by B. N. Kasner
She’d just stolen his thunder by asking him before he could ask her. Fucking adorable. He was stunned speechless. “We make a good team. We want the same things out of life-” Silencing her with his lips seemed the best way to stop her worrying.
“Damn you, Grace Elaine. I was just going to ask you to become my wife. You’re always stealing the show with us. Biting me first, proposing, but there’s one thing I’m not gonna let you steal.” He swallowed hard, “I love you.” The words were whispered, but by the way Grace’s body stilled under his, he knew she’d heard him.
“I love you too.” She kissed him then. A gentle, soft kiss that started out slow, but soon took on a life of its own. “Although, I guess you could say I stole your heart.”
“Fuck yeah, you did. But damn am I glad for that.” Before things got too out of hand, he stood, pulling her up and into his arms. It was time for Carter to love his mate. To show her he could do soft and slow. Thankfully, he’d seen the blankets she’d packed in the truck. They’d already christened his car, now it was time for her old truck to see some action.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Grace waited patiently while Carter laid down blankets in the bed of her truck. She wanted to bounce around and squeal at the same time. All while waving her arms around in the air. Carter loved her. To others, the concept of their mate loving them was a given. But for her, it wasn’t the case.
The others had it easy. They loved each other with one glance. There hadn’t been an insane mating pull or love at first sight with Carter and Grace. She’d had to earn his love the old-fashioned way, by being herself. Honestly, it made her heart flutter when she thought about it.
Not to say the other couples didn’t love each other, because Grace saw their love on a daily basis. However, would they still have fallen in love without the bond? Probably, but at least with Carter, she knew their love was based on something other than a magical bite. The last rays of sunlight hit her mate as he crouched on the tailgate. His look of love almost brought Grace to her knees.
Carter took her by the hand, pulling her up into the now comfortable and fluffy bed. He’d transformed it from a truck to a tiny bedroom, complete with a pillow. Helping her lay down, Carter started kissing her body all over. “This isn’t going to be what you’re used to pretty girl.” He nipped the skin of her inner thigh.
Then soothed the sting with his tongue before starting the process over again on another part of her body. He was slowly working her into a raging inferno of lust, passion and love all wrapped into one. “No?” She panted, completely letting go of any inhabitations she may have had left. There weren’t many, only the one small wall she’d had up to protect her heart.
Keeping it there had been a last-ditch effort, just in case something awful happened between them. After Grace’s spur of the moment proposal and saying I love you, she knew there wasn’t anything they couldn’t get through. Nothing could stop them as long as they stayed true to each other and their love. “Oh, no mate. Tonight, I’m going to love you like you deserve.” He paused to kiss his way up her body. “Worship you.” His lips found her hard nipple, teasing it with his tongue and teeth. “Devour you.” He moved over, giving her other nipple the same attention.
Holy shit. Grace’s eyes rolled back, her hands gripping his longer than usual black hair. She’d gotten used to rough, dirty Carter. This soft, sensual Carter was throwing her for a loop. A fucking fantastic loop though. One she didn’t want to get out of anytime soon.
“It’s time to show you how a man treats his fiancée, the woman he loves.” He bit her neck, hard. Grace knew there’d be a mark gracing the spot by tomorrow morning. Her mate didn’t hold anything back when his lips finally took hers in a soul tingling kiss. She moaned, rubbing her body against his like a cat.
Her legs fell open without any prompting from Carter. He slid between them immediately, his hard cock hitting her swollen clit. Grace ached for him. For all the softness, she was ready to get the show on the road. She wanted her mate, and she wanted him now. “Please.” Whimpering, Grace tried to impale herself on him.
He pulled back after only letting the tip inside of her. “Mate.” She pleaded, not understanding why he wasn’t already buried deep inside her.
“Hush now. I want to take my time with you.” He rose to his knees, holding her legs open. Carter spread them wide, then leaned down, focusing all his attention on her clit. Flicking his tongue, he brought her to the edge right away. “Remember who’s in charge here, Grace Elaine.”
