No, Kai was most definitely not playing for his own team.

He loved that Amelia had just asked instead of getting weird about it, maybe playing games instead of simply talking to him about her concerns. It made things so much easier. Yes, his mate had issues and she didn’t trust easily, but she was always upfront and he loved that.

“You ready for some steak and eggs?” he asked, rubbing against her because it felt so damn good.

Kai felt like a teenager all over again, ready to blow his load at a moment’s notice with the way his mate held onto him, making those little noises. For fuck’s sake she was gorgeous.

Amelia shook her head. “I think I’m hungry for something else first,” she said, her voice a bit huskier than normal.

Those words excited him, but they also didn’t quite sound like her. He pulled back and searched her eyes. The mate bond had to be affecting her senses. Kai would have to tell her soon, but he wanted a few more days to convince her she could love him instead of thinking the mate bond forced it.

“Darling, I’d love to take you right here and right now, but we agreed on slow remember?”

She muttered something under her breath that sounded like ‘fine then, because I don’t have sexy lingerie anyway’ before pushing past him, cheeks red.

Instantly Kai felt terrible and he jogged after her. Amelia was fast when she wanted to be. “Hey,” he said, grabbing her hand before gently pulling her into a hug. “It’s not because I don’t want you.” He pressed against her again to show her the truth of his words. His pants were uncomfortably tight.

The way she came for him the other night had been all he could think about. Kai dreamed of her in his sleep and all the things he wanted to do to her, up to and including cuddling on the couch in front of the fire.

“I still owe you,” Amelia said, dropping to her knees.

Instantly Kai tensed. This was not what he’d expected. He was speechless as she unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock without hesitation. Kai inhaled sharply as she slipped him into her mouth and he bucked, he couldn’t help it. It was so unexpected and sexy. Kai was already on the edge as he stared at her.

Could Amelia actually want him that badly?

Seducing women who weren’t his mate had been easy and Kai had never had problems in the bedroom, but he was nervous with Amelia. He didn’t want to lose it early and she was the only one who shoved him to the edge so quickly. She was also the only one he cared about losing and it made the chase a thousand times more difficult.

“Jesus,” he murmured as she took him deep, sucking hard on his cock with her hand at his base. It made his skin tight and he clenched as she sucked him deeper. “Amelia.” Her name was a whisper on his lips and Kai groaned as she worked him.

Her mouth was soft and gentle, warm and with a silky texture that made the pressure and pleasure build hard and fast. He ran his fingers through her hair and the lovely soft curls she had. Her scent filled the room. Amelia sucked again and he felt it. His cock hardened and his balls drew up as her tongue flicked the tip. “Amelia I’m about to come,” he warned.

She didn’t stop and the way she looked up at him…Kai lost control, shuddering as he growled his pleasure and he felt his cum fill her mouth. Amelia sucked him dry until he was a quivering mess barely able to stand.

Amelia wiped her mouth and smiled up at him. “Now we’re even.”

Kai growled. Not even close, but she would soon find that out. If her stomach weren’t grumbling he’d lay her down and show her what ‘even’ meant. He pulled her up into his arms and kissed her, salt on her mouth and all. Everything about her was delicious.

“I appreciate that more than you know,” he said.

It would certainly help him last longer when he made love to her later, but it had also been her choice. He hadn’t had to ask or convince her, there was no seducing involved. Amelia had wanted him and she had done something about it.

“But you don’t owe me anything.” It was important he get that through. Amelia’s past hadn’t been kind and Kai didn’t want her associating him with her ex.

One day Kai would hunt him down and enjoy the way his blood tasted.

Amelia didn’t respond with words. She carefully put him back in his pants and zipped him up. Kai’s hands tightened on her hips. God, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone. Those blazing green eyes burned him up inside and he wanted to claim her for all to see. Amelia was his.

He pressed his forehead to hers. She was so tiny in his arms. “You know you have a choice, right? You can ask me for anything, or say no.”

Those green eyes flashed, but she smiled at him. One of those rare, blinding smiles that transformed her entire face and Kai felt the mate bond strengthen between them. “I’m starting to get that,” she told him, cocking her head to the side.

