She moaned, and he pulled her hair aside and licked her neck. She was soft and warm, and her heart beat like crazy. So did his, the musky smell of her sex sending him into overdrive.

  Hot, hot, hot, and the water was steaming things up. He slid her panties down, and she kicked them aside. He was going to yank down his boxer briefs, but she turned and pulled them down, his cock springing free, and she smiled in appreciation. Then he removed his boxer briefs the rest of the way, and he joined her in the shower, shutting the glass door, the steam enveloping them.

  They were kissing again, the water running down their bodies while they rubbed against each other, unable to get enough. This was so nice, hot, riveting, and they were both totally primed.

  He cupped her bottom, moved between her legs, and rubbed his cock against her, wanting to go all the way, but he couldn’t. They couldn’t. Still, the raging desire was there, and he desperately wanted to fill her all the way. He’d never felt that way about a she-wolf he’d dated.

  Gina was truly special. She ran her hands over his rigid nipples with just her palms and then leaned down and kissed them, licking them, teasing them with a gentle pull of her lips.

  Then she slid her hands over his abs and his pecs, kissing him at the same time, as if memorizing all of him in this moment.

  He was trying to control his growing need to mate with her and claim her for his own. He was sure no other she-wolf would do. But he also knew she needed time to come to that conclusion—if she did—about him too.

  Then he slid his hand to her mound, found her clit, and began to stroke. This would have to do for now. Though he desperately wanted more, he would hold off for as long as it took for her to want him too. She lifted her leg around the back of his, rubbing her foot against his leg, opening herself to him for better access. Her hands gripped his arms as if she couldn’t stand on her own because he had taken her under his spell to such an extent.

  Good, because she had certainly done that to him.

  She arched her back, and he leaned forward to kiss her, slip his tongue into her mouth, continuing to stroke her until she was barely breathing. Her fingers were digging into his arms, and then she came, crying out, “Oh, yeah, Maverick.”

  And then she smiled up at him, kissed his mouth with passion and possession, her arms wrapping around his neck, her feet both planted on the shower floor, but she was rubbing against his cock again, teasing, tantalizing him.

  God, this was good with her like this. He was about to grab the bodywash when she pushed him gently back against the shower wall and began to kiss him, her hand on his shoulder, pinning him to the wall, and her free hand on his cock, stroking him. Hell, yeah, he was going to make her his mate. He would do anything to make her want that to happen.

  ***

  Maverick was sooo hot. Divine, sexy, loving, and Gina couldn’t believe how he put her needs ahead of his own. She’d never had a man do that with her before, and she really thought the world of him for it. She was still thrumming with blissful climax as she kissed him to kingdom come and stroked his erection. She loved smelling the scent of him, of the water and the musky smell of their sex, of his manly and wolfish fragrance. She reveled in hearing his heartbeat pounding like hers was, the sex so much more real, definitive. All her enhanced senses reeled from the overload. It was wonderful. Maverick hadn’t told her about that part of the wolf equation.

  His hands combed through her hair, making her feel cherished so she wasn’t forgotten. No, not in the least as his tongue lingered on hers. Then he pumped himself against her hand, and she took that as a cue that he was about to come, to keep stroking faster, firmer. And then he let out a howl and released. She smiled, and he pulled her close and rubbed his body against hers, as if he was marking his scent all over her, just like she was doing the same with hers on him.

  Then he reached behind her to the shower shelf and pulled a bottle of bodywash off it, poured some in his hand, and then gave her some. He put the bottle back on the shelf, and they began soaping each other up. Now this was pure pleasure too.

  They rubbed their soapy bodies against each other, laughing, smiling, kissing. This was so much fun. Then they used some shampoo, and she lathered up his hair, and he did the same with hers. When he did it to her hair, it felt so intimate, and she loved it.

  Before the water turned cold, they began rinsing each other off with the showerhead, but when he put it between her legs to rinse her off, she jumped and laughed. “You are so bad.”

  He laughed. Then she got him back. They finally grabbed a couple of towels and dried each other off. Once done, she used her hair dryer to blow-dry his hair, and then he dried hers. After they were finished, they raced each other to the bed, the air in the room cool, the perfect temperature for sleeping close and cuddling. They dove under the covers and settled in together, snuggling, sighing, kissing.

  “I thought I’d never say this, but I’m glad I fell in the lake and you tried to save me.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’m glad you saved me before I fell in the lake! You didn’t tell me that as a wolf I’d have the hots for you to this degree.”

  “I didn’t know that you would. I only knew that I did.”

  And then they closed their eyes, but she couldn’t stop thinking about all this. About being a wolf, being with him, wanting more. Was it all just so new to her that she really didn’t know what she wanted? That any wolf would make her feel this way because of her extraordinary senses now? She had to be realistic about this and give them a chance to really get to know each other. So why was she already wanting to say “I do” in a wolf mate sort of way?

