He nudged her with his nose, and she faced him.
She shifted, startling him. She’d been practicing, he could tell. Watching her long arm and sleekly muscled thigh return was oddly sensual. The line of her hip and dip of her waist…and her breasts. She sat at his side, breathing hard but smiling. “Hi,” she whispered.
Her hands sunk into his fur as she buried her face against his neck. He sat, wolf and man, letting her fingers slide through his thick fur. It was heaven. When she rubbed his ears, he groaned, leaning into her hand. He stared into her eyes. “You are so beautiful, Mal,” she murmured. “So, so beautiful.”
She rested her head against his. “I wanted to share this with you.” She continued to comb his fur, leaving pure pleasure in its place. “My wolf wanted to share this with your wolf.”
His wolf groaned, content.
...
Olivia was exhausted. She’d shifted several times, and each time it was easier. They’d covered so much ground that she’d had to shift to make the run back to the refuge. Never in her life had she been this exhausted. Maybe she’d sleep tonight without dreams. Today had been good—spending time with her wolf had been amazing. But that didn’t mean she wanted to test out her newfound bond by taking on their mortal enemy, even if it was only a dream.
Mal’s wolf rubbed against her wolf, demanding her attention. She licked his ear and nuzzled his neck. It didn’t matter if she was on the verge of collapsing in the dirt, her wolf never tired of his. The only problem with this was the very real hunger between them. The air hummed with it, their scents giving off a blatant invitation.
The wolves wanted to bond.
Mal shifted as soon as the lodge was in sight.
She whimpered, disappointed and relieved all at once.
“We can’t,” he murmured, staring at her. “Wolves don’t use condoms, and I’m not sharing you.” He reached for her, hesitating.
Her wolf sat still, waiting and watching, curious yet defensive.
He ran a hand over her head. Warm. Firm. He sighed, cradling her head in his hands. “I like having you to myself.” He smiled.
She rubbed her head against his, groaning at his scent and touch. They couldn’t mate as wolves, so she was done with being a wolf. She danced away from him, lingering in the shade of the trees to change. Her bones ached, and her skin felt raw and chafed, but she’d done it. She stumbled out on trembling legs. “My wolf wants to mate,” she said, somewhat breathlessly.
Mal caught her in his arms. “Your wolf?”
She nodded. “She’s very bossy about some things. Namely, the need to have you in every possible way.”
Mal’s arms tightened around her. “I like your wolf.”
“Dinner is getting cold,” Finn called from the porch.
Mal groaned, resting his forehead on hers.
“Dinner sounds pretty good, too.” At the mention of food, Olivia was instantly starving.
Mal chuckled. “All the changing takes a lot of calories.”
“After we eat, I’m so going to rock your world.” She smiled up at him.
“In every possible way?” he asked.
She paused, hunger for food warring with her hunger for Mal. The ridge of his jaw was hard, clenched. He did that when he was buried inside of her. She shivered, her voice husky, “How many ways are there?”
His thumb traced her lower lip. “You’re going to make me walk in there with a hard-on.”
“It’s huge.” Her fingers closed around him, loving his shudder at her touch. “You should be proud.”
His muffled curse was sexy. “Not so sure Finn will appreciate it. Or Jessa.”
Olivia let go of him, his words forming something hard and jagged in the pit of her stomach. Jessa wasn’t the only woman inside. Ellen. Tess. Neither was a threat, but her wolf didn’t care. She hadn’t expected the surge of jealousy that ripped through her. She stiffened, the instinct real—if misplaced.
“Olivia?” he asked, tilting her face back. “What’s wrong?”