Page 40 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

“Wow, so reassuring.”

Conall’s chuckle drifted across my nerve endings, giving my waning energy a much-needed boost. “I think you’re just disappointed you haven’t gotten to chain me up in a while.”

I pulled back enough to place a hand on his cheek. “Don’t act like you wouldn’t be into it.”

Nissa loudly cleared her throat, and oh yeah, she was here. The first night we crossed paths, she’d given me the chains and demanded I do whatever it took to save Conall, so I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve her ire. Didn’t help that she was as scary as she was beautiful.

Conall slowly lowered me to the ground, snaked his arm around my waist, and hooked a hand on my hip. His fingers dug into my skin as he pivoted the both of us to face Nissa. Judging by how snugly he tucked me against his side, he’d missed me almost as much as I’d missed him.

Affection careened through me until my mood floated above me in a hazy, lust-lined cloud.

“Shouldn’t we go brief everyone?” Nissa asked, and my mood deflated along with my heart. I’d finally gotten my hands on Conall after too many days apart, and now I was going to have to let him go?

“You go ahead. You’re the information expert.” Conall slipped his thumb under the hem of my shirt and drew a tingly arc across my hip bone, back and forth, back and forth. “I promised Kerrigan I’d make up for leaving her in the lurch. It would appear that I need to make up for worrying her as well.” He arched an eyebrow, and I bobbed my head.

“So,somuch making up to do. I’m not sure you’ll even be able to fit it all into one evening.”

“Probably not. But I’ll give it my all.” He dipped his head and nipped at the shell of my ear. “Give you my all.”

“Conall,” Nissa snapped, and he whipped his head toward her so quickly that had he not been holding me in place,Iwould’ve taken a step back.

A low, threatening sound emanated from the back of Conall’s throat.

Shit, they were going to get into a fight, and I was the cause. Now I’d end up having to play peacemaker instead of getting my promised alone time with Conall.

A totally selfish thought, but there it was anyway.

“You’re the one who always tells me you can do more and that I should learn to delegate,” Conall said, their glare-off reaching a whole new terrifying level. “I have full faith in you. You’re dismissed.”

The scowl Nissa fired at us lowered the temperature of the room to arctic levels far more suited for polar bears than wolves. She clamped her jaw so hard her teeth clattered together, and then she bowed her head a fraction of an inch. “Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir.”

As soon as the door shut behind her, Conall turned to me, his smile a pinch forced and his shoulders too tight. “Let’s get out of here. There’s a place I’ve been wanting to show you.”

I barely refrained from telling him that anywhere he went, I’d follow.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

My favorite activitiesalternated between running uninhibited in the forest in wolf form and riding my motorcycle to spots mostly untouched by man. With Kerrigan behind me, the scales tipped in the bike’s favor.

I’d instructed her to hold on tight, and as I maneuvered around the rocks and knotted roots along the steep trail, her grip on me reached boa-constrictor levels. Not that I was complaining over having a beautiful woman clinging to me; I just hoped I hadn’t scared her before we reached the more adventurous portion of our outing.

Stolen moments were few and far between, and I planned to take advantage of the brief window we had before any more shit hit the fan.

Yep, I was a selfish bastard who’d left my pregnant beta to handle a debriefing, and with the heat of Kerrigan’s body soaking into me, I didn’t even care. As for the impending blowout between Nissa and me?

It was going to be a bitch. Nissa had probed me about my interest in the woman riding behind me a handful of times as we’d been scouring miles and miles of forest, and each time, I’dreplied that my dating life was none of her business. Truth was, I knew if I’d answered Nissa’s questions, she and Tyrese would see how deeply Kerrigan had already burrowed beneath my skin.

What’d started out as fun was turning into something akin to obsession. I should care more—or at least take preventative measures to avoid a future disaster—but whenever I tried to summon up the will, there wasn’t any to be found.

Since I’d already made my choice, I refused to spend my limited time with Kerrigan agonizing over my failed duties.

As the roaring waterfall that fed into a crystal blue lake came into view, I slowed and steered us to level ground. Once I engaged the kickstand, Kerrigan removed the helmet I’d provided her with, a spellbound glow to her features as she surveyed one of nature’s masterpieces. “It’s beautiful.”

“Just wait. It gets even better.” I climbed off the motorcycle, helped Kerrigan to the ground, and snagged the small cooler I’d brought along. Then I laced my fingers through hers and led her to the water’s edge. The stream snaked down the side of the mountain until it leveled out and widened near town. This location provided a picturesque view of the endless ocean of trees, rocks, and blue, blue sky.

Kerrigan leaned her head on my shoulder. “I guess I have to take back what I said about Guadalupe Falls not having any falls.”

“Just lupes?”

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