Page 210 of Moon Craving

"Tag, you are it," she said with amusement in her mindspeak voice. Then she turned and

ran.

He bounded after her, nuzzling her back when he reached her. The playful nature

of his wolf asserted itself and he turned in a circle and loped away, saying, "Your turn."

He did not go too fast, knowing she ran with the handicap of having only two legs.

She caught him at the edge of the clearing, leaping at him. He let her roll him, hearing the

wonder-filled laughter in his head. His mate liked to play, and for that he gave thanks. He

was not a lighthearted man, more by circumstance than by nature.

But she was showing him that with her, he had a place to let his delight with the

good things in life have free rein. They kept the game of tag and gentle tussling up until his

body reminded him that there were things he liked to do with his mate even more than

playing. He allowed his human form to take him over as he rolled her beneath him.

He slammed his mouth down onto hers and she responded as if she'd been

waiting for it. Her mouth was sweet nectar, he could not get enough. His tongue

plundered her mouth, but she met every caress of his tongue with one of her own.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, holding on to him so tightly he thought even he

would have trouble prying her loose. Not that he wanted to do that.

Not at all. "I will never let you go," he said into her mind.

"Never. You are my husband, my true mate." A wry laugh sounded in his head. "I

thought you saw me as a friend."

"You are my best and truest friend."

"As you are mine, but one day I will get even with you for letting me prattle on about

being friends when you meant we were married in the Chrechte way."

"Duly noted. And one day you will trust me as much as you do your sister."

"I already do."

Soberness filtered through his happiness. "You were leaving me."

"I was going to my sister for advice on how to keep you."

Humbled that she would have been willing to fight for him though he had not

proved himself worthy of the effort, he broke the kiss to meet her eyes. "Thank you." Then

he could not help himself adding, "But if you had talked to me, I would have told you I will