The wolf stepped away before he soaked her in slobber. He turned in a circle, bowed in play and yapped for joy.
Gaby wiped her face with her sleeve and laughed. “I get it, you’re happy.” She got up and shivered from the morning frost. She blew into her cupped hands, warming them and then jumped in place.
He regarded her and his heart warmed. A feeling of destiny encompassed his core. They fit so well, like true mates. His wolf argued with the man’s desire. I want her, but not possible. We agree, so why is desiring her wrong? Forbidden. The snippet of what Lunara had said about letting her go left him unsettled, yet, determined to never part from her.
“What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
For food, no. For you, yes. He turned and shifted. Cold air bit into his human skin. “I’ll dress and we’ll grab breakfast on the road.” He dashed to the car, hoping all she saw was his bare ass and not his blatant erection. What he needed was a dip in a freezing lake. Or to stay in wolf form until his lust crashed to puppy love. He kept his back to her, but twisted to glance at her. She already had her sleeping bag rolled up. Of course, she avoided his naked body. He turned her on. Her body language and sensual aroma told him she lusted for him.
Gaby brushed her hair and slipped her sneakers on. “Had enough time to stretch your wolf legs?”
Still aroused, Kane kept his back to her and organized the trunk. “Plenty.”
Gaby handed him her sleeping bag and foam pad. “Are you okay?”
He turned and met her eyes. “Not quite.”
“Was it the nightmare?”
How could he tell her he witnessed her death? All he cared about was that she lived and belonged to him. Fuck the consequences. His wolf desired her despite the red flags warning Gaby was forbidden fruit. Lunara, whomever she represented, had no right to tell him to let her go. Kane drew her in and captured Gaby’s mouth. She moaned in pleasure as his tongue plundered her sweet tasting mouth. His hand splayed her ass and squeezed it. His hardness pressed against her. Mine. Now. Forever. His wolf no longer fought him.
She wrapped one leg around him and danced her tongue around his and his emerging canines.
Tires crushing gravel and the scent of a human male might as well have been cold water. He released her and flared his nostrils. “Sorry. Someone is coming.”
“Shit. Avery?”
He brushed a hair back from her face and tucked it behind her earlobe. “Nah, I can smell this man.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot. The cloaking cologne.”
Kane smiled. “You make it sound like it’s available at the local department store.”
“Only for werewolf hunters in the know.”
“If Avery ever crosses my path, I’ll spray him with my cologne.”
“Werewolf urine?” She laughed. “I like it.”
Kane drew her in and lightly kissed her nose. “We think alike.” He put his baseball hat on and closed the trunk. A park ranger approached in his truck.
The ranger parked and stepped out. “Morning.”
Kane calmed and pulled out his camping permit. “Morning sir, checking permits?”
He studied Kane’s face as if trying to recognize him. Had Avery posted mug shots of them for the authorities? “I am.”
Kane handed the permit to him. “Yes, sir.” Out of the corner of his eye, Gaby stiffened. Her heart thumped like captured prey. He wanted to tell her to relax. He had this covered.
The ranger glanced at the permit and narrowed his eyes. “Jack Jones and Jill Smith.”
Kane sensed the man’s adrenaline come in like quicksilver. “Not buying it, huh?”
“Your driver’s license?”
He winked at Gaby and met the park ranger’s eyes. “Are you looking for someone?”
The ranger’s tension eased. “Yes.” He took out a picture and showed it to him. “A man named Steele Wildwood.”