Page 14 of Smoke and Lure

“If it makes you feel better, little lure, I’ve already seen all your deliciously curvy charms.”He brushed a lock of tangled strands over her shoulder.“Who do you think took that pitiful honey-soaked gown off you?”

She gasped.She knew she’d been naked as a new babe when she woke.Since she didn’t recall getting undressed, it made sense that someone else had done it.But her mind hadn’t put one and one together to arrive at Liekki stripping her down.

Deliciously curvy.The man was teasing her.“Even if that were true, I’m awake now.I’d rather do it without an audience.”

He lifted one perfectly-arched sable brow.“I’d rather ensure your safe—”

“Liekki?”A loud crackling sound came from somewhere outside the bathroom.

“Damn.I need to get my radio.I’ll be back.”He didn’t readily move away.

“Go.Take all the time you need.”She waved him off.

“Don’t overexert yourself.If you get dizzy, wait for me.”

“Trust me.I got this.”She smiled, not only to put him at ease but to fortify herself as well.

“Fine.But I’ll be back to wash your hair.”

She shook her head.“I don’t need—”

The radio cracked again with his name, but the fiery man stepped into her space.She could feel the heat radiating from him and caressing the bare parts of her skin.

“That’s not up for argument.Your swollen digits will not be able to do it, and you have half the forest in your hair.”He leaned in closer.His face was so close that his cinnamon-scented breath fluttered over her lips.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to lick her lips or his.But she resisted the temptation.

“Either you let me wash it in the tub, or I haul your ass into the shower with me, and I’ll do it there.”

Gulp.She could no longer stop the images of their two bodies naked and slick, brushing against each other in soapy glides under a torrent of water.Heat exploded between her thighs, making her sex swell and her thighs slippery with wetness.

His nostrils flared, and a low growl filled the tiled room.

Her nipples tightened at the rough sound.

“Bath.”

“Liekki, do you copy?”

With a sharp nod, he pivoted on his booted heels and left the bathroom to answer the third crack of the radio.

She may have escaped from the lab, but it became apparent that she had jumped out of the skillet and landed into a live volcano with a roaring fire.The fire was Liekki.

~YH~

“How’d your mate’s transition go?”

Chanin’s heart swelled with pride, and his gut tightened at the thought of Morlie and how well she handled the mating and shifting.As he approached his Beta standing on the path, he declared, “She pulled through just fine.Morlie’s strong, a fighter.”

He could only hope the same fierce spirit would help her deal with what was coming her way.Chanin would do everything in his power to put it off as long as possible, give Morlie time to become comfortable with her wolf as part of her, and enhance her fighting skills.As soon as he dealt with the Farkas situation, Chanin could focus on getting his mate up to speed.

“My Lovel and Amira arrived at the same conclusion after spending time with our newest she-wolf.”Bleddyn smiled.His good-natured personality and love for his mates gave texture to his voice.

“Your pair of mates are intuitive.”

“They are.”Bleddyn sighed and continued, “Minsi may be sulking now, but she will not stop.”

Bleddyn confirmed Chanin’s exact thoughts.“It’s my fault for keeping Minsi as my lover for far too long.”The lovely Asian wolf was a strong fighter and was often at his side, even though he wasn’t Alpha then.Minsi was there during some of the rougher battles they had amid the Great Catastrophes, trying to lay claim to land and food.When he was in need, it was easy to take what she blatantly offered often.

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