Once Bitten (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #1)(93)

“Before or after?” His whisper tickled the inside of my ear so that I had to rub the feeling away.

“After, otherwise you’ll say you’re too tired to run. Again.” I gave him a playful shove and turned away to embrace the change to wolf.

Before I could shift, his arms snaked around my waist. I gave a small squeal and fought back by reaching behind me to the ticklish spot in his side that made him come undone. He released me immediately, and I turned to continue my assault with both hands.

“Alexa!” He tried to sound mad, but it didn’t come out that way. “Ok, ok, have it your way.” The desperation that comes from being tickled made his voice high on the last two words, and he grimaced.

Unable to resist such a cute expression, I pulled him close for a heart melting lip lock that I knew would get him panting. He tasted of mint and smelled of wolf.

“You little tease,” he called as I walked toward the field beyond the back gate. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into you.”

I paused long enough to tap my bare bottom in invitation. He answered with a growl that added a spring to my step.

I ran and leaped, arching my body, gracefully becoming wolf in midair. Though it may have had the finesse of Hollywood graphics, it took Shaz and I almost three years to perfect the move. I couldn’t count the number of naked spills in the dirt that we’d both taken.

As I’d anticipated, Shaz was only a few seconds behind me. His paws kicked up dirt as he scrambled to catch up, and I poured on the speed as we raced to our tree.

I knew I had to go forward regardless of mistakes and lessons learned the hard way. Though life would be a lot simpler without the drama, power, and bloodshed, I have a sneaking suspicion that’s not about to end anytime soon.