Moon Shifter 02 - Primal Possession

when I’m offering myself.”
    Liam knew he could strip and be inside her in seconds.
    Seconds.
    But he held back. When they finally took that next step, he didn’t plan to let her go. He’d mark and claim her then. He wouldn’t risk her throwing it back in his face later that this was a mistake or that she regretted it. That she’d been weak or needy or some excuse. When they took that step, he wanted it to mean something to both of them. No doubts and no barriers between them.
    He placed a light kiss on her lips, then pulled the covers back and slid in next to her. “I want tonight to be only about you,” he murmured against her hair as he pulled her back against his chest. She tried to protest, but he just tugged her tighter and kissed the top of her head as she settled against the pillow. “Tell me something about yourself.” He kept his voice a low whisper and his grip around her firm.
    “Like what?” Her question was asked just as quietly.
    “Anything. Something I don’t know.” He didn’t care what she told him as long as he learned more about her.
    She paused for only a moment. “When I was about five, a German shepherd adopted me.”
    His eyebrows drew together at her statement. “Adopted you?”
    “Mm-hmm. Before my parents died, we lived in a giant house in South Carolina. Lots of land. Easy to get lost on. Parker was supposed to be watching me, but I was a handful and managed to escape his watchful eyes. Long story short, I got lost and was close to hysterics until I stumbled on an adorable puppy who I thought was just as lost as me.”
    “So he adopted you?”
    “Pretty much. He decided I was his owner and led me home. My mom wasn’t an animal person, but there was no way she could deny me or his cute little face.”
    Liam could feel her smile against the pillow. Hell, he could practically feel her entire body smile as she spoke. “What was his name?”
    She chuckled, the sound low and husky and sexy as hell. “Bubblegum. Parker tried to tell me it was a dumb name for a dog, but I was five and that was that. No one could change my mind. I haven’t thought about him in years.” There was a wistful note in her voice before she continued. “What about you? Did you ever have any pets?”
    He couldn’t help it. A sharp bark of laughter escaped. “Sweetheart, wolves don’t have pets.”
    “Oh, right…smart-ass.” She nudged his leg with her foot as she snuggled deeper against him.
    “Get some sleep, Red.” He kissed her head again.
    She didn’t try to fight him and minutes later the sound of her steady, rhythmic breathing filled the air.
    Rock-hard and sexually primed, he knew it would be impossible to sleep anytime soon, but holding December this way was worth it. As she snuggled closer into his embrace, a light movement by the window made him tense. A black raven landed on the ledge. Pausing, it stared at him for a moment, then just as quickly flew away.
    A trickle of unease curled through him like scorching, slow-moving lava at the odd sight. It was said that the goddess Morrigan took the shape of a raven when she visited her warriors. In that form she supposedly revealed that death was close. Neither he nor his brother believed in or followed her, but his parents had. They’d been devout worshipers of the goddess they’d believed had created them.
    He cursed his sudden unease. He wasn’t some impressionable cub. Worrying about the bird’s appearance wasstupid and he wasn’t sure why it bothered him. Death had surrounded him his entire life. Something he’d never thought about until he met December. Now that he had someone to protect, things had changed. So had his priorities.
    Shoving the ludicrous thoughts aside, he tightened his grip on her and closed his eyes. He’d rather focus on December’s soft curves and delectable body than some bullshit mythological sign.

Chapter 12
    E dward’s hand tightened around his coffee cup as he heard the front door open, then shut. Brianna glanced over her shoulder from where she stood at the stove but quickly looked away. He’d been in a dark mood all morning and had been very close to taking it out on her.
    Something he had no doubt she knew, because she’d been unusually quiet and stayed out of his way.
    “Hello?” Joseph called from the front of the house.
    Edward didn’t shout out for him. If Joseph wanted to find them, he could damn well look, like a normal human being.
    Wearing a thick down coat and the same jeans