Hunting Wolf: Black Mesa Wolves #3 by J.K. Harper Page B

fearless in the face of his completely unguarded desire for her. Their usual russet-brown shade had deepened to dark chocolate. Fascinated, he realized it was because she was as aroused as he.
    “Ree,” he said again. He feather brushed her lips with his, teasing her with that bare touch until she suddenly reached up to grab his head with her hands and firmly pull it down to hers. Their lips met then almost fiercely, stroking and moving and tasting.
    Caleb was no stranger to women. But right now, every single woman he'd ever kissed before held all the memory of flat, dull dirt compared to Rielle. She tasted like cinnamon, soft spices laced with a saucy kick when she lightly nibbled his lower lip with her teeth. He gasped at that, which made a small, knowing “hmm” sound gently rumble from her lips to his. The vibration pulsed pleasurably against his mouth. He almost lost it when he thought of where else she could make that vibrating sound against him.
    A long, heady moment later, Caleb finally pulled back just a bit. She made as if to surge forward and claim his lips again, but he held her slightly away from him.
    “Shh,” he said, very slightly shaking his head at her. “I just want to look at you for a minute. Rielle,” he said again, and this time it was a question mixed with a statement mixed with a wonder he hadn't felt for a long time.
    The only words he could think of saying as he just stared at her heart-shaped face were trite but completely true: “You are so beautiful.”
    The curve of a smile started to lift her lips. Her eyes seemed lit by an inner fire. He wondered if it was possible to actually lose himself in them, because they seemed to be swallowing him up whole. “Finally kissed you. What kind of an idiot have I been?” He shook his head again, this time at himself.
    “The kind I wanted, it seems.” Her voice came low and liquid, like the voice of a woman who's just been kissed long and hard. However, there was definitely an uncertain tone in it as well. A slight furrow appeared in her forehead.
    “Hey.” He reached out to tip up her chin with one gentle finger. “That was okay, right?”
    She nodded. Her eyes, though, darted away from his for a second. His wolf whined, wanting to comfort her. Mine.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    She shook her head, suddenly seeming almost embarrassed. The relaxed acceptance she'd gained from her wolf side seemed to be fading beneath her more uptight human side again.
    “Ree.” His voice held nothing but patience, which was pretty much a miracle for him. “No judging, right? We agreed. And I meant that.”
    Those soft chocolate eyes looked searchingly at him. He held her gaze, pouring every bit of sincerity he could into it. It was ridiculously important that she believe in him, trust him. He wasn't sure why it mattered so much, but it did.
    “Just tell me. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
    During the very long pause in which apparently he held his breath because his lungs started to burn, Rielle's face turned interesting shades of pink. Finally, she whispered, in a halting voice, “Um. Well. I'm just not really—um, experienced. With things like this, I mean.” She waved one hand around, further confusing Caleb.
    Letting his breath out and taking in a deep one, he said, “I don't get it. What things?”
    Rielle closed her eyes and appeared to be gathering her strength. Caleb kept her chin in his fingertips, marveling at how soft her skin was there even as he wondered what the heck she was so nervous about.
    When she finally answered, he almost had to draw on his wolf hearing to catch her words, even though her face was only inches from his. “I've never been with anyone before. I mean, with a guy. Ever.”
    Lost at first, understanding dawned on Caleb as Rielle watched his face, her own as fearful as a rabbit cornered by a hawk. “Whoa,” he said. “Wait. You're a virgin?”
    Rielle's nod came quickly, as though she was afraid he was about to