Free Judge: Mating Fever: Shifters Forever Worlds (Barely After Dark Book 3) by Elle Thorne Page B

talk about good?
    She fought to push her fears aside.
    Maybe he wasn’t conditional, the way her family had been, the way the Intuitive community had been.
    With them, if she wasn’t what they wanted her to be, how they wanted her to be, she wasn’t accepted and the love was conditional.
    “About what?” she finally asked, curiosity and nerves getting the best of her.
    He glanced toward the back surreptitiously, then leaned closer until he was right above Lars.
    Lani leaned in.
    “Pepper,” he said.
    She frowned. God please tell me I wasn’t wrong about Judge. That he wouldn’t criticize her and find fault with Pepper for what she did.
    “She risked her life for me,” Lani whispered. “She’s probably lost her eye.”
    “I’m sure she has,” Judge said. “I caught a glimpse when Mac took a look at her before we left.” He paused. “That’s why I thought we should talk. I don’t know a lot about your community, but I have a feeling things won’t be easy for her after this.”
    “They won’t. She has no family. Her grandparents raised her, and they passed a couple years ago. That’s what made it so easy for Reno to fool her.”
    “I’m guessing the Intuitive community won’t take her back.”
    “Not after word of this comes out. Which it will—sooner or later.”
    “Yeah. What I thought. So I had this idea…”
    She leaned in. “What?”
    “Build her a cabin next to ours.”
    “Ours?”
    Did he just say… ours? He did!
    Her heart did a happy dance.
    I shouldn’t have doubted him.
    “I’m not deaf, you two,” Pepper said from the back.
    Busted.
    Lani’s face got hot as the blush rose. “Sorry.” She put her hand between the seats, reaching for Pepper’s. “We’re just worried about you.”
    “You don’t need to be,” Pepper said. “I have plans. While you were asleep, Ciara and I talked.”
    “That’s right.” Ciara leaned forward. “Pepper’s going to stay with me.”
    Lani looked at Judge, then at Pepper. “You wouldn’t be imposing.”
    “True,” Judge agreed. “We’d want you with us.”
    “I’ll visit.” Pepper gave Lani’s hand a pat. “But I think it would be good for me to spend time with Ciara. There are things she could teach me about being in exile.”
    “Maybe we’ll both visit,” Ciara added. “But for now, you’ll have your hands full with that little shifter of yours. Lars’s instinct to shift is strong. He’ll need lots of training.”
    Judge glanced at Griz. “Will you be taking part in his training?”
    “I don’t think I’ll be needed as much, now that you, Lance, and Cross…” He paused, turned away briefly. “There’s a lady out there, hopefully waiting for me.”

Epilogue - Bonding
    A week later …

    J udge tangled his fingers in Lani’s hair, pulling her head back, studying her expression. She was sending carnal signals, lighting a fire that the bear in Judge couldn’t help but respond to.
    These were the most treasured moments. Just as dawn came on, bathing their cabin bedroom in soft orange hues, making her flesh glow in the light.
    “I need you.” Lani’s voice was colored with longing.
    He could tell from her scent that she wanted him. He caressed her cheek, running the backs of his fingers along her smooth skin, filling his chest with her aroma.
    He wanted to spend his days learning her curves, worshiping the body he’d barely had a chance to explore, and reassuring her the past would stay there. He was over her walking out that morning.
    He feasted on the curve of her cheeks, the way her lips turned upward when she was thinking pleasant thoughts. Judge wrapped his hands around her waist, pressing against her. He inhaled the scent of vanilla in her hair. It merged with the scent of her desire, spurring him to an ache.
    Lani arched her back, pushing her full ass into the manifestation of his desire, coaching him with the promise of the sleekness she offered.
    Pressing hard against her ass, his insistent cock