Rage burst out laughing.

She loved the sound.

“I can’t open jars either, which my brothers and Rose find amusing. Dad had to buy me a tool because it’s so bad. Everyone else, pop, and the lid is off.” She mimicked opening a jar for everyone else. “Not me, I look awful, red face, gritted teeth, the works.”

“Do you wish you were a wolf?” he asked.

“Sometimes. I think it might be a little easier for my parents, for the whole pack. No one says anything, but I am the odd one. The outsider. When they go out hunting, I stay home. It gets kind of lonely.”

“They don’t allow you to go out in the full moon?”

“No. They don’t want me to get hurt.”

“You’re pack. Even in wolf form, they’d be able to scent you. I can tell you’re a Westblood, by scent alone.”

She chuckled. “Yay, that can be my superpower. I smell real bad.”

“I didn’t say you smelled real bad.”

Karina laughed. “Please don’t worry about it. At least I know I smell of pack. That is kind of nice.”

“How about at the next full moon, you and I go out?”

“Together?”

“Yes, I’ll take you into the forest.”

“And have your wicked way with me?” she asked, kind of kidding. Was she kidding? She didn’t know if she was or not.

“If you’d like me to.”

Karina looked into Rage’s eyes, and there was something, a gleam, or a hint, a promise.

“Yeah, I don’t think my dad would allow us to do that. He didn’t want us to come here, so I don’t think that’s going to happen.” She wanted to break this … feeling. She had no idea what it was, but it was sweeping over her whole body. Her nipples felt tight and hard.

“You’re my mate, Karina. Your dad can try, but I won’t let him come between us. If you want to spend time with me at the next full moon, then say the words and I’ll make it happen.”

Could she do that? What if it angered her father? But the truth was, she was so curious about what it would mean to be in the moonlight with Rage.

In her mind, she imagined him naked. All the pack ended up naked after their initial change. Most of them abandoned their clothes. For days afterward, Karina often gathered up the clothes and placed them in a large box in the town square for others to come and claim. After twenty-four hours, the box was empty.

“I’d like that.”

“Then consider it done,” Rage said.

Her heart raced and she felt a tightness in her gut. This wasn’t fear, though, but anticipation.

They finished their meal, which was amazing. She loved every forkful, and the pudding was just as delicious. She didn’t think she’d love such dark chocolate, but it was glorious. Everything was amazing.

Rage drove them home, and she was aware of the curtains twitching once again. He got out of the car and walked her up to the main door.

There was no way for anyone to be sneaking looks at them, unless they were behind the main door.

“I had a wonderful time tonight.”

“I did as well,” he said. He reached out, tucking some of her hair behind her ear, and then gripped the back of her neck, pulling her in close. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to control myself when I’m around you?”

“You’re having to control yourself?” Karina asked.

He pressed his face against hers. She felt him inhale. “Around you, always.”

“Rage?”

“I want to kiss you.”

She had never been kissed before like this, apart from that other kiss they had shared, but that didn’t count because he’d done it to silence her.

“Tell me to stop.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to.”

He gripped the back of her neck, pulled her in close, and then pressed his lips against hers. At first, the kiss seemed a little strange, but then it changed. Karina pressed her hands against his chest and slowly slid them up, wrapping them around his neck.

Rage sunk his fingers into her hair, deepening the kiss.

All thought left Karina. All she knew was that she wanted Rage and she didn’t want this kiss to end.