I grab the shower gel and squeeze some into her hand. “You do me and I do you?” I give myself some gel.
“Yes! But fast. This is going to be torture, touching you without actually touching you.” The smile on her face is pure and seductive at the same time. She has no idea how sexy she is.
After only a few minutes, we’re drying off outside the shower. I take her towel from her, throw it on the floor beside our clothes. In one motion, I lift her onto my shoulder and carry her fireman style to the bed. She laughs the whole way. I love hearing her laugh.
I bring her down slowly and place her at the foot of the bed. She starts to pull herself up the bed backward. She lays herself down and watches me as I make my way toward her. I follow on my hands and knees, kissing a trail up the inside of her thigh. Lingering for a moment as I spread her legs.
Her scent is intoxicating, and I can’t resist a taste. I slowly drag the tip of my tongue along her opening from back to front, pausing at her clit for just one tiny swirl. She arches her back off the bed and moans the most seductive siren sound. I’m drawn the rest of the way up to her, positioning myself between her legs. She pulls me down with her hands around my neck. With the softest of smiles, she kisses me.
I try to savor the moment. The taste I want more of, the kiss, the feel of her naked body beneath me, but I can’t hold back any longer. I pull back from the kiss and look into her eyes. I lower myself gently and prop up onto my elbow, looking down at our bodies and then back up to her.
“I’m yours, Jack.” She widens her legs and lifts her knees slightly, opening herself up for me.
I position myself at her opening and slowly start to push in. I’m still looking into her eyes. I don’t want to hurt her. She’s so tight and wet. She feels so good that I’m struggling to go slow. I gradually inch deeper. Once I’m all the way inside her, I stop for a second to catch my breath. I drop my head to her shoulder. She feels incredible, and the urge to go fast and hard is strong. I look back into her eyes.
The smile on her face is perfect and she’s trying to roll her hips and push into me. “Jack, I need more. Please, don’t stop.”
I begin to pump into her, slowly at first, then with more momentum. Almost all the way out, then all the way back in, with a slight grinding motion when I can’t go any deeper.
“Jack, yes. Don’t stop. Harder, Jack.” I feel her climax building. Her muscles are tightening around me, and she’s pushing against me harder, wanting me to go faster.
A few more deep thrusts and then I hold her tight as she lets go. Feeling her muscles clench my cock, I struggle to hold on. Her legs are wrapped around my waist, and her fingers are digging into my arms. I’m not ready yet, and I want to claim her from behind. Just as she’s starting to come down, I pull out and lean back.
“Jack, what’s wrong?” She looks confused, like she did something wrong.
I smile big, hoping to comfort her. “We’re not done, baby. Flip over onto your stomach.” I put my hand under her hip to guide her. Once she’s on her stomach, I pull her hips up so that she’s on her knees. She widens her stance just a little without me asking, and then I’m pushing back into her.
She arches her back as I start to slide in. Once I’m in a little further, she rolls her hips and flexes her muscles. The movement causes a swirling sensation that feels like I’m being pulled, twisted, and sucked at the same time. It’s the most fantastic sensation I’ve ever felt, and I can’t control myself. A growling roar escapes me just as I crash into her. I don’t want to hurt her, but I can’t stop.
I look to her face to see if she’s OK. She’s looking over her shoulder at me with the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. The enticing glance changes everything. She wants all of me, but before I can act, she pulls away slightly and pushes back against me. She slams into me hard, repeating the hip-rolling motion. The seductive smile never leaving her lips. The intense stare tempting me to meet her demands. She may have been shy earlier to ask for what she wants, but now she’s taking it.
I completely let go. I grab her hips with both hands and we’re instantly pushing and pulling, moaning, and panting. It’s fast and hard, raw and wild. Each thrust is deeper and more powerful than the last. After several hard pumps, I feel my orgasm climbing. I reach around between her legs and slightly put pressure on her clit. She moans in ecstasy from the touch and I can feel her orgasm approaching.
