“Hi, beautiful,” he opened the door wider, motioning for her to come in after he gave her a kiss. The smell of her hair always made him hard. The scent of coconuts made him want to sweep her to a private island and show her the many ways he could worship her body. His tiger was making his wishes known as well. He wanted to mate her now.
“Hi, I hope you don’t mind, but yesterday I noticed your wrapping paper was…well grown up. I thought we could have some fun with Rudolph and Snowmen.” Her giggle was infectious, causing him to laugh.
“As always, you’re perfect and think of everything. Come, let me get you a drink, and we can get started. I sorted the gifts out into boy and girl piles.”
Taking her coat off, she threw it over the back of the sofa and walked into the living room. She noticed Lake had a fire going in the fireplace, but there were no Christmas decorations.
“I assume you don’t put a tree up for the season?” she hesitantly asked.
Handing her a glass with amber liquid, he said, “No need to. The women from the pride take good care of me when it comes to that stuff. Usually, I’m busy at the office and don’t feel the need to decorate for just me.”
“Women of the pride? Is that a group you belong to?” Priscilla sat down, folding her feet under her.
Lake knew the time had come for him to explain just who he was and what he could offer her if she would agree to accept. But while his heart was saying to be honest, his tiger was demanding that he just tell her she is his mate.
“Priscilla, there is something I need to talk to you about. “ He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.
A knock on the door was not as welcomed this time as it persisted without end. Sighing, he began to stand and kissed her. “Let me get rid of whoever it is, and we’ll talk, okay?”
All she could do was nod, but Lake could see the concern paint creases on her forehead and around her mouth. She was trying to be brave and understand, but he feared if he didn’t get her alone and tell her she is his mate, she would run for the hills before she had a chance to have her heart broken.
“Coming, hold on.” Lake opened the wooden door to three of his pride members, Ruthie, Beth and Samantha. “Hello, did I know you were coming over today?”
The three women pushed their way past Lake, each carrying either some decoration or a casserole.
“Don’t be silly, Lake. When do we wait for an invitation?” Ruthie asked as she was looking around the living room till her eyes stopped on his mate.
“Manny told us you were hosting your…mate, and we wanted to welcome her.” Samantha boasted proudly as she handed Lake the dish of what smelled like tuna.
“Ladies, please let me introduce you and then if you don’t mind, I would like to have the afternoon alone with her.” Lake carried the dish into the kitchen at a fast pace so he could get back before the ladies had Priscilla running.
By the time he got back in, he saw Pris shaking hands and greeting each of the women with a pleasant voice. “It’s so nice to meet you. I came over to help Lake wrap all of the gifts for the kids. Would you like to have a seat?”
Beth instantly grabbed a roll of paper and handed one to each of the women. “Here, we’ll help so you can get it done faster and spend some mating time.” She winked at Lake. “Sam brought over a tuna casserole. Ruthie made the pie and we can come back tomorrow to decorate the house.”
“It’s so nice of you ladies to take such good care of Lake. He mentioned he doesn’t have time to make his home festive.” Pris began measuring the paper for the gift she was about to wrap.
“Well, it doesn’t appear that we’ll be worrying about that much longer, but yes, he needed a woman’s touch while he toyed around being a bachelor and running Lush and our pride.” Ruthie was already taping the paper down.
“Ladies, I’m sure Pris doesn’t want to hear about how needy you all think I am. I would be okay with a boring house, and I can cook, but I’m forever grateful for the care you have given me.”
Pris had a confused look on her face as if she could read that Lake was hiding something from her. “What do you mean you won’t be doing this much longer? Are you moving ?”
At that moment, there was another knock on the door just before it opened and in walked four more women.
“Let me guess, Manny called?” Lake asked with a frustrated tone.
“Yeah. We’re to get this done and get out so you and your ma…date can have a nice dinner,” the youngest girl said.
Thirty minutes later, the ladies had everything wrapped, the casserole and pie in the oven and the table set. There were even flowers at the center, which Lake had no idea where they came from.
After saying goodbye, Lake led Pris over to the table and pulled her chair out for her. Getting her settled, he poured her a glass of wine and sat next to her.
“Are you ready to tell me what that was all about? I have been called a date before, but never had I been called a mate this many times in one day.” She turned to face him and took a drink of her wine. “So…what’s up?”
“Priscilla, I need you to promise me that you’ll let me tell you everything before you decide what you think. Be open-minded, please.” Lake took her hand and kissed her fingers as she nodded her agreement.
“Have you heard of shifters?” Lake cautiously started.
“You mean like wolf shifters and stuff?” She frowned. “Yes. My friend Maya’s mated to a shifter.”
“Oh, okay. So, this might be easier for you to understand,” Lake said, as he cleared his throat and squeezed her fingers. “I’m a tiger shifter, and I’m also the head of my pride, which is what I referred to as my community earlier.” He looked at her to see if she was already panicking but saw interest in her expression, so he continued.
“We don’t really date like humans do because we know from birth that we have a mate out in the world and that mate is our forever partner. We were made for them, and they were made for us. Our job isn’t to date. It is to find our mate.” He wanted to explain it but not make it sound like he was talking to a child.
