In one quick move, he pressed her against the wall, his body against hers, holding her captive. His lips crushed against hers with such force, it took her breath away. Full of promise and desire, the kiss made her claw at his shirt again, wanting to feel more of him. She wanted this. No, she needed this. This moment was something she had built up in her fantasies for so long. Now all she wanted was him naked, with every inch of him touching her.
His tongue invaded her mouth, and she was met with the lingering bitterness from the beer he had at the party. Before she had time to take in what was happening, his hands ran down her body, exploring her curves. Her sweater felt heavy, suffocating, making her want nothing more than to strip it off and allow his hands to move along her bare skin.
“Sparks.” His name came out on a whisper, full of need and desire.
“I got you, Mer. I’m going to give you what you need.” With his gaze locked on hers, he slid his hand down her body. As he reached the hem of her skirt, he paused, waiting a heartbeat to see if she’d tell him to stop before he grabbed the thin material and slowly worked it upward until it was bunched around her waist. A low growl escaped his throat as his fingers brushed along her hip, and he realized she was naked beneath the thin material. His eyes widened allowing her to see a brightness in his green eyes which hadn’t been there before. “Sugar…”
“Surprise.” She’d been waiting for this moment since she slipped her panties off before going to the dining hall. “After the call with Korbin, I knew we’d end up here…well not really in this room, but naked all the same. I wanted as little standing between us as possible.”
“If I’d have known…” The words came out more as a growl as his fingers teased along her most intimate parts.
“Damn.” She shot him a cocky grin. “Wouldn’t that have been the ultimate tease knowing I was naked under my skirt, but still having to wait until after the party.”
“Mer.” He growled. Without moving his hand, he pressed his body against her, showing her what kind of reaction she had on him. His hard shaft brushed against her leg, and she reached for the zipper of his pants before he used his other hand to grab hold of her wrists. “Not yet.”
“I need—”
“I know what you need.” Holding her hands above her head, he slipped a finger between her folds. The soft caress along her clit sent waves of pleasure rushing through her.
“Oh…”
His mouth claimed hers again, as his fingers worked inside of her. A soft moan escaped around his unrelenting kiss. Working his fingers in and out of her, as his thumb continued to tease along her clit, pleasuring her in ways she’d only imagined. Breaking the kiss, he pulled his hand away and leaned back to look at her.
“Absolutely beautiful.” He tipped his head to tease a line of soft kisses along her neck. “I want you completely naked, but I can’t seem to pull myself away from you long enough.”
“A zipper is the only thing standing in the way of the skirt falling to the floor. If you let go of my wrists, I’ll discard the sweater. Quick and simple. Then you can take me to bed.” His warm breath brushed along the curve of her neck as he debated. When his fingers loosened from around her wrists, she knew she’d won him over. “I want you naked, too.”
“I think I can comply with that.” He stepped back allowing her to move away from the wall. As she did, she turned giving him her back, and the opportunity to unzip her skirt as she tugged the sweater over her head. Without having to be asked, his fingers brushed along the small of her back before he slid the zipper down. The silky black skirt slid down her body to pool around her ankles as she tossed the sweater toward the sofa and tugged off her bra. Nervous she stood there, not sure she was ready to face him.
“Turn around, sugar, I want to see you.”
The unease slid away as his hand found her hip, and he guided her to turn toward him. Naked before him, her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. She couldn’t remember the last time someone saw her naked, let alone watched her with such intensity. His gaze scanned her body, taking in every inch of her, as he worked to unhook his belt buckle. She fought not to shy away from him. Over the last few years, she’s gotten used to her scars, but to be under his unrelenting gaze made the unease come back.
“You’re even more beautiful naked.” Stripped out of his clothes, except for his boxers, he came to stand in front of her. “Get on the bed.”
“There’s something sexy about you giving orders.”
“I want to touch you, but if I do it now, I’ll press you up against the wall, and we’ll never make it to bed.” He took a step closer to her, warning her what would happen if she didn’t move. “When I make love to you for the first time, I want you stretched out on your back, arching into me, with your legs wrapped around me. I don’t want you pressed up against the wall like a quickie. We’ve waited too long for this moment to have it end like that.”
“Don’t make me wait.” She called over her shoulder as she stepped around him and headed for the bed.
She had barely stretched out in the middle of the bed when the mattress sank down next to her. With a quick movement he was beside her, his now naked body tightly pressed against her side, he arched over her enough to press his lips to hers. A long, slow deliberate kiss that gave and demanded. He cupped her breasts and teased her nipples, gently swirling his thumb against the hard buds and then pinching them. Pain mingled with pleasure, and she arched into his body. He abandoned her mouth and kissed her neck, nibbling down her jawline to her shoulder. Slowly, he teased kisses down her chest until he came to her breast and flicked his tongue over her hardened nipple. The pleasure forced a moan from deep within her as she arched toward him. It felt as if every nerve ending in her body was alight with desire, the simplest touches fanned the burning desire within her. Looking up at her, he sucked her nipple into his mouth, allowing his teeth to run along either side, before he let the hardened bud slip from his lips.
