Chapter 6

After my steamy make-out session with Jasper, I had a meeting to attend. While I’m sure my appearance was professional, my straying thoughts were anything but, and I left the meeting wondering if I should marry Jasper as soon as possible. The werewolf is my perfect match, and numbers don’t lie. We’re a sure thing. I feel like Jasper is my chance at love and companionship for the rest of my life. And who better to do it with than a guy who makes my blood simmer with desire?

I’m pleasantly surprised when I walk into my office and am greeted by the clean and grinning version of my werewolf. “Hey, what are you doing here?” The door clicks shut behind me, and I walk over to place my hand on his chest and stand on my tiptoes for a quick kiss.

“I’ve been thinking.” Jasper pulls a hairpin out of my bun to loosen it. I would usually be tempted to fix my hairdo—this is my workplace after all—but something about the man across from me makes me want to let my hair down. “As much as I like to break rules, you don’t.” He tugs another pin out, and my locks tickle my cheeks as they fall around my face. “You need me to run the security project, and I can’t do that until I’m good with your boss.”

“What are you saying?”

He slides his fingers through my strands to cradle the back of my head in his palm. “I love you, Marilyn. You are my mate. That means forever guaranteed.” He slides an arm around my waist and pulls me against his body so that I crane my neck to see him. “Marry me on your lunch break.”

My heart swells with the warmth of his words. I reach under his shirt and press against the rock-hard abdominals of his stomach as I slide my hand up to his chest over his heart. It’s beating quickly, and I wonder if he’s nervous that I’ll say no. It’s crazy, but I know I’m in love with him too. From the first moment I was with him I felt a connection that hummed with what must have been true-mate energy. I think something in me knew he was my mate. I smile slowly because I fell for him that day. “I love you, Jasper.”

“Is that a yes?” He hooks a finger into my blouse and unfastens the first button.

I gaze up at the ceiling as my cheeks flush, and I try to find the words to convey what I’m thinking. “This is not how I usually do things.”

“I disagree. You’ve researched extensively for Life Shift. The rules you put in place say I’m one hundred percent yours.”

“You’ve got a point.” I take a deep breath like I’m about to go underwater. “Let’s do it. We can do it downstairs with the town clerk at noon.”

“Good. And then you should take the afternoon off.”

I frown. “I’m not?—”

“For medical reasons.” He leans down and kisses the hollow of my neck, and goose bumps of desire break out on my skin as I sigh. “Because I really need you, Marilyn.”

“You’ll mark me?” Which means turning me into a werewolf.

“If you want me to.”

I stop breathing as I think about what becoming a werewolf means. My voice cracks as I ask, “You really want me forever?”

Jasper’s hands grip my hips now, and he presses his groin against me so that I feel his hard, thick erection. “It’s more than that. I need you, Marilyn. And I know you need me too. Are you scared of the change?”

I nod. But Charlie told me that while the change to a become a werewolf definitely sucked, she’d do it again in a heartbeat to have the life she has now. My knees nearly buckle when Jasper slides his hands around and cups my bottom. My voice is breathy when I speak. “I do have some paid time off I could use.”

Jasper places a kiss on my forehead. “You’re feverish. I think you need a sick day, and you should spend the afternoon in bed.”

I nod.

“With me,” he says. “Because I’m about to change your life.” He sears me with a kiss that leaves me hot with need and no doubt in my mind that we’re meant to be.

* * *

Our wedding was a quick ceremony with a confused Mallory, who I grabbed on the way, in attendance as a witness. It took me a while to convince my coworker I was serious, even after I showed her that Jasper came up as a perfect match for me. I think Mallory may believe I’m under some kind of lovestruck spell because she asked the town official about the annulment process.

Jasper’s fingers thread through mine as we walk the two blocks to my apartment. The sun is warm on my face, and my loose hair blows in the wind as my heart soars with happiness. While people stare at my large hunky werewolf as we pass them, he doesn’t appear to notice.

He says, “You’re quiet. Are you worried about the change? Because we can wait if you’re not ready.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Then is it the hackers?”

“Should I be worried about them?”

“No. Nobody can get in for a while, and I’ll have it fixed for you in plenty of time. But if it makes you feel better, I can start first thing tomorrow.”

“We still need to get Kevin to sign off on this.”

“Leave that to me.” Jasper nudges my shoulder with his. “How many kids are we going to have?”

I roll my eyes at him as I bump him back. “Two. A boy and a girl.”

“They’ll be smart and beautiful.”

“One will follow the rules.” I squeeze Jasper’s hand. “And the other will want to break them.”

“But,” he says, “they’ll both have a sense of adventure.”

My keys jingle as I remove them from my purse, and our feet thud on the wooden steps to my apartment door. “Why do you say that?”

“Because even though you act cool and collected, you have a daring side.”

I think about the wildest time in my life, which was college. Sure, I drank too much at times, and did some crazy things with my girlfriends, but I was a good student and don’t think I ever broke the law. “I think you wish I did.” My lock clicks as I open the door to my home. We enter into my living room, a space decorated with neutral shades of brown furniture brightened up with splashes of turquoise, orange, and green in throw pillows, rugs, and artwork.

Jasper wanders toward the large window on the far wall that overlooks an apple orchard. “You just married a man you’ve known for only a few days. That’s definitely adventurous for a human.”

