Chapter 34

Blair tugged on Kobie’s hand. “They’ll all be here when we get back.” He pulled her toward the truck and opened the door. She climbed in. He put one foot in and then caught the look Calum was giving him as he spoke on the phone. “See, now I have to go see what’s wrong now.”

Kobie laughed. “We can still go for a run after you do.”

Blair gave her a blank look. “We were leaving almost an hour ago, woman.” He huffed out a breath and leaned on the open door as Calum was walking toward them.

Calum tucked the phone into the pocket of his jeans and leaned against the hood of the truck. “That was Jesse.”

“Is he on his way back?”

Calum shook his head. “Not yet. He’s having a real hard time tracking down some of those clans.”

“Is he finding them though?” Blair tossed the keys on the seat and stepped around the door.

“Few. He said some are gone without a trace. Addresses listed are vacated or the people there are not shifters and have no idea.”

“Shit.” Blair rolled his neck. “So, how many more does he have to do?”

“I think he said three more, or two, the signal wasn’t the greatest.” Calum ran his hand over his jaw. “He said if we don’t hear from him for a few days to come to find him.”

“Why is that?”

Calum grinned. “He’s heading into an area that’s not really fond of outsiders.”

“Great,” Blair said sarcastically.

Calum nodded, “I’m sure he’ll be fine. I filled him in on life here and he said he was glad he was away for all of it.”

“I’m sure there will always be something happening here,” he looked at Kobie sitting in the truck, “speaking of, I’m going for a run before I bite people.”

Cal grinned. “I’m going to check around here.”

Blair backed up a step. “Take Cale with you.” He looked around and didn’t see him. “Kind of let me know…”

“I’ll put him through the gauntlet and let you know.”

Blair saluted him. “Appreciate it.”

Blair cut across the rocks. He’d be able to catch her as she ran through the thicker brush this way. He knew every tree, rock, and weed in the area, had spent years running it—and yet, he was still having to work to keep her in his sights. His mate was amazing. Although, it didn’t help that his cat was completely besotted with the sexy black she-cat that was running circles around them right now. Twice he’d almost caught her and his animal half had all but put on the brakes. His cat liked the chase. He liked that their as yet unclaimed mate was happy. Blair did as well, but he had his pride and needed to at least keep that intact, as Kobie more than demonstrated that her smaller, lighter female cat was more agile in the uneven terrain.

Slowing at the top, he caught sight of her racing along the bottom. Now his cat was on board as the reserve speed he knew he was capable of kicked in. Ten more feet and he could jump down there and be in front of her.

Why did he feel the need to do this? Blair had no idea, but he was doing it despite any logical reasoning.

Five feet, they were stride for stride now.

Using all the strength in his back legs, he leaped.

Kobie knew he was up there. She knew that he thought he had her. As usual, her cat and she were in synch. She slowed just a fraction and prepared to submit.

Never in her life had she ever had that thought, but now she did. It was Blair and if anyone had earned that, deserved her loyalty and complete devotion, it was him.

A few more feet. She couldn’t just hand it to him.

He’d looked to her for input, he’d included her, allowed her to speak freely. Blair had let her be herself completely and it dawned on her earlier, what her cat had been trying to convey to her all along.

Blair was her Alpha, her mate, her partner in this life.

She heard pebbles bouncing off the rock and slowed even more. She was handing him the catch now and didn’t seem to mind at all.

The shadow of him jumping down blocked out the light of the moon for a split second. She slid to a stop and the large sexy white cat, their incredible mate, landed in front of them, almost nose to nose with her.

Kobie let out a playful prusten, almost a whisper. Blair gave a gentle chuff in response. She backed up a few feet, her tail twitching, and lowered the front of her body in a submissive pose.

Blair’s cat eyes never left her own as he moved closer, an inch at a time.

Kobie’s cat went completely silent inside her, giving her the cue that this next part was all hers and she would comply with whatever her human half decided. She had never shifted in full view of anyone before, her stomach knotted, but she did, a foot from him. When she felt the damp ground under her hands, she pushed up onto her knees and watched Blair. His beautiful cat eyes were locked on hers. If he was surprised, she couldn’t tell.

Sitting, Kobie leaned back until she lay on the cool earth. Neither of them had worn their packs tonight, and she was glad for it now, she wanted nothing between them. Straightening her legs, she opened her arms at her sides and watched as he moved with caution to stand over her. A rough, warm lick was placed over the cat tattoo on her abdomen as he moved up her body. Her heart was racing as she looked up into the eyes of a cat, the eyes of her man.

Without warning, he closed his eyes, and now above her was Blair’s face, his human eyes. He held his body just close enough she could feel the heat of his skin, without touching. Her breath hitched in her throat as he looked at her mouth and slowly lowered his lips to hers. Just their lips touched, no other part. Kobie felt like she was going to climb out of her skin with the need that coursed through her.

The kiss was gentle, coaxing, a sweet tasting of each other’s mouth. Lifting her arms slowly, she touched either side of his face and pulled him closer so she could deepen the kiss. A deep noise rumbled in his chest and her cat stirred enough to fill Kobie with intense anticipation. Her cat stayed there, just below the surface, waiting, wanting.

