“And keeping Jamie from running after you like the horny Feline he is. Of course I wanted you, Kenz. You have the best ass I’ve ever seen. And being Shifter, I’ve seen a lot of naked asses. Trust me, yours is the prettiest.”

“Are you trying to get into my pants, Bowman O’Donnell? Thinking you have a right to any female you want?”

“Your pants are way over there, Mrs. O’Donnell. The only female I want is you. You and your great ass.” He looked down at her chest, her skin pearlescent in the moonlight. “Your tits aren’t bad either.”

“Watch it,” Kenzie said. “My evil uncle will make you mate-claim me.”

Bowman’s voice went low, all teasing gone. “Way too late for that.”

He growled as he kissed her, hungry, savage. Kenzie tried to kiss him back, but Bowman broke away, seized her by the hips, and rolled her facedown.

Kenzie pretended to try to scramble away, but she shivered in happiness when Bowman caught her and dragged her back to him.

Bowman plunged inside her from behind, thrusting with the power that would join them, body and soul. Kenzie laughed into the cold, crisp air, loving him, until her laughter wound into joyous cries.

* * *

Bowman walked with Kenzie back to the heart of Shiftertown later that night, hand in hand. Kenzie was sore, her knees scraped raw. Bowman moved a bit stiffly himself.

They found Ryan at the cub slumber party, watched over by Afina and other older Shifters, including Cristian. Ryan begged to stay the whole night, and Bowman gave the okay. As long as he didn’t go to the zip line, not at night—and not without him or Kenzie.

“You mean because they’re all starkers up there,” Ryan said. “It’s only unmated Shifters, Dad.” He made a face. “They’re just trying to have sex. Like you and Mom. Not interested.”

One of the girl cubs laughed, but she looked sublimely uninterested as well. Cubs had no hormonal urges until their Transitions in their twenties, and then—watch out. Kenzie would have about another fifteen years before she had to deal with Ryan going through his, but she knew those years would fly by.

Kenzie kissed Ryan good night, then Bowman did, and they walked out into the darkness.

“I’d better go up to Cade’s and make sure there’s no mate Challenges,” Bowman said, sounding regretful. “They’re drunk on beer and frenzy. I don’t need Shifters trying to fight each other to the death while hanging from a zip line.”

Kenzie laughed, but she understood his worry. Shifter rules said no Challenges on mating ceremony night, but when feral needs flared, rules got flushed.

Bowman stuck his hands in his jacket pockets, looking like a wild animal trying to wear civilized clothes. Whiskers were stark black on his face, and his was hair rumpled, his eyes slightly bleary with all the lovemaking they’d enjoyed.

“Check on the Shifters not trying to get some tonight,” Bowman said. “Make sure they’re all right.”

“That won’t be many, but I will.”

Kenzie should turn and walk away now, businesslike. They both had jobs to do, keeping Shiftertown safe. They’d meet up later at home, compare notes. Like always.

Tonight, Kenzie didn’t want to look away from Bowman. She kept her gaze on him as he stood a few feet from her, his breath steaming in the cold. His eyes caught hers, the silver gray piercing her to the heart.

Finally, Bowman gave her a nod, turned around, and walked up the street, heading for the end of the zip line. His boots crunched in the loose stones on the asphalt, then darkness swallowed him, and he was gone.

Kenzie sighed, wishing they didn’t always have to be Shiftertown leaders. If they were ordinary Shifters, they could lock themselves away and continue what they’d enjoyed in the woods, not emerging for days.

Making herself do her job, Kenzie looked in on the indoor Shifter parties going on, making sure that Shifters who needed to go home got there. She left the parties behind, ignoring the slurred pleas for her to stay, and finally went back home. A few hours in the quiet wouldn’t come amiss.

Not meant to be. A car sat in the narrow driveway of the O’Donnell house, and when Kenzie walked inside, she found Gil Ramirez in her living room.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“Sorry,” Gil said, when Kenzie paused on the threshold. “I let myself in. When I called him tonight, Bowman said it would be all right to wait here for you.”

“Bowman said . . .” Kenzie trailed off and slammed the door, sliding out of her jacket. “Bowman so needs to learn to text me.”

Gil chuckled. “He’s an old-fashioned guy. I can respect that.”

Kenzie made an impatient noise and walked through the living room to the kitchen. “Did he tell you to help yourself to beer? Or did he want you to wait for me to be the gracious hostess again?”

“If it’s a bad time, Kenz, I can talk to you later.”

Kenzie turned around with two bottles of beer to see Gil standing in the living room looking apologetic. She flushed.

“No, it’s fine.” She came back in and handed him a bottle. “Bowman just drives me crazy. Not your fault.”

Gil accepted the opened beer, gestured to the sofa, and waited until Kenzie had seated herself before sitting down beside her. Human courtesy.

“So a mating ceremony today?” Gil asked, sipping beer. “Celebrations in my family can be pretty wild too.”

“Your family is from here?” Kenzie said. “North Carolina, I mean?”