Gunner did not let her finish as he kissed her once more, finding the opening in the center of her robe and shoving it aside. His lips traced her jawline, down to her collarbone, and she let out a sigh of contentment as his fingers traced the skin of her abdomen slowly.
She was softer than he’d expected.
Shifting energy thrummed in his veins, and his wolf rose to the surface, but it didn’t hurt. Not this time.
It was a maddening feeling, the need.
Like he’d never have enough.
Cate’s words came out in hurried, breathy whispers.
Words Gunner could not quite comprehend because they were in a language he’d never heard before. He continued to push at her robe, slide his hands across her abdomen. His fingers brushed above the small of her back, across her ass. Down her thighs...
The words she chanted somehow incensed him more as he slid her robe off her shoulders, making haste of his movement.
There needs to be nothing between us...
He felt everything, but it was as ifhewas not the only one who could feel.
Who could want.
His wolf wanted more, wanted to feel what he could.
He longed to be free.
Cate pushed him away for a moment, and the unfamiliar words stopped.
“Gunner…” she breathed his name heavily, and the sound of it, of his name on her tongue like that…
His cock throbbed against her.
“Do…” Gunner tried to catch his breath, his head spinning from the maddening thoughts and feelings running through him. “Do you want me to stop?” he asked.
“No, I… I need to dress you first.” She cleared her throat.
“What’s wrong, sweet cheeks? This body too much for you already?” he teased.
Cate narrowed her eyes at him, and her annoyance showed.
“I can assure you, once this ritual commences, I will be too much for your mortal body to handle. Your wolf will have to take over.” She smiled devilishly.
“Is that so?” He reached out and brushed her silver hair over her shoulder with a smirk.
“I need to anoint you in the proper oils, and say a spell first.Then...” Cate paused as if struggling to find the right words.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Gunner drawled.
“We will need to consummate the ritual. Manifest the energy built between our bodies, and…”
“You are nervous.”
“I am not…” Cate huffed.
“When you’re nervous, you start talking clinically. Your eyes do this little back and forth thing.” Gunner reached out a hand to her hip, pulling her body close, and he did not miss how she relaxed at his touch. How she leaned into him, her breasts brushing against his chest softly, though she did not meet his gaze.
“Cate…” His voice turned serious. “What you’re doing for me, this ritual… it doesn’t have to be one-sided, you know.” With his free hand, he ran his fingers through her luscious silken locks. His gaze roved over her form, finally settling on her perfect lips. Lips he wanted to kiss again and again.
He’d never felt this way about anyone, and though he knew such things should be alarming, he had to admit he felt no danger.