Page 26 of Hunted

“You are helping. You’re here, and you are doing something so incredible that I could never do. You’re creating a life, and you ground me like no one else ever has or can. I walked into this house exhausted, fed up, and annoyed.”

“And now?”

“Now I feel stronger and more positive than I did before. You’re my heart, and it would destroy me if something happened to you and the baby.”

His heart is in his eyes.

“I just wish I could do more, that’s all.”

“You don’t always have to be doing something, you know?”

“I know.” I think a little longer about this feeling I’ve had. “It had felt good being able to stand up to Shane before.”

“Adela is always talking about seasons.”

A reluctant smile lifts the corners of my lips. “She says she’s in the season where she doesn’t give a flying whatever what anyone thinks. That sounds like a cool season to be in.”

He nods. “It’s okay to be vulnerable, love.”

“I know that too.”

“I will always want to protect you. But not because you can’t look after yourself. You can.” He flashes me a grin. “I remember you sending Shane flying and you ripping out handfuls of my fur when you were protecting me. I still have a bald patch.”

“I was holding you back,” I say, smiling. “And I did not rip out any fur.”

He kisses me. “You stepped on my paw. I was limping for three days after. I thought about putting on a leg brace, but I was trying to look brave so…”

My smile widens. “I did not, and there was absolutely no limping.” I poke his chest. “And what leg brace?”

“Did.” He kisses me again, and he lifts me and places me in the bed, settling beside me. “I just remembered something important.”

“And that important thing is?”

He caresses my throat, my shoulder, and edges downward. “How long it's been since I made love to you.”

I moan, arching my back when his fingers delve between my thighs. “You made love to me last night,” I pant out.

His lips touch mine. “Did I?” He smiles against my mouth as he nudges my panties aside. “Then I’d say we’re overdue.”

I thread my fingers through his hair, kissing him as, with each taunting touch, he slowly drives me toward my climax.

I’m struggling to breathe as I come down from my orgasm when he gently turns me, urging my back to his front so we’re spooning. He fists the hem of my dress and draws it up over my hips and then lifts me slightly to pull it over my head.

When he releases me, the soft thump of his clothes hitting the floor makes need spike in my belly. I wait, my heart in my throat and my back to him, for him to slide back into bed.

I sigh when he tucks my body against his and slowly pushes into me.

He kisses my throat as he caresses my breasts. “How is that, love?”

The way it always is when we make love.

“Perfect.”

“More?”

“Yes.”

He rocks into me. “Mack!”

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