Hope and Vengeance (Saa Thalarr, book 1): Saa Thalarr, book 1 by Connie Suttle

considered my current set of problems. I still hadn't heard anything from Xavier regarding the Corpus Christi Pack and the rogue werewolves.
    "I'm ready whenever you are," Anna said, breaking into my thoughts.
    "You only ate half your food," I pointed out.
    "I could say the same for you. But I won't."
    "That is much appreciated." I waved to the waitress, to bring the check. At least Anna let me pay this time.
    * * *
    "Sweetheart, you need to get in bed," I whispered against Anna's ear as she watched Kirby Lee and Manuelo from a distance.
    "Yeah. Joey, stop playing that machine," Anna said. Joey turned to her in surprise. We'd been standing behind him for fifteen minutes, pretending to watch him play while we surreptitiously watched our targets.
    "But," Joey sounded confused.
    "Move to this one over here." Anna indicated another slot machine a row over. We'd still have a view of our targets, so I nodded to Joey. We moved. Anna handed Joey a hundred-dollar bill and told him to play the maximum bet. He slid the bill into the slot. He and I were both surprised when he hit a jackpot for a thousand dollars around sixty dollars in.
    * * *
    "I don't think Cheek is going to move from his spot as long as he's winning and as long as the casino lets him sit there and gamble," Anna said as I escorted her into the elevator a few minutes later. I'd cashed in Joey's winning ticket so he could keep gambling, and Anna and I left him there, at another machine she picked out.
    "Sweetheart, you look exhausted," I murmured, pulling her against me as the elevator doors closed.
    "I am tired," she admitted.
    "Then you won't fight me if I do this." I leaned down to kiss her. I wasn't satisfied with a quick peck. This was a real kiss. A deep kiss. My tongue probing her mouth, exploring the scent and taste of her. She whimpered. I stroked the back of her neck gently to calm her before pulling away.
    "I won't hurt you," I whispered. "You can count on that."
    "Adam, I," she began, concern in her eyes as I leaned against the back wall of the elevator.
    "It'll take time, sweetheart. I understand that. Just don't shut me out, all right?" I offered her a smile. "Sex is meant to be pleasurable. A consensual give-and-take between us."
    "Adam, I'm not saying I don't want it. It just scares me. Brings up bad memories."
    "I know. We just have to find a way to get you past that." The elevator doors opened and I ushered her out. The door to our shared room was at the end of the hall, near the stairs.
    "Brush your teeth, I'll be right back," I said, once we were inside the room. After the bathroom door was closed, I walked through the connecting door into Joey's room, heading straight for the toilet. There, I eliminated the food I'd eaten earlier, rinsed out my mouth with Joey's mouthwash and went back to find Anna.
    "Nice," I smothered a grin. Anna was dressed in a white T-shirt easily four sizes too big and pajama bottoms decorated with small tigers.
    "Don't laugh, a friend bought these for me," she huffed, pointing at the pajama bottoms.
    "We won't need this," I said, jerking the bedspread off the bed and tossing it in a corner. Those things were generally crawling with bacteria anyway.
    "What if I get cold?"
    "I'll send Joey to buy you a blanket."
    "Adam, don't approach Cheek, all right? Just watch him for now. We need the ones behind him, in addition to him and his minions downstairs."
    "What might be behind him?" I asked.
    "Can we talk about this later?" She yawned, reminding me of my manners.
    "Sure. Get in bed, I'll tuck you in."
    The bed creaked when I sat on it. "Anna," I said, "We may argue and disagree. Most couples do. But I will never, ever, force you. I will never ask for anything you can't give. Deal?"
    "Deal," she whispered.
    "Good." I leaned in for a quick kiss before pulling away. "Pleasant dreams," I said, and turned out the light.
    * * *
    "Any change?" I took a seat beside Joey, who handed me another ticket—this one for seven-hundred-fifty