Yet again, he felt like a perverted fuck. This was becoming a habit he didn’t particularly like.

Gage wished to god he didn't feel so damned excited about watching her undress. Watching her bathe. He was an asshole of note. "I'm sorry!" he said it again, meaning it whole-fucking-heartedly. "Thing is, one of those bastards could come and get you. I don't mind leaving you for a short period under the thick canopy, in the shelter but out here in the open is different. You'd be gone before I could turn around."

“Right now? It’s night time.” She looked up at the sky. Black and sprinkled with stars. “I thought they couldn’t see at night.”

“I’m pretty sure they can’t but we can’t be completely sure.” He couldn’t take that chance. Wouldn’t risk it. “The current is pretty strong as well. What if you were swept away and hurt, or drowned, before I could get to you?”

"Mr. Doomsday."

“I’m serious. I won’t risk your life. I’ll try to keep my eyes averted as much as possible.” As much as his perverted mind would allow.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s nothing personal.” She made a face. “You guys all walk around naked, so I guess it’s normal?” She raised her brows, looking at him expectantly.

Gage didn’t say anything. There was nothing remotely normal about how this female would look naked. He couldn’t reassure her on that note.

She went on when he didn’t say anything. “And it’s not like you’re attracted to me or anything.” She laughed. It sounded like she was a bundle of nerves. He couldn’t blame her. Felt like even more of an asshole.

The best course of action was always to be straight with someone. It had never failed him before. “I won’t lie, you’re a very attractive female. I find you highly desirable, but I won’t look more than what is necessary. I won’t respond in any way that is inappropriate.”

“Really?” Her eyes flared for a second. “You’re attracted to me?”

“Why is that so shocking?”

Edith shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess … I don’t know. Okay. Wow! I …” Her heart was beating overly fast. Like it had been earlier when she’d been checking him out. Her eyes had flitted to his dick a good couple of times and it had taken some serious willpower not to let the little fucker take over. This female was attracted to him too. A recipe for disaster if he ever saw one.

“Like I said, I wouldn’t act on it. Would never …” He shook his head a little too vigorously. “It would be a bad idea on every level. Out here.” He looked around them. “Being hunted down by those beasts. We can’t do anything about it.”

“Yep, it would be a terrible idea.”

“We’d better get moving,” he said, his voice gruff. “We don’t want that fire to die out. Also, we need to hit the road soon if we want to make good ground tonight. I’m sure they will know we are following the river. We need to get as far as possible from their territory if we are to stand a chance of escaping them.”

Edith moved a few paces away from the water’s edge, to where the ground was firm and dry. “Right.” She removed her shirt. Then the top underneath. The skin that had been covered by the garments was milky white. The contrast between all the dried up, flaking mud and that clean, soft skin was a turn-on. He was a perverted fuck.

She was gorgeous all bathed in moonlight and white lace was his new favorite thing. No … he gulped … white lace on Edith was his new favorite thing. He bit back a groan.

Eyes up. Eyes up!

Her breasts were a thing of utter beauty. So soft. Gage knew they would bounce. They would feel wonderful in his hands. Her nipples would harden as he sucked on them. Fuck! His cock was hardening up. Hopefully she wouldn’t be able to see in this light.

He forced himself to look somewhere above her head as Edith toed off her sneakers, stuffing her socks into the shoes. Then she removed the jeans. Good god, those legs. Those thighs. That lace-clad snatch of fur.

Eyes up. Eyes up!

“Mind if I turn around?” Even her smile was as sexy as sin.

“Not at all,” his voice was a rough rasp. His dick was close to becoming a full-blown erection. He had zero control.

Eyes up … eyes … her ass was another thing of utter beauty.

“Are you staring at my rear?”

“Maybe. Not anymore. Sorry!” Shit! What was wrong with him? “You have a great ass,” he blurted. Why not just tell her you wouldn’t mind getting her on all fours?

She laughed. What a beautiful sound. He really was turning into a pussy. Perverted and pussified. Not the best combination. She folded the jeans and placed them on the ground. “I may have looked at your ass on a couple of occasions, so I guess this makes us even. I’m keeping my G-string on,” she said in a sterner tone.

“Good idea,” he growled the words. His balls felt heavy. That, and tight. Just about lodged in his damn throat.

She reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. “Can you take this? Please put it on the pile with the rest of my things.” She wrapped an arm around her breasts, still facing away from him. Thank fuck!

“Sure.” If his voice grew any deeper, he might no longer be comprehensible. Couldn’t be helped though. Not while standing so close to an almost naked Edith. One sliver of lace. He could slip that out of the way with just one finger. Could be inside her in seconds. She’d be hot and tight. It was a given. His cock throbbed in time with his pulse, which was a tad on the fast side.

Gage took the garment from her, feeling the soft lace between his fingers. “So, you and Jacob?” Where the fuck had that come from? He cringed. Maybe it was his way of heading this off at the pass. Better that way.

