by Milly Taiden
“We got guards outside the door.”
“It doesn’t matter. I won’t leave her side.” His throat constricted as he watched her. “I’ll never leave her side.”
19
Harper woke feeling different. Her body, her mind, even her vision was different.
“You’re awake,” Sebastian’s voice came from her right. “How do you feel?”
She met his gaze and smiled. “Weird. I can smell…everything.” She inhaled and groaned. God, was that him? “You smell amazing.”
He grinned and lowered his face down to kiss her. “Not half as good as you.”
“What happened?”
The smile fell from his face and was replaced with a scowl. “You fell down the stairs. You were hurt. Badly.”
She sat up, surprised that nothing hurt. “How’s that possible? I feel fine.”
“When I bit you, you took to the change and your body was able to heal itself thanks to your wolf.”
She opened her eyes wide. “I’m a shifter?”
He smiled again. “Yes. You shifted into your animal while you were unconscious. She’s beautiful.”
Holy crap. She could shift! This was surreal. “I don’t remember falling, though.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
A knock sounded at the door and Sarai poked her head in. “She’s awake?”
“Yes,” Sebastian sighed a growl, his features looking tired. He wore only a pair of pajama pants and his blond hair had a finger tossed look. He had clearly been up all night. “You may come in and ask her your million questions.” He glanced at Harper. “She’s been dying for you to wake so she can bombard you with requests for help with the ball. There are only a few days left and she’s lost her mind.”
Sarai rolled her eyes. “I did not lose my mind. I just need someone else to help with this. Delilah left and won’t be back until the ball. She had some family problems to deal with.” Her face lit up. “So, do you feel up to helping me with the insanity?”
Harper nodded. “Of course.”
Sarai glanced at Sebastian. “You need to get some sleep, Seb. She’s up now. You haven’t slept in days. You need to rest.”
Harper frowned and took his hand in hers. “Why haven’t you slept?”
“He was busy taking care of you,” Sarai told her.
“Sarai!” he growled.
Harper gasped, squeezing his hand in her grasp. “I-I can’t thank you enough for watching over me, but you have to get some sleep.”
He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Her emotions were defined where Sebastian was concerned. She’d been confused before, but now she knew. It could be that her animal allowed her to see what was important and no longer had to debate with herself for falling for him.
She met Sarai’s gaze and smiled. “How about you give me a few hours.”
Sarai grinned and winked at her. “Sure thing. I’ll see you later.”
As soon as Sarai left, she pushed the blankets off and moved over, patting the bed. “Come, lie down with me.”
His eyes blazed gold. God, how she wanted him. The scent of him and the emotions she saw in his gaze sealed the deal for her. This was worth her time. He was the first man she had no doubt about having a relationship with. She’d start right now by making sure her man rested.
“I’m not tired,” he argued, his gaze straying to the dipping neckline of her nightgown.
“That’s okay. Come, keep me company. I’m still tired.”
He removed his shoes and slid under the blanket with her. She had to fight the wild hunger to flip over and straddle him, pull him out of his pants and slip his cock deep inside her. The very image made her pussy wet.
“Christ, Harper. You’re driving me crazy.”
She grinned and grabbed his arm, wrapping it around her torso and placing his hand on her breast. “Come on, a little nap never hurt anyone.”
“This nap might be the death of me if you keep smelling so good,” he groaned, pressing his erection into her ass.
“Mmm,” she moaned and wiggled closer to him. “Sleep first. Play later.”
“You play dirty,” he whispered by her ear, licking her lobe, his warm breath giving her goose bumps. “I like it.”
20
Unfortunately, there was no time to play later. Once she got started getting the place ready for the ball, things went completely insane. She barely saw him and by the time she did, it was to go to bed. He was busy with pack issues and she ended up only seeing him for a few minutes before she fell asleep from exhaustion.
The ball turned out to be amazing. The castle was decorated in spring colors. She went up to her room and found a dress on her bed complete with shoes and gasped at the beauty.
The dress was a strapless yellow gown that had a cinched waist and an A-line cut with a sheer gauzy skirt that reminded her of a princess gown. She felt like true royalty in that dress. She’d curled her hair and left it loose. Sebastian loved running his fingers through her hair and she wanted to look good for him.
She rushed downstairs, ready to help Sarai in making sure any last-minute details were handled with ease. Kellen marched into the garden room where she and Sarai were chatting.
“Sebastian would like to see you,” he told Harper.
She raised her brows and smiled at him. “You look great in a suit!”
His gaze strayed to Sarai. He winked at her and grinned. “Thank you.”
Harper rushed to Sebastian’s library. She opened the door and walked in without knocking. He stood with his back to her. It was a second before he turned and faced her. He was wearing a tux. Lord have mercy. A man shouldn’t look that good in a dress suit.
“You look beautiful,” he growled, prowling toward her and pulling her into his arms to kiss her hard.
She didn’t fight it. Instead, she curled her arms around his neck and pressed herself even closer. The kiss was life. Heat bloomed in her chest. Her animal made herself known, wanting to come and feel closer to him. Her heart filled with love for him. It was easy to acknowledge how she felt when she wasn’t fighting it any longer.