“Like two puzzle pieces fitting together?” Pris asked.
“Yes, like that, and you’re my puzzle piece. The moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. We both felt that connection.” Giving her hand a slight squeeze, he continues.
“Are you sure? Like, you really want me?” She seemed more worried that he’d change his mind than the fact he was telling her she was his mate.
“I want you and me forever, and my tiger also wants you as his mate.” He knew that was when the weird was going to be hard to explain.
“Your tiger? Is that the shifter part?” Pris asked, interest and curiosity bright in her eyes.
“Yes, when I shift, I turn into a tiger, and he’ll be as loving and protective of you as I am. Most everyone in my pride is a tiger shifter. However, some have mated to humans, so you won’t be the only one in our community.”
Pris stood up and walked over to the fireplace. Lake watched as she stared into the flames and laid her head on the mantle above. He rushed over to her side and placed his hand on the small of her back.
“I know this is a lot to take in, but I just ask you to consider this and ask me anything you feel you need to know.”
Pris looked at him and put her hand on his chest to rub the material of his shirt. “I do have questions. One, if we had kids, would they be human or tiger? Two, what would I have to do to be your wife…I mean mate? And three, are you sure you won’t change your mind and think I’m not good enough for you?”
Thank fuck! She seemed to be open to the idea. Hope soared through Lake as he contemplated her questions. If she was going to run, she wouldn’t be asking such important questions. She would have told him to get her the hell out of here.
“I wouldn’t change my mind,” he assured her. He guessed she was thinking of how human males changed their minds about relationships, but shifters weren’t like that. “You’re the one,
the only woman for me.”
She bit her lip. “And the other stuff?”
“You don’t have to be anything but who you are, my beautiful mate. As for the pride, you would be considered the Alpha mate since I am the alpha, and you would be free to live your life as you do but with me, and you might be asked to help me lead the pride once you feel ready. Our children would be shifters more than likely, but I will be here to help them, and you will be here to love them. We would make great parents because we would create them out of love. Now, how you become my mate is a bit more complicated.” Lake walked back to the table and got both of their glasses of wine. He tried to find the best words to explain this as he handed her the glass.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Come, let’s sit, and I’ll explain.” He guided her to the leather sofa and sat down before pulling her in his lap. “We can have sex any time you want, but when I mate you, I’ll need to bite you right here…” he moved her hair to the side and kissed her neck. “I need to do that as we orgasm, and I have been told it’s as wonderful for the woman as it is for me. After that, we are mated, and you will be able to feel me, and I will be able to feel you all of the time. When we are apart, we will long for the moment we will be together again.”
“So, after we mate, I’ll be home?” Pris asked as she traced his lips with her fingers.
“I’ve never heard anyone put mating so perfectly. You’re amazing.” Lake kissed her while pulling her to him. He could feel her nipples stiffen against his chest and her hands ran through his hair as she ran her tongue over his.
Pulling back, she took his face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes. “Lake, I knew that day at the photoshoot that you were the man I had hoped you would be. I felt that connection, and while my heart wants to say yes right now, my head needs me to think this over for a few days. Is that okay with you?”
Kissing her again, he ran his hand up her leg. “Yes, that is exactly what I want you to do. Think it over and make sure you want to be with me for the rest of your life.”
Chapter Ten
They kissed on the sofa for what seemed like a mixture of forever and a few minutes, the dinner forgotten. Lake caressed every part of her as he took off her shirt and admired the lace bra she was wearing. He constantly kissed her and reminded her of how hot she was and how turned on she made him.
“Lake, I want you!”
He met her gaze. “Are you sure?”
She glanced at his lips and then back at his eyes. “I’ve never been surer.”
He kissed her chest, and she damn near lost her mind.
He cupped her face and devoured her with his lips. His sinful tongue drove in and out, daring hers to join in. Then, he picked her up by the waist and carried her to the bedroom, dropping her on the bed.
Lake pushed her legs open, pressing his hips into the curve of her crotch. Holy hotness! His erection dug at her pussy. Big. Hard. Feeling it drove the point home that she wanted him naked too.
Raking her hands down his chest, she curled her fingers around the seam of his T-shirt and yanked the soft cotton up and above his head. Her pussy clenched at the same time his abs contracted. Her breaths pumped in and out of her lungs, burning with each drag of air she took.
“Go ahead, beautiful,” he rumbled, his voice so deep and gravelly she ached. “Touch me. Do it.”
She gulped hard, keeping her gaze locked onto his, while she shoved his pants down his hips until they fell around his legs. Her vision darted south so fast one would think she’d been forced to look. His long, hard cock stood proud. God! He was big. And it only excited her more.
Her eyes widened when his cock stiffened some more. Fuck! Her pussy clenched just thinking of him inside her. She slid her hand over the velvety flesh of his erection, loving the smooth-as-silk texture along with the steely hardness.
“Ah, love,” he groaned. “I love you touching me, Priscilla. Your hands on me .”
