Page 79 of Savage Blood
He chuckled at my stammering and skimmed his thumb across my cheek. “You’re adorable when you blush.”
My lips pressed together. “I’m not blushing. And I’m not adorable.”
“Denying it while you pout only makes you cuter.”
I groaned and pressed my back against the rough bark, thescent of pine and sap—and Saint—filling my nostrils. “You’re insufferable. And no, you can’t have a peek.”
“I’m only kidding,” he said as he politely remained on the other side of the tree. “Of course, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing you naked.”
More heat spread over my skin as I shimmied into my leggings. “I’m sure you wouldn’t.”
“Feel free to watch me naked all you want.” Humor laced his words, but there was no mistaking the flirty hint to them.
Saint was teaching me how to fight and hunt in my shifter form, and simply spending all this time together made me feel better already. Those black veins had only appeared once, and I’d had just a few dizzy spells.
I felt the fated mate bond growing every day. Saint claimed it couldn’t deepen unless we actually mated, but nothing about my existence was normal, so why would this be?
Sharp, unpleasant tingles rippled through my neck tattoo as if it knew I was getting closer to someone else. Saint would probably receive a nasty electric shock if he touched me there.
I threw on my sleeveless hoodie and searched the ground for my sneakers.
“Here.” Saint appeared from around the tree, dangling my sneakers from his long fingers. He’d also tossed on his red t-shirt, covering up that beautiful torso.
Hiding that work of art was such a shame.
“Thanks.” I took the sneakers and shoved my feet into them.
“Anytime.”
When I stood, Saint reached forward and drew a leaf out of my hair, his knuckles brushing the bare side of my neck. As his searing gaze lingered, my heart fluttered like hummingbirdwings. He licked his lips slowly, and if I asked, gave him permission, he’d kiss me.
Knowing I wouldn’t, he dropped his hand. “Let’s get something to eat. I hear your stomach growling like an angry shifter pup.”
I playfully punched his rock-hard abs, thankful he broke the tension. “Shut up.”
As we walked through the house, warm wood and leather everywhere, several shifters nodded in our direction while others scurried away.
Could I really blame them? I’d be wary of Barric’s offspring too.
“Hey, little Alpha Tate.”
Charla Campbell wiggled her fingers as she descended the curving staircase into the living room.
I flipped her off. “My first duty as alpha will be to demote you to toilet-cleaning duty for a year.”
Charla gave a dramatic gasp and gripped her chest. “You’re already becoming a tyrant. Saint, get her in check.”
He chuckled. “There’s no subduing her. She’s feisty.”
“True.” Charla pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and smoothed a lock of blonde hair back into her ponytail. “If you’re looking for food, there are plenty of leftovers from the cookout last night.”
I peered over my shoulder at the blonde shifter as she passed by. “How do you know we’re getting food?”
“Because I can hear your stomach growling.”
Saint’s head tilted back as laughter poured from his mouth. “See! I told you.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed his shirt to tug him forward. “Whatever. Let’s eat because apparently, I’m dying of starvation.”
