He gently eased her thighs apart, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t object. “That’s it,” he encouraged. He couldn’t resist caressing her ass. It was round and firm. “Spread your legs and make room for me.”
The wolf inside him howled as her legs slid open even farther. He fingered the dark cleft of her ass, flicking his thumb over the tight opening. She jerked, but remained steady.
He shifted until he was settled between her soft thighs. Holding her steady with his hands at her waist, he angled his body so his cock slid over her heated folds, bumping her clit. Her moist heat enveloped his cock as he repeated the action again and again.
Slowly, Shelley relaxed and began to move with him. “That’s it, baby,” he crooned. “I want you to feel good.”
He slid his hands over her sides and around to her front to cup her breasts. Her nipples were so tight. Hard little nubs of pleasure. He caught them between his fingers and pinched, careful to exert just the right amount of pressure.
She was panting hard now. But so was he. His heart was racing. His cock aching.
Easing back, he fit the head of his cock to her opening. He pushed past the natural constriction and slid the head of his shaft into her channel.
Sweat beaded on his temple. The sheets were cool beneath his knees. The air in the room was warm and filled with the scent of sex. Of male and female. His cock head was throbbing and hot as her sheath rippled around him.
“Forever,” he gritted out as he surged inward. She was tight, her inner muscles contracting around his shaft. She tilted her head back, a low cry coming from her lips.
Swearing, he worked his hips back and forth, going deeper with each thrust. “Relax, Shelley. You can take me like this. Take all of me,” he pleaded.
Every nerve ending in her body was on fire. Shelley didn’t know if she’d survive this. She only knew she had to.
The orgasm had ripped her to pieces, leaving her shaky and exhausted. Now a new energy gripped her. Expectation flooded her with adrenaline. It was time for them to complete the claiming.
She knew what it entailed. She knew James had to take her from behind in order for her to be claimed, for them to be considered mated. It was a submissive/dominant position. One that required trust. She hadn’t been too sure she’d ever want to make herself that vulnerable to a man. Now, she couldn’t wait for it to happen.
She was more aware of her body than she’d ever been in her life. Especially the imperfections. James had mentioned her scars for the first time. She knew he’d seen them. It was impossible for him not to, considering he spent every night in her bed. But they hadn’t turned him off. He saw them as badges of valor. For the first time, she didn’t mind them so much. Not that she’d ever want to talk about how she got them, but she could live with them.
She was panting hard now. Her hair was damp and hung around her face. The sheets below her were pristine white.
His hands gripped her waist in an unbreakable bond before shifting to her breasts. The ache was almost unbearable, but nothing compared to the need to have his shaft buried in her core.
She wanted him. Needed him. Loved him.
She’d cried out when he’d finally put the head of his cock to her opening and pushed. Her inner muscles were sensitized and swollen after her orgasm and it made it more difficult to accept him. James wasn’t a small man.
But she wanted him.
Desperately, she breathed in and out, trying to relax. He used his grip on her breasts to rock her as he made shallow thrusts, pushing deeper with each one.
“Take all of me.” She heard the urgency, the need in his words.
Shelley found a rhythm, rolling her hips back to meet him as he forged inward. Patiently, he worked his cock until he was buried to the hilt. She felt stretched to the limit. She had little control in this position. But she trusted James.
They were both panting hard now. There seemed to be a shortage of air in the room. It was thick with the scent of her cream, his heat, their growing need.
She sensed the growing determination in him and it fired her own. They belonged together and she wasn’t going to let her past rob her of her future. Not any longer.
A new sense of purpose grew in her and she shoved her ass back, wanting him to be a part of her.
He growled and began to thrust. There was no slow deliberation now. Hard and fast, he took her. His balls smacked against her sensitive clit with each thrust, driving her up quickly.
He caressed her breasts, massaging them, teasing her nipples as he pumped his cock into her core over and over. “You feel so fucking good.” His voice was guttural as he plunged over and over.
Shelley was mindless of everything but the need to find completion. He was deeper than he’d ever gone before. She bucked and shoved against him. He gripped her tighter. His hips hammered against her.
The wet slap of skin against skin was an erotic sound that made her even hotter. His cock rubbed against a sensitive spot in her channel and she felt her inner muscles contract.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me.” James urged her on. His thrusts became harder, more violent.
She cried his name. He swelled inside her and she knew this was it. The claiming was upon them. Her sheath tightened around his cock, rippling around his hard length, locking him inside her.
Arching back, she cried out again as her body was drenched in pleasure. Her arms shook. Her thighs quivered. Only James’s hold on her was keeping her from falling face down on the bed.
He was rigid behind her. She dimly heard him yell. Felt his hot, wet release as he came. With his cock head swelled, he was locked in her core. His orgasm seemed to go on forever and sent her flying over the edge twice more. He leaned down, caught the back of her neck between his teeth and nipped, marking her.
Spasms of pleasure shot through her and she moaned, loving the sign of his possession. She didn’t fear James. She knew he’d do whatever he thought she needed, no matter the cost to himself. That knowledge was priceless.
