by Katie Reus
She might be a virgin but she was a shifter like him, had the same primal needs. Moving slowly, he slid a finger inside her, groaning as her inner walls clenched around him.
Her moan mixed with his. And as he dragged his finger back out, he flicked his tongue right over her clit, shuddering when she did. Her entire body trembled and she tried to clench her thighs around his head, to ease the ache he knew was between her legs. She could suffocate him and he’d die a happy male.
Adding another finger, he increased his pace, stroking faster in and out of her.
“Just like that.” Her words were choppy, her breathing even more wild and erratic. Her inner walls clenched convulsively around him and he knew it wouldn’t take long to push her over the edge.
There was still so much more he wanted to do to her, to kiss and lick her everywhere, to learn every single inch of her body. He knew there would be time for that later, had to remind himself of patience.
Her climax was the most important thing now. Her first one by him. And not the last, as far as he was concerned.
He planned to go to sleep with her every night and wake up with her every morning—because he wasn’t letting her go. The past week he’d fallen far harder for her than he had a year ago.
She’d let down the walls between them, gone out of her way to do sweet, unexpected things for him. Things he’d never imagined. Making Christmas ornaments with her had given him a peek of what life would be like with her, and yeah, he simply wasn’t letting her go. She was fun and giving and had such a big heart. And if she fell back into depression, he’d be there for her. Always.
As the humans said, he was in this for better or for worse.
“Oh, Nathan!” Her breathing rasped in and out, the slick inner walls of her tight sheath rippling around his fingers.
Suddenly she arched her back and he felt the moment when she lost control, her climax pushing her over the edge. He sucked on her clit, adding even more pressure with his tongue.
Crying out his name, she rolled her hips against his face, her movements so unabashed and sensual his wolf was shoving at the surface, repeating one word in his head, again and again.
Mate.
Something he knew without a doubt.
As she grew lax under him, he lifted his head, moved up her body like a predator, wanting to claim her right then. He cupped one breast, lazily teased a nipple, savoring the way she continued to tremble and shudder under him.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, was pulling his mouth down to hers even as he mirrored her movements. His lips crushed against hers and he was glad she could taste herself on him.
Reaching between their bodies, she grasped his hard cock. “Mine,” she growled out, her wolf in her voice.
He couldn’t respond, couldn’t even think about forming words.
“In me, now.” A soft, sensual demand from the female who completely owned him.
Slightly shifting his hips, he nudged her soft, slick entrance, hating that it might hurt. Shifters were built different than humans but it was still her first time, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt this female.
Even a second’s hurt was too much.
Arching up, she wrapped her legs fully around him and dug her feet into his ass as she impaled herself on him.
“Fuck!” He groaned at the feel of her tight sheath wrapped snug around his cock.
“You were taking too long,” she whispered, her gaze dark on his.
There was no hint of pain there either. Still, he was going to do this right. Keeping his gaze pinned to hers, wanting to watch her as he came, wanting her to see how much she meant to him, how much she affected him, he pulled his hips back.
Her mouth parted slightly, her eyes heavy-lidded as he pushed back into her. The whimper of pleasure that escaped her soothed all of him, even as his entire body was pulled taut in anticipation.
“Want to mark you.” He was asking even as his wolf snarled and clawed at his insides, demanding he take. But he would never take what wasn’t freely given. It would destroy this beautiful bond forming between them. And that, he would never do. He’d rather cut off a limb.
“You’d better.” Another demanding growl, her amber eyes sparking like wild starbursts.
He crushed his mouth to hers once again, unable to hold back now. She’d given him the green light and he was taking it, taking all of her.
He could feel her building to another orgasm, her inner walls rippling around his cock this time instead of his fingers. The intense grip of her was like nothing he’d ever felt. It was as if they’d been created for each other.
His balls were pulled up tight as he held back from coming. He couldn’t, not yet. Even if he was ready to release inside her. That most primal, primitive part of him reveled in the thought of marking her, of completely claiming her. His scent would be on her, in her, and everyone would know that she was his.
When she dug her fingers into his back, claws pricking at him, he knew she was close. It wouldn’t take long to push her over the edge.
Reaching between their bodies, he rubbed her clit in a tight little pattern and she shouted his name as she continued meeting his hips, stroke for stroke.
Somehow he tore his mouth from hers and buried his face in her neck. His canines descended on instinct as he scraped against her skin, marking her again.
Mate, mate, mate.
Even though there was no full moon and they weren’t bonding, they would soon. He felt it bone deep.
As he pierced the skin between her neck and shoulder, he let go of his control, his own orgasm punching through him in wave after wave of pleasure. It seemed to go on forever and he never wanted to let her go.
Eventually his surroundings returned to him, the crackling fire seeming overloud in the now quiet room.
Gently, Noel stroked her fingers up and down his back. “That was amazing.” A touch of awe tinged her words.