The bite surprised her while pushing her over the edge. Carter sucked the sensitive bud into his mouth, gently easing the sting with each stroke of his tongue. “Only two more before you get what you want.” Carter dragged the pleasure out, slowly eating her until she wanted to scream out of frustration. By the time he’d made her come twice more Grace’s whole body tingled with the slightest touch. “You taste so good I could stay down here forever.” He groaned, licking his lips.
“No more.” She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
“But we haven’t even gotten to the good part yet.” Carter chuckled a sexy sound. A sound which turned into a growl when his cock found her wet opening. Grace didn’t waste any more time. Her teeth latched onto the sensitive skin of his neck, while her nails clawed his back.
Grace’s breath rushed out of her when his cock filled her completely. Arching her back, she brushed her body up against his. His arms caged her in, bringing them closer together until there was absolutely no room between them. “Fuck, you’re so tight.” The dirty compliments never failed to make her blush and feel like a sex Goddess at the same time.
Rolling over, she accidentally flopped on top of Carter. “Already tired?” Her mate chuckled at her, lazily stroking into her.
“No.” Grace took a deep breath inhaling Carter’s scent along with the chilly night air. Her body broke out in goosebumps, causing her to shiver. Somehow Carter got the blanket untangled from their feet and tucked it around them. She lifted herself slightly.
Enough to let Carter play with her breasts, but still keeping the cool out from their cocoon. Thrusting in time with her mate, Grace used him to come again. Her head tipped back, opening her eyes Grace watched as a shooting star flew across the sky. She stopped, ignoring Carter’s warning growl, “Pretty girl.”
“A shooting star. Make a wish sexy.” Grace looked down at her mate, their bond sparking with love and passion. She cupped Carter’s face, kissing him softly. I don’t know what to wish for when I already have everything I could ever want. Looking down into Carter’s lime green eyes, she knew her life was complete.
There wasn’t anything she could wish for that would make her life better. Not when her entire world looked at her like she was the best thing since fresh honey. “I love you, pretty girl and I always will.” And just like that, her heart melted into a puddle. It wasn’t long before Carter took command over her body, molding them to each other until the sunrise peeked over the trees.
◆◆◆
With Grace wrapped around his arm and his hand on her thick thigh, Carter was in heaven. He’d been in heaven since making love to his Gracie. The woman who owned him. Heart, mind and soul. The woman who would become Carter’s wife, the mother of his children someday.
Giving her the soft, gentle touches had been easier to do than he’d thought it would be. But everything was easier with Grace. She made it easy. Grace was everything he’d ever needed and he hadn’t even known it. Getting a ring to make her his wife moved to the top of his priorities.
The song about a body like a back road played on the radio. Carter had to agree with the singer, Grace also had hips like honey. Thick and oh so sweet. His pretty girl hummed along to the song as they headed into town. Redwater centered around the town square, where the gazebo sat.
It was used for town meetings and votes. Along with the town hall, main grocery store, Hannagan’s Bar and the post office, a few other little stores made up the squar
e. Only one road led in or out. Most of the population were shifters, so dirt paths led off into the woods. Once you got out of the center of Redwater, there were more streets, but most of them were gravel or dirt.
Redwater was basically a shifter town in the middle of a forest. Of course, the shifters had voted to only pave one road. It had never been a problem. Except when he turned onto the paved road, a sideways car stopped them. “Stay in the truck.” He growled, unclicking his seat belt.
However, before he could get out of the truck gunshots rang through the air. Grace screamed as he pushed her down, coming down on top of her. Carter punched the gas, swerving to miss the overturned car. Two men with handguns fired, shattering the back window. “You alright?” Carter’s heart was wedged in his throat.
“Yeah. What the hell is going on?” Grace whispered, the fear evident in her voice and through their bond.
“Don’t know, but it’s not fucking good. Why the hell were they blocking off the road?” He was aware Grace didn’t have the answers to the questions rapidly multiplying in his head. Sitting back up, Carter held his mate down. “Stay down until I know it’s safe.”
