Hunting Season: Werewolf Bodyguard Romance (Guarded by the Shifter Book 1) by Kate Rudolph (new reading TXT) 📗

might have treaded carefully, but Owen was one with his wolf and he knew it was time to prove to their mate just where she belonged. "Absolutely. Forever."

And if she thought she was going to best him with a move like that, she was mistaken. She had a few tricks up her sleeve, but he was a trained soldier and bodyguard. And he was claiming her.

Owen sat up and gripped Stasia close, crushing their mouths together in a branding kiss. He flipped them back over so he was on top, his full body covering Stasia's and holding her in place. She didn't seem to mind as she wrapped her arms and legs around him and kissed him for all she was worth.

He needed to be inside her. His cock throbbed in desperation and he could practically feel the tight press of her wet heat, but no force in the universe was strong enough to pull him back from kissing her.

He let his hands roam over her silky skin and took pride in her shiver as she fell deeper into the kiss. And when they rolled the next time Owen didn't even think to fight it. This wasn't really a battle of wills. There was no need to tame or conquer.

They were in this thing together.

"You're mine too, you know," Stasia panted when they finally separated for a moment.

"That was never in doubt." There were more words to say, another declaration even stronger to make, but Owen held it back. Between the bite and the other revelations, it was far too much too soon.

He'd wait.

Until at least tomorrow.

But right now he needed something more physical. He kissed his way down Stasia's body again, and this time when he made it to her pants he started to pull them off. They managed to get tangled and Stasia's curse at the complication almost had him laughing.

His mate had a rough edge to her, a side always willing to fight, but she was aligned with him and he reveled in it. His teeth ached along with his fingers and he could feel his wolf rising to the surface.

No.

He tried to pull the change back. This was something human, something just between him and Stasia, and he wouldn't scare her by letting his other half take over.

We are one, his wolf whispered to him.

Were they really? Kind of hard to think that was true when he was imagining the creature speaking to him.

He didn't want to pull back from Stasia, but with the wolf so close to the surface, so determined to claim her, he feared that he would go too far. She'd accepted the wolf stuff but there had to be a limit. And a part of him would die inside if the limit came from him.

He pulled back and sat up, turning away from Stasia and breathing deep, trying to center himself. He was a man. He was with his woman. There was no need for the wolf to get involved.

But he could still feel it, lurking. It made no move to recede, no matter how much he tried to pull himself together. If anything, he was making it worse. His hand shook as he tried to run it through his hair, and when he brought it back down he saw his nails sharpening into claws.

It couldn't have taken more than a few moments, but Stasia sat up, knowing something was wrong.

"Let me see you," she said. "I'm here."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Stasia sat up and placed her hand on Owen's cheek to turn his head towards hers. He resisted for a moment and then let her move him. When she caught sight of his eyes she almost gasped. They'd gone that same wolfish yellow she'd seen before, and she could almost swear she saw fangs peeking out of his mouth.

"Why are you trying to hide from me?" she asked. Maybe the sight of his wolf so close to the surface should have scared away her lust, but her body was still tight with it. She wasn't about to run away just because she was seeing some of Owen's true self.

Owen turned his head until he could brush a kiss against her palm before he spoke. "You're dealing with enough, you shouldn't need to deal with my lack of control."

"Control?" She couldn't help but smile. She kissed his cheek. He was too close for her to keep from touching and she wasn't even going to try and resist. "You seem pretty controlled to me. Or are you going to let the change go further?"

"How can you look at me and say that?" He sounded wrecked, and Stasia never wanted to hear that tone from him again. Her man was cheerful, confident. He embraced his wolf and his life and didn't get scared because of a few small changes.

She kissed him, careful to avoid the sprouting fangs, but not too careful. And then she deepened the kiss and forgot about the fangs altogether. It was hard to think about anything but Owen when they were naked together.

She pulled back and took a good look at him. "You seem safe enough to me."

"You're not scared?" He still sounded doubtful.

"You're a werewolf. I can stand a little weird. Now come back here and fuck me." The next time she kissed him wasn't as gentle. Owen said he was out of control? She dared him to show her.

He did.

She heard a growl start deep in his throat and it awakened something deep inside her. She didn't know if she had a wolf of her own, but there was definitely a piece of her soul that responded to his and she never wanted it to end.

He tipped her back on the bed and pressed her against the mattress, kissing her like he would brand her. His sharp teeth were there, but he wasn't a vampire and they weren't razor sharp.

Did vampires exist?

The thought was washed away in another wave of lust and Stasia didn't care enough to chase it. Owen's