Lawful Mates - Liam Kingsley Page 0,24

unable to fight my wolf’s insistence about Easton, I gave myself over to my instincts. I broke into a sprint through the woods, taking in the sights and sounds, and howling to release all my stress, frustration, and pent-up energy that had been threatening to boil over for weeks.

I didn’t know how long I ran, but the strength and power of my wolf as I let him run free felt so damn good that the moon was high in the night sky, and my body was nearly exhausted by the time I made it back to the clearing.

When I stepped from the trees, I froze.

Easton. He was standing across the clearing, right beside my car. The pull to go to him was so overpowering I couldn’t fight it. Not in wolf form. I padded toward him, drawn in by his scent. My heart raced, and I felt what he was to me, stronger than ever before—mate.

There was no denying my wolf right then. I was only a few yards from Easton, taking in his bright blue eyes, seeing him in a new light. However, I had enough of my wits about me to stop with a few feet still between us.

“I was going to shift and find you,” he said, his eyes full of concern. “But, I heard the howls and figured you probably needed some time to yourself.”

Easton took a step forward then knelt on the ground, waiting. I took a cautious step closer, and then another, and another. When I was finally right before him, I stopped, breathing him in. He reached out and stroked over my neck, brushing his fingers through my fur. I whimpered, unable to hold back, and nuzzled his chest.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he continued to run his hands over me, and I arched into his touch.

“Are we really going to keep pretending there’s nothing between us?” he asked softly after a few moments.

And there it was—an admission. I’d known he’d felt the undeniable pull between us, and it was good to hear him admit it, but how could we do anything about it when we were pitted against each other?

Not wanting to ruin the moment, but knowing we had to talk about this, I shifted, and then stood up, sucking in a breath when Easton stood with me and left his hand on my neck. I felt hot, overheated by his touch, and I took a step back. Though I was completely naked and at my most vulnerable, he kept his expression carefully blank.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Easton,” I said after a tense moment.

“Why?”

I sighed. “With everything going on with the case, things could get messy. The timing just isn’t right for us.”

He searched my eyes and must have found something there that gave him encouragement. “I don’t mind messy, Percy.”

The way he said my name weakened my resolve—something else he seemed to have noticed.

“I’m a professional,” he said. “Enough of a professional that I can do my job and still have a relationship. I can separate one from the other. Are you not capable of doing the same?”

There was a challenge in his voice, in his eyes. And damn if that didn’t drive me crazy. How was it possible to be so frustrated by someone and so drawn in by them at the same time? Easton got under my skin in the best and worst ways possible, but I had never been one to walk away from a challenge. And it was getting harder and harder to walk away from this man.

So I stepped closer to him. “I don’t know, but I’m tired of fighting the possibility of there being something between us. Something worth exploring.”

Would I have come to that conclusion if the night had played out differently? If I hadn’t gone for a run? If I hadn’t been so aligned with my wolf to understand I couldn’t fight fate? I didn’t know. And I didn’t care anymore either.

A slow smile curved Easton’s lips, and I found myself smiling back.

“Be ready for dinner on Friday night. I’m taking you on a date.”

8

Easton

If anyone told me a week ago I’d be going on a date with Percy, I would have said they were crazy. Yet there I was, a bundle of nerves as I got ready for him to come and pick me up.

Over the last few weeks, something had changed. I saw sides of him I hadn’t thought existed. I’d written him off as being