Page 100 of What a Wolf Wants
Charlene had to stop and howl then, to let everyonein the pack know her by her howl. Ethan howled, showing he was with her, and she licked and kissed him, loving him. Then Noah howled, and she wanted to laugh. He was running with the three she-wolves, each of them stopping to howl. Charlene wondered about Noah’s interest in Tori. Maybe she was a little too hot for him to handle.
They crossed a creek, splashing water everywhere, snapping at it, seeing the fish swimming there, which made her want to fish. One leapt out of the water in front of her and she jumped at it, catching it midair, but released it before she injured it. Tonight was all about the run, not about fishing. This was so much more fun than running in Florida. Not that the park there hadn’t been beautiful to explore, but running with a whole pack of wolves? And Ethan, of course. This was the life.
They had run for about a half hour, some with younger wolves, when they began to head back to the ranch. Ethan and Charlene nuzzled each other and slowly walked back, taking in the beautiful sun setting in the night sky. She was thinking how lovely it had been here and how much fun it would be to participate in other pack celebrations too.
The wolves began to howl, and Ethan and Charlene joined in on the chorus. When they finally reached the pack leaders’ home, they enjoyed strawberry daiquiris with Cassie and Leidolf, and then Charlene and Ethan retired to the guest room on the other side of the ranch house where they would have privacy. Charlene couldn’t wait to make love to her mate.
***
Ethan and Charlene took a shower together and then joined each other in bed, kissing and ready to make love after all that had gone on, when Ethan got a call from Grainger. He sighed and put the call on speakerphone. “Yes, sir?”
“Clara Snyder was released on bail. She has never done anything wrong that we could learn of, though the IRS is looking into the gifts she has received and not reported them or paid taxes on them. We’re still trying to learn if she is who she says she is, and if not, who she is. So it’s going to take a bit of digging. But everyone else has been moved from the jail near the coast and brought here to Portland,” Grainger said.
“Good. Though if Clara is this mixed up in their financial business, I wish we could have kept her in jail. Otherwise, she could be a flight risk.”
“She’s wearing an ankle monitor, just in case.”
“Oh, good.”
“Are you ready to retire after catching the majority of the ones involved in the gang?” Grainger asked.
“Only after Kroner is caught. Unless it takes years. Then he’s all yours.”
Grainger laughed. “Hopefully, he is still hanging around. Just so you know, both Renault and Noah are your backup. Renault is moving into the safe house in Oyster Bay in the morning.”
Ethan frowned. “Okay.”
“All right. Talk to you later.”
“Thanks, sir. Good night.”
“I felt bad that Renault couldn’t have been here with us tonight to celebrate,” she said.
“Yeah, he deserved to be here, except for the not-being-a-wolf part. But…” Ethan shook his head.
“What?”
“Grainger is having Renault stay with Noah at the safe house, and he’s going to work with me to catch Kroner. I–I don’t know.”
“You still wonder if he’s telling the truth.”
“Yeah. Though no one we caught acted like they knew Renault was working for Kroner. Which seems strange if Renault is one of Kroner’s henchmen.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“We will.” Ethan was ready to make love to his mate, with no more thoughts about Renault or anyone else on the case.
He began to slide his hands up Charlene’s shirt, cupping her breasts, squeezing, feeling her aroused nipples push back against the palms of his hands. Scrumptious.
Likewise, she jerked his shirt tails out of his pants and slid her hands up his chest. Charlene traced her finger around Ethan’s nipples and kissed them. Her touches pumped up his libido instantly and a raging ache in his loins ensued. She licked his nipples, making them pebble and crave her erotic caresses. His needs raged to the forefront when they kissed and touched each other.
Ethan’s body was so attuned to Charlene’s touch, her smell, her pheromones bumping up their interest in each other. He kissed her luscious mouth that was begging him to take his fill. She kissed him with the same enthusiasm,breathing him in like he was breathing her in, fanning the flames of need.
He deepened his kiss, their tongues dancing until she sucked on his tongue, nearly sending him over the edge. He moved against her soft body, tantalizing, his hands covering her luscious curves, his body molding against hers.
Their hearts were racing as he enjoyed her sculpted, feminine beauty. She was running her hands over his body, feeling his muscles, appearing to enjoy the planes of his body just as much.
“You are mouthwatering,” she said.
