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astonishingly tempting thought. No, she decided. Not yet. Someday she would kiss him. They were married. Husbands and wives did kiss. And more. She settled herself carefully on the mattress, hugging the edge. Someday they would do it all. But not tonight.
    *
    Snake smiled down at his sleeping mate cuddled under his arm. As soon as she fell asleep, she lost the battle with gravity, and her warm body found its way to his side. He decided he really loved this bed. It sagged enough to give him a backache, but it sent his mate to snuggle against him. It took all his self-control to keep from caressing her bare thigh. This was the closest he’d been to her, and he savored the weight of her head against his shoulder, the scent of her hair in his nostrils, the soft press of her breast against his, as he let sleep claim him.

Chapter 3
    Mel woke, feeling cool morning air on her back and warmth on her front. It was solid yet soft against her cheek as she yawned. It felt like—
    Her eyes shot open, and she stared into Snake’s smile, only inches from her nose.
    “Good morning,” he said.
    She was proud of the smooth, unhurried way she climbed out of bed. “Looks like I overslept,” she said, trying for a casual tone. “Breakfast is going to be late if I don’t hurry.”
    He moved even more smoothly than she did and twice as fast. He rolled out of bed and caught her by the arm. His kiss was a light brush of lips over hers.
    “I’ll run downstairs and get some water pumped for you,” he offered and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him before she fully registered his kiss.
    “Good grief, Mel, get a grip,” she muttered to herself and jerked her fingers from her lips. “It wasn’t much of a kiss.”
    She gave a quick, disgusted shake of her head and pulled open a dresser drawer to grab clothes for the day. She dressed, buckled her gun belt around her waist, and hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Sara and Stone were facing off.
    Sara flicked at glance at her as she came in. “See?” she said to Stone. “Mel’s here now, so you can go do whatever you need to do.”
    Stone backed a few steps away, and Mel saw his face set into stoic lines. “I’m going to run a wide perimeter patrol. Be back for lunch.”
    Mel frowned. “What about breakfast?”
    He shrugged, heading for the back door. “I’ll catch something on the run.”
    Sara made a horrible face. “And tear it open and crunch its bones, I suppose?”
    He turned with a glare. “Depends on how big my catch is. Rabbit bones are hardly worth the trouble.”
    The door closed behind him with a controlled slam. Sara scowled. “I think that’s disgusting. You want me to go out to the hen house and collect eggs?”
    “Yeah, thanks.”
    As Mel went about cutting bacon and slicing potatoes, she felt energized. Sleeping next to her husband had been very restful. She felt more relaxed and awake than she had in a long time. If he caught bunnies and ate them raw, well, that was normal for a wolf, right? Nothing for her to worry about. She wondered how much of Snake was present when he was a wolf. She would have to ask him sometime. Maybe later, when she knew him better.
    Breakfast was a half hour late, and Mord and Mike clearly wanted to complain, but Snake came in from chopping wood and stopped them with a cold glare whenever they opened their mouths.
    Marc sat in his usual place at the head of the table. “Mord, you and Mike head out to the south fork. The silt has built up something awful, and the creek is practically dammed there. Get it cleared out so the cows can get clean water.” He nodded to Snake. “Stone said he would watch for strangers approaching. Could you do some hunting?”
    Snake finished his toast. “Sure.”
    “Thanks.” Marc looked over at Mel. “Garden could use some water and weeding.”
    “Yeah, I’ll be out there this morning. Sara, you want to help?”
    “You bet.”
    After washing the breakfast dishes and tidying the