Free Love, Always, Promise [Wolf Creek Pack 5] by Stormy Glenn

with the knowledge that he gave Ethan something good to remember.
    “Did I hurt you? Then I mean, not later.”
    “No, you didn’t hurt me.”
    At least he had that. If he was only going to have that one time with Ethan, at least he made it good for him. “I’m glad, Ethan.”
    “Maybe I’ll tell you about it some time,” Ethan murmured.
    Jace tilted his head up to look down at Ethan. Was he serious? First off, the idea of Ethan describing their first time together excited him beyond belief. Second, that Ethan even considered that they might see each other again, well that just made Jace want to kiss him all over.
    “You must have really thought I was a complete nutcase that day in my apartment.” Ethan chuckled.
    “I didn’t know what to think, Ethan. I know I didn’t like the way Joe talked to you, but I didn’t understand why. I also thought you looked like the sexiest damn thing I ever saw,” Jace replied.
    “Then I opened my mouth.”
    “You did surprise me, that’s for sure. I was positive I never met you. It wasn’t until Joe started talking to me and then Nate did his little thing that I realized there might be something to what you said.”
    “Why did you leave me, then?”
    “I needed time to think. I was raised my entire life knowing exactly where my life was going. I was next in line for alpha. I never even considered another life. You kind of threw me for a loop.”
    “I wouldn’t have kept you from being alpha, Jace. Surely you know that.”
    “You wouldn’t have, but being mated to you would. My father doesn’t tolerate anyone being in a same sex relationship. Neither do most of my pack. If I mated you, I couldn’t be alpha.”
    Ethan was silent for a moment, but when he began to speak, his voice sounded so quiet, Jace needed to lean down to hear him. “I’m sorry, Jace. If you want to go, I’ll understand.”
    “I’m not, Ethan,” Jace assured him as he squeezed his hand. “I can think of no other place I’d rather be than right here with you.”
    “You don’t want to be your pack alpha?” Ethan sounded skeptical. Jace couldn’t blame the man. What wolf didn’t want to be alpha of his own pack, well, besides him?
    Jace shook his head. “No, I never wanted it. It was just expected since before I can remember. I’ve always wanted to own a horse ranch. What about you?”
    Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve never really thought about it.”
    “What do you think about horses? Do you like them?” Jace asked, mentally crossing his fingers.
    “I’ve never really been around them. Why?” Ethan asked curiously, looking up at Jace.
    “I thought maybe we’d buy a ranch or something, if you wanted. I can teach you anything you don’t know about horses,” Jace assured him, wondering if he stepped over the line with Ethan. He didn’t say he would let Jace stick around, but he didn’t say he couldn’t.
    “Could we get a dog?”
    Yes!
Jace silently yelled to himself.
    “What kind of dog do you want?” he asked instead.
    “I don’t know. I’ve just never had a dog, and I’ve always wanted one,” Ethan said, shrugging his shoulders.
    “How about we get one after we find a house? Nate said that he already has a place he wants to show us tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
    Jace lay there with Ethan in his arms. He wondered how Ethan could possibly be so forgiving of him after everything he did. He probably would be yelling and screaming, but Ethan just wanted to know if he could get a dog. How in the hell did he ever get so lucky?
“Jace?”
“Yeah, Ethan?”
    “Will I get to stay when you bring your wife home?” Ethan asked hesitantly.
    “Ethan, I’m not married,” Jace replied, confused.
    “Not now, but you will be some day.”
    “Who do you think I’m going to marry?” Jace asked, tilting his head to look down at Ethan again.
    He watched Ethan drop his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, but you won’t be single