He trailed his hand down her body and between her thighs. The caresses of his fingers had her spreading her legs, and her breath caught in her chest. He explored up her inner thigh, ever so slowly, until he could slip his finger between her folds, quickly finding her center and working deep within her. She moaned as he worked a second finger into her. In and out, quicker with every pump.
“I need you.” Needing to feel him, she slipped her hand between them and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. She wanted him inside her. His pace increased, drawing her climax closer until she was arching into his touch. “Please, Sparks.”
“Not yet.” He slowed, until he stopped altogether. Even as she wiggled against him, wanting more, he took his time. Stroking his fingertips along her side, she closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see the pain in his eyes as he touched the scars that were permanent reminders of the choices she’d made. Having his sweet caresses over the wounds made her chest tight, and it took every ounce of her control not to pull away from him.
Stay strong. He’s going to see them sooner or later. Might as well be now before he’s stuck with me as his mate. He’d have to accept the scars and be able to look at her without pity in his eyes, otherwise they’d never work. The scars were part of her and even though she tried to hide them from the world, intimacy wouldn’t allow it.
“Sugar,” he called to her, his fingers brushing along the worse scar just to the right of her bellybutton. “Look at me.”
“Please…” Her voice broke, and she wasn’t sure if she was begging him not to force her or for him not to look at her with pity. Whatever it was, she couldn’t put it into words. Her only hope was even through their faint connection, he’d know what she needed.
“Mer, look at me.” Even with the softness of his tone, there was authority she hadn’t heard from him before. “Mer…”
Opening her eyes, she stared up at him and tried to blink away the tears threatening to fill her gaze. I can do this. Give him a chance, otherwise I’ve lost before I even had him. The thought of losing
him made her tigress snarl within her.
“You’re beautiful. Every inch of you. Don’t doubt that.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He shook his head. “These are not something to be ashamed of. You survived. We survived. The scars we carry on our bodies are badges for the battles we’ve fought and endured.”
“We?” While she hadn’t taken the time to explore his body as much as he had, she had her hands on his chest and arms, and they were unmarred.
“Later.” His voice was soft as if he hadn’t meant to reveal something.
“You don’t want me to be ashamed of my scars, but you won’t even answer me about yours.” She stared up at him, unsure how she wanted to handle this twist. Double standards always pissed her off. While most times she couldn’t do anything about it, she wasn’t going to accept them in a mating. Not when it came to something like this.
“Mer—”
“No. You’re hiding something from me.” She wiggled, trying to slide out from under him, but he stayed perched over her, his arms on either side of him blocking her escape.
“I’m not hiding anything, now stop trying to pull away from me.” He moved his hand away from the long stab wound along her stomach and reached down to take her hand in his. “You’ll know the truth soon enough but here.”
With her hand in his, he leaned down pressing his chest against her, only now there was nothing sexual about it. Bringing her hand to the side of his back. “Go on.”
“What?” She wasn’t sure what he wanted her to do.
He twisted, turning his back toward her hand, pressing against her until her eyes widened. Under her fingers, she could feel puffy skin. Dragging her finger along the puckered skin, she realized it was about an inch long. Just as she thought she reached the end her pinky finger found another one.
“What happened? When?” She tried to remember the last time she saw Sparks without a shirt on. It had been awhile. The last time, she was certain Henry had still been with the clan.
“I thought you wanted to mate.” He pulled away from her, forcing her hand away from his back.
“Sparks…” Grabbing hold of his biceps, she kept him from moving further from her. “You’re hiding something, but in a few minutes, it’s not going to matter. I’ll know what happened.”
“So why ask?”
“To hear it from you.” She squeezed his arm as his gaze drifted from hers. “You said our scars made us who we are, they’re not something to be ashamed of. So why are you shutting me out?”
“Drop it, Mer.” He rose onto his knees and stared down at her. “Please…”
“Fine.” Knowing she’d find out after they made the mating official, she dragged her hands along the front of his chest. “Come here.”
“Maybe this isn’t the right time.” He shifted his gaze away from her but didn’t move.
“Don’t you dare.” She rose to sit in front of him but let her hands fall away from his chest. “You talk about me pulling away, but you’re doing it now. You say one thing, but your actions are saying another. If you’ve changed your mind about having me as your mate, then fine, but damn it, Sparks, be honest with me.”
“You have no idea how much I want you, sugar.” Clearly frustrated, he dragged his hand through his short dark brown hair. “Nothing could destroy the mood more than bringing up my fucking scars. I fucked this up. I never wanted you to know.”
“Well now there’s no choice. Either we’re going to go through with this mating, and I’ll know whatever you’re trying to hide, or you’re going to get dressed and leave. The decision is yours.” Blinking away the tears filling her eyes, she reached to the side of the bed and pulled the blanket toward her. “You should leave.”
“No.” Snatching the blanket from her hand he placed his other hand on her shoulder and pushed her back onto the bed. “You’re mine, and I’m going to claim you tonight. I fucked up, but I promise, sugar, you’ll understand soon enough.”
