Once Upon A Valentine

by Emma Roman

  Walking toward her grandmother and Brannoc, the gaze of her mate captured the bear and in that moment, absolutely nothing else mattered. Reaching the altar, Jackson placed her free hand in Brannoc’s and after handing Tabitha her bouquet, Annie turned and winked at her mate before they both looked to her grandmother. Niamh was beaming with love and pride as she began the service.

  “Long ago, people believed the human soul shared characteristics with all things celestial. Because of that, Mother Ursa blessed our ancestors with the task of keeping safe the soul of the Golden Bear. Through this great gift, we became not only one with our beast, but also with nature and the Universe.”

  “We adopted the virtues to the East, South, West, and North, the cardinal and divine four corners of our world.”

  “So, in keeping with that age-old tradition, let us begin. We bless this mating with the virtues of the East. May you have communication between your hearts, minds, bodies, and beasts. May you have fresh beginnings with the rising of every day’s sun and the value of the wisdom of sharing silences that only two made for one another by the great Universe can know.”

  “We bless this mating with the virtues of the South. May you always have a warm and welcoming home, the delight of your hearts’ passion, and the ability of both to lighten the darkest of times. As true mates, you will lift your beloved in times of strife and celebrate their victories as your own.”

  “We bless this mating with the virtues of the West. May your lives together have the deepness of the lake, the swift flow of the river, the newness after rain, and the all-encompassing fervor of the sea. Let freedom and your combined hearts be your guide in all decisions and offer love at every turn.”

  “We bless this mating with the virtues of the North. May you have a firm foundation to enrich your lives, a constant home to which you will always return, and a warm hearth surrounded by family, friends, and all those you hold dear.”

  “Each of these blessings emphasize those things most important to a happy and successful mating. But remember, they are only tools you must both use – individually and together—in order to have what you seek from this mating.”

  “Always follow the teachings of Mother Ursa, the Universe, the Goddess of All, and our ancestors in Heaven. You were made for one another. Your hearts, souls, and minds were meant to be one. May only blessings come to you and yours all the days of your lives.”

  “Let the image of water and the romance of your story always flow in your hearts in strong waves, knowing they are guiding you toward a goal fulfilled, a love that is true.”

  Then to the couple the Matriarch asked, “Brannoc, Dragon Guardsman of the Blue Thunder clan, mate of Annalissa, do you promise to do everything in your power and with your whole heart to make your mate happy, keep your relationship healthy, and nourish your love for all the days of your life?”

  Without hesitation, her wonderful mate answered, “Yes, most definitely I do.”

  Looking at Annie, her grandmother asked her the same thing. “Annalissa, Matriarch of the Golden Bear Sloth, Keeper of the Magic of the Ancients, and mate of Brannoc, do you promise to do everything in your power and with your whole heart to make your mate happy, keep your relationship healthy, and nourish your love for all the days of your life?”

  “Absolutely, always, yes, I do,” Annie could barely get the words out as she looked into the eyes of her mate and felt the love of not only the man, but the dragon. Her bear purred in her mind, giving her consent to their mating as well.

  “Then with the blessing of the Universe, the Mother Ursa, the Goddess of All, the Heavens and the Four Corners, and in front of all these witnesses, I, Niamh O’Bairne, welcome the mated couple of Annalissa and Brannoc into the Sloth of the Golden Bear.”

  She looked back at Brannoc and grinned, “You may claim your mate in front of your witnesses.” Then to Annie, “And you, my granddaughter, may claim your dragon.”

  The words had barely crossed the Matriarch’s lips before her dragon had pulled her close to his chest, lowered his lips to hers, and as he kissed her slowly and passionately, whispered into her mind, “I love you with all that I am, Annalissa Deóireach, together forever, forever in love.”

  11

  Not wanting their kiss to end, Brannoc asked, “How about I just pick you up and run away to the cabin? I think I can outrun them all and if not, the guys have my back.”

