Free Climbing the Ladder by BA Tortuga Page A

Mesa’s headache.
    He pulled into the campgrounds and went to pay, leaving Kody to hold Sammy.
    Then he got the supplies and filled the kitchen. “Okay, baby.”
    Kody scooped Sammy up, carrying her into the cabin, then standing there. “If you want
    me to cook, you’ll have to take her.”
    “I can do that.” He could, right? God, he was tired.
    “Sit, then.” Kody pushed him toward the sofa, put Sammy in his arms. Mesa sat, feeling
    useless as tits on a boar hog. He just didn’t know what else to do. His fingers moved over her body, loving on her. Her skin was so soft, so smooth. Fascinating.
    She was fascinating.
    He dozed off, fingers wrapped around her soft breast, thumb idly rubbing her nipple
    through her top.
    Kody cooked bacon and eggs, waking them both up, plates in hand.
    “Oh, thank you, baby.” He smiled, foot reaching out, rubbing Kody’s leg.
    Sammy blinked, sat up. “That smells good. I…Where are we?”
    “Vacation. Eat, honey.” Kody handed plates over and headed back to the kitchen.
    “Okay.” She blinked some more, but she dutifully took the plate and ate eggs.
    Mesa tore into the bacon. God, he’d missed Kody’s cooking. The man was made for him.
    “He does a good job. He always does the eggs right.”
    “He does.” Look at her, picking up the non-verbals.
    “What…what do you do?”
    “I’m—” How did he describe it? “I guess you could say I’m the sheriff, honey.”
    “Oh. Okay.” She bumped his arm with hers. “I have to warn you. Kody doesn’t respond
    well to penal types.”
    “No?” He grinned. “I won’t put him in jail.”
    “Okay. He’s too pretty for jail.” She chuckled, pinked.
    “He is, huh?” He fed her a piece of bacon.
    “Yeah.” She opened up, so pretty. God, he wanted to eat her alive.
    Unable to resist the urge, he kissed the corner of her mouth once she chewed and
    swallowed.
    “I…” Her eyes cut to Kody, who smiled from the kitchen, bacon sandwich in his hand.
    “He might throw us in jail, huh?” Kody’s tease was gentle. Soft. Sweet.
    “I don’t want hurt you, Kody. I love you.” Her fingers twined with his, and he could see
    the worry in her eyes. So hard, to put away everything she’d known and learn to be Pack.
    “I know.”
    “We know, honey.” Mesa stroked her back.
    Kody nodded, his mate’s approval filling the entire cabin, and Sammy melted into
    Mesa’s touch.
    It felt good. So good.
    “This is very odd.” She turned her face up for another kiss, and he took it. She had to
    follow her instincts; the wolf needed its mate.
    Mesa hummed, licking at her lower lip. Sweet. Her lips were sweet.
    He dove in, kissing her hard, moaning as she responded. Mesa was so damned happy that
    she was coming around, that somewhere in there she knew. He pushed her back, covering her,
    mouth on her throat.
    She tensed a little as if she might fight him, but then she let her nails dig into his
    shoulders.
    Good girl.
    He rewarded her with soft nuzzles, licks to her throat. She was soft. Smooth. As a wolf,
    her belly would be perfect. Mesa moved south, exploring her chest, the skin of her ribs, her belly with his tongue just as he had with his fingers. Beautiful. She was curvy but strong. He pushed her top up, nibbling, leaving tiny bites that made her jerk, murmur.
    She was holding him as if she was ready to let it all go. Like she was ready to be his.
    His lady. His queen.
    His.
    His teeth scraped over her hip.
    She moaned, and so did Kody. Mesa glanced up, meeting Kody’s eyes. Kody smiled at
    him, the look hungry, wolfish. His lover stayed away, though, let him firm their bond. Good
    man. Mesa would reward him soon. He licked down her lower belly, chin resting just above her
    curls.
    She smelled like heaven, like his, earthy and right, He rested his forehead on her
    stomach, breathed in deep. Delicious.
    He had to push the rest of her clothes out of the way, get her little yoga pants off so he
    could taste the rest of