Page 28
“What is this from?” I ask, mouthing the three scarred slices on his pec.
“I’ve had it since I was a teenager,” he says, voice low. “Before I lived with the Northern Pacific Clans, I was a lone wolf, living nomadically in the western mountains. Long story short, I went into the wrong cave and met a very angry mama cougar. My wolf hadn’t yet emerged, but aside from making the mistake of being in her territory, I think she could sense the predator inside of me.”
“Whoa,” I whisper. “You must have been so scared.”
“Not nearly as scared as she was, I assure you. Now I have this scar to remind myself of my place on this Earth.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“We might be scared of how uncaring nature can be, but humans are the only things that nature fears.”
That resonates so deeply that I don’t respond; instead, we sit in companionable silence for a while, me rubbing my face across his neck and chest like a kitten while he rubs soothing circles on my back. Eventually the wetness between us cools and I sit up to scootch off his lap.
“Look at me, Raine.” I search his moon-bright eyes. “Thank you,” he says. “Thank you for letting me take care of you. You did so well listening to your instincts and letting yourself have what you need.”
Tears threaten to fall, but I manage to hold them back. “Next time, I’ll return the favor,” I joke, but his face remains very serious.
“Baby,” he rasps. “I came in my pants like a pup watching you gush through your shorts.”
His pet name makes me squirm as I zero in on the wetness higher up his lap than I could have made, and a giggle escapes before I can stop it. I cover my mouth, eyes wide, but then Dair’s face splits into a beaming smile, and he’s laughing too.
We slowly stand so Dair can readjust his wet clothes. “I would love to stay,” he says, seriously. “But I need to get going. There’s still much to do before I leave.”
“No, I understand,” I say quickly. “While I’m not ashamed of what we did, I don’t exactly want my brother to walk in on this.” His nose flares, taking in the combined scent of our pleasure, and my cheeks heat with a mix of satisfaction and embarrassment.
“Right.” He breathes a laugh, rubbing a hand over his beard.
I watch in awe as he goes to the kitchen, chugs the other bowl of soup, and packs up the dishes. Then his massive frame walks back toward me, saturated in our combined arousal, and he wraps me in a massive hug.
“It just occurred to me,” he says into my hair, “that you came on my leg, and I haven’t even kissed you.”
I can’t help but laugh, tilting my head back to meet his eyes and whisper, “You’d better kiss me, then.”
Dair’s eyes gleam like a wolf as he murmurs, “Wild thing,” and then his warm, full lips are pressed to mine, moving sensually and dragging across my sensitive skin. Immediately, my body flushes with the feeling of rightness, like my lips were made to be tasted by this alpha.
I relish the feel of his beard against my face and helplessly moan. I get brave and lick at his upper lip, causing him to growl deeply before licking into my mouth for one deep caress. We separate on a whimper, his lips gently teasing mine in a promise for next time. He soothes my disappointment by placing an achingly sweet kiss on my forehead.
He gently releases me to grab the door handle and says, “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper, and then he’s through the door and disappearing into the night.
I stand in the middle of the room for some time, replaying this entire evening in my head. This is everything I’ve ever wanted but have never been allowed to have: the freedom to choose and be chosen in return. He let me be myself and he let me feed my instincts. He wasn’t ashamed. He wants me out loud.
I need Dair, I realize, in whatever way I can have him. I don’t need to wait until the morning to tell him that I want to leave with him. I need to tell him now. Resolute, I open the door of the cabin to run after him, but instead come face-to-face with my scent-match.
[ 18 ]
RAINE
Grand Prairie Compound
Days Since Last Attack: 0
Ferris stands as still as a tree. I watch as his nostrils flare wide, smelling every little thing that just happened. His amber eyes narrow on the still-drying dampness between my legs, and his chest begins to heave.
“Ferris,” I start, but a vicious growl cuts me off. He stalks forward, pushing me back into the main room. “I’m just going to—” I awkwardly motion behind me with my thumb, pointing down the hall.
“Don’t move,” he grinds out.
