His Mating Mark

by Alicia White

  “Good morning.” Standing up straight, she knew she had been caught checking him out.

  “Morning.” She smiled and bit her lip.

  “I thought you might be a little sore this morning so I started a bath for you.” He looked a little shy at that moment. Maybe he thought she might deny him, but she couldn’t.

  Walking to the bathtub, Gabe grabbed her hand, helping her to step in. He stripped off his jeans and slid into the tub with her. He settled his large frame into the opposite end of the tub, stretching his legs on either side of hers until his feet rested beside her hips. “How does the water feel? Too hot?”

  Nicole jerked her gaze from his wet abs, perfect chest, and the flat brown nipples that made her mouth water. “Um, it’s perfect.”

  His expression changed, his eyes darkening, and his mouth quirked up on one corner. “Is it helping any? Your sore muscles, I mean.”

  “Yes. Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you.” She sank deeper into the water. He nodded, and they sat there soaking in silence. Nicole tried to figure out how everything had happened. She felt like she had landed in some sort of alternate universe where sexy, charming men fell for average women. She wanted to hold onto this little fantasy for as long as she could. If she was sleeping, then she never wanted to wake up.

  The hot, salty water began to work its magic on her, easing her sore muscles and soothing the raw feeling between her legs. She just wished it could calm the feelings of confusion and doubt in her mind. Closing her eyes, not wanting to keep staring at Gabe, she tried to ignore the questions that lingered in her mind.

  Picking up her feet, Gabe began to massage the arches with firm pressure. She sighed in pleasure. He seemed to know exactly what to do. He read her perfectly. “That feels so good. I wouldn’t mind if you did that for the rest of my life,” she whispered, letting herself doze off a little.

  “I would be happy to do it for the rest of our lives,” he murmured. His voice warm and sincere. “Why don’t you make it easy for us and move in? Josh and I can take care of you.”

  Chapter 7

  Gabe wasn’t sure why he had said that. He knew it was too soon. He wanted to blame it on the hot water and the soft woman that let his instincts overwhelm his normal behavior. It was also the shifter that had been walking around her house. He tried not to think about that though. He didn’t plan on letting her go home. He was the one who had wanted to take things slow. Josh had been pushing him to move forward for years but he had been too scared.

  He had intended to ease Nicole into the idea of being their mate, of becoming a permanent part of his life, their lives. He knew that she might not be able to understand the situation, not yet anyway. He needed more time for her to get to know them, for her to become acquainted with his pack. The hours they had spent together so far weren’t nearly enough.

  Nicole, he reminded himself, was human and would require a lot of special handling, especially since she feared wolves. She would need lots of time for a relationship to develop as well. Their relationships didn’t work that way. Fate picked a perfect mate, and when you finally did find your mate, you claimed her. He needed to calm himself down and take things a little slower, but that was almost going to be impossible. After years of waiting, she was here in their home, and he wanted to keep her.

  Nicole laughed softy. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Gabe watched her closely, her eyes still closed, her face relaxed.

  “Good. Please do. You’d get foot rubs on demand, I’m a really good cook, and I’m really amazing in bed,” he teased her.

  He watched her warm, brown eyes open and stare at him. They looked so innocent, but after last night, he wondered what else was hidden. She looked at him for almost a full minute before she finally spoke. “Are you teasing me?” She arched a brow, grinning.

  “Didn’t I sound serious?” he asked, wondering what she would say. Was she really considering moving in? He held his breath, waiting to hear what she would say.

  “A little,” she whispered. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

  “What doesn’t make sense? I want you, I don’t want to lose you, and I know that I’m coming on way too strong.” He shook his head, wishing he had just kept his mouth shut.

  “There is no reason for you to say that. You and Josh could probably have any woman you want just by giving her a smile. Why do you want me?” She sounded a little vulnerable, and he hated that he had caused their perfect moment together to change. The water was getting cold, and Gabe didn’t want her to catch a chill. He stood up and climbed out. He grabbed a towel, dried off quickly, and then moved back to the tub for her. He held the towel open for her.

