I know we have a lifetime together to get to know each other, but I’m eager for it. We could have longer if Dakota wants to drink Karloff’s anti-aging potion; I hope she’s willing to think about it. I want to spend eternity with her and there’s so much we still don’t know about what happened to us with the change.
My mate lets out a little groan before she sucks in a breath and turns slowly, her ice blue eyes opening and widening. Her heartrate picks up, but I’m not sure if it’s from fear or if she’s starting to freak out again. I try and block the flash of pain in my chest. I don’t want her to feel it and her emotions are all over the place.
“Good morning, little mate,” I rasp.
She relaxes in my arms as a small smile plays on her lips. “I’m sorry, I was just disoriented. It’s been a long time since I’ve woken up with someone in bed with me and I thought,” she trails off and looks away.
I cup her cheek and bring her eyes back to mine. “I know you have a past, Dakota. I might be a possessive animal, but I’m not going to hold it against you. I had my own reasons for waiting and a lot of it has to do with becoming a monster.”
“You’re not a monster or an animal,” she snarls, her fierceness shocking me.
“You’re adorable,” I coo as I lean forward and kiss her lips softly.
She sighs as her body relaxes against me. My cock is throbbing, begging me to make her mine all over again. When her hips shift forward and she presses her body against mine, it’s almost impossible to pull away from her, but I do, just enough to keep my sanity.
“As much as I’d love to roll you on your back, fill you with my cum and knot you until your eyes roll back in your head, I was hoping we could spend some time together today.” She arches her eyebrow and I chuckle; the sound worn with disuse. “I meant spend some time together out of bed. I think we should get to know each other.”
Her eyes soften, the light blue sparkling as she looks at me. The way the light streams in from the window has her looking like an angel. And she’s all mine.
“I’d like that,” she admits softly.
I hate the loss of her against me when I stand up, but I do it anyway. I pick her up bridal style and stride into the bathroom, smirking at her. “We should shower together though, out here I’m all about conservation.”
She tilts her head to the side, amusement filling her voice, “That is so green of you.”
When the shower warms, I pull her in with me and spend time washing every inch of her. I love the way my heart swells by taking care of my mate. A feeling of contentment fills me, something I’ve never experienced. I know she’s not ready, but I’m already in love with this woman.
I think I fell the moment I first got a whiff of her scent. It was all I needed and though I still don’t understand it fully, I’m all in and there’s nothing that can change it.
I’m thankful as fuck that she has a bag of clothes in her car, and I can’t help but laugh at the sheepish smile she gives me when she asks me to go and grab it. It’s difficult to tear myself away from her when she’s standing in front of me in only a towel, but I want her comfortable and I want to show her my favorite place.
I bite back a growl as she covers herself up, but I know it’s just a matter of time before I strip her and bury myself in her wet heat. When she looks at me, I can see the hunger in her eyes as she takes in the way my jeans hang on my hips. My muscles strain as she looks me over.
I groan, “If you keep looking at me like that we’ll never leave.”
She bites her lip as if she’s considering if she wants to or not. Her voice is full of faux innocence, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I arch an eyebrow in challenge, and she huffs, “Fine.”
When we step outside, I’m surprised that she reaches over and laces her fingers with mine, not caring about my claws. She keeps surprising me. I’ve never been one for surprises, I like order, but with her, I’m up for each little gift she gives me.
As we head deeper into the woods, the trust she puts in me has me filling with a sense of pride I haven’t felt for years. It’s more than the feeling I’ve gotten the last few years as I’ve done my job. With the tether between us, I can feel her excitement about where I’m taking her.
There’s no fear there, which is amazing. If she were afraid of me, I don’t know what I’d do. Since the change, I’ve missed this kind of connection with other people. It was easier for me to retreat to my cabin instead of facing rejection. I got enough of that when the humans left; hell, I think all of us who were changed that night did.
“Tell me about Paws Up,” I prompt her as we’re walking.
She looks at me out of the corner of her eye, gauging if I’m seriously interested, but I know I am. “My best friend, Hadley, and I have been running it for a few years now in Denver. We did it mostly out of a van, but it’s been growing steadily. Hadley handles all the recipes and I’ve been kind of the face of it all. I’ve always liked dealing with customers and meeting new people. She’s happy to be behind the scenes, so it worked for us.” The soft smile on her lips warms my heart. “We’ve always wanted to open a store, but it was never the right time.”
“What changed?”
“I needed to get away from Denver,” there’s a wariness in her voice. I want to push her, but I also want her to tell me her secrets in her own time.
“Okay. Why didn’t Hadley come with you to Screaming Woods?”
Dakota gets a faraway look in her eye. “It was more of a timing thing, but she had the opportunity to go to a ranch where ex-military guys train protection dogs. It’s like a PTSD therapy facility, ranch, dog training and breeding facility in one.” She shrugs one shoulder. “We know some people in Denver who have a connection to the place, and they arranged for her to speak with the owner. He offered her a place to stay for as long as she wanted while she tests new recipes and researches what would be best for the dogs there.”
“Do you only make dog treats?” I’m curious, but also wary.
Dakota giggles and shakes her head. “I’m not going to have you test anything, my wolfman, if that’s what you’re worried about.” I was, but I’m not going to admit it, not when I’m practically fucking floating because she called me hers. “We make treats for all pets, honestly. The dog ones are the best sellers though.”