tongues thrashed. They tasted each other so deeply, but she couldn't get close enough.
His hands roamed her body, first caressing her cheek then stroking her hair, then slowly caressing her arm and hip. He grew surer of himself, gripping her thigh then sliding his palm up her belly until he grasped her breast. She groaned with excitement, her body growing wet with need.
She climbed astride him, feeling his heat between her legs. Their eyes met, and her mouth dropped. She wanted him so badly she could taste it. Her inner lioness was howling for her mate, and she felt her sharp teeth in her mouth.
Gunner's eyes were on fire with his inner wolf, and even though they hadn't yet mated, she could feel their bond vibrating between them, as if screaming with one mind that they belonged together.
She leaned in and devoured his mouth. His hands grasped her flesh, kneading her behind and pulling her harder against him. She rocked on his lap, stroking him with her body as she tasted him with her tongue and nipped at his lower lip with her teeth. His hand found its way under her shirt and inside her bra. His thumb tapped at her nipple.
She gasped and leaned back, closing her eyes as the excitement rolled through her. She leaned forward and licked his ear, biting it gently. She whispered, “I need you. Right now.”
Gunner growled and grabbed her, standing up from the bench where they'd been sitting. He carried her through the kitchen door and was moving toward the stairs when someone knocked loudly at the front door. They both gasped and looked at each other then looked at the door. She slowly slid down, her feet touching the floor.
The knock came again, louder this time, followed by an angry voice. “Gunner, we need to talk.”
“I'm sorry. That's my brother Austin,” he said.
“You said they would support us.”
“He will. I need to know what's wrong.”
He walked toward the door, and she held his hand until he reassured her a second time. She let him go. She felt rooted in place, terrified at what his brother would say. Gunner had assured her that she was safe, but the fear of the Wildes that had been instilled in her since birth wasn't so easy to quell. Gunner opened the door, and a man in his early forties wearing faded blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt was on the other side. He ran his hand through his hair then nodded at Gunner and walked inside. Gunner closed the door behind him.
“Cassidy, this is my oldest brother, Austin. Austin, Cassidy, my mate.”
“Hi,” Cassidy said weakly before letting out a sardonic laugh.
Austin nodded sharply at her and gave her a half smile. “It’s good to meet you, Cassidy. I'm sorry this is happening,” he said before turning back to Gunner.
“What is it, Austin?” Gunner asked, the concern thick in his voice.
“We have a problem. The twins found half a dozen of our best cows dead at the edge of the McCoy property.”
“What? How?”
Cassidy gasped and backed up. She bumped into one of the dining room chairs and slipped into it before she could lose her footing and fall on the floor. This was devastating and unforgivable.
“They were shot,” Austin said, his hands on his hips, shaking his head.
“Shot?” Gunner repeated.
“Do you think the McCoys did it?”
“The McCoys would have been my first guess, even if they hadn't left their calling card in red spray paint on a boulder.”
“What did it say?” Cassidy asked.
“It said, ‘Stay away from our sister or die.’”
“I'm so sorry.” Cassidy shook her head. “I should go. This is my fault.” She stood from the chair and started toward the door.
Gunner grasped her arm. “No, Cassidy. This isn't your fault.
“I swore to protect you, Cassidy McCoy. You are my brother's mate. That makes you family.”
“Thank you, Austin, but I can't let you take responsibility for this.”
“Cassidy, you can't go back there. You don't know what they'll do,” Gunner said.
“They're my family, and that makes them my problem. I don't want to bring this kind of drama to you.”
“But it's not your fault. You need to stay here.”
“I have to agree with Gunner, Cassidy. If they're willing to shoot cows, I can only guess what they would be willing to do to you.”
“I'm their sister. They won't hurt me. I need to tell my parents. My mother. My father was angry when he found out we were mates, but I know he can be