Perhaps it would have been weird before to say she fell for him in such short time, but not now. Now, it was perfect.
He pulled back from the kiss and groaned. “Why did you plan this thing? Now, we have to wait hours before I can get you out of that dress.”
She laughed and pushed away from him. “Trust me, this isn’t easy for me, either. You look amazing in that tux. 007 has nothing on you.”
He chuckled and turned to his desk. “I have a gift for you.”
She followed his hand to his desk and saw him pick up a jewelry box. “What is it?”
Nobody ever gave her gifts. It was really weird. Still, she sensed his excitement at giving her the present, so she wouldn’t make him feel bad. This new ability to sense his emotions gave her massive insight into their relationship and his feelings.
“This was something I had made for you,” he told her, opening the jewelry box to show her a small white gold wolf pendant with canary diamonds for eyes.
The wolf grew blurry as tears filled her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
“Don’t cry, love. I want you to like it,” he said, sounding unsure.
“I love it,” she sniffed. “That’s why I’m crying.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard. “Nobody has ever given me anything. Ever.”
“You deserve the world. I’ll give it to you as long as I live.” He put the pendant on her neck and guided her out to the ball.
She hadn’t expected he would have her stand next to him to greet people as they arrived. It was awkward at first. Everyone stared at her, but after a while they relaxed and were smiling at her, welcoming her into the pack and even wishing them luck as a couple.
“Why are they assuming we’re a couple?” she whispered to him after a while.
“Because we are. The king only welcomes people to his home with his mat
e. That’s you,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple.
He was called away from her once everyone had arrived. The ball was in full swing with champagne and wine being passed around. The staff passed bite-sized hors d’oeuvres. Everyone was having an amazing time.
“Stop being selfish,” she heard someone say from behind her. She turned to face Delilah and her evil glare.
“Excuse me?”
“You know he needs you to give him a child to live and you haven’t made the effort to do it. Do you not care if he lives or dies?”
Her heart grew cold at the woman’s words. “Of course, I care. I love Sebastian!”
Delilah snorted. “I doubt it. Why are you still not pregnant?”
“How would you know? You’re human,” she snapped, losing her patience.
Delilah shrugged. “Sarai told me she’s worried about Seb. His birthday is coming up and you have yet to give him the child he needs. This is all your father’s fault, anyway.”
Harper gasped, her lungs tightening and making it harder to breathe. “What do you mean? How is it Christian’s fault?”
Delilah picked up a flute of champagne from a passing tray and gulped it down. “Ask Sebastian. And maybe start thinking about keeping him alive, if you actually give a damn.”
The rest of the night went by in a sick, cold blur. Delilah was right. She knew that was the original reason for her to be in the castle. To give Sebastian a baby. She loved him. Loved him with all her heart. This needed to become a priority.
The last of the guests were leaving when he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. “Hello, beautiful.”
She hugged his arms tightly and leaned her head to the side, giving him access to her neck. “Let’s get out of here.”
He flipped her around and met her gaze. “Are you sure? I know this was your and Sarai’s project. I was waiting patiently,” he grinned. “I didn’t want you to feel pushed into leaving.”
She curled her arms around his neck and kissed his jaw. “Take me to bed.”
“Your wish is my command, love.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the ballroom.
21
Harper had no idea what he was thinking, but at that moment, her thoughts had gone straight to the gutter. She had Sebastian in their bedroom. Alone. And he looked fucking gorgeous in that tux.
God, this couldn’t be real. She was still dreaming of the last time they’d been together. The first time and how amazing it had been. But when she’d fallen down the stairs, it really put a damper on everything. Not to mention, she hadn’t gotten pregnant. That still hurt.
For all she knew, she might not be able to give him that baby he needed. But by god, she’d give it her best try tonight. Heat ran down her thighs from her soaked panties. He was the only man to make her body react that way.
“God, Harper. You smell delicious…so hot.” He lowered his head and nuzzled her throat. “I missed you so much.”
She moaned. “I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”
He reared back, his gaze pinning her to the spot. “That will never happen, love. Never.”
“It’s just,” she groaned. “You hadn’t made a move and were so busy,” she kissed his neck.
“Sweetheart, you were busier than I was. I just let you do what you had to because I knew tonight I’d have you all to myself. All mine.”
He kissed her with passion, flipping a switch inside her and awakening the hunger she had for him. The one she’d been trying to ignore since he’d been keeping her at arm’s length. She dug her nails into his short hair, holding his head close.
Their lips fused while their tongues danced. Fate had a way of letting her know this was the right man for her. Every time he kissed her, she could feel her heart fill with love.
She shouldn’t fight it, but she wasn’t one to accept anything easily, either. He cupped her ass, lifting her and grinding her against his cock. Harper wrapped her legs around his waist, tightening her hold on him.
“Mmm, Sebastian.” She kissed the corner of his mouth, licked his jaw, and nibbled on his neck.
“Fuck, baby. You taste so good. I’ve missed the scent of your skin.” He licked from her neck, down her collarbone, to the swell of her breasts. His lips latched on to her nipple, and he sucked it into his mouth, licking, laving, and nibbling on the puckered flesh.
