After the Moon Rises (18 page)

“It helps to walk when you don’t have jeans stuck around your ankles.” She gestured to her feet.

“You think?” He squatted, yanking off her boots, stripping her jeans and panties from around her ankles.

“Much better.” Margie took a couple of steps backward, hopping onto the desk. “Come here.” Two fingers beckoned him forward.

Wasting no time, he stalked toward her, taking her lips in a kiss as she wrapped her legs around his waist, the warmth from his skin sinking into the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Shoving what little covered her desk out of the way, he tilted her back so she lay on the desk, his thick length touching her entrance.

She wanted this, wanted him. The selfish part of her that wanted to keep the pack to herself withered in the moment. Withered like a plant pulled up by the roots, leaving an empty space that was filled in a snap by her mate, her lover.

As long as she had Zane, nothing else mattered.

Slowly he thrust against her, in, and a slow glide out, again and again, each stroke rasping against her sensitive channel, bonding them together, joining them as mates. When he was deeply seated inside her, filling her to capacity, he grinned, the smile brightening his face.

“You’re mine. Forever. And I’m never letting you go.”

“As if I’d let you.”

His smile widened as he pulled out, her inner walls grasping him only to release as he thrust back in. She closed her eyes, lost to the emotions coursing through her body. Lost to feelings of rightness, of oneness, that built into a mountain, a precipice she once found dangerous, but now wanted to rush toward, to hurtle herself off of, knowing Zane was there to catch her. Knowing Zane would always be there to catch her. Why had she feared having a mate? Why, when it seemed the best thing ever to happen to her?

No wonder the elders thought she needed her head examined.

Pressure built deep inside with each stroke, with each thrust in and out, over and over, until she didn’t know where he ended and she began, until she cried out her release as the biggest orgasm of her life slammed through her. Zane kept thrusting and then he stiffened as he hollered his own release.

Margie saw the flash of his incisors seconds before he bit into the skin of her shoulder, a physical brand of their mating, the mark that would show she belonged to another. Removing his teeth, he lapped at the bite, sealing the wound. His lips brushed hers, a gentle touch of a bared soul. She touched his cheek with her palm.

“Day-um, Zane. I’ll repeat that any time you want.”

He chuckled as he pulled out of her, reaching for the box of tissues. He pulled a couple of tissues out and patted her between the legs. “That’s good because I’m thinking the same thing.”

Moving. She needed to be moving. Doing something besides lying in a satiated mass on top of her desk. With an effort she pushed herself up to her elbows, watching a nice flash of Zane’s ass as he bent over to pick up his scrub bottoms.

“Maybe we should grab dinner and head to my bedroom.”

Zane yanked the pants on, blocking her view of his ass. Damn. “Where’s your room?”

“It’s in another building. Right next door.” She glanced out the window. Did she actually have sex with the lights on and the blinds open? Good thing the rain kept most of her pack inside. Although the storm had died down to a drizzle.

“Sounds good. You might need to get dressed.”

True. Easier said than done. But she managed. Did a half-assed job of it, but then, the clothes were coming off soon so runway-fashionable wasn’t necessary. Zane already had the door open and the tray picked up by the time she pulled on her boots.

He turned to her, nose wrinkling. “There’s a whole plate of grains and veggies on here and the meat is sized for one. Maybe we need to stop by the kitchen?”

Were her cheeks heating? Must be the post-sex flush. “I’m a vegetarian.”

Zane barked out a laugh before he looked at her face. “Seriously?”

“Yep. You got a problem with that?” She crossed her arms.

His eyes popped wide, brows shaking hands with his hairline. “Nope. Just an odd choice. Whatever makes you happy, little mate. Wait. You don’t expect me to do the same, do you?” Now his eyes widened for a whole different reason. Pure horror.

“Of course not. It’s just something I do while human. I’ve been a vegetarian for years. No problems.” Unless you considered salivating while looking at the sirloin on his plate a problem.

“There’s a lot about you I’m going to have to learn.”

“Likewise.”

He followed her down the hall and outside, carrying the dinner tray. Margie picked up an umbrella that hadn’t turned inside out and popped it open. Holding it over Zane and dinner, she headed toward her cabin.

Zane made a face as his foot landed in a puddle. “We’ll need to leave before they let Chris go. That way we can make it to my pack before he does. Provided he even returns.”

“Are you nervous about going back?”

“Why should I be?”

She glanced over at him as he walked beside her and raised a brow.

“No. Not much. Zenia will be free and that’s what I wanted. Not everyone will come back here, but enough will.”

“We’ll lead them together. You’ll do fine. You got Big G to carry me to the infirmary.”

Zane snorted. “He carried you because he wanted to, not because of anything I said. You’re right. They’ll accept me. But you’re the real pack leader. They’re used to you. You do a good job of it too. I can only hope to do as well.”

“You’ll do fine. Here we are.” She opened the door to her—
their
—place, flipped on the light and let him walk in first.

Into her life, into her heart, into her pack. He was her mate, the one thing she never wanted, but now that she had him, she couldn’t imagine life without him. Zane set the tray on the coffee table and walked back to her. The bruises from where his nose got in the way of her opening the door were already starting to fade. Talk about a fast healer.

“I’m so glad I found you.” He bent to kiss her lips, reaching around her to slam the door shut.

She broke the kiss, placing her palms on his cheeks. “I’m glad I found you.”

His lips touched hers and she was lost in the sense of peace that surrounded them. Her wolf mate. Forever

A word about the author...

By day, Karilyn works in the research department of an oncology clinic. By night, she tells the stories of her imaginary friends. Karilyn and her most wonderful, ever-patient husband share their home in the great state of Texas with two partially psycho dogs and a handful of colorful fish.

Karilyn loves to hear from readers and can be reached at
[email protected]
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