Page 14 of The Alpha's Silent Mate

Finally, I focus on Shay, who eyes me with a frown creasing his brow. “Maybe a lake wasn’t the best place to kiss you.”

I study him, this man who just gave me a kiss that made me hate the fact that I needed to breathe, and I lean in close and press my lips against his brow until I feel his frown melt away. When it has, I shift back and meet his eyes with a smile.

His lips curve in a soft smile. “Let's get out of here, before I kiss you again and drown us both.”

Laughing, we swim to the edge of the lake.

Shay steps out first before holding his hand out for mine. I take it, but hesitate when he tugs because it’s one thing kissing in the water, but I feel strangely shy about stepping out naked.

My eyes go to the basket of food set in the middle of a large red blanket. I measure the distance. Ten steps, maybe more. And all that time I’ll be naked. Completely naked.

I could step back into the cotton dress I was wearing before, but it’s all I brought with me, so if I do, I don’t know how long it’ll take to dry.

Shay squeezes my hand, and my gaze returns to his.

For several seconds, he searches my face. “It’s me.”

I know it’s him, but that isn’t what he means.

It’s your mate, the other half of your soul.That’swhat he means. That’s what he’s saying. To hide your body from your mate doesn’t make sense when they can see into your heart.

So the next time he tugs on my hand, I don’t hesitate. I let him pull me from the water.

* * *

With too much food in my bulging belly, I lay on my front on the blanket beside Shay.

The sun dried us both hours before, but I’m not ready to dress yet, much less move. It’s so peaceful here that I could stay here forever. Already I’m dreading the time we have to return.

Shay’s hand glides down my back. As he strokes back up again, I turn from the sparkling water and face him.

His eyes are on me. “You have the most beautiful skin in the world.”

I shake my head and lower my gaze to his chest, a deeper tan than mine, golden and strong. After a moment, I lift my head again.

Snorting, he shakes his head. “No. It’s definitely you.”

He doesn’t just tell me I’m beautiful every day. He shows me. I see it in his eyes, the way he watches me.

It must be a mate thing.

My parents were the same, and so were all the other mated pairs in my pack. They looked into each other's eyes as if they were looking at the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen in their lives.

“Lexa…?”

I blink and refocus on Shay. His fingers brush back the hair from my face, and I know he wants to kiss me again. I know he wants more than that.

We’ve played in the lake, eaten our fill of chicken and fruit and all the sandwiches that Ana packed for us. We’ve napped, too. Is that all we’ll do here?

And is that what you want?

When his gaze dips to my lips, I lick them. The hand on my jaw tightens, and he lowers his head to mine.

Six wolves explode from the forest. Shay and I break apart. The wolves snarl low in their throats, and I freeze. But Shay doesn’t.

He’s on his feet in a second, pulling me to mine.

“Lexa.Go. Back to the courtyard.” He nudges me in the right direction, but he never takes his eyes off the wolves who fly toward us, their jaws gaping open, teeth glinting white.

---