One pulled ahead; a frantic chant ofrun, run, runfilled my head as she got closer. With one daring leap, she reached my leg, climbing upward a second before a cascade of squirrelslanded where she had been. I scooped her into my hand, holding her aloft. She lifted her squirrel arms, victorious, tail swishing excitedly.
Kendrick helped me settle in the grass for the next race so the mice would have an easier time. Half a dozen of those who had already competed settled around me, leaning their small bodies against me as they relaxed in the sunlight. The mice were next, and then the assorted small shifters, a teenaged raccoon winning that one.
The monster outside our gates had been blessedly quiet today. I didn’t love having my back to it, but if it wasn’t going to kick up a fuss I wasn’t going to give it my attention. I turned to glance at it. It looked as sharp and dangerous as ever, but it had a weird vibe to it, like it was observing, exposing a curious intelligence I hadn’t felt from it before.
All of us moved toward the door for extra safety as the much larger prey shifters joined us outside, dropping into their animal forms one by one: deer, moose, and elk. The birds would race with them.
I turned away when Kendrick began to disrobe so I didn’t perfume while surrounded by nest residents. His gorgeous stag form paused next to us, his nose tapping me on the forehead before he took his place in line with the others. With one sharp whistle from me, they bolted, the birds following quickly.
Hooves thundered against the ground and I held my breath. Kendrick flew like the wind. The first lap around had the breeze whipping up as they dashed past. A few of the shifters with me turned back to human form so they could cheer loudly, each as naked as the last.
Winner gets a kiss?
I jolted at Kendrick’s voice in my head.Depends on if the winner is you.
I wouldn’t let anyone else win it.
I laughed to myself.Give the others a chance. I could be persuaded to give you a kiss no matter how you place.
They surged past once more. Each one of them was gorgeous in their own way, raw power packed into their bodies.
The moose won with a last-second burst of speed. He trotted over proudly, accepting a pat on the nose as the others thronged him.
Kendrick kneeled next to me.Feeling up to a ride?
I wasn’t sure how I would do on his back while maintaining stability with my core muscles, but I supposed it didn’t hurt to try.
Kendrick offered his antlers to help me stand and I held tight as I slipped my legs over him. He stood as carefully as he could, but I wasn’t graceful trying to keep my balance with the way deer stood up ass first.
Sorry. Doing okay?
My chest ached, but I wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity.I’m fine.
He kept to an easy walking pace, navigating the outer perimeter. I kept my hands on his antlers, fingers wrapped around two of the points. The morbid part of me wondered which ones had almost killed me. It was probably a good thing I hadn’t seen him coming. Would I be able to appreciate how beautiful he was in this form if I had been facing the other direction, seen these antlers coming for me?
What’s going through your head?
Morbid thoughts.
A shiver rolled through him.I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Let me get you down and I’ll change back. Hold on tight.
I gripped hard and Kendrick got back down on the ground, letting me slide off before he switched from stag to spectacularly naked man. I was in his arms before I could blink, his hand cupped against the back of my head.
“I won’t ever ask for your forgiveness. But Iwillpromise to do better.”
I locked my arms behind his back, all too aware of the expanse of skin he offered. Shifters didn’t care much about nudity since it was a necessity, but I wasn’t raised by shifters and it still meant something to me. “Thank you, but I need you to put clothes on or my brain is going to go in directions it’s not supposed to.”
It didn’t help matters that my simple statement had his cock rising to attention against me. He angled away, letting it rise all the way before moving closer once more.
“My thoughts go there every time I see you.” Kendrick nudged me backward until I was touching the cool stone of the nest. “Tell me to stop.”
I stared into his eyes, his searching mine desperately. “But I don’t want to.”
His mouth devoured me before the next breath had passed, power and perfume erupting in equal measure. This wasn’t a panicked kiss before a potential death; this was worshipping. His lips alternated between soft and fierce, as if he couldn’t decide which he wanted more. I surrendered to it, letting my weight rest against the wall and lacing my hands together behind his neck.
Kendrick abandoned my mouth for my throat, drawing out a needy whine as I arched into him, heedless of the ache it caused. His hands swept over my body, settling on the curve of my ass.
Who are you with?Yelena’s voice slipped into my thoughts and I froze, Kendrick drawing away to look at me, questions bright in his gaze.
