Playing For Keeps

Chapter 4: A Casual Hike

We left my house and arrived at the park. As we got out of the car, he looked less than thrilled but tried to cover it up with a weak smile. "Let's start with the trails," I encouraged, pointing to a partially hidden path up ahead. I knew today was going to be difficult for him; he's not much of an outdoor person, which is funny. I, for one, love to be outdoors.

"Sure, why not!" he replied, casually glancing at his phone. I eyed him and he exhaled irritably, saying, "I just had to check one message."

"If you pick that phone up again, while we're at the park, I'll throw it in the lake," I joke, laughing at him. He gave me a serious look, then tapped his phone off before shoving it in his back pocket.

"Where is this trail?" he asked.

"It's over there," I was a little irritated since I had already shown him once, but obviously, he was not paying attention.

We started towards the trail. He reached out and grabbed my hand, forcing me to slow down and walk together side by side. We walked in silence for a while. "Is this really all you do... I mean, walk when you come here?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I shook my head, "Well, sometimes I sit and read, other times, yeah, I just hike. It's a fairly simple hike and has some great places to look out over."

"Okay," he replied, but it still did not look like he was paying attention to me. He seemed somewhere else entirely and seemed less than enthusiastic to be here with me.

I pulled him along. "You have to see this, I exclaimed, "it's my favorite place in the whole park."

"You're taking us off the trail," he objected.

"Only a couple of steps, come with me," I encouraged as I pulled him forward out onto a rock formation, to which he started to pull me back.

"Hey, now this is a little close," he stopped. "I don't need to fall over. You're not trying to kill me, are you?" he joked, but I could tell under the joke, he did not appreciate being too close to the edge. I released his hand and took five more steps to almost the edge.

Looking over my shoulder, I smiled and motioned for him to join me, "Relax, you'll be fine." Tentatively, he walked towards me, "Look, just look over in that direction from here, you can see miles away. The entire pack lands and even beyond that towards the mountains," I exclaimed, and he smiled at me.

"As much as I don't care for the hiking, I can't fault you that the view is spectacular. I suppose if I pull my phone out to take a picture, you'll still throw it in the lake." He asked.

"No, silly, I give you permission to take one and only one picture," I replied, laughing.

"Okay, then come here," I requested. I yelled out as he grabbed me, pulling me towards him. He snapped a selfie of both of us before kissing me and taking a second.

"Now put it away," I ordered.

"Yes, mother," he teased.

My eyes shot him a dirty look, "What did I say about calling me that? Do you want me to throw you off this cliff?"

He laughed, "Sometimes you're really bossy."

Still a little irritated but trying to play it off, I smiled back at him, "That doesn't seem to bother you."

"You've got me there. I will admit that I do like the fact that my mate has a little bit of spunk in there. Although I do know something that would make this view better," he laughed as he looked me up and down.

"Morgan, we are not here to do," I huffed.

"Can't blame a mate for trying!" He laughed.

"Let's go!" I insisted. Grabbing his hand, I pulled him from the spot we were at, and we continued down the path.

When we came to a clearing, I motioned for him to sit on the grass. Both of us opened our water bottles to get something to drink. We stared ahead at the lake for a while, then I looked at him before asking, "How much longer do you think it is before you move back here?"

"Are you missing me that much?" he winked.

Pushing his shoulder playfully, "I'm serious, Morgan. Between my schooling and your schooling, we've been separated half the time that we've been together."

"I only have eight weeks left, and that is if my father doesn't call me back early. I'm really not sure what the press conference is about on Monday, but he did tell me that both Mason and I must be there." He spoke seriously.

"You have no idea," I eyed him suspiciously.

"Have you met my father?"

"Well, I do work for him," I laughed.

"He's not exactly an open book. He's not going to come out and tell us why we need to be there. He's very secretive, especially of late."

"Well, do you think it's good news?" I asked as I cuddled up next to him.

He wrapped his arms around me, "I hope so. I mean he called press conference. You know how my father hates the press. I feel if it were bad news, he wouldn't have done that."

I laughed at that, "That is true, the last time we had press in front of the building, I thought your father was going to lose his mind." I laughed harder, "He's not a big believer of the freedom of the press, neither are you, if I recall." I said sarcastically.

"That's only because they seem to always highlight my indiscretions and make them appear worse than they are. Always getting me in trouble with not only the Alpha and my mate."

I rolled my eyes at him before replying, "You don't need the press to do that, Hun. I know better than to believe a few reporters, but I do think that you should pay closer attention to what you do as it does reflect on me and your father."

"There you go again taking his side," Morgan pouted.

