Wild Invitation A Psy Changeling Anthology - By Nalini Singh Page 0,30

women flowers?"

Shaking her head, she looked up into the velvet blue of his eyes. "You think I'm an orchid kind of girl?"

"Hell yes." He put them into her arms and wiped away the tear she hadn't been aware of shedding. "Stop that." She sniffed, staring at those precious flowers. Orchids. Nathan had given her orchids. Rare and precious and beautiful...the kind of flowers a man gave to a girl who was all those things.

"Thank you."

"You can thank me later," he murmured against her ear. "When I peel this sexy dress off you." He was behind her now, his hands caressing her hips as he pulled her back against his body. "Or maybe I'll leave the dress on and only take off the underwear."

"You're making me blush." It was a playful rejoinder - she loved his earthy sensuality.

"A dress gives a man ideas." He nibbled at her earlobe.

Her smile turned into a full-fledged grin as her heart filled with so much love she thought it would burst. "What if I took off everything but the heels?" He groaned. "Put the damn orchids in water."

"They need tender care," she murmured, touching another petal.

"Yes." He kissed the curve of her neck. "But I want to take care of you. Let me."

She blinked. No one had ever offered to take care of her. She was the pack healer - she took care of everyone else. But Nate thought she was an orchid kind of girl. She had the wondrous realization that, to him, that was who she'd always been. He saw the woman behind the healer. Another tear streaked down her cheek. "Always."

His arms came around her tight.

BY the time Christmas rolled around, Solias King was a dim memory. The Psy had removed all his equipment from their land, leaving behind only the ornament and Christmas lights. Tamsyn had been more than happy to use them on her tree, though the chosen fir had no lack of decorations - every one of her packmates had added a piece or ten, so that by Christmas Day, that tree was truly the pack's Christmas tree.

Tamsyn thought Shayla would have been pleased. So many in DarkRiver remained damaged by what had happened, but at least this silly extravagant tree had brought some joy back into their lives. They held the Christmas party under its snow-dusted branches and it was there that Lachlan formally acknowledged her and Nate's mating.

"For me, our anniversary will always be the day you gave me orchids," she said to Nathan as they danced under sparkling tinsel.

He slid his hands down to her lower back. "I vote for the cabin in Tahoe."

She laughed. "What are we going to tell our children when they ask about our mating if we pick Tahoe? Hmm?"

"That DarkRiver looks after its own." Sadie's, Cian's, and even Nita's interference had been born of the ties of Pack, and Nate accepted it. "And that their daddy was a stupid idiot, but one who came to his senses in time." Nate wondered what their cubs would look like. Not that he was going to ask Tammy to have children anytime soon.

She was only nineteen...and part of him still wasn't sure she wouldn't regret having mated so young. But on this magical Christmas night, he decided to believe in happy endings. "Want a replay?"

"Of the orchids?"

It was such an innocent question he almost missed the mischief in her eyes.

"I'll make you pay for that." He stroked his hand over her bottom.

"Behave," she whispered with a blush. "The others will see."

"So?" He turned her until her back was to the tree. "I'm just playing with my mate."

This time, she cuddled into him, her hands sliding up under his sweater. "I want the replay with cream on top." He grinned. "Why do you think I bought those cans of whipped cream?" Eyes wide, she licked her lips. "Me first."
Happiness Epilogue
Eighteen Years Later: Year 2079

"WHERE'S THE WHIPPED cream?" Nate kissed his way down the naked line of his mate's back.

She glanced over her shoulder, beautiful enough to steal his breath.

"Have you forgotten we have guests?"

"They can entertain themselves," he said, referring to the houseful of packmates who'd dropped by for a family dinner.

"They've already been doing that for an hour." She moaned. "Oooh, again."

He complied, kissing the dip at the base of her spine. "I suppose I have to go play host."

"Poor baby," she teased.

He bit the curve of her buttock.

"Don't get smart with me, Tamsyn Ryder. I know all your secrets." And after eighteen years