Teasing the Wolf (Paranormal, Knotting / Tying, Fertile) (Ready to Mate Book 1)

Bump in the Night Series €“ Ready to Mate #1

**This 14,000 word paranormal short story features sexual encounters with a shifter, knotting and tying, and a very fertile protagonist**

Kate hides from the world in her family€s remote mountain cabin when a multi-million dollar mistake costs her the career of her dreams. After a month of fighting with bad wiring, leaky plumbing, and regretted decisions, Kate add a pesky fever to her list of annoyances. But the fever doesn€t break. When Kate is attacked in the woods by a pack of violent and horrible monsters, she realizes the warmth seizing her body is no normal fever. She€s in heat, and the werewolves lurking in the forest will kill to mate with her.

Kate is rescued by a sexy, confident shifter named Jase€"a wolf obsessed with her safety, excited by her feisty challenge, and determined to mark her as his in the most natural way a woman can be claimed. An innocent kiss overwhelms her with sensual delirium, and Kate€s instinct guides her into the perfect submission to her chosen mate. The pack of vengeful wolves hunt for their lost captive, but Jase is determined to take Kate as his own by eagerly claiming his right to her newfound fertility.

Excerpt:

Jase edged even closer. I didn€t mean to look away from his gaze, but something pounded at my head. The same instinct that once guided my career and gave me an edge in reading people now pleaded for me to trust Jase. To listen. To surrender.

€œYou feel it?€ Jase watched as my expression shifted. €œYou belong with me, Kate. Simple as that.€

€œYou€ll have to forgive me. I was never the claiming type. I prefer the old-fashioned get-to-know-your-demon dating scene.€

€œWhat if I told you our bond was stronger than anything we could forge over coffee and a movie?€

€œIt wouldn€t change anything. I€d still think you were insane. I€m just trying to decide if you€re homicidal too.€

€œKiss me.€

My mouth dropped open. I furrowed my brow and snorted. €œAbsolutely not.€

Jase grinned, like he knew he already won, like he expected my resistance and wanted nothing more than to prove me wrong. I crossed my arms.

€œJust kiss me.€ He gestured me closer. I don€t know why I obeyed. €œJust one kiss. Innocent. No tongue. No hands. Just...a peck.€

€œAnd what will that do?€ I asked.

My voice softened so close to him. I didn€t realize my lips parted until he leaned down to brush his mouth against mine.

€œSometimes, a female€s instinct needs a push,€ he whispered. €œAnd I€m move than happy to help convince you.€

The softest, lightest touch of his lips on mine shot like a rod against my spine, crippling every muscle below my shoulders and nearly dropping me to the floor. Jase caught me before I fell, drawing my body against his strength and holding me still as my shiver turned to convulsion, my breathing from bated breath to gasping pant, and my insides from timid uncertainty to a molten, unquenchable need. He ended the kiss as he said. Innocently. Hardly more than a polite peck and not anywhere near the attention my body suddenly craved.

The fever roared to life. My head ached, and I collapsed against Jase as the shivering, relentless coil of heat seared my sensitive skin. Anywhere Jase touched, anywhere he didn€t touch burned like pure fire. I rasped a breath, digging my fingers into his strength, his shoulders, his arms, anywhere and everywhere I could touch.

€œW€"why?€ I could hardly speak over my trembling.

€œBecause you€re mine.€