  “You have nothing to worry about. I don’t want any other woman.” She stood up slowly, and he tried to ignore the water dripping off her soft skin. He wrapped the towel around her and picked her up, carrying her back into the bedroom. He lowered her down until her feet touched the carpet, and then he rubbed the towel over her skin, drying her off.

  He debated telling her why he didn’t want any other woman, why he would never want anyone but her. The words were stuck in his throat. She was human, and she was scared of wolves. He took a step back and stared at her, wanting to tell her everything but refusing to lose her. He needed to slow down and take things at a pace she would be okay with.

  “Let me get you some clothes. Josh is downstairs making breakfast.” He went to the large chest of drawers and grabbed two T-shirts and two pairs of sweats. He handed her some clothes and started to get dressed, covering his aching erection. He waited until she was finished getting dressed and offered his arm. She wrapped her small hand around his bicep, and they walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs together.

  “There are a couple people from the uh, community down there, too. I hope you don’t mind.” He wanted to introduce her to a few pack mates. She looked up at him and nodded, but he could tell she was a little nervous. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He wanted to show her off, and he wanted everyone to know that she was theirs.

  They walked into the kitchen and noticed right away that Josh and a few of his pack were making breakfast. They were whispering, and he cleared his throat, hoping that Nicole hadn’t heard her name. All eyes turned and stared at them. Nicole stopped and held his arm tighter. He rubbed her hand, hoping to calm her fears.

  “Nicole, this is Adrian, Evan, Cole, and Charlie.” He nodded at each man, and they all walked up slowly, extending their hands to her. They could obviously read how skittish she was, and he was glad they weren’t rushing up to meet her. He could feel the excitement in the room and knew that they were all glad that he and Josh had finally claimed their mate.

  “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Nicole. Gabe and Josh have been talking about you nonstop,” Cole said and Gabe flinched. They had been talking about her constantly for two years, ever since that fateful night.

  “I was so glad when Josh told us about you.” Evan nodded, smiling widely, and Gabe could only shake his head, hoping that they would shut up.

  “Um, okay, thanks?” She was obviously a little confused, but he didn’t say a word, just walked to the kitchen table and sat her down. He kissed her lips, just a quick brush, but wished he had more time to dive in and suck her tongue into his mouth. Josh walked over and nudged him out of the way. He leaned down and kissed her, pushing his tongue in her mouth, and Gabe rolled his eyes. He moved to the chair next to her and sat down, waiting for Josh to finish.

  “Mmmm...You taste good, baby.” Josh pulled back and licked his lips.

  The smile on Nicole’s face changed the whole vibe of the room, and she glowed, making every other male stare at her. Gabe cleared his throat loudly, and his other pack mates scrambled, moving to sit at the table. Josh laughed and went back by the stove, pulling out a full tray of cinnamon rolls.

  “I’ve been slaving over this stove all morning while the two of you took a nice, hot bath.” He made a pouty face at Nicole, and she s
tarted laughing. The sound was music to his ears, and he grinned, relaxing into his chair. Josh had volunteered to cook breakfast, allowing him some alone time with Nicole, and he was very grateful.

  “I hope you’re hungry. We tend to eat a lot around here.” Josh brought a huge tray of pastries over and put them on the table. He went back into the kitchen and grabbed a couple more huge trays that were overflowing with pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs.

  “Wow, looks amazing. Josh, I’m impressed.” Her stomach growled loudly, and she ducked her head, holding her stomach. She looked embarrassed, and Gabe started loading up her plate. He didn’t want his mate being hungry, and she had gone without dinner the night before.

  “Eat up.” He told her as he filled his plate with all the delicious-looking food that Josh had made. They tended to take turns, cooking different meals for some of the bachelors in the pack. He liked having a full house, always had, except at this very moment. He preferred to have the house quiet so that they could have some playtime with Nicole. He wanted to eat the food off her body. He wanted to touch her, but he refrained himself, not wanting to cause her any further embarrassment.

