“Cody, grab some water for our friends,” he ordered. The boy nodded and raced for their cooler on the deck.
Maggie wiggled again and Erik savoured the weight of her on his lap. The brush of her skin against his increased his pleasure. The sweet smell of her natural perfume filled him with the dire need to taste her skin.
Cody handed over a bottle of water and she guzzled most of it down.
Pam watched him like an overeager chaperone, her gaze dancing around the pool area. She seemed concerned there were now four strange males crowding her and Maggie, and Erik motioned for the boys to step away.
“Did I pass out?” Maggie spoke soft and slow, her words barely audible.
“You weren’t out cold, but neither were you were coherent. Do you need your pills?” Pam asked.
Maggie leaned back on his chest, her head turned slightly so the warmth of her breath brushed him.
“No pills. This is heavenly. I haven’t been this relaxed for months.”
Erik smiled. She knew him too. Her body already sensed they were meant to be together.
The friend glared harder, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as if Erik were somehow making Maggie respond like a puppet. “Umm, Mags? If you’re feeling up to it, you want to come sit over here with me?”
“Nope. Comfy here.” Her words slurred.
He peered over the top of her head to see her eyes were closed. Long dark lashes rested on milky white skin. He admired the contrast against his darker colouring where her arm rested on his biceps. She
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9
Vivian Arend
draped herself over him without shame, accidentally grinding her hips against his groin and his cock woke.
Oh yeah. Getting to the intimate part of their relationship would be fine as well.
She moved lazily, lifting her arms to stretch. Her fingers missed brushing his cheek by inches and he refrained from leaning closer to let her stroke him. Her wonderful scent lingered in the air and he inhaled deeply in appreciation. Hmm. All those days of watching his Alpha pair care for each other brought his anticipation for this moment to a fine peak. So this is what it felt like to find the missing part of your soul.
Maggie smacked her lips. “Is there a snack bar here?”
“Are you hungry?” Pam hovered closer.
“No. Just trying to figure out what that fabulous smell is. Why were you shouting?”
Pam pointed over Maggie’s shoulder and sniffed. “He is being stubborn and I really wish you’d stop sitting on him.”
The steady beat of his mate’s heart sped up. She reached under the water and her fingers slipped over the bare skin of his thigh, sending another thrill along his nerves. Oh hell yeah, the connection rocked between them.
“Pam? Where am I?” Maggie twisted in slow motion to stare up at him, the deep blue of her eyes flashing with recognition for an instant before she opened her mouth.
And screamed.
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Chapter Two
Maggie scrambled off his lap so fast she slipped, her feet skidding on the soft rocks at the bottom of the outdoor pool. The towering mass of man in front of her caught her easily before her head went under.
“Take it easy, Maggie. You’re safe.” He settled her on her feet and stepped back. The bright smile in his eyes and on his face made something inside her twist and leap for joy at the same time. Her wolf fought to be free and her stomach clenched in reaction.
He was a werewolf. She recognized him from pictures Missy had sent online over the past couple of years. He was the damn Beta for her sister’s pack and he was here in Liard Hot Springs pool and her wolf lusted for him. Great. Let’s just jump in with two feet, shall we? After avoiding everything to do with wolves for years, the first one she met had to turn her crank. Movement to his side caught her attention as a group of young men approached.
“Erik? Is that Maggie?”
“Of course she is. She looks like her sister. Hi, Maggie, welcome to the North.”
The three youths continued to advance, all talking at once. Maggie backed up rapidly, slamming into Pam’s side. Oh God, there were four wolves in front of her. Panic rose and she pushed it down. She had to get over her fears.
“Do you know these people?” Pam wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
Erik nodded. “We’re friends of her sister. We were supposed to meet you in Whitehorse.”
Pam looked around pointedly.
One of the boys spoke up. “We begged Erik to bring us to the hot springs. It’s been a while and with the Games starting soon and us not being able to participate yet he—”
“Games?”