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Xander began clearing up their little picnic, a master at veiling his true emotions. She knew he was disappointed that their kiss hadn’t led to anything more volcanic, but a part of her liked the power. The power she had over this mad-with-lust wolf was intoxicating.
Once everything was gathered and placed inside the basket, they mounted their horses. They rode back to the stables with similar energy to what they had when riding to the picnic spot, with perhaps a bit more distance enhanced with keen anticipation.
Lexi knew herself well and was in tune with her own emotions. She was in trouble when it came to Xander because of how fervently her body responded to him, along with a glow inside her chest that she had never once experienced.
She rode ahead of him again, giggling playfully. His sharp teeth beckoned her as they moved at an even pace, their eyes locking in a silent understanding of blossoming endearment.
SIXTEEN
XANDER
Lexi had called her sisters as soon as they had returned from their horseback ride. The rest of the day, Xander had a strange feeling despite the fact that Lexi seemed to be content. He once more blew it off in his own mind as obsessive thinking spurred by finally coming into contact with his mate.
After completing several frustrating hours of no progress in finding his mate’s bodyguard, he climbed the stairs to their bedroom.
Lexi sat on the bed, reading one of the books on astronomy from the reading room. He had felt odd about reaching for her body and initiating contact, so he left it to her once again.
It bothered him that she had chosen to read instead of continuing what had sparked in the field, and he couldn’t help but feel even more frustration.
He needed to woo her, though. She wasn’t fully shifter, so he couldn’t expect her to automatically understand matehood.
She turned to him, face free of makeup yet divine in its natural glow.
“I didn’t want to freak out my sisters, so I didn’t tell them about Harper,” she confessed. “If I told them she was missing, they would have come running here tonight, and I want to be prepared for their presence in this … my new home.”
Lexi struggled a bit with the word like it was a new spice laced over her tongue. Xander lay shirtless on his side next to her. He nodded, even if he really didn’t quite understand.
“So tomorrow night, then?”
Lexi nodded.
“You get to meet the famous Hart sisters up close and personal.”
She smiled, her cheeks faint with blush. Xander thought it could be a good opening for something physical, but she quickly turned away from him and flicked off the bedside lamp.
Xander was left in darkness, hearing her casual voice muse through the dark.
“I want to get as much sleep as I can before tomorrow. They can be very … energetic. I hope you understand.”
She must have picked up his interest, but he didn’t want her to feel guilty. So he snuggled himself closer, cozying up to her in a way that did not imply a desire for sex.
Xander wrapped a hand around her head as she lay on her back, pressing his body firmly against her side. He stroked her face, still able to see those green iris flares in the dark.
“I would never pressure you into anything, Lexi. I want you to be happy and enjoy yourself, no matter what.”
He felt her body beside him emit a deep groan, something she likely had tried to repress. It made his cock hard to think of her lusting for him.
“Thank you, Xander.”
Lexi pulled his face to hers, and they kissed delicately and politely. As much as he wanted to do otherwise, Xander behaved himself, merely circling a finger around the exposed flesh of her neck before parting to opposing sides of the bed.
The next morning was spent making plans for a dinner that would host not only the Hart sisters but their prospective mates too. Xander knew them all, of course, with varying degrees of closeness … Declan Marsh, King of Noblegrace, he knew the best; Tyler Giles, King of Somberglen; and Fletcher Daniels, King of Willowfrost, he was acquainted with.
And then, of course, their brides … Taryn was set to wed Declan, Addisyn to Tyler, and Madison to Fletcher. Xander was more apprehensive about meeting Lexi’s sisters than meeting the other members of the various kingdoms. He wanted to make a good impression on the siblings of the woman he was falling hard for.
He wanted to make up for the anxiety he felt surging off of Lexi, who took more than three hours to decide what to wear, then continuously asked Xander if there was anything else that could be done in the kitchen.
He had chosen his three-piece suit for the night, a forest green shade with quiet coral undertones. He sat in their bedroom suite, prim and proper, stubble recently shaved off to make his face as smooth as ivory.
