Page 55 of Jasper

He’d thought the VIP tour tickets would be what brought the most soulmates into the park, as the alphas had intended, but while some soulmates had been found that way, many had come through other ways.

Like Jasper and Melody growing up together and being separated for years before reuniting. Or Justus, whose mate Trina had come to work at the park with her best friend Lexy. Or Jenni’s mate Devlin, who was Trina’s brother; they’d met during a party.

He paused at the wolf paddock where Jasper and Melody were going through the pack’s traditional mating ceremony. He could see the large bonfire flickering in the distance.

He was happy for his friend, but he also longed to find his own soulmate.

Someday.

His lion let out a curious, hopeful growl.

Turning from the paddock, he continued his trek past the other paddocks, then scouted the employee lot before returning to the interior of the park to keep on schedule. He loved being out in the park at night.

Once he cleared the parking lot, he walked back into the park, closing the auto-locking gate behind him.

Someday, soon he hoped, his soulmate would come through the gates of the park and he’d get to start the next chapter of his life.

He couldn’t wait.

Melody loved the tent. It had a big blow-up mattress in the center and was covered with blankets and pillows. Twinkle lights were strung across the ceiling to give a soft, starry glow to the space. A portable air conditioner kept the summer heat out of the tent, and also helped keep the background noise of the pack’s party to a minimum.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t be celebrating with them? It’s our party,” she said with a chuckle.

“There will be plenty of food left when we’re finished, and then I’ll shift for you and we can go for a walk around the paddock.”

“Finished…with what?” she asked teasingly.

He growled softly. “You know what, sexy female.” He hauled her close and cupped her face, lowering his head to brush his lips across hers.

He trailed his fingers down her jaw as he deepened the kiss, marking a path with his calloused fingers down her throat and over her shoulder. He slipped his fingers between the elastic edge of the top of the strapless dress and tugged it down over her breasts.

“Sexy, sexy female,” he whispered huskily.

He molded his hand around her breast, his fingers digging lightly into her flesh.

He kissed her again, then dropped his lips to the mating mark and the bruise that he’d left earlier, sucking lightly on her sensitive flesh. She stroked her fingers over his broad shoulders and down his pecs, feeling the flex of his muscles as she touched the ridges of his abdomen.

He was the sexiest guy she’d ever known.

How the heck did she get so lucky?

When she reached for his belt, he chuckled against her neck and said, “Eager, sweetheart?”

“We were apart for hours! Yes!”

He took a step away from her and rested his thumbs along the waistband of his pants. His head tilted, his eyes gleaming with encouragement.

Taking the cue, she hooked her fingers in the top of the dress and slowly lowered it down her stomach and over her hips, while he kicked off his shoes and then stripped from his pants.

When she’d taken off her shoes and dropped the dress to the side, she realized he was fully naked.

And what a dang sight he was!

He growled. “Did you wear those for me, Mellie-mine?” he asked as he joined her and ran his palm over the black lace that covered her bottom.

“Just for you.”

The growl got louder and his eyes flashed to amber.

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