FMR (20 page)

returned her attention to the folder. The story was dead. There were

no wolves in Heather Grove or, at least, that's what she planned to tell

her editor. But, what other kind of subject would be interesting for

her article? She mused, drumming her fingers on the table, deep in

thought.

A bell chimed, drawing her attention to the door. Ray strolled over

to the booth with a big grin on his face. It was a grin which pierced

through the heavy fog of her thoughts. Her heart did a somersault in

her chest. She loved the way he made her feel. Just the gleam in his

eyes when he looked her way made her tremble with desire and

longing.

He stopped at a table, chatting with a group of men. From the

appearance of the men, Jac figured out they were construction

workers, part of Ray's crew. An idea dawned on her. A smiled curled

over her lips. "Yes, that's it!" she squeaked with delight.

Her fingers flickered over the laptop keyboard while she typed out

her idea.
Oh boy, what a lifesaver!
She was buried in her thoughts

when Ray approached the booth.

"Hello, pixie! What are you so happy about?" he asked, sliding into

the empty seat across from her.

Jac looked over, meeting his gaze with a big smile. "You've just

given me a brilliant idea!"

Ray was surprised Jac had asked to interview him, but he listened

intently to her idea about an article on the renovations of older

buildings in Heather Grove.

"It'll make a good substitute for the other story, don't you think?"

There was a merry twinkle in her eyes.

"So, what changed your mind?" he asked, perplexed. Jac proceed

to tell him about her dilemma, about being unsure about writing her

story on the wolves ... and about her conversation with Cameron

White.

Ray stiffened at the mention of the man's name. Even though

Cameron was twice his age, the man had a way about him which got

on Ray's nerves.

"What? Did he threaten you?" His curled his hand into a fist, the

sithech
-blood pumping hard in his veins.

"Oh no! It's not like that!" she quickly replied. "He just pointed out

if the story was published it would cause trouble." Jac laid her hand

on top of his curled fingers. Her touch was soothing. "And he's right.

I don't want to cause any trouble for your family or you."

Ray's anger lessened a notch. The thought of her not wanting to

cause trouble for his pack touched him. "Thanks." He nodded with

sigh of relief. Despite the smile on his face, mixed emotions still

swirled in his gut. No one would ever threaten Jac ... not while he

was around.

To his disappointment, her touch was short-lived and she returned

to typing. Ray sat across the table, staring at her lovely features. He

wanted desperately to kiss her lips, to feel her body against him.

Desire stirred in his groin. He wanted to be alone with her again.

He cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "Are you through with

your email?"

"Sure." Jac nodded, removing her reading glasses and placed them

beside her empty coffee mug. "I was just jotting down a few notes on

the renovation story. Why?"

"It's too crowded in here." He hinted, hoping she'd get his point.

She paused a moment, gazing into his eyes. "Too crowded, huh?

Why don't we go back to your place?" She suggested with a smile.

"I like the sound of that." He nodded, but all he could think about

doing was scooping her up into his arms. He wanted to give her some

primal loving like the night before. The full moon fever was already

burning in his veins. "Why don't you head out to the truck while I

take care of the bill?" He winked, sliding out of the booth.

Jac flashed him a seductive smile and quickly began to gather her

things.

* * * *

diner, coming around to the register.

"Hey Ray," Mary Lynn grinned, taking the check. "You're leaving

so soon? No usual cup of coffee today?"

"Nope." He shook his head, pulling the money from his wallet.

"I'll see you out at the truck." Jac laid a hand on his arm then

headed for the exit. The warmth of her touch lingered, making him

smile. She made Ray feel like the luckiest man in the room.

"Since when have you two become a couple, huh?" Mary Lynn

asked. Ray's gut coiled as he cut his eyes over to the waitress. It was

jealousy ... pure
sithech
jealousy. He could sense it in her aura, even

though the blonde was smiling.

"Ah, come on." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Give me a break."

He tossed a couple of bills onto the counter for her tip then turned,

heading for the door.

The ride home would give him plenty of time to tell Jac what was

on his mind ... and his heart. His chat with Megan renewed his hopes

and eased his doubts. Now, it was up to him. Even though she was

human, he'd have to convince Jac that she was his mate.

Ray only hoped Jac felt the same way.

* * * *

squealed as the truck rumbled down the road.

"Yes ... and I'm going to be an uncle."

"How does that make you feel?" Jac glanced over at him.

"Old."

She couldn't help but smile at the sour expression on his face. "Aw,

it does not." Jac laughed, shaking her head. "You're excited, I just

know it." She sat back in the seat, her mind reeling with the news.

Even though she had barely knew Megan and Derek, she was happy

for them.

A baby.
She hadn't thought much about motherhood. She'd spent

most of her adult life pursuing her writing career. Children were the

last thing on her mind ... until now. Jac stole a glance in Ray's

direction. Her heart gave a flutter, then an uneasy feeling coiled in the

pit of her tummy.

"Uh, Ray? Will the baby be a regular human or
sithech
? I mean,

Megan and Derek have that special wolf-blood. The baby will be

okay, right?"

"Yeah, more than likely. Megan will have to remain in human-

form until the baby's born, but it will be human. The
sithech
part

won't fully develop until the child reaches puberty," Ray explained

with surety.

