Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,102
her cheek, her jaw, her other cheek, his eyes gazing into hers. “You needed full-time protection and a full-time assistant.” She parted her luscious lips to say something, but he quickly added, “In addition to a mate.”
She sighed. “I agree.” She kissed his chin. “We’ll work in the most pleasurable mating business anytime we can”—she slipped her hands down to his buttocks and pulled his groin even tighter against her—“but I’m really glad to get a…partner in all things. Still, having a career you love is something to consider. And it’s important for our kind to have police detectives who are wolves who can protect us when we’re in our wolf coats. It’s not about just me. It’s necessary for all of our kind, so I don’t want you to feel you have to retire right after the case is solved.”
“A mating is forever. A police job is not. I don’t need to be there for everyone. You are the one I need to be there for. Finding the she-wolf for me is more important than any temporary job I might be working. I put my twenty years in. I’ll work as long as it takes to take these men down, and then I’m retiring. You need me, sure, but I need you even more. You said so yourself. I’m the perfect wolf for the job.”
“Oh yeah.” She kissed him on the mouth as they continued to dance, their bodies working up the heat, and he knew if anyone was watching them dance, they’d realize no other bachelor males had stood a chance. “I just wanted you to be sure.”
He chuckled and kissed her again. “Are you kidding? I am.”
Brooke laughed. Josh loved her laughter. It made him feel lighthearted, and he would always remember this pack Christmas party above all others. His first with his lovely mate.
She rubbed up against him in her pretty red sweater dress. “This has been the perfect day, and you’re making me hot and needy.”
Josh smiled down at the vixen. “You’re the one who’s making me rise to the occasion.”
Trying to get his mind off what her body was doing to his, since they couldn’t do anything about it right this minute, he glanced around at everyone else who was dancing. One of the older wolves was playing Santa, sitting on a throne while the reindeer were nibbling carrots on either side of him and the kids were standing in line to sit on Santa’s lap to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Someday, Josh figured, he and Brooke would have kids of their own standing in that line to sit with Santa. He couldn’t believe they were mated already, but he sure was glad about it. When he retired, he could be there with her day and night and always protect her.
He thought of Christmas Day and what he could get for her. He knew she said she didn’t want anything, but what would be the fun in that? Then he thought of the perfect gift. She’d mentioned she needed to renovate the kitchen. The pack had a cabinetmaker, plumbers, and electricians. He’d make up a gift certificate for her for one completely overhauled kitchen, and he’d take her all over to find just the right tile, appliances, and cabinet styles to create the kitchen she’d love. He’d get a book on different styles of kitchens to give her some ideas of what might work in addition to the gift certificate, and she could have a new kitchen after the holidays.
“Hey, did you want to get something to eat?” she asked after dancing a few dances.
“Sure.” He took her to one of the tables filled with platters of turkey, ham, and cheeses, potato salad, green salad, and pumpkin pie, cherry pie, pecan pie, and chocolate cake topped with a snowman decoration, with wolves on either side of him and trees behind them, perfect for a wolf Christmas party.
They filled their plates and picked up cups of mulled wine and sat at one of the tables at one end of the barn. The tables were covered in red tablecloths, and each had a poinsettia bouquet in the center, making them perfectly festive.
Adam and Sierra joined them, and then Maverick did too. Josh noticed Lucas was dancing with a teen girl, the one he was living with now. He was glad to see Lucas having fun.
“He’s enjoying himself,” Brooke said. “I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I’m glad he stole the reindeer before