Edith pulled her shoulders back as her spine became more rigid. “There is no Jacob and me.”

“Didn’t look like it from where I was standing.” Now he sounded jealous. He wasn’t. “What I meant to say was that Jacob still looked pretty interested to me.”

“I went to a couple of those Shifter Nights at the Dark Horse.” Instead of saying any more, she waded into the water, putting her arms out to help her keep her balance. Side boob was one of the sexiest things ever invented. Do not look, pervert!

Eyes up!

It hurt, but he managed to lift his gaze as he waded in after her, staying a few feet away.

“Are you looking?” She sounded amused.

“No. I was, but now I’m not. I swear I’m doing my best here.” His best wasn’t good enough. Had to try harder.

Edith shrieked as she cupped a handful of water over herself. “It’s cold and you were right, the current is strong. I don’t want to go in any deeper.” The water was up to about mid-thigh. Fuck, even gooseflesh looked sexy on this female.

“Be careful,” he warned. “I can hold onto you if need be.”

“I think I’ll manage.” She was definitely smiling.

“I don’t mean that in a rude or weird kind of way.”

“I know.” She made another strangled noise as she dipped down a little into the swirling dark water.

“Funny.” He folded his arms, trying not to watch as she began to clean herself in earnest. “I can’t picture you in a seedy bar like the Dark Horse.”

“Why not?”

“You seem too classy to frequent a pick-up bar like that.”

“I’m a red-blooded woman, just like any other.”

“I guess so.” Shit! He was jealous of Jacob. Of a male who was practically still half-whelp, god help him. “How long ago were the two of you an item?”

She snorted. “We were never an item. It was only one night. Not even a night. Jacob dropped me off in the very early hours of the morning.”

He choked out a laugh. “Pup! The male is still wet behind the ears. Couldn’t even handle a female for a whole night.” Okay, that came out sounding more than a little jealous. He needed to get a handle on this. His dick was seriously getting in the way of his thinking. “All I’m saying is that Jacob seems keen on picking up where the two of you left off.”

She bent right over and stuck her head into the water, scrubbing vigorously. Edith came up for a deep breath and went back under.

Fucking pervert that he was, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her ass. Up in the air. Two white globes of perfection. No! No! He looked away. Muttering a curse.

“What was that?” She was slightly out of breath.

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

“I must say, I had a bit of a crush on Jacob after our night together.” She wrung her hair out. “I tried to meet up with him again, but he wasn’t interested. Sure, we’d talk and laugh and then he’d leave with someone else. I eventually stopped going. Look, it happened months ago. It’s over and done with.”

That’s not what Gage had seen. The way Jacob had stared at Edith was telling. His offer to carry the female even more so. “Did you know that Jacob’s name has come up on the list? He is eligible to take a mate. Not only that, he’s actively looking for one.” The young wolf had his sights set on Edith, Gage could feel it. It was none of his business.

“Oh.” She didn’t seem very interested, but he could be mistaken. “What about you?”

“What about me?” He frowned.

“Is your name on the list?” She didn’t mean it like that. She really didn’t. Even if she did … nah, she didn’t. Thank fuck because … no … just no. It wasn’t Edith.

“No!” he said a little too harshly.

“Why not?” She wrung her hair out a second time.

“I haven’t gotten around to putting it on there. I had a bad experience with a female ‒ my own fault ‒ and I guess it put me off for the longest time. I have trouble committing.”

“But you’re ready now?” She glanced back at him from over her shoulder. Her lashes were glistening with water droplets.

Gage swallowed hard. He shrugged. It was a question he’d asked himself a couple of times in the last few weeks. “Maybe. I’m not sure.”

Edith turned around. She turned around, dammit. Her hair was wet about her shoulders. Water dripped down her body. The lacy G-string went from sheer to barely there. Both of her arms were wrapped around her breasts which played peek-a-boo from between her forearms. They were just that full. His only salvation was that her nipples were covered. Jesus!

“Um, eyes up here, mister.”

“Fuck! I’m sorry. I keep doing that.”

He watched as her gaze moved to his cock. His very erect, jutting cock. He was damned if the perverted fuck didn’t give a twitch. Not only was she sweet, strong-willed and sexy as hell, but she was forward as well. Such great qualities in a female. Gage put a hand over himself. “Um … yeah … well.”

“Don’t apologize!” She locked eyes back with his and began to walk, he stepped backwards for every step she took until they were on the bank. “It’s this whole situation. We’re dependent on one another. Like you said before, it’s not personal.” She turned, facing away from him. Using the spaghetti-strapped top, she began to wipe herself off. Then she put the bra back on. Followed by the T-shirt.

His balls actually clenched when she took off the lacey G-string. Her shirt came to just below her ass, so he couldn’t actually see anything. Not that he was looking. Even though he wanted to. He’d love to catch a glimpse of her naked pussy. His cock throbbed, his balls clenched so tight that with just a couple of firm tugs, he’d be tickets. Who was he to call Jacob wet behind the ears?

