Page 10 of Wolf's Mate

He was rewarded with a small smile at the reminder. His wolf might not be very happy with him right now, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before his gorgeous mate accepted him and the prophecy.

8

Alone for the first time all day, Rhia marveled at the Travertine tile lining the walls and floor of Keir’s bathroom. Its deep hues of red and brown, intertwined with streaks of black, reached all the way to the ten-foot ceiling.

This room was so unexpected of a six-four wolf shifter living in the Alaskan wilderness.

She quickly stripped and left her clothes scattered on the floor where they landed. She'd worry about neatness later. Soon, hot, steamy water flowed over her, all her built up stress of the day began to dissolve.

Searching for some shampoo and soap, she found only one bottle in the shower. Of course, all she found was his body wash. Sandalwood. Oh, well. All she wanted was to wash the grime of the day off and work towards feeling normal again. Find her equilibrium and make the toughest decision of her life clear headed.

Soon, her fingers had begun to prune, but she didn’t care. She was enjoying the effects of the pounding water on her tired body. Unexpectedly, the events of the day slammed back into her. Or was it now tomorrow?

The moment she asked for more time, she regretted. But her inner voice telling her it was all happening so fast won out. She should have told him that she’d also had dreams of them together. That they’d seemed so real. That she often woke sweaty and frustratingly unfulfilled. Seemed her body was smarter than her head and now she was standing in his shower instead of acting out on the desire that flowed between them.

Feeling a thousand percent better after having a chance to reset. Reaching over the half wall which surrounded three-quarters of the shower, she snagged a thick, warm towel. Heated towel racks. Was there nothing her mate hadn’t thought of?

Wrapping her hair up in the first and grabbing another, she stepped out and folded it around herself. She padded into the bedroom, hoping to find a clean shirt, maybe some sweatpants to change into. She'd surely be swimming in them, but anything was better than naked.

She didn't see him. She sensed him. All the hair on her body stood on. He stood at the far side of the room, his back to her. His muscled form was outlined by the dark, snowstorm-filled windowpanes. He looked like he belonged in one of her favorite Regency romances.

Her heart skipped a beat. Once. Twice. Not wanting to interrupt, she inched toward the mammoth sized bed.

"Enjoy your shower, Rhia?"

"Yes, thank you. It was quite a surprise, though. It doesn't seem to match up with the rest of the lodge. An old girlfriend convince you to remodel?" Where had that come from?

"Hmm...I didn't take you for the jealous type."

Turning, she saw unmistakable lust shining from his silver eyes. Devastating.

"Merely curious," she said.

"Actually, I designed it for you. Well, for us." Damn, his smile held wicked promises.

Keir leaned in closer. Her eyes widened at his hot, promise-filled gaze. When he started speaking again, and Rhia had to use all her willpower to concentrate on his words and not his too close for sanity body.

"As soon as I began having the visions, I built it for you Rhia. I wanted it to be an oasis for relaxation and...pleasure."

Wow. Did not see that coming. Rhia took a long swallow, opened her mouth to respond, and... nothing. What could she say?

Chuckling, the timber in his voice deepening, and she knew she was in trouble, but oh what trouble.

"I have every intention of sharing it with you. Often."

Rhia again tried to speak but became lost in his mesmerizing eyes as they changed back and forth from green to luminescent silver. Damn her yo-yoing emotions, and why was she continuing to deny them?

"Rhia, you need to stop looking at me that way. I want you to want our first time as much as I do. So that we're on equal footing."

What just happened? She was ready, and he had to pull the gender card, sending her out-of-control emotions back onto a roller coaster. She hated roller coasters.

"How fucking magnanimous of you! Equal? Well, you have an unusual definition of what equal is buster. Being manhandled into a truck and coerced onto a plane to Alaska is not what I would term equal footing."

"I’ll give you that. But I’m trying to find something, anything, to keep my hands off you. I thought I had myself under control enough to leave a change of clothes for you on the bed. I thought you’d be in there longer and then you come out wrapped in nothing but a towel and I'm fully clothed and that’s hardly equal, wouldn't you say? Hardly fair of you to tempt me with your shower-blushed flesh, the desire I see in your eyes. And your scent is driving me and my wolf beyond all control."

Before she could respond, a loud screech sounded from the bathroom.

“What the fuuuuck!” Keir, moving in a blur, leaped from his bed and set her behind him. “Stay here,” he commanded, then rushed into the room.

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