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I can’t stop myself as I pull his little body against my broad chest. My instinct to protect overrides every thought as my eyes sweep over the spring and the forest above.

“You’re growling.” Blake looks up at me, but his eyes shine with amusement. “Like a real mountain man.”

Wiping his hair from his face, I drop a gentle kiss to his lips, carefully removing my finger from his ass despite his faint whine.

Drawing my hand up above the water, I run that same digit across his bottom lip. “Suck.”

For a moment Blake tenses, his eyes glued to the finger that was only just inside his ass moments ago. But like a good boy, his lips part and his pink tongue darts out, licking the end of my finger.

I push my digit deeper until my knuckle meets his teeth, feeling just how similar the inside of his mouth is compared to his hole. Warm and wet.

Blake eagerly sucks my finger, his groan vibrating through my arm. Pulling out, his lips pop around the suction and I take his mouth in mine, tasting the musk on his tongue.

“Just as I thought, baby,” I mouth around the kiss. “You’re perfect inside and out.”

CHAPTER 12

ARDEN

Golden light from the fireplace illuminates Blake’s blond hair as he sits quietly watching the snow fall beyond the cabin. The wind has died down into a gentle breeze but the snow still comes down in droves.

“Dinner’s ready,” I call from my spot in the kitchen as I dish up beef stew.

The young man turns from his spot on the sofa and gives me a gentle smile. “Coming,” he calls.

Dressed in a pair of borrowed trackpants and a thick t-shirt he looks like mine. Something pulls in my chest at the sight of the man walking toward me, wearing clothes that smell of me—the same man I’ve made scream my name in ecstasy. As if his entire soul has now been molded in my image.

“Looks good.” He takes the bowl from me and carries it to the table. “What is it?”

Serving myself a healthy amount, I follow closely behind and settle in beside him, my hand automatically finding a spot on his thigh.

“Beef and carrot strew,” I reply, giving his leg a squeeze. “Eat up before it goes cold.”

We eat our dinner in silence with our clothes drying on the clothes rack by the fire and the cabin’s faint hum. It’s the kind of peace I’ve never experienced before. Sure, this cabin has always been quiet, but it’s also always been empty. The warmth of the fire feels hotter, the air swirling between us feels alive and I realize this is all due to Blake. My Blake.

“Is the storm over?” He asks with a quiet voice.

My stomach twists and I nearly drop my spoon into my stew. He still doesn’t want to stay. The ache that explodes in my chest at the thought nearly has me hunching over in my seat. Every desire inside me wants to mark this man, to make him mine. To keep him here by my side forever.

“The wind has died down but it’s still due to snow for a few more days,” I reply with a tongue that feels like cotton.

Blake simply nods, but his eyes stay focused on his stew, his lip caught between his teeth. His whisper is so timid I nearly don’t hear it.

“I like it here.”

It’s embarrassing ‌how much this young man affects me, even after only knowing him for less than a week. But the spark of hope has rooted itself so deep in my gut, I know it’ll break me if he chooses to leave. I can do everything in my power to persuade him to stay. To show him how much he means to me. I want to peel away those layers of pain he carries to find the real Blake. The Blake who’s excited for life, who wants to try new things and isn’t scared to make mistakes. I want to wake up to him every morning, and hold him every night.

I keep my mouth shut, knowing he wasn’t saying it to me. It’s as if he’s testing reality. Trying to see if the world will take what this is away from him if he says it too loud.

“Arden?” Blake’s questioning tone draws me back to the table. I meet Blake’s confused gaze from beside me.

“You’re making that noise again.” His brow furrows.

I clamp my jaw tight, silencing the rumble that vibrates through me. “Sorry,” I mutter, drawing another spoon of stew.

“You growl a lot. Like a real animal,” Blake presses.

I sit back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. Shit. I need to stop doing that. It’s gotten painfully more difficult keeping my beast at bay with my mate only inches away from me. That and the fact I haven’t properly shifted in nine months. My beast is getting more and more pent up.