Free Bound by Fate (Moon Bound Series Book 1) by Mandy Lou Dowson

back towards him, letting him have the full impact of what he’d lost out on.  His hungry eyes picked up her every movement and she smiled a soft, secret smile.  “You probably wouldn’t know what to do with me.”
    With a ferocious growl he trapped her in his arms, lowering his head an inch at a time.  “Wouldn’t I?” he gazed at her lips.  “Let’s find out.”
    She was breathless.  He was going to kiss her again.  And again she found she couldn’t stop him.  Rather she’d die if he didn’t do it soon.  “Gareth,” she whispered.  The lightest of touches upon her expectant lips.  He breathed in her scent, running a tongue across her lower lip.  She groaned.  He laughed quietly.  Savagely he claimed her mouth, thrusting his tongue into her, and like a dueling match she met him stroke for stroke. 
    The sweetest aroma drifted around them, like spice and wood, loam and earth, intimate pleasures and dark needs.  She panted into his mouth.  “Gareth,” she whispered again, her swollen lips moving against his. 
    He flung her away with such force that she tripped, landing on her butt in the middle of a thicket.  He roared with laughter.  “Fooling themselves?” he asked her.  “Not I.”  He pulled her to her unsteady feet, her mouth still tingling and her cheeks aflame.  “Now come on, before someone realizes that we’re both missing.”
    “ Ass,” she whispered, taking off at full speed.  He had no chance to catch her as she ran flat out not caring if she tripped and broke another bone.  Falling into another trap would be a mercy in her position. 
     
    Michail had a nasty headache, as Gareth had guessed he would, but he never knew she skipped out.  When she returned, sweaty and out of breath, hoping like hell she didn’t come across anyone – especially Gareth – on her run home, she made straight for the shower, and was lounging around in her purple jogging pants and a similar tee when he awoke.  “Have I been asleep long?” he asked, mortified.
    “ Oh about two hours,” she replied, standing over the stove with a bubbling pot of soup cooking.  “You want some soup?  You need to look after yourself more,” she berated.  “Good job I was in no mood for a run today, huh?”
    He smiled tightly and took the offered soup bowl, brimming with thick vegetable and beef soup.  “Guess I’m not feeling very well today,” he reiterated.  “I’ve a headache would kill a bear.”  He frowned at her.  “Weren’t you wearing pink earlier?”
    “Pink?  Nope.  I put this on after my meeting with the Alpha.”  She crossed her fingers that he would believe her.  “You should head on home as soon as my Den Parents get here.  Have a rest.  Maybe you’ll feel better by tomorrow.”  She hoped he would.  She’d never forgive herself if she’d caused him any lasting damage.  Her free time wasn’t worth it. 
    “ You sure you didn’t leave?” he asked her, sniffing the air like a common lap dog.
    “ Yes…why?”
    “ Could have sworn…the scent…it’s…never mind, just me not feeling very well.”
    Oh God, was she doomed to forever smell like Gareth every time he touched off her?  That was going to be hard to explain to her future mate, she guessed.  Her stomach clenched at the thought of being anyone’s mate, and she forced the mouthful of soup down her neck.  Silence ensued.  Two days, she mused.  What could she do in two days that she couldn’t do in a lifetime?  Not very much.
     
    “Again!” snapped Patina, ever-ready with her switch.  She swatted Beth’s backside lightly and told her to stop swinging her hips and just damn well roll them already.
    “ Sorry, Patina, I’m trying.  Honestly.  It’s been a while,” she panted.  Whew, she’d forgotten how much of an old slave driver Patina was.  For all her tiny stature and little-old-lady white hair, she was still a force to be reckoned with when in possession of her switch.
    “ It