  They ate their food in relative silence, and he stayed focused on Nicole, watching her eat. She took small bites. He watched her open her mouth, take a bite, moan, and chew her food slowly. She closed her eyes and savored every bite, and he wondered what noises she would make when she sucked his cock. He shifted in his seat and tried to focus on eating his own breakfast. He stared at his plate but couldn’t get his mind off his throbbing erection.

  Inhaling deeply, hoping to calm his nerves, he smelt the same sweet, tangy smell he had in the truck. His head shot up, and he growled low in his throat. She needed him, needed them. He heard four chairs scrape against the floor and a few mumbles, but didn’t take his eyes off her. He knew that the other four men had left, leaving just the three of them in the kitchen.

  He pushed his chair out a little, making room for her on his lap. “Come here.” The words came out more of a growl, and she stared at him, panting, her cheeks flushed.

  Nicole stood up slowly and walked toward him. He held out his hand, and she took it, letting him pull her onto his lap. He wrapped one arm around her, held her tight against his body, and slid the other hand down under the loose waistband of the sweats to cup her pussy. His fingertips tickled her smooth pussy before sliding between her lips and finding the moisture hidden there.

  He played with her. Pushing a finger in, testing how tight and wet she was. He added two more, wanting to stretch her. She whimpered, stretching out on his lap, and opened her legs, giving him the access he needed to pump his fingers in and out of her little pussy. He could feel her need rising, and he tightened his hold, trying to calm himself down.

  “Shhh, I’ve got you.” He thrust his fingers hard, his thumb teasing her clit, wanting to drive her closer to the edge. She shuddered and whined helplessly, and he groaned, his cock rock hard against her hip.

  He leaned his head down and kissed his mark on her shoulder. He liked knowing that his mark was there, that she belonged to him now. She lifted her hips, fucking his fingers, and he dug his nails into her hip. Her juices ran down his hand, and he was barely able to contain the beast roaming at the surface, demanding he pleasure his mate.

  “Put her on the table,” Josh demanded, and Gabe picked her up and laid her down on the hard surface.

  * * * *

  Nicole’s back hit the table, and she groaned, missing Gabe’s heat almost immediately. She was wet and ready, on the verge of begging them to take her, feeling her juices leaking down her thigh. She pulled her T-shirt over her head, exposing her breasts to them. The chill in the air made her nipples harden, and grabbing her breasts, she held them like an offering.

  Josh’s mouth closed over one tight peak, and he sucked hard, pulling her nipple against the roof of his mouth. She felt strong hands at the waistband of the sweats and lifted her hips, letting Gabe pull them down, off her legs.

  “Spread your legs.” A demand, not a request, and she obeyed him, opening her legs wide. She couldn’t see Gabe, but she felt his hands grip her thighs. Feeling his breath on her pussy, she froze, waiting for him to touch her with his mouth. He licked her pussy, one long swipe of his tongue from clit to anus, and she shivered. It felt naughty, but she wanted more, craved more of what he had to give.

  Gabe didn’t take his time to lick slowly. Instead, he ate at her, devoured her. Josh pulled back and grabbed one thigh, stretching her out wide so that he could watch what Gabe was doing to her. Gabe stared at her while he sucked her clit, and Nicole arched her back, shoving her pussy in his face. He kissed her inner thigh and stood up. He didn’t take his eyes off her as he spoke to Josh.

  “She’s delicious, do you want a taste?” He offered her to Josh and stepped out of the way. Josh took his place, and he winked and ginned at her before leaning down and eating her pussy. She thrashed on the table, looking for something to hold on to. She stared at Gabe, unable to look away from his eyes. They darkened and reminded her of a predator stalking his prey. Her breath froze in her lungs as he pushed his sweats down his body and lifted his T-shirt over his head.

  “I want you to suck my cock, baby.”

  She moved her upper body toward him and grabbed his cock with both hands. She leaned in and licked the tip. She took her time sucking his cock into her mouth, changing rhythms, watching him, trying to find out what he liked. When the salty taste hit her tongue, everything stopped. A new energy started deep within her body. The feel of him in her mouth created a craving that startled her.

