After the drama of the morning, the afternoon was an anti-climax, passing by in a dreary procession of paperwork and meetings that didn’t mean much to Lara yet. Still, she could see the shape of a fulfilling job waiting to be carved out. When five pm came round and they hadn’t heard from Joanna, Tate decided it was time to clock out.

“Should we be worried?” she asked him as they drove back to Malkin Ridge.

“No news is good news, I guess. Maybe Kashi just crashed out and hasn’t woken up yet.” He shrugged, but she saw worry lines creasing around his eyes. “I’ll check in with her later.”

Later didn’t quite happen. They found Zane at home, worn out and riled up by another day of frustrating meetings, and decided the best solution for all that pent-up energy was a hike and a hunt. The summer evenings stretched out long, and the mountains were always inviting. Zane didn’t need any persuading. They drove up to the picnic area where Lara and Zane had sat talking just a few days ago, finding the last of the bird watchers, dog walkers, and families all drifting away despite the warm, bright evening. That wasn’t unusual. Malkin Ridge of course had a reputation for being a mountain lion hot spot. Natural mountain lions actually stayed out of the territory because of the presence of their supernatural cousins. But the shifters of the town were spotted often enough – in lion shape – to keep humans out of the mountains after dark.

And of course, that suited the shifter population perfectly.

They trekked out to a cluster of mountain juniper. Once there, Tate immediately dumped his backpack and stripped off his t-shirt with a satisfied sigh. Golden sunlight gleamed off his hard torso. Catching Lara's appreciative look, Tate grinned and flexed his biceps for her.

"Like what you see?"

"So far," she said. "Got any more to show?"

Zane came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her throat lightly. "How about a trade-off? Every piece he takes off, you have to match it."

"Nah," Tate said dismissively. "I've only got my jeans and boots left to go. That'll leave Lara with way too many clothes on."

"Just the jeans?" Zane asked.

Tate toyed with his jeans zipper, giving Zane and Lara a smoldering smile. "Nothing but Beckett under here."

"Prove it," Zane said, a dark heat in his voice.

"What's in it for me?"

Zane drummed his fingers lightly on Lara's hips and trailed his lips along her shoulder, sending warm flushes of pleasure through her. With his body pressed so close to hers, she could feel the length of his cock pressing against her ass through his jeans, and the temptation to turn around and drop to her knees in front of him was almost irresistible. She could peel those jeans down his thighs and...

She settled for grinding her hips slowly against him until he growled and squeezed her hips to keep her still. Tate watched them, grinning wickedly. "You guys need some privacy?"

"Hell no," Zane said. "I need the two of you naked and fucking."