“I’m f—f—f—fine now. Just a little f—f—f—frozen.”
That wouldnotdo. “Would it scare you if I shifted back to my wolf form and curled around you? He runs hotter than me.”I recalled how scared she’d been that day on the ferry dock seeing the Crutchfield boys.
She burrowed her face into my chest and made a soft sound of contentment that went straight to my balls. “Your wolf doesn’t scare me, Travis. I saw him in Wickedville, remember? He’s...magnificent.”
A frisson of heat rushed through me. She wasn’t afraid of me—the man, or my wolf.
My inner beast swelled with pride at the compliment as did my cock, and my thoughts immediately turned carnal. I tried to imagine how it’d feel to be deep inside her. Nowthatwould be magnificent. She was smaller than me, of course, but not petite, with sturdy hips and lush curves. In a word,perfect. I’d go slow at first, keeping my primal nature tightly constrained so as not to hurt her. Then, once inside, I’d let go.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, drawing her scent into my lungs. She smelled of salty sea air, cedar and something sweet. I wondered how she’d taste.
“W—why aren’t your clothes wet?” she said against my chest, pulling me out of my X-rated thoughts, but just barely. My inner wolf was still there. Right below the surface, pacing like a caged animal.
“Shifter magic,” I explained. “My fur was definitely wet, but as soon as I shift back into my human form, my clothes are as dry as when I started.”
“How nice,” she said, and I nearly snorted. This woman was so accepting of me and my world even though it had been completely foreign to her a short time ago.
As I contemplated making good on my earlier offer to shift back into my wolf form, I hesitated, unsure it would be enough. This rocky ledge was ice cold, and it wasn’t getting any warmer.
And then I remembered the hiker’s cabin I’d passed on the way here. The island’s nature guild kept the popular trails maintained and the cabins well stocked for hikers. It would havea fireplace, wood, provisions and blankets. Perfect for cold, wet hikers who got stuck in a storm.
I told her my idea, promising to keep her as dry as possible. Once we got to shore, it was maybe a five-minute run up the coast. She was game.
“After I shift,” I said, removing my leather belt, “put this around my neck and it’ll give you something to hold on to besides my fur. If I leave it on, it’ll just disappear with the rest of my clothes.”
“Like a collar?” she murmured, lifting a brow, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Was she being a smartass or was this a sexual innuendo? Either way, I loved it.
I cocked my head at her. Two could play that game.
“Are you ready for me?” I meant—for me to shift into my wolf form—but I was thinking along other lines.
She gave me a pointed look like she knew what I meant. “Yes.”
I reached for the moon’s energy. Although it was hard to make yet another change under the same moon, I managed.
She slipped the collar around my neck, climbed onto my back and buried her face in my fur. And as I bounded into the surf, her legs wrapped tightly around me, I imagined a similar, but different scenario. One that also involved her legs wrapped around me but with me burying my face somewhere else.
But first, I had to get her to safety.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Daphne
Travis in his dire wolf form was even more magnificent than I remembered. His silvery coat glistened as he towered over me, his back level with my shoulders, yellow eyes locked onto mine. He did a downward dog so I could fasten the leather belt around his thick neck. Unable to help myself, I gave him a little scratch behind his ears.
He nuzzled my palm then flashed me a sharp look that said,Get the fuck on, so I obeyed him.
I clung to his back as he surged through the frigid black water and tried to ignore how cold it was. The hiking cabin wasn’t far, he’d said, and I trusted him to keep me safe. I wasn’t so sure about my heart, however.
The surf was relentless, but Travis’s wolf was incredibly strong and we soon made it to shore. Good thing, because I was wet and cold as hell when we got there. I repositioned my hands—one on the leather belt and the other holding a fistful of his fur. I was mesmerized by the feel and rhythm of his powerful muscles as he shot up the stairs and into the dense forest.
I didn’t remember how we got to the cabin, just that we ran through the trees and were suddenly there. It was possible I’d lost consciousness at some point along the way, because the next thing I knew, I was in a bed wrapped in blankets, while a fire crackled in a nearby fireplace. A shirtless Travis, wearing low-slung jeans, was adding another log to the fire.
That perfect physique of his held my attention like super glue. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from how the firelight reflected on the bulging muscles in his back and arms. And the man had abs for days and days. No wonder his wolf was able to cut through the powerful current like nobody’s business.
He threw a glance over at me, then hesitated when he realized I was awake and watching him.
Busted. I smiled awkwardly. “Um, I thought your clothes didn’t get wet when you shifted.”
