Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Don’t strain yourself, Ainslee. Be still,” he said soothingly, but there was a note in his voice that said he was a dominant alpha and used to getting his way. “I’m fine. I’ll heal. Your brother has some alpha strength behind him. I’ll give the boy that.”
He was still so big and intimidating, and I knew how strong he was. I believed he was fine, but I was still worried, this tightness in my chest that had my own protective instinct for him rising up.
“Where did he hurt you?” There had been so much action and activity in the woods, blurs of bodies, shadows concealing a lot, making things confusing, that it had been hard to discern up from down.
The corner of his lips quirked, and he brought my hand up, which was still cocooned in his hold, and gave my knuckles a gentle kiss. The gentle giant side he showed had a continuous warmth blooming inside of me.
“Is my female worried about me?”
I loved the way his thick accent rolled off his tongue. It was almost like this erotic caress against my flesh.
Not to mention the fact that he said “my female,” which had desire pooling in my belly.
I licked my lips and nodded. “I am worried.”
He held my gaze with his for a second, then stood, his hold letting go of mine as he reached for the edge of his tattered, torn shirt. I could see the claw marks in the material—Caelan’s claw marks. I glanced at the rest of him and saw the other rips and tears in his pants and shirt, as well as mud smeared along his clothing from the fight.
Luca lifted the edge of his shirt, and I gasped at the deep gouges that lined his side. They were healing, but still the three angry-looking red wounds had to be extremely painful.
“Ah, my sweet, gentle mate. I’ll survive. This isn’t anything that won’t be fully healed by tomorrow morning. No need to worry.”
I nodded, knowing he was right, but seeing Luca hurt made pain fill me. This mated situation was no joke, it seemed.
Blood and dirt were smeared along his abdomen, and despite his wounds and my worry, I couldn’t help but stare with female appreciation at his very masculine form.
His abdomen was ribbed, rolling hills of muscle that were very evident under his golden flesh. I saw twin cut lines of muscle that framed the six-pack in a V-shape, and my mouth dried. He had a trail of short, dark hair that started beneath his navel and disappeared beneath his pants. I felt heat suddenly fill me, like a wave rushing over me and trying to take me under.
I was staring, openly gawking at him, when I watched the way his body tightened. I snapped my eyes up to him, could see how his eyes glowed, saw the flicker of his wolf trying to push free even more.
I licked my lips, knowing this male was aroused… could no doubt scent that I was as well. And because I couldn’t stop myself, I let my eyes lower down his wide chest and stopped at the front of his slacks.
My eyes widened, even though I knew how big Luca was down there. But still, it was shocking to see his erection pressed against the fly of his pants. It was massive. The length was thick and long, pressed to the side, hanging parallel with one of his thighs. The very clear indentation of the crown was so visible that I was pretty sure the sound I heard came from me.
Oh God.
18
Ainslee
“Female,” he hissed in this pained voice. He let his shirt drop, which thankfully covered his crotch, but his cock was so hard and long that I could still see it despite the extra fabric now in place. “Your scent is indescribably addictive.”
He took a step back, and I looked up at his face, knowing that no matter how much I wanted to stay in this little bubble of pleasure with Luca, reality was a very real threat.
I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing… and my body, before I opened them again. I watched as Luca paced, running a hand through his hair, mussing the short, dark strands even more.
I swallowed again, my throat still a little bit tight and dry, and focused—or tried to—on other things to take my mind off the fact that I was highly aware of Luca’s closeness and my need for him.
I looked around the room. It was large, spacious. It also looked very old-school, with the exposed beams in the ceiling, one that was arched and vaulted, seeming to reach so high nothing would be able to touch it. The walls featured half that were rich, dark wood paneling, and the upper half was a gorgeous cream damask wallpaper.