the edge of the woods. He had no destination in mind beyond getting far away from her father’s angry stare and cutting words, just slipping away from the compound to be alone with Annie. He wondered if Lily’s cottage might be empty and then decided it was damned time for him to build his own house.
He’d need one when he took Annie as his mate, because there was no way he was ever giving her up, but he wished he knew what she was thinking. She’d locked everything down when her dad started in on all the reasons why Alex wasn’t a suitable partner for her. She hadn’t agreed with anything Tinker said, but she hadn’t defended Alex, either.
Of course, she’d never let go of his hand the entire time they were at the house. That had to mean something. He glanced her way and said, “Your dad’s never going to look beyond the fact I was a jerk when I was a pup.”
Annie wrapped her hands around his arm and hugged him against herself. “You were never a jerk. You were a pain in the butt for the adults at times, but never because you were a jerk.”
He turned and raised his eyebrows. “Thank you. I think.”
She punched his arm. “You know what I mean. You were a cutup and always thinking out of the box, but you weren’t a bully, and you never, ever did anything to make anyone feel bad.” She giggled, adding, “Though I imagine you gave the older generation a few extra gray hairs.”
“My father said he never felt his age until I turned into an eagle and flew up into a tree out in the yard to get a kite that got caught in the branches. I was about six, and that was the first time he saw me shift, even though Lily and I had been shifting for months already.” He chuckled softly. “I think that was about the same time Lily was taking her historic walk on the astral, meeting up with all the Chanku ancients. Goddess, but I hate to think what my kids will be like.”
“I think that’s the problem, you know.” She stopped and gazed up at him, and Alex felt it like a punch to the gut. She was breathtaking and wonderful—and everything he’d ever wanted.
And he wanted those kids of his with her. No one else.
Unfortunately, her father had said and done just about everything he could to discourage Annie from loving him. “What? Beyond the fact Tinker would like to strangle me.”
“Oh, he doesn’t want to strangle you,” she said, but her eyes twinkled. “He merely wants you to move far away, preferably to another country, until he can find what he considers a suitable mate for his poor, pathetic, not-so-bright daughter.”
He looped his arms over her shoulders. “What daughter would that be? Because there’s nothing pathetic about you, and you’re one of the smartest women I know.”
“Ya think?”
He shrugged. “Of course I do. You love me, don’t you?”
She nodded, but there was no sense of laughter when she said, “Yes, Alex. I love you more than I can say. So much it’s sort of scary, to have this much feeling about someone. It makes me feel afraid and vulnerable.”
He took her hands in his. “But why? You have to know I love you. That I will do whatever it takes to convince your parents I’m the right man for you.” He leaned close and kissed her. Her lips were full and soft and whispered against his, promising so much more. He lost himself in her taste, her textures, the fullness of her love. It wasn’t easy to end the kiss, but he did.
“You do think I’m the right man, don’t you?” Dear Goddess . . .
“Of course I do, but that doesn’t make this any less terrifying.”
“Because of what your dad said?”
She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, but she had a huge grin on her face. “Goddess, no. I hope you realize the only reason I didn’t argue with him is because he wasn’t in the mood to listen. I would have been wasting my breath, along with arguments I may need to use later.” She laughed. “Alex, don’t worry. He wants everyone to think he’s big and scary, but my father is an absolute softy. He loves me and he worries, just as you will worry when we have our own young. Mom will talk him around. She loves you,