“No. I’m staying home with Roxie.”

  “Good, we have a family dinner planned. We’ll play games and then go for a wolf run in the evening. Of course you don’t have to join us if you need the time alone together, but we want you there if you would like to be with us,” Landon said.

  Dylan instantly looked at Roxie to see what she wanted to do. She smiled at him, and right away, Kayla said, “You mated the right wolf.”

  The guys all laughed. Roxie smiled and squeezed Dylan’s hand. “Of course we’ll be there,” Roxie said.

  “Good,” Landon said. “We’re meeting up at Blake’s house for the dinner. We’ll decide on who runs as wolves and who carries the babies then.”

  “The guys always do,” Nicole said. “It would be too hard for us to carry the twins by ourselves. And the guys are sweet to let us take the time to run as wolves while they carry the wolf pups. When the babies get older, we can let them run as wolves for shorter distances. Especially when we don’t have deep snow like this.”

  “You see what you’re in for?” Gabrielle said to Dylan and Nate.

  The guys smiled.

  “I guess that means all the guys will be carrying the wolf pups and the ladies will all be running as wolves then,” Nate said.

  Everyone looked at him with eyes agog, but Kayla quickly said, “We’re not pregnant yet. He means when the time comes.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Then they finished eating and drinking and all headed back to the dance floor.

  Roxie was certain everyone wanted to know all about what went on during the men’s hunt for the bad guys, but she was glad nobody brought it up. For now, she and the others were snuggling close to their mates.

  Chapter 24

  Dylan was so glad Roxie and he had mated. This was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. He couldn’t believe she was his mate, dancing with him during the Valentine’s Day party when before he had met her, he figured he likely would have been searching for Jim and his friends alone. No celebration for him. It would have been just one more year blended into another. He really treasured being with Roxie and her family and friends this Valentine’s Day.

  He had a little over a week left with the FWS, and he desperately wanted to locate Jim and the trapper before he became a deputy sheriff. Though Dylan would still search for them as a deputy sheriff if he didn’t locate him by then because he would have the credentials and he had to do it. He smiled. He liked the whole idea. But most of all, because Dylan could be with Roxie a lot more than if he was working out of Denver with the FWS.

  Tonight, all Dylan cared about was holding in his arms his seductive she-wolf in a gown of red, a slit up the side, and a bodice that cupped her breasts beautifully as they danced nice and close all over the ballroom floor. He barely noticed anyone else was there, though the ballroom floor was filled with wolves dancing with their mates or girlfriends or boyfriends. The feel of her soft body against his was enough to make him want to skip being here until after midnight and just head on home with her.

  Not that he could, he knew. This was mostly all her doing and she’d done a wonderful job on the decorations, music, food, and drinks. Of course she had a lot of help setting it all up, but she had been the one who had planned the whole operation.

  He leaned down and kissed her mouth. “You did an extraordinary job on this party.”

  “I’m just so glad you were able to make it home all right and be here with me tonight.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t want to miss it for the world.” He kissed her cheek. “You are so stunning. I love this gown on you. I thought of trying to sneak you away to our house and finish off the night—”

  “In bed?”

  He chuckled.

  “I know you too well. And no. We’re all dressed up to party. Despite how many people are here for the celebration, they would miss us if we left.”

  But they would understand why since they were so newly mated, Dylan figured.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to move her sexy body against his. “If we get too hot, we’ll stop and get something to drink to cool us down.”

  “I’ll suffer.” He smiled down at her upturned lips. He didn’t want to release her for the rest of the night. When he was on the mission, he had been concentrating on that, using all his enhanced wolf senses to locate the perps. But at night, all he could think of was how much he had missed being with Roxie. This was perfect. Better than perfect.

  Despite his declaration to hold her the rest of the night, they did finally get some champagne to cool down and also took a restroom break. He was amused when Nicole, Gabrielle, Kayla, and Roxie went to the restroom together.

  “Hey,” Landon said, joining Dylan since there was a line of women waiting to go to the restroom and none of them had returned to the ballroom yet. He had a drink in his hand and took a sip of it. “I didn’t mean to put you both on the spot about the planned family activities for tomorrow, our monthly family gathering. We always do them, but you and Roxie can just join us for the wolf run later if you prefer it.”

  “No. I look forward to it. I didn’t have any family for a long time, so doing things with family again is a real nice change of pace.”

  “We’re your family now too,” Landon said. “But Roxie won’t mind one way or another as long as you’re happy.”

  Blake and Nate joined them. “Are we talking about the family evening?” Blake asked.

  “Yeah. I don’t want Dylan to think he doesn’t have a say in anything when it comes to family gatherings,” Landon said.

  “I’m glad to have the extended family. Roxie and I will have the rest of the night together and all day tomorrow. I suspect by the time night rolls around again, we’ll be ready to get out of bed,” Dylan said and sipped some of his champagne.

  The guys laughed.

  “We all still feel the same way as you,” Blake said. “If we’re away from our mates for an extended period, we want to be with them and no one else.”

  “Except now we have the babies,” Landon said, “and that makes it harder for us to have just our own alone time. We’ll go out on dates, everyone wants to babysit the kids, but when we’re at home? It’s a whole other story.”

