Rogue Shifter [High-Country Shifters 3] by Melody Snow Monroe Page A

destination. “To the waterfall.”
    “I’ve wanted to see that. In Anterra, it’s almost legendary.”
    She was sure he was pulling her leg. “How could that be?”
    “According to your best friend, Lara, she was headed toward said waterfall when she stumbled through the alignment point.”
    Now she remembered. “Yes, she did tell me that. I hope you wore swim trunks under your pants.”
    “Trunks?”
    “Swimming naked is forbidden. What would happen if a young girl came by and saw you?”
    She laughed when his brows rose. It was as if he was trying to figure out the answer. “I don’t know.”
    He probably didn’t have any idea. The poor young spectator would be ruined for life. “Never mind.” She figured he could swim in his pants.
    The trip up the mountain was wonderful as the clear day allowed for them to see forever. Once they jumped off, Malik held her hand as they headed down the path.
    “Is it frustrating that you have to walk? I bet you’d rather shift and run full out.” She’d love to be able to do something so wonderful just once.
    He smiled down at her. “Not when it means I can walk with you.”
    “You say the sweetest things.”
    “When we get to the waterfall, it will be all sweetness that I’ll be tasting.”
    Just thinking about the wonderful things he could do to her, her pussy got wet. She hadn’t been to the falls in probably a year, but she remembered a small cave nearby. As soon as they got there, she wanted to have the picnic near the water. After they ate, she figured they could move someplace more secluded and do whatever came naturally.
    The forest smelled of pure oxygen, filled with pine and rich loam. Malik made sure to match her steps so that she didn’t have to almost run. When they came to the fork, she took the middle path.
    “The sign says the waterfall is to the left.”
    “It’s in the wrong spot. I’ve gone that way, and it leads nowhere.”
    “It leads to Anterra sometimes.”
    Whoops . She hadn’t known. “Do you miss your home?”
    He looked off at the horizon. “I miss some of the people and the tall trees, but not the fact that we have to be vigilant all the time. It’s not so bad for me, but often the elderly and weak get caught in the battle for wolf domination. It’s sad.”
    She could understand him wanting to leave a place that had so much strife.
    The roar of the falls got louder as they neared. She prayed this staged event would go as she’d planned. “Here’s the path down to the water.”
    They followed it about two hundred feet when the canopy opened up to a marvelous pool of blue-green, swirling water fed by the falls.
    “This is wonderful.” He looked down at her and smiled.
    “I love it here.” She moved closer to the edge of the water. “How about if we have our picnic here.”
    “In the open?”
    She laughed. “I’m starving. I need my energy if I’m going to do you any justice.”
    He chuckled and pulled off the backpack. He’d gotten it half unzipped, when she took it out of his hands.
    She wagged a finger at him. “There are surprises in there I don’t what you to see just yet.”
    His smile turned into a full-blown grin. “I’m curious how prepared you got. Perhaps you brought some rope so I could tie you to a tree and lick you all over?”
    “I’m not telling you anything.” The fact that his imagination included some sexual kink made her pussy wet. She wouldn’t be able to enjoy the picnic if she didn’t stop thinking about sex.
    She pulled out the blanket. “You can spread this out while I get the food.” And make sure the condoms are easily accessible. Once they got situated, she grabbed the plastic cups, the wine, and the corkscrew. “Would you like to do the honors?” She would have brought some beer for him, but she had no way to keep it cool.
    Malik opened then poured the wine. He held up his glass and tapped hers. She guessed that some traditions transcended realities. He had mentioned that