Oh shit. I realize I didn’t prepare her for this part. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen. She knows there will be a bite but that’s it.
“Jack, now!” She’s moved her hair off her shoulder, exposing her neck. Her command is sexy as hell and I can’t hold back. I think I love this bolder, take-no-prisoners side to Ashley.
My orgasm is here, I can’t think. I have to act. All at once, I fall forward onto her back and wrap one arm around the front of her shoulders, bracing her to me. While my other arm circles her waist, holding her tight as I plunge into her for one final thrust. She cries out as I sink my teeth into her neck.
Our orgasms explode together, intensifying from the bite. We fall onto our sides, locked in a tight embrace. I’m still holding her as we both tremble and shake, riding the aftershocks of the orgasm to the very end. Our moaning slowly comes to a stop as the jolts and muscle spasms subside. She isn’t moving, and I start to lick the mark on her neck to close the wound and help it heal faster. A shiver ripples down her entire body.
“I didn’t explain it very well. I hope I didn’t hurt you. I had to hold you tight so that you wouldn’t pull away as I bit. It would rip the skin if you did.” I kiss her neck in between the soft licks.
She rolls over, facing me. The smile on her face is pure bliss. The glazed look in her eyes tells me the endorphin levels are still high.
“Jack, everything about that was perfect. I want to do it again. A lot.” She curls up against me and rubs her hand over my chest, softly circling my nipple with her fingertips.
Alphas can talk to their pack with mind speak. It’s how they communicate with each other when they’re wolves. Some mated couples can do it all the time. Ashley and I should be able to because I’m an alpha, but because she’s human, I’m not completely sure. I want to give it a try to see if she can hear me. I love you, Ashley.
Ashley lifts her head and looks at me. I think she’s trying to figure out what’s happening.
I say it again in my mind. I love you, Ashley.
Her smile grows and her eyes sparkle.
“Did you hear me in your head? Mated couples can sometimes communicate without talking, by using their minds. It’s how I communicate with the pack when I’m a wolf. We call it mind speak. I wanted to try it, to see if we can do it.” I can’t stop touching her. I’m addicted to the feel of her. It’s not just the feel of her but also her reaction. She loves it just as much as I do.
“Yes, I heard you. I tried to say it back, but I guess it didn’t work.” She looks discouraged.
“Keep trying. It’s something we had to learn when we were younger. I’ll help you. The others can’t help you with that. It’ll only work with me.” I notice a shift in her mood as I’m talking. Her smile fades.
“Can I ask you a question? I didn’t think of this before, but it just occurred to me. Am I just yours, or am I to be shared with everyone?” Her look of concern is morphing into panic.
I pull her into my arms and roll over so that I’m on top of her. “No, baby. You’re all mine. I’m greedy and selfish, and I hate to share. Mated pairs are bonded to each other and no one else.” I prop up onto my elbows. I can see the relief in her eyes, and the tension eases.
“This is a good time to explain a few things. Remember I told you how our sense of smell is so much stronger than humans?”
She nods.
I continue. “Well, shifters don’t touch people or other shifters for that reason. If you touch someone, I’ll smell that person on you. There’s no hiding it. I don’t want to smell anyone else’s scent on you, espec
ially when we’re in bed. No one in the pack will ever come into this room. And you will never go into theirs.”
“I understand, Jack. It makes sense. If they clean up after themselves, there will be no reason to even go down their hallway. And I have more ideas about the house. Ideas about putting some one-bedroom cabins close by outside. To give us more space and privacy.” She smiles as I move to kiss her neck.
“Remember during the break-in, and I told you to stay hidden, that I would find you?” I slowly move toward the nipple I neglected earlier, kissing along the way.
“Yes. Are you going to talk or keep doing that?” She’s impatient.
“Both. The intruder was a wolf shifter and should have found you easily by following your scent. I used your scent to track you through the house as well, but I couldn’t find you. Your scent stopped suddenly, as if you vanished into thin air. I believe it’s why the intruder left. He lost your scent.”
