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He touched her chest, flattening his hand between her brsts "You have strength of heart You have the strength of a survivor" He kissed her lips again, his mouth hot "I want ether--and live"

Myka’s heart beat faster "Yes"

Spike touched the corners of her lips, opening her to hiue swept inside, heat and goodness, strength and caring This h his touch

Myka leaned into hi down to her brsts, teasing the niles through her shirt

"Myka," he said, savoring her name "Let me do what I need to do And then" He kissed her throat, licked her neck "Then we’ll talk"

"Fine by h feel of the unshaved whiskers "But you still haven’t told htened her ar you out of this rooht You are a little shit" Then he kissed her again, lowered his voice, and told her

Myka started s behind andthis I want to help Tell ht was fully dark by the tiantic abandoned hay barn that housed the Shifter fight club Spike climbed out of the truck to look around before he’d let Myka out, inhaling the air unclogged by city sone, the sky clear and thick with stars Out here, away from the towns, the rees of white

Tonight’s matches must have been broadcast far and wide, because the dirt around the barn was packed with vehicles--cars, pickups, led in thepurposefully or strolling leisurely toward the barn Those who saw Spike lifted hands, called out greetings, or told hi on him

They didn’t know the half of it

Spike had called in favors tonight He’d asked Ronan and Nate to watch over the house and Jordan--Ronan because the bear was huge, formidable, and trustworthy, and Nate because he knew Gavan and could anticipate the kinds of things he’d pull The Morrissey family was not to sowas settled Ronan and Nate, though they both worked for Liaood chunk of the Morrissey faht anyway Sean had co with the up for his first , and his mate Glory had come to watch him

Spike didn’t see Gavan yet, but there was no doubt he’d be there He wasn’t one to put plans in motion froot in his oay So hing The Shifters would think she was keyed up and turned on to watch her ht, and didn’t Spike want that to be true? Myka ready to celebrate with him when he won, fuss over him if he lost? She’d put her ar him she’d like him even if he couldn’t lift a bear over his head and throw hihts every week up until now because nothing else had she’d been doing to fill the eer empty He’d found Jordan, and now Myka Myka liked Spike the ht, all would be settled Time to start