Circle of Desire

Chapter Eighteen

Ethan walked into the small hospital ward and was relieved to find Gwen sitting up and looking well. He knew without looking that Kat wasn't here, but she had been. The air still carried her warm scent.

Gwen didn't seem all that surprised to see him, and her smile was full of mischief. "I told Kat it wouldn't take you long to find us."

It had taken him two days once the effects of the moon had worn off, and that was precisely forty-seven hours too long. "I'm a cop. Finding people is part of my job." He handed her the roses he'd brought her and leaned forward to kiss her offered cheek. "But I was more than a little pissed that you and Kat didn't leave contact details with someone." In truth, he hadn't been as angry as he'd been afraid that Kat had come to her senses and wanted nothing more to do with him.

"You know where we live, Detective. You would have found us there eventually."

Eventually wasn't good enough. There was too much left unsorted between him and Kat and so much he had to tell her. "There are lots of good hospitals in Oregon. You didn't have to fly to L.A. to get treatment."

Gwen patted his hand. "Kat hasn't told you, has she?"

Alarm slivered through him. "Told me what?"

She smiled. "That you're not the only one in this family who can shift shape."

He stared at her for a moment, not sure whether she was kidding or not. Then he remembered the way Kat had so mysteriously disappeared after knocking him back against the tree. Remembered the raven flying high, its rasping cry suspiciously like laughter. She was a shifter. No wonder she'd been so surprised and just a little angry when he'd said it felt like he was losing his soul to a beast every time he changed. "So you both can assume the shape of a raven?"

She nodded "It's not something we want the world to know, and especially not something we want the medical profession at large to be aware of."

He glanced around the room. "So this hospital caters to your — our — kind?"

She nodded. "Funded by the Circle and staffed by its members. There are six centres altogether. This was the closest to Oregon."

"And the private jet that swept you down here?"

"You have done your homework." A smile dimpled her cheeks. "Also thanks to the Circle."

This Damask Circle was obviously a whole lot bigger than what his investigations had led him to believe.

"When are they letting you out?"

"In an hour or so, after the doc sees me." Her eyes twinkled. "I know you didn't come all the way down here to chit-chat with me, detective. If you want to see her, she's in the gardens, getting some fresh air and having a cup of coffee. Seeing it's so hot, I suggest you try the gazebo first."

"Thanks."

He kissed her cheek again and headed out of the room, making his way down the corridor and out the rear entrance. Sweat began to trickle down his back almost as soon as he entered the sun, and he beat a hasty retreat to shade, his heart racing a mile a minute as he followed the path through the trees. It felt like forever since he'd last seen Kat. Forever since he'd last held her.

He came into a small clearing and saw the gazebo — and her. The sheer force of love and passion that tumbled through him made him stop. All he could do was stand there and drink in her image. She leaned against the arch of the doorway, staring at the small waterfall dribbling into a lily-filled pond. She wore a short T-shirt and a soft, swirly skirt that caressed her thighs. She had never looked prettier or more desirable. He wanted to grab her and make love to her right there in the gazebo, but first he had to apologize for his stupidity. And for hurting her.

He took a deep breath, and continued on to the gazebo.

The warm scent of spice and forest hit Kat. For a second she froze, certain it was only wishful thinking. Then she heard the soft footsteps behind her, and her heart leapt.

Joy surged, but just as quickly fled. Because while she could hear him, she couldn't feel him. It was if he was keeping his emotions in check, and that scared her. What if he couldn't answer the question she'd asked in the cavern? What if he decided it was simply easier to walk away? But if that was his intention, would he bother coming all this way to say good-bye? She didn't know.

She might love this man, but they really didn't know each other. And right now, she wasn't certain they ever would.