  “Tell me about it,” Blake said. “When the kids are older, they can stay with other families who have teens to babysit them or kids their age on sleepovers, but for now?” Blake shook his head.

  “Well, Kayla and I can’t wait to have our own little ones,” Nate said.

  Everyone looked at Dylan. He smiled. “We’re not protecting ourselves from the eventuality, but it would be nice to be a couple for a while before that happens.”

  “True,” Blake said.

  Then the ladies returned to the ballroom in their beautiful gowns. Kayla was wearing a red gown like Roxie was, but Kayla’s looked more mermaid-like. At least that was what it looked like to Dylan. Gabrielle and Nicole were wearing pink. All the gowns were long and silky and made the women look like a million bucks.

  “Hmm, did we miss anything?” Roxie asked, slipping into Dylan’s arms and running her hand up his shirt.

  “Nope. We were just waiting for our exquisite mates to return from the long line at the restroom,” Dylan said. “You should have made an additional restroom just for women.”

  “Kayla and I suggested it, but our brothers wouldn’t go along with it. They said the guys would be looking for the adjoining men’s room and would get frustrated they didn’t have one too. Besides, we have other restrooms, but this one was the closest to the ballrooms,” Roxie said. “Are you ready for more dancing?”

  “I sure am.” He took Roxie back to the dance floor, and the others also took their mates to dance.

  “So what did you talk about while we were gone?” Roxie asked.

  “You’re as curious as a cat. Landon wanted me to know that we didn’t have to go to the family activities tomorrow night and could just join them for the wolf run later,” Dylan said.

  “Do you want to do that?” Roxie sounded sincere in doing whatever he wanted to do.

  “No. I want to enjoy all of it. It sounds like fun. I told them we’d have the day to ourselves.”

  “And?”

  “There was a discussion about the babies. I’m sure everyone’s wondering when we’re hoping to have some.”

  Roxie smiled. “I knew that would come up next. First, the betting on whether we would get together or not.”

  “What?”

  “You didn’t know about it?” Roxie sounded surprised.

  “No. Everyone kept me in the dark about that.” He thought it was funny.

  “Well, Carmela and Kayla told me. Next it will be who will have babies first. Kayla or me.”

  Dylan laughed. “I’m all for being a couple for a while, but if it happens, it happens.”

  “That’s what I say. You didn’t talk about the case tonight?”

  “Nope. It seems that’s a taboo subject for the evening, which is fine with me. No one brought it up at all, and I certainly wasn’t going to mention it unless someone asked me about it.” Dylan dipped her and then brought her snug against him.

  “Wow, I thought you told Luke you might need lessons for dancing, and I totally forgot all about asking you again if you wanted to practice. But you don’t need any lessons.”

  He smiled. “I just said that in front of Luke so he wouldn’t feel bad that he didn’t know how to dance.”

  They glanced around the ballroom and saw Luke dancing with his girlfriend. He was doing a good job of it. Dylan was so glad they’d found him in the woods, and he was enjoying being with the Silver family and with his girlfriend.

  When it was finally getting close to midnight, the music quit playing and everyone got a glass of champagne or another beverage of their choice for before they departed for the evening.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” everyone shouted.

  Hugs and kisses abounded. Then with goodbyes all around, more hugs, and more goodbyes, people started leaving the ballroom and going home. The cleaning crew would be coming in after everyone was gone.

  “Tomorrow then,” Landon said.

  “I can’t wait for family night,” Gabrielle said, hugging on Landon. She also had no other family and she seemed to love doing everything with them too.

  “See you tomorrow,” Roxie said. Then she and Dylan, Kayla and Nate, and Blake and Nicole all headed outside to their homes while Landon and Gabrielle walked toward the parking lot to their car.

  Before Roxie and Dylan entered their home, Blake, Nicole, Kayla, and Nate said their good nights to them and continued to walk to their homes. As soon as Roxie and Dylan were inside, the door shut and locked, he was pulling off her coat, then his own. They slipped off their shoes next. Then he started to unzip the side zipper on her gown, revealing no bra, just creamy, delectable breasts. He kissed her bare breasts.

  She moaned as he sucked on one nipple. Then he was hurrying to free himself of his tux, and she took it and placed it carefully on the back of one of the dining room chairs. He was already tugging off his bow tie, but she helped remove his cuff links.

  “You are so handsome all dressed up, though I love your rugged outdoorsman look too.”

  “I would never have figured out what I should wear if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “Yeah, but you make the outfit.” She pressed her body against his, and he cupped her face and kissed her mouth.

  He relished the taste of the champagne on her lips, reminding him how much he’d enjoyed the closeness of dancing with her and had so looked forward to this moment.

  He entrapped her with his arms, delighting in a leisurely kiss on her mouth. Then she began unfastening the buttons on his waistcoat. He realized her gown made her sweet body much more accessible since all he had to do was unzip the side and slip it down her hips. Half of her was already naked to his touch, while he still had to remove his waistcoat and shirt to get to that point.

