Page 22 of An Unending Claim

I’d been mesmerized by the fluid, sensual movements of her body, which was still sleek and toned, even with her swelling stomach. She often reminded me of her feline half, graceful, confident, and stealthy. I smiled to myself at my next thought—she even scratched and hissed when she was pissed. For the most part, I found it cute. Until her claws became involved. They were razor sharp and hurt like a bitch… unless they were digging into my flesh while she climaxed. My wolf grunted in agreement, but surprised me when he didn’t push for me to fuck Peyton. I’d felt his surge of happiness when we were in her presence again, but he seemed content to just be with her.

“Well?” Peyton prompted, breaking me out of my transfixed state. She made a “let’s go” gesture and added, “This was your idea, Nate. Lead the way.”

I cleared my throat and tried to think about anything except Peyton’s body. “Right. Let’s go.”

While we walked out to my SUV and on the drive home, I tried to figure out what we were going to do when we arrived. This had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, something I rarely ever did because I hated not having a plan. It meant having less control over a situation, which left me no way to predict the outcome and prepare for it. One did not go into battle “winging it.” However, having Peyton in my life had already blown the iron grip I had on my personal life to smithereens. Flying blind seemed like an appropriate idiom.

“Are you going to tell me why we knocked off early from work today?” she asked as I pulled the car into the garage.

“I’m taking Tanner’s advice,” I replied bluntly. “We’re going on a date.”

Peyton laughed until she glanced my way and clocked my unamused expression. “A date? Like dinner and a movie?”

“If that’s what you’d like.”

She snorted and shook her head. “Oh, no, no, Nate. This was your idea, I’m not going to be the one planning it.”

I chuckled because my very intelligent, perceptive mate had seen right through my bullshit.

Cocking her head, she watched me curiously. “You don’t have a plan, do you?” When I didn’t respond, her face broke out into a huge grin. “This must be driving you nuts.”

“It’s a little unsettling,” I admitted. “But it’s not as if I’m going into battle.”

Peyton opened her door and stepped down. “Are you sure about that?” she asked before she shut the door and headed into the house.

I smiled as I climbed out of the car. All that sass… If our daughter was half as feisty as her mother, she’d have everyone wrapped around her finger in no time. And we’d be in big trouble. I had no doubt she’d be just as beautiful as her mother and with all that fire, the boys were bound to sniff around her. My smile grew as I thought about my advantage. Everyone would know she was the Alpha’s daughter so maybe I wouldn’t spend all of my time chasing off the pups. Rank definitely had its privileges.

After setting the alarm, I moseyed into the living room to see Peyton curled up in her chair reading. I grunted when I realized it was a folder from her office and snatched it out of her hand.

“Now, that wasn’t very nice, pup,” she drawled.

Pup? Oh, she’ll pay for that later.My wolf recognized the word and he flattened his ears, snarling in annoyance.

She clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Off to a bad start.”

“To what?”

“Wooing me.”

“Wooing…” I chuckled. “I haven’t wooed anyone since the eighteenth century.”

“Well—wait.” She broke off and looked at me with raised eyebrows. “You wooed someone…?”

“Did you think I was a virgin when we slept together, baby?”

She gave me a dry look that said she didn’t appreciate my sarcasm. “Yeah, Nate. I thought I was deflowering you,” she shot right back, making me snicker. “But back then, didn’t wooing mean courting with the intention of marriage?”

I nodded, but before I could say a word in explanation, she started talking again.

“You said you’d never been interested in anyone enough to consider taking a mate.”

“I did say that.”

“Then why were you ‘wooing’ someone?” she snapped, clearly agitated with the idea.

Thoroughly enjoying her jealousy, I pressed my lips together to hide my smile. My wolf was feeling quite smug over it as well. “Because she was a spy I needed information from and one of the most vain human women I’ve ever met.” I rolled my eyes and tossed the file I’d confiscated onto the couch.

“Hold up, she was a spy, but a little flattery and fake interest in marriage and she spilled her guts?”