He chuffed. Dirty girl.
Yeah, I was. I so fucking was.
Chapter Seven
Tor was huge, his back coming up to my hip. I clambered onto him and slid my fingers into his silken fur.
He made a rumbling sound of pleasure and my chest heated.
Grip with your thighs, he said. You might want to lean forward and press your body to mine.
This should not be hot. He was in fucking wolf form, for fuck’s sake. So why the fuck was I wet and aching. Shit. I followed his instructions, focusing on the landscape ahead, but his body between my thighs was too much of a distraction.
His soft chuckle filled my mind. I can smell your arousal, Cora. Let’s see what we can do about it.
What? But we were in motion, bounding down the path and into the treeline. His body rippled between my thighs, rumbling and vibrating like a fucking engine, pressing against my most intimate place, muscles rolling to tease me and rub just the right way.
Yes, Cora.
No. Oh, God, this was not happening. Watch the trees, the fucking trees. Do not think about it. He picked up the pace and, oh, fuck, I was practically grinding against him now, desperate for release. I closed my eyes, sinking my fingers deeper into his fur as I resisted my body’s demands. I wouldn’t do this. No way. I had more control than this.
He leapt over a log, the landing jarring against me, and the orgasm that was hovering painfully out of reach tugged closer. I cried out, fisting his fur and biting my lip.
Fuck, Cora. Fuck.
No, no, no. This could not be happening. “Stop. Now.”
He slowed his pace and came to a standstill. The cabin was visible up ahead. I scrambled off his back and began striding toward it.
Cora…
“No. That was mean.”
No, Cora, you’re my mate and it’s natural for you to feel this way. Natural for me to want to make you come.
Oh, God. “I’m an idiot.”
For wanting me?
I ground to a halt and turned to face him. “No, for trusting you. I told you I wanted to keep things platonic. I can’t do this, Tor. Not unless you help me. Do you understand? If you care about me as your mate, you’ll want to make sure I don’t get hurt. And this…Being attracted to you, wanting you like this, will eventually hurt me.”
He bowed his huge, wolfy head. Get inside. I’ll dress and join you shortly.
I turned and jogged the rest of the way to the cabin, needing to get away from him before I caved, climbed onto his rumbling back, and finished what the ride had started.
I set two mugs of tea on the table as Tor walked in. Dressed in a cream tee, faded blue jeans, and barefoot, he was a treat for my eyes. His hair was damp, and his forest scent was masked by cologne.
He’d showered.
Naked.
No, don’t think it. “Tea?”
“Thanks.” He pulled out a seat. “Sit, we need to talk.”
I took the seat opposite him. “Spill it, what’s bothering you?”
“You,” he said. “You made a huge decision today and you didn’t think to consult your mates.”
I stared at him. Was he serious? “Wait, you want me to consult you before making any decisions?”
He sighed. “Not just any decisions, but life-threatening ones.” He sat forward, forearms braced on the table, hands clasped as if we were in a business meeting. “I understand that you’ve been flying solo for a long time, making decisions and putting your life at risk to save others, but things are different now.”
Motherfucker, he sounded like Jasper.
“You’re the important one now, Cora. The indispensable link. The focus. Do you understand?”
Like, what the fuck did I say to that?
“You might not want to take our relationship to the next level of intimacy, but that won’t change the connection between us. It won’t stop us from wanting you or you from wanting us, and that want comes with the desire to protect.” His gaze tracked across my face. “We want you, Cora, but we’ll respect your wishes. In return, you need to keep us in the loop and respect our connection enough to discuss these kinds of decisions.”
“You do realize when push comes to shove, I do what I want.”
He sipped his tea. “Oh, I’m well aware, but if Jasper hadn’t stepped in between The Elites and us today and given Anna time to explain, they’d all be dead.”
My blood ran cold. “What?”
He set his cup down. “We’d have torn out their throats, because as far as we knew they were hurting you, and no one hurts what’s ours. No one hurts what’s mine.” There was a possessive growl to his tone. “Dead Elites would be a bad thing, Cora.”
My mouth went dry and the pulse in my throat fluttered with excitement and arousal. Man, I was twisted.
I took a gulp of tea. “Fine. I’ll let you know in the future.”
He sat back with a cool smile. “Please do.” He tipped his head to the side. “Leif told me you wanted to hunt with the females at the full moon.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t tell me, I should have discussed that with you too?”
He bit back a smile. “It would have been nice, but you’ll be safe with Heather and the other females. They’re vicious in a fight. If any vamps come calling, they’ll have a hard time getting past those wolves, and Leif, Rune, and I will find you before the suckers can get to you.”
I hadn’t considered the damn vamps. The fact I needed to be chaperoned at night pissed me off.
“You’re pouting, Cora.”
His intention was a burst of heat in my chest, and a flare of darkness in his steel-gray eyes.
He wanted to kiss me.
I pressed my lips together, eliminating my pout.
My pulse fluttered, then calmed.
“We’ll start your stamina training tomorrow,” he said.
“Bossy, aren’t you? Like being in control?”
“Oh, Cora,” he purred.
