Page 98 of The Wolf in My Tavern

My breath escapes me in a glorious rush as a climax sweeps through me. Along the length of my channel, I flutter in blissful waves, squeezing lovingly over his hard, male flesh.

He groans, his head tilts back, and I feel a flood fill me up.

Only now do I look down and realize that he has kept his knot outside. “You have cheated,” I say, my legs wrapping tightly around his waist like I might pull him deeper.

His chuckle is low as he rocks against me. “You are too sore to be knotted, even though you tried to hide it. I did not miss your little grimaces here and there.”

I pout. “I am never too sore to be knotted.”

He huffs out a breath. And slowly withdraws his cock. I want to hold him inside and whimper at the loss. His gaze settles on my pussy before he bends my knees and pushes me back a little until I rest on the edge of the table. He traces through my slick folds as I pant for breath.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Gray

“You know that they are rutting again,” Drake says as I meet him at the prow.

We stand and watch the land draw closer. The crew is busy around us. One sail is already folded and being stowed, although we still power through the water.

“Aye,” I say. “He cannot fucking help himself. Given my behavior over the last week, I cannot blame the lad.”

Drake chuckles.

“I don’t know what you’re laughing about,” Lizbeth says, her tone ripe with challenge.

“Ouch!” She makes a fake hurt noise and rubs her bottom where Drake has just landed a sound spank.

The shifter lass was once to be my mate, yet I easily accept she is now with Drake... and Arlo, who stands on her other side.

The most challenging part of this will be getting used to Drake having a mate when he has never shown any inclination toward it. Further, I am shocked by how a playful male has a steadying influence on his younger mates.

I am glad to have him, not only as my second but also as the man who will look after Lizbeth and Arlo and keep them in line.

“He was bigger than I expected,” Lizbeth says.

It takes me a moment to realize she is talking about Callum.

“He is bigger than everyone expected,” I reply dryly. There it is again, the unexpected pride, even though his very existence will cause ripples, the impacts of which we are yet to understand.

“That could come in useful at times,” Drake says.

“And it might also bring trouble of its own kind,” I counter.

My gaze centers on the small wharf built outside the walled town of Tweed Head. The water is not deep enough for this vessel, so we shall anchor a little way out to sea and take a rowboat to shore.

As we draw closer, I note two men appear to be staring out to sea… toward us… waiting.

“They must have received the news,” Drake says.

I sent a bird before we set sail with news of our return. It has been six months since I last heard from my father.

I feel a strange quickening under the surface of my skin that tells me all is not well.

My brows draw together as I recognize my uncle, Saul, and my cousin, Don. These are both alphas and should have duties closer to home. It makes no sense that my father would send them when a couple of betas would better perform such a task.

“Something is wrong,” Drake says slowly.

“Aye,” I agree, “Arlo, go inside and take Lizbeth with you.”

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