“Sparks.” With him hovering above her, their gazes locked and her tigress bounded forward, wanting to comfort her mate. Whatever he was hiding from her weighed on him. There was only one way to relieve the heaviness from his shoulders. “Make me your mate.”
Hooking her ankles over the back of his calves, she let her hands roam over his body. His shaft teased along her most intimate parts making the desire within her explode. Before they got distracted the foreplay had been amazing, and she wanted to return the favor, but it would have to wait. Right now, she needed him inside of her. Teasing her nails along his sides, she arched into him as he sucked her nipple between his lips, gently tugging until a moan tore from her throat. She ran her hand over his head, grabbing the short strands and dragged him closer. “Please Sparks…I want you. Now.”
He let her nipple slip from his lips and rose so his face was inches from hers. “Now who’s demanding?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer before sliding his shaft along her folds, he teased along her opening before he slipped his hand between them. Readjusting, he thrusted inside her with one continuous motion. Her head tipped back as another moan tore from her.
Buried to the hilt inside of her, he paused and leaned down pressing their bodies together. “I’ve thought about this moment for so long…sugar, I’m not going to last long.”
“We’ve got all night.”
“We’ve got longer than that.” His fingertips dug into her hips as he rocked in and out of her. “You’re mine now. Tonight and every day forward.”
If there had been any shred of reservation, it disappeared with his words. They were meant to be together, otherwise they wouldn’t be mates. Mates completed each other on every level, making the pair stronger than before. She brought her hand up from his side to brush along his cheek. “A future with you…unbelievable.”
“A bright future.” Slowly his hips pumped against her, working his shaft in and out of her. With each pump, his pace sped until she arched into him, matching his thrusts with her own. Her fingers stayed tangled in his hair, keeping him close, watching his eyes as he drove into her. His green eyes darkened, turning to a deep honey brown as his beast rushed forward. She’d no doubt her eyes were changing. Their tigers brushed against each other as their human sides came together, joining them together as one—for eternity.
“Don’t stop.” Arching her body into his, she tipped her head back, as her ecstasy grew. His own grunts kept pace with her moans. “Oh, Sparks!” Within her, her tigress roared.
He grabbed hold of her hips and drove his shaft into her harder and faster. The frenzy had her moaning until she called out his name again and groaned as her climax sent her over the edge. He followed her moments later as he buried himself deep within her one final time.
“Shit, sugar.” He dipped his head to her neck, planting soft kisses along the curve before working his way up to her ear. “Sorry…too quick.”
“Don’t.” To bring her point home she dug her nails into his sides. “We needed it. We’ve waited so long for this moment. We’ve got the rest of our lives.”
She could feel his tiger within her, brushing along her beast, comforting. Mates now. Only he has no idea what he’s gotten himself into. I’m already in love with you, Sparks. Please don’t break my heart.
Chapter Eight
Stretched out on the bed, Merrie’s chest tightened as Sparks beast rushed forward, forcing the bond to finish linking them together. In a moment, she’d know what Sparks hesitated to tell her, and it unnerved her. He’d always been upfront with her, telling her things she didn’t want to hear but needed to know. Whatever this was she had no doubt there was a good reason he kept it hidden.
“Mer…” His hand ran down her arm as he cuddled her body close to his side. “I love you, I always have. Focus on that, and it will be over in a minute.”
“I…” She wanted to tell him she loved him too, but the words were stolen from her as his life flashed before her eyes.
“Don’
t be stupid, take the position under Keith.” Sparks father snapped, shoving a stack of clothes into a suitcase. “It will protect you. I won’t be here to do it any longer.”
“Dad—”
“Listen to him.” His mother stood near the window, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want to see you dead, and without Dad here to protect you under Keith that’s what’s going to happen unless you wise up.”
“Son.” His father turned to him. “He won’t let you and Rachel leave, and we have no choice. He sees me as a threat. You’ve got to be smart, bide your time, and when the time’s right, you’ll know what to do.”
“I wouldn’t leave her.”
“Then get her and Rachel out of here.” Dad nodded. “But make sure you can escape, otherwise the three of you will be dead.”
Before she could understand who, the vision ended, sending her spiraling forward into the next one. Slamming into the next vision, she realized she was standing in Keith’s quarters. Sparks was alone with him, and that alone sent fear soaring through her. Being in his presence alone rarely resulted in anything good, normally there was a lot of bloodshed and screams.
“You need to stay away from her,” Keith boomed. “She’s not your mate.”
“Sir—”
“I’m warning you, if you press me on this, you won’t like the outcome for either of you.” Keith turned to face Sparks. “You’ll be putting your sister’s life in jeopardy, too.”
“We’re friends. That’s all,” Sparks tried to reason with him.
“It better stay that way.” Keith took a step toward Sparks. “She’s weak, and you have much potential. You need someone strong by your side. Someone who can handle the things I have planned for you.”
The thought of Keith’s plans for her mate tightened her chest. No matter how much Keith tried, he wouldn’t have been able to turn Sparks into the man he’d envisioned. Her mate was kind and caring, he wasn’t malicious and sadistic like Keith.
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