"Because I have every intention of making love to you as often as I can over these next few days, and if I pushed now, that isn't likely to happen."
His words did little to ease her heart's unsteady pounding. "Self preservation indeed."
He shrugged. "I'm a werewolf caught in moon fever. I need sex. But it's you I want this phase, no one else."
Then she had to thank the moon's presence, because without it she might not be standing here with this man. Might not have the promise of mind-blowing sex to warm her dreams.
"Will you be able to sleep on the sofa, or would you prefer to take the bed?"
"I'm not going to be able to sleep anywhere." His voice was ironic. "Not for a while yet."
Her gaze flicked down. "Oh. Sorry."
"I'm not." He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her lips. "Pleasant dreams."
She had a feeling they would be beyond pleasant. As she headed inside, she thought she heard a sigh of disappointment coming from her grandmother's bed.
* * * *
Warmth caressed her face, warming her senses. Kat yawned and stretched then opened her eyes. Her watch showed it was just past twelve. She hadn't slept long enough, but it was all the time she could afford.
She found a clean shirt, dug up a skirt then headed into the bathroom. By the time she'd showered and dressed, her grandmother was awake and sitting at the table reading the paper. Ethan had come inside and was on the sofa, talking into a cell phone. But his gaze met hers and arousal was instant. The sooner they got down and dirty, the better off they'd both be.
She turned on the kettle, then crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the small counter. "The aches better?"
Gwen grinned and said softly, "Better than yours, I'd wager."
"Don't start on me. It's likely to get unpleasant."
"This is exactly what I was talking about. Totally disagreeable when unsatisfied."
"Gran — "
Gwen held up her hand. "All I'm saying is these old ears are deafer than you think."
"Yeah, right." The woman had the hearing of an elephant. She just didn't have the floppy ears to go with it.
The kettle whistled shrilly. Kat made them all a cup of coffee, handing one each to Gwen and Ethan before sitting down at the table with her own.
"So, have you tried to do a reading yet?"
"Briefly. You know how difficult it is when I've just woken."
She nodded. "See anything of use?"
"One interesting point. It seems this thing knows about you and Ethan, but not yet about me, which is definitely in our favor."
"But it doesn't mean we don't have to worry about your safety any less than our own."
Gwen reached across the table and briefly squeezed Kat's hand. "But if I'm not seen with you, then their thoughts will be concentrated on you rather than me and perhaps give me a clear field in which to see their minds and know their intentions."
They could only hope. "Even so, I want you to start using warding stones whenever we're not here."
Gwen nodded, then gave Ethan a smile as he sat down with them. "I also got a call from Seline. She thinks this thing is called a mara. It's a Japanese spirit who enters houses as either a cat or as vapor to seduce men in their sleep then steal their souls."
"It's stealing souls, but it's certainly not seducing men to do it."
"No. But Seline's still digging around, so she might find a reason."