After the rest of her clothes came off in a flurry, she was back to adoring his body with her eyes. The pulsing vein under his cock had her licking her lips, wanting so badly to get a taste. Former partners had always tried to force oral sex on her, but this time, she wanted to put him in her mouth all on her own.
His gaze fell on her breasts. He licked and bit his lip. Her heart swelled with pride. Men didn’t usually stare at her body as if she were a beautiful goddess. She loved it. Every second of that lust-filled hunger in his eyes made her weak at the knees.
The color of Lake’s eyes had turned super-charged bright. His lips descended over hers in a rough, rugged tasting. She tried to keep up, but he was a man on a mission. He nibbled down her neck, her chest, and attached to a nipple. He sucked. Goodness, did he suck! She wanted to get on her knees and thank every deity for his mouth.
She moaned. She swore the soft, breathy sound came from someone else. “Lake...”
Her body felt aflame from the inside. He pushed her back on the bed and spreading her legs wide, leaving her shaven pussy wide open for his viewing pleasure.
“Christ.” He inhaled hard and knelt between her thighs, licking his lips with a deep inhale. “You smell so fucking delicious, Priscilla.”
She didn’t know how true that was, but she’d take his word for it. He placed her large thighs over his shoulders, her feet curling around the back of his neck.
Her breath thinned in her throat as she watched his head descend between her thighs. He licked up her pussy lips, spreading them open to flatten his tongue on her clit. The sensation was extraordinary. A strange sound came from him. It sounded like a purr. The soft grumbling, purr vibration sent shudders racing up her spine.
“Holy shit, Lake. What the hell did you do?”
“Like that?”
“Like it? Do. It. Again! Don’t ever stop doing it.”
He chuckled softly, his breath hovering above her sex. “I’ve got more where that came from.”
He sucked her clit hard enough to make her ass come off the mattress, and a scream fall from her lips. “Oh, my god!”
She gripped the sheets under her, tugging and pulling, trying to control the shudders taking hold of her body. Lake licked and laved her sex with so much speed she could barely catch her breath. Her belly quivered. Tension rose in her veins.
“Oh, oh, oh!” Her orgasm took her by surprise.
He slid two fingers over her entrance, wetting them and then driving them into her channel. He didn’t stop. He fucked her quickly, his moves driven as if he were grinding his hips into her sex. She gasped, her body so turned on she could barely remember how to breathe. He fingered her and flicked his tongue on her clit in quick circles so fast she swore there was a motor in his tongue.
Her climax blindsided her. She took hold of Lake’s hair to hang on for the ride. Her hips rocked back and forth on his face. Waves of pure pleasure crashed through her, taking every ounce of common sense with them. She gasped out a choked moan.
There was little time to catch her breath. He moved up and held her legs up around his waist.
“I need inside you,” he growled.
What? Yes! She spread her thighs wide and watched him slide down over her.
“Let me in,” he grunted.
He pressed the head of his cock into her, the girth more than she’d ever had. She gripped the sheets when he lifted her ass. One slow, smooth drive, and he was in her. Filling her. If possible, his hot hard length grew bigger inside her.
He pulled back only to slam back in. Harder. Another pull back, and she moaned for more. “You’re perfect.”
“You feel so good inside me.”
He pulled back and thrust deeper. “Know what feels better? Your pussy gripping my cock.” He groaned and plunged hard. “You like me deep inside you?”
She gulped back the moans in her throat. “I do. I love it.”
She opened her mouth to say more, but he drove harder and faster into her. He pressed a thumb on her clit, flicking it back and fo
rth at the same time he fucked her.
Her back came off the bed. A thunderstorm of pleasure shook her to the core.
“Fuck!” He growled, his cock hot and deep inside her.
She lost the ability to control her legs. They shook with the force of her orgasm. His drives slowed until he was tense and jerking into her body, sending jets of semen into her channel.
Feeling sated and protected, she drifted off to sleep in his arms and knew she was his mate.
* * *
Lake held her until he saw her breathing was steady, and he knew his excitement at what happened wouldn’t allow him to sleep with her. He slid out of bed and put his pants back on before making sure she was covered and secure.
He went to the bathroom to clean up and relieve himself, then decided he would take this time to go over some bank records that he had been neglecting. Sitting at his desk, he tried to focus on the numbers. But his mind kept going back to how her body molded into his hands, how her heat coated his shaft as he entered into her warm body. She was everything he wanted and more than what he knew he needed. He had a direction now, a purpose. She was going to make him a better alpha, a better businessman, hell she was going to make him a better man all around.
After an hour, it was clear this was an exercise in futility. There was no way he was going to be able to think about banking numbers while she laid naked in his bed two doors down. Standing up, he headed to the bedroom but then thought better of it. Lake knew he would take her again if he was that close to her naked body, and he needed to respect her wish and give her time to think. Not be manipulated by sex.
Laying on the sofa, he pulled the blanket from the back down over him and over his head. He needed darkness if he was going to be able to get some rest, and the moonlight was seeping between the curtains. While thinking about his future with her and their children, he was able to finally succumb to sleep and into dreams of Priscilla.
Scrooged Over: Paranormal Dating Agency Page 5
