“What’s changed?”
My animal whined inside me. He knew all this time and kept himself from me. The knowledge was hard to bear.
“I haven’t talked about my brother to anyone since shortly after it all happened. I’ve holed myself up in this cage of mourning. But when you asked me about why I wasn’t taking care of myself…I told you everything and it was as easy as breathing. That’s when I couldn’t deny it anymore. I can only be myself and share those shadows with someone I trust completely. And that’s you. You’re my omega, Jude. Will you shift with me? Allow this bond to grow?”
He reached out for my hand and Itook it in mine.
“Of course. I would love to.”
Ripley shifted first, saying that his alpha wanted nothing more than to show off for his mate. I crouched down after he did, taking in his form. The wolf’s fur was snow white, identical to mine, and I told him so. “You and I are almost exactly alike. My fur is pure white as well.”
My alpha pushed his wet nose against my face, inhaling, encouraging me to shift as well. In our wolf forms, we pounced and ran through the snow, sometimes jumping into deeper tufts and other times sliding in patches of ice. We traversed around trees and chased each other like pups, having fun, being carefree.
When we were done, things had evolved between us. Our bond was indeed strengthened through our animals. They didn’t give any second thought to human emotions and social constructs. They knew who their mates were and nothing would come between us anymore.
“That was incredible,” Ripley said, nuzzling my neck with his nose.
“Incredible. Yes. Should we go inside? It’s freezing out here.”
“Oh?” His eyes lit up and he smiled at me. My heart melted seeing him smile—happy, and not so weighed down by things that he couldn’t change and that were in the past. “I think I know a way of warming you up.”
“A fire?” I asked, turning to kiss his cheek as he walked us back into the house. He pressed my back against the wall and began kissing my neck.
“No. Not a fire.”
Huh. There was definitely a fire inside me. I’d waited so long to be mated and even though he’d only been here a few days, I was desperate for everything he would give me.
“What, then?”
He growled and grabbed me up, hefting me over his shoulder. “I’ll show you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ripley
I carried Jude into his bedroom, the hallway light showing the way to the bed. His scent surrounded me, spice and vanilla and a faint hint of cocoa. My cookie-baking omega made all those things sensual. Letting him slide to his feet, I undressed him, caressing the skin as I revealed it.
“You, too, alpha,” he said. “It’s not fair if you’re dressed and I’m naked.” He gave a little shiver. “It’s a little cool in here.”
Tugging the covers down, I waved to the bed. “I don’t want you to be cold, omega. Lie down and cover up.”
“And you’ll treat me to a striptease?” he said, that grin I was getting to really like showing in the corners of his mouth.”
“I’m afraid my dancing skills are limited.” I pulled the covers up over him, hating not to be able to seeevery inch of him, but wanting him to be warm and cozy. “But I will undress.”
Quickly.
I left all my clothes in a heap on the floor and slipped under the blankets with him. “Good striptease?”
“No, but it’s okay. You got points for speed.” He shifted over next to me. “Warm me up?”
“Glad to.” I wrapped my arms around him and bent to kiss him. His lips were warm and welcoming, his skin cool, and I pressed the length of my body against him.
He moaned against my lips. “You’re so hot.”
“I’ve always thrown off a lot of heat.” I kissed him again, his cock hard against my belly. If I couldn’t see him, I could explore with my hands, and I did that, finding his skin smooth and only slightly sprinkled with crisp hairs. “Better now?”
“You have to ask?” He rocked his hips. “But also awful because I want you inside me right now and you’re not there yet.”
