Her eyes widened on seeing the black and red touring bike. The passenger seat appeared big enough for someone twice her size. She ran her fingers against the leather seat, following the lines as if it were a fine saddle. “Too cool.”
Slade chuckled. “Got that right.”
“Big screen.”
“Touch screen. Integrated audio, communications and navigation.”
“Nice that you’re familiar with it.”
“I ought to be, it’s mine.”
“Wait, yours?”
“Jesper arranged delivering it long before the mission, in case I wanted to go for a ride.” He winked. “Like you and your spirited mare.”
Slade opened the big trunk and stuffed their carryon luggage into it, leaving room to spare, while rattling on as men do about the brakes, power and speed. He did an overall check of the vehicle. He handed her a modular helmet and donned his. “Ready?”
Her adrenaline pumped on overdrive. “Yes, sir.”
Slade took the back roads and drove through the dark winding forest roads. Only one other vehicle traveled along the route. He zoomed past the car. Even with high beams on, few humans braved the road. Using night vision, Slade scoped the area for a place to shift for the night. He flared his nostrils. No humans. The nearest cabin was miles away. He turned off a narrow road. He stopped, dismounted and took off his helmet. “We’ll stay here for the night.”
Cricket removed her helmet, shook her luscious hair and sniffed. “No humans for miles. Good spot.”
He inhaled, enjoying the scent of her fresh berry shampoo mixed with the aroma of redwood trees and ferns. “We’ll park the bike over there and then head down the deer path. We’ll shift until sunrise.” A long shift here would offer him some days of not having to shift nor bed the little tart. Not that it wasn’t the preferred method to avoid the shift, but his feelings for her confused the shit out of him. Talking to Lunara the wolf shaman had not resolved his feelings for the perky runt. Instead,
Lunara said in all things he should follow his heart. What about his cock?
He asked Lunara to explain, but she simply smiled. “An alpha needs no explanation.” In terms of the tragic murder of his pack, the wolf shaman who communed with the departed soothed his soul. His father had returned from the dead. He only wished the best for his son. His pack roamed beyond the veil in a land of forests and mountains. Having faith in what she said had taken a tremendous weight off his shoulders.
“Just no howling.”
Slade snapped out of his thoughts and smirked. “I’m aware there aren’t wild wolves this far south. We’ll cover our tracks.” The odds of an expert tracker hiking around here, unlikely, but one never knew.
Cricket gave him a crisp nod. “I think if we stay on the animal trail we won’t have to, but, near the road, will do.” She lowered her gaze.
Without humans around, he remained her lord and master. He undressed, trying not to gaze at her as she stripped. Naked, she would be Abella. He quickly shifted before his cock displayed its ready position.
Cricket took her time, carefully folding each garment, before removing the next. This time, she wore black lace bra and panties.
Slade swallowed his drool. Was she purposely driving him mad with lust? He growled. “Hurry.”
Now nude, she gave him a pointed stare. “I won’t go into town with dirt and leaves on my clothes.” She shoved them into the cargo compartment and shifted. Low to the ground, she approached, licking his chest as he stood.
Slade cocked his head. Small as a coyote with far less fur than him, she reminded him of the coyote/wolf hybrids he’d seen at a wildlife sanctuary. “At ease.”
Cricket backed away and shook her fur. “Shall we run?” She pranced around him like a circus poodle. Only a hell of lot cuter.
He grinned. “Run up ahead, and I’ll give chase.”
“Okay, but count to one thousand.”
“You have one minute.”
Rather than argue, she dashed away from the trail at full speed and through the bramble. Damn, she’s fast. Nonetheless, he gave her a minute. Two minutes. His hind paws kicked the ground. Ready or not, here I come.
Slade picked up her scent and gave chase. His heart pounded as he drew closer. Abella. Before long, he caught up to her and paused as she trotted at her leisure over a fallen log above a creek. On the other side, she pranced and then bowed, come and play.
He wagged his tail and stepped onto the log, but it rolled. He lost his footing and fell into the slow moving creek. Knee deep in water, he stared up at Cricket as she dashed off. Laughing like a fucking coyote.