  She centered her attention on the feeling of euphoria when more liquid escaped into the back of her throat. Her tongue traced each ridge, moving up and down, stroking the velvet skin covering his cock. She ignored the hands pulling her hair. She felt the cock start to expand deep in her throat, and she swallowed. Hearing Gabe yell out his completion had her coming back to reality, and hot cum filled her mouth.

  Nicole leaned back, panting, focusing on Josh. She was close, so close to coming, and she concentrated on that feeling. She felt a wet finger teasing her ass, and she panted loudly, needing more oxygen in her lungs. He pushed in slowly, and she relaxed her muscles. It had been so long since anything had been in her ass, and she knew what pleasure awaited her. He pumped one finger, and nerve endings came to life.

  “Get on the table, Gabe. Let Nicole ride you so that I can fuck her tight little ass.” Josh’s voice was commanding, and she moved over, giving Gabe the space he needed. “Ride his cock, baby. I need you.” Josh smacked her hip, and Nicole moved, needing something bigger than a finger inside her. She straddled Gabe’s hips, grabbed the base of his cock, and slid down his length. She twisted her hips, loving the full feeling of him inside her. Josh grabbed her, stopping her progress.

  “Damn it, I need.” She couldn’t wait another minute. She had been close to coming so many times that she needed to fly over the edge before her orgasm disappeared.

  A heavy hand came down on her ass, and she groaned, loving the way Josh’s hand covered a whole cheek. “Take it easy, we’ll make you come.” She felt Josh’s thighs against her and moved her ass, trying to entice him.

  “Don’t worry, baby, I’m gonna take you. I’m going to slide my cock so deep in your ass.” He spread her cheeks, and she laid her head on Gabe’s chest, willing herself to relax. She knew what was coming, had been hoping for them to take her.

  Nicole felt Josh’s fingers work inside her bottom slowly. “Good girl. Just relax. Soon I’ll be inside your tight, little ass.” He used one hand to massage her ass cheeks while he pushed a couple fingers inside her, stretching her. The burn and pinch made her twist her hips, and she leaned into Gabe, wanting to distract herself. Gabe grabbed her face and kissed her, pushing his tongue into her mouth. She loved the taste of him. He made her wild.

  She felt the head of Josh’s cock breach her ass, and she held her breath. She relaxed and pushed out, lettin
g him push inside her. She didn’t move until he was deep inside her. She loved the feeling of having both Gabe and Josh filling her. Gabe let go of her as he thrust his hips up. They moved slowly at first, one thrusting in deep while the other pulled out slowly. It didn’t take long for them to increase their rhythm.

  Josh and Gabe both quickened their pace, and Gabe sat up, holding her tight in between them. They were both buried deep inside her, and she squirmed. He lowered his head to her shoulder, and she braced herself. “You are our mate, you belong with us both. We will love you and take care of you forever.”

  Josh lowered his head to the other shoulder, and on some quiet command, they both bit down hard. The pain was what she needed to be thrown into a hard climax that had her bucking and moving, rubbing her already sensitive clit against Gabe, giving herself another orgasm. She yelled their names and heard her echo throughout the large room. She slumped against Gabe while they pulled back, disengaging their teeth. Gabe collapsed back down on the table, taking her with him. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She closed her eyes, and her world went black.

  * * * *

  “Holy hell, that was amazing.” Gabe wrapped his arms around Nicole and rubbed her back. He cradled her tenderly, loving her weight against his chest. She had passed out again, and he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face.

  “We need to tell her the truth. The longer we wait the worse this lie will become,” Josh whispered as he slowly climbed off the table. Gabe could tell that he was shaking. He held on to the table for support and took a few deep breaths.

  “We will. I’m just trying to figure out the best time. How do you tell a woman who is scared of wolves that you are one? How do I tell her that I’m the wolf who bit her arm, who left her on the floor crying alone?” He was scared. What if she left them, what if she couldn’t overcome her fear, what if she couldn’t forgive him?