Ever After

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “You’re stronger.” He picked her up and carried her right back to the bed. Laying her down, he kissed her nose. “That’s okay. I’m so strong I have to consciously remind myself not to show it in front of humans. And I liked it. Feel free to tear at all of my clothing anytime you’d like.”

  She laughed, and it eased something inside of her. He could always elicit a giggle from her, although the heat spreading through her body was no laughing matter. She wanted him. Now.

  He threw the remaining tendrils of his shirt down on the ground. “Put your hands on me.”

  Lilliana reached out and touched his skin. He had very little non-inked chest left except directly over his heart. She let her gaze fall there. Why had he kept that spot untouched?

  “It’s for you.”

  Had he read her mind? “How so?”

  “My heart. That’s where I’m putting your tattoo. I’ve been drawing it all week. Well, until I thought you were dead, and then I wasn’t able to function at all. The last forty-eight hours are a blur. I just—”

  She stopped him with a kiss. In a strange way she’d never imagined possible, she could actually feel his pain as though it was her own. It lodged in her throat and forced tears from her eyes. “Please.” She kissed him again. “I’m okay. We’re both going to be fine. Even if every month on the full moon I have to become furry.”

  He smoothed her hair from her face, and she sighed. Travis did that a lot, and she loved it. “Did you hate it?”

  “I liked it in the sense that it finally felt like I could do what I needed to do.” She shuddered. “I really didn’t care for the pain.”

  “It’ll lessen, and I can take some of it from you. As Alpha of the pack, I can shield some of that with the next shift. You’ll see. It’s going to be so much better.”

  “I believe you.” She sighed, running her hands down his chest. He’d probably hate to be called beautiful. How could she not think of him that way? He’d been sculpted from stone and then had decorated his body with all that made his internal self so interesting.

  “Thank you.” He kissed her cheek then her chin. “There’s one more thing you have to know.”

  “Oh? More? I haven’t had enough?”

  Travis snickered. “Only you talk to me like that. Please don’t ever stop. The other thing you need to know is that when I’m inside you, after I’ve made you come, hard, when I reach completion, I’m going to bite you.”

  She sat up to look at him. “You’re telling me now? Just as, what, a warning?”

  “That’s what the male werewolf does to his mate. We permanently mark them. When your skin starts to heal, I’ll mark it again.”

  “Like a permanent hickey.”

  “Yes.” He smiled. “Kind of funny to put it that way. That’s the idea, I guess.”

  “A mark of ownership.”

  Travis traced the skin on her neck, and she shivered. “Yes.”

  “Do it.” She wanted a marking, a display for everyone to see that she got to be his woman. It made her feel as though she could take a deep breath…like, for the first time in her entire life, she might know what safety felt like.

  “Good.” He sat back on his heels. “First, I have to get you naked.”

  “Just me? Because it’s been awhile, but I seem to recall there had to be two to do this properly.”

  Travis grinned, and she could see his hidden dimple that seemed to come out when he smiled at only her. “I’ll be naked too.”

  “Here.” She tugged off her top. They could get this portion of it finished faster, and then she could have him balls deep inside of her where she craved him to be.

  “Whoa.” He stopped her from removing her bra. “That’s my job. I want to undress you. It’s my pleasure to do so.”

  His eyes were pools of molten fire while he gazed at her. She dropped her hands to her sides. Her man, the leader of werewolves, had told her he wished to take off her clothing. She was going to let him.

  He started with her bra. Never taking his eyes from hers, he undid the clasp in the back and laid it down on the floor. How could he be so gentle when she wanted to tear his clothes to shreds?

  “Your scent.” He sucked in his breath. “Like cherries. And strawberries. It makes my mouth water with wanting you. And I can smell your longing, my She-wolf. I can taste it on my tongue.”

  Her hands shook. “I feel like I might fall apart if you don’t take me soon. Like I might explode into a million pieces.”

  “You’re in heat.”

  She gasped. That sounded awful.

