The wolf moves in closer, and the hair on the back of my neck rises. Apparently, the fire doesn’t scare him. Giant paws leave imprints in the grassy dirt as he stalks closer. Fear knots in my stomach as the red-orange glow swirls in my palms. The wolf snarls, his lip revealing fangs. I extinguish the magic, and he stops growling.
Got it, no fire magic.
The wolf pads over to the fur blankets and lies on them, his head and neck raised as he watches me. So much for his wounded leg. I’m beginning to think this wolf belongs to Killian as a pet. He looks far too much at home, lying on those blankets by the fire.
“Hi, wolf, you’re very pretty.”
The wolf pins its amber gaze on me, then lowers its head on its paws.
“I’m guessing you belong to the owner here.”
The wolf’s ears twitch as though he’s listening.
“Can I pet you?”
The wolf stands from the blankets, and I stiffen as he pads the few feet to me. With his head reaching my waist, he puts his snout out first and sniffs me. I remain still. His snout taps my legs, then travels farther up to my crotch, where he lingers.
“Hey, that’s enough of that.”
His lip rises, emitting a low growl.
“Don’t make me use my magic.”
The wolf comes forward, pushing his body against me, rubbing along my body. He does it again, going the opposite direction, making me step backward to keep my balance. Feeling comfortable, I lower my hand to his back, and he goes still, allowing me to pet him. I stroke his long, thick fur, then travel up to behind his ears. His back leg starts kicking, and I laugh.
“Like that, do ya?”
Squatting down, I use both hands to give him a good rub behind the ears. His leg kicks some more, then he suddenly shifts his weight forward, knocking me back. I land on my elbows and ass on the grassy dirt.
“Hey!”
The wolf is quick on his feet, looming over me, but he isn’t threatening. I wiggle backward as he steps forward again, then places a paw on my stomach and gives a low growl.
Shit.
A turquoise glow fills my palms, and he comes forward, his jaw over my face as he stares down at me, growling. I relinquish the magic, and he stops growling. I put my arm up and try to push him back, but he doesn’t budge.
“I won’t use my magic, but you need to move back.”
I try to push him again and notice a glimmer in his eyes. The long snout pointed at me shortens, his ears shrink, and his fur fades to tan skin. Right before my eyes, the wolf turns to man. I suck in a breath at the muscled, naked body of a ruggedly handsome man on all fours above me. Glancing down, my cheeks flush. His long, thick penis is erect and pointed right at my crotch.
“Hello, sweetheart, I’ve waited a long time for you.”
His smooth baritone is a caress across my skin, and my body is humming with an unusual desire.
“Killian?”
“Yes, and you’re Selene, my stunning mate.”
“Mate?”
Killian’s messy auburn hair falls into his amber eyes.
“Yes, sweetheart. You’re my mate. I knew it the moment I saw you. I could feel it in every part of me.”
“I can see that,” I quip.
Killian laughs, the deep guttural rumble matching the ruggedness of his strong jaw, short beard, and large, muscled frame. Not all of him is rugged-looking, though. He has a scattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose beneath his sparkling amber eyes, and it gives him an added touch of character, intertwined with his manliness.
“You like what you see, then?”
“Maybe.”
“Sweetheart, I know you do. I can smell your arousal.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s an advantage. I’ll always know when you want me, as you do now.”
He hasn’t touched me, still holding himself up on his hands and knees, but his eyes are stripping me bare.
“All right, yes, I’m very attracted to you.”
“Touch me, Selene. I’m restraining as much as I can from taking you.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
“You’re my mate, and my wolf is demanding I claim you.”
The thought of him claiming me has goosebumps rushing over my arms and a new ache developing between my legs.
Killian closes his eyes and tilts his head, breathing in a deep breath.
“Sweetheart, your arousal is far too tempting.” His eyes open, and a bronze glow glimmers in his amber eyes. Bending, he smothers my lips with a raw passion that takes my body through a new rush of sensations. My palms settle on his hard biceps as he wraps a hand around my neck and pulls my shirt up. Calloused fingers trail across my stomach, then tug at the button of my shorts. It pops free, and he easily slides the zipper down while sending vibrations of pleasure through my body as his lips claim mine. Sliding a finger into me has me inhaling a breath against his lips. With just the slightest touch and thrust into me, my arousal rages for more of him.
“Sweetheart, you’re soft as silk and smell better than the woods after it rains.”
“You smell delicious. I don’t know what it is.”
My hands caress his muscles and into his hair. I can’t get enough of him.
“It’s my pheromones. It’s like an aphrodisiac for you.”
I tug at his hair as his kisses travel down the column of my neck, and he adds another finger, thrusting them against my G-spot. Sucking in a breath, I inhale more of his incredible scent. It’s the only thing I can smell, and I want to keep breathing it in like a freshly washed blanket out of the dryer.
“Don’t stop touching me. You feel incredible.”
“I don’t plan to. I’m
