Chapter 39

Lia was stirring a pot on the stove when she heard the sound of the garage door going up then the slam of Riley's car door and the opening and closing of the door into the garage.
"Lucy, I'm home." he called, in the age-old imitation of the familiar phrase from the Lucille Ball show.
"In the kitchen," she called back.
Her stomach jittered with nerves, and her hand on the mixing spoon was not quite steady. All day, she'd been going over this situation with Riley, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. And all day she'd avoided the answers, not sure she wanted to hear them. She was both anxious for him to come home and dreading it.
She knew he'd head for the bedroom where he'd lock up his gun and shield. Then she heard his footsteps in the kitchen.
"Something smells really good in here." He came up behind her, swept her hair to one side, and placed a string of soft kisses on her neck.
Lia shivered as delicious heat swept over her. Her nipples beaded, her pussy ached, and, at once, her panties were damp. How was it this man had only to touch her and she was hot and ready?
"Chicken paprikash," she told him. "Ever had it?"
"I don't think so, but if it tastes as good as it smells, I hope you made plenty."
"It's an Eastern European dish," she explained. "Some say it's Hungarian in origin, but my bunica - my grandmother - always claimed the Hungarians stole it from the Romanians."
Riley laughed. "So, how did you spend your day?"
She carefully scraped the wooden spoon against the side of the pan and set it in the spoon rest on the stove. She'd started the day with very good intentions, but no matter what she did, the problems they faced kept jumping up to grab her attention. She'd been living with Riley for four days, and they had yet to discuss where they went from here.
What, she wondered, was going to happen with him? Did he want her to stay? Leave? He'd told her he loved her but nothing beyond that. The sex was beyond mind-blowing, and his ready acceptance of her wolf equally so. But where did they go from here?
She turned to face him.
"Dinner has to simmer for a few minutes," she told him. "Why don't I get a beer for you and a glass of wine for me, and we can sit out on the patio."
He frowned. "Is there a problem?"
She shrugged, trying not to let her nerves show. "I hope not. I just thought we should talk about some things."
"What things?" he demanded.
"On the patio," she insisted, and went about getting their drinks.
She handed Riley his beer and sat down with her glass of wine. Riley took a swallow and stood silently watching her for a long moment. Lia sipped her wine and told herself not to be nervous. Whatever happened, she'd deal with it. After all, for some people, love wasn't everything. They needed their space, their own life, their...whatever.
"Okay," he said, his voice flat. "Let's have it. Have you changed your mind?"
She gawked at him. "About what?"
"About us." He pointed at her and himself. "About this." He waved a hand to encompass his house. "About a life together."
"Riley." She took a deep breath and let it out gradually. "We haven't even discussed any of that. Nothing. Not one word. For all I know, you aren't ready for me to live in permanently. Or have me in your life like that."
He stared at her, a muscle twitching in his cheek. "Are you crazy? I told you I loved you. I connected you with Mike and Jamie. I told you I loved your wolf. What part of that did you not understand?"
She wet her lips nervously. "The part about what happens now. I mean, you know I had a life before I came here. What should I do about that?"
Riley frowned. "I guess I was waiting for you to bring it up. Of course I know you had a life." He took a long drink of his beer. "I guess I figured, if I didn't bring it up, it would just go away."
"So, we'd never talk about it?" She shook her head. "We'd go from day to day, you going to work and me doing...exactly what?"
He turned to look out across the yard. "Maybe I was afraid if I asked, you'd tell me you had to leave. That your time here was up. That you and Mike could continue doing your pack thing with Skype and Facetime."
"And I was afraid you were okay with my wolf but didn't want to make it a permanent part of your life."
He raked his fingers through his hair. "Are you kidding? I don't want you in anyone else's life but mine."
"Do you want me to stay?" She was almost afraid of the answer.
"Damn it, Lia. Of course, I do. I love you. Did you not hear me?"
Lia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She felt almost giddy with relief.
"I think we must be two pretty stupid people." She gave him a weak smile. "Right?"
He crouched down in front of her, setting his beer on the concrete along with her glass. Then he took both of her hands in his. "Lia. Listen closely. I want you in my life. Now. Forever. For all time. Did this happen fast? No faster than it did for Jamie and Mike, and look at them. So, I say again, I love you. I want you. And...." He paused a moment and looked as if he were gathering his courage. "I want to marry you."
"M-marry?" She was stunned.
He squeezed her hands harder. "Marry. You and your wolf. Stay with me here. Forever."