Page 20 of Under the Moonlight

“Don’t what?”

“Bite me.”

She was afraid he’d be mad at her, but Xander took her hand in his instead. “I will never mark you without your permission.”

“Mark me?”

“Bite. When we chose a mate and they happen to be human, we will mark them. It shows the pack that she belongs to him, and he to her.”

Slowly,

she relaxed and laced her fingers with his. She tugged him to her as she lay back on his bed. He came over her, holding himself on his hands above her.

“Kiss me, Xander.”

She sensed his movement and when his mouth brushed hers, it was like being hit in every pleasure point she had. Their mouths pressed harder, his tongue slipping between her lips and she tangled her hands in his hair, cradling the back of his head. The kiss deepened as she opened her mouth, swirling her tongue with his. An ache built between her legs and she could feel her arousal dampen her panties, the only thing she had on beside the old t-shirt he’d given her.

He pressed his lower body against her and she struggled to get closer, to push her center into him to ease the tension radiating there.

With a growl that vibrated against her mouth, he lifted enough to reach between them and yank the blanket away. Only their clothing separated their skin now, and when Xander thrust against her, she spread her legs, wrapping them around him. He was still wearing his jeans and t-shirt, and the rough friction soaked the thin cotton covering her. She hadn’t dry humped a guy since high school, and she’d forgotten how freaking hot it was.

Xander broke their kiss, his mouth traveling down to her neck, his hot breath rushing over the shell of her ear. “Fuck, I want you so bad.”

God, she knew the feeling. She loved sex, and after going almost a year without, she was ready to explode.

He rolled so he was on his side, propped on his elbow. His fingers played with the bottom of the t-shirt she was wearing, the tips skimming her stomach, silently asking permission to move underneath.

She reached down and pulled the shirt up and over her head. Greer had always been self-conscious about her body, especially her stomach which she could never get completely flat no matter what she did.

But with Xander’s hand splayed across her abdomen, creeping up toward her breasts, and his rough voice whispering, “You’re so damn beautiful,” she wasn’t worried about her imperfections. All she wanted was to revel in Xander’s touch.

His palm covered her breast, squeezing it and her back came off the bed with a guttural moan. When her eyes fluttered open again, she could just make out his face in the pale moonlight pouring in from the window. His hungry expression tightened her core and she whimpered, needing his mouth once more. As he massaged her flesh, her arm came up around his neck and pulled him back down for a kiss.

His hand left her breast, but before she could protest, it was sliding inside her cotton briefs. Xander’s finger slid down between her lips, teasing her until he found her clit. With just one, short brush across the hard nub, she gasped against his mouth.

His finger circled her, rubbing the tight nub in fast, even strokes. Warmth rushed over her and a sheen of sweat coated her skin as he brought her closer to orgasm with every brush of his fingertip. She dug her nails into his shoulders, hanging on as her body jerked and spasmed. The rush of release flowed through her, shaking her to her core.

Greer broke the kiss with a wild cry. Lost in a euphoria of pleasure, she closed her eyes and let go, completely coming apart in Xander’s arms. As she came down, she blushed. She’d never been much of a yeller during sex, but that had been incredible.

Xander’s face was buried in her neck, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake. “God, I could listen to you come all day.”

She laughed breathlessly, still embarrassed, but relieved he liked it. Her fingers rubbed his shoulders where her nails had dug in. When he lifted his gaze to look at her, she stilled. His eyes had brightened, and as he stared at her, so intensely, she was reminded of the wolf inside him.

She shivered, but when he looked away, she cupped his chin. “Don’t. I’m not afraid.”

“Liar. I can smell your fear. I could hear your heart rate pick up when I looked at you.”

“I’m afraid of your power. I’m afraid of your wolf. But I don’t fear you.”

14

Xander didn’t know how to take Greer’s admission, especially when his wolf was riding so close to the surface. He’d sensed her fear, the moment of horror.

How was this ever going to work if she couldn’t see that the wolf wasn’t just a part of him; he was the wolf. Without it, he wouldn’t be the man he was. Could she ever really understand and accept that?

A scream of pain erupted from across the hall, disrupting the heavy silence between them.

Xander leaped up from the bed, racing across the hall to Jill’s room. As soon as he threw open the door and saw her down on all fours, he knew she was shifting. Her shirt ripped as her bones contorted. Thick, clear mucus sprayed the walls as tawny hair sprouted up through her skin. Her face became rounder instead of elongating the way his did. Jill bowed her head and screamed again, only the sound became distinctly animalistic toward the end.