Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
As Kodi starts a fire, I settle onto a plush couch, watching the flames catch and dance. The large flat-screen TV mounted elegantly above the fireplace serves as a focal point in the room, seamlessly blending contemporary technology with the warm, rustic ambiance of the cabin.
Outside, the woods whisper and beckon, but for now, this moment with Kodi by the fire is exactly where I belong. The outside world, and the fear of my unknown stalker, fade away as I realize I totally trust my mate.
Here, in the heart of the enchanted woods, surrounded by mystery and beauty, I can already tell that magical things are about to happen.
At some point, the excitement from the day catches up with me and I fall asleep on the sofa. I’m having the most delicious dream involving a hot bear shifter when I feel a soft kiss at the base of my throat. My eyes pop open and I find myself staring into the flashing green eyes I was just dreaming about. “Wake up, Beauty.” He places a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. “I’m going to stick a casserole in the oven for our dinner, and then I’ll show you around.” Kodi’s words remind me how hungry I am.
“Sounds great.” I drag myself off the most comfortable sofa I’ve ever sat on and stretch a little, hoping to work out all the travel kinks. “What can I do to help?”
“Not a thing.” His friendly smile looks almost predatory. Oh my. My Bossy Bear looks like he’d like to eat me for dinner. And I’m not complaining at all.
I follow him into the gorgeous kitchen and gasp, “This is my dream kitchen.”
“I’m glad you like it, Beauty.” He looks over his shoulder and smiles as he grabs a casserole out of the matte black refrigerator.
‘Like’ is an understatement. I glance around at the top-of-the-line appliances integrated perfectly into hardwood cabinets. There’s a large central island featuring an induction cooktop with a downward-draft hood. Oh, man. I can picture myself making Sunday pancake breakfasts on the fancy stove.
“All windows and doors in the cabin are fitted with advanced security sensors and locks that can be controlled via a central smart home system,” Kodi tells me as he places the aluminum foil-covered casserole dish in the large oven built into the wall next to the refrigerator.
“I know you’ll keep me safe.” That’s one of the first things I learned when my sister found her wolf shifter mate. Shifters take their mate’s safety very seriously.
Chapter 5
Kodi
As the smell of melted cheese and grilled chicken fills the cabin, I give my mate a tour of the home I built in Fable Forest ten years ago.
“I love your home.” She glances over her shoulder and smiles up at me as I lay her suitcase on the bed in the room she chose. I almost fist-bumped the air when Briella decided on the guest bedroom right next to my room.
“I hope you’ll call it our home soon.” I lean close, and her delicate scent causes my bear to stretch under my skin.
“I’d like that, too.” The scent of her arousal wraps around us, causing my cock to grow rock-hard. “But first, I’d like to get to get acquainted.” My inner bear pants heavily, and I have to inform the fucker she doesn’t mean she wants to get acquainted in bed.
“Dinner is almost ready. Why don’t we dish it up and we can talk while we eat?” I suggest, hoping to get the talking out of the way so we can move onto more pleasurable activities. Like marking her and planting my cub deep in her belly.
“That sounds great. All this fresh, clean air has me starving.” She isn’t the only one who’s ravenous.
“I can’t have my mate going hungry.” I lead her down the long hallway past the four guest bedrooms toward the kitchen.
After plating our meal, I place the plates on my large oval table while Briella pours us each a glass of wine. While alcohol has little effect on shifters so most don’t drink, I actually like the taste of this wine.
I sit across from my mate and watch as she digs into the casserole.
The vein pounding at the base of her delicate throat calls to me as I watch her dive into the food. “This is so good,” she groans, and my cock grows even harder as visions of her moaning like that in my bed flash through my mind. “Did you make it?”
“No…” I clear my throat. “I have a housekeeper who cleans three times a week. She also cooks a week’s worth of meals for me and places them in the refrigerator.” For the first three months I lived in Fable Forest, I ate out nearly every meal. It didn’t take long for me to miss homecooked meals.