Page 134 of The Alpha

He nudged her cheek playfully with his nose. “Mine.”

Unable to help it, she began to squirm. “I’m not sure about that.”

To her surprise, he released her, and she scrambled to her feet. When he got to his, he smiled and poked her in the belly with a finger. “Mine.”

A tiny giggle escaped. “You are beyond weird, you know that?” Pari backed up a step, and he smiled again.

This time he reached out with both hands and tickled her. “Mine?”

She laughed. “No! Stop with the mine stuff, will you?”

Pari tried to escape him, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and tickled her with his other hand. “Mine?”

“No!” she said through her giggles. “Stop it!”

He tickled her harder. “Mine?”

“No!”

He released her, his eyes still bright, and put a hand to his chest. “Kahtala Miah?” He gave her a playful smirk.

Pari laughed. She didn’t know why; it wasn’t like he was still tickling her.

He wiggled his fingers at her and lunged.

She squeaked in alarm and ran.

The chase was on.

Pari half screamed, half laughed as she dodged bushes and branches. He was right behind her, also laughing. The sound fueled her flight, and she knew he could catch her if he wanted. But he didn’t, not yet anyway.

“Kahtala Miah!”

She laughed some more and ran faster. Pari couldn’t remember ever running so fast. There was a park bench just beyond the faint trail she was on. She surprised herself by vaulting over it and racing across a paved path and into the woods beyond.

Bondrah laughed deep and throaty behind her and followed her into the woods where he caught her by the arm and swung her around to face him. “Mine?”

Pari couldn’t talk, she was breathing too hard. “N-n-no,” she said with a wide smile.

He laughed. “Mine…” he said against her hair then kissed it.

Her insides melted, and she leaned against him for support.

He scooped her into his arms and looked her in the eyes. “Mine, Kahtala Miah?”

She shook her head, unable to speak. The wonderful peace she experienced yesterday was surrounding her, and she wasn’t sure what to do.

He buried his face in her hair. “Keyah dolah miah…”

“Wh-what does th-that mean?” Speaking took effort at this point.

He drew back, looked at her, then promptly sat cross-legged again in the bushes as he smiled. “You will see.” He ran a finger down her cheek like before, and goose flesh rose everywhere. She was still breathing hard from their run, and she realized she could use some water. But really, when one is being held in the arms of a gorgeous man in the woods, who needed any? But how long would this last? It was the same old question.

“Kahtala Miah?” he said with concern. “What is it?” His voice was still low, but not as gravelly.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

He frowned. “You will tell me.”

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