He stroked her hair back, lifting the weight of it. Kendrick kissed her as he pushed further inside, then raised his head as he eased back.

Addison’s chest rose with her breath, her hips lifting with his. Kendrick thrust, closing his eyes on the incredible sensation, opening them again to find her looking at him. She touched his face, pressed her fingers against his back, her body rising to him.

Kendrick eased out and thrust again, Addie making a faint noise in her throat. Kendrick balled his fist into the mattress, the next thrust coming faster.

Again he slid inside and out, speeding up, mating frenzy closing on him. Addison.

He didn’t realize he’d said the word out loud until the guttural sound floated back to him. Addison. Beautiful. Mate!

Her cries joined his as Kendrick rocked faster, Addison winding her legs around him, drawing him deeper into her. Her face was flushed, her head turned on the pillow, eyes closing as she cried out.

Down into the bed, up only enough to make the next thrust deeper. Sensation became a swirl of color and light, like the stars against the night.

Growls escaped him, Addie’s body tight against his while he buried himself deep inside her. The touch of her hands, legs, arms, propelled him on, any thought of gentleness gone.

They were bound together, rocking, he shouting, Addison laughing. Kendrick knew the noise they made floated to the Shifters inside and out—Shifter hearing being what it was. He didn’t care. The frenzy caught him up and spun him around, and Addison clung to him, coming along with him.

Their bodies were slick together. Kendrick punched the bed beside him, need gathering deep behind his balls, telling him his coming would be powerful.

It was. Kendrick lost it too soon, but he was wrapped in Addison, his being dissolved in her. He cried her name as he gave up his seed, and she met him with her climax, the two of them clinging, holding, hungry.

After a long, long time they dropped back to the bed, Kendrick barely remembering how to breathe. He kept pushing into her, unable to stop, while she touched him and smiled.

A few Shifters in the distance did cheer, and Kendrick growled. He continued his thrusts as Addison laughed and kissed his chin, Kendrick moving until he could think and feel no more.

*   *   *

Waves of Kendrick’s frenzy touched Dimitri, or maybe it was just all the noise they were making down the hall. He held Jaycee’s hand more tightly, rejoicing she was home and well.

Jaycee opened her eyes. She took a startled look around, tried to sit up, then sank back with a groan.

“What the hell happened to me?” she demanded.

“Sh.” Dimitri put a soothing hand on her shoulder. “You’re at th-the ranch. You’re all . . .” He couldn’t make his mouth say right and gave up.

Jaycee put her hand to her head, brushing back her thick hair. Her golden brown eyes shone in the lamplight, so beautiful. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

Dimitri gave her a truncated account of her near kidnapping, telling her how Addie had distracted Jaycee’s abductors, giving Kendrick and the others time to come for her.

“Addie did that?” Jaycee asked in surprise. “I thought she’d have been glad to let them take me.”

“She w-w-wou . . .” Again Dimitri gave up. His stupid stammer grew whenever he was agitated, and he got agitated a lot around Jaycee. “She’s not like that,” he said in a rush.

“Yeah, I know.” Jaycee looked slightly disappointed that Addie wasn’t as bad as she’d hoped, but also a bit more respectful. “So, what are you doing in here?”

“L-looking out for you.”

“I’m all right.” Jaycee’s hand was still in Dimitri’s. She closed her fingers around it, losing some of her bravado. “Thank you.”