My purse thuds on the table as I set it down, and I move toward him. “Ah, but you were a perfect match in my nearly flawless program.” I reach for the hem of his tight T-shirt and lift it up to reveal his broad back rippling with muscles I didn’t know existed. “Where’s the danger in that?”

He turns toward me as he takes over and removes his shirt. He tosses it, and it lands with a whoosh on the back of the couch. “Kick off your heels for me.”

I do as he asks and smile because it was fun compared to the way I usually remove them at my closet so I can immediately put them away. He says, “Now, take off your shirt. Slowly. Tease me.”

I lift my eyebrows. “I’m not good at being sexy like that.”

“Why not?”

I chuckle as I consider it. It’s not something I imagine I would have done for any of my past boyfriends. Clothes usually came off in the heat of the moment. But I find I want to please Jasper. I fiddle with the top button on my shirt. “I’ve never done this, but I’ll give it a shot.”

“Marilyn, the fact you’ll try for me makes me so hot, it won’t matter.”

“Okay.” I walk over and get my phone to place in the speaker system and pull up a playlist of sultry songs. When the music starts, I say, “Go sit on the couch, and maybe you’ll get a lap dance.”

“A what?”

I chuckle. “Like you don’t know what that is. Just sit.” I bite my lip as I stand in front of him. I begin to sway to the music. “I feel stupid.”

Jasper gets up and begins to dance across from me. “Then we’ll do it together.”

He gyrates his hips, and the buttons of my shirt are slippery in my fingers as I begin to unfasten them. I watch as the muscles of his body flex before me, and I shimmy my shoulders to let my blouse fall off my arms. Jasper inhales deeply as he gazes at my chest. He whispers something I can’t hear, but I know he’s telling me how desirable I am.

When I reach for the back of my skirt, he undoes the button on his shorts, and our zippers hum in unison as we lower them. Jasper gyrates his hips as he takes off his pants and offers me a smirk, which makes me laugh. I wiggle my hips while I tug my pencil skirt down and let it fall to my ankles. Jasper lets out a loud sigh and steps toward me to place his hands on my bottom. His fingers slide under the high cut of my panties, and he says, “I’ve changed my mind. I want to do the rest.”

“Yeah?” I place my arms over his shoulders and press harder against him.

He groans and slides his hands up my back to unhook my bra. My skin tingles as he removes a strap and kisses my shoulder. “Yeah.” He reveals my breasts slowly and growls. “Everything about you is perfect. You’re the woman of my dreams.” He leans down to suckle a nipple, and the electricity of our connection rushes straight to my toes.

I hold onto the thick cords of muscle in his shoulders. “You’ve invaded mine for days now.” He pays attention to both my breasts equally as I let out small cries. When I’m ready for more, I tug at the waistband of his underwear. The cotton is soft in my hands as I pull his briefs down to his thick thighs, and I glance down as his cock juts out. Jasper takes over to finish getting undressed, and now I’m the one who groans with pleasure at what I see. His body is near perfection to me, and his skin is warm under my hands as I slide them over his strong abdomen. “You’re incredible.”

Jasper backs up and sits on the couch. He motions me over and tugs me between his thighs as he says, “Someone mentioned a lap dance. I assume it’s my lap we’re talking about?” His fingers hook under the elastic of my underwear, and the silk scrapes against my legs as he pulls them down.

I kick them off my feet. “Definitely your lap, but I’m not sure how it’s usually done.” The sofa sinks under my knees as I climb on to straddle Jasper’s thighs. “Although we’re smart, and I think we can figure this out.”

He slides his fingers between my damp folds, and I gasp when he finds my clit. Currents of pleasure race through me as he rubs. “Take what you want from me, Marilyn.”

The taut skin of his cock is smooth in my hand as I grip him and begin to stroke. “I want you deep inside me.” I guide him toward my slick channel and slowly lower myself onto his thickness. I sigh as I take him all the way.

He grabs my hips and begins to rock with me as I set the pace. “You’re the perfect fit.”

“Mm-hmm.” The sensation of Jasper is glorious, but my brain sends up a roadblock. I stop moving. “I hate to kill this mood, but isn’t there some kind of permission we need to get to make me a werewolf?”

Jasper’s eyelids drop for a moment, and his breathing is heavy, but he sets his hands on the arms of the chair. “I’m not sure and don’t care. But you do. We’ll get permission before I make you a werewolf. Now stop your brain for a few minutes and enjoy this.”

Considering I’m nearly consumed with the need for release, I begin to move again. “Thank you.” I pick up right where we left off and quicken the pace. A wave of ecstasy rises up to make my moans get louder as my climax builds.

“Feel me,” says Jasper as he reaches between us to pinch my clit. White-hot pleasure spikes in me, and my orgasm shatters throughout my body. I might scream, but I can’t be sure because I’m not completely conscious as my werewolf manages to prolong the sensations until he comes too.

Jasper clutches me to his chest as we slowly recover. He plucks a sweat-slicked piece of my hair from my cheek. “Now this is how I like your hair best.”

I chuckle, and I gaze into the eyes of the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with. “I love you, Jasper.”

“I love you, too, Marilyn, my perfect match.”

I snuggle into him and inhale the scent of our combined musk. It sends tingles through me as my heart threatens to burst with the joy of finding my werewolf to cherish forever.