“Okay.” There wasn’t any back talk about how she could protect herself. Nothing. Which meant Grace understood the seriousness of the situation they were in. When the gazebo came into view, Carter slammed on the brakes. The scene in front of them stunned him into silence.
“Holy fuck. We’re under attack.” Grace’s head lifted from his lap just enough to see out the bullet-ridden front windshield. Four pitch black wolves and three Grizzly bears were protecting town hall as Lani escorted kids into the building. Jackson stood beside her as a bodyguard.
Old man Hannagan and his employees were behind upturned tables with guns of their own. Hannagan’s Bar was the only predominantly human establishment in Redwater, so the guns made sense. Annie led a group of older, frail and sick shifters into the town hall as well. Mason, Gene and Nathan were behind a picnic table with a map. He needed to get to them, help come up with a plan of action.
“Stay beside me, we’ll make a run for where Mason and the others are.” Carter grabbed her hand, popped the door open and ran like fucking hell. Grace matched his stride, step by step. Gunshots, roars, growls and shouting drowned out the once peaceful aura Redwater was known for. Both of them cleared the steps of the gazebo in one jump, then ducked down beside the others.
“Thank fuck, you guys are alright.” Mason clapped Carter on the back with a grimace. “When the first wave hit, we thought…” He trailed off, his grip on Carter’s shoulder tightening.
“We’re here now. What’s the plan?” Grace, always the steadfast one took over. His mate was a fighter through and through. Both she and Gene looked at the plans with a tactical eye the others didn’t have.
“They’ve boxed us in. We’ve got to wait the humans out or make a path for the women, children, submissive shifters and elderly to get out. Ella and her brothers are guarding the town hall where they’re taking refuge. I think we should double down, take out these fuckers.” Gene snarled, his eyes darting back to his very pregnant mate.
Grace took the map from his hands, laid it flat on the decking then turned it to the side. “Is the southwest path still overgrown or did Isaiah clear it out?” She had to shout as another round of gunfire blasted through the air. Mason, Nathan, and Gene all glued their eyes to where their mates were. Carter didn’t blame them one bit, he’d be the same way if he got separated from Grace.
“He only cleared it halfway, why?” Gene looked back down at the map as Grace traced the path halfway, her eyes darting all over the map.
“If the south’s clear, they can go out the back door and take the path. Once they get to the brush, we bring them to the stream. The old mill is still standing, they’d be safe there as long as no one follows them and they take guards.”
“We don’t have everyone accounted for yet. With the influx of all the new shifters, we can’t be sure they’re all safe.” Nathan pointed to where the newest cabins had been built. It was far out and if they’d been targeted, well, now they were on their own. “And the south is mostly woods, there’s no way to tell if it’s clear or not. We could be sending them all to their deaths.”
“It’s the best option we have.” Mason snarled, clearly not liking the idea any more than they did. “Ella, Corey, Scott, Greg and Grams will act as guards. Isaiah and Alex will stay behind with the rest of us. Grace, are you staying with us or going with the others?”
Carter wanted her to leave, but he knew that wouldn’t be the case. “Stay and fight, but I’ll protect them until you give the signal to move.”
“Don’t forget to tell them the plan. The signal will be all of us shifting. It’ll be the biggest distraction, giving them the most time to get away.” Grace nodded, looking determined. She went to get up, but Carter pulled her back to him.
“Be careful and stay safe. I can’t lose you, Grace Elaine.” He kissed her, pouring all the love in his heart out. “I love you.”
“Ditto mate.” Before he could convince her to leave with the others, his beautiful warrior took off into the chaos. His heart rose into his throat when she disappeared. Carter could only hope he’d see her alive again.
“Alright, assholes. Let’s protect our families.” Mason snarled, flipping the table with a roar fierce enough to shake the gazebo. The fight for their lives had begun.
