Seduced by a Shifter(55)

The rueful chuckle finally broke through and he dressed. Five minutes later they were in his truck, heading back to the cabin.

Tomorrow might be the full moon, but Ben was stronger than his beast. He could control the change and, mulling that over, realized that, theoretically, he didn’t have to tell Willow his secret just yet.

Chicken.

Ignoring his wolf’s growl, he glanced over at Willow. She’d been quiet on the drive and now he knew why. She was nodding off, her head against the cold glass window, arms curled around her torso, breathing deep and even.

Silently, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

When he shut the engine off at the bottom of the cabin’s front steps, the door opened and Joe stood framed in the doorway. Ben grabbed his gear and rounded the truck to pick Willow up. Carrying her inside, he nodded his thanks to Joe and headed to her room. He laid her on the bed and slipped off her shoes. Debating only a moment, he moved to shuck off her jeans when she abruptly sat up. Eyes closed, she struggled with her sweater a moment before Ben stripped it, and the shirt she had on underneath, off. Then she flopped back on the bed. After an amused pause, Ben finished divesting her of her jeans with her sleepy help. Of course her bra and panties had to follow. It’s not like she needed the clothes for warmth. He was just going to speak with the boys before cuddling—there was that word again—with her the rest of the night.

“You haven’t claimed her yet.” Joe commented when Ben joined them on the front porch.

“And tomorrow’s the full moon,” Scott added, ever so helpful.

Ben jutted his chin. “Your point?”

“You know how wacky shifters get if they scent an unclaimed female in heat on the full moon.”

Spreading his shoulders wide, Ben stared them down. “So I should kill you both now.”

Scott took a step back at the look on Ben’s face and held out his hands. “That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.”

“So? What? You suggesting I keep her locked inside tomorrow all day and night?” Because Ben could see that going over well.

Joe tugged on his ear, his expression sheepish. “Might not be a bad idea.”

“Shit.” Ben scrubbed a hand over his face. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“If you’d claim her, you wouldn’t have to. Otherwise, I’d suggest sex, and lots of it.” Scott dared to slap a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Lucky fucker.”

Grimacing, Ben knew the marathon sex session wasn’t in the cards. While his libido was ready to do a high-five, he knew Willow would be too sore, no matter what the mating heat demanded. Which was why he left his condoms in his locker.

“Got enough condoms?”

Ben glared at Scott for a long span of time before admitting, “No.”

Scott’s grin split his face. “Luckily I brought extras.” Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a strip of condoms, dangling them in the air.

Ben didn’t move, other than to crack his neck, trying to resist the temptation. His wolf wanted him to claim his mate, and both man and beast wanted to do the horizontal mambo. Or vertical polka. Didn’t matter which. The night was still young, looming ahead of him like an endless abyss. Willow might be exhausted but Ben, and most shifters, were creatures of the night.

Then he had to contend with the next thirty-six hours. If sex was on the table, it would be bliss. If not, it was going to be hell.

Unless he bit her, marking her as his for all shifters to scent. Then it would be heaven.

Except for one small detail: Ben still had to tell Willow about his kind.

Snatching the condoms, Ben stalked back in the cabin, shutting the door on Scott’s smirking face and Joe’s confused one. He undressed, dropping his clothes over a chair in Willow’s room, next to where he had placed hers, and climbed in under the covers next to his as-of-yet unclaimed mate.

As if sensing him, she turned on her side away from him, so he curled up close, drawing her smaller body against his, insinuating one of his legs between hers. One arm was bent under his pillow, the other wrapped around his little redhead. He told himself to behave and mentally argued with his wolf who growled that now was the perfect time to take a little bite.

Wanting to snarl at his indecisiveness, he snuggled closer, breathing in Willow’s scent, letting her soft warmth seep into his chest. He trailed a finger over her temple, the gentle curve of her cheek. Not touching her when she was close was not an option, which made him think about his desire for an independent mate. Willow was independent. Strong yet soft. A perfect mate.

It was him that needed to re-evaluate. When he’d found out she’d gone to Togan without telling him, he’d almost chased her down, demanding an explanation. Which meant maybe he was the one with the dependency issue. But he’d never before felt the overwhelming need to just be with someone.