Her heart raced and her lungs burned as she struggled to get enough air into them. The room around her began to fade and her arms buckled. Her head hit the pillow.
She heard James swear and then she was lying on the mattress with him practically on top of her. He was still buried in her core.
She turned her head and sucked in a breath. James angled his torso off her and she was immediately more comfortable.
Shelley couldn’t believe what had happened. The first time she’d been claimed by a male it hadn’t been her choice. She hadn’t even known the male or understood what was happening. She’d been so lost in her first needing, she hadn’t cared. He’d been tranquilized and dragged away from her and killed before she’d even learned his name.
This experience had been totally different. This felt right. This was her choice. James was her mate.
They were still joined, his cock still pulsing within her. She liked the feeling and it made her smile. She had no idea how long they spent like that before James finally moved.
It wasn’t easy to disengage their bodies. Their skin was practically glued together with sweat. They both moaned and then she laughed as he dragged himself up and landed face down on the pillow next to her.
He slowly turned his head and stared at her. “Are you laughing at me?”
She couldn’t help herself. She felt so good. Amazing in fact. Light. As though the shackles of the past were finally gone. “Yes.”
He smiled and it changed his entire face. The lines at the corners of his eyes deepened. He seemed happier. Younger. Not the same tough-as-nails alpha he showed to the world. Oh, that part of him was still there. But this was a side of himself he showed to few.
He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “We need a bath.”
He rolled off the bed and dragged her groaning after him. They stumbled into the master bathroom and she leaned against the vanity while James set the water running in the tub.
When he was satisfied
with the heat level, he straightened and turned. There was the alpha male. Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as he studied her naked body. He prowled toward her, slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her toward him. “You’re mine now.”
Where once his claim would have sent her into a panic, made her run, now it made her feel wanted and loved. She slid her hands over his massive chest, tugging none too gently on his chest hair. “And you’re mine.”
He growled and nipped playfully at her neck before scooping her into his arms and depositing her into the tub. He climbed in behind her and pulled her back into his arms. They lay there, not talking, as the tub filled.
As soon as he turned off the taps, James grabbed a bar of soap from the built-in shelf and rubbed it between his hands. The lather built quickly and he set the soap on her stomach and began to wash her.
He started at her neck and worked his way down her arms. It was erotic to feel his soapy fingers slide through hers. She lolled in the water, enjoying his attentions. When her arms were done, he started on her torso. He purposely touched every square inch of it, excluding her breasts.
Her breathing got quicker. Shallower. Her nipples were red and tight, eager for his touch. “James,” she moaned. Tired of waiting, she grabbed his hands and placed them over her breasts.
“Oh, is this what you wanted?” he teased, plucking at her soapy nipples.
“Yes.” She ground her butt against his erection, which was growing rapidly beneath her.
He growled, sliding one hand between her thighs. There was no teasing. He shoved two fingers right inside her. She gasped and jerked, sending a wave of water over the side of the tub.
“James,” she gasped.
“What?” he asked innocently. “You don’t like this?”
He worked his fingers in and out in a game of advance and retreat until she couldn’t speak.
“I love your pussy,” he whispered in her ear. “So hot and tight and pink.”
She could feel her cheeks turning red at his graphic words. But her embarrassment was quickly forgotten as he traced the whorls of her ear with his tongue.
“You’re so responsive. So perfect for me,” he praised between licking and nipping her neck.
He hooked his legs between hers and parted her legs, leaving her open for him to play with. He stroked his thumb over her clit while he drove his fingers into her again and again.
It should have been impossible for her to come. She was exhausted. Sexually wrung out. Yet the familiar heat rose within her. Her channel rippled around his fingers and she came yet again.
This one wasn’t quite as explosive as the last one, but it was still devastating to her senses. For a female who had always equated sex with something bad, her opinion was swiftly changing.
Oh, the lack of control was still there. But she knew it was mutual. Plus, he cared for her. Wanted her pleasure. Didn’t want to dominate and control her every move.
For the first time in her life, she felt as though she was a part of something. A real partner. A mate.
“Beautiful,” he whispered. He wrapped his arms around her. And this time there was nothing sexual about the embrace. It was all about comfort.
Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes. She was emotionally spent. The morning had been a complete roller coaster.
“It’s okay.” James stood and rinsed the soap off both of them. He helped her out of the tub, pulling the plug so the water would drain. Grabbing a towel, he began to roughly dry her. “Don’t cry, Shelley.” He dabbed at her face. “You’re killing me here.”
But she couldn’t help herself. She swiped at the tears but they kept coming. James dragged the towel over his body and tossed it aside. He lifted her again and left the bathroom behind. He bypassed his bed, which was a total wreck, and headed down the hall to her room.
Shouldering the door open, he padded to the bed and managed to turn the covers down. He didn’t release her as he sat on the mattress and stretched out. He grabbed the sheets with one hand and dragged them up, covering them.
