Free The Wolf's Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne by R.E. Butler Page B

things.  "I'll pick you up at eight, and wear something pretty."
    She laughed lightly and sighed, "Thanks, Michael."
    "For what, doll?"
    "For being sweet.  I needed that."
    "Anytime.  Goodnight, sweetheart."
    "Goodnight, Michael."
    By the time he was shaving for his date, he had everything in order, and it had been no small feat.  He'd picked both Cadence and Karly's brains, and his mom's, bought a new dress shirt for the occasion, and borrowed Karly's Porsche Boxter with her and Linus' blessing.  If it wasn't a completely ludicrous car to have for a man who was thinking about marriage and family, he would offer to buy it from them.  As it was, he realized that he needed to get something more than his motorcycle, and soon.
    He'd not ever known that someone could be breath-taking in real life, figuring it for one of those romance novel clichés, but here she was — heart-stoppingly, breath-stealingly gorgeous.  And all his.  Her dress was black with white trim and thin straps, curve-hugging to the waist and then flared to mid-thigh where the skirt fell.  Her beautiful bare legs ended in black heeled sandals where a toe ring glinted along with a shimmery ankle bracelet.
    Her onyx hair fell like a satiny wave down past her shoulders, and he had such an urge to run his fingers through it that he almost cracked the bouquet in half squeezing it so hard.  "You look gorgeous, sweetheart," he handed her the flowers and kissed her cheek.  Although roses had seemed like a good idea, the three women he polled said they were old stand-bys and urged him to think outside the box.  He went to a florist recommended by Linus and explained what he needed.  The old woman behind the counter had worked her magic and given him a large bouquet of soft pink and yellow Peruvian lilies, tied with a pink satin ribbon.
    Shyne fawned over them, inviting him in while she put them in water.  Already, he was heady with the knowledge that he'd done at least one thing right tonight.  When the flowers were sitting on the coffee table in a clear vase, she took his hand, and they walked out to his borrowed car.  She didn't seem to care about the car, which he found interesting, but as he drove to the restaurant, he realized that she actually really only cared that he was there with her.  Everything else was just...details for her.  He felt exactly the same way.
    The restaurant was an Italian bistro that served fantastic lobster ravioli.  Since she had admitted at the bar that she didn't drink before driving, he decided to follow her lead, and they both enjoyed sweet tea with their meal instead of wine.  He'd once made fun of Linus for not drinking at the bar when Karly was with him.  Now he understood.  In fact, he now understood a lot of things that his friends had dealt with as they found their mates.
    For dessert, he made arrangements with Robert to use the lake.  While Shyne sat in the car waiting, he laid out a blanket on the dock and arranged a few candles and two plates of desserts that Karly had made special for the occasion.
    Shyne sat across from him, the plates between them, and he fed her a mini apple tart.  She repaid the favor, selecting a small square of mocha cheesecake.  The silence hung between them as they shared the sweet little bites of desserts and said nothing.  When the plates were empty and the taste of sugar was heavy on both of their lips, she crossed the small space between them, fisted her hands in his hair, and kissed him for all she was worth.  Her tongue slid past his lips with a moan that made his cock stand at attention, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.  Her body molded against his as she fed at his mouth, nipping his lips before delving back in to slide her tongue against his.  He'd never been so thoroughly kissed in all his life, and his mind reeled at the feelings coursing through him.
    She tugged on his shirt, moving sensually against him and making small whimpering noises,