Page 117 of Fire Dancer
But now, the inner mechanism that had once slammed on the brakes was revving the other way. Our time had finally come.
You’re sure?I asked — quietly and only in her mind, afraid to utter the question aloud.
“Never been more sure,” she panted.
My heart soared, but I had to check.Really sure? That you want me — forever?
Never wanted anyone else. And I can’t wait for ourforeverto finally begin,she added.
Like I needed any extra impetus.
Extending your teeth and plunging them into your true love’s throat might not sound all that appealing, especially after a vampire encounter. But a mating bite was totally different. No sucking, for one thing. No taking, no stealing, no endangering. Just connecting — a permanent connection forged at the height of sex that pushed the experience beyond the physical realm.
My mind exploded with raw, intense sensations. Lust. Pleasure. Unfettered desire.
Pippa clamped a hand over the back of my neck, urging me on. I pushed — with my jaws and my hips — and soon, we were rocking to a primal rhythm.
“Ingo…” She chanted my name, almost like a synonym forforever. In my mind, I did the same, echoing her name.
When I plunged deeper, Pippa dug her heels into my ass and held my head close.
Yes…she breathed into my mind.Oh yes.
My blood surged, and my ears filled with the crackle of a blazing fire. It burned higher and higher, shooting off fiery, swirling tornadoes. Entire nerve chains detonated, and lightning zipped through my veins. I clung to Pippa as we catapulted off the face of the earth and careened through space.
I braced myself, ready to shield her from a hard landing. But we fluttered down, featherlight, instead. Gradually, my sense of orientation returned. My knee bumped the door of a wood cabinet, and the new kitchen counter was in front of me, along with Pippa.
My canines retracted, and I pressed my tongue over Pippa’s skin before easing away. The wound healed as I did, and Iexhaled, slumping over her shoulder. Only my arms retained the slightest tension as I held her tightly.
Never letting go,my wolf rumbled.
“Never ever,” Pippa echoed, stroking my back gently.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
INGO
One month later…
My lungs burned as I scrambled over hard-packed dirt, fighting the urge to glance back at the wolf chasing me. I had to make it to the top of the mesa first. I just had to. I rushed through the dim light of the full moon, avoiding a prickly pear, only to brush by a yucca. Its sharp tips scraped my side, raking parallel furrows through my thick wolf pelt.
I surged forward, then leaped, straining for the top of a big, flat-topped boulder bathed in moonlight. Then I spun to face my adversary.
Gotcha!Pippa sailed onto the rock beside mine with a cry of triumph. The word sounded in my mind and into the night in yippy wolf-speak.
My tongue lolled as I panted.
Got what? I was here first.I pranced in place.
She snickered, prancing on her own boulder.The race was to the highest rock. And it’s all mine, baby.Her paws tapped a silent jig over the boulder.
I’m on the highest rock.
Then it hit me that I was staring into her beautiful blue eyes straight on, not slightly downward as usual due to my height advantage.
I checked at my rock, then hers, and stopped wagging my tail. Damn. I’d ended the race a step too early.
Ha!Pippa danced around on her boulder.Who’s the best wolf, huh? Who’s finally learned to coordinate four feet and a tail? Who beat the big bad wolf to the top of the mesa? I’ll tell you who. Me! I am the greatest!