His heart beat next to her ear as she snuggled against him. He sifted his fingers through her hair. “Everything will be fine. You’ve just been through a lot.”
She hated that she was weak. That she was reduced to tears. Saying nothing, she wrapped her arms around him and held on.
“I’ve got you,” he promised. “Sleep for a bit. You’ll feel better after a nap.”
For the first time in her life, she truly trusted a male. Not just any male. Her mate. He would keep her safe while she slept. She’d be stronger when she woke and ready to deal with everything.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
His arms tightened around her. Lips brushed the top of her head and she sighed. Exhaustion overtook her and she slid gently into sleep, lulled by the sound of his strong heartbeat.
Chapter Nineteen
Shelley had no idea how much time had passed when she woke. She kept her eyes closed as she soaked up the reality of the situation. James’s arms were still locked around her. He’d held her while she’d slept, just as he’d promised.
Her fingers were locked around a few strands of his chest hair and her thigh was thrown across his. Heat radiated from his large body, comforting her. The hair on his legs tickled her inner thigh. She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her hand.
She took a few minutes to simply enjoy being in his arms. It was quiet, but she could hear sounds from outside and knew it was still daytime. Probably sometime in the afternoon. It had certainly been an eventful morning.
I know you’re awake.
She stilled at the voice in her head. James?
Who else?
What is this? What’s happening?
He caught her chin in his hand and tilted her head up. “Open your eyes.”
She did and he smiled at her before lowering his head to kiss her. “It’s part of being a mated pair. We can communicate telepathically if we choose to. You were open and receptive. That’s why I was able to talk with you.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Useful too, in case of emergency.” He stretched and she leaned back, propping herself up on one arm to watch.
Oh, he was a prime specimen of a male. His biceps flexed and rippled as he raised his arms over his head. His chest flexed and his abs tightened into delineated bands of muscle. Stubble darkened his jaw, making him look dangerous. His brown and gray hair gave him the appearance of maturity, adding to his edgy look.
Shelley shivered and her body responded to his nearness. She wanted him again.
He caught her in his golden gaze. “Not this time. Not yet.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “We need to talk.”
Sitting up, she wrapped the sheet around her and leaned against the headboard. He was right. But where to begin.
“You came back.” He settled in next to her, angling his body slightly so he could see her.
She nodded.
“Why?” His voice was soft, but she could hear the need beneath it.
Taking a deep breath, she sought the words to explain. “I was heading to Chicago with Isaiah and Meredith. But the farther away from you I got, the more I started to panic. I knew I was making a mistake.”
His golden gaze never left her face, but he said nothing.
She glanced away and traced her finger over her sheet-covered thigh. “You’ve done so much for me. You took me away from Gus’s diner. Bought me clothes. Offered me a job and a place to stay. Found my family.”
“So it’s gratitude.” His flat, unemotional words made her jerk her head up. James’s face was like stone.
“Yes. No.” She cupped his stubborn jaw, feeling the stubble brush her fingers. “It’s gratitude but so much more.” She withdrew her hand and curled her fingers in her lap.
She licked her dry lips and continued. “I didn’t remember ever living in a pack before. Didn’t know what it was truly like until I came here.”
“You�
�ve seen it at its best and worst.”
“I have,” she agreed. “It’s not always pretty, but there is a sense of belonging, of being part of something. I never had that before.”
James closed his eyes and sighed. “You always had a home here, Shelley. You didn’t have to mate with me in order to secure your place.”
Oh, she was doing this all wrong. He didn’t understand.
“I love you,” she blurted.
His head jerked up and his eyes popped open, pinning her in place. “Say that again.”
“I love you.” Determined to lay everything on the table, she continued. “I know I’ve got problems. Will probably always have some issues, but I’m strong enough to deal with them.”
“We’re strong enough,” he corrected.
Those words settled inside her heart, warming it and soothing old hurts. “We are,” she agreed, sensing he needed to hear the words. “You gave me the courage to meet my family, to begin to put my past behind me. To embrace the other part of myself. My wolf. Without you, I’m not sure I’d have ever found the courage to shift into my other half.”
“You did all those things yourself. My God, Shelley, I’ve never met another creature—human, werewolf or otherwise—who’s as courageous as you. The things you survived.” He shook his head.
She felt her cheeks warming and knew she was blushing at his praise. “I did what I had to do.” She was no hero.
“You did more than that. You overcame all those years of captivity. And it’s only been a matter of months, Shelley. It’s going to take time.”
“I know.” Pulling her legs tight to her chest, she rested her chin on her knees. “I was leaving when it finally occurred to me that I was hurting myself and you. I can work on my problems here just as easily as I could in Chicago.”
“You can do anything you want.” His confidence in her made her believe. “You’re strong and beautiful in both forms, female and wolf.”
“I want to be worthy of being your mate,” she blurted out. “You’re alpha, leader of this pack. You need a mate others will respect.”
Legacy Found: Legacy, Book 3 Page 22
