"So. . ." Baron frowned as he looked around at the small side yard. "Why am I standing in your yard wearing my boxers?"

Maddy giggled and wiggled her bare toes in the soft grass. "I can shift on the porch, or even in the house I guess, with no problem. But you're huge! Didn't want you hurting yourself or tearing a support post out."

". . . And the boxers?"

Maddy shrugged. "Clothes are weird to shift in and sometimes aren't there when you shift back."

Conceding the point, Baron made a circular gesture with his hand. "What do I do now?"

"Relax"

"I'm not upset; I'm just trying to figure out how to do this. Little out of practice, babe."

Maddy snorted. "Cool your jets, Sugar Britches, I meant that what you need to do is relax."

"Sugar Britches? Really?" Baron tried to keep his legendary stony gaze, but eventually gave up with a chuckle. "And what do you mean, 'relax'?"

"You said yourself that you haven't shifted since you learned how to control it, right?"

"Yeah, but that's the same with my brother and sister."

Maddy nodded. "From what I can tell, it's the same with most Alphas and a lot of Betas as well."

"So?"

"So, you have to learn to control it because it's a natural thing for our bodies to do. It's like those people who do unassisted deep sea dives. They have to learn to control their breathing so they can do what they want. You're actually using more energy to stay this way all the time than you would if you shifted."

Baron frowned. "Doesn't feel like I'm using any energy or putting in any effort at all."

"Just because you're used to the feeling." Sighing, Maddy plopped down among the daisies and violets and held her arms out. "C'mere."

"What?"

"Come. Here." Maddy patted her thigh lightly. "Just come lay down with your head on my lap."

Not seeing a downside to that arrangement, Baron did as she suggested. Stretching his long legs out and folding his arms comfortably across his chest, he pillowed his head on his mate's trim thigh. The breeze caught his hair lightly, playing the strands around his face until her slim fingers took over. With a happy groan, he closed his eyes and submitted to her gentle ministrations.

The air around them slowly began to smell of Maddy, the honeysuckle and night rain calling to him. Rolling, he nuzzled into her stomach, breathing his mate in and wrapping his arms around her waist to hold her still. When Maddy hummed lowly and continued to scratch over his scalp lightly, he worked the hem of her shirt up to press his face to her bare flesh. When the urge to lick her creamy skin washed over him, he simply went with it.

Pushing her slightly, he stretched and followed her down to the ground. His nose buried in her hair, he lapped lazily at the skin beneath her ear. Baron's eyes slid shut, savoring her low moan and the knowledge that his mate was there with him. The feeling of absolute peace and rightness that seeped into him from her smell and the carefully measured movements of her hands soon had him nearly boneless against her chest.

There was a strange stuttering in his chest, and then Maddy's scent grew nearly overwhelming as she gasped quietly. Opening his eyes, he nearly panicked at the difference. The night was suddenly alive with sounds and movements, everything so crisp and clear as the sun began to set behind the distant hills. Looking up, Maddy smiled back.

"I knew you could do it," she sighed and twisted out from under him.

Baron's large form had been replaced by that of a giant wolf. His fur was a beautiful coal black, matching his dark eyes. Maddy pressed a congratulatory kiss to his forehead and sighed happily. It was going to be so nice to have someone to run with for a change.

A moment later, her human form was replaced by a small white wolf, her bright green eyes smiling out at him. With a yip of excitement, Maddy danced backward toward the tree line. Baron huffed, his legs feeling strange and rubbery, refusing to hold his considerable weight before he was able to put it all together and follow her slowly.

Sidling up to her larger mate, Maddy nibbled at his cheeks and snout to show him how happy she was to be on four legs together before trotting a few yards ahead and then taking off at a dead run, her feet skimming over the rich dirt of the forest floor. Baron gave an angry warning bark, wanting her to stay by his side at all times, but Maddy simply howled and danced around him. Unable to contain his amusement at her antics, he began cantering and then running with her until they were tearing through the underbrush and across the many small streams in the forest, their howling duet singing out to all who could hear.

O-O-O-O-O-O

Maddy came back to human form on a breathless laugh, her bare feet dancing over the grass as she turned to watch her mate. She had loved running through the streams and trees with him, the night wind ruffling their fur and the crisp water slaking their thirst. She was never more alive than when she was out running in the wild.

Baron took a bit longer to put it all together, first shutting off senses and then concentrating on finding his human features. When he did eventually make the switch from one form to another, he gave the tiny woman a wide smile. He had been surprised by how much he enjoyed the last few hours, having remembered his years of unexpected shifting as frightening and far from fun. Running through the night forest with his mate, however, he had found a wild delight in their shared joy and harmonious howls.

Maddy's giggle drew his eyes away from the fireflies and trees and to her tiny form on the porch. She had scooped his shirt up from the pile of clothes, the neckline drooping to the side and showing off one slim shoulder. The hem grazed her thighs alluringly, and he wanted nothing more than to trace the skin there.

