Page 67

We both lie there, staring at one another, our chests shining with sweat. My hands clinging to his biceps, our breaths heavy pants.

“This okay?” he questions again, tracing the edge of my collarbone.

This being what just happened between us.

I don’t answer right away as I take a minute to process what just happened. This is the first time I’ve been with a man, and I know I don’t want it to be the last.

Only with Alaska, though. The thought of anyone else sours my stomach.

“More than okay,” I reply, wrapping my arms around his neck, playing with the ends of his hair.

“Will you go out with me tonight? We’re trapped here, but I want to take you to one of my favorite places on the ranch.”

“Yes,” I say before even having the time to think.

No more thinking. What’s there to think about?

I’m meant to be here.

I am on top of the fucking world. There is nothing that can bring me down. Not even this threat of a vampire hunter. This is the best I’ve felt since I was in my twenties.

“Aren’t you a happy vampire this evening?” Glenn trots up to me on his horse, Lucky Ducky, who is a gorgeous buckskin with a small patch of white on his chest that is in the shape of a duck. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile, come to think of it. How’s your face? Does it hurt?”

I comb Mustache Man’s mane, eyeing Glenn with annoyance. “Funny. Hilarious.” Actually, yes, my cheeks do hurt from using the muscles I haven’t used in decades.

He doesn’t need to know that.

“Does this have something to do with the human currently talking to Soren about how he has nothing to wear on this date?”

Shit. I didn’t think of that. “He can wear something of mine.” I’d love that, actually. I love him being wrapped up in my clothes. My shirts almost fall to his knees, and Leo looks so fucking sexy in them. I’d love him to wear my shirt.

Only my shirt, so I can see his defined legs walking over towards me.

“Okay, calm down. Remember, some of us don’t have mates.” Glenn waves his hand in front of his nose, my arousal thickening the air.

“I’m not apologizing for how my mate makes me feel,” I snap at my longtime friend.

“I don’t expect you to,” he says with a toothy smile. “I’m happy for you, Alaska. You deserve this and selfishly, I’m happy and relieved I’m not losing one of my best friends in six months.”

“He’s got to agree to complete the bond first. We’re almost there. There’s just one last step.”

Sex.

Filling him with every drop I have. Coating his fucking insides with me. Biting him. Drinking him.

Fuck. I have to stop thinking about it.

“How’s that going?”

I lift a brow at Glenn.

He leans on the saddle’s horn with his elbows. “Listen, I’m not asking for details. I’m asking how you’re feeling. I’m here to listen.”

I bend down to pick up the saddle, lying it over Mustache Man’s back, debating if I should open up to Glenn. I’ve always been closed off with not much to say because I didn’t want Soren and Glenn to mourn me. I wanted them to be relieved when I was gone.

But now…

Everything has changed.