That he knew the softness at the base of her throat, the subtle scent of her hair, the way she sounded as she came, well, that made him a very satisfied man.

He’d managed to take her in her closet just an hour or so before. When he’d sat up afterward, he’d seen the pretty blue dress she currently wore. He liked that extra bit of context. Every time she wore it he’d remember.

Sex addled, he’d forgotten their earlier pre-sex discussion because, well, sex.

“So, what is it you’d like? For the ascension, I mean.”

She stole a spring roll and grinned. “Washington is a community property state. Just FYI that means fifty percent of your spring rolls are rightfully mine. And don’t give me any of that we aren’t actually married stuff because let’s face it, I want that spring roll and I’m not above showing you my boobs to make that happen.”

Her sense of humor had been such a lovely surprise. He hadn’t really expected it.

“You may always have my spring rolls. This is my vow to you.” Interestingly enough, he’d sort of been considering this ascension thing to be like marriage anyway. After all, he was binding himself to her for life. He knew that the bond wasn’t always sexual or romantic, but this one sure as hell was and it pleased him she thought so too.

It was also interesting that he hadn’t panicked at the thought. It was as if he’d taken one look, one deep breath of her and his entire being had honed in and said, mine.

“I just want you to be happy and comfortable. If you like, we can go to Tom’s and do it there. It’s going to depend on what you want. If you plan to join the clan as more than just the guy bound to me, then I’d suggest we do it here on Owen land. We’re most powerful here, where we’ve lived for generations. Our magick is in the earth. Everything around us is imbued with our signature, our energy. But if we do it here, you’re accepting that. It’ll recognize you and accept you as well.”

He’d thought about all that too. He didn’t like rules and regulations. He didn’t like being told what to do. But he was her bond-mate and her man and she was going to run the clan someday. What would their children think if he didn’t sit with her on the governance council?

He also knew it would hurt her if he rejected the clan. It was part of her in a way that had a lot to do with her identity. He got that. And heaven help him, but he couldn’t bear to hurt her.

“I’ll be joining the clan. I don’t have to do any more ceremonies, do I? And I don’t have to like, work at your office or anything? I can keep running my club?”

“That’s a whole ‘nother thing. We’ll get to that in a minute. Technically, once you perform the ascension you’ll be a recognized member of Clan Owen. You’d normally need to come in and talk with us and learn a little about the clan’s history and our expectations.”

“But you’ve been a very helpful teacher.” He couldn’t help that he leered just a little bit as he said it. She was hot and he was hot for her. And she’d taught him a lot.

“Well, I can attest that my introductions to magick and clan history have never been so interactive.”

He snagged a dumpling from her plate. “Better not have been.”

“You don’t have to work in the business, though you’ll have a seat on the full-council and as such you’d be expected to fill leadership opportunities. Committees, mentoring, that sort of thing.”

“Can we do it here but not at your building?”

“Oh, of course! We don’t have them there usually. I prefer my dad’s garden for such things. I’ve always sort of imagined I’d do my ascension there.”

He took her hands. “Why didn’t you say so?”

Those eyes of hers locked with his. “Because I knew my path and I didn’t want that to affect your decisions.”

“That’s what we’ll have though. You know that. I’m going to want to do things sometimes just because they make you happy. And don’t tell me you never thought of that because you do it all the time with me. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

She smiled. “I like it when you’re happy.”

“If we weren’t in public right now, I’d be working the zipper on the back of your dress down. I will though. Perhaps … in my office. Yes. On my desk.” He lowered his voice. “From behind.”

Her bottom lip caught briefly between her teeth and a wave of lust rolled over him.

“I sure hope this part doesn’t wear off.”

She dabbed her mouth with the napkin. “Me too. I can’t imagine not running around all day with my head filled with all the smutty things I want you to do to me.”

“What I find most delightful about you, Meriel, is that once you scratch beneath that cool and regal facade, there’s a filthy, filthy woman. And she’s mine.”

She grinned and he relaxed, just totally happy.

And then all of the sudden her head cocked as unease slid down his spine.

“What is it?” He looked around, nonchalant.

“There’s someone here who …” She licked her lips, clearly using her othersight. Dominic waved the server away, knowing Meriel needed the time to work her magick to check the situation out.

Without thinking, he reached across the table and took her hand. Which he’d meant as a simple thing to lend reassurance, but his magick rushed up from the pit of his belly and then through him, into her. Not draining him, which he’d sort of expected, but mixing with her energy.

Her gaze cleared moments later. “Mages.”

“And we’re leaving.” He pulled his wallet out and tossed down some money.

“Why do you always pay? I can afford to pay sometimes.”

“Are you really going to argue with me at this moment? Let’s go or point him out so I can clean his clock.”

Startled, her worry was replaced by a smile. “Can you please call Nell?” She pushed her phone across the table. “I’m going to see what I can find out.”

He leaned in, cuffing her wrist, her pupils flared for a brief moment and he was reminded of how he’d woken her up the morning before. She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip, catching it briefly, and he nearly forgot he was pissed off.

“Are you out of your fucking mind? No, no, I can’t call Nell as you scope out the area for someone who might be stalking you to do you harm. We’ll call her on the way out.”

“This is my town. I will not run and hide from someone who can only get his power by stealing it.” She focused on him, putting her hand over the one cuffing the other wrist. “I am not weak, nor will I behave as such.”

Before he could argue, she continued.

“We made this territory with our minds and our bodies, with our magick and our work. There is no place I’d be safer. This is our ground. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

He realized she’d opened up her othersight and he snarled a curse as he called Nell and told her what was going on.

She’d only said, “On my way.” And hung up.

“What can I do? If you’re going to pull some crazy shit, at least let me help.”

His magick had risen the moment she’d cocked her head and said something was wrong. But it began to spill over and into her. She took a breath, surprise on her face.

“You’re doing it.”

She continued to scan the immediate area. The tendrils of her magic swirled past him and he admired the control she had. He moved, subtly to keep her shielded from the room. What he really wanted to do was stand up and get her behind him and out of the restaurant.

“We take it very seriously. I guess you should know that right now. Our dominance and governance. We worked hard to get it and we won’t cede even an inch.”

He feigned surprise as he kept his gaze dancing around the room. He realized as he did it that he could catch magickal energies. She’d been trying to teach him how to use othersight more fully. He knew the basics, but watching her work had been like a master class. He’d been able to use his othersight, but he was pretty sure it was beyond his skill level to do that and fourteen other things like she did.