  Pulling her lips from his to the sounds of applause from the guests, Annie chuckled with dreamy lust-filled eyes. “I wish.” She placed her hands on his chest and sighed. “But, the male bears have been working on our mating feast all day. We really can’t disappoint them.” She slid her eyes to the side toward Niamh and then back to him and finished their conversation mentally, “And Grandma will kick both our butts if we don’t show up.”

  “Well, hell, I don’t want her mad at us.” Brannoc groaned, facing the inevitable fact that he was going to a mating feast and not the comfort and solitude of the cabin to be alone with Annie.

  Before his bear could respond, Niamh said, “Now, if you’d all join us at the Village, I believe the men have prepared one heckuva feast for us.”

  Annie’s whispered, “Told you so,” had Brannoc chuckling as he lifted her into his arms and sped toward the bears’ village.

  “Put me down, Brannoc,” Annie squealed.

  “Never,” he chuckled, racing into the village and stopping only when he was at the table decorated with white roses and Empire Blue Butterfly blossoms.

  Kissing her again while the other bears and his brethren arrived, the Guardsman only stopped when Tara tapped his shoulder and scolded, “That’s enough of that for now.” Then to the crowd he hadn’t realized had formed around them, Annie’s mother announced, “Now, we party til dawn!”

  Amidst the cheers, Brannoc leaned his lips to his mate’s ears and asked, “Til dawn?”

  “Yes, my love, til dawn.”

  “But, mo chroí, I might die,” he groaned.

  Throwing back her head, his lovely mate laughed out loud. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Lowering her chin, she raised an eyebrow and in her best Mae West imitation teased, “It’s when I finally get you alone you have to worry about.”

  Roaring with laughter, Brannoc gave up his argument to get his mate alone and enjoyed the party. Hours later, just as the first rays of the sun shone over the mountain Annie called home, the Guardsman was tired of partying and more than ready to consummate their union. He’d played nice, danced with her sisters, her cousins, her mother, her grandmother, and a few of the other female bears. They had eaten and been toasted more times than he could count and the dragon had made sure his brethren all had places to stay for at least the next twenty-fours to make sure he was allotted all the time he needed to make sure his mate knew how much he loved her and that they were in this new life they were creating forever.

  Locating Annie sitting next to her sister, Brannoc made a beeline through the still partying bears and stood behind her chair with his hands on her shoulders. Loving the electricity of their connection as it skittered up his arms and down his spine while he massaged her silken skin, the dragon whispered into his mate’s mind, “How about we get outta here, Mrs. Deóireach?”

  “Oh, I like the sound of that, Mr. Deóireach,” she purred, standing and saying goodnight to her family as she spun around and placed her hand in his crooked arm.

  Taking no chances on being interrupted, Brannoc picked Annie up and with his enhanced speed, whisked her away to the cabin. Stopping at the porch steps, unable to wait a second longer, the dragon touched his lips to his bear’s. What was supposed to be a chaste kiss, a promise of what was to come, soon took on a life of its own. Their passion caught fire and from one heartbeat to the next, Brannoc was up the stairs, across the threshold, and kicking the door shut.

  Slowly pulling away from Annie’s lips was the hardest thing he’d ever done as he let her body slide down his. Looking down, Brannoc nearly fell to his knees as
she gazed up at him, bit her bottom lip, and smiled. He realized then how powerful their love truly was, for with that one glance, his little bear had effectively shredded every defense he’d ever built and claimed him body and soul.

  In one sweeping motion, Brannoc pulled Annie back to his chest and slammed his mouth to hers. A current of pure electricity shot through their mating bond and filled the Guardsman to overflowing with their immense love and commitment. He literally craved every inch of his mate with every fiber of his being.

  Their tongues met as she opened completely to him, holding nothing back. Her hands slid under his suit jacket. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Her hips moved against his. It was a buffet of sensual overload that spurred the Guardsman on and pushed their passion higher.

  Wanting…needing to feel all of her, his hands massaged and caressed her generous curves, bunching the material of her silk gown until he touched the bare skin of her lower back. Annie’s scent filled the hallway as her arousal grew, making both man and dragon crazy with desire. His beast purred at the wonder of having their bear excited and needy and within their grasp.