He nuzzled her neck, made sure the wounds from his canines were fully closed before nibbling kisses along her jaw. “It’s just the beginning, baby.”
“Mmm, I like the sound of that.” Her voice was becoming drowsy, her fingers slowing slightly as he met her mouth once again.
He needed to get a washcloth to clean between her legs, to take care of her, but for just another minute, he needed to kiss her more.
He’d been fantasizing about her for the better part of the last year. To finally have her was better than anything he’d ever imagined.
Because the reality of Noel was a sweet, giving, beautiful female who he wanted to love and protect for always. And she was his.
“I love you, Nathan,” she said quietly into the darkened room when he pulled back from her. Her amber eyes were bright, her gaze steady as she looked up at him. There was no doubt there.
The simple statement was a balm to the rough edge the mating heat had caused inside him. Even more than her letting him mark her, claim her. “I love you too,” he whispered, stroking her soft cheek.
Talk about the best Christmas present ever. This time next year he planned to be bonded to her, and hopefully they’d have a cub of their own on the way.
Chapter 11
Connor tugged Ana closer to him, loved the feel of her bare back against his chest. It was always skin to skin with them, no matter what. This female had stolen his heart over half a century ago. He’d never thought he’d get another chance with her.
With her he felt complete for the first time in his entire life. Not a mongrel with nothing to give this female. “Morning, love,” he murmured before nibbling her earlobe.
She shifted against the sheets, rubbing her ass right against his growing erection. “Mmm.”
Her response had him sliding his hand over her abdomen and moving lower, lower until he cupped her bare mound.
“Connor.” Her voice was raspy, sleepy. “What are you doing?”
“If I need to explain, I’m not doing a very good job, am I?” He bit her earlobe ag
ain.
This time she stretched out, arching into him. He loved the feel of her body curved against his, wished they had more time like this together. It seemed they were always getting interrupted by the pack for one thing or another. Hell, who was he kidding? No matter how many times he had her it was never enough.
He groaned as she intentionally wiggled her ass against him this time, and skimmed his hand back up her stomach and over her ribs until he reached a full breast. He squeezed lightly, teased a thumb over her hard nipple and—
Bang. Bang. Bang. “It’s Christmas! Wake up, wake up, wake up!”
He suppressed an irritated growl. “Maybe if we ignore her she’ll go away,” he murmured, teasing Ana’s nipple again.
“I can hear you!” Vivian’s insulted voice trailed through the door.
Ana snickered and buried her face in the pillow. She let out a frustrated groan before flipping onto her back. “We’ll be down in a bit,” she called out.
“No. I want to open presents now. Santa came and it’s wrong to make a kid wait to open their presents. In fact, I think it counts as some sort of kid injustice.”
Injustice? Ana said along their telepathic link. Where does she get this stuff?
Connor just snorted. “All right, we’ll be down in five minutes.”
“Okay. I’ve started the coffeemaker.”
Connor ran a hand over his face. Of course she had. Because when Vivian wanted something, she got it. “Thanks, kiddo.”
“I’m going to go get Noel up too!” Her pounding footsteps trailed away from the door.
“Pretty sure Noel stayed the night at Nathan’s.” Ana sat up and ran a hand through her thick, dark hair. Mussed all around her face, her eyes still sleepy, it took all of Connor’s self-control not to kiss her senseless and finish what they’d started.
He pulled a pair of jeans from their dresser. “I heard her get in around four this morning.”
“Dang, I must have been passed out,” she murmured before heading to their walk-in closet.
“You were.” She’d been sleeping more deeply lately, he’d noticed. And a little more often than normal. The thought made him frown, but now wasn’t the time to bring it up. Shifters didn’t get sick like humans did, but still…he’d been wondering about it.
Ana emerged from their closet wearing dark jeans and a red sweater that molded to her soft curves, a hint of excitement and nervousness rolling off her. The scents surprised him as she ducked into their bathroom.
He trailed after her, found her washing her face.
“You nervous about what Santa brought you?” He crossed his arms over his chest, watched her carefully. He’d had a necklace custom-made for her, couldn’t wait to see it on her—it and nothing else.
Laughing lightly, she put toothpaste on her toothbrush. “I already have everything I need.”
Still…she was nervous. Even if he hadn’t been able to scent it, she was almost jumpy as she brushed her teeth. Then her hand trembled slightly as she rinsed off her toothbrush. “Why are you staring at me?” she asked, flicking a glance at him as she pulled out a tube of lip gloss and smoothed it on her lips.
“I can’t look at my female?” He was hard just watching her, knew he needed to get under control when he heard pounding footsteps coming up the stairs again.
Ignoring his question, she lifted up on tiptoe as she passed by him and brushed her lips over his. “Be quick. We’ve got presents to unwrap.”