  As soon as she removed his waistcoat, she began unbuttoning his shirt. “Too many buttons,” he said, feeling a little desperate to get out of his clothes.

  She smiled as he cupped her breasts and stroked her nipples with his thumbs. He moved his mouth to her neck and kissed her around to the other side, whispering in her ear, “I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too.”

  He leaned down to finish unzipping her gown and held her hand so she could step out of it, and he carefully laid the satiny red gown on the chair.

  She finished unbuttoning his shirt and dragged it off his shoulders, holding him hostage, kissing each shoulder with reverence. “You are so…virile.”

  “You are so incredibly beautiful,” he said, and he meant in every way, inside and out.

  She tugged his shirt off the rest of the way and smiled. “Let’s turn the mantel lights on to make it extra special.”

  He hauled her close and just hugged her for a moment. She was what made making love special, but he did like the idea of the charming ambience of the fire in the fireplace and the sparkling lights dancing off them and the walls.

  “Music?” he asked, holding on to her still, not wanting to lose this closeness between them.

  “If you want some, but I’m just as happy with listening to your heartbeat and ramping up the heat between us,” she said, taking his hand and leading him into the living room. Then she released him and turned on the lights while he started a fire in the fireplace.

  She tugged a futon mattress out of the spare bedroom, and he hurried to help her carry it and set it up. “I have it for emergencies if we need it for extra guests.” Then she brought out sheets and blankets and they made a bed near the fireplace, the mantel lights sparkling, captivating.

  She unzipped his pants and moved them down his legs. He climbed out of them and set them on her dress. Afterward, he yanked off his dress socks, then had the honor of removing her pantyhose.

  She sat on the soft futon, and he joined her to pull off her panties. She cupped his package still covered in his boxer briefs. His erection pulsed beneath her touch, and he was ready to rip his underwear off, but she slowly began to slide them down, unveiling his thick erection that was eager to fill her.

  Once he was free of his boxer briefs, he rested one leg over the top of hers, his knee between her legs, and then he looked into her doe-like, brown-eyed gaze, knowing he was the luckiest wolf alive to have her in his life. He caressed her jaw and just felt overwhelmed with emotion in that instant.

  Sensing the way he was feeling, she said, “You are just as beautiful and I need you just as much.” She ran her hand over his chest, and then she pushed him back against the futon and cradled one of his legs with her hot body, pressing her breasts against his chest. She captured his mouth with a profoundly touching kiss and he opened to her, their tongues exploring, tasting the champagne they’d had.

  But making love to her was the best. He ran his fingers through her silky hair, watching the lights dancing off her face. Then he kissed her deeply, hugging her body to his, his arousal already full to bursting. He moved her onto her back again, his leg wedged between hers so he could pleasure her. He swept his hand down her silky skin, working his way to the vee between her thighs, and found her wet and ready for him. He poked a finger between her feminine lips, and she gave a start and a moan. Their pheromones were shouting to do this already, to make the primal connection, both their hearts hammering in agreement.

  Not even the cold walk in the snow from the lodge to the house had chilled the heat that had erupted between them on the dance floor. He was burning up, wanting inside her in the worst way. He stroked her, kissing her luscious, sweet breasts, her throat, her shoulder, her eyes, her mouth, loving every bit of her. She was caught up in the fervor of the ecstasy of the moment and cried out with joy. She was so sweet, sexy, so receptive to him that he didn’t wait to enter her, claiming her, angling into her for deeper penetration. Then he was thrusting, wanting to reach the pinnacle of the climax.

  When they were together like this, making love, it was like they fed the furnace with a blazing fire. Her hands were holding his hips, her body thrusting against his as if she wanted, needed more. Then she shuddered, her inner muscles caressing his hardness. God, he loved her. She bucked against him until he couldn’t hold on any longer and released deep inside her with a satisfied groan.

  For a long time, they just held each other close, enjoying the afterglow of the moment. “You make me complete, Roxie.” He pulled the covers over them. He wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay with him down here or go upstairs to bed, but he loved the enchanting ambience of the lights and the fire in the fireplace, making this a truly special night.

  “You do the same for me,” she said, her voice dreamy. And then she snuggled against him and closed her eyes.

  He had his answer. She truly made everything magical.

  The next afternoon, Roxie snuggled against Dylan, loving him and so thrilled that he was here with her for the whole day and night. She kissed his naked chest. “You make me want to stay in bed all day.” They’d made love again that morning and had skipped breakfast, going back to sleep instead.

  He chuckled and kissed her. “Ditto for me. Do you want to have something to eat?”

  “Yeah, let’s have tangy collard and cabbage slaw and pork chops. We’ll have steaks tonight at Blake’s.”

  “That sounds great.”

  They took a sexy shower together, unable to get enough loving in. When they finished, they dried off, dressed, and then headed downstairs to the kitchen and began preparing lunch.

  “This has been the best Valentine’s celebration ever for me,” Dylan said.

  She knew it had been. With her family, she’d had wonderful celebrations, but having Dylan for her mate was just incredible. “Me too. I love you.”

  “I love you, honey.”

  They were going to have such a wonderful life together. She knew it.

  They finished making lunch and then served it up with a glass of wine each.