Free The Love of a Mate by Kim Dare Page A

resumed his observations.
    Alfred had obviously walked out there in his human form. He was still wearing his jeans and his T-shirt, although all they seemed to be doing right then was soaking up more and more mud and water and making it ever harder for him to complete the task he’d assigned for himself.
    His wet jeans had moulded themselves to his arse perfectly, and it didn’t matter how much Caden preferred to bottom, every single time Alfred bent over, there was nothing he wanted more than to pounce on his future mate. If Alfred would quickly roll them over and reverse their positions, and if Caden himself would be the one who’d end up pinned against the muddy floor while the other wolf pounded into him with increasingly harsh and frantic thrusts, then that would be just so much the better.
    Caden licked his lips at the very possibility. It was all he could do not to slip his hand down and wrap his fingers around his erection. It would feel so wonderful, with his hand all slicked with river mud, and he needed to come so badly he could barely hold back a howl of frustration. But he didn’t have permission.
    Looking down his body, at both the streaks of mud and at his rising shaft, Caden didn’t move a hand to deal with either. Right there, right then, he belonged to Alfred—it felt safe and right that he should belong to Alfred. And, while that was the case, it wasn’t his place to lay a hand on his own body, for any reason.
    His more dominant mate would decide what was to be done with him, all Caden would have to do was obey and enjoy. And until Alfred was ready to turn his attention to him, all Caden could do was squirm in the mud.
    His breaths sped up as he realised he might actually be able to hand over just a little bit more control to the other wolf in good conscience. A strange little mew of anticipation escaped from the back of his throat.
    Alfred immediately turned to face him. “What’s wrong?”
    Caden swallowed rapidly. “I’m fine.”
    Alfred frowned. “Are you cold?”
    Caden shook his head. He was pretty sure if he got any hotter his blood would start to bubble and boil inside him. If anything, he was so feverish with desire he was in danger of drying out the mud he sat in, but he couldn’t say that.
    Sex was his one bargaining chip—and it would stay that way until it was completely safe for him to give it up forever. It was far too soon for him to admit he was just as desperate to get screwed as Alfred was to screw him. Once they were mates, then maybe the truth could come out, but until then…
    Caden looked down his body once more. His gaze settled on his erection. Of course, it was just possible that the other man would notice how turned on he was without either of them saying a word.
    “I like watching you work,” Caden offered.
    Alfred gave him a strange look.
    Dipping his gaze, Caden smiled up at the other wolf through his lashes in practiced flirtation. “It makes you look more dominant than ever…”
    Alfred turned away from him, a slight frown marring his brow as he returned his attention to his task. It was only a few minutes before he stopped again and glanced at Caden once more.
    “This section is finished. I’ll leave the rest until tomorrow when there’s better light. I don’t want you sitting out in the cold any longer than you have to.” He walked across and set his shovel neatly with the others leaning against an old tree stump.
    “There are other ways you could warm me up, if you wanted to,” Caden offered, doing his best to keep a complete over-abundance of enthusiasm out of his voice.
    Alfred was standing almost directly over him. From that angle he was huge and powerful and completely faultless in the more submissive wolf’s eyes.
    “Such as?” Alfred asked.
    “I’ve heard that combining body heat can be a lot of fun,” Caden suggested.
    “Oh?”
    Caden nodded coyly, as if it didn’t really make that much difference to him if Alfred took him up on his