cocoon where the realities that kept them apart outside this room didn’t exist. Ava winced internally as his question threatened her ability to ignore those realities.
“I’m hardly the kind of girl to come to the Alpha’s notice.”
He frowned against her skin, even that subtle movement a caress. “What does that mean?”
“Landon,” she sighed. “You’ve seen my lion form—”
“I told you I could make you shift.” He chuckled smugly, the vibration carrying through her body.
She swatted him, unwilling to be distracted now that he had brought it up. “You know how small I am. I’m hardly the type of girl to attract the attention of the Alpha.”
“I like how small you are.” One long finger plunged inside her, leaving her no doubt as to his meaning.
Ava caught her breath and closed her eyes, letting sensation wash over her. “How can I still need you like this?” she gasped as he shifted his body over hers.
This time their mating was slow and sensual, each deliberate movement of his body wrenching at her heart. When he eased off her onto his side several minutes later, Ava twisted to fit her back against his front, tucking her chin to hide her face. Her emotions were too close to the surface, filling her eyes to glistening and threatening to betray her.
Landon threw a leg across hers and wrapped one heavy arm around her waist, holding her snug against him. His mouth traced patterns on the back of her neck, never still.
She needed distance. She needed to remind her heart that it could not get too attached to this passionate, surprisingly playful, intelligent, dynamic, honorable man. With her face still hidden, Ava made herself say the words that needed to be said.
“You’ll be taking a mate soon, I expect.” Her throat threatened to close off, but she choked out the next few words. “It will need to be someone strong. Someone who can lead the Hunt.” Even if they were only hunting the domesticated cattle on their own ranch, the ritual of it was essential to their culture.
Landon stilled at her first words, but then he made an agreeable noise and began kissing a line across her shoulder again.
Ava made herself go on. She needed to be clear. She would not be pitied. She wanted him to know she had no expectations to be his partner, no matter how much her heart might ache at the idea of anyone else taking her place in his arms. “Have you given any thought to which of them you will choose?”
This conversation was agony, but she would have it.
His mouth stopped against her shoulder blade. “I’ve wanted to learn a bit more about the pride before making an irrevocable decision,” he said, his voice frustratingly devoid of inflection. “Who would you have me choose, Ava?”
Now he wanted her to pick her own rival? “I couldn’t make such a choice for you. She must be strong and fast—”
“Tolerant, progressive in her way of thinking…” His mouth glided back to the nape of her neck.
Ava gritted her teeth. He was taunting her now. She knew as well as he what was required of the Alpha’s mate. “Firm enough to rule in your stead.”
“Wise enough to rule without violence…”
“Large enough that none of the other lionesses could physically threaten her to get their way…”
Landon suddenly grew very alert at her back. “Has someone been threatening you, Ava?”
She rolled her eyes, not caring that he couldn’t see the gesture. “I’m the runt of the pride, Landon. Everyone bullies me. It’s practically the national pastime.”
His arm tightened almost immeasurably against her stomach, the muscles suddenly iron hard. “Your brothers allow this?” he growled.
“My brothers can’t be everywhere and even if they could, a lioness should fight her own battles.” Ava smiled wryly. “Or be smart enough to give in when a battle with someone twice her size is imminent.”
“That isn’t how I want my pride to be.” Landon’s body was impossibly tense. It was like
“I’m hardly the kind of girl to come to the Alpha’s notice.”
He frowned against her skin, even that subtle movement a caress. “What does that mean?”
“Landon,” she sighed. “You’ve seen my lion form—”
“I told you I could make you shift.” He chuckled smugly, the vibration carrying through her body.
She swatted him, unwilling to be distracted now that he had brought it up. “You know how small I am. I’m hardly the type of girl to attract the attention of the Alpha.”
“I like how small you are.” One long finger plunged inside her, leaving her no doubt as to his meaning.
Ava caught her breath and closed her eyes, letting sensation wash over her. “How can I still need you like this?” she gasped as he shifted his body over hers.
This time their mating was slow and sensual, each deliberate movement of his body wrenching at her heart. When he eased off her onto his side several minutes later, Ava twisted to fit her back against his front, tucking her chin to hide her face. Her emotions were too close to the surface, filling her eyes to glistening and threatening to betray her.
Landon threw a leg across hers and wrapped one heavy arm around her waist, holding her snug against him. His mouth traced patterns on the back of her neck, never still.
She needed distance. She needed to remind her heart that it could not get too attached to this passionate, surprisingly playful, intelligent, dynamic, honorable man. With her face still hidden, Ava made herself say the words that needed to be said.
“You’ll be taking a mate soon, I expect.” Her throat threatened to close off, but she choked out the next few words. “It will need to be someone strong. Someone who can lead the Hunt.” Even if they were only hunting the domesticated cattle on their own ranch, the ritual of it was essential to their culture.
Landon stilled at her first words, but then he made an agreeable noise and began kissing a line across her shoulder again.
Ava made herself go on. She needed to be clear. She would not be pitied. She wanted him to know she had no expectations to be his partner, no matter how much her heart might ache at the idea of anyone else taking her place in his arms. “Have you given any thought to which of them you will choose?”
This conversation was agony, but she would have it.
His mouth stopped against her shoulder blade. “I’ve wanted to learn a bit more about the pride before making an irrevocable decision,” he said, his voice frustratingly devoid of inflection. “Who would you have me choose, Ava?”
Now he wanted her to pick her own rival? “I couldn’t make such a choice for you. She must be strong and fast—”
“Tolerant, progressive in her way of thinking…” His mouth glided back to the nape of her neck.
Ava gritted her teeth. He was taunting her now. She knew as well as he what was required of the Alpha’s mate. “Firm enough to rule in your stead.”
“Wise enough to rule without violence…”
“Large enough that none of the other lionesses could physically threaten her to get their way…”
Landon suddenly grew very alert at her back. “Has someone been threatening you, Ava?”
She rolled her eyes, not caring that he couldn’t see the gesture. “I’m the runt of the pride, Landon. Everyone bullies me. It’s practically the national pastime.”
His arm tightened almost immeasurably against her stomach, the muscles suddenly iron hard. “Your brothers allow this?” he growled.
“My brothers can’t be everywhere and even if they could, a lioness should fight her own battles.” Ava smiled wryly. “Or be smart enough to give in when a battle with someone twice her size is imminent.”
“That isn’t how I want my pride to be.” Landon’s body was impossibly tense. It was like
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