“Yes. More.” She rocked her hips on his erection and groaned when he moved his mouth to her other nipple, rolling the previous one between his fingers.
“Harper,” he grunted, “Do you know what you’re asking for?” He nibbled on her chest, making her squirm in his hold.
“Yes. Lick me. Fuck me. Do anything you want. Put your babies inside me.”
“I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”
Harper knew. She’d known he was giving her time and space, but she didn’t want it any longer. She wanted him. Now. He dropped her in the middle of the bed. Dragging air into her lugs, she watched him strip off his clothes. Rock hard and golden brown, he had the body of a god—a sexy god with a nice, long cock.
She thought she might have dreamed it the last time. That maybe her mind had played tricks and he wasn’t as big as she thought. She’d been wrong. Her memory was perfect. She licked her lips and stared while he gripped his dick. He jerked in his hold and her already drenched pussy dripped more. Arousal made her vision cloudy.
“Touch yourself,” he ordered.
She slipped her hand under her panties and moaned when she slid her fingers between her slick pussy lips. “Please, Sebastian. I need you.”
He growled and jumped on the bed, landing right over her. What a fucking turn-on. Long claws burst from his fingers, and he used them to shred the dress off her body. Fucking hell, that was so sexy. Her pussy sucked at nothing, wanting him.
Sebastian moved down on the bed, lifted her legs over his shoulders, and licked her sex with so much enthusiasm, she bucked in his hold.
“Oh god!” she whimpered.
He licked the honey dripping from her slit as if it were the sweetest nectar. She moaned when his raspy tongue slid inside her channel, fucking her. Every touch drove her closer and closer to that amazing orgasm she knew was coming.
“More!” She gripped his hair in her fists and rocked her pelvis on his face, pushing her pussy into his mouth. Sebastian twirled his tongue on her clit and inserted two fingers into her. Electric fire gathered her womb into a tight knot.
“Please. Make me come.” He added a third finger, quickened his moves, and sucked on her swollen pleasure center. Everything inside her cracked, and a flood of ecstasy hurtled through her.
Harper tried to remember how to breathe when Sebastian parted her legs wider. She immediately opened for him. He crawled up her body, grabbed his cock with one hand and rubbed it on her slick entrance.
“I’ve been fantasizing of this moment again,” he groaned. “My cock, enveloped by your tight little pussy in a sweet hug has been driving me fucking crazy.”
She looked up into his golden eyes and could see his beast so close to the surface, it made her shudder. He was so damn hot. She lifted her head and kissed him, dragging him on top of her.
“Fuck me.” One slow thrust and he was inside her, stretching and rubbing her insides, oh, so deliciously.
“You’re so tight,” Sebastian growled, a rough, animalistic sound that made her pussy flutter around his cock. “I’ll never get used to how fucking amazing you feel.” He was deep, so deep inside that he felt like a part of her. She dug her nails into his back, pulling him closer.
He thrust into her, again and again, until she panted under him. In the haziness of her all-consuming desire, she heard him whisper, “Mine.”
Sebastian licked her shoulder, his teeth scraping her flesh. Harper screamed, a raging tide of pleasure rushing her. He bit down hard, breaking skin and lodging his fangs into her. He was claiming her again. The act was just as precious as the first time.
Seconds later, she felt him come, spurting hot semen into her sex.
She knew at that moment that this time there would be no mistakes. She would give him a baby. Their baby. His cock pulsed wildly within her, pushing her into another orgasm. Long moments passed with him still deep inside her. They both panted, breaths rushing in and out as they tried to calm their lungs.
“You’re mine,” Sebastian mumbled, kissing her lips and turning them over so she was on top of him.
She lay there, with him in her and closed her eyes. She couldn’t think of another place she wanted to be.
22
Sebastian went down to get his mate a snack when his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pajama pants pocket and glanced at the screen. Kellen.
“What’s wrong?” Something had to be wrong for Kellen to be calling him at four in the morning.
“We lost Christian.”
“What do you mean you lost him?” he roared. He’d had Christian under surveillance day and night. How in the world had he gotten past them?
“He went to the house he’d been staying at, when we didn’t see him come out all day, someone went in and didn’t find him. He was gone.”
Fuck!
“You know he’s dangerous. I don’t want him anywhere near Harper.”
“We’ll double the security. He won’t come near her.”
“She has no idea what he can do. What he has done,” he growled. “I’m trying to save her from heartache.”
“I know, Seb. I’m sorry. I will keep looking and we’ll flush him out. Wherever he is, we’ll find him.”
He knew Christian wasn’t just going to go away. Not when Harper was with Sebastian. Christian hated Sebastian as much as he’d hated Sebastian’s father.
He left the plate he’d been ready to put together and decided to talk to Harper. There were things she needed to know about her father.
A loud thump stopped him on his tracks. He went down the staff hallway toward the noise. He opened a door and the scent of blood hit him in the face. He turned on the lights and saw Mrs. Patty on the ground, her throat slit open, bleeding to death.