  ***

  It took Maverick forever to get to sleep last night. He had been so wrapped up in enjoying the intimacy with Gina he hadn’t wanted it to end. He knew he had to encourage her to see other wolves if she wanted to. Before she came along, he had seen other wolves. She needed that too so that she knew if he or some other wolf was the right one for her. But he was so lost in his feelings for her, he didn’t want to give her up to anyone. He needed to talk to his brother about it, to get someone else’s objective opinion. He was afraid he was way too biased when he thought of her seeing anyone else.

  The light had already dawned, and being cuddled against her was just too good to give up. He could have stayed in bed all day with her, if he didn’t have a job to do.

  But he was worried about her as far as this business of her turning into a wolf soon. Being so newly turned, Gina could turn into a wolf at a moment’s notice. He was glad she had stayed with him overnight because of it. Not to mention how much he enjoyed her company—beyond the sex play they’d had.

  She stirred and looked up at him and smiled. “Waking up with a wolf is a new experience for me. The last time we were together—you were a wolf in my tent one moment, and then you abandoned me.”

  He chuckled. “For good reason. You intended to take me home with you, which I appreciated, but I knew my brother was trying to find me.”

  “Oh, he might have come upon the camp and worried we had hurt you.”

  “Exactly. That’s why I had to take off as soon as everyone was asleep, to find my brother and assure him I was all right. Are you ready to get up and have breakfast?”

  “Oh, yeah. I’ll make it.” She hurried to get out of bed and dress.

  He climbed off the mattress and grabbed some clothes out of his closet. He didn’t bring up the issue of the moon again, but she hadn’t shifted last night, and he was concerned about it. He didn’t want to worry her. In the event she started to feel strangely, he’d have to hurry her to the ranch house safely before anyone saw her though.

  “I feel fine,” she said as they reached the kitchen.

  He made coffee and heated water for her tea. “Okay, well, if you feel like your muscles are warming and your whole body is feeling like it needs to change, let me know and I’ll get you back to the house pronto.”

  “Right. You’ve told me that already.” She grilled up some veggies—mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers—while he chopped up ham and cheese. They made omelets filled with the mixture of veggies and ham and cheese and then sat down to eat them.

  “Sorry.” He didn’t want to keep reminding her, but he had trouble not mentioning it. He also knew she said she’d make breakfast, but he enjoyed cooking meals with her, and she seemed to like that he did.

  “I appreciate that you are worried about me. And I’m trying not to overthink it too much because it might not happen, and I don’t want to miss out on enjoying each and every day.”

  He was glad she was looking at it that way, not dreading the shift—like he was. How would she feel the first time it happened and she was fully awake? Would she be all right with it? Freak out? He had no idea, and she wouldn’t either until it happened—when she was fully awake.

  “Yeah, I just worry about it since you’re so newly turned. I keep feeling it might happen at any time now.” He drank some of his coffee.

  “You’re not used to being around someone so newly turned, are you?” She forked up some of her omelet. “I’m sure you still feel responsible for me.”

  “Right on both counts. I want you to have the best experience with your first time. Well, and every time after that, but at least if you have a good experience the first time, you’ll be less apprehensive the next time.” Hopefully.

  “I guess I didn’t shift last night,” she said, sounding disappointed.

  “Not to my knowledge, unless you shifted while I was completely dead to the world, then shifted back before we woke, and you don’t recall any of it.”

  “I wouldn’t know. The only reason I knew something was up the other times was because I had stripped off my pj’s in the middle of the night. Since I wasn’t wearing any last night, I could have shifted and would never have realized it.”

  “I think I would have woken if you had, unless I was really sound asleep about then.” He truly wished she had shifted, but he didn’t think she had.

  They finished breakfast and took their plates into the kitchen, but before he could put the dishes in the dishwasher, she pulled him into her arms. “No matter how it happens, it will be the best experience ever.”

  He kissed her upturned lips and sure as hell hoped so. He could see having a tour group here when she suddenly wanted to strip off her clothes and shift. And she’d panic and feel totally unsettled over the whole thing. He’d be just as panicked while trying to get her to safety. But he knew she wouldn’t go for being locked up in his house day after day until she could get the shifting out of the way for a few hours.

  Chapter 10

  All morning, Maverick and Gina worked with the reindeer. She enjoyed the tour group visits, and everything was going fine. Gina had mixed feelings about shifting. She wanted to feel what it would be like to be a wolf, but she supposed it would be better and safer at night. Still, when she was working hard, moving around a lot, she’d work up a sweat and then worry she was going to shift suddenly. It happened again, and she paused, listening to her heart beating hard from exertion, but what if she was going to shift? She sensed her body cooling down in the frigid air. Maverick stopped feeding the reindeer and glanced at her.

  She smiled. “I’m hungry. Are you?” And if she was going to shift, she could have lunch afterward.

  “Yeah.” He sounded relieved.

  She smiled, gave him a hug, and then raced him to the house, and he was looking worried all over again.

  She and Maverick finally reached the house, went inside, and decided to have grilled chicken sandwiches for lunch. “I wasn’t shifting, by the way.”

  Pulling the bread out of a cabinet, he smiled at her. “I figured that out.”

