“Especially that last comment by Anthony.” Shifting to accommodate Indigo when she tangled her legs with his, Andrew played his fingers through her hair. “Cats say Faith confirmed the prediction.” And Faith NightStar was the strongest foreseer in or out of the PsyNet.
Indigo circled a finger over his chest. “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it. SnowDancer hasn’t survived this long to fall to the Councilors’ megalomania.” Another lazy circle. “I couldn’t read Hawke—guess we’ll find out what he thinks at the lieutenant meeting tomorrow.”
“I kept expecting him to get up and tear out someone’s jugular today.”
Indigo laughed. “You sound so disappointed.”
“He’s acting reasonable. It’s vaguely terrifying.”
This time, Indigo’s laughter was long and deep. Shifting onto her back, she untangled their legs and looped her arms around his neck as he rose over her. “You’re terrible, you know that?”
“That’s why you love me.” Rubbing his nose against hers, he felt his wolf stretch out inside him in na**d pleasure.
She nipped at his chin, dropped a kiss onto his lips. “Yeah. The day you begin behaving, I’ll know I have an impostor on my hands.” Playing her fingers into his hair, she swung a leg over his hip. “I’ve been thinking about what we’re going to do with the traveling you have to do for your position in the pack.”
“My team’s got things under control for now,” Drew said, his eyes such a clear blue that she felt bathed in sunlight.
“But they need you.” Pride was a fierce beat inside of her, for this wolf who was smart enough, strong enough, to reach their most vulnerable. “With Riaz here, in the den, I can come on a lot of the trips with you.”
Drew blinked, his lashes long and beautiful. “If Riley is Hawke’s right arm, you’re his left. He needs you here. Especially now.”
“I’ve spoken to him.” She pulled him down against her, enjoying the all over contact. Such exquisite skin privileges.
“We won’t be gone for months at a time; you’ve got your network set up now.”
“That’s true. But I’m still going to need to make a lot of short trips—especially to San Diego. Seb is damn strong,” he said of his replacement in that sector, “but he’s younger than me.”
“We can play those times by ear,” Indigo said, knowing she’d miss him when he was away, but also knowing the mating bond would ensure she was never lonely.
A long, quiet pause. Then, “Indy?”
Hearing the edge in his tone, she nuzzled a kiss against his neck. “What is it?”
“You were put in a situation where you had to accept the mating bond,” Drew said, shadows whispering over the clarity of his gaze when she looked up. “Do you regret it?”
She knew exactly how much it had to have cost him to ask that. “The only thing I regret is not being able to end the mating dance as I planned.”
A spark in the blue. “You had a plan?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Tell.” Fingers dancing over her abdomen, threatening to tickle.
“Well,” she said, brushing her lips against his ear, “it involved tying you na**d to my bed, having my wicked way with you in revenge for all your crazy-making tactics . . . and then telling you that you belong to me. Forever. No outs. No givebacks.”
Drew thrust his hand into her hair, his gaze gone that startling wolf-copper. “Tell me now.”
She did. And then, because she was in a good mood and she adored him and he’d taught her about opening her heart, she whispered more love words in his ear, until he broke every single one of Lara’s rules and drove them both to heaven a second time around.