I pause to continue my trail of kisses. “Even when I was holding you, looking at you, I couldn’t smell you. How did you do that, Ashley? We’ve all talked about it and can’t figure out how you did it.” I’m almost to my intended destination.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything. I climbed on top of the washer and dryer, closed the doors, and tried to stay quiet while I waited. That’s it.” She’s moving beneath me, eager for me to stop talking.
“Will you please think about it. I believe it saved you from whatever he was planning to do. If it is something you can control and possibly teach to others, it will be invaluable. I’ll feel better knowing that you have a way to protect yourself when I’m not around, even if it is just hiding.” I stop my slow, worshipping kiss of her nipple and look up at her. I need her to understand the importance of what I’m saying.
“I love you, Jack. I promise I will try to figure out what I did. Maybe it was triggered by my fear.” Her expression is sincere.
“I love you too, Ashley. I know we didn’t get here the easy way, but I want to make you happy. I want our life here to be happy. Knowing you’re safe is a huge part of that.” I move forward and kiss her, deeply.
“I’m happy, Jack. And I want you to be happy too. Please tell me if I’m doing something wrong. I know I’m new to being in a pack, and I’ve never lived with anyone either.” She places tiny kisses along my neck, trailing her tongue to connect them.
Just as I’m about to respond to her, there’s a knock at the door.
Grant’s voice fills the space. “Jack, you and Ashley need to come out here.”
I’ve never heard this level of severity from him before and it unnerves me. I hear him walk away from the door. Ashley looks at me with concern.
“Fuck. He wouldn’t come to the door the night of our mating unless it was serious. I’m sorry. I have to see what it is.” I start to pull away.
Before I get too far, she grabs my arm and I look back at her. “We have to see what it is. You and me, Jack. Remember? I’m by your side, no matter what.”
She’s right. Her words resonating deep in my heart.
“I’m not done claiming you. I want you back in this bed as soon as possible.” I lean in for one last kiss before I get off the bed.
“Are we mated?” Ashley gets out of bed and walks toward the bathroom.
I follow her to the bathroom, our clothes from before are littering the floor. “Yes, baby. We’re officially mated, but I’m not finished making you mine. Are you done with me?”
“Not even close. I haven’t even tasted you yet.” She pulls on her jeans, looking me right in the eyes. That sexy smile has returned.
I love this side of her personality and I love flirting with her. I pull my shirt over my head and put my hands on her shoulders, turning her to face me. “Here’s the plan. We go out there, assess the situation, do a little damage control, then get back in bed as fast as we can.”
“I love it. Let’s do it.” She moves to walk out the bathroom, but I pull her backwards to my chest. I give her one more kiss before I release her.
She’s giggling as we walk out of the bathroom, but as we approach the bedroom door our mood changes as if in sync. We are already becoming a team.
CHAPTER 28
Jack
Walking out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, I’m not sure what to think. What could have happened in the last couple of hours that is serious enough that it couldn’t wait until morning? Especially on the night of our mating.
I’m instantly aware of the large crowd. What are all these people doing here in the middle of the night? Someone better start explaining.
“I’ll go start some coffee.” Ashley steps away from me.
“Brooks, go start the coffee. Ashley, you need to be over here for this. It includes you.” Grant gives the order. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this before.
I look around at everyone. “Somebody needs to start explaining what the fuck is going on and fast.”
I wait. I feel Ashley move up beside me. She puts her hand on the back of my arm, and I’m surprised at how much it calms me.
“We’re not all going to fit in the living room. Can we sit at the table?” Ashley turns and motions toward the dining room.
Grant’s still in charge of everyone. “Good idea. Council members, Nicholai, Max, and I will sit at the table with Jack and Ashley. The rest of the pack can stay in the living room. You guys have heard most of it anyway. Chase, Runt, go out and get some more wood. Preston, add a few more logs to the fire.”
