Page 244 of Broken Bonds

She doesn’t take her eyes off me when, in the distance, I hear an ATV racing at what sounds like full speed in our direction.

When my focus returns to her I realize she’s stepped back several feet, with the gelding now positioned between us and the stroller behind her. I try to step forward but she shifts the gelding—who is obviously less than happy about this development—to keep him between us.

“Mal, honey, you stay right there, okay? Todd’s almost here.”

And about that time, he appears from around the corner, slowing the ATV immediately, likely so he doesn’t spook the gelding.

When he rolls to a stop and shuts it off, he immediately jumps out and hurries over, stepping between me and the gelding and herding me back.

“Holy shit,” he says, not taking his eyes off me. “I got him, Alizée. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“Do you need help with Costco?” he asks.

“No, he’s fine. I’ll pony him behind the ATV. Just take care of Mal. I’ll grab stuff for Kylen from the house and take her home with me. Call me in the morning, or when it’s all clear, and I’ll bring her back.”

He doesn’t even look at her. “Thank you, sweetie. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

I try to protest but Todd throws me over his shoulder. I helplessly watch Alizée head for the ATV with the stroller as Todd carries me away, but not toward the house. He heads south along the eastern property line, jogging like I weigh nothing.

“Where are we going?” It’s difficult to talk, to pull brain cells together to think.

Especially when I want him to put me down, shred my clothes off, and fuck me.

“Just going to get a little privacy, baby. Kylen will have some Auntie Alizée time tonight while we play.”

“Play? Let me down and talk to me, goddammit!!”

He stops. I have to grab his belt to stabilize myself. He sets me on my feet, staring down at me with an odd look.

I launch myself at him, trying to wrap my arms around him, but he catches me, and I find myself on the ground, on my back under him, my arms pinned over my head, and him sitting on me.

Annnnnd that’s when I realize how damned hard I am. Like, there’s a possibility I could punch right through my briefs and shorts and through his denim and fuck him without even getting undressed.

He stares into my eyes. “Mal, baby, look at me.”

I do, even though my hips are trying to grind against him.

“You’re in a mating heat, Mal,” he says. “You’re almost too deep to be coherent. Terry smelled it and came and found me. We’ve been looking for you for nearly three hours.”

“Three…” I lick my lips, his words not making sense. “But I didn’t drink anything. Shawn didn’t give me anything.”

He smiles. “Baby, this is your first natural mating heat. From what Dr. Williams told me, this one will make that first one look like a hiccup due to your hormones.”

I squirm against him. “I need you!” I whine.

“I know, baby.” But he doesn’t release me, his body caging mine. “I thought we’d have time for a discussion before the time came, but I guess I was wrong.”

“What discussion?”

He stares at me, then leans in and slants his lips over mine in a crushing kiss as his voice fills my brain.

“Do you want me to breed you, baby? Or do I need to tie you up in the fun room and help you through this? One or the other.”

“Yes!” I gasp against his lips, the image nearly making me come right then.