Jac thought about what he'd said then swallowed hard when another

question crossed her mind. "Well, what if, say, a human and someone

of
sithech
-blood have a child? What then?"

Ray was quiet. He didn't answer. His silence made her

uncomfortable. Pulling into the driveway, he shut off the engine then

turned to face her. His eyes shimmered in the fading sunlight.

"Honestly, I don't know. Believe me, I've been giving it lots of

thought since we first made love." He reached over and took hold of

her hands. His touch soothed away the tension swirling inside her.

Jac drew a deep breath. "Me too," she confessed. "I feel as if I've

known you–"

"Forever?" Ray finished her sentence with a smile.

"Uh, yeah." She blinked, stunned.
Damn, he's reading my mind

again.
Jac licked her lips. "I mean, it's all so crazy. I honestly don't

know why I even asked a question like that."

"I think you do know, Jac." Ray held her gaze. "If I'm not

mistaken, I think we're both feeling the same thing."

"And what might that be?" She cocked her head, attempting to read

the expression on his face.

"We are meant to be together." He paused, taking a deep breath and

affectionately squeezed her hands. Jac's heart skipped a beat, yet she

patiently waited to him to continue. "Despite the fact you're human

and I'm
sithech
, we're mates."

"Mates?" The inside of the truck suddenly became very warm. Her

head swam. "You mean like soulmates, right?"

"Yeah, something like that," he confirmed with a nod. "Those of

sithech
-blood are often gifted with intuition. Our heightened degree

of awareness can help us find our mates ... the ones we want to have a

special relationship with – "

"Y-you're saying that you want a relationship with me?" Jac

interrupted, stunned by his confession.

"Yes, I sensed it from the moment I met you. Honestly, I thought it

was the full moon playing tricks on me. I was wrong." Ray chuckled,

his eyes twinkling in the fading sunlight. "What I'm feeling for you,

Jac, is the real thing."

Even though she wasn't psychic, she sensed it, too. Their

connection was downright spooky, but in a good way. It was certainly

very real and very special. True to his alpha wolf-nature, Ray was

loyal, protective and loving.

He was an ideal mate ... her soulmate.

She drew a deep breath, opening her heart and instantly sensed the

sithech
within him. A strange sensation swept over her. Her body

responded to the unbridled desire which flared to life in his eyes.

Instinctively, she leaned in, beckoning him for a kiss ... and,

without a word, he complied.

* * * *

Ray could have kissed her forever. However, she stopped him with a

gentle hand to his chest and gestured to the house with a tilt of her

chin. She wanted to go inside. Her kiss was like an unspoken

promise lingering on his lips. Without delay, he grabbed her laptop

bag and quickly ushered her through the door.

Without a word, he gingerly deposited the bag onto the kitchen

table and they both made for the living room sofa bed. In the warmth

and comfort of his home, Ray pulled Jac back into his arms. Back

where she belonged.

Her heated kisses awakened the
sithech
inside him, making his skin

burn with full moon fever. Reaching for the hem of her sweater, he

peeled the sweater over her head. Every fiber of his being was eager

to make love to her once again.

Jac's responsive desire equaled his while she tugged off his shirt

and placed hot kisses over the expanse of his chest. Ray moaned, his

lust spiking higher as her lips moved lower.

"Good God, you're killing me," he gasped.

She only giggled then traced her mouth over the outline of his cock

pressed firm against the denim seam. Playfully, she pushed him back

onto the sofa mattress and whipped off his blue jeans. Jac grinned;

happy he preferred not to wear any briefs. His cock greeted her with a

stiff salute.

"Oh my," she cooed, sliding onto the mattress beside him, topless.

Her nipples were tight buds, revealing her own excitement. Before he

could fondle her breasts, Jac reached over and encircled his cock. Her

touch seemed to have an enlivening effect on every part of his being.

Jac brushed a stray hair from her face and then lowered her head,

taking his cock into her mouth.

Ray groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. Depriving himself of sight,

the pleasurable sensation of her mouth upon his shaft made his insides

quiver.
If she keeps this up, I'll explode!
He drew a ragged breath,

struggling for control.
Oh damn! 10 ... 9 ... 8...

The countdown in his head seemed to be working until her tongue

teased his cockhead, then flicked over the sweet spot just below his

crown. "Ah, yesss!" He hissed. The imaginary numbers burst like

soap bubbles. She had him wrapped around her tongue.

The moon fever rushed through his veins, centering on his groin.

"Oh, baby, that feels good," he gasped while the pressure inside him

simmered. Gripping a sheet with a hand, Ray clutched it and

attempted to keep from coming too soon.

"Enough," he gasped. "Baby, please stop." Jac glanced up at him

with a knowing smile. Her eyes gleamed in the dim light of the

house. Ray reached down and pulled her up to him, capturing her

mouth in a full kiss.

His tongue darted into her yielding mouth. A low moan escaped

from her throat while he peeled her out of her clothes. The feeling of

her soft skin now brushing against his naked body was driving him

insane. The familiar scent of her womanly musk greeted his nose.

The scent of his mate. She was wet and ready for him. Ray pulled his

lips from hers and gazed up into her bedazzled expression.

"Condom?" he whispered, arching an eyebrow.

Reluctantly, Jac slid off the mattress and padded over to her laptop

bag. Her hands trembled when she unzipped the side flap. Every part

of her body hummed with excitement. Never in her life had she felt