Page 80 of Colton’s Mate

He put down the plans and anchored them with the picnic basket, then looked into her eyes. “I’m going to build it, and no one will be able to come here without an express invitation from you—not even me. So when you’re sick of the crew and of me and everybody being in your face, you can come here and be all on your own until you’re not sick of us again.” He stroked a strand of hair back from her face, his fingers lingering on her neck. “Because lynxes need that.”

Callie stared at him. He was really truly going to build her a lynx den, where she could be all by herself whenever she needed it. He’d spent all this time drawing up the plans, and he was so excited.

Excited to give her what she needed.

Callie tackled him, hugging him as hard as she could. Then she pulled back, looking into his gorgeous eyes. “You are the best mate ever.”

“Well, I’m not promising that the crew won’t ever prank you and leave glitter poop on the doorstep. But they know that if they take one step inside without permission, I’ll bleed them.”

He rolled up the plans again. “Full disclosure,” he said. “I wish I’d thought of it, but it was my owl’s idea—he called it your ‘nest’. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s because he likes you finally, or he jumped at the chance to get rid of you sometimes because he’s a dick. But I thought it was a most excellent idea so I went with it. I hope you like it.”

He sounded uncertain.

Callie hugged him again. “Are you kidding? I love it. I love you. And your owl. And your leopard too of course. All the yous, I love them all.” She put her fingers under his chin and turned his face to hers. “Alone time doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It just makes me able to be happier when I’m with you.”

His uncertainty turned to a smile. “We love you too. All the me’s love all the yous, even Bad Callie. Actually, we love Bad Callie a lot. She might be our favorite.”

She got up on her knees and straddled his legs. “Well, Bad Callie wants to get naked with you, and I’m pretty sure there are going to be dick kisses involved.”

Colt let out a groan. “That’s it. I’m done. Permission to rip your clothes off, Captain?”

She grinned at him. “Permission granted.”

He already had her shirt halfway off when she said, “Wait. I want ask you something important.”

Colt stopped, his hands warm on her rib cage. “What?”

Callie looked down, feeling suddenly shy. “I want us to claim each other. Could we?”

“You do? For real?” She looked up at the sound in his voice. Colt looked like the stars had come out in his eyes.

She hadn’t realized how much he wanted that. He hadn’t said, because he didn’t want to crowd her.

She took her shirt the rest of the way off, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was thinking your leopard would like that. Then he would know I want him always, even when I’m hiding in my lynx den.”

“He knows that.” Colt pulled her hair back lightly, running it through his fingers.

“It’s not the same as being claimed, though, is it?”

He didn’t answer that. “But your lynx—how would she feel about being claimed?” he asked softly. “She’s independent.”

“Yes, but…”

Colt skimmed his thumb across the underside of her jawbone and down her neck. “But what?”

For an impatient person, he was always so patient with her, especially when she was trying to explain her feelings. She loved that about him.

“I think… she wants to feel like she’s wanted. Chosen. Important. So that she can be alone sometimes, but know that there’s somewhere—someone to come home to.”

Colt nodded, smiling. He said softly, “Permission to take your clothes off very slowly and worship your body?”

That made her tear up. She whispered, “Permission granted.”

He did exactly that, taking off each piece of clothing very slowly, kissing and stroking each part than he uncovered.

When she was wet and wanting and crazy with desire, he got up and took off everything he was wearing—except the toolbelt.

Her name had been tattooed across his belly just above it, with hearts. “That’s my other surprise.”