32. Mount Me

32

Mount Me

" I 'm not getting on your back," I say as I cross my arms over my chest.

"You can barely walk. How do you expect to get five miles from here before the Hunters find us?"

It was a sorry sight to see me climbing out of the window and running far enough away from Jack's cabin for us to re-group. I'm barefoot, and the loungewear Cameron loaned me the day before doesn't do much to protect my bits from the elements. Not to mention my pounding headache. Still, riding on the back of my new werewolf lover—or whatever the hell Cameron is to me—is the last thing I want to do. "Can't we just get your truck?" Although walking back to his cabin makes my feet want to cry, it beats the alternative.

"There are Hunters all over the place. It's too risky."

I twist my lips, wracking my brain for another solution.

Cameron runs his fingers through his hair, sighing. "We don't have time. Stop whining, and let's go," he says in an irritated tone.

Ah, there's the impatient dick I loved so much. I had wondered if his grating personality totally disappeared when he came so obviously fond of me. I can't say the roughness of his tone doesn't send a rush down my spine. I'd love for him to order me around like this in the bedroom. Fuck, Red. Get yourself together . I shake my head. "Fine."

It happens so fast that I don't even register when his skin becomes fur, and his teeth become fangs. His clothes fall to the floor beside his new form. Where a man stood now is a wolf, but much larger with black course hair, glowing amber eyes, and pure white fangs. It's the beast from my dream nights ago. I'm sure of it.

I can't unfreeze myself. I dropped to my knees before him when he was halfway transformed, but seeing him entirely in his werewolf form makes it hard to breathe. I'm not terrified, but something chilling runs through my veins .

He approaches me, nudging my hand with his snout before turning and looking back at me.

"Oh, right. I'm supposed to mount you." This is so fucking weird.

I gingerly walk to his side, picking up the pile of clothes next to him. "Do you want me to bring these?" I ask.

He nods.

I grab them and stick them under my armpit before jumping up and grunting as I throw my leg over. He barely gives me a second to brace myself before he takes off. I yelp and cling to his fur, leaning over and pressing my body against him to stay on. He vibrates like he's chuckling.

Trees whip past us, and the wind tears at my clothing. I'm no speedometer, but I swear we're going at least seventy miles per hour. I abandon my efforts to gather where we're going, clenching my eyes shut and burying my face into Cameron's fur. Just when I'm sure I'll have to spend the next hour cleaning vomit off him, he slows, but I don't sit up until he stops.

"Let's never do that again, okay?" I say as I climb down, wobbling once I reach my feet.

The shift happens again, and before I can blink, he's standing at my side, human, naked, and grabbing my arm to steady me. I gaze up at him, awestruck. "That was a fast change," I manage to say .

He chuckles. "Yeah, I'm pretty fast when it's not the Blood Moon, but I like to take my time with most things." His eyes heat over his cocky grin.

"Oh, geez." I push his clothes into his chest, grinning as the blood rushes to my cheeks and trying not to let my eyes trail any lower.

The minute I'm away from his touch, the pain in my head returns. The reality of the last twenty-four hours crashes around me. It's crazy that a few light-hearted moments with Cameron can make me forget everything, but I can't say I hate it.

I rub at my temple.

"Are you okay?" he asks, all humor lost from his voice as he rushes to my side.

"Yeah, I'm fine." The pain instantly melts once he touches me. Okay, I don't think this is in my head anymore. "Why do I feel better when you touch me?"

He smiles and holds my arm to steady himself as he hops into his pants. "What can I say? I have that effect on women?"

"Asshole." The comment should give me the major ick, but I can't help but smile. "But no, really."

"It's part of this whole werewolf thing." His face tenses as if he's holding something back as he buttons up his shirt.

I study him for a moment. "Whatever. Where are we?" I swivel my attention at the canopy of trees overhead .