“Brooks, can you turn the oven on? We can warm up the leftover pizza. Better yet, I think we have everything we need to make a simple breakfast. Do you mind?” Ashley communicates with Brooks on what she wants done in the kitchen. I don’t think she likes being on the sidelines.
Brooks nods and gets to work.
“Jack, do you two want to shower before we start this?” Nicholai finally has something to say.
Before I can say anything, Ashley answers. “If you don’t want us to smell like sex, then you shouldn’t have knocked on the door when you knew we were having sex. I was being claimed by my mate. So, hurry up and get on with whatever it is you have to say that’s so important so we can get back to it.”
This woman is incredible. Everyone looks at me, and I can’t hide my growing smile. I gesture with my hand toward Ashley and shrug my shoulders, the smile never leaving my face. She said it perfectly, and I have nothing to add.
Everyone turns their attention to Nicholai. The room goes quiet, and I can feel the atmosphere change. I try to keep my mind open and wait until I hear what they have to say before I react. I don’t like waiting and I’m running out of patience.
“Jack, do you remember the conversation we had at Doc’s earlier? The story about an alpha shifter mating with a special human, and their mating would influence the world?” Nicholai waits for my response.
“Yes, I specifically asked if that was Ashley and me, and he said no.” Wait, did he say no? I glance over at Doc. Now that I think about it, he didn’t answer.
Nicholai confirms this. “He didn’t answer, actually. But I’m going to. Until you two mated, there was no way to know if Ashley was that special human. Not until the mating was complete. Now we know that she is that human and you are now the high alpha.” Nicholai watches my reaction as I process what he’s just said.
“I don’t understand. And how do you know this, and we don’t? What exactly is a high alpha?” I motion back and forth between Ashley and myself.
“First, I’ll tell you how we know. At the moment of claiming, the bite and everything, the universe responded. In the sky, there was a pulse, like a heartbeat, a ripple, and a slight flash. They happened all at once and as soon as you two became one. Every shifter in the world felt it, especially the alphas.” Nicholai looks between Ashley and me. I guess he wants to make sure we’re following.
The council members seated around the table nod their heads in agreement.
“Wow, I told you that was an incredible orgasm.” Ashley looks at me and winks. Then she turns back to Nicholai.
“Exactly. It happened at the moment of orgasm. You would not have noticed anything else. Ashley is the one who has turned you into a high alpha, and you cannot be the high alpha without her. The two of you must do this together. One will not exist without the other.” As Nicholai is talking, Brooks brings coffee and beers to the table.
Ashley takes one of the cups. “I didn’t do anything. Well, I did some stuff.”
Nicholai interrupts. “You only had to be there, Ashley. It wasn’t anything you did or did not do. But you are the one who made it possible. Let me explain what a high alpha is, and then I’ll explain what’s special about you.” Nicholai tries to reassure Ashley, but he’s not sure she’s convinced.
“Jack, a high alpha is an alpha who has power over all alphas of every species, including humans. The moment you two mated, every alpha in the world instantly became aware that there is now one greater. There has never been a high alpha before. Because you are the first, we don’t completely know what the impact will be. Most of the world will continue with life just as it always has.
“Some will want to rise against you and try to defeat you. Thinking that if they destroy you, the power will somehow transfer to them. It won’t. It’s the two of you or no one at all. Not because of you but because of the two of you together. Knowing that the power will not transfer to them will not stop them from trying to defeat you or take Ashley. Once others learn that Ashley is the key, they will not stop until they possess her.”
Nicholai pauses for just a moment, watching both of us closely. “Ashley is, we believe, the first of her kind. We don’t even know if there will be more like her. She’s what we call a natural-born alpha female. She’s a human born with alpha-female traits. We don’t even know all that she’s capable of. Her power will grow. To all who have known her in the past and to all who will come to know her, she is for all to see and smell, a regular human. Even to me, she is just a human. There is nothing different about her to set her apart. We have a lot to learn about both of you and your new roles.”
Delivered: (The Blackpaw Prophecy, Book 1) Page 19
