Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“I know. You’d also be lying if you said that we’d still be having this conversation if I hadn’t managed to overcome my latency.”
“Maybe. It’s not something that anyone has ever done before, as far as we’re aware. Your strength has made me see you in a different light, I suppose.”
“I know you didn’t do it for me, but I’m thankful that you helped with the battle – if we hadn’t had the numbers we needed, many of us could be dead right now, including Trey and our child.”
“You’re right. I didn’t do it for you. But, still…I’m glad none of you are dead. And I’m glad you have found your true mate. I know from what I had with your mom that’s it’s something that can’t be equaled.”
“Everything okay, baby?” asked Trey as he stepped out of the trees.
She’d known he was approaching and had sensed his concern for her through their bond. Clearly he’d felt the awkwardness she was feeling as she spoke with Lance. “Yes, fine.”
He held his hand out to her, looking at Lance speculatively. “Come on, let’s head back to the party.”
“Perry, Oscar, and I are leaving now. They’re waiting for me by the car.”
Taryn pouted. “So soon? But I haven’t had a chance to poison your beer yet.”
Rolling his eyes and sighing, Lance gave both her and Trey a nod before disappearing through the trees, heading for his car.
She took Trey’s hand and let him lead her back to the party. Just like the time they went to a mating ceremony at Nick’s territory, Taryn and Trey didn’t bother dancing with the others. They saw little point in embarrassing themselves in front of their guests by revealing just how little rhythm they had. As Taryn wasn’t allowed to drink any alcohol, Trey was sweet enough to refrain from having any himself to be supportive. Who would have thought to the psycho highlander could be so sweet?
Feeling Taryn’s head lean on his shoulder, Trey smiled. “Tired?” Naturally she denied it and sat upright again. Every day she was usually wiped out by the time she’d finished dinner and went for a nap. Today had been especially tiring for her and she obviously needed sleep. He stood and lifted her from her seat, curling her legs around him. “Come on, you need to lie down for a little while.”
“No, I don’t. Stop fussing, I just wanted to lean on you and have some contact with my mate. God forgive me.”
If she hadn’t yawned, he might have believed her. “Shut up,” he said gently when she went to object.
“How many times do you have to be told, hussy? Listen to your body – if it tells you that you need to sleep, then sleep.”
Taryn smiled at her. “Thanks for reminding me how important it is that I take care of myself, Greta. I’m not sure what I’d do if you weren’t around. Although it’s fun thinking about it.”
Before the argument could become heated, Trey carried her out of the clearing, inside the caves, and then into their bedroom. Having placed her carefully on the bed, he lay beside her and pulled her flush against his body. She found her own little groove and fit there like the last piece of a jigsaw, making him whole. She made him whole both inside and out, and he couldn’t understand how he’d functioned without her before she came into his life.
“Trey? You know the baby might be latent, don’t you?”
Hearing how small her voice was, he kissed her reassuringly. “Yes, I know that, but it won’t matter to me if the baby is latent. Obviously I’d like it if that wasn’t the case, but I’m not going to turn my back on him if it is.”
She snorted. “It could be a ‘her’, you know.” Although she also had the feeling it was a ‘he’.
Trey smiled. “You do know that the whole shifter community is terrified of you now, don’t you? What you did is unheard of – no latent has ever shifted before.”
“I don’t think it would have happened if my wolf hadn’t been so frantic because the baby was in danger.”
“Your wolf is gorgeous, slender and graceful. My wolf loves running with her, especially since he hadn’t thought he ever would.”
“Yeah, he likes to mount her a lot too,” she grumbled, not that her wolf minded so much. “He’s just as horny as you are.”
“I’m not the nympho in this mating.”
“I’m not the one who has a thing for fucking people in the ass.”
He groaned. “Just remembering that makes me hard. I will be doing that again soon.”
“I don’t think so, Flinstone.”
“You loved it, and you know you did.” He tensed when she grinded herself against his erection. “You need to sleep.”
“No, I need you inside me.”
“Taryn.”
“Trey.”
“You need sleep.” But even as he said that, he wasn’t stopping her from reaching down and unbuttoning his fly. He cursed and closed his eyes as she began working her soft hand up and down his length. She kept her pace slow, no doubt just to tease him the way he always teased her, but still each wicked stroke pulled him under her spell. Groaning in defeat, he lifted her leg and curled it over his hip. He rocked his erection against her clit and groaned again. “You drive me fucking crazy, do you know that?” It came out sounding like a complaint.