Free Prowl (Pride Riders Book 3) by Kassanna Page B

skimmed her fingers over the smooth timber.
    “Morning, sexy,” Aristotle leaned on a counter cradling a mug in his palms.
    She dropped her hand and moved to the center of the room. In the throes of passion she’d marked him, accepting his claim. Now she wasn’t sure what to do next because that shit wasn’t supposed to happen in the first place. Bane sighed and lifted her head to meet his stare. He smiled so wide his cheeks might have permanent indentations.
    “Hey, umm, where is the bathroom?” She wouldn’t hold his gaze and twisted her head to the side to look at anything but him.
    Aristotle angled his head toward the desk. A sliver of an opening was partially hidden by the desk chair.
    “Could you make this place any smaller?” She hiked up the sheet and marched around the furniture.
    “Are you kidding? This is five hundred square feet of awesomeness.” His boisterous laughter followed her as she slid the panel door to the side and stopped cold.
    The bathroom wasn’t large, but it was packed with all the amenities a woman could want. Tucked in the corner was a shower with multiple shower heads and a bench running the length of the space. Next to it was a pedestal sink, with metal rings in the wall holding various size cups. The oval mirror edge was framed by another ornate carving. Across from that was the toilet, with several thick metal bars above it. Red towels hung neatly over each rod, adding a splash of color. The walls were planks of miter-cut wood fitted against each other like puzzle pieces. They shone under the dappled beams of light flooding the room. She glanced up, and saw more skylights.
    “It took me two years to build this place, even with my brother’s help.” Aristotle leaned on the doorjamb next to her. “I carved the door and the mirror frame.”
    “This is beautiful.” She fingered the walls.
    “Four coats of shellac and hauling that shower up was not an easy feat.” He shrugged. “But it was worth it.” Aristotle reached behind himself.
    She cocked her head. “What are you doing?”
    “I think an ant bit me on the ass last night.” He twisted around. “Can you take a look for me?” He shoved the waistband of his jeans down.
    “There is seriously something wrong with you.” Bane couldn’t help it; she giggled. She gave his behind a curious glance before slapping a palm across his right cheek. He went up on his toes and sighed.
    Bane shook her head. “I don’t see anything.”
    “Too bad.” He covered the bite on his neck with his hand. His eyes softened and he lifted his lips in a ghost of a grin. “We may as well be connected at the hip now. Get your shower on, sugar.” He lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. “My father, brothers, and their mates will be here in a half hour.”
    She took her gaze off his mate mark. “You could have told me that first.” She ground her teeth together.
    “I didn’t want to overwhelm you.” He patted her ass and left her peering at his back. “Plus, you’re the one that wanted to negotiate with El for the documents you secured. If you hadn’t asked to meet them, they wouldn’t even know we were home.” He paused in the doorway.
    “I really don’t like you right now,” she muttered.
    “What’s not to love?” He yanked his shirt off as he entered the bedroom. “Better get a move on before I decide to join you. Then we will have a bunch of angry yowling cats sitting on my porch until I decide to let them in.” He twisted around and winked.
    Bane crossed the threshold and slid the door shut, to cut off the sight of his smirking.

Chapter Seven
     
    Sitting at his computer, Ari glanced at his bedroom door. His mate rushed across the room behind him after her shower. Bane didn’t have clothes; he reminded himself they would have to go shopping. In the meantime, he left her some sweats on the bed.
    He spun around and went over the information again on the computer screen. Shay’s virus had located about