  Then her phone rang. Her brother was calling, and she assumed he was going to be questioning her all over again. Normally, she loved talking to her brother, but now? She felt she was going to give herself away. “Weston, are you on your way home from finishing up the hunt?”

  “Yeah, we extended it a bit, and I dropped off the guys. We didn’t find any sign of Bigfoot.”

  She didn’t mention anything about werewolves, not wanting to get into that discussion with him again.

  “How are things going with you? Are you still at the reindeer ranch?”

  “Yeah, I’m having a great time.”

  “Mom and Dad said they had a really good time there last night. They didn’t get to see the wolf dogs though.”

  Oh, brother. She knew he’d get to that. She was going to help Maverick make lunch, but he shook his head, indicating she should concentrate on the call instead.

  “Yeah, they were with Josh,” she told her brother.

  “And today?”

  She looked at Maverick.

  “Here,” he mouthed to her.

  Wondering if he’d misjudged what was being said, she frowned at Maverick.

  He nodded.

  She sighed. “They’re here now.”

  “Cool. You can take pictures and send them to me then.”

  “When I have time. We’re having lunch.”

  “They’re outside then?”

  “With the ranch hands,” she improvised.

  “I’ll let you go then.”

  “See you later.” Then she ended the call, breathing a sigh of relief. “He’s the first one I want to turn.”

  Maverick smiled and brought the sandwiches to the table, and she served them water.

  “He’s still asking about the wolf dogs?” he asked.

  “Yeah, he won’t give up.”

  They heard a truck pull up in front of the house, and she got up from her chair and looked out the window. “Ohmigod, I don’t believe it. Weston is here.”

  “If you want me to shift, I can, and I’ll just turn him.”

  She laughed. “What about the wolf dogs?”

  Maverick was already texting someone on his phone. “Two, coming right up.”

  She was so glad for that. “Will they come into the house?”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “I’ll get it,” Maverick said. “And yes, the wolves will come to the house. Just for your information, they’ve been fed already.”

  “Okay, maybe he won’t notice there are no dog dishes in the house.”

  Maverick answered the door. “Hi, Weston. Gina didn’t say you were coming for a visit. Would you like a grilled chicken sandwich? We were just sitting down to eat.”

  “Yeah, sure, that would be great, thanks. I didn’t mean to come at lunchtime exactly, but I just left the other men off at their homes, and I wanted to see the ranch. From what Gina said, you’ve had a lot of tour groups so I figured one more tourist coming to see the reindeer wouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

  Gina was already getting her brother a glass of water.

  “No problem. You’re welcome.” Maverick made up another sandwich and delivered it to the table.

  Then they all sat down together to eat.

  “Dad mentioned seeing the Corvette.” Weston lifted half of his sandwich to take a bite.

  Gina wanted to laugh. So that’s why her brother was here?

  “Yeah, you can see it after lunch,” Maverick said.

  She noted he hadn’t offered for Weston to drive it.

  Two wolf dogs barged through the wolf door and headed to the table to greet everyone. She smelled that they were two of the ranch hands. It was still so foreign to her to think they were one and the same as the men she had greeted and talked to when they were doing ranching duties.

  Weston was petting both of the wolves, checking out their wolf paws, but then he had to take a picture of them, as if he had to prove that if he saw others, he’d know they weren’t the same as these two.

  She glanced at Maverick to see his take on it. A sliver of a smile curved his lips.

  Then the wolves went into the living room and curled up near the fireplace.

  After Gina and her brother and Maverick finished lunch, they went outside, both wolves following them out the door. Maverick showed Weston his Corvette first since he knew that was what would really interest her brother.

  “Have a seat.” Maverick opened the car door for him.

  Weston hurried to climb in, sat behind the wheel, and steered it as if he was on the road. He adjusted the rearview mirror, and she was thinking how Maverick would have to readjust it again.

  Then Maverick took him to see the reindeer, though a tour group had just offloaded. Some of his ranch hands were taking care of them, the wolves sticking close to them, waiting for Maverick to tell them when they could shift back. But Maverick didn’t, and she figured he was afraid Weston might want to see the wolves before he left.

  Maverick gave Weston a private tour of the stables while the tour group was outside.

  “They all look the same to me. Do you still have the one that you found in the forest up north?”

  “Yeah, I’ve checked with the other reindeer ranches. He doesn’t belong to them. I’ve checked with the zoos too, but no one seems to have lost a reindeer,” Maverick said.

  “So what are you going to do with him?” Weston peered into the stall that housed the llama and the reindeer. “You have a llama too. I’d forgotten that.”

  “That’s the pair we found at the state park. We’ll keep them and take care of them like they are our own and continue to try to track down where they belong. My brother’s former police detective partner is still with the Portland Police Bureau, so he’s checking with his sources too.”

  “They seem to be best pals,” Weston said.

  “Yeah, they were most likely raised together.”

  Then Gina suddenly felt strange, and she knew she was in trouble. Heat began filling her muscles and bones, and she moved close to Maverick and reached out her hand and squeezed his arm. “I’ve got to use the bathroom. I’ll clean up the dishes too from lunch.”