The Mating Season: Werewolves of Montana Book 6 by Bonnie Vanak Read Free Book Online Page B

her cheek with one warm palm.
    “Oh, how very endearing.” Mara clapped her hands, but her face remained cold and impartial. “Tristan, you are smitten. Delightful.”
    The Fae waved a hand. “I’ll be on my way. Have a good morning!”
    Nikita’s heart did not stop racing until the woman was well down the beach. Tristan growled slightly, then relaxed as he turned to her. “Are you all right?”
    She managed a nod. “I’ve never seen such a display of your power.”
    He searched her gaze. “You fear me.”
    Who wouldn’t? “I’m a little overwhelmed.”
    “I would never hurt you, Nikita. Never.” His face tightened. “I would give my last breath to protect you.”
    Tristan’s hand dropped to his side. He looked lost and distant once more and she inwardly sensed him pulling away. “You need more time. I should not have brought you here, into the open, where that one could find you.”
    “You can’t shut me away like I’m some buried treasure, Tristan.” She fisted her hands. “I’ll admit, that…witch…scares me, but I won’t hide from her, or anyone else. I’ve done enough hiding in my life, forced into it because my family was trying to protect me from being abducted, and destroyed, by you. If it were up to me, I would have lived free and wild as a wolf.”
    “You always were courageous. That has not changed.”
    Courageous? Her? Far from it. I do a good job pretending, that’s all.
    He turned back to the hotel. “I can sense your distress. Let’s return to the room, so you may rest.”
    Rest? She wanted to explore, not remain trapped behind four walls as she had been before. “No. I’m not an invalid.” She studied the wash of foamy surf curling upon the shore and then gazed into the horizon. A red and white flag upon a white buoy floated on the gentle waves. She’d seen that flag in movies and books.
    “I want to go snorkeling. I’ve never been in the ocean before.”
    Tristan stared. “Now? After Mara has seen you?”
    “Wait until she sees me in a red bikini. I’ve got bigger boobs than she has.”
    Tristan’s jaw dropped and desire flicked in his gaze as he glanced at her chest. “Indeed.”
    “If you’re not going with me, I’ll go alone. I’m not a porcelain doll you can lock away, Tristan.”
    “I wish I could,” he muttered. He gazed up and down the beach as if searching for trouble. “Come with me.”
    Half an hour later, changed into a red bikini Tristan had conjured for her, and carrying a dive mask, snorkel and flippers, she ran from the shore into the surf. It was chilly, lapping gently at her ankles.
    She glanced backwards at Tristan, following her. He’d changed into swimwear as well. It revealed a lot more than the black tunic and trousers and boots.
    A lot more.
    A shiver raced down her spine. Gods, he was sexy. Hot, hot, hot as her twin would say. And as cute and hunky as that other wizard, Xavier, had been in a green Speedo that accented his muscled body and his very impressive package, Tristan was ten times more male.
    His muscled chest boasted a triangle of black, wiry hair and his arms were firm with muscle and sinew. The black swim trunks were modest and hugged his lean hips and came to mid-thigh.
    A faint memory tugged at her—the silky hair on his thighs rubbing against her legs as he lay naked atop her, fisting a hand in her long hair while he moved deep inside her, whispering a promise: “I will be inside you so deep, my sweet, that whilst I am gone, you will remember my cock claiming your tight cunnie, and long for the day I shall return to love you again.”
    She felt arousal bite, sharp and sweet. Nikita bit her lip.
    He looked at her with a knowing smile. “Does my body please you, my sweet?”
    Oh no, not going there. Her shoulders lifted in a casual shrug.
    His expression grew hungry as he studied her with a smile. “You look most lovely in that bathing attire. Very…fetching. I shall have to stick close to you as your protector to fend