Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna fall asleep if you keep on petting me,” Casey slurred.
“We can hit the sack soon.” Watch TV in bed, relax, and then he’d take her all over again before they settled. “But I have a request first.”
“What?”
He nuzzled her hair. “I want some time with your mink.”
“Do you have protective gloves lying around?”
“She won’t hurt me.”
“Much.”
“She won’t. Just as I’d never hurt her.” He squeezed Casey’s nape. “Come on, you’ve had time with my wolf. Let me see her.”
Casey lifted her head. “You certain? Because, honestly, I’m not sure how she’ll behave toward you. She sees you as hers, and she acknowledges that she’s yours. But, well, she’s a moody little bitch, Eli. She can be vicious as hell. I truly can’t guarantee that she won’t bite you if you make a wrong move. And no, I can’t say what constitutes a ‘wrong move’ to my mink. It all depends on her mood, which changes every hour.”
“I already know minks are temperamental creatures. I won’t touch her if it doesn’t look like she’ll welcome it. I just want to see her. She’ll never feel truly comfortable with me if she and I don’t build up a level of trust, will she?”
“Well, no, but I don’t want you to lose a finger.”
“I’ll be careful with her. I promise. And then afterward, I’ll let my wolf out so they can have some time together. She’ll like that.” He patted her ass. “Come on, I want to meet her.” She stood with a sigh. And as Eli got a good look at his mate’s body, his cock jerked. “Or maybe we can wait until I’ve taken you again.”
Casey snorted. “One-track mind. You, um, should probably put your pants on. She has a habit of climbing people’s legs, and I don’t think you want her getting close to your bare cock.”
“Fair point.” Eli rose from the rug and pulled on his jeans. “Ready when you are.”
“Good luck.” And then Casey shifted.
Mouth curling, Eli stared down at the little mink. Sleek and short-legged, she had a long, slender, muscular body covered in the most luxurious fur. He wanted to know if her rich, glossy, blackish-tawny coat was as silky as it looked, but he didn’t dare invade her space. That would only earn him some nasty bites.
He very slowly crouched down and murmured, “Hey there.”
Her small dark eyes locked on his, and she was looking at him … well, like he was prey. He wasn’t gonna lie, that unblinking, unwavering stare was somewhat unnerving. She seemed calm enough, though.
“Cute little thing, aren’t you?”
With a low hiss, she lashed her black-tipped tail. The move wasn’t so much aggressive as a message that he’d better tread carefully.
“I wouldn’t hurt you,” he softly assured her. “I want to stroke you. Pet you.”
She slanted her head, blinking. He wondered if Casey was communicating what he wanted to the little mink.
“I’ll let my wolf out so he can play with you. I just want to give you a little stroke first. You’re safe with me.”
A bit of the starch left her spine—probably at the promise that she’d get some time with his wolf. Yeah, he’d figured that might spur her into giving Eli a chance. She bounded forward three steps. Honestly, she moved so fast, he almost jerked in surprise.
“Closer, gorgeous.”
She leaped onto his thigh and stared up at him, nose wrinkling.
“That’s it.” He gave her back a gentle stroke, and she arched into it like a kitten. “So soft.” He petted her with long, soothing swipes of his hand from her neck to her tail. All the while, he whispered sweet nothings to her, injecting a little purr into his voice.
She made little clucking sounds, seeming content. So he blinked in surprise when she suddenly jumped down and looked up at him, expectant.
“Oh, I’ve had my allotted time, have I? Fair enough.” He stood, shed his jeans, and then opened the front door so that their animals would be able to go outside. “Please don’t lay waste to the wildlife.” Because, yeah, minks would kill for sport.
Eli pulled back, allowing his wolf to surface.
The mink sniffed at the large gray-white wolf. Purred as she recognized his scent. He circled her, gently rubbing against her. She scrambled up his back, gave the back of his neck a playful nip, and then leapt to the ground. She scurried outside with a clucking sound. The wolf followed.
They spent hours exploring his territory. The mink bounded and zigzagged across the ground with a darting speed, easily keeping pace with the wolf. He kept close even as she climbed trees, swam in the river, darted into burrows, or raced into tunnels in pursuit of prey.
When it was dark, they returned to the lodge. Feeling the pull of sleep, the mink curled up on the rug. Just as tired, the wolf curved his powerful body around hers, keeping her warm. Protecting her as his instincts demanded.