by Erin Havoc
She nods and finally lets herself feel. With every brush of my cock to her center, she moans a little louder. She circles her hips a little sharper. Over and over. Harder. I move, my fingers exploring the edge of her panties. Her juices coat my fingers when I touch her clit, circling the swollen nub, bringing her closer to the edge of her pleasure. Pulling her panties sideways, my eyes fastened on her face, I touch her, bringing her higher and higher. Studying her every expression. Every jerk of her muscles. Shifting my position, I adjust my speed.
She’s all that matters to me. What she thinks. How she feels. The most important thing.
My lion roars at me—take her. Bite down on her shoulder. Mark this woman once and for all.
I shake my head, bending to capture a nipple in my mouth. Sucking it hard, she arches her back to me. Tugging on her panties, I lower them around her ankles as she moves. I insert a finger into her tight cunt, grunting to the wetness, the heat. She’s perfect. It makes me choke on how badly I need to be inside her.
Flicking her clit with my thumb, I part her thighs to watch my fingers sinking into her center. Leaning, I insert a second finger and close my lips around her bundle of nerves.
Faith comes so suddenly I’m taken aback. She curls and thrashes, crying out as she grips my hair with both hands. I rub my face against her center, licking and lapping her clit as I pound inside her. Crooking my fingers, I seek her G-spot, raking my fingertips along her inner wall to drag her pleasure longer.
Her orgasm doesn’t cease, it doesn’t fade. She keeps crying and thrashing, pleasure crashing over and over. Her legs come up around my head and I pry them apart yet again. Finger-fucking her even harder, I prepare her for me.
“Nolan,” she says among moans and whimpers. “Fuck me, please, fuck me.”
Can’t say no to that.
I’m out of my boxers in the blink of an eye, licking her juices off the corner of my mouth. Lying above her, I take one moment to memorize her flushed face, her eyelids drooping closed, before I sink my cock into her pussy.
Her eyes snap open, her gaze fastened to me as I spread her cunt. She’s so fucking tight I bare my teeth as I force inside, her juices coating my cock. I’m big and thick, and the number of orgasms I gave her certainly helps. Her inner walls clamp down around me, tightening their grasp on my cock. She moves as if she already wishes me to come inside her. As if she’s dying to be filled with my seed.
The image flashes in the back of my mind before I can stop myself. Faith, round with my child. Her tits huge, heavy. Her belly hanging, my pup inside her.
Fuck. If there’s something the lion in me adores, that’s it. That keeps me going. That makes me even harder than before.
Faith takes me to the hilt, and her warmth is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Pressing our foreheads together, we stay like that for a moment. Joined. Nothing else in the world bothering us.
“This is amazing,” she breathes, her hands curling around my back and bringing me closer to her luscious body. She has her eyes closed, savoring the feeling of being complete. Of having me inside her for the first time.
The first of many.
“You’re amazing,” I tell her, pressing my lips to her temple. “You’re so fucking amazing I have to hold back. Or I’ll come in a second.”
She chuckles weakly, her eyes meeting mine. “I can suck you again. To help, you see?”
I nod, loving this side of my girl. “I’d love that.” Moving, I pound into her wet cunt, our skins slapping. She smiles, moving with me. “Fucking love this mouth of yours spread around my cock. Did you like it?”
She licks the corner of her lip, her cheeks acquiring an even deeper shade of red. “I did.”
I smirk. “Did you like sucking my cock, Faith?”
She presses her arms to the sides of her breasts, and I watch her juicy tits jiggling. Fucking goddess.
“I love to suck your cock, Nolan.” She bites her bottom lip. “I love the taste of your come.”
“Fuck,” I say with a chuckle, heat making my mind fuzzy. I’m the one who started the dirty talk, but I can’t take it. I can’t take her saying these things without blowing. So I fist the sheets between my hands and do the one thing I can think of right now.
I ram my dick into her, fucking my mate into the mattress. She moans, her mouth dropping open, making me think of my cock between her lips again. She’s so fucking sexual. There’s not an inch in her body that doesn’t make me think of filthy sex. Legs spread, her breasts bouncing, I watch her climbing that wave again.
“Like this, kitten?” I shift to bring her hips higher, fucking that sweet spot inside her. Her eyes pop wide, and she circles her hips in time with my thrusts.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she cries, her nails digging into the flesh of my thighs.
“Cream my cock, kitten,” I tell her, my voice hoarse with need. With lust.
Her eyelids fluttering shut, Faith obeys. Promptly. She comes so hard around me her muscles strangle my member, punching the air out of me.
My gaze rivets on the soft spot between her neck and shoulder. That perfect place that soon will bear the mark of my teeth. My mating mark. The one way I can show others she’s mine. My gums itch, my teeth turning to fangs. My eyes change, and I feel my surroundings changing as my pupils become catlike. I can’t control this. My lion’s close to the surface, begging for a taste of her.
Faith keeps her eyes on me, not showing fear when my fangs protrude from my lips. A corner of her mouth tilts in a smile, and I know she accepts me the way I am.
Then her pussy is convulsing around me again, and I burst inside her. Keeping our hips pressed together, I make sure not a drop of my load escapes her pussy. Everything goes inside her.
My heartbeat slowly decreasing, I sit back, resting her hips back down. My cock slips from her as we catch our breaths, and I hasten to drop next to her. My heart’s full of love for this woman, this perfect being that I’ve been so lucky to find. Curling an arm around her waist, I bring her close, the closest I can.
“Should have asked you,” I say, still catching my breath, against her ear, “if you wanted me to pull out.”
She shakes her head weakly, snuggling herself against me. “I’m on the pill.”
Oh. What a pity.