Kobie moved her mouth from his and kissed along his jaw. Her sex clenched as she could feel his hard need resting just against her stomach, but he made no move to rub against her. Laying her head back on the ground, she continued to hold his face. She was breathing heavier now, just looking up at him. He held himself above her, his muscles steady. Licking her lips, Kobie reached for her voice, “Blair Elden,” she licked her lips again and looked into his heavy lust-filled eyes, “I accept you as my mate.” Her voice was barely audible, but she knew he had when his expression changed.

In a fast move, she found herself laying on top of his naked body. She could barely force the air into her lungs, and she looked down at him when he dropped his hands away from her completely and placed them at his sides.

Her cat gave her a gentle nudge, knowing well enough that Kobie was scared, nervous, and surprisingly the happiest she’d ever been. Placing her hands on his chest, she lowered her face closer to his. He licked his lips and then clenched his jaw as he fought to keep his hands off her. Pushing her nose into his neck, she inhaled slowly and took his scent into her body. She groaned softly as it moved through her. This was her home, this was where she was meant to be, with Blair. Licking over his skin, she heard him blow out a harsh breath, fighting to control himself. For the briefest of a second, she considered drawing it out, then her cat’s teeth filled her mouth and she bit into that sweet spot where his neck and shoulder met.

Blair growled deep in his throat; his hands clamped around her hips like a vice. She didn’t want to release her bite. She loved the taste of his blood in her mouth. When he shifted her and lowered her quickly onto his body, she was forced to open her mouth and gasp as he filled her. He held her there, his eyes holding her own as fiercely as his hands were her body.

She wanted to move, squirmed as much as his grip would allow. Using inner muscles, she squeezed him and made him groan out loud. Her eyes looked at the blood on his skin, her mark she’d placed on him, and her need grew. “Blair…” she pleaded.

Blair inhaled slowly, his pupils changing as he did. “You won’t regret it, ever.” Flipping them again, she found herself flat on her back beneath him. He thrust into her, hard as his teeth bit into her flesh.

She cried out as the intense pleasure filled every pore of her body. He didn’t release his hold on her neck as he continued to move in a slow rhythm. It was so gentle until their bodies connected. With each stroke, he made sure she understood she was his. Kobie was so overwhelmed by the sensations, she had no choice, but to wrap her legs around him and hold on tight as he took her higher than she’d ever imagined.

He lifted his head, and she felt bereft that his mouth wasn’t on her, his teeth claiming her. When he crushed her mouth with his, she could taste her own blood. Combined with his and moaned. Blair lifted his head and watched her as he continued to move into her, sending her closer to the edge. With one hand he reached under her and lifted her hips higher, making it so she couldn’t move with him.

Seconds later she cried out and shattered beneath him. Her body convulsed so intensely it robbed her of her breath. Opening her eyes, she looked up at the moon shining down upon them and a slow smile formed on her lips. This was right.

Before she could catch her breath, he withdrew and flipped her onto her stomach. Lifting her by the hips, he pulled her body up into his and pushed into her again. A deep guttural moan came out of her mouth when his sharp teeth bit into his mark again.

Moans and cries of pleasure echoed in her ears and she knew they were coming from her, but couldn’t have stopped them if she tried. Blair kept going until she crashed over the peak twice more before he let himself go and stiffened over her.

Her whole body was a pulse as he lowered them to their sides, their bodies still connected in the most primal way they could be. She could feel his hot breath against her hair as he struggled as much as her to remind his body how to breathe. “I don’t have the strength to move.” She gasped, then inhaled through her nose, trying to bring oxygen into her system.

“Mmm,” he rubbed her nose into her hair, “too damp out to sleep here.” He whispered.

She nodded but couldn’t catch her breath enough to speak.

“Long-run back.” He leaned up and kissed her cheek. “You ran us to the edge of the property, you little hellion.” He chuckled.

She licked her lips, trying to moisten them. “Maybe I wanted to be far enough away no one would hear.” Her whole body flushed as he stirred inside her.

“Babe, you were screaming.” He pulled out of her and rolled her to lie on her back. “Everyone heard.” The look of male pride displayed clearly in his eyes.

Her cheeks heated. “Think we could soundproof the Alpha den?”

Blair grinned and leaned down to kiss her bruised lips gently. “I think we should look into that.”

Kobie touched his rough cheek, “I think you might have to carry me back.”

Shaking his head, he shifted to his knees and looked down at her. “Not a chance. I’m going to have to hunt down a few rabbits and other critters just to rebuild the strength to get back.”

Kobie inhaled slowly, then pointed to their left. “Rabbits den over there.”

“Fucking amazing.” He growled quietly and leaned over her to give her a hard kiss. “I heard; you take them down?”

She accepted his hand to pull her up to sit. “Deal. But we can’t eat any black ones.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “for real?”

She nodded, “Yeah, my cat is opposed to it.” She shrugged and then shifted without drawing another breath.

“I love you, Kobie.” He said to her just before he shifted.

Her cat was so energized it shocked her as she bumped up against Blair’s and then, without pause, the chase was on.