Page 53 of Crescent Warrior

“You got someone back there?” Alex asked, his curiosity piqued. There was a long pause before Michael seemed to make an effort to drop his hand, closing his eyes.

“No. There’s no one.”

Alex didn’t believe a word he was saying, but he shrugged, reaching over to pat his shoulder. Michael’s eyes popped open and he was looking at him like he had lost his mind but he didn’t pull away.

“Listen, we’ll just do our best here, see what we can find, and then go back home, alright? There won’t be any wasting time.”

Michael visibly relaxed then, nodding and staring at his bag.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The cove they swam in as children hadn’t changed at all. Close enough to their homes for them to be able to rush back when it was getting dark, but far enough that the other wolves preferred to use the beach closer to them.

It was Hippolyta’s discovery. She kept it secret, not telling anyone but Cole. They escaped to the cove so many times it became a second home. Whenever she had a fight with her parents or needed to be alone, it was where Cole found her. When his own parents died, she immediately knew he would be there.

Drinking in the memories, Hippolyta stepped forward, burying her toes in the sand. The arms that came around her made her eyes squeeze shut. Warmth spread through her, her heart shivering with an emotion she didn’t want to name as lips pressed against her shoulder.

“My Lyta,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate, caressing her skin as much as his hands. “I always wanted to be here with you like this.”

The years of longing for him came back, condensing into an ache in her heart. Ignoring it, knowing that they were starting afresh and she shouldn’t bring up old hurts, she ran her fingers up his forearms, holding him to her. She tilted her head back, fitting against his body like they were made for each other.

Gods, I’ve missed this.

As his scent made her lids heavy, his fingers trailed under her top, across her stomach. “Let’s go swimming.” There was a hint of mischief in his voice.

He was up to something, but she didn’t know what it was.

“Alright,” she murmured, leaning back to press her lips to his. He got distracted, turning her so he could take her mouth deeper, twining his tongue with hers.

She moaned in the back of her throat, her hands working on her shorts. Yanking them down, she pulled away as she crossed her arms, tugging her t-shirt over her head.

“Whoops,” she called, traipsing backward toward the water in only her underwear, tossing her clothes at him.

Her shorts landed on his head while he caught her t-shirt in his hand, his fingers clenching hard as he took her in from head to toe. A groan left his throat.

When she reached behind her to unhook her bra, his eyes flared and he inhaled deeply. She knew he was scenting the area to make sure they were alone, but she also knew he could smell how aroused she was.

“Are you coming?” she asked, tilting her head as she tossed her bra toward him.

He was walking forward before she spoke, snatching it from the air. His eyes dropped to her chest and went hooded. They dipped lower, to her panties, before rising to her face again, hopeful.

“Oh, so now you want me totally naked?”

His nod made her laugh. Stopping, she let him catch up with her as her feet were splashed with water. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing a kiss to the hollow of his throat.

His scent was so strong there it made her dizzy with lust. She swiped her tongue across it and the rumble of a growl started in his chest.

“Take it off, then,” she purred, peering up at him from under her lashes.

His breath chuffed out of him, but he dropped his hands to her ass, giving her a squeeze. The sharp scrape of his claws made her whimper as he shredded her panties.

She was panting as his claws dug into her skin. He retracted them slowly as he dipped his head to her breasts. She took his distraction as the perfect opportunity to pull away from him, walking into the water, watching him over her shoulder.

He didn’t hesitate, dropping her clothes and then yanking his own shirt off, shucking his pants quickly. When he was fully naked, his cock bobbing in front of him, he stalked her.

She cursed herself for stopping to enjoy the show before she hurried into the water, diving under and swimming out. She was smiling, always having loved their games of chase. Now? The erotic charge of their new dynamic added an exciting layer to their play.

Without warning, she was yanked back by her foot, her body being turned, her legs wrapping around his waist as if of their own volition. She surfaced with a gasp, floating in front of him as he treaded water, his gaze between her parted legs. His groan was deep and hungry.

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