She hadn’t been lying the other night. She loved him. She didn’t really understand why or how it happened, but just the fact that it had…
“You ripped my shirt.”
“Alexandra.”
She giggled. “Ohhh, the full-name treatment.”
“Stop kidding around.”
She stepped closer and slid her arms around his neck and tugged. “Not kidding around at all, Jacob.”
He resisted for a second, but then he groaned and bent his head. They fell onto the bed. She was laughing as he kissed her. They tugged and struggled with their clothes until they were both nude. He kissed her over and over, slipping down her body, teasing her with his hands and his mouth. Settling between her legs, he breathed in deeply.
“You smell amazing. Like a treat made all for me.”
Before she could respond, he slipped his tongue into her again and again, pushing her over the edge into a blinding orgasm before she was ready for it. It crashed through her, overwhelmed her. He didn’t wait. He kissed his way back up her body and grabbed her hips. He rose to his knees and plunged inside of her.
She was still sensitive from her orgasm, but she didn’t care. She wrapped her legs around him as he thrust again and again. His fingers dug into her flesh as he slammed into her.
After several moments, her nerve endings started to sparkle, then light afire. Her release shimmered just out of reach.
“Please.”
“Please what?” he demanded, and continued moving in and out of her just deep enough and fast enough to leave her right there on the edge.
She twisted her head back and forth, begging him for the relief only he could give her.
“The words, Alex, say them.”
“Tell me again,” she struggled to say.
“You are mine and I am yours. Together we are one.”
He slowed his movements, holding her relief just out of reach.
“Say it, Alex. Tell me.”
“You are mine and I am yours. Together we are one.”
Then, at that moment, he plunged in one more time, pushing her over the edge into ecstasy. He followed a second later, shouting her name as he came.
Long moments later, they lay in bed together. She was snuggled against Jake beneath the covers, her arm around his waist and her head tucked under his chin. For the first time since he had met her months ago, he felt completely settled.
“So, I guess I should have asked about this bonded thing.”
He chuckled. “Too late.”
“What does it all mean?”
“Our lives are intertwined. I’m not sure what it means for you specifically, because you’re weird.”
She rose up to her elbow and gave him a mock frown. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You are unique. You’re from a race most of us didn’t even know existed, so you’re pretty damned special. And kind of weird.”
She held her frown for one more second, then she smiled. It made his heart dance when he saw the way her eyes sparkled, and the glow in her face.
“I love you, Jacob Sanderson.”
“I love you too, Alexandra Lightfoot.”
She settled down again.
“Now, about the wedding…”
She raised her head so fast, she smacked him in the chin.
“Damn,” he said, rubbing his chin.
“Wedding?”
“Yeah. I mean, we should get married.”
“This is the way you propose. Really? You suck at romance.”
“Give me a break, will ya? You’ve had me all tied up since the moment I realized you were my mate, then I bond with you before you even understand, and then you get shot. I’ve been just a little busy.”
She chuckled. “Okay, but it better be spectacular.”
“I promise.”
Leaning down, she brushed her mouth over his. Jake was sure that she did it just as a sweet gesture, but the moment she did, his body reacted. He slipped his hands down to her waist so he could roll them over the bed, determined to prove to her that her Alpha definitely knew a thing or two about romance.
Epilogue
Three months later
When they had planned their wedding, she had said she wanted something small. Jake had promised just family. Of course, he was related to almost everyone in the area, and it felt as if everyone had turned out for the wedding.
The two newest residents, Fionna, and Eloise Stewart, a Scottish transplant, had also shown up. It seemed that every time she sat down to take a breather, someone else walked up and asked her to dance. All of the Sanderson males were taking turns around the dance floor with her. The latest was Morgan, the Sanderson who’d just left the Army to return home. He was tall, dark, and definitely broody, but he had been sweet to her.
“You’ll make a good mate for the Alpha,” he said as he walked her back to Jake.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. She still wasn’t completely comfortable with her new role within the pack, but it was getting easier week by week.
“Took you long enough to bring her back to me,” Jake growled.
“Yeah. Just the whole song,” she said, which gained a snort from Morgan.
“Give him a break, Alex,” Morgan said. “An Alpha needs a lot of special attention.”
“Get bent, Morgan,” Jake said, as he wrapped his arm around Alex’s waist and pulled her up against him.
Morgan looked around the room, but he didn’t fool Alex.
“She’s over by the punch bowl.”
“Eloise. She’s over by the punch bowl.”
He grunted and started off in the direction of the aforementioned punch bowl.
“He’s a man of few words, our Morgan,” Jake said with a chuckle.
“He talked to me quite a bit.”
Her new husband looked down at her. “Really? I guess it makes sense. You are now the ruling Alpha mate, but, I think it has more to do with your other job.”
“You mean being sheriff?”
He nodded. “I was wondering if he gravitates to you because of the whole military and law-and-order thing.”
