In the Alpha's Bed (Stealing the Alpha Book 3) by Kate Rudolph Page A

didn't hear it, or maybe she felt the same but couldn't yet say it. She gasped, quivering around him as she came.
    Luke could feel the orgasm building. He thrust into her, back and forth, his heartbeat racing in his chest until at the last second he pulled out completely, spilling his seed outside of her.
    Mel lay her head against his shoulder, "Let's remember a condom next time." She stood on wobbly legs, but didn't let him go.
    Luke smiled, "This was a hell of a way to wake up."
    "Don't get used to it," Mel warned. "I'm not a morning person."
    His smile got even wider. It wasn't a declaration of love, but it was something. "We still need to try the bed." But they had no time that morning.
    They washed together in the shower, Luke helping Mel wash her hair, Mel soaping him off. And only once the water got cold did they get out. Mel was off to patrol the woods once more and Luke had to go into town to prepare for the oncoming battle.
    If he had been another man, he would have gladly laid in bed all day, making love to Mel. But he was an alpha, and they both had their duties.
     

Chapter Ten
    This trip into the woods was not nearly as pleasant as the last one. And Mel was including the vampire attack in her assessment. Maya's grand idea had been to hike out four miles into the woods rather than take one of the ATVs.
    The stony silence was almost a blessing.
    After their interlude in the shower, Mel went back to her room for a change of clothes. By the time she came down for breakfast, Maya was waiting for her, her face suffused with frustration.
    Mel hadn't known that she had been waiting, but that hardly stopped Maya from holding it against her. But Mel hadn't lived to please anyone but herself for a very long time, and she wasn't going to let Maya walk over her. So she took her time eating her bagel and then insisted on changing her shoes.
    It added at least ten minutes and filled Mel with childish glee.
    But Maya tried to one-up Mel's pettiness by taking them through the densest brush, walking just far enough ahead to let dozens of branches swat at Mel as she made her way through the thick greenery.
    After thirty minutes of nearly running through the forest, Mel had enough. "What's your problem?" She knew she sounded frustrated.
    Maya stopped, her bright red hair the only way Mel could keep her in sight. "I don't know what you're talking about."
    Mel pushed aside a particularly thick branch to bring herself equal to the lioness. "I thought we were supposed to be allies or whatever now." She wasn't sure what they were, or what they would be when this was all over.
    "Allies don't steal from us."
    Mel threw her hands up. "It wasn't anything personal."
    Maya took a threatening step towards Mel. "You think that makes it alright? If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be on the brink of war." She poked a finger towards Mel's chest, but kept it a few inches from actually poking her.
    "No," Mel stepped toward her until her chest bumped against Mel's hand. "If it weren't for me, you'd be dead already. I'm to only reason that you knew trouble was coming."
    "So you've made yourself the hero, how wonderful." She pressed her finger firmly into Mel's chest before pulling away, but she didn't take a step back. If Maya was Luke, they would have been close enough to kiss. As it was, aggression was the only thing in the air between them.
    "Is this jealousy?" Mel asked. "Did I take the place you wanted?" She didn't mean to go there, but something about Maya was rubbing her the wrong way.
    But Maya surprised her by tipping her head back and laughing. "Oh, my silly, silly girl. I've never needed to fuck my way--"
    Mel didn't let her finish. Her fist went flying before she even decided to fight, but it took Maya by surprise, hitting her on the side of her skull and forcing her to bend sideways and take a step back.Maya spit out a mix of blood and saliva and straightened, wiping at her mouth with her thumb. "Oh, it's on."
    She rushed Mel so fast that