Page 42 of Tide Touched

‘You shifted today, alone?’ Moira’s brow is etched with concern.

‘Well, yeah. I wanted to see if I could. It sucked,’ I add.

Killian sets a hand on my shoulder. ‘It’s easier if you do it with other wolves around, your wolf is more at ease with others. It won’t hurt quite so much.’ He hesitates, ‘I’ve been told it’s easiest in the presence of your mate, if you have one.’

I offer a smile. ‘Good thing I have you, then.’

Moira rolls her eyes and makes a gagging sound.

Killian pointedly ignores her, his focus on me. ‘Okay, so what we’re going to do is shift at the same time. You too, Moira. So, watch me and try to time your change with mine.’ His hand is still on my shoulder, his thumb creating little circles as he rubs reassuringly.

I look deep into his eyes under the light of the stars and the bright moon. His auburn eyes sparkle like embers in a fire. He’s so calm, steady, sure of himself that I’m not nervous at all. I breathe him in, wishing he would wrap his arms around me for a moment.

Instead, we all quietly take off our clothes and start to change. It always starts in my back, my spine the first thing to change, my bones arching, breaking, curving. The pain is easier to bear but still shoots through me, searing my muscles as they rip and tear, then reform. As soon as we hit the ground on all fours, Killian is there, nuzzling into me. He gives my cheek a nudge, as though saying I did well.

I nuzzle him back.

This is the first time our wolves have met. Mine reaches out and licks up the side of his face, and I swear he smiles.

Moira lets out an annoyed whine and we both start, having forgotten her for a moment. I reach out and paw at her.

Then, together, we run.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Katie

Killian’s lips brush mine. Anticipating a wall of cold, I’m caught off-guard when his mouth moulds to mine, warm and soothing, sending tingles from my lips to my pussy. This mate connection is not like the other; it’s not just my wolf who wants Killian, it’s me, my whole body and soul. Killian tastes like warmth, like heat and flames and comforting embers in your bed to keep you from freezing.

I inhale, my body trembling in anticipation as Killian’s oh-so wonderful lips glide down my jaw, to my neck. He takes my earlobe into his mouth and I close my eyes briefly as I shudder, the pleasure strange and unexpected. His hands come up to palm my breasts, rough between my shirt and my quickly-hardening nipples.

This is different.

‘You can just start when you want,’ I say, my voice garbled through the haze of pleasure. What’s he waiting for?

Killian is draped over me, his gaze smouldering in the low light of the fire. ‘I want to take my time. Taste every inch of you.’

My cheeks heat. Wait. He doesn’t want to just fuck me and go? Tears prick my eyes, but I lean back, saying nothing, letting myself fall into his touch.

Killian pulls my shirt aside, my breasts spilling forth. He licks, then sucks on a nipple. Oh. Slowly, he increases the pressure, then lightly nips with his teeth. My hips press forward, forcing our crotches together.

His mouth stills on me, Killian chuckles. ‘You like that, hmm?’

‘Yes.’ A desperate whine. Why is he being so slow, drawing it out? I’m not brave enough to ask.

He switches to my other nipple, administering the same ministrations before he kisses down my belly. Then he gently pushes his fingers into my waistband, and away go my pants. He asks if he can continue, and I nod. His fingers lightly brush over my labia, wet and spilling for him.

I cry out when his tongue—his tongue!—is there. I gape and stare down at him, then he adds his fingers, and my body is shuddering with pleasure. ‘What—what are you doing?’

Killian presses a kiss to my inner thigh. ‘Just relax. Let me bring you pleasure.’ Then he presses his tongue back, flicking over my clit and I—

‘Katie, oh, my god, what are you dreaming about?’ Moira’s voice slices away my heaven.

I blink a few times and sit up in horror. ‘What? Nothing!’ I stare around frantically. ‘Where—where’s Killian?’ It was a DREAM?! So not fair. I close my legs. The moisture there is very real. My chest is rising and falling rapidly.

I stare around the little hotel room we bunked in for the night. There are two single beds—one for me, one for Moira. The couch doesn’t look big enough to hold Killian.

‘He went to get us some breakfast. He wants us to move on from this place, and he might be right. Those Water wolves will still be after you.’ Moira quirks a brow at me. ‘Seriously, you were moaning in your sleep.’ She lowers her voice. ‘Were you having a sex dream?’

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