  Arching her back, Annie moaned into his mouth as just the tips of his fingers slid inside the lace of her panties. Goose bumps raised on her heated skin as he sought to memorize every inch of his delectable mate. His fingers grazed the wet curls at the top of her mound, causing Annie to roll her hips and grind against his throbbing cock as it tented the material of his suit pants.

  Unable to stand one more second of sexual torment, Brannoc swept Annie off her feet and raced to the bedroom. Kicking open the door, he strode to the bed, carefully laid her down, shrugged off his jacket, and within seconds was laying cradled between her thighs. Her legs wrapped around his waist and their hips met stroke for stroke. The only thing keeping him from burying his throbbing cock deep inside and claiming her for all time was their clothing.

  He reached for the hem of her gown just as her hands slipped under the waistband of his pants and her nails bit into the soft flesh of his ass as she sought to keep him close. Their pace increased as the last of Brannoc’s restraint broke. Rising to his knees, he smiled as Annie’s moans turned to gasps as he grabbed her wrists, lifted them over her head, and held them tight with his much larger hand.

  Her deep, dark eyes burned with passion. Her kiss swollen lips begged for his attention. Her hips teased his swollen cock, but it was her hardened nipples pressing invitingly against the cream silk of her gown that caught his attention. Brannoc’s mouth watered and his dragon purred. Looking back at his bear, the Guardsman held her gaze as he reached around her back with his free hand and, in one swift move, ripped the gown from her body and threw the offending material to the ground.

  The tiny pearl buttons quickly followed as he swept them to the floor, smiling at the tinkling sounds they made on the wood floor and the way his assertiveness further aroused his mate. Capturing her gaze, the dragon lowered his lips to her breast. He reveled in her sharp intake of breath as he sucked as much as he could of her ample breast into his mouth. With tongue and teeth, he licked and sucked first one breast then the other until she was writhing beneath him, her legs tightening around him, his name on her lips.

  Leaving the heaven of her voluptuous chest, he kissed and nipped down her body, making sure to keep her hands captive. He tasted the silky skin of her stomach, groaning low in his throat at her sweetness. Taking a deep breath, Brannoc pushed his needs as well as those of his dragon back as he kissed from one hip to the other, right along the top of her panties, dipping his tongue just under the lace, enjoying the lift of Annie’s hips and her pleading moans. “Brannoc…Brann…love, oh, oh…please, Brann…please.”

  “Please what, mo iompróidh beag? What can I do for you?” he crooned, continuing to taste and torment his beautiful mate

  “I…I…I need…you…just…you” was his bear’s impassioned response. Annie writhed and pulled at the grip he had on her wrists. “Brannoc… let go. I need… want…to touch you.”

  Lost to their passion, her plea was little more than a breathy whisper but effective none the less. No sooner had he let go of her hands than her fingers dove into his hair as she attempted to direct his movements. He chuckled against her skin, sticking to his slow, torturous seduction.

  Sliding farther down her body, Brannoc buried his nose against the crotch of her arousal-soaked panties. His head spun as Annie’s delectable scent of rain-kissed roses and the freshness of the forest filled his senses. Completely lost to his mate and with both hands free, his fingers closed over her hips, slowing her movements as the digits of his other hand slid inside the leg of her panties.

  His index finger touched her curls, wet with arousal, and Annie’s hips shot off the bed despite the hold he had on her. He traced her outer lips up one side and down the other, slowly torturing them both, pushing their passion higher, marveling at the absolute perfection of his mate. His bear pulled at his hair, her hips thrust against his fingers trying to force his hand where she needed him most.

  With her mind open to his, they shared everything. As she threw back her head, baring her throat to him, Brannoc was caught off guard by the rush of his own emotions as Annie’s complete trust in him flooded his heart and soul. Her cheeks grew more flushed, her lips were drawn into a perfect ‘O’, and she panted his name as he pushed his finger into her warm, wet pussy. He didn’t even try to stop the satisfied smile that curved his lips as “Oh My Goddess. I love this man,” floated through her mind. His Annie was absolute perfection.

