Page 43 of Country and Clove
He nuzzled into her, planting featherlight kisses all across her face. He was going to claim her every chance he got for the rest of their lives.
* * *
Aaron woke up many hours later and seriously regretted his decision to sleep on the floor. But despite the aching in his body from the hard ground, he’d actually slept incredible. No nightmares, no cold sweats. It had been peaceful, calm. He stood, picking up Clove with him, and moved them both to a large pile of saddle pads and blankets in the corner. Hooded green and gold eyes opened halfway as he laid her back down.
“What the hell were we thinking sleeping on the floor?” She giggled sleepily. She stretched her arms above her head, and Aaron’s eyes greedily roved over every inch of her exposed skin.
“I’m pretty sure neither of us was in a position to get to a more comfortable location at the time,” Aaron mused. Clove yawned and god did she have to look adorable and perfect doing everything? She propped herself up on her side and peered up at him. “Don’t look at me like that,” he warned.
“Like what? I just woke up.”
“It doesn’t matter. Everything about you is attractive no matter what time of day it is. Whether you’re sleeping, laughing, or pissed off. I can’t get enough.” He tucked a strip of blue hair behind her ear and bent forward. Her lips met his and he melted inside.
A sudden rush of command from Aaron’s animal within had him clutching his chest. Clove gasped as her own animal pushed to the forefront. “Well darlin’, looks like our wolves are raring for a meet and greet.” Aaron’s wolf scratched and whined, begging to come out.
Clove giggled through harsh breaths. “I think we’ve kept them waiting long enough.” She stood, tossing him a grin as she put some space between the two. Aaron let his eyes glide along her body. Clove took a deep breath and her wolf slid from her skin. Aaron’s jaw dropped. Her shift had been so smooth, so beautifully seamless.
Clove’s human form was gone. In her place stood a majestic copper wolf. The animal shook its head, revealing the blonde fur beneath its reddish outer coat. Aaron had expected Clove’s wolf to be black. He thought about Ginger. Clove’s twin had strawberry-blonde hair. Of course Clove’s wolf would retain its natural color despite the dye of its human counterpart. Aaron moved toward the wolf, gazing into its green and gold eyes. “You are simply gorgeous.”
He only got a few seconds of stroking her wolf’s ears before his own animal tore free from his skin in what must have been the quickest shift of his life. His wolf towered over Clove’s. Aaron’s wolf was often bigger than most. It was likely the Alpha blood in his veins. Clove’s feisty little wolf trotted right up to his, snuggling up beneath the tall arch of his neck and nuzzling into his fur. Aaron’s wolf draped its head across her soft body and practically purred.This feels so unbelievably right.
Clove’s wolf gave him an unexpected nip on the ankle and jumped back. She growled playfully with a mischievous glint in her eyes. He took a step toward her and she backed away, snarling. Oh, she wanted a fight in her wolf form? He was game. He lunged for her and she darted away from him, racing around the small room and keeping him spinning in circles. Her movements were more akin to a fox than a wolf. Aaron’s wolf snapped its jaws, barely missing her each time. Her wolf let out excited yips and howls as it continued to best him. Damn if it didn’t fill him with joy to see her wolf so free and unburdened. She shot behind him, nipping one of his hind legs as she went.Enough of that, little wolf.
Anticipation tingled to the ends of his fur. The next time she darted past, he turned tail, sprinting in the opposite direction, catching her mid-victory lap and tackling her to the ground. That feisty little creature snarled at him with a ferocity far too great for her adorable stature. Clove abruptly shifted back, forcing Aaron’s to roll off of her before the weight of his massive beast could crush her human form. Aaron shifted. He turned to glare at her. “Fuck, baby, I thought I was going to crush you. I—” He stopped talking, his eyes now fixed on her lithe, naked body.
“What’s that look for?” Clove crossed her arms, clearly pouting over losing to his wolf.
Aaron leaned back against the wall and whistled. “Like I said, everything you do is attractive.”
“Everything I do?” She lifted an eyebrow. “You mean like this?” She stood, turned her back on him, and walked back toward the pile of clothes they’d left behind. Her tattoos stood out against her bronzed skin. He wanted to run his tongue along every swirl of ink that covered her body. Aaron’s mouth dried up as she bent over and reached down for a shirt. That move put every bit of her glistening, pink perfection on display. His mouth was already watering. Clove stood back up, peering over her shoulder with a sexy-as-hell smirk.
“Why don’t you put that shirt back down and come sit on my face, pretty girl.”
“Nah.” Clove issued a teasing smile. “I think I’ll go see what the others are up to.”
Aaron moved like the wind, crossing the tack room and cutting off Clove’s escape in a heartbeat. She gasped.
“How did you—”
He silenced her with a kiss, slowly working his lips away from her mouth and up to her ear.
“You’re in for it now,” he growled out as he snatched a rope off the wall. Clove looked up at him in surprise.
“What is that for?” She took a step back.
“It’s for bad little wolves who defy their mates. Turn around.” His words were bordering on inhuman.
Clove’s eyes went wide. “Why?”
“Wrong answer, darlin’.” He grinned. She took another step back and he surged forward. He collared her throat with a loose grip, diving down for a deep kiss before spinning her around. He marched her forward, not stopping until they lined up with the side of the saddle stand. He pulled Clove’s arms behind her back and bent her over the saddle. Years of roping and knot-tying meant Aaron had her wrists bound and pulled tightly behind her before she had a chance to realize what was happening.
“Aaron—”
He dropped low, knocking her legs apart and binding her first ankle to the base of the saddle stand. She squirmed in his hold, but it didn’t matter. He secured her second ankle and smiled triumphantly. He sank his teeth into her ass on his way back up.
“Aaron!”
He pulled the extra length back into his fist. “If you tell me to stop, I’ll stop. Do you understand?”
