I lightly smack his back. “Oh shut up, if anything, you’ll have to move your stuff. You think I’m giving up that shoe rack? It’s a thing of beauty.”

He laughs softly. “Like that, do ya?”

“Why don’t you get comfy, and I’ll go make us some dinner.”

He sits up and brings his face close to mine. “I’m not really hungry for dinner yet.” He runs his nose along mine, igniting my need for him.

My hands reach up to his white dress shirt. The first button is open so I start on the second and continue my way down. He places an opened-mouth kiss on his mark then kisses his way up to my ear. He nips in places and uses his tongue in others, always leaving me guessing what’s coming next. After unbuttoning the fourth button, I reach my hands in and feel the dark hair lightly covering his chest. Pushing the shirt off his shoulders, I continue unbuttoning his shirt, and my mouth goes to my mark on his shoulder. I lick and tease him just like he’s done to me. His hand holds my neck, showing me how much he likes what I’m doing. “Love the way your mouth feels on me, baby.” When I use my teeth, he groans. He stands and tugs me up from the chair backing me up to the counter and lifts me. “I had this island built special. You want to know why it’s special?” he asks playfully. Masen pulls my butt so I’m just barely sitting on the ledge and grinds into me. “Ahh,” I moan. He moves back and takes off his shirt. When he moves down to the closure of his slacks, I remove my shirt. When his pants hit the floor, I slide down and take my jeans off.

Watching Masen undress is heady. Every move is almost graceful. His body is honed to perfection. Thick neck and wide shoulders make his stature intimidating. His broad chest gives way to his clearly defined abdomen, the vee leading down to his groin highlighting his narrow hips. His arms and legs display his powerful physique. He’s devastatingly attractive. My wolf knows we’ve marked the apex predator as ours, and she is as ecstatic as I am.

I look up to his ruggedly beautiful face and know he’s enjoying my appraisal. His white blue eyes hood with desire, his full lips are barely parted to pull in deeper breaths. Nostrils flare as he scents my arousal. The low growl coming from his chest should be a warning, but it sounds like a sweet promise to me.

I’m still wearing my bra and panties when he steps back to me. His warm body just grazes mine. Long fingers encircle my upper arms as he turns me so my back isn’t to the island. He walks around to me and unclasps my bra, letting it slide down my arms. He runs the tip of his finger all the way around the inside of my panties, starting with his left arm crossed in front of my body. Slowly, he drags his finger around, lowering them just a tiny bit. He stops close to where he started. I’m almost shaking with need when he places both hands at my hips, using one foot he nudges my ankle out, widening my legs. Masen pulls my panties down inch by inch until they are just below my butt. “Bend over,” he orders. I do, and he squats down behind me, removing my panties the rest of the way.