"I'm not taking anyone's side. If anything I'm taking my own side."

"I guess," he shrugged. The two of us relaxed into a more comfortable position with him laying flat on his back with one arm tucked around me as I lay my stomach placing my head on his chest.

"Morgan,"

"Yes, Lexi,

"Our bond, do you wonder if ... our.... never mind."

"What is it Lexi?" he asked, sensing I was troubled by something.

"Have you noticed that our pull is not as strong as it used to be?"

Morgan sort of rolled onto his side, pulling me closer to him. I was almost underneath him. "I don't know what you're talking about? I'm still pulled to you," he smirked before kissing me slowly at first before he took control.

I grabbed onto his shoulders, pulling him closer.

"Let's see," he flipped us so I was on top of him looking down on him.

"Maybe you're right," I laughed before bending down for another kiss. His hands were running up my back, pulling my shirt up.

"Morgan we're outside I breathed roughly.

Morgan just smiled, "There's nobody around Lexie," he continued pulling my shirt up over my head. I must admit I'm glad I chose not to wear a bra today as he stared at me hungrily.

"Anyone could see us,"

Ignoring me, he pulled me forward, kissing down my chest. His tongue moved up on side of my breast, taking my n****e between his teeth, causing me to cry out, "Morgan."

His eyes pulled to mine as sucked harder making my whole body heat. I pushed my body down against him.

Before I could relieve any tension, Morgan flipped me on my back, continuing to the other breast. My body wanted more, even though my mind was fought it. "Morgan," I panted while grinding up my hips towards him, trying to seek release. "Morgan"

" I know, baby. I know exactly what you need. His hands slid between us removing my bottoms with one solid pull before plunging my finger inside of me. "Morgan," I screamed.

"Please hold on, honey, you're not ready yet. I have to prepare you more." He kissed me hard.

Lost in the nee,d I don't think I could take it anymore. His finger began working, plunging in and out of me quickly, and his mouth wrapped around m other breast. I rocked my hips up to match the pace of his finger. I felt the second finger enter while I screamed as I climaxed.

Morgan watched me intently and kept mercilessly going to my body stilled. Then he stopped and looked at me. I tried to gather my breathing.

"Morgan," I pulled him down for a kiss. I whispered, "I wanted more."

Morgan pushed up with a gentle kiss, "Lexi, this is about a taste of what you'll have tonight." he grabbed my shirt and pulled it back on me.

I felt weird. My body still felt on fire, and irritated at the same time. My mind was racing. Why couldn't we just finish? Maybe he didn't want me.

Morgan reached for me and tucked my hair behind my ears, "Lexi, whatever your mind is thinking, stop it. I can see it all over your face. This has nothing to do with you. I told you that I didn't come back just for s*x. I can hear voices. I don't want anyone to see you except me. When we come together later, I don't want there to be anything stopping us." He kissed me roughly.

A whistle came through the trees, "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" I stilled. I knew the voice instantly. What was Mason doing here?

"What are you doing here, Mason?" Morgan gritted out.

"Looks like I interrupted all the fun," Mason laughed.

I stood up and brushed off my knees, meanwhile, Morgan stood pushing me behind him, which was very odd. His behavior was so weird these days.

"Care to share?" Morgan commented.

Mason charged him instantly, knocking them to the ground. I could do nothing but watch the two brothers go at it. Morgan landed a couple of good punches to Mason's face.

"Seriously, Mason, shut up!" he yelled.

"I don't know what your problem is Morgan."

"You stay away from her, Mason, so help you you put one finger!"

"Keep your threats for someone else, Morgan, we both know what you're really into. Since you're not ready to introduce your mate to that part of your life, maybe you should consider what you would do if she found out," he taunted.

Morgan growled out before leaping towards Mason again. Mason punched Morgan hard in the face, sending him to the ground, before Mason took off for the trees.

Morgan turned out of breath realizing I'm still there. "Lexi, I'm sorry. I have to deal with this."

"What is this? What is this even about? Obviously it's more than just this morning, please talk to me, Morgan." I begged but he just shook his head.

"Later, I promise to tell you," Morgan replied, "can you make it back to the car?" he asked.

"Yes," I huffed.

Morgan pulled me in one more time, tightly wrapping his arms around me, completely breathing in my scent to calm his nerves. "Lexie, I promise to be at your house in one hour to pick you up. I'm going to chase my brother down and go to the pack house and change, but I will be back to take you to dinner, I promise, and we won't have any more interruptions from Mason. Let me kiss you."

"I have never refused you that," I laughed. Before shoving him forward, running off into the woods.