Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Of satisfaction.
Of fuck-yes.
“What do you need, sugar? Some ice?”
“It’s already better,” I promised, shaking my head. “I just need you.”
Cody’s exhale came out in a gust, and he immediately settled behind me, his strong arm wrapped around my waist. He pulled me snugly against him. “I love you, Riley Abbott.”
Euphoria poured through me. I didn’t know if it was from the serum on his teeth or the pain endorphins or just from love.
“Am I yours now?” I murmured, drugged with bliss.
“You’re marked as mine.” Cody’s fingertip circled my areola. “Every shifter will know you’ve been claimed by me. My scent has been permanently embedded in your flesh.”
“You’ll wear my ring,” I told him. “So every human will know you’ve been claimed by me.”
Cody chuckled. “Are you proposing to me, Riley Abbott?”
I smiled as he kissed behind my ear. “I am.”
“Aren’t you supposed to get down on one knee or something?” he teased.
“Mmm. That’ll be later. Both knees. When I return the favor you gave me on the Jeep.”
Cody’s cock surged between my legs. Apparently, his age wasn’t going to make multiple orgasms a problem.
“Well, then the answer’s yes. But I’m not taking your last name or anything,” he joked.
I laughed. “Do you want me to take yours?”
“Sugar, you’re a modern woman. You can do whatever suits you–take my name, hyphenate, or keep yours. It doesn’t change anything for me. My species’ traditions have been satisfied.”
I turned my head and leaned it back, so it nested against his neck. “I want everything. The whole fairytale with the white dress, and my dad giving me away at the altar. And maybe a hyphenated name to make it easier for the kids. Someday.”
Cody cupped my breast in his hand and squeezed. “You get everything you want. You name it, I’ll provide.”
36
CODY
The following Saturday, I parked with all the other cars beside the Wolf Ranch barn. Beside me, Riley sat wringing her hands.
“They’re going to love you,” I said.
Her gaze flicked from the picnic that was already in full swing to me. Rob had called and invited us to a whole-pack picnic. He hadn’t said it was because I’d found my mate and marked her, but that was the reason for the celebration. Everyone wanted to meet Riley, and I sure as hell wanted to show her off. It’d been two days since the shooting, a day since I marked her as mine.
The bite on her butt had heeled, but the mark was there for me to see. To know she was mine.
She bit her lip. She’d been nervous ever since I told her about the picnic. That she’d meet everyone all at once. As far as I knew, the only shifters she was aware of were Rob, Willow, Levi, Boyd, and Audrey. And Tyler. Knowing all of them didn’t seem to make it any less nerve wracking for her to get a pack crash course over barbecue and coleslaw.
“Pull up your skirt.”
Her mouth fell open. “What? Here?”
We were tucked in the quiet confines of my Jeep, but everyone was a short distance away.
“I fucked your nerves away only fifteen minutes ago back at the cabin,” I said. “Obviously, I didn’t do a good enough job.”
Her wide eyes met mine. “You want to fuck me here? Now?”
“Hell, no. People are fifty feet away. But I’ll finger you good and well and get rid of those nerves. No one will know what we’re up to.”
She stared. And stared. “You’re serious.”
“I never joke about my fingers in that perfect pussy.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I’m… I’m good.”
I cocked my head. “You sure? I’d love to go out there with your scent all over my hand.”
“I don’t know if I should be appalled or turned on.”
I shrugged. “I distracted you, didn’t I?”
She bit her lip and understanding lit her face. “You’re good, Cody McIntire.” She reached for the handle and opened her door.
“Wait, sugar.”
I hopped from the Jeep and rounded it to get to her. She’d learn I open her door for her. When she did as asked, I helped her down then kissed her. “Good girl. Let’s go meet the pack.”
She took a deep breath. Nodded.
Leaning in, I whispered, “Later, I’ll get my fingers in you. That’s a promise.”
I took her hand and pulled her toward everyone knowing her mind was thinking about sex and not meeting a packful of strangers.
Picnic tables were scattered in the shade behind the barn given by a huge cottonwood tree. A stream meandered, and the pups were splashing and playing in the shallow water. Buffet tables were loaded with food, laid out for this potluck. Two grills had smoke rising from them, and the scent of burgers and cooked meat filled the air.
There were probably fifty in attendance. Not the entire pack but a good crowd. A newly mated couple was a good reason to meet. Especially when one of them was human.