Reclaiming Her Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Celina Reyer Read Free Book Online Page B

head and they began walking again.
    It took nearly an hour to reach the northern border on foot. Eventually they fell into easy conversation, and she relaxed enough for him to make her laugh. She loved how his eyes lit up when he elicited a giggle from her. Nathaniel's eyes were like none other - a beautiful, cerulean blue with a halo of gold around the pupils. Even in the dark they shone.
    They found a clearing and set up camp. "It's okay. See? No one here," Nathaniel said as he busied himself w ith the bed roll he'd been carrying. Kat eyed it nervously. No doubt he would call first watch, but there was absolutely no way she would be able to sleep with Nathaniel standing over her. She'd probably talk in her sleep or moan his name in one of the fevered erotic dreams that haunted her nights and completely embarrass herself.
    "Should we make a fire?" she asked.
    He shrugged. "Might as well. Temperature's dropping a bit and even if they smell the smoke, I'm pretty sure they won't cross the border. If they do, we'll deal with them." She must have looked worried again, because he touched her shoulder reassuringly and promised, "There's no one out here, Kat. Just relax."
    They built the fire and sat on the open bed roll. He fell silent again, seemingly dee p in thought until finally he said the very words she'd been hoping to hear.  
    ***
    "I've always wanted to ask you about that day," he began. In his voice she heard an unfamiliar vulnerability and was surprised at it. "I didn't want to push you, but I need to know, Kat. What did I do to scare you off?"
    Kat looked at him, completely confused. "You didn't scare me off... What do you mean?"
    He turned to her, capturing her face in both of his hands and looking deep into her eyes. His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared as he gazed intently at her, emotion swirling behind his stare. "I waited for you to come back the next day. To the apricot tree. I told Monique to have you meet me there, but she said you wouldn't come, that you were too scared." 
    Kat trembled in spite of herself. Tell him , the voice cried, but the words wouldn't come. She tried to look away but he held her fast.
    "Tell me why," he urged, and her insides twisted when she heard his voice crack just slightly. "Tell me you felt nothing that day." His thumbs caressed her jaw as his eyes, clouded with pain, begged for a reason. She was shocked to see him like this, his guard completely down.
    And his touch brought her back there, under the blossoming tree near the barn, where he had forever changed h er.
    ***
    "Kat," he murmured, gazing down at her intently, drawing her close. Her heart lodged in her throat as he leaned down to kiss her, and the emotion in his blue eyes as he looked into hers took her breath away. She trembled in his embrace, equal parts fear and desire coursing through her veins.
    When his lips brushed against hers, his touch was so feather-light that she swooned with need. He kissed her more deeply, and she moaned. Her soft, primal sound triggered the animal in him; he growled in response and covered her mouth roughly with his own, his tongue slipping easily against hers, probing and claiming. Within seconds she was responding feverishly, gasping as she kissed him back with equal urgency, arching against him and losing all inhibitions as she sank into the joy of his long-awaited kiss.
    After a moment he stopped and stared at her, dazed and slightly out of breath. She recognized that hungry look, though she'd never had anyone look at her that way before.  Her mind raced, wondering far he would go and how far she should let him should go--
     
    "Nathaniel, I --" She was tongue-tied. She knew she had to tell him. She had to make herself form the words.
    But he spoke again, his voice husky. "I've thought about that day every day since."
    "Oh..." It came out like a sigh, and she stopped thinking as he kissed her hairline, just as he had that day, trailing his lips across her forehead, down the side