She put down her coffee and turned around. The nut-

coloured eyes that had haunted her dreams the last few nights met hers, his gaze all but consuming her. Her breath caught somewhere in her throat, and for a second all she could do was stand and stare. Then his hands slid under her shirt and around her waist, his touch sending a flash fire of desire across her skin as he pulled her close to him. But that flash fire was nothing compared to the heat in his eyes. Her heart snagged right along with her breath, and the whole world seemed to spin around her. He leaned forward, his mouth capturing hers, his kiss passionate and tender and oh-so wonderful.

"I missed you," he whispered, his breath warm against her lips when he finally pulled away.

"It's was only two days." Even though it had felt like an eternity.

"Two days and one night," he corrected, gently brushing the back of his finger down her cheek. "You have no idea how angry and how scared I was to arrive back at our cabin the following morning to discover you and Gwen gone."

His words sent hope and joy tumbling through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lightly kissed his chin. "You were scared? I can't even imagine that."

"Then walk away from me now, and you'll see true terror."

His words seemed to echo through every fibre of her being. Never had she heard eleven sweeter words. She smiled and let her gaze search his. "Do you want me to walk away?"

"Not ever." He hesitated. "Can you ever forgive me?"

She raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For hanging on to a dream that didn't exist."

"Jacinta?"

He nodded. "I loved her, but I don't think I was ever in love with her. As my brother pointed out, I was never tempted to perform the moon ceremony with her."

Her throat went dry, and the giddy sense of happiness died a little. "But you did perform it — the night before the full moon. It was Jacinta you were seeing, not me."

The smile teasing his wonderful mouth made her heart do another heady dance. "Did I ever say her name?"

"No — " "Then how do you know I was seeing her and not you?"

"Because you said a witch had told you the woman of your dreams would be waiting for you."

"And a witch did tell me that, didn't she?"

"Well, yeah, but — " He cut her words off with a kiss. When he pulled back a second time, his feelings were in his eyes. The air sang with the sheer depth of them, so that it felt like she was breathing in his love with every breath.

"I was seeing you," he said. "I howled your name to the moon. It appears my animal half was certain that I loved you even when my human half continued to dither."

"Then I'm glad the full moon was close and the wolf took charge, because I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you."

"Then marry me. Let's finish what the moon began."

The tears in her eyes made his face shimmer before her.

"Yes. Though there is something I should tell you."

"If it's the fact that you're a shifter, I know. Gwen told me."

"I bet she didn't tell you I'm pregnant."

"No." Amusement tugged his lips, and his eyes shone. "I figured that out myself. There could only be one reason why you were so certain you didn't get pregnant the night we made our promises — because you already were." He brushed his hand down her hair. "I don't think I can ever describe how happy I am. Or how fiercely I want to see you round and fat with our child."

"Children," she corrected with a smile. "Gran tells me I'm carrying twins."

He didn't seem surprised. "I hope they're girls. I hope they have their mother's beautiful green eyes and midnight-coloured hair."

She cupped a hand against his cheek and ran a thumb over the lips she could kiss forever. "I thought most men wanted sons."

"I'm not most men."

She let her fingers trail down his chest and stomach until she touched the hard length of him. "Definitely not."

He grinned and pressed her back against the gazebo's wall. "I can feel the wolf taking charge again."

His hands slid up to her breasts and slowly, teasingly, he brushed his thumbs across her aching nipples. As the ripples of sweet sensation flooded across her body, she found herself hoping there was no one else in the garden.

If there was, they'd be seeing a little more than trees and shrubs all too soon.

"This wolf of yours seems to have an exhibitionist nature," she gasped His touch slid down her waist, and the sound of the skirt's zipper being pulled down filled the silence. "It's the company I keep. She drives me insane."

A feeling that was totally mutual. "Promise me two things."

"Anything," he murmured, pushing her skirt past her hips.

"Promise to give me lots of children."

He looked up, and his eyes were filled with such fierce love her heart quaked. "I intend to."

"And promise never to curb the wolf's desires."

His wicked grin was the only answer she would ever need.