They'd been driving for a good four hours and had barely exchanged a word. But the silence between them was comfortable, something Ethan found strange considering how sexually tense they both were.
Not that he was any sort of expert when it came to knowing what it was like to spend time with a woman beyond the time of sex. He satisfied his needs, made sure both parties had a good time, and then he walked away. His work, his past and what he was allowed for nothing else. And yet here he was, enjoying silence. Amazing.
"You hungry?" she asked.
"Is that a question, or are you actually saying you're hungry?"
"The latter." Her cheeks dimpled. "I need to eat."
So did he. But he also needed her. And with night encroaching, that need was becoming more fierce. More undeniable. He pointed to the Mercedes up ahead. "You want to phone your grandmother and see if she wants to stop?"
She nodded and reached for her cell phone. The conversation with Gran was short, and when she'd finished there was heat in her cheeks.
He raised an eyebrow. "What did your grandmother say?"
"She said she's booked two adjoining cabins at Rogue River lodges. She said we should meet her there by ten."
That was over four hours away. Plenty of time to satisfy everyone's needs. "What else did she say?" There had to be something else to account for that flash of color in her cheeks.
She met his gaze boldly. If she was embarrassed, she'd gotten over it quickly enough. "She said that werewolves are extremely fertile during the moon phase."
He didn't know what to say. Or think. The old girl certainly didn't miss a trick.
"She also said I should remember to use condoms."
Was that tacit approval? Or merely acceptance of the inevitable? "That goes without saying."
"I haven't got any."
He smiled. "I have. They're extra strong to catch those over-fertile little rockets."
"Well ... good." A warm smile touched her lips. "You know, of course, that the trigger to release those rockets involves food."
"Including chocolate?"
"Chocolate will definitely earn you bonus points."
Then he was damn well going to find some chocolate. "The next town we hit is Bandon. Keep your eyes open for something to eat."
"And somewhere to have sex?"
Her voice was little more than a throaty purr and damn near shot his control to hell. He shifted slightly, but it did little to ease the sudden ache. "There's a blanket in the back, and we are near the ocean. That generally means beaches."
She raised an eyebrow, expression amused. "What is it with you and behavior that's likely to get us arrested?"
"Maybe underneath the cop there's a rebel trying to get out."
"There's certainly something trying to get out."
And with any sort of luck, it soon would. He pointed to the road ahead.
"Concentrate. Or I won't be able to."
She grinned, and her gaze retreated to the front. But over the next ten minutes, the atmosphere changed. Became tense. He glanced at her. She still stared ahead, but her expression had become a little glazed. When he touched her arm, she jumped.
"There's trouble ahead." She picked up her phone and quickly dialed. "Gran? Did you see an attack other than tonight?"
She listened for a moment, her expression growing tenser. "Well, that may be the case, but I can feel something waiting ahead of us, and it's not alive."