34. Blaine
BLAINE
“Oh…that’s…” The second most beautiful thing after seeing my mate for the first time. The way the sun was rising and filling the valley below us with a soft hazy glow was incredible. “Okay, I’m surprised.”
Nearly giggling, he beamed as he looked around the incredible mountain view.
“We’re right next to national park land over there and state land on that side.
The guy who owns this part has been here since the country was founded, or something like that.
He said something along the lines of like being here when dinosaurs were roaming the Earth and I didn’t ask any questions. I think he might’ve answered them.”
My mate had met the weirdest people on his travels and I couldn’t decide if I was scared to see what was coming next or not.
“Either way, I am very grateful he’s loaning it to us.” There was technically a small cabin on the property but we were just using the hookups. “This is…”
Perfect.
Well, almost perfect.
The best was running along the ocean at night but that wasn’t an option any longer.
Still beaming, Henley kissed my cheek. “Go have fun.”
What?
“No.” I wasn’t going to leave him. We’d just pulled up to the site. There were things to do to get the trailer ready. He might need another set of eyes to back it into the right position. “I’ll run later.”
Yes.
His eye roll and sigh stopped me from pointing that out, though. “You haven’t had a proper run since I found you.”
I couldn’t agree with him even if he was right for a variety of reasons.
“I’ve spent a lot of time shifted and you know it.” That was almost as good as being able to run. “I haven’t been deprived in any way.”
He was wonderful about making sure that side of me wasn’t neglected.
“That’s not the same.” Frowning at me, he crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “You need to run and we both know it.”
“I also need to help my mate get settled.” I wasn’t going to make him do all the work, so I copied his pose to make sure he knew I could be stubborn too. “We’re partners.”
The way he stepped closer had me fighting the urge to give him a quick kiss. “I found you land to run on and you’re going to let me take care of my mate. I’m the Leap Mate of the Coastal Plain Pride.”
He was the most adorable nut.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t pull my weight.” He was bossy but that only went so far.
He raised one eyebrow and studied me skeptically. “You’re not worrying about leaving me, are you?”
Maybe.
“You can take care of yourself.” Most of the time…kind of. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to leave you as soon as we get here.”
Even if here seemed to be the middle of nowhere.
Wrapping his arms around me, he tried a different tactic.
Pouting.
Oh, it was subtle but it was good.
“I can get everything set up on my own. What I can’t do is take care of your panther.
He’s been cooped up for days…weeks, really.
” He wasn’t wrong but all I could do was shrug.
“I have a lot to learn about what that part of you needs, but everything I’ve read said you need to run more than the wolves seem to and you haven’t been getting that. ”
He was very good at manipulating me when he put his mind to it.
Oh, he smelled blood because he widened his eyes. “Let me take care of you.”
Brat.
“Unless you don’t trust me to stay safe?”
Oh.
Direct hit.
He knew it but he kept most of it off his face.
“I guess you’re going to have to let me take care of you later.” I wasn’t sure how I meant it but his wicked smirk said what kind of payback he was looking for. “Naughty boy.”
“Oh yes.” He stole the kiss I’d been imaging then did a little happy dance as he bounced away. “I won.”
Dork.
“I’m going to remember this later.” And I already knew what I was going to do with the opening he’d given me. “Bad behavior has consequences.”
Stopping mid-wiggle, he didn’t seem to be breathing for a few long moments before he swallowed hard, passion growing. “What kind of consequences?”
“Nothing outside of your limits.” Kissing his head, I smiled as I toed my shoes off. “I remember them.”
That had his gaze going hazy as his hand came over and adjusted his cock before his brain realized what he was doing.
Shaking my head, I moved his hand away. “Naughty boy. Who does that belong to?”
Blinking a few times, he looked down at his body and frowned. “Oh. I.”
Had no idea what his hand had been doing while his brain had been out to lunch daydreaming.
Luckily for him, I kept a close eye on my naughty mate. “More consequences. I’m not going to forget that.”
But letting the anticipation build was probably a good thing, so I started slowly stripping my clothes off.
If it gave his brain another distraction, well, it would work in my favor too.
“You’re…” Whatever he was going to say was lost as I stripped my pants and briefs down in one smooth motion, joining my shirt on the small picnic table on the site.
Henley just sighed and licked his lips, making it clear where his thoughts had gone. “I’m…I’m going to…”
Finally naked, I stepped closer again. “Keep your hands off your cock. Is that clear?”
The stern order had him moaning softly, but he nodded with a jerky movement. “Yes. It’s clear. And. And I get consequences.”
That wasn’t exactly how it should be worded, but I didn’t correct my naughty mate.
It might’ve been too long since I’d gotten to run, but it’d been a lot longer since he’d been able to completely submit.
We both had strong needs that we’d needed to put on the back burner, but we didn’t have to worry about that any longer.
And giving him a warm-up would get us going in the right direction.
I reached out and cupped his hard cock through his clothes and gave it a firm squeeze. “This had better be hard when I get back. If I even think you’ve come while I’ve been gone, there won’t be a reason to give you another orgasm when I’m using you later.”