Oh yeah, she was nervous about something. And he planned to find out what it was.
Ten minutes later, Ana, Vivian, Noel and Connor were downstairs. Noel was stretched out on the loveseat, a cup of coffee in her hand, looking too exhausted to even be there. She hadn’t bothered to get out of her pajamas and just grunted at them when she’d stumbled into the room.
Vivian was jumping up and down by the tree as Ana started sifting through the presents. “All right, Connor gets to go first.” She pulled out a shiny red box with a silver bow on it.
Vivian could hardly stand still. “But—”
“No, he goes first.” There was a faint edge of steel in Ana’s voice as she shook her head at Vivian.
Okay, something was definitely up. Because cubs always went first. The holiday was more for them than the adults.
Instead of questioning Ana, however, he took the gift she handed him and shredded through the paper with a claw before retracting it.
His mate’s anticipation hung heavy in the air, increasing his curiosity. As the shreds of wrapping fell away, he snapped open a green gift box—and sucked in a breath.
A small baby stocking lay on top of gold-colored tissue with a note attached to the top interior of the box. His eyes widened as he read the message.
BABY ARMSTRONG WILL BE JOINING US MAY 15TH.
“You’re pregnant?” he blurted, snapping his gaze to hers.
Ana nodded, tears filling her eyes.
Oh, fuck. “Are those good tears?”
As she nodded harder, the tears spilled down her cheeks. “I just found out but we’re already two months along.”
Using his shifter speed, he had her in his arms in seconds, holding her tight against him as the Christmas tree sparkled next to them. Seconds later Vivian’s little arms were around them and then Noel’s as the females all squealed in happiness.
Holy shit, we’re going to have a cub, he said along their telepathic link, his chest constricting as he tried to digest the news. And they only had five months to prepare for the baby. Shifter pregnancies were shorter than humans by about two months. That didn’t seem nearly enough time to get ready.
I know, I can hardly believe it. Ana’s excitement flowed through their link, as pure and bright as the new snow outside on the ground. How do you feel?
Stunned, so happy. And…terrified. He’d practically raised his brother and had been raising Vivian, but still… A new cub.
Me too. But mainly I’m happy. I hope it’s okay that I waited to tell you. I wanted it to be a big surprise.
It’s more than okay.
“Now you get to open my present!” Vivian’s voice seemed to be about ten octaves higher than normal this morning, her excitement over Christmas infectious. She was jumping up and down again as she grabbed a red and gold striped gift bag from under the tree. “It’s for the baby so it doesn’t matter which of you opens it.”
Everyone froze, staring at her.
“Wait, you knew I was pregnant?” Ana asked, putting the bag in her lap as Connor moved closer to her.
Vivian nodded, her grin wide and mischievous as Noel laughed, muttering something about not being surprised.
“How?” Ana asked.
“Because I’m awesome.”
Ana laughed and looked at Connor, holding up the bag. “You want to open it?”
“You do the honors.” He couldn’t even be surprised the little she-cat had known before he had.
Pulling out the white tissue paper Ana laughed again as she lifted out a plush stuffed jaguar with the words “World’s Best Big Sister” embroidered in pink on it.
“The baby’s gotta know who I am.” The hint of nervousness in Vivian’s voice wasn’t exactly surprising. They’d adopted her but things would be changing for all of them.
He pulled her into a big hug, so damn grateful he had such a sweet daughter already. “This is the best gift,” he rasped out, his voice thick with unexpected emotion.
She hugged him back as Ana pulled out a gift for Vivian. Which turned out to be a purple T-shirt that had the same message in pink on it as the stuffed jaguar had. His heart swelled even more that Ana had thought to get something for Vivian as well. Not that he was surprised. Ana had the biggest heart of anyone he knew.
Some days he could hardly believe he’d ended up with her, that they ran a pack together. That their lives were filled with so much damn love and family.
At the sound of a knock on the front door, Noel jumped up. “That’s probably Nathan. And maybe some o
thers. I texted a bunch of the pack with the news. I know I should have asked first but I just got really excited.” Her cheeks flushed pink, but she didn’t look the least bit apologetic as she ran for the front door.
The truth was, he didn’t care that she’d let everyone know. This was his pack, his family. He wanted to celebrate with all of them.
As packmates rushed in, some still in pajamas, everyone wanting to congratulate them, he looked over at his mate, who was practically glowing as she embraced December and talked excitedly about decorating a nursery.
I love you so much it hurts, he told her.
She glanced over at him, her dark eyes shining with a wild love he knew was only going to grow stronger as the years went on. Right back at you, mate of mine.
Ana was the mate of his heart, the female he’d loved from the moment they’d met. All those decades separated from her were worth it because it had brought them to this moment, to this life they’d created together. And he planned to protect her and their family for the rest of their very long lives.
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Katie