It was her turn to grunt.
“You’re so sexy.”
She wasn’t offended at all. “You better believe it, Mayor Sanderson.”
“I do believe it,” he said, stepping behind her and pulled her flush against him. He leaned down so he could whisper in her ear. “Have I told you how much I like that dress?”
She hadn’t wanted something really fancy, but when it came to the dress, she had surprised even herself when she’d picked a long, flowing A-line dress made of cream chiffon with flower embellishments. Jake had been particularly happy with the plunging neckline. It was a bit on the girly side, and she loved it. Thankfully she could wear flats, or her feet would be killing her by now.
“Only five times in the last hour,” she said.
Do you think we can sneak out of here?”
She shivered. “It’s only been an hour.”
“We cut the cake.”
“People will talk.”
“They can all go get bent with Morgan.” He kissed her bare neck and she shivered again, her need growing by the second. “Besides, I’m Alpha, so they’d better not.”
He took her hand and started to tug her through the tables and people. It took them almost twenty minutes before they made it to the door. They were waylaid by his mother.
“Aw, Mom,” Jake said, and Alex laughed. “What?” he asked her.
“You sound like a teenager.”
His mother smiled. “I told you she was perfect for you.” She pulled Alex into her arms. “I’m so happy that I now have a daughter.”
When she stepped back, Alex felt the back of her eyes burning.
“Okay, go on. They won’t miss you now that they’ve started that third keg,” she said.
“Thanks, Mom,” Jake said as he dragged her out into the night.
“Jake,” Ale
x said as she laughed.
He stopped so quickly that she ran into the back of him.
“What?” he asked again as he turned. “I just want to start my life with you as my wife.”
Again, she felt tears burning the backs of her eyes. “Jake,” she whispered.
He cupped her face with both hands. “I love you, Alex Lightfoot-Sanderson.”
She smiled. “And I love you, too, Jacob Sanderson.”
He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. The moment was so pure, so wonderful, she thought her heart would burst with happiness.
He pulled back. “And, if I don’t get you back to our house, there’s a good chance I’ll expire from need.”
She laughed as he bent down and picked her up off the ground and into his arms.
“Jake, you don’t have to carry me.”
“But I will forever and always, Alex. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
She smiled and set her head against his shoulder as he carried her to the SUV, and into the rest of their lives.
About the Author
From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.
Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series.
After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.
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Also by Melissa Schroeder
HARMLESS:
A Little Harmless Sex
A Little Harmless Pleasure
A Little Harmless Obsession
A Little Harmless Lie
A Little Harmless Addiction
A Little Harmless Submission
A Little Harmless Fascination
A Little Harmless Fantasy
A Little Harmless Ride
A Little Harmless Secret
A Little Harmless Revenge
A Little Harmless Scandal
A Little Harmless Faith
THE HARMLESS SHORTS:
Max and Anna
Chris And Cynthia
Evan and May
Micah and Dee
A LITTLE HARMLESS MILITARY ROMANCE
Infatuation
Possession
Surrender
THE SANTINIS
Leonardo
Marco
Gianni
Vicente
A Santini Christmas
A Santini in Love
Falling for a Santini
One Night with a Santini
A Santini Takes the Fall
A Santini’s Heart
Loving a Santini
SANTINI BUNDLES
VOLUME ONE
VOLUME TWO
SEMPER FI MARINES
Tease Me
Tempt Me
Touch Me
The Semper Fi Marines Collection
THE FITZPATRICKS
The Lost Night-free prequel
At Last
TASK FORCE HAWAII
Seductive Reasoning
Hostile Desires
Constant Craving
Tangled Passions
Wicked Temptations
Task Force Hawaii Vol 1
TEXAS TEMPTATIONS
Conquering India
Delilah’s Downfall
THE ELDRIDGES OF TEXAS
Scorched
SPIES, LIES, and ALIBIS
The Boss
ONCE UPON AN ACCIDENT
An Accidental Countess
Lessons in Seduction
The Spy Who Loved Her
Once Upon an Accident Bundle
THE CURSED CLAN
Callum
Angus
Logan
Fletcher
Anice
BY BLOOD
Desire by Blood
Seduction by Blood
BOUNTY HUNTER’S, INC
For Love or Honor
Sinner’s Delight
TELEPATHIC CRAVINGS
Voices Carry
Lost in Emotion
Hard Habit to Break
Bundle
CONNECTED BOOKS
The Hired Hand
Hands on Training
A Calculated Seduction
Going for Eight
SINGLE TITLES
Grace Under Pressure
Her Mother’s Killer
The Last Detail
Operation Love
Chasing Luck
The Seduction of Widow McEwan
Snowbound Seduction
Hawaiian Holidays
The Sweet Shoppe
Sweet Patience
COMING SOON
Tempting Prudence
Cowboy Up
Her Wicked Warrior