The full-body shiver that raced through him had him going fully hard in a single breath. “Yes…Yes, Sir.”
“Good boy.” Brushing my lips against his, I kept the kiss light as I stepped back again. “I’ll be gone about an hour. I want you ready for me when I get back.”
The order was too vague, but I let the magic take over me and shifted before he could figure out he needed to ask more questions.
His gaze was clearing as I nudged his groin and inhaled his beautiful scent, but his brain was focused on wicked things, not practical ones as I leapt away from him. “Hey.”
Laughing inside as I bounded into the woods, I listened to my mate’s loud grumbling as I made a circle around the property.
The smells were strange but old, so I didn’t worry about the ones I couldn’t identify.
It’d become obvious how small my world used to be and I made a mental note to ask my mate about it later.
But I knew no one else had been on the property in months, maybe longer, and as I widened the circle, I couldn’t sense anyone for miles.
“I’ve got a gun and marbles.” My mate’s loud voice echoed around the mountain. “I’m fully loaded and won’t get caught surprised this time. So for fuck’s sake stop circling me and go for a run.”
Brat.
He was doing his best to make sure he got his spanking later.
I made one more close circle but smelled the gun clearly.
Fine.
Leaving him completely wasn’t something I was ready to do, but I let myself run through the forest until he was at the edge of my senses. It made him happier, as I could feel that through the bond, but I made sure I could get to him if something happened.
Working my way back, I let the smells of the forest fill my senses as I explored the mountain until I was at the trailer again.
Crouching low, I inched my way forward toward the edge of the forest, loving the way his scent took over my senses. He wasn’t as aroused as he’d been earlier, but a relaxed happiness radiated from him that pleased my panther even more.
Soft music was playing from a small speaker on the table. He was swaying to the music I didn’t recognize but I liked the way it almost seemed to pulse through me. Lying low on the ground, I watched him move as he laid a cover over the picnic table.
My mate was settling in, making it clear he wanted to stay for a while, but as he fitted the last corner, he paused and looked around.
I knew he couldn’t see me. I’d picked the spot carefully to make sure I was hidden in the shadows of the thickest part of the trees, but Henley’s eyes kept scanning the area. “I know you’re here.”
He frowned but I felt a rush. “Why are you so excited?”
Because it was the bond.
“You’re supposed to be running, not stalking me.” My mate was adorable and huffed, crossing his arms over his chest again. “What did I say about that?”
His heart rate jumped as I leapt out of the forest, but I could see the smile he was trying to hide. “I’m a dangerous monster hunter. Don’t you forget that.”
I couldn’t…he wouldn’t let me.
Stopping just in front of him, I ignored the pungent smell of the gun and nuzzled against his groin again. He laughed, shaking his head. “I’ve been busy being very productive.”
Hmm.
He might’ve been busy but he smelled very clean.
Stepping back, I let the magic flow over me as I shifted to my human form. His eyes sparkled as he watched with an awed expression I loved. But my favorite part was the way he immediately stepped into my arms. “I knew you were watching.”
“Well, you are a world-renowned monster hunter.” My dry response got a snicker from him. “That has to be it.”
Pressing his face against my naked shoulder, he nodded and tried to sound serious. “That has to be it. Can’t be a mate thing. I’m just an amazing hunter.”
“You are amazing in a thousand different ways, my mate.” Wrapping my arms tight around him, I soaked up the feel of his body against mine and the soft scent of his emotions as they shifted in waves. “Knowing what I needed is just one of them.”
Tucking his face against my neck, he pressed himself closer and snuggled against me. “I could feel you. It was almost like faintly smelling something and getting an impression from it, but this was in my head.”
“You’ll always have a piece of me inside you.” He was my mate. “It goes beyond love or any human emotion. You’re part of me and I’m a part of you.”
Letting out a shaky breath, he nodded. “I’m your mate.”
“And there’s nothing on Earth that could break that bond. No magic. No weapon. We’re together from now until eternity. Even when the fates finally bring us home, I’ll be right there beside you.”
Hands stroking my back, he took another deep breath and let it out slowly.
“The first time I heard someone talk about mates, it was like an arrow through my chest. I wanted that for myself so much it hurt, but I knew I couldn’t have it.
There was no way the fates would give me something that special. ”
Kissing his head, I hugged him tighter. “Love isn’t something that’s ever withheld as a punishment. It’s always there waiting for us to be ready for it. You knew there was something special between us from the moment we met. You were always meant to be mine.”
It’d just taken a while for our lives to line up.
“I love you.” He pressed a kiss against my neck as he softly whispered the words. “I…I kind of feel guilty about how much I love having a mate, though.”
Only my mate.
“Never, baby.” I never wanted him to feel guilty about that. “I love you so much it amazes me. We’re made for each other. I’ve been waiting over a hundred years to find you. I’d have waited a hundred more.”
Snickering, he let out a dramatic sigh. “You just have to keep pointing out what an old fart you are.”
Brat.
But he was my wonderfully insane brat.