Chapter 16
TWO MONTHS LATER
“He literally shit himself?” Pippa snorted with laughter. Her best friend had come to Scotland for a visit, and Bryn was entertaining her with a recap of the Takedown of Stalker John.
“I didn’t notice,” Sophie said with a shrug. “But I have to admit, it’s pretty damned funny.”
Bryn grimaced. “Be thankful you don’t have shifter senses. Even dosed to the gills with whatever he injected me with, I could smell him.”
Pippa raised her nearly finished pint. “Bastard deserved everything he got.”
“Cheers to that,” Sophie said and drained her drink.
“I’ve got the next round.” Bryn jumped to her feet and grabbed their glasses before heading to the bar. The newly eighteen-year-old was enjoying being able to buy drinks legally, and Sophie was more than happy to let the young woman take her turn buying a round.
They’d come to The Three-Legged Wolf for dinner and drinks.
In the corner booth by the fireplace, musicians were setting up for an evening session.
Torin had gone over to talk to the shifter getting out his uilleann pipes, and Sophie couldn’t help but admire her mate as he leaned against the side of the booth, his sharp teeth flashing as he grinned at something the other shifter said.
Sophie leaned towards Pippa and said, “See that cute boy behind the bar?”
Pippa turned her head and nodded, her black fringe slipping over her light blue eyes.
“Bryn’s been sneaking away to meet up with him.
It’s driving Torin mad.” She cupped her chin in her hand, her eyes drifting back to her mate.
“He’s freaking out because she’s off to university in Edinburgh next week.
” She turned her head to find Pippa staring at her, a wide grin on her face. “What?”
She shook her head. “You are so gone, my friend.”
“I know.” Bryn heaved a sigh and refocused on her friend. “I still can’t believe it. To tell you the truth, I used to roll my eyes at Eloise and Rowan and the way they acted around their mates, but here I am, completely and totally gone over my wolf shifter.”
Pippa squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy for you, my friend.
You went through hell with Stalker John.
But now, he’s in jail for a very long time, and you’ve got this fierce protector who looks like he’s one step from throwing you over his shoulder and dragging you back to his castle before making sweet, sweet love to you all night long. ”
“Pippa,” Sophie protested, her cheeks flaming.
“Oh, come on. Enjoy this honeymoon period of matehood. Wring as many orgasms out of him as possible. That man treats you like his queen, and he can barely keep his hands off you.”
Her gaze darted over to Torin again. Even as he spoke to the people around him, he was staring at her with an intensity that burned. “He is talented with his hands. And his tongue.”
“Nice,” Pippa drawled. “You deserve every second of that worship and devotion.”
A thought struck her, and she sat up with a gasp. “We need to find you your own mate, Pippa. There are plenty of unmated shifters in our pack. I can introduce you to them while you’re here.”
“Oh, no.” Pippa scooted back, waving the suggestion away.
“I have zero desire to be mated. Yes, yes. You’re blissfully happy and so, of course, want the same for me, but I enjoy being footloose and fancy-free.
No possessive, growly mate for me, thank you very much.
” Sophie opened her mouth, determined to extoll the benefits of being mated, but Pippa jumped to her feet.
“You know what? I’m going to see what’s taking Bryn so long with our drinks. ”
Disappointed but not surprised, Sophie wasn’t quite ready to give up on her friend’s happily ever after, but for now, she’d let it go. Speaking of letting go, she headed to the toilets to wash the grease from her fish and chips dinner off her hands.
As she exited, she wasn’t looking where she was going and crashed into a hard, warm chest with a surprised oof. Strong hands caught her upper arms, and she looked up to see Torin glowering down at her.
“Boy, this feels familiar.” Her lip quirked.
“Dark hallway, an annoying shifter standing in my way as I’m leaving the bathroom…
” she trailed off, her breath hitching as he continued to stare at her, a predator who knows he’s caught his prey.
She raised an eyebrow. “You planning on kissing me again?”
A low growl rumbled in his chest. “As always, you misremember, my lovely mate. You were the aggressor during our first meeting.”
“Aggressor?” she said with an offended gasp. “I would never. I can promise you, I was minding my own business, on my way to get another drink when I was cornered in this very same dark, empty hallway by a fearsome wolf sticking his snout where it didn’t belong.”
His rumble grew louder, the vibrations making her skin prickle.
He slid his hands around her waist, fingers dipping beneath her t-shirt to trace along the edge of her waistband.
“Your business is and will always be my business, love.” He walked her backward two steps until she was pressed between the immobile wall and the immovable heat of his body.
His knee nudged her legs apart, one thick thigh pressing against her core.
“My nose is exactly where it belongs,” he whispered, his teeth skimming over the curve of her neck.
She raked her fingers up his back, tracing the flex of muscle before popping up on her tip-toes to brush her lips over his.
Crushing her to him, he devoured her mouth, his tongue twining with hers, setting her entire body on fire.
She let out a low moan, leaning into the sensations crashing over her, the feel of his hard body against hers, the press of his thigh on her core, the glide of his hands beneath her shirt.
She never considered herself a big fan of public displays of affection, but here in this dark hallway with the threat of someone walking in on them, it was kind of hot.
They broke the kiss at the same time, both panting. Torin leaned his forehead against his, his hands cupping her cheeks. “So beautiful,” he said, his thick burr sending delicious tingles down her spine.
“Love you, my wolf,” she said, her fingers gliding over the short hairs at the base of his skull.
“I love you, my mate.” He took her hand, placing a gentle kiss on her palm. “Now, come dance with me,” he said, pulling her back into the noisy cacophony of the main room, music swirling around them.
I hope you enjoyed Vacation with the Wolf Shifter!
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