Chapter Twenty-Five
This is madness. Grace helped a little girl with pigtails up, shielding her while they ran. Along the way, she grabbed up three more kids. “Lani!” She yelled, it was the only way to be heard over the roaring and gunshots.
“Grace, kids, quick get inside!” Lani breathed hard, holding her stomach. She closed the door after the five of them were safely inside.
“Are you and my nephew alright?” Grace laid her hand on Lani’s shoulder before pulling her into a hug, so thankful she was alive. When she’d first seen the human attackers, she’d been scared out of her mind. Not only for herself but her friends and family. At least now, she knew they were either safe or fighting for the rest of Redwater.
Her mind wandered to Carter. She prayed to the Goddess he made it through the fight unscathed. They had their whole lives ahead of them. Grace would do everything in her power to protect the future she seen for them. “Yeah, just some pulling.” Lani’s face relaxed as much as it could in the situation they were currently in. “Do we have a plan?”
“Yeah, but we need Ella and the others to hear it too.” Peeking out the side window, she saw her mate getting ready to take his shirt off. It was now or never. “Never mind. I’ll figure out how to tell them. When Mason and the others shift, go out the back door.
“Take the path straight to the southwest, it’s only cleared halfway, but it’ll get you close enough to where you’re all going.” A crowd had begun to gather, listening to her every word. “Get to the stream, follow it to the old mill. Don’t open the door for anyone other than Mason.”
“What if the path has humans on it?” The same little girl she saved whispered while tugging on Grace’s tank top. She had natural burgundy hair and bright hazel eyes. Bending down, Grace hugged the girl close to her. Fuck, they hadn’t really thought through what should happen if the path was blocked.
Grace stood, holding the shivering girl to her chest. She couldn’t have been much older than seven or eight. “Is your mommy or daddy here?”
“No. I was with my sister, she works at Lucy Lu’s.” Lucy Lu’s was the only local clothing shop in town. Grace didn’t go there enough to know who the little girl was related to. “My name's Stella. Stella LeClair.”
“Don’t worry Stella, I’m Grace. We’ll find your sister and keep you safe.” Turning her attention back to the room, she saw some people had tears in their eyes. Had they already lost family members? Or maybe they knew more about this precious little girl’s family.
Whatever it was, it had to wait. “I’m not gonna lie to ya
’ll. We’re blocked in. If there are too many humans, come back and bunker down. The same thing applies. Don’t open the door to anyone other than Mason. Not even me.”
“Stay with us, Miss Grace.” Stella clung to her, wrapping her limbs around Grace like a spider monkey.
“I can’t precious, but I’m gonna go outside and turn into a big bear. I’ll keep anyone from getting you. Can you turn into anything?” Crouching down, Stella put her feet on the ground but kept her arms around Grace’s neck.
“Yes, but I get stuck sometimes.” Her eyes turned from hazel to a pale green. “I’m a Merlin.” She bounced up and down, a big smile on her face. “It’s basically a Falcon.”
“It happens to everyone when they’re young. Keep trying, you’ll get the hang of it. Promise me if someone gets in here, you’ll change and fly as fast as your little Merlin wings can carry you.” Grace felt connected to this little girl in a way she couldn’t describe.
“I promise.” Stella stood taller, pushing her shoulders back. Grace swallowed hard, looking around at the faces crowded around her.
“Stay together no matter what happens.” Annie burst through the door right as Grace opened it. She clutched a teenager who’d been shot. “I’ve got to go, remember your promise.” Grace made eye contact with Stella, then with a quick hug to Annie went back out into the insanity.
She had to tell Ella the plan before it was too late. Running down the steps, Ella sat off to the side, blood running down her leg. Grams stood over her, trying to get her up. “Need some help?” Grace hefted Ella up, relaying the plan as fast as she could.
“Sounds like a promising idea, I’ll get Scott and Greg ready after helping her in. The Wilson brothers are on the other side.” Grams nodded her head in their direction. Three black wolves, all bigger than the next stood side by side. She couldn’t tell which brother was which wolf, so she’d just have to tell them all.
