Page 39 of Crossed Fates

Tramp.

My heart pounded in anticipation.

And my thighs clenched with an ache only he could satisfy.

Yeah, shifting was a stupid, stupid idea, Makayla.

A slow, wicked smile tugged at the edges of Alaric’s full lips. “What’s wrong, Makayla?” he asked, arching a brow. “Did you swallow your tongue?”

Yes.“No.”

I swallowed hard, wishing really damn hard that I wasn’t naked. His wolf senses would allow him to scent my arousal, just as he could see every goose bump on my skin, my beaded nipples, and maybe even... My tongue darted out to check, and I almost sighed in relief.No drool.

Alaric’s gaze glittered as he blatantly explored my body. He opened his mouth to speak, and I had no doubt that whatever he said next would turn me on even more.

We needed to focus on something else. “How did the meeting with your dad go?” I blurted out.

Wrong. Question.

His amusement died beneath a wave of palpable tension. Without a word, he walked into the water and sank under the surface, emerging half a second later with water sluicing down his perfectly sculpted body, his arms bulging as he pushed his hair back from his face.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Sexy, hot,wet, naked man.

What had I been thinking? Oh, right. I’d lost my damn mind to chiseled abs, a sexy V, and, good grief, how could anyone have an ass that perfect?! I shut that train of thought down before I jumped on for a ride.

Wait, why can’t we fuck?

I can’t remember.

There’s a reason. Right?

Yeah, it’s time for me to go. Byyyyyye.

I started to back up and Alaric turned, his eyes narrowing, causing me to freeze midstep.

“Don’t.” He uttered the word tightly, his jaw clenched, and his blue orbs flickered with an internal fire. “Don’t or I’ll chase you.”

Makayla

Adrenaline shot through my veins.

Run. Chase. Play.

My stomach clenched at the thought. But something in Alaric’s tone gave me pause. Maybe it was the growl underlining his words. Or perhaps it was the warning glimmer in his gaze.

Either way, it caused my back to stiffen as I arched a challenging brow. “Then I hope you’re fast. It’ll make it all the more satisfying when you can’t catch me.”

Alaric’s eyes darkened as he watched me with an unblinking stare.

Unease trickled through my veins.

“Trust me, sweetheart. I’ll catch you. And I can’t promise to behave when I do.” The growl in his voice told me his wolf was just under the surface, waiting for an excuse to come back out to play anddominate.

My confidence in my ability to outrun him slowly waned with each passing second.Okay. Maybe I should… obey. But in my own way.

I scoffed as I made my way to the water, making it clear this wasn’t an act of submission so much as a show of respect. Yes, that was what I would choose to believe.