In the Alpha's Bed (Stealing the Alpha Book 3) by Kate Rudolph Read Free Book Online Page B

chose the latter. Mel would need to hold onto him during their ride.
    "Wouldn't it be faster to run?" She didn't object to the up close and personal treatment, but they had a job to do.
    "If we didn't need to talk while we worked, then yes."
    Mel wasn't used to surveying with a partner. The work she'd done with Krista and Bob had been compartmentalized. When Mel shifted to surveil something, she never needed to share her observations in the moment.
    But she climbed onto the ATV after Luke with a smile. This was an adjustment she was more than willing to make.
    "And I'm sure you took this one because it handles better?" she asked, teasing.
    Luke's voice was thick with sarcasm. "Of course."
    He opened the garage and they pulled out faster than Mel expected. She leaned forward, her entire front pressed tightly against his back as she gripped close and hung on.
    Yes, she liked his choice very much.
    She could feel every inch of him pressed against her, from her navel to her collarbone. Each bump in the road was sweet torture. Mel remembered the feel of his lips on hers, of his body pressed against hers in that erotic dance they'd dabbled in. She couldn't wait to take him.
    "This isn't how I thought I'd have my thighs around you," she spoke against his ear, her lips caressing the flesh.
    "Jesus," from the sound of his voice she could imagine him gripping the handle bars tightly. "Now you decide to flirt."
    Mel tightened her hold on him, feeling his abs contract under her hands. "What else are we going to do?" Her tongue darted out and licked the outer ridge of his ear.
    "I'm going to crash this fucking thing if you keep that up." There was a challenge in his words, and Mel didn't think that he wanted her to stop. She was having far too much fun to be dissuaded by the thought of a fiery wreck.
    Mel kept one hand anchored around Luke's chest and let the other explore, tracing the ridges of his abs through his shirt.
    Luke covered that hand, holding it in place before she could distract him further. "Unless we find the Well in the next hour, what do you say to coming back to my room and forgetting our troubles for the night?"
    Mel thought he would never ask. "It sure as hell beats the forest floor."
    But he wasn't satisfied. "Is that a yes?"
    She kissed his neck again, though only with a quick peck. "What do you think?" His proposal made her more motivated than ever to get this job done properly. They had been heading down the road to sex for too long. Maybe this would get him out of her system and clear out all of those thoughts of mates and a future and all that bullshit.
    Even as she entertained the thought, she knew she was crazy. Luke wasn't the kind of man a girl got to forget. And there was no getting him out of her system. Once they were together - really, truly together - there would be nothing keeping her from falling all the way. Mate be damned.
    She'd never been in love before.
    Was that what this was, now? Not just lust. Lust she understood. But this desire to speak with him, to share her thoughts and learn his mind. The dull pang she felt when she was away from him. And scariest of all, the certainty she felt in her heart that with him she could defeat Ava, defeat any enemy that crossed her path.
    Could love make her that strong?
    She put her terror on hold once they pulled over, parking the ATV next to a particularly tall tree. Mel climbed off, taking an extra second to enjoy the feel of her hands against his chest before pulling them completely away. But once they were no longer touching, it was down to business.
    She took a good look at the woods around them. Nothing seemed strange or out of place. The sounds of animals in the distance were audible, though they'd scared away most of what lived near the path with the sound of the ATV.
    "It's probably best to take our section in a big circle and see if anything seems fishy." She didn't want to comb every inch of forest if they didn't need to.
    "Fishy?"
    Mel shrugged.