He held her in his lap and watched the slight smile that still hovered on the edges of her lips. This woman was a goddess. Pure and simple. Lush and full, she was everything a man could ever desire.
"That was incredible," she breathed, reaching up to run her fingers along his jaw. "Yes, it was," he breathed gently, still amazed at what he had felt inside a human female. Maybe Acheron had been right after all. Maybe there was more human in him than he thought. It was the only reason he could think of for why he felt the way he did right now.
A phone rang from outside the dressing room.
She jumped in his arms, then checked her wristwatch. "Oh no," she breathed.
"That's probably Tabitha. I'm supposed to meet her and her sister for dinner tonight."
Vane sighed. For some reason he couldn't name, he didn't want to let her go.
Didn't want her to leave his side.
If she were one of his people, she wouldn't even think about leaving until dawn. But she wasn't.
And wanting to stay here was crazy. He was a wolf under a death sentence and she was a human.
What they had shared had been exceptional, but it was time he put her out of his thoughts.
Forever.
Kissing her cheek, he withdrew from her and got up to dress.
Bride felt a bit awkward as Vane handed her her clothes. He didn't ask her for her number or for anything else as he pulled on his pants and boots.
Did he regret what they had done?
She wanted to ask him for his number, but her pride wouldn't let her. Maybe she was being stupid, but given Taylor's actions she didn't want to risk another dent to her ego tonight.
Vane buttoned her dress, then pulled his shirt on over his head. "Is your car nearby?" he asked.
"It's parked in the back, but I was just going to walk over to the restaurant. It's only a few blocks away."
He brushed her hair with his fingers. There was an air of sudden sadness to him. "Would you like me walk with you?"
She nodded.
He held the curtain open for her. She ducked out and turned to watch while he tucked his T-shirt into his jeans. He raked his hand through his hair to settle it back into place.
All the playfulness was gone from him now. There was something almost predatorial about him.
He went to wait outside while she set the alarm and locked the door.
She felt even more awkward as she straightened to smile at him outside her store. The air was a bit chilly, but he didn't seem to notice. He draped an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward Tabitha's favorite restaurant, Acme Oyster House.
They didn't speak while they walked. Bride wanted to, but what did a woman say to a guy who had just given her the best sex of her life?
A guy she didn't know.
A guy she would most likely never see again.
Oh, how she hated this. This was the first time in her life she'd ever had a one-night stand. It was disconcerting to have been so intimate with a complete stranger.
He slowed as they neared the restaurant.
Bride peeked in the large, painted window. She'd been right, her friends were already there and she saw Tabitha dialing a cell phone. No doubt Tabitha had been the one calling, and if Bride didn't go in soon, she would start to worry.
"Well," she said, pulling away from Vane. "I guess this is where we say goodbye."