  Unable to take one more moment without her taste upon his tongue, Brannoc fisted the silk and lace of her panties and pulled. His dragon roared in triumph at the sound of the ripping material. Throwing the shredded garment over his shoulder as he removed his finger and quickly replaced it with the thrust of his tongue deep inside her, the Guardsman basked in the sweet honey of his mate. Curling the tip of his tongue, he teased the bundle of nerves at the top of her channel, both man and dragon rejoicing at the sound of his name on her lips like a mantra to the Mother Ursa. Annie’s legs came up over his shoulders and closed around his head; her heels dug into his back urging him on as he licked, sucked, and tasted.

  Annie’s taste exploded on his tongue. The dragon saw stars. One taste was not enough, a lifetime would never be enough. His bear was like no one he’d ever known before. The more he tasted, the more he wanted. There would never be a time in their very long lives together that he would not crave her, need her, want her by his side.

  Feeling her orgasm building to its crescendo, Brannoc placed the flat of his tongue at the base of her slit and licked from bottom to top, sucking her clit between his lips when he reached the top. Holding the throbbing nub between his teeth, he teased her with the tip of his tongue until she was thrashing and mewling, begging for release.

  Through their mating bond, the Guardsman felt the moment that his bear could take no more and gently bit down on her clit. Annie screamed her release to the Heavens as Brannoc thrust his tongue into her as far as he could reach, drinking her nectar until the spasms of her orgasm began to subside. Continuing to lick and taste, the dragon couldn’t help but grin as his mate sighed with complete satisfaction and her legs slid from his shoulders.

  Lifting his head, he gazed at Annie’s lazy smile and half-lidded eyes and in that instant, his world became complete. There was nothing that would ever compare to the look of his well-loved mate laying beneath him and the knowledge that he put that look there.

  Rising to his knees, Brannoc slowly crawled up Annie’s body, placing his hands on either side of her head when they were face to face. Gazing into her eyes, he poured all the love, commitment, and affection he felt for his bear into the words he’d waited his whole life to say. “Tá mo chroí istigh ionat, Annie Deóireach. Le chéile go deo, deo i ngrá.”

  Tears came to her eyes, tears he knew from their connection were happy tears as she uttered, “You own me, heart and soul, mo Dragon. Together forever, forever
in love.”

  Needing to be one with his mate more than he needed his next breath, Brannoc jumped from the haven of her body, tore the clothes from his body, and returned to his mate in less than a single heartbeat. Slamming his lips to hers, he demanded entrance. The couple sighed in unison as their tongues touched.

  Rolling his hips against Annie, Brannoc’s dragon roared as his hard cock slid against her wet curls, the proof of her arousal wetting his erection. The sensation was more than man and beast could handle. Tearing his lips from hers, the Guardsman lifted up on his hands, positioned his erection at the opening of her warm, wet pussy, and while looking deep into his mate’s eyes, thrust with all his might, only stopping when his tip touched the mouth of her womb.

  Holding perfectly still while her body adjusted to his, Brannoc saw stars as her pussy contracted around him, massaging his erection, pushing him to move. Pulling out of his mate only to thrust back in, his control completely shattered as she met him thrust for thrust, the sounds of their flesh slapping against one another mixed with their harsh breaths filling the room with the beautiful sounds of their lovemaking.

  Her moans were music to his ears. Her hands slipped from his shoulders. He felt the bite of her nails as they slid down his back and both man and dragon roared, thrilled they had driven her to such passionate heights.

  Her pussy contracted tighter and tighter around him. His cock swelled. His balls grew tight. They were so very close. The need for them to release together, to be one in all things, was great within both Brannoc and his bear. Reaching between their bodies, he rubbed his thumb against her clit. Annie’s nails bit deeper into his back, she bowed up until only the weight of his body kept her from coming off the bed, and shouted his name over and over. Frantic beneath him, she begged for more as he slammed into her.