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My feet falter under me, and I almost trip and fall on nothing. Running and chasing a female is a primal desire all male shifters possess. Female shifters love to tease and cause chase. To hear Lottie offer to run with me has my inner beast perking up in interest, flashing images of Lottie running through the moonlit trees, stripping her clothing, and laughing with unbridled joy. Of me catching her and pinning her to the moss-covered ground, licking her from nipple to pussy, and making her scream in pleasure before flipping her over and plunging my knot deep inside her.

Fucking hell, this night is going to kill me.

“You okay?” Lottie’s concern washes the sharpest of the desires from my mind, but most remain to taunt me as I continue walking. Trying to right myself.

“Yeah, fine, just caught my foot on a root.”

I decide I should probably pick up my pace. Every moment she spends in my arms is one more moment for me to fantasize about all that I want to do to her.

We make it back to the cabin, and while still in my arms, Lottie unlocks the door, and I walk us into the cabin. She left a light on in the living room so I can see easily while sitting her down gently on the couch.

“Let’s take a look at that ankle.” Reaching up, I switch on another light next to the couch and kneel down in front of her.

Her ankle does look swollen but isn’t red or purple, so it’s nothing major. Still, my instinct demands that I make this better. That I relieve her pain. Removing her shoe and sock as gently as possible, I rest her bare foot on the floor.

“Don’t move. There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom. I’m sure I have some salve or something we can put on it and then wrap it.”

I don’t wait for her to agree before I stand and make my way to the cabinet under the bathroom sink and find the first aid kit. I intend to wrap her ankle but plan on using the small bag of fairy dust in my pocket and not some human salve. I can’t risk her not healing properly. I’ll just have to put my sleight of hand to the test when applying it.

Readying my dust hidden in the palm of my hand and the prop salve, I return to the couch and find Lottie sitting right where I left her.

Kneeling down in front of her once again, I gently lift her injured leg with my free hand. She winces at the movement.

“Sorry,” I mutter, hating that she’s in pain. That won’t be the case for long.

I infuse the fairy dust with my intentions—healing her twisted ankle and removing any swelling—and cup my hand gently around the tender flesh. I take a small dab of the ointment and press it and the dust into her skin, holding it there, waiting for the magic to take hold. When I’m satisfied it has, I quickly wrap the ankle in the athletic bandage I also took from the first aid kit.

The wrap is more to conceal her rapid healing than assist in healing, as she might suspect.

“There. You’ll be good as new in the morning. It wasn’t even that bad.”

Lottie looks down at her ankle regarding the wrap. She shifts it slightly from side to side testing it.

“You’re right. It’s already feeling better. Thank you.”

Her ocean eyes catch on mine, and the desire that I had momentarily forgotten due to tending to her injury returns in full force. I hold perfectly still, fearing moving might cause me to do something I shouldn’t. Like, kiss her.

In my current position, kissing her would be easy; she would only need to lean forward a short distance.

“You’re welcome.” The words come out rugged and hoarse, intense craving thickening my throat.

Lottie scoots to the edge of the couch, and I don’t dare move as her face comes way too close to mine. Her unique scent spikes with a surge of heady lust. The hairs on my arms stand on end with her near proximity and that scent. My fingers itch to reach out and claim her.

I dredge up every ounce of self-control I still possess and remain still waiting to see what she does next.

Her eyes fall to my mouth, and I suck in a breath. When my lips part, hers do as well. Her chest rises and falls with her labored breathing.

In a move I wasn’t expecting Lottie leans in and places a soft kiss on my cheek. My eyes shut as I experience the purest ecstasy I’ve ever felt, my body melting and hardening all at once.

I reach up and grip the couch cushions on either side of Lottie, trapping her in the bracket of my arms. My claws are no doubt poking holes in the material.

I couldn't care less about the state of my couch cushions because Lottie didn’t pull away after she kissed my cheek. She remains with her cheek almost against mine; all I’d need to do is turn my head for our lips to touch.

Once the thought enters my mind, I can’t stop it. My head begins to turn, seeking out her lips, and my brain nearly short-circuits when I feel her lips, soft and willing, make contact with my own. Just a soft brush that quickly becomes more.

Lottie leans into the kiss, pressing firmer against me. My mind blanks, and nothing else exists except for her and this kiss. Her hands grip my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I don’t fight it. My inner beast purrs in approval at the turn of events.

I press closer to Lottie, deepening the kiss. Discovering what she likes and giving it to her. When I tilt my head, seeking more, she allows it. When I trace my tongue over her bottom lip, sheparts them for me. Allowing me to slip my tongue inside and get my first real taste of her.