it’s forever.”
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Tabi snuggled into Evan’s side as Dr. Mariana Lopez handed out cake. She took a piece and then handed one to her mate. Her stubborn, sexy, more than she could’ve ever imagined, mate.
“You took the one that has more frosting,” he said, his lips at her ear.
She laughed. He’d given her video to her earlier, and they’d smashed it together. She smiled at Abby sitting next to Noah, trying to steal a frosting flower from him. Cocking her head, she watched Raine Maxwell refuse a piece of cake, his gaze on the shrink.
Mariana sat and smiled. “You’ve all graduated, and I’m so proud of you.”
Tabi took another bite of cake. “You’re a good counselor.”
“Thanks, but I’m heading back to working with kids. No offense, but adults are too much work.” Mariana took a sip of the punch and then frowned. “Who spiked this?”
“I did,” Raine said. “Thought we could use something fun.” His gaze heated on the woman.
Tabi looked around. “The sheriff’s moronic kid hasn’t been back in weeks. He doesn’t graduate, does he?”
“No,” Mariana said, crossing her legs. “I already let the court know, but we’ll see what happens.”
Evan set his cake aside and reached for the punch. Obviously the alcohol interested him.
Tabi finished her extra frosting, her heart warm. “Evan’s running for sheriff. We need a committee, if you’re interested.”
Raine’s eyebrows rose. “You’re staying in town?”
“For a while,” Tabi confirmed. At least fifty years, but then they’d have to go. “We’re rebuilding my factory that somehow caught on fire, and Evan wants to clean up the town. So we’re here for now. You?”
“I have a mission and am leaving tonight,” Raine affirmed.
Well. So much for Raine and the shrink. The woman was enhanced, somehow, but Tabi didn’t know with what. Probably empathy since she had become a psychiatrist. She could’ve sworn Raine had seemed interested. Too bad.
Mariana looked up at Raine, her expression inscrutable. “There’s still an open homicide case, and I think all the witnesses, meaning everyone in this room, has to stay available.”
He smiled then, and the sight looked like a warning. “Oh, I’ll be back, Mariana. Probably sooner than you’d like.”
Tabi swallowed. All righty, then.
Noah finally gave his frosted flower to Abby. “We’re staying a while as well. Abby wants to help rebuild the factory, and she likes working with Tabi.” He grinned. “If you become sheriff, you’ll need a deputy. I’d like to help clean up this town, too. I guess doing it by running for office isn’t a bad way.”
Tabi smiled. No doubt, Noah had just planned to rip off the sheriff’s head, since he’d threatened Abby. This was a better way to go. Two immortals in small town law enforcement. Life was weird. “That’s true.”
Evan nodded. “I’d like that.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “See? That’s a good plan.”
Yeah, probably better than what she’d had in mind for the sheriff. “All right, handsome. We’ll try it your way.” She leaned up and kissed him, sighing when he took over. So long as they were together.
He leaned back and smiled. “Forever.”
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Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Rebecca Zanetti, discover Vengeance, Blaze Erupting, Tangled, Teased, and Tricked.
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Coming April 13, 2021 from