The way Amelia studied him gave Kai hope. Maybe this would work. She’d already come to his home, his territory where she was safe. His wolf was happy and satisfied so far. But if she left in four days with no intention of coming back…Kai would have to find a way to make this work. His wolf couldn’t do long distance.

“Let’s eat,” he murmured, kissing her cheek just so he could breathe in more of her scent. His mind raced as he tried to come up with ways for this to work. First of all, he had to tell her what he really was. That would be the real test of their bond.

The table was already set and Kai had the steaks in the oven. It only took a few moments to cook some eggs, make some toast, and pour the orange juice. The entire time she watched him with a curious look on her face and he knew she’d have more questions.

The ones she’d already asked had been difficult to answer without giving anything away.

“Bonnie is coming over tomorrow, if that’s all right. She wants to make sure you aren’t wearing my skin.”

God the things this woman said. He burst out laughing. Her mind was a glorious, strange place that he adored. The more she showed him who she really was, the harder Kai fell. “Does my dick inside you count as wearing your skin?” he teased, throwing a look over his shoulder.

She snorted at him, but the color was high on her cheeks and he could smell how wet and ready she was. Kai licked his lips and put the food on the table, trying to ignore the delicious scent of her and how hungry it made him.

“If Bonnie is coming over, I’d like to set up a barbecue so you can meet my…” Kai almost said pack mates, but that would sound strange to a human. “My friends who live on the property.”

“That sounds nice.” But already Kai could scent her anxiety replacing the arousal. “This isn’t a reservation or commune right?”

Kai shook his head and pulled out the kitchen chair for her. When she sat he took a deep breath and then sat across from her. “Eat, and I’ll explain what I can. There are some things I can’t tell you yet, but by the end of your trip, you’ll know everything.”

The suspicion in her eyes hurt, but Kai knew it all sounded sketchy and strange. When Amelia cut into her steak he began to explain.

“This isn’t a Native American reservation. We sit on twenty-five hundred acres because we need the space and the wilderness. There is a pack of wolves on the property that we protect. Everyone who lives here is one hundred percent loyal to me, and I help keep them safe from their past. It’s been a rough go for most of them, but this place offers peace.”

It was difficult to explain further without telling her about their wolf sides, but Kai tapped his fingers on the table and sipped at the orange juice as he thought.

“None of them will hurt you, and I trust them with my life. It’s difficult to explain, but we’re healing here as friends and as the family we chose. I don’t actually know my Native American tribe because I was given up for adoption with no records. I was one of those babies dropped off at the fire station.”

It used to hurt, but Kai shrugged. He’d been born, not bitten. Whatever his parents had been going through, he didn’t think it was a simple case of not wanting him. Taking care of a baby wolf took a lot. The entire pack was involved, but Kai had been sent to humans instead.

Those early years were ones he didn’t like to remember.

Amelia took his hand in hers and squeezed. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “It sounds like you had a worse upbringing than I did.”

He grinned. It hadn’t been all bad. “I ran away when I was five and ended up finding my real family. They weren’t blood, but they took care of me.” Kai had been damned lucky the pack had taken him in and rehabilitated him instead of putting him down as a savage wolf.

If the one he hunted had responded at all, he would have tried, but it was like the wolf went out of his way to kill humans and rub it in Kai’s face.

He frowned. There was that little problem too. Kai had tracked the wolf back into his pack’s territory, in the Umatilla National Forest. Too close to home, but at least the wolf was out of the city. Shane was currently tracking him, sending Kai updates every few hours.

“Is something wrong?” Amelia asked.

He shook his head and ate some food. “There is a lot we can do if you like. There is hiking, fishing, riding on the ATVs, and I could show you around the house and the property…what would you like to do?”

Amelia swallowed a big bite of steak she’d slathered in hot sauce. It was weird and ruined the steak in his opinion, but Kai kept his mouth shut on the matter. “I’d like the grand tour, but then some hot chocolate and a fire, maybe a book – that sounds perfect. I’m not hiking in the snow, or ice fishing. We can do the ATVs and the tour.”

She sipped her juice and he couldn’t help the smile as he watched her.

Somehow he’d found his mate, and for the first time in his life he felt complete. “Anything you want,” he said quietly. Kai already loved her, every nook and cranny. He would gladly die for her.

He couldn’t wait to show her the magic of the wolves.