  “It’s a very good thing. It’s your body’s way of telling you that you were ready to find a mate, a true mate. The only problem is that the female wolf has to regularly have sex during that time while she searches for him or she can get a little loopy. You made your first shift yesterday. It’s probably made the need even worse.”

  “Then you have to do something about it, mate-of-mine, before I implode.”

  “I am.” He licked her neck. “And your patience is only going to make this better.”

  “I’m going to believe you, but it’s your fault if I blow up.”

  “I’ll take the blame if that happens.” He took her breasts in his hands. Her nipples peaked, begging for attention. “I think you’re going to find me an attentive lover. I intend to make you come until you can’t see straight,” he whispered in her ear. “Many times, my mate.”

  ****

  He’d rather be in his bed or hers than stuck in one of Cyrus’ apartments for their first time together, but he’d take whatever he could get if it meant he could end up in Lilliana’s heat.

  She burned. He could smell it. The spicy scent of her arousal made his nose itch. Her body had been through so much, and now she needed this release to set things back in order. That was fine by him. He’d take her over and over again until she felt better—and then maybe even after that, too, since he wasn’t certain he’d ever be sated.

  He’d promised her naked, and on that, he could deliver. Having already exposed her top half—and what a half it was—he desperately wanted to spend some time getting to know her breasts. He wanted her fully exposed to him, her body his to enjoy.

  He tugged down her pants, showing off her long legs before he unwrapped his present for the night by taking off her panties. Travis stared down at her pussy with its beautiful, full bush and visible folds that held her warmth within their embrace.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.” His voice shook. “You know that, right?”

  Her cheeks reddened. Had he embarrassed her? He just needed her to know how truly extraordinary she was.

  “What I know is that you are still half dressed and I am sprawled out here on my own.”

  He grinned. “Now that’s a thought. Maybe I’ll keep you this way permanently. My own personal always-nude mate. I can come and go all day, and there you will be, always naked…”

  She leaned up and grabbed his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers. Well, she’d found a very unique way to shut him up, and he liked it. Growling, he pulled back only long enough to shove his pants from his body and remove his underwear. His cock throbbed, begging for attention, and he forced himself to ignore it. His own needs would come later.

  He took one of her breasts in his mouth. Her nipple peaked in his mouth, and he sucked harder. Yes, he loved this. Adored how she tasted salty and sweet at the same time.

  She ran her hands around his chest, and he felt the sharp points of the fingernails in his skin. The slight pain only made him harder. At this rate he’d be so erect by the time he got inside of her he’d manage one thrust and it would all be over.

  One way or another, he had to find his control.

  He tongued her belly button, biting down gently until she squirmed. “Travis.” Lilliana’s voice had gone soft. He loved this side of her. She’d let her boundaries down. He sighed. Nothing could be better than this.

  “You like the little nips?” She shuddered against him. �
�Yes, I can see you do.”

  Bending over, he nipped her stomach, the left edge of her breast, her hip. Anywhere he could he slightly marked her. She writhed against him, her back arching on the bed.

  He might have done that for a few minutes or a few hours. Time had no meaning anymore.

  Travis slipped a finger inside of her. She moaned, and he reveled in the sound. Her juices slipped onto his fingers. The woman was wet and ready for him. He smiled and knew it to be male pride surging through him right at that moment. She wanted him so badly he’d barely touched her and she’d gotten that wet.

  He inserted two fingers inside of her, and her muscles clenched around him. Tight. His mate would be so snug around him. Travis hissed in his breath. He couldn’t think like that, or he wouldn’t make it inside her.

  He squeezed her clit between his two fingers. She reared up beneath him. “Travis.” Lilliana panted.

  “That’s it, sweet She-wolf. This is just the beginning. I told you. Many times.” He wanted her to come. Over and over again. “I have to make you come so I can suck up all the sweet liquid you’re giving me.”

  Her eyes widened, and he pinched her small bundle of nerves again. She bit down on her lower lip.

