Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
“Of course not,” Dr. McCord denied. “She would have gotten the credit due to her for finding a lunar meteorite although it appears my doubts were warranted since I’m assuming you didn’t get your Lunaite in the woods near here. So Marielle technically didn’t discover it.”
“She might not have, but she’s still the rightful owner of the lunar meteorite that’s worth more than you make in a year. Maybe two.”
Dr. McCord’s gaze darted between us, and he gulped. “And as such, I will make sure it is safely returned to her. Today.”
“Good,” Artemis grunted. “Try to fuck over my woman again, and losing your job will be the least of your worries. Dead men have no need to work.”
Artemis’s parting words were probably over the top, but they turned out to be effective. Dr. McCord never gave me a bit of trouble during the remainder of my studies.
12
ARTEMIS
Marielle's eyes widened as we wound down the mountain path toward the entrance I used to my cave an hour after we left the college campus. “Whoa, it’s even better from this side. I can’t believe I stumbled across the cave where you hide your treasures. Not that I went much farther after I found the Lunaite.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Just wait. As impressive as the meteorite is, you haven’t seen anything yet. The stories about dragons collecting all sorts of things aren’t just myths.”
“I kinda already figured that out for myself since I literally stumbled across a rock worth a quarter of a million dollars, and it was just lying on the ground, not even with the rest of your hoard.”
The path widened as we turned down a hidden trail, and I squeezed her hand, feeling oddly nervous about how she’d react to one of my favorite spots. With as much as Marielle loved nature, I assumed she would appreciate what I’d done to the cave. But this was the first time I’d taken anyone here, not just a woman.
Marielle gasped as soon as the floor-to-ceiling windows appeared along the opening to the cave wall. “This…this is your cave?” she asked, her breath catching.
“Cave sweet cave,” I said with a grin as I pulled in front of the terracotta porch.
The hot tub cover was on and not covered in too much dust, along with a set of black Adirondack chairs near the stove. Her gaze went straight to my favorite spot to relax as she looked through the sliding glass doors and the built-in bookshelves covering the rocky walls. Putting my arm around her tiny waist, I guided my mate through the double doors, dragging the earthy smell of rock and wildflowers deep into my lungs.
“When you explained that you spent most of your time in the cave, you didn’t mention that it was basically a whole freaking house built into a cliff,” she said, her gaze darting everywhere from the shelves to the stainless-steel kitchen and even toward the hot spring. One we would definitely need to use soon.
“It’s where I come for solitude…and where I store things I don’t need the rest of The Wilderness Pack getting into,” I muttered, running my fingers along some of the leatherbound books, a few of which were just as old as the cave walls themselves.
“So your treasure is books?” she asked, looking at the shelves.
“Part of it,” I said, carefully removing a copy of Wuthering Heights from the shelf.
Blowing dust off the cover, I then flipped it open, revealing the hollowed-out center filled with various rubies.
“Whoa, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so stunning up close like this before,” she breathed, her eyes shining against the light casting off the gems.
“Then you must not have looked too closely in the mirror because you’re a fuck of a lot more beautiful than these stones.” Her pale skin filled with a pretty pink color at my compliment. “And they’re yours.”
“What?” she asked, snapping her head up.
I closed the book, setting it to the side before wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her close. “You’re mine, Marielle. All that I have is yours.”
“And all that I have is yours,” she whispered before standing on her tippy-toes and placing a light kiss on my lips.
But when it came to Marielle, that wasn’t nearly enough for me.
I wanted to devour her. To make her my mate officially.
I growled, grabbing her ass to lift her so her legs wrapped around my waist. Deepening the kiss, she gasped into my throat as I walked us toward the hot spring, kneeling as I set her down on the edge of the stairs. Then I trailed my lips down her neck, tugging off her shirt and bra. My teeth nipped at her pretty pink nipples, just waiting for my touch.
She moaned, wriggling her body against mine as I slid farther down, kissing her stomach before sliding off her leggings and panties. Her pussy was so beautiful. So wet and waiting for me. And all mine.