Chapter 172 - Thank God

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~ ZEV ~

Still standing behind her, Zev took one of her hands, and instead of bringing it to her breast and squeezing as he was fantasizing about, he guided it into the sleeve of the jacket—first one, then the other. Then he smoothed the two, double-breasted panels across her stomach and chest, his trembling fingers fitting the buttons in the loops so the high, fur neck cradled her jaw.

His body screamed at him to touch, to taste, to take—his pulse thumping in his ears faster and faster as he imagined it. But he fought. He could have her now, he knew. If he asked, she'd say yes—he could smell her arousal. But… but it would be rushed. Hurried. And he'd been waiting too long for this. He wanted to savor her.

So when he had the buttons secure, he dropped his chin, intending to tell her to put on the leggings, but his breath fluttered in her hair and where it parted over her shoulder, he saw her gooseprickles rise.

He'd given up trying to hide his arousal. He stood so close behind her she could probably feel his own goosebumps stand up, let alone… that.

But instead of pushing her forward and taking her, right there, as he ached to do, he indulged in another tease and, reaching for the fur leggings on the bed in front of her, dropped to kneel behind her again, sliding his body down the back of her soft, soft skin, his long arms circling her legs and holding the first leg open for her.

He felt her tense, imagined that she considered resisting. For a short moment he prayed she would kick the trousers out of his hands and tear the jacket open, turn in the circle of his arms and pull him onto the bed.

But with a soft, disappointed sigh, balancing herself on his thick bicep, Sasha pointed her toe and pushed it into the leg of the trousers—first one, then the other.

Then, with a tantalizing slide of his chest that began on her thighs and followed her entire form up, he pulled the leggings up until they settled over her hips and he reached around to tie the laces at the waist, tugging them into a tight bow.

Both of them were breathing heavily as he straightened the bottom of the jacket over the leggings, then didn't move for a time.

Then, Zev dropped his chin and rested his cheek against her temple, swallowing hard. "Sash?"

"Yeah?"

"That was the hottest thing I've ever done, and I didn't even taste you."

She nodded frantically. "Same."

"I vote that we leave. Right now."

She swallowed audibly then, without turning, she huffed a breathless laugh. "I am, apparently, Alpha now. And I'll go you one better and demand it, Zev."

She did turn then, craning her head back to meet his eyes—her own sparkling with heat and delight. "Let's get out of here. Right now."

It was an offense to resist an Alpha's command, but he prayed she'd forgive him the few seconds it took to cradle her face and take her mouth—hot and desperate, showing her with his tongue what he longed to do with his body—then he broke away from her, panting.

"Let's go."

*****

He became a male on a mission, eyes fixed on the trail ahead, ignoring the pain in his body, his hunger because he hadn't been able to focus properly on the meal, and even the threat of a storm as the pressure in the air rose through the Thana night. He'd carried Sasha for long stretches, but the pressure of her against the wounds on his back and side weren't just painful, they threatened to open them again and he wanted nothing to stand in the way of this night.

So, where they walked in the valley, or the trail was wide, he reluctantly slowed the pace and let Sasha walk, taking her bag for her instead.

They'd been hiking for well over two hours when they finally rounded the mountain and the valley below them disappeared as the trail snaked back to a ravine between two mountains, the tall, sheer sides climbing dozens of feet over their heads, and the last of the evening light disappearing into the shadows of it.

Sasha's breath stopped, but he took her hand and tugged her forward, his wolf-eyes having no trouble making out the trail.

They were close. So close.

"Where are we going?" she asked quietly, her voice echoing, bouncing between the rock walls on either side of them.

"A cave," he said. "But one that has been prepared."

"Prepared by who?" she asked.

"Me," he said simply, smiling, hoping she was going to enjoy as much as he thought she could.

Sasha blew out a breath. "You came all the way out here to get it ready?"

"Three times," he said. "Dunken helped. And we came in our beast forms, so it didn't take nearly as long."

"What were you doing?"

He looked down at her and even though she looked up, he wasn't sure she could actually see him.

"I wanted this to be comfortable for you. And I didn't want to have to hunt," he said. "I want us to have these days entirely for ourselves."

Her eyes closed briefly and she smiled. "That sounds wonderful, Zev. Are we… I mean, we're mates now, right? There's no… we aren't going to have some weird tradition turn up out of nowhere and a herd of elk are going to suddenly appear and demand me as a bride price, or something?"

Zev chuckled. "No. You belong to me. And after tonight…. After tonight, no Chimeran male would ever dare touch you." He squeezed her hand. "I know it's been a long road, Sash, but we're here. Don't worry. It's just us now. For real."

She hugged his arm, kissing his bicep through the fur he'd hurriedly donned back at the house.

"Thank, God," she whispered. And it sounded more like a prayer than a curse.

He didn't think God had any time for him and his pleasure, but then they reached the other side of the ravine and the trail curved up, doubling back again to climb the final hill face to the mouth of the cave where they would be staying for the next few days.

Zev's heart beat faster, and he picked up the pace.

They were finally there. This was finally happening.

Thank God, indeed.

*****

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