Easy sex, some would say, although they soon learned it was expected we’d take a mate for life. Those were the good ole days, or so my father had told me. Now? Well, remaining mates for life was nothing more than a fabulous shifter fairytale told to children.
But the games in limited capacity still existed, which was why the urge to win meant more than it should.
Because in the end, this bad boy alpha shifter would successfully and rightfully be able to claim his mate.
Even if she couldn’t care less.
The thought amusing, I purposely almost fell, boosting her confidence. After raking my hand through my hair and gathering a pinched face full of consternation, I gave the sign I was good to go.
“Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Go!” Her laugh floated through the dense, icy air, the sound delightful. She took off hard, as if her life depended on winning the race.
Meanwhile, I had trouble getting my feet to work. Or so she believed.
The only trouble was I had extreme difficulty faking the problem. I kept sticking the toe edge of the blade into the ice,piercing the surface. Danny would need to come back by the time I was finished with playing games.
Or making a fool of myself.
But it would all be worth it in the end when I had her in my arms.
And in my bed.
With my cock aching, a twitch becoming a full-blown throb, I finally managed to skid across the ice, making a horrific sound as I did.
Christine all but stopped, throwing her head over her shoulder. And in a moment of feeling sorry for me, she slowed down, even doubling back. Ah, how nice of her. That highlighted her character.
I took full advantage of the moment, lunging forward. While I purposely almost fell twice, adding to her comfort level, all I was doing was waiting for the right moment.
The second I found it when she doubled back, skating around me in a wide circle, a grin popped on my face that was so huge my face hurt.
Even with the makeup of my muscles, I’d always been able to sprint. So that’s what I did. I flew past her without bothering to look back. The rush of air was incredible, the feeling of being free similar to what I had when I shifted while spending time in a forest. How long had it been since I’d let myself go? How long had I suffered in not being true to myself?
Maybe that needed to end.
Some other night.
The last thing I wanted was to scare the beauty to death.
I concentrated on winning and in a flash, I reached the other side of the ice, even throwing my arms into the air as if a speed skater at the Olympics. The skates glided across the ice and other than the whooshing sound of the blades against the surface, I heard nothing. With a final turn, I faced her.
The stunning woman stood almost smack in the middle of the rink staring at me with huge doe eyes. This was the moment when it either clicked in that I was a shifter and she’d walk away, or maybe run for her life, or she’d be curious as to my other attributes.
It could go either way. We started skating toward each other, the movements slow and steady, both remaining quiet. This wasn’t a romantic story where the music began to crescendo as two lovers found each other, realizing their hunger could not be denied.
But pretty damn close.
With my heart beating rapidly, my mind barely able to focus, my dick seemed to have a life of its own and if the fairy princess wasn’t careful, I’d strip off that sexy leotard and take her right here on the ice. As horribly uncomfortable as that might sound.
When we were just a few feet apart, we circled each other as predators would do, our gazes tripping over each other as the desire roared to the surface. As a mischievous smile crossed her face, I was certain once close she would slap me.
But I was daring enough, eager enough that all I could think about was finding out. So I took a leap of faith and closed the distance.
With her chest rising and falling, she offered one last fleeting look of uncertainty.
Just before she cupped both sides of my face, pulling down my head and capturing my mouth.
CHAPTER 11
Christine