There was so much at stake.

They in the middle of no-fucking-where being hunted by griffins. Big-ass mothers who could take him out and do whatever they wanted to the human. There was no doubt in his mind what they had in mind for her and it wasn’t pretty. Then there was Jacob and the fact that there was something going on between the two of them. He’d been in the middle of a love triangle before and it wasn’t fun. It had almost cost him his relationship with his brother. Had almost destroyed him.

Then, on top of all that, there were innocent females and children whose lives were solidly in his hands and here he was getting all amorous. Thinking with his dick instead of his head. His mind so far off the game it was scary.

“We need to move.” It was like someone had doused him in freezing water. “I have to apologize for my behavior. I don’t normally have to apologize for the same thing over and over. It won’t happen again and this time I mean it.”

“It’s fine.” Edith was looking down as she hurriedly tied her laces, using jerky movements. He got the feeling he’d said the wrong thing again. That she was mad at him.

* * *

That smells so good.” She watched as Gage turned the fish like a pro. “Where did you learn how to cook?” She ran her hands through her hair, thankful she’d cut it not so long ago. She dreaded what was going to happen when it dried completely.

He shrugged. “I go on regular scouting trips, either with other males or solo. We take turns cooking.”

“I thought you would just hunt something down and go crazy on the kill.”

Gage smiled. “On occasion, but our human side is more dominant. We spend more time in our skins then our furs, so it stands to reason we prefer being civilized.”

Oops! “Sorry. I didn’t mean that as an insult, I’m simply curious.”

“No worries! Ask anything. I don’t mind.” He looked up from what he was doing and did a double-take. His gaze zoned in on her … No, please no!

“Don’t say anything! Don’t you dare.” She pointed at him.

Gage’s eyes had this glint. He was smiling … no, make that smirking. “I’m not saying anything. Not a word.”

His smirk grew. “Dinner is almost ready. You hungry, Curls?”

Her mouth dropped open. “You didn’t just call me that!”

Gage chuckled. “I’m calling it like I see it. Besides, I think you look adorable.”

“Adorable? Really?” She folded her arms. “I’m not adorable. Little girls are adorable. I’m a grown woman, last time I checked.” She mumbled the last.

His whole expression changed. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It was a joke. I happen to think adorable and sexy can go hand-in-hand. Just so you know, there’s nothing wrong with having really curly hair. It’s a unique trait. It’s all you. I like the look.” Sincerity shone in his eyes. He held her gaze for a few moments before placing one of the fish on a large, thick leaf and handing it to her.

Oh shoot! Now she felt like a terrible person. “Thank you for this.” She held up her fish. It looked delicious. It smelled even better. It didn’t need herbs or butter or anything.

“It’s a pleasure.”

He was so sweet. “Thank you for the food and the nice things you said.”

“No need to thank me for that. I shouldn’t have teased you in the first place.”

She kind of liked that he had teased her. After hearing the explanation, she kind of liked the nickname too. “You can tease me. You can even call me Curls if you want. I don’t mind.” She pulled a piece of the fish off the bone and blew on it. “I guess I’m a little touchy about my hair. It’s the reason I blow dry it straight. I’ve even had it chemically straightened a good couple of times.”

He frowned but didn’t say anything.

“Kids used to tease me at school. They called me Frizzy Lizzy all through junior high.”

“Kids can be cruel,” Gage said simply. She noticed he wasn’t touching his food.

“It got worse, I became Kinky Edith in college. That’s when I started straightening my hair. I don’t mind a light curl, but this,” she ran a hand through her tight curls, “this I hate.”

Gage shrugged. “You look like you, whether you have curly hair or straight hair. You’re an attractive female, I already told you that. I meant the nickname as a compliment … not in a weird kind of a way though. As friends. I meant it in the best possible way.”

“I know.” She pushed out a breath. “You don’t have to explain. I overreacted. I wanted you to know why I’m a little sensitive. Thank you for saying all that and for making me feel better about something that’s bugged me for so long.”

“I said it because I meant it.”

“I know you did.” She licked her lips. “You can call me Curls if you want to.”

Gage grinned. “I was going to call you Curls whether you liked it or not.”

Somehow, she doubted that.

He winked at her, finally taking a bite of his fish. So, Gage thought she was adorable and sexy, and he was attracted to her. She shouldn't feel happy about this, but she did. She felt all warm inside, and it wasn't just the food that was finally going into her belly. The problem was that Edith would end up being just another hook-up to Gage. Once they got back to reality, it would be over. She knew it as plainly as she knew her own name. Gage had said he wasn't ready for a relationship. That he had commitment problems. His name wasn't even on that stupid shifter list. Edith wanted more. So much more. More than he had to give.

She took another bite, forcing herself to smile. “This is delicious.”