  “You like that?” He swirled his fingers around her, stopping and starting until he found a rhythm he could tell she liked. Lilliana closed her eyes and cupped the side of her face. Her head moved back and forth on the pillow.

  “Travis. Please.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Please what? How can I know what you like if you don’t open those pretty lids to look at me?”

  She swallowed, and he watched the muscles of her neck clench before she did as he asked. “It’s too much. The feeling. I’m not sure I can handle it.”

  “Sure you can.” He smiled. “Because I told you to. Come for me, beautiful. Do it right now.”

  His mate needed release. Ultimately, she required him deep inside of her, but this would take the edge off for a few more minutes so he could play a bit more. It would satisfy her better.

  Lilliana finally let go. With her back arching, her eyes wide open while she stared into his, and her hands grabbing his arms for support, she came around his fingers. He grinned. She took his breath away. How could fate have been so kind to give her to him? He would always take care of her.

  Before she could come down from her high, he scooted down and replaced his fingers with his tongue. She gasped, grabbing at his hair. “Travis. Wait. I don’t know if I can come again. That was…intense. So much. How can I again?”

  He lifted his head just a touch. “Because you have only gotten started. You were made for me, Lilliana. I’m going to watch you come over and over again. This time I want it on my tongue.”

  Travis twirled his tongue over her clit. She tasted like heaven—salt had always been his favorite flavor—and he licked his lips. “Lilliana, I am already addicted to you.”

  With that said, he went back to the task at hand. He’d never been so happy to have something to complete. With the concentration he always attributed to his wolf-half, he licked her clit. She cried out his name, and he knew that she was already sensitive from having come just moments earlier.

  Finally, he coaxed her into another orgasm. This time she called out his name over and over again while he lapped up her fluid. Yes, he’d wanted this, needed this too. Her body might be craving release, but his soul called out for hers. He’d been alone for so long, and in that moment, for the first time in years, he knew he didn’t have to lead alone. The woman who belonged to him would fill him body and soul as her juices creamed his mouth now.

  When she’d finished, he raised his head and grinned down at her. “What can I say, darling? I’m a wolf. I like to use my tongue.”

  She smiled. “I’m a werewolf too, right? Maybe I’d like to use my tongue as well.”

  His cock throbbed with the thought, and his balls ached to let her do just that. Travis shook his head. “No. If you even so much as touch me there, it’ll end so fast I’ll never end up inside of you.”

  She pouted her lower lip. “Well, I can’t have that. I do feel tremendously bad that I’ve gotten off twice now, and might I say better than I ever have before? And you’ve yet to.”

  “Lilliana.” He loved saying her name and hearing the musical quality of the whole sound. “I’m going to come inside of you so hard I may not see straight ever again.”

  Her eyes darkened. “How is it that when you say these things to me I get even hotter? How am I not exploding?”

  “I’m your mate.” He smiled at her.

  “I know.”

  He kissed her, licking down her face until he reached her neck. She sighed loudly so he kept up the move until he reached her pussy. Then, when he’d reached his position, he placed his cock right outside of her warmth. He felt the heat from her core greeting him at the entrance.

  “I love you, Lilliana. You’ve been mine since you were born. I’m sorry it took us this long to find one another.”

  She touched the side of his face. “You’re all mine, Alpha.”

  He’d never felt more like one in his life. Finding his mate, this very moment, brought to life the full meaning of his existence. To have his mate and lead his people.

  How had he existed without her? He couldn’t remember.

  With a swift thrust, he pushed himself inside of her. Her muscles welcomed him, and only one word staggered into his mind. Home.

  She leaned up and kissed him. He closed his eyes. Finally, he understood what she’d meant when she said it was too much. It really was. His entire life had led to this one moment.

  He opened his lids to look at her, and her eyes shown up at him, love in their dark depths.

  She stroked her hand over his lips. “I know.”

  The fact that Lilliana could understand what he couldn’t even properly rationalize made all the difference. His mate understood. He moved inside of her.

