Page 78 of Taming of a Wolf

Anders sticks out his chest with a pleased rumble. “If there’s anything I am good at, it is fighting. I will always fight for you, Jamie.”

I lift his hand and kiss his fingers to give myself time for the lump in my throat to go away. Finally, I say, “You must have some crappy relationships under your belt too. Spill it.”

“Only one.”

Now I’m curious.

I shift between his thighs so I can get a better look at him. “Who?” I play with his wet, curly chest hair while he composes a reply.

“A farmer from my village.”

Anders combs wet fingers through my hair. His jaw tightens, a muscle ticking under the skin. “You really liked him, huh?”

“Aye, that I did. He was the first lad I was sweet on. My first kiss in the tundra’s hot springs. His name was Jorik. He noticed me rather than Wulfric. Everyone wanted Wulfric, clamored to be his chosen mate the moment he came of age to be mated. He rejected all of them, of course. Wanted to wait for his fated mate to come along. I thought Jorik was impervious to Wulfric’s Alpha status. Had no idea he’d been playing the pair of us. Not until I found him in the stables with Wulfric.”

“Did Wulfric know you liked him?”

“Of course he did. We were young and foolish and enjoyed being cruel to each other. In the end, Jorik left us both and rode out of the village with his true fated mate.”

Anders’s tone is casual, but I hate that he was used like that and hurt by his brother. “Sorry that happened to you.”

“I was a fool to think anyone would care for me when they could have Alpha Wulfric. It’s what I deserved.”

The water ripples in the bath as I turn around. “Don’t.” I lace my fingers at the back of his neck. “You may not be an Alpha, not by birth. But you’remyAlpha.”

Anders’s breath catches. “Say it again?” His voice is soft, plaintive.

Leaning in, I brush the words against his lips. “My Alpha.”

Anders lunges in for a kiss that leaves me breathless, and before my eyes, the gruff and guarded man I’ve come to know melts against me with each tender kiss.

“Yours,” he whispers. “Yours, always.”

Chapter 20

Anders

“I would like tocelebrate your birthday,” I tell Jamie over breakfast.

Jamie pauses in the middle of buttering his toast. “You don’t have to.” He shakes his head and spoons some jam onto his toast. He cuts the toast in half and hands it to Jace and me.

I take a bite, the sweet jam and salty butter a delectable combination, even if I hate the seedy bread. “I never said Ihadto. I want to celebrate you. I’d like it if you would let me.”

“Why?” Jamie asks, pushing his eggs around his plate.

This man… “Because I care for you, why else? Or do people in this time not celebrate birthdays after they’ve already happened?”

Jamie shrugs, staring down at his plate. “It could be a belated birthday celebration, I guess.”

“Belated?”

“Kind of like a late celebration.”

I nod, chewing some eggs. That works just fine. “We could do it this evening.”

“If you want.”

“I do. Very much.”

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