Page 60 of Mating Season

“Me too.” I peeked over Ranger’s muscled shoulder. “Are you ready for this?”

His hand rested on my knee and he gave it a gentle squeeze as he stepped over the babbling brook. “No.”

He took a few more steps and came to a stop. Fallon’s nest was a few yards up ahead. Ranger made a gagging sound as I sniffed the air.

“I can’t.” He shook his head.

“Let’s go the other way.” I laughed as I slid down off his back and grabbed his hand, tugging him toward my nest while the sounds and scents of Fallon in heat and John in rut filled the air.

*

“Are you ready to go in?” Ranger stood outside my nest. He seemed perfectly calm and in control, but I could sense the blood flowing warmer through his body and the way his heartbeat increased.

“I think I am.” I wiped the sweat from the back of my neck as I looked to the forest. “Can you do me a favor first, please?”

“Anything.” He smiled.

Good answer.

I wasn’t sure if Ranger could sense the heat burning hotter in my core now. He hadn’t tasted the air recently, but I was throbbing as the ache continued to build. I was barely holding it together when I motioned to the trail cams.

“Can you take the cameras down for me?” I stood on my toes to press a kiss to his lips, making sure the whole world saw me make my claim a final time. “I’ll wait for you inside.”

Ranger growled his approval as he went to do my bidding.

A girl could get used to this.My wolf stretched out languidly.Do you want me to take over?

Let’s do this one together.

A sense of peace and rightness washed over us as we entered the nest. I peeled the layers of scratchy human clothes off my burning skin. Taking my time, I braided back my hair to keep it from getting in the way. Then I flipped Gram’s quiltaround to hide the rip and smoothed out the wrinkles on the bed.

Naked and soaking wet as my core pulsed, I dropped to my knees and rested my hands on my thighs. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, but this position felt right.

Then I closed my eyes and waited for my mate–my Alpha–to come to me.

26

Ranger

Perfection.

I leaned against the doorframe, taking this picture in and memorizing it. I almost wished I had a camera to snap a photo and frame it, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to see what was mine.

Wood dust danced in the soft beams of sunlight shining through the glass window in the back of the nest. Aspen was an hourglass silhouette, sitting on her knees naked with her ankles tucked under her perfect ass and long braid hanging down the middle of her back.

I’d never seen a woman more beautiful.

She looked like a submissive. But I knew better than to think she truly was.

“Is my brat going to play as a good girl?” I folded my arms over my chest, just enjoying the sight. Something told me I wouldn’t see it very often.

Aspen hummed a little moan in response. The sound went straight to my cock, making it twitch as if it could get any harder.

Take her. Claim her.

I yanked on my beast as he snarled and paced, retaining control of my urges. The rut had been riding us hard all day. I relaxed my shoulders and inhaled deeply, calming myself as I stalked forward.

My mate wanted to play submissive.