Her fingertips were painted a bright yellow and I envisioned those fingertips digging into my shoulders as I claimed her. As if she could read my mind, her cheeks darkened in hue to a colorful pink.
Gods she was beautiful.
“Umm, you can’t look at me like that.”
“How am I looking at you? You are beautiful. I desire you. I am proud to be your mate.”
“Shhh. Just…turn around.”
I followed her command because if I had not, the beast would have lifted her from the ground and shoved her pussy on top of us, slid her small, wet—oh yes, she was wet and ready, for I could still smell her heat—pussy up and down the throbbing length until I exploded inside her, filled her with seed.
A shudder raced over my flesh, through my core. The unease in my gut shifted angrily within, making me feel sick with need, a brutal reminder of how close I was to losing complete control.
No. No. Fuck no. I would not force my female. I would not. I’d fucking survived mating fever for this long. I could hold on for a few more hours, or days—gods forbid—if that was what my mate needed to feel safe and protected.
With a growl rumbling through me, I presented her with the backs of my legs and thighs. I felt the press of her small metal device and waited for her to be satisfied.
“Oh, shit.”
“What is it?” I turned at once, ready to kill to protect her.
“There are a couple hanging out of your shorts.”
“That is not a problem, mate.” More than willing to present my body for her inspection—and, I hoped, approval—I yanked the material from my hips, tearing the fragile seams in seconds. Not wanting to risk any of the offending tentacles making contact with her vehicle—and upsetting her—I threw the offending shorts a significant distance away.
“Oh, god! What are you—” She jumped upright and dove for the large bag she had thrown into her car earlier. Tugging quickly, she pulled a long piece of fabric free. This was a beach towel. I was familiar with a number of human items. Stefani’s towel had a large cartoon depiction of the sun with a smiling face in its center. Cheerful. Bright. Like her.
She held it out to me with one hand covering her eyes. “Here.”
Confused, I gently removed the towel from her hand. I was not wet.
“Is it safe?”
Her question confused me.
“Of course.” I would not tolerate any threat to her and was acutely aware of our surroundings. Several humans, seated on cracking wooden benches farther down the walking path, pointed in our direction. They appeared to be laughing at us, but they were small and weak, and had no weapons.
Stefani lowered her hand from her face, her cheeks now more red than pink. Interesting. The shade had spread to her neck as well. I laid her sunshine towel over my bent elbow and reached for her.
“Are you unwell?”
“I’m fine. God. You’re supposed to cover up with that.”
“Cover up? What am I to cover?”
She squeaked. “Yourself.”
I glanced at the small towel in disbelief. “This is not large enough to cover me, my lady. Although I will attempt to do as you wish.” I held the towel by the corners to judge its length. No, it would not cover even half of my torso. Still, my mate seemed to think it important, and I wanted to please her.
I swung the towel around behind me to cover the back of my shoulders, my hips, ass and the tops of my thighs. That was the best I could do.
“Is this better, mate?”
“No. It’s not a cape.” She turned to the side as she reached for the towel. Her hand brushed my hard cock before gently slapping against my abdomen. My hard length jumped in reaction. My beast groaned.
Stefani sprang back as if burned. “Oh, god. I’m sorry. I just—I—never mind.” The reddish tone of her skin had not abated. Perhaps my beautiful female was suffering the same frustration and desire as I.
“I can give you pleasure now, mate.” I turned my back to any who might be watching—still covered by the cape, as she’d called it—and took a step toward her. She backed up until her thighs came into contact with her car.