Reading the hunger in his gaze, Maddy shifted from foot to foot. Her heart threatened to shatter her ribs with its rapid beats, and her hands fluttered between her disheveled hair and the short hemline of his shirt. One of the quotes on her right arm caught her eye "life shrinks or expands . . .", and she took a deep breath before meeting Baron as his feet touched the bottom step. Holding his gaze with her own, even for once, she looped her arms over his shoulders and drew him into a soft, gentle kiss.

Baron could feel the nervous energy rolling off his little mate, but was enjoying her attentions too much to question her on it. Maddy's tongue flicked against the seam of his lips, and he allowed her in with a soft, approving hum at her boldness. Letting her lead the kissing, Baron simply enjoyed the feeling of her taking so much control.

"Baron," Maddy pulled back to whisper against his lips.

Baron nibbled at her when he couldn't draw her back in. "Yeah?"

Maddy took a deep breath, hoping she was making the right choice. "Take me to bed."

Baron was sure his eyes bulged out of his skull before he seized control of his body and focused on her soft face. "What?"

"Take me to bed, Alpha."

She was in his arms and the door was slamming behind his heel before her words faded on the night wind. He carried her through the small cabin and into her room, his mouth never leaving her skin. Nibbling along her jaw, he dropped her feet to the floor and slid her borrowed shirt over her head.

Baron had always been a fan of black lace on a woman, but the sight of Maddy's light blue panties trimmed in delicate white lace had him rethinking that. "Jesus, you're stunning."

Maddy blushed lightly and shook her head. "I'm pretty sure you're the good looking one in this relationship."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he chuckled. "Going to have to agree to disagree on that one, babe."

The scent of Baron's excitement swamped the room in pheromones, drawing a pleading whine from the back of Maddy's throat. The rush of liquid heat started at her core and spiraled out until she sagged against him, all liquid silk and flushed skin. When his thigh slipped between hers, her wanton moan had him growling possessively in response.

Nudging her softly, he urged her back onto the bed. His big body followed her down, settling between her thighs and caging her head with his elbows. Pressing light kisses along her jaw, he nibbled down her neck to where it joined her shoulder, sucking lightly as she undulated against him. When his mark was a lovely deep pink and he was satisfied that she would be wearing it for a few days, he skimmed his teeth over the skin just to hear her breathless gasp.

Maddy was far from idle. Determined to take an active part in her first experience, she slid her thighs along his, luxuriating in the fine hair and defined muscles there. Carding her fingers through his hair, she held his mouth to her throat and turned her head to lick and nibble over the skin of his neck and shoulder.

Moving his mouth down to her chest, he licked and sucked at the rosy peaks there before taking one fully into his mouth and loving it with his teeth and tongue. Maddy's groan spurred him on, and he reached between them to tease her through her panties. He petted and rubbed at her until her excitement had soaked through the material, loving the way she responded to his ministrations. Kissing her once more, he shifted around until he was able to work the offending garment over her hips so she could kick it away.

The scent of her arousal mixed with the need to possess her body fully had him growling low in his chest until she tipped her head back, instinctively submitting to his larger size and greater knowledge. Maddy was lost in a sea of pleasure, knowing that he would anchor her. Her grasping hands stopped him from moving lower, instead bringing him in for another deep kiss.

"Please," she whined and rubbed against his body. "Please, Baron."

He fought for control even as they worked together to remove his boxers. "Want to taste you."

"Not now." Maddy shook her head, trying to form coherent sentences when thoughts were sliding through her mind like sand through a sieve. "Just, please!"

Pressing his forehead against hers, Baron held her gaze as he spread her legs wider and then slowly guided his hard length to her weeping core. Nudging his way inside, he steeled his resolve to not hurt her by going too quickly. The barrier he encountered gave easily, her excitement and his careful preparations aiding him in his goal, and her body received him with a sigh of wonder.

He worked her slowly, drawing confidence and joy from the quiet moans and whimpers that rewarded his efforts.

Maddy couldn't believe how wonderful it felt to have him inside her, and she gave a thought of thanks that her personal toy collection had contained a few larger devices. She sighed as he once again kissed and licked over the column of her throat, stretching beneath him to offer more skin for him to taste. When he took the opportunity to curve over her, taking one of her nipples into his mouth once again, Maddy was suddenly careening toward an orgasm the likes of which she had never had before.

Sinking her nails into his sides, she felt him shudder above her a moment before she was oblivious to everything but her own pleasure.

Baron danced along the edge of his completion, marveling at his mate's responsiveness and barely resisting the urge to pound into her until he came. When she gave a throaty shout and sank her nails into the tender flesh of his ribs a heartbeat before her walls clamped down and then fluttered around him, he had a moment of satisfaction before he followed her.