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I smirk, loving this new tidbit of information. “Sure. Shall we take a closer look then?” I start to move and he swiftly wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back into him.

“No, we shouldn’t,” he answers, before he bites down on my earlobe. I shriek, playfully batting at his large hands as he does it again and again. Laughter bursts out of me and when his hold loosens, I turn my head and capture his lips with mine. No hesitation. No overthinking. Just pure want. Sterling groans into the kiss, his tongue swiping at the seam of my lips.

“My Caspian,” he mutters, turning me so that we’re chest to chest, heart to heart.

My entire world spins on its axis, a pulse racing through me like a bolt of electricity. My heart thumps so hard that it feels as though there are two hearts in my chest beating simultaneously. “Mine,” he says before deepening the kiss. Lips and teeth and tongue dance together until my knees go weak and then there’s a word in my mind that makes no sense, but somehow feels like it belongs. A word I’m sure I’ll question later.

Mate.

SEVENTEEN

CASPIAN

“Sweet Caspian. Sweet, sweet Caspian.” Run for me. I run through the woods, jumping over a fallen branch, before coming out in a clearing. There’s a noise behind me. A growl. A whisper. “Mate. Mine.” My head darts from side to side, fear, thick like molasses, morphing into excitement as I look for somewhere to hide. I blink and then I’m in my bed, my back on the cool sheets. A beard scratches at my inner thighs, strong hands pressing into my flesh. I bite my tongue to stop the moan that threatens to spill from me. So raw and needy. Wet heat swipes between my ass cheeks and I choke on my breath, writhing against the sheets.

“Sir.” The word slips out but settles in the space between us like it belongs. “More Sir, please.” My hands grip the fabric, and I arch my back, my cock bobbing against my stomach. Pleasure rushes through me, and I slouch back on the bed, my eyes drifting to the man between my legs. Sterling smiles up at me. His beard wet, his eyes sparkling like gems. A shadow falls over his face, and I drift my gaze up to the open door behind him where a beast stands. Claws gripping the wooden door frame, tail hanging loosely at its side. “Sweet, sweet, Caspian,” it says. “My Caspian.”

My eyes shoot open and it takes me a moment to orientate myself. My head is face down on the pillow, and there’s a pleasant thrum in my blood. I lift my hips and…fucking hell, there’s a wet patch beneath me.

Groaning, I roll away from the spot of cum on the sheets, and rub the sleep from my eyes. One kiss with the hottest man I’ve ever met and my libido is out of control. It’s been three days since that hike and in the nights that have followed, I’ve dreamt of him, and woken up either hard or already covered in my own cum.

Fucking hell.

Stretching out a hand, I find my phone and hold it above my face. It’s nearly four and I’ll be getting up soon to start the day. The boiler engineer postponed the appointment due to an emergency, so it’s another cold shower for me. With autumn not too far on the horizon, I need to get it sorted out sooner rather than later.

After a lightning speed shower, I head downstairs, fully dressed in a black shirt and grey joggers, with a pair of blue and white fluffy socks, to find Bagel already waiting next to her empty bowl. The vet told me she is undernourished, probably a pet that someone discarded, given how friendly she is and the fact that she had been neutered, so I give her a larger helping than indicated on the tin and she purrs loudly as she eats. Then I head out to the barn to greet the rest of the animals.

Applesauce is happy to see me, running to the top of her playground, before spinning around and hopping off the end. Rhubarb, ever the patient one, stands quietly at the door, only rushing towards me when I open it and kneel down to pet them.

“Good morning, girls. Hungry?” Applesauce butts me with her head and I sneak a hand in my pocket to find them treats.

“Good morning, sweet Caspian,” a very familiar voice says, and I’m burning hot before I even meet his eyes. And when I do, it takes all my willpower not to leap up and throw myself at him. I’ve seen him every morning since the hike, but we haven’t shared more than a peck on the cheek. Disappointing, but also not. I like this slow burn between us. This growing anticipation and yearning for what comes next.

“Hi, Sterling. You’re up early.”

“I’m studying the nocturnal activities of the sea lions,” he says, walking over to the bale of hay I keep in the corner. He takes out a bunch and places it in the sheep stable. “So technically, I’m up late.”

“And are you ready to share your findings?”

Sterling walks up behind me and leans in close.

“Patience, sweetheart.”

The sound of his voice sends a shudder through me and I instinctively lean back. His body is warm and firm, and when he wraps both arms around my waist and kisses the side of my neck, I melt.

“I’m going to be late.” Sterling kisses further down my neck, then stalks around me and swipes his tongue across my throat and to the other side. His beard scratches as he moves, which only reminds me of my very tasty dream.

“You’re the boss. Does it matter?”

“Hmm…” I groan, when he adds teeth, grazing them on my earlobe. My hands land on his chest and I slide one up to the back of his neck and into his hair. “Got to get the pastries ready. I don’t want customers disappointed because they couldn’t start their day on a sugar high.”

I feel Sterling’s smile against my skin before he pulls back and places a chaste kiss on my lips.

“Well then, I won’t keep you. Walk with me again this evening?”

“I’m having dinner with Kiernan tonight. His mum invited me over. But before? Meet me at the bakery this afternoon?”

Sterling tips his head, then saunters out of the barn.