  Chapter Six

  Lilliana gripped the sheets and hoped that she could somehow bottle the few moments when Travis thrusted inside of her for all time. She bit down on her lip. Her muscles clenched around his hard cock, and she knew if she let herself she’d shatter into a million pieces way too soon.

  Tears rushed from her eyes. “Oh God, Travis.”

  “Lilliana.” Her name sounded like a prayer.

  She wanted him to come. He’d given her pleasure twice over. Now it had to be his turn. Lilliana shuddered, although she knew she was getting a third round any second.

  “Please, Travis. Give me what I need. Give us both what we need, baby.” She knew he held back. He’d been as hard as a rock when he entered her. By now he must be dying to come. He’d hold off his own pleasure until she reached hers. It was part of how he took care of her. She knew that about him now.

  He reached between them, finding her clit, and swiped it again. She saw stars, pleasure pushing her over the edge until the pressure that built between them became more than she could bear. Her back arched, and her mouth went dry. She shook in his embrace.

  Over and over she came undone beneath him. Her muscles liquefied, and she wondered if she’d ever move again. He called out her name as he surged inside of her. She loved the feel of his warm seed inside of her. Seconds later, he bit her, his teeth clamping down on the juncture of her shoulder.

  Lilliana shuddered, coming for the fourth time before she saw nothing but blackness.

  ****

  She blinked awake, seeing that the sun seemed brighter than earlier. Lilliana stretched, very grateful to see she hadn’t lost the use of her muscles after all. Where was Travis? She looked left and right. His scent permeated the room, it was all over the sheets and the pillows. Even her own skin. Where had he gone?

  Lilliana frowned before she got out of bed. Where was she anyway? Perhaps she should have thought about that earlier, but she’d been really focused on getting Travis inside of her.

  Of course she could blame that on the mating
loonies or whatever. She had to because she’d gone into heat. Like the neighbor’s cat they hadn’t bothered to fix. Just something she was going to have to deal with apparently.

  Finding her clothes and pieces of Travis’ shirt she’d shredded, which she quickly put into a garbage can, she opened the door to whatever room they were in. She sniffed the air, and it didn’t tell her much. Maybe tracking by scent would come later. Or maybe that wasn’t a thing werewolves could really do. “I’ve been a werewolf for one day, two at the max since I don’t know what day it is. Super wolf I am not.”

  With that thought, she made her way into the hallway. It was long and decorated rustically. In the distance, she heard voices, and the ache that had formed in her chest eased when she heard Travis.

  “I told you last night. I don’t want New York. As soon as I can get my people out of this cursed state, the better.”

  “You can keep Pennsylvania. That is if you can take it from Pierre. He wants Philly. He’s never going to be satisfied with just Pittsburgh.”

  “I’m not concerned with that jackass. If he comes at my pack, I’ll destroy him.”

  When she rounded the corner, she saw them standing in the kitchen. She leaned against the wall. Wherever she was, apparently Cyrus was still around. “Is this common? Packs fighting over cities? Why don’t we all hang out in the woods and just be wolves?”

  “Some do.” Travis’ whole face lit up when he saw her. “Some of us embrace our human side. It’s easier to run a pack in the city. Werewolves aren’t as likely to accidentally show themselves, to suddenly decide to go lone wolf and start running amok. Besides, we all need jobs, cars, groceries. We’re only wolves during full moon.”

  He crossed to her and pulled her into his arms, his bare arms. Travis had no shirt to wear, so he’d been speaking to Cyrus naked from the waist up. She wasn’t going to complain, but she wondered, as she looked at Cyrus dressed in a suit and tie, if Travis might have preferred to have been fully clothed.

  “We didn’t used to fight at all.” Cyrus shrugged. “Then our Alpha Prime, the supreme leader of the United States packs, who used to lead us all, died. Every Alpha in the country has had to either fight to defend his pack ever since or jockeyed to be Alpha Prime.”