CARESSED BY ICE

By the time she’d had enough, they had circled back to their original starting point. They were both breathing hard but energy flickered through the air. When she shifted this time, it was even more beautiful, because he could feel her joy from the start. She appeared from the sparkling motes, a lovely naked woman with a huge smile cracking her face.

“Judd!” She threw open her arms and he bent down to lift her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he stood and she laughed. “I can shift!”

Spinning around with her in his arms, he kissed the side of her neck then planted his lips on her mouth. She kissed him back with wild abandon and under his hands, her skin was smooth and hot and welcoming. Skin privileges. Breaking the kiss, he drank in the sight of her happiness. “You are too damn gorgeous. In either form.”

Her face filled with tenderness. “I was afraid you wouldn’t . . . that you’d get freaked out at seeing me as a wolf. Then you told me I was perfect, that I had no ‘errors.’ ” The last word was a tease.

He was incredibly glad his response had reassured her, even though he’d misunderstood the reason for her worry. “You are.” He held her with one arm and ran the other over her thigh to curve around her bottom. “And you’re naked.”

Her eyes went huge. “My clothes!” She looked around as if expecting them to reappear by magic, though the shift process had disintegrated them. “What am I going to do?”

He felt his lips twitch.

She hit his shoulder with one small fist. “This is not funny!”

“I think you look delectable naked.” He kissed her chin. “Of course, I’d have to kill anyone else who dared put their eyes on you.”

“I can’t walk through the den like this!” she wailed.

He’d noticed that—no matter how blasé they were about nudity otherwise, the wolves followed strict rules in the den about being clothed. The pups were the single exception. “For such a smart wolf,” he murmured against her lips, “you’re betraying a distinct lack of logic.”

“Logic?” She scowled but kissed him back.

“Mmm.” He squeezed her bottom. “Shift. Wear your fur.” That was acceptable behavior. Soldiers often lost access to clothing and had to return in animal form.

Her mouth fell open. “Oh.” A sigh whispered through her whole body. “I’m going to have to get used to this all over again.”

“You’re welcome to forget the clothing anytime you like.”

“Thanks. But you don’t get a vote—you lust after my body.” Her teeth nipped at his lower lip. “Why do you think it came back now?”

“Maybe it was time—you were ready for it.”

She gave him a sweet kiss. “I think you helped with that. Made me understand that my soul hadn’t been destroyed by that monster. That I survived in every way.”

He didn’t agree. She was the one who’d fought to reclaim her life. “Your courage amazes me.”

“And your love makes me whole.” She made her confession without shame.

He wanted so much to say it back but the words stuck in the fading grip of Silence. He’d never be easy saying love words.

Her lips brushed his. “I know, baby. I can feel you loving me deep inside.”

Judd figured he must’ve done something right along the way. How else could a rebel Arrow have earned the right to call this amazing woman his own? Even if it was a mistake, too damn bad. He was never giving her up.

In the psychic plane of the LaurenNet, a wave of love traveled in every direction, emanating from a bond that was not Psy but changeling, a bond that tied an assassin to a wolf, a bond that was . . . unbreakable.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Writing is a solitary business but it’s not a lonely one, especially not when you’re surrounded by as many wonderful people as I am.

At home: My family, the ones who have to put up with my single-minded focus when I’m working and who do it in such style. Thanks for not making me cook or clean . . . or vacuum . . . or do the laundry . . . I love you guys!

On a California beach sipping a margarita (well, she might be if she didn’t have obsessive-compulsive clients): Nephele Tempest, my agent and the first person to tell me she loved my Psy/Changeling world. Thanks for being such a great advocate for my work. If we ever manage to meet in person, the margaritas are on me!

At my publisher: Cindy Hwang, my brilliant editor and someone who gives me the freedom to follow my imagination wherever it takes me; Leis Pederson, superefficient editorial assistant (and someone who is probably sick of hearing my voice after those marathon editing session over the phone!); and the Sensational behind-the-scenes team. A huge thank-you for everything you’ve done since the very first book in the Psy/Changeling series.

In unknown locations: All the booksellers, readers, reviewers, librarians, and bloggers who have supported my books to date. If I tried to list you all, I’d run out of room, which, I think, is an amazing, humbling thing. Thank you.

Outside the door demanding I come out or they’re going to drag me out: My friends, who put up with my hermitlike tendencies without crossing me off their invitation lists. You know who you are. I feel blessed to have you in my life.

And inside my head: My characters, who let me tell their stories. Thank you.