With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

thought it was less casual and more tender though. He tried his best to ignore his
    errant body and followed his mate.

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    J.L. Langley
    Aubrey was distracted. His tail and ears drooped. The pace he set was nothing like the energetic
    excitement Matt had seen earlier in the car. It was slow and measured, as if he didn’t much care where he was going. He wasn’t mad exactly, but he wasn’t entirely happy either.
    By the time they got to the trees, Matt had gotten his wayward body under control, but now Aubrey’s
    mood was seeping into him and he was getting melancholy.
    He couldn’t go on like this. He had to get his mate out of this funk.
    Aubrey stopped at a clearing and turned his head toward Matt.
    Matt seized the moment. With a playful growl, he caught his mate’s back leg in his mouth and shook
    it gently.
    Jerking his foot away, Aubrey stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
    Taking a few steps back, Matt put distance between them, just enough to get some speed going.
    One…two…he sprang, knocking Aubrey over.
    On his back, Aubrey contemplated Matt. At least now he didn’t look upset. He stared at Matt for
    several more seconds and licked his muzzle, actually making Matt’s lip flop with the force of it.
    Matt mentally patted himself on the back. Aubrey’s eyes were happy. It should’ve given Matt a hint,
    but it didn’t. Aubrey rolled, taking Matt down in the process.
    Blinking back his surprise at how quickly Aubrey reversed their positions, Matt tried to nip Aubrey’s
    chest.
    Aubrey covered Matt’s neck with his mouth and let out a growl. It wasn’t a hard bite, but it showed
    dominance all the same.
    Out of instinct, Matt stayed perfectly still…for about three seconds, then he jerked away and wiggled,
    trying to get to his feet. Since Aubrey’s legs were bracketing Matt, he fell. They ended up careening down a small slope, angling for a good hold of each other with their teeth. It ended with them crashing into a tree.
    They lay side by side, panting.
    After that the mood became more companionable. Aubrey led Matt around the property, showing him
    points of interest. There were old slave cabins, an old mill, a barn and lots of cool hiding places in the brush and trees. Every thirty feet or so they’d run for a bit, play chase and wrestle. They occasionally met up with other pack, but went their separate ways after a while. It was one of the best full moons Matt had ever spent. He loved the south. He could see himself staying here, not just in Georgia, but here at Reynolds Hall with Aubrey. Would it always be like this here? Was it the place or the company?
    Matt looked up, searching for a star to wish on. Aubrey made him feel special, like he belonged,
    because he was him, not because of what he did. His brothers would laugh at him for his romanticizing, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to give this up.
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    With Abandon
    Matt continued to gaze up at the sky and…the tiny twinkling lights? Ooh! Those lights moved. He tilted his head, trying to get a better look. Something zipped right past the end of his nose. Lightning bugs.
    Oh cool. He’d never seen them before.
    A quiet bark, a hey, over here kind, came from beside him.
    Aubrey stood with his front foot out from his body a little, staring at it. Catching Matt’s gaze, he
    yipped and bobbed his head.
    Oh no, had Aubrey hurt his foot somehow? Matt moved closer. Leaning against his mate, he tried to
    offer comfort. But Aubrey was no longer staring down. He was staring at Matt. The awareness tingled
    down Matt’s spine.
    Slowly, Aubrey lifted his paw. On the ground was a tiny lightning bug. It stayed there stunned long
    enough for Matt to get a good look at it. Its whole backside flashed light. Amazing. He nudged it with his nose, and it flew. Matt watched until it disappeared from sight.
    He turned his head and came nose to nose with Aubrey. Matt wanted to hug him and tell him thank
    you. Holding his mate’s gaze, Matt hoped Aubrey saw his appreciation.
    Closing his eyes, Aubrey rubbed his muzzle along Matt’s and walked away.
    Matt trailed after him. For as long as it took, he’d wait for Aubrey to claim him. He’d follow this man anywhere he led.

    The next morning something between Matt’s legs nestled up against his balls from behind. Oh no. It dawned on him what that something was, and he scrambled to move.
    A firm arm held him in place.
    Matt opened his