then giggled when Dirk did the same and she noticed his white feet. She quirked a brow at him and said, ?I guess you don?t make it to the beach often??
?I?ve never had the time,? he answered, ?Or the desire, to be quite honest.?
?Why now then?? she questioned.
He grabbed onto her and pulled her in close, whispering, ?All those sappy romances I guess.?
Jane blushed at his words and smiled in response.
Dirk spun and pulled her down the beach to a stand a vendor had set up. He placed two towels on the counter, then handed the money to the man.
As they walked away, Jane stared at him questioningly, ?I don?t have a bathing suit.?
?I don?t either,? he smiled down at her.
Jane?s breath caught and her mouth fell open. Her jaw worked as she tried to speak, but in her stupor, no words would come. Finally, she got out, ?I? I think you?re only aloud to do that on some of the European beaches.?
Dirk?s head fell back as he laughed, his chest rising and falling quickly. Jane glared at him, not understanding why he thought her sense of decency was amusing, but enjoying the way his eyes danced as he laughed.
Finally, his laughter ceased and he replied, ?That?s not what the towels are for. I thought we might find a quiet place to sit in the sand for a bit and watch the waves roll in.?
?Oh,? Jane answered, embarrassed that she?d jumped to such a conclusion. It was silly really. As possessive and jealous as the males of her race were, there was no way Dirk would even consider asking her to skinny dip in front of others.
Dirk placed his arm around her shoulder, tucking her in to his side as they walked. Jane inhaled the salty air and relaxed at the warmth of the sun shining down on her. Her wolf stirred, wanting to be released to run through the sand and splash in the water. That was the only thing that could make the moment better. If only she could turn her wolf loose to roam with Dirk.
They walked until they reached a pier and Dirk led her underneath it, placing the towel down on the cool sand. Being in the shade was a refreshing change after walking the beach under the heat of the sun. They sat down on the towels and Dirk leaned closer to her, eyes closed, inhaling the scent of her hair. Goosebumps arose on her skin at the close proximity and a smile crept onto her face that she wasn?t aware of.
Spending this time with her mate brought her sheer joy, a feeling that she hadn?t felt until she?d discovered who he was.
She felt a chill as the wind blew in the cool air from the ocean. It had felt good to get out of the sun, but the breeze made her shiver momentarily. But only for a moment. Dirk smiled at her quiver and moved closer to her. She could feel the heat radiate from him and seep into her, her body absorbing it like a sponge. Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and it felt as though he?d constructed an invisible shield around them, blocking the damp ocean air.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and saw him smiling at her. ?Thank you,? she murmured shyly.
He leaned in further and rested his cheek on her head. ?It is my job to take care of you, mein Liebling.?
?What does that mean?? she whispered. She?d wanted to ask before, but found it easier to voice the words now that he was leaning against her instead of looking down at her.
?Mein Liebling?? he replied, shifting to face her and her body quivered again, but this time, not from the cold. He looked down in her eyes and although she felt embarrassed, she was stuck, like she was caught in a trance, with no way to pry her eyes from his. ?It means ?my darling? or ?my beloved?.? He whispered against her face.
Jane immediately blushed at his explanation, but before she could stop it, another question jumped from her throat, ?Do you really feel so deeply for me??
She instantly regretted blurting the words. Dirk?s expression faltered a bit and she knew that her question had brought rise to one of his own. ?Did she care deeply for him??
?Yes,? he answered without hesitation. ?From the moment I knew who you were, and my feelings for you multiply with every second I spend