“That’s good, because apparently you could get pregnant from this. And I’m starting to come down from my rut and realize how insane that is.”
“What part of it is insane?”
My wolf’s feelings mix with mine, a warm desire growing that I’ve never wanted before—or, a desire I’ve neverletmyself want before. A desire not to be alone. A desire to have a family. A mate. Someone to protect. And maybe even children.
“The part where I want to get you pregnant.”
Her eyes widen. “God. Now you’re making me horny again, Mr. Alpha Mate.”
“Ha, so youdohave a breeding kink!”
“Hey! Only for the right guy.”
“Should I remind you we just met?”
She just shrugs.
“And I’m no alpha. I rejected my pack. I’m a sigma—a lone wolf.”
“Not anymore.” Her fingertips trail across my jaw. “We’re mated. You don’t need a pack. You’ve got me, and I don’t like to share. You’re mine now.My alpha mate.”
“You’re a real cougar, you know that?”
“Cougar?! I’m barely three years older than you!”
“Like I said.”
“Ha.” She frowns, but I can tell she’s just playing. Rocking back and forth on my knot, she watches my face as she moves, and I wonder if she can see in my eyes how damn good that feels. “So tell me, lone wolf. How many women have you rutted into the mattress before me?”
“None.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she stops moving. “You’re lying.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“Damn. Maybe I really am a cradle-robber. How did you go so many years a virgin?”
“Remember the part where I live in the woods by myself because I don’t like other people?”
“Touché.” She laughs again, rocking harder on my knot. “Well, that works out for me.”
“You’d better be careful, mate, or you’ll make me hard again.”
“How are you going to rut me into the mattress when you can’t even pull out with your knot locking me in place?”
I growl. “We’ve barely met and you’re already a tease.”
“Life’s more fun this way.”
“Then I look forward to getting to know you more, mate.” I like the way that word tastes as I kiss her, sliding my hand into her hair.
I still want more, but my body is spent and my knot makes it impossible to move, so I lay her gently down on the bed beside me, stroking her hair as we lie there together in the quiet, the gentle crackle of the fire in the woodstove a soft soundtrack behind us.
I don’t even remember falling asleep.
When I wake, she’s still naked in front of me, and my knot has finally gone down enough that I can pull out.
Damn.
