35. Her Choice

35

Her Choice

brAND

I marveled at my little mate's resilience. It seemed like only hours ago that she'd been abducted. Only minutes since she'd stared down a crowd of angry wolves, intent on casting her out.

In the past few days, she'd been taken, had dark magic used on her, returned, claimed another mate, forced the most powerful Alpha on the continent to apologize, assisted him and his mate in restructuring the pack from the bottom up, and now she was laughing.

No. Giggling.

I couldn't help the smile that spread over my own face at the sound. Everyone knew my mate was deadly. But not many knew that she was cute as a pup, with a giggle that sounded just like one.

"Can you believe that?" Flor called as she ran in front of me toward the western lakeshore. "‘Shifter pups don't make themselves.' The look on your face!"

Pups . The thought made my wolf's ears perk up.

Not yet, I warned him.

I didn't know what to say to Flor. The idea of her growing round with my pups flooded me with a wave of longing so intense, my knees went weak. But we were in no place to even think about such things. So I gave a mock growl and chased after her, the picnic basket thumping against my leg.

When we reached the cabin, Flor explored the inside while I found a flat place on the lakeside and laid out the picnic. The kitchen staff obviously adored Flor; they'd packed enough food for a week, and all of it was exquisitely prepared.

Flor plopped down on the checkered cloth and began pulling off the lids off the small glass dishes. "What did they make? Ooooh, fancy meat stuff?" She stuck her finger into the paté and licked it clean, moaning in appreciation. I shifted on the cloth, remembering the only other time I'd heard that sound from her lips.

She'd opened four or five dishes and sampled them all before she stopped, blinking up at me."You're not hungry?"

I took a deep breath, then let it out. "Not for food, little flower. But I would very much like to feed you." She dropped her gaze, and the breeze blew a soft wave of her jasmine and cinnamon scent to me.

"What would you like to feed me, Bearman?" she teased, her voice a husky rasp. Her fingers toyed with the button at the top of her shirt. "I might be hungry for more than food."

"Food first. You'll need your energy," I teased back. I gathered her up and placed her on my lap, using a spoon to lift bites of quiche, beef stew, and a half-dozen other foods to her mouth.

"That's enough," she insisted when I opened a jar of honeyed custard. She took the spoon. "My turn."She turned to face me so that her legs straddled mine, carefully spooning up a bite of the sweet pudding and holding it up to my lips.I shook my head, and she rubbed the custard on my closed mouth, giggling. I leaned in and kissed her until there was not a drop of pudding left.

"Oh, I like this way of eating dessert," she said breathlessly. For a while, that was all we did—share bites of pudding and long, drugging kisses, while the bees and insects droned around us, and the frogs called out from the water's edge.

Eventually, I pulled away, stroking her hair. "What else would you like? I know you need rest."

"I don't want to rest. I want to get to know you," she said, her voice wobbling slightly. "Can I… Can I explore? Can I touch you?"

My only answer was a heartfelt groan, which made her laugh again.

Oh, Mother Moon, let me be the reason she laughs for the rest of our lives, I prayed, as Flor took the lead, kissing me more deeply. Let me give her pleasure and joy and no pain. Whatever the cost, I accept it. Just give me the skills and knowledge to keep her happy, and safe.

Eventually, the kisses became caresses, our clothing serving as pillows as she took her time exploring my body.

"My flower," I rasped, as her small fingers moved gently over my bare stomach and down to my groin, cupping my balls and then feathering up and down my length so lightly, it made me ache. "Love, I'm not sure I can take much more."

"I'm not good at this," she murmured, leaning back.

I gently moved her back over me, and shook my head. "You're too good. Let me touch you before I embarrass myself."

"Okay." She lay back on the cloth. As I touched her with my hands and lips, the wind picked up around us, lifting the soft cries that she made over the lake.I held her core to my mouth and lapped at her, luxuriating in her pleasure as if it were my own.

Raindrops began to fall around us, and the wind grew stronger, raising goosebumps on her limbs. "I don't want to stop," Flor panted. "I want you."

I hesitated, not wanting her to grow chilled, when a soft cough drew my attention.

In an instant, I was covering her body, growling at the threat.

"Sorry, brother, it's me. Mom, uh… Shit. She probably engineered this." Glen stood downwind, carrying a thick stack of blankets, his face averted. "She asked me to guard from the woods, but said you needed bedding."

My wolf settled immediately, and I considered Glen for a long moment. I'd known him for years, respected him more than any of my friends. I called him brother and meant it.

If I had to choose one other person in the world to care for my little flower alongside me, one other mate to share a bond, it would be him. But it was her choice, always.

I glanced down at Flor, who was chewing at her lower lip. She stood, the rain dampening her flushed skin. To his credit, Glen didn't even try to steal a peek at her naked form. Her eyes caught mine, an unspoken question in them. I sent reassurance down the bond between us, and acceptance.

Flor's soft smile was shy but hopeful as she ran to Glen's side through the worsening rain, and grabbed a blanket from the top of the stack, wrapping it around herself. "You're going to stand out in a storm while Brand and I are safe and warm inside? I'm not sure you're smart enough to be my mate, Glen Hillier."

Laughing once more, she ran ahead of us both into the cabin.

We were only a breath behind.