Cameron takes a deep breath and looks around him, a proud smile forming. "I found this place when I was a teenager. Here, follow me." He grabs my hand, pulling me deeper into the woods, pushing away the brush, and leading me into a clearing.

I don't let go of his hand as I stare, mouth wide, at the sight before me. A crystal blue spring, surrounded by rocks and what looks like a cave, sits in the middle of the area. "Wow."

"I know, right? It's my best-kept secret. I'm sure others know about this place, but I've never seen anyone else here, and it's not on any maps. We can sleep in the cave tonight."

Sleeping. With Cameron. Tonight.

My body transforms into some hormonal teenage boy. Cameron can't even mention plans for our shelter without my mind jumping to images of me fucking him. God, being a werewolf blows. Literally. I hope I don't spend time with other werewolf men in case I'm this feral around all of them.

Cameron jumps to the edge of the spring, balancing on one foot to the next as he walks closer to the cave's entrance. "Come on, let me show you the place." He looks so boyish, so full of joy. Nothing like the man I met in the woods who called me an idiot and reeked of danger. My cheeks hurt from smiling as I follow after him, keeping my feet on solid ground instead of the rocky barrier Cameron follows since I'm probably recovering from a concussion.

My eyes adjust to the darkness as I duck inside the cave. Cameron grabs a sleeping bag and pillows rolled up against the wall and shakes out the dust.

"Is this where you usually bring your flings?" I ask, resting against the wall as I watch him.

"Is that what you think you are? A fling?" He doesn't take his eyes off the sleeping bag as he rolls it out on the floor.

My cheeks heat. I'm unsure if he means I'm less than that or more. I can't help my heart hoping for the latter. Stupid heart.

I sit, crossing my legs, trying to ignore my pounding organs. "Well, what am I to you, Cameron? I used to think I was your next meal, but…"

"Used to? Oh, don't give up that notion." He lifts his stare to me, his eyes heated.

I blush, grinning and turning away from him. "Shut up."

"Is that what you want? I can be quiet, although I love to make noise."

I give an incredulous laugh. "You're relentless, aren't you."

He gets up on all fours. "When it comes to my prey, yes. "

I lift myself, ready to jump to my feet. "Is that what I am to you, prey?" I crawl backward.

"You look like it right now." The pheromones drip from his being. The smell of him envelopes me.

We both freeze, waiting for each other's next movement. The air is thick with the sexual tension between us. All this flirting has made me forget everything, and I want it to stay that way for a little while longer. Scratch that; I want it to go past that. I want to see just how far Cameron will take this predator and prey game.

I jump to my feet, rushing out of the cave and toward the spring, adrenaline ridding my body of all its aches and pains.

He's right behind me, and I fight myself from turning back to see what forms he's taken to chase me. His hot breath tickles my neck, but just before he reaches me, I jump into the water, and he follows me in. I swim away, but it's useless; his arms wrap around me, turning me to him and pulling me up to the surface.

I gulp in air, my screams and laughter bursting from me. I push at him, using all my might to swim away, even as I revel in the feeling of his muscles constricting around me.

"Let me go!" I yell, still smiling and giggling like a schoolgirl.

"No," he says as he grabs my legs, wrapping them around his waist .

My skin prickles as his erection presses against my core, and I pick up my gaze, meeting his ravenous stare. The game is over. My heart hammers out of my chest, and my lips part—the air suddenly too heavy for my lungs.

Cameron raises his hand, tucking a loose, wet hair behind my ear. My eyes close, and I lean into him.

"You asked what you are to me."

His words stop my journey to his lips, and my eyes burst open. "What?" I whisper.

"You're my mate."

The clouds around this moment disappear, and I scrunch my face in confusion. "What?"

"That's what you are to me. You're my everything. You're my mate. Do you know what that means?"

I know what that means. I know what it means more than I know anything, and from what my body is screaming at me, the word just made the mess of my life a hell of a lot messier.

Oh fuck.