“That was...” I try to find a word that describes it, but it’s impossible. Better than amazing. Or perfect. Or astounding. I don’t know. So I sound a whistle of appreciation.
Faith laughs. “Yeah. Agreed. Never had sex like this.”
At that moment, I’m jealous, but I hold it back. She’s had people before me. Yeah, a shame. I hoped we could have been each other’s first and last, but that’s not the case.
“Advantages of fucking your mate.”
She turns to face me, her hands coming up to brush over my lips. I kiss her fingertips, stroking her back. “So you’re part lion.”
I nod, pressing her hand to my face. “I am. Does that scare you?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t care. Though it was... Really something to see the change in your eyes.”
We laugh, and I don’t want this moment to ever end. “I’m just happy it doesn’t bother you.”
Faith smiles, and there’s so much sweetness there I know nothing will ever go wrong between us. “No, it doesn’t. You’re an amazing person, Nolan. I want to stay with you. Shifter or not.”
“Thanks for giving us a chance,” I sigh into her hair, cradling her to my chest. “You seemed so uncertain before.”
“I was. I have...” She hesitates for a moment and I’m about to tell her she doesn’t need to share things that hurt her when she clears her throat. “I’ve been married before. And it wasn’t good. He wasn’t a good person, but I just found it out when it was too late. And it took me quite some time to get rid of the things he made me believe. The pain he put me through.” She sighs, and I hug her even tighter. “That’s why I wanted to keep my distance. Because he seemed to be a nice guy at first. But then, he
cheated on me and mistreated me, and...” Her voice breaks and I kiss her temple several times.
“That’s okay, kitten. You don’t need to talk about it.”
She releases a sigh, hugging me back. “I know. But I think you ought to hear it. I’ve been broken before and I’m not completely healed. There are some times I’m suspicious, and I don’t trust easily. Be patient with me.”
Smiling into her hair, I breathe her scent in. “I will. I’ll wait for you as long as you want.”
8
FAITH
Some days are better than others. But last week? Last week was amazing.
One day better than the previous. Starting from the day my phone buzzed with a strange message from an app. That I had been matched. To Nolan.
I am not someone who believes in meant-to-be and destiny. The one thing I’m certain of is that we make our own choices. We build our fates. So at first I didn’t understand or believe this mate thing Nolan told me.
But with every passing day, it’s impossible not to be convinced. We fit so well. Two puzzle pieces and I don’t give a shit about how cliche this is. It’s the one way I have found that explains things. Nolan and I are not the same. I’m introverted, quiet. He’s super outgoing and loud. But I settle him, while he cheers me up. Perfect balance.
He listens to me. Every doubt and every tiny dark corner in my heart. I spill it out and he takes me on. He worries, and he cares, and he makes love to me so good. Nolan adores my body, and he makes me feel so right. The doubts I developed with my ex-husband have started to crumble.
He makes me feel confident in this new endeavor.
Picking my car keys up, I leave my apartment with a spring to my step, a smile across my face. I look silly, I give you that. But who cares? I’m happy for the first time in forever, and it’s not a mask. Today’s my day off and I’m driving to the fire station Nolan works at. He doesn’t know, so it’s going to be a surprise. He’s told me about this restaurant near the station, and I thought we could go there. He could also introduce me to his co-workers.
I want to be part of his life. He’s been kind of hesitant. When I asked him the reason, he said it was because we weren’t mates yet, and the others would ogle me. Yeah, right. I don’t buy into it.
So I’m driving there without telling him. He has to make compromises if he wants this to work, and he already told me he’s up for anything.
It’s not that I doubt him. It’s just that... I kind of smell a rat. When you’ve been mistreated for too long, you begin to have second thoughts about absolutely everything.
The fire station takes half of a block in this street. It’s under maintenance after someone attacked them for being shifters. Crazy thing. Nolan said they’ve re-built the lobby and the office and the garage. The trucks are new, he said, but the other areas are still going through repairs.
Driving slow past the front, I peek outside my window. The smile still plays on my lips as I squint, looking for him. A couple of burly men exercise on the sidewalk. There are two girls half-hidden behind a light pole watching them. I feel second-hand shame but the men seem to enjoy the attention.
Nolan’s not up front, so I’m going to get inside and ask for him. Maybe he’s even out for an emergency call. But I don’t want to park in front in case he leaves the station and sees me too early. That would ruin the surprise.
So I drive to the back of the block, finding a spot next to a large oak tree. Exiting my car, I press my hands to my skirt to even off the wrinkles and fluff my hair. I’m smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.
As I shut the car door, I hear voices. And I recognize one as Nolan.
Weirdest thing. I look around, seeking the source of them. They’re hushed, talking under their breaths. As if they do not wish to be overheard.
I look around the oak tree and there I see him. Handsome in a white shirt and his uniform pants, a bright smile on his face. He opens his arms and hugs the person talking to him.
A girl. A beautiful, curvy girl. She hugs him back, wrapping her arms around his waist and grinning wide.
Why are they here? Hidden from everyone’s sight?
My heart plummets to my stomach.
Yeah. It took him long enough.
Whirling around, I feel tears prickling the back of my eyes. Stinging. Threatening to fall. I open my car door and jump inside.
That’s why he didn’t want me to come here. Because he has another girl on the side. Another “mate”? Is he telling her the same things he tells me? Did he find her on the app too?
This is absurd. I knew it would come to this, and yet... Yet I can’t stop the pain that threatens to choke me. My throat collapses as the first tears spill. I turn the car engine on.
“Faith?” I hear him calling my name above the noise of my sobs and the engine. Nolan appears out of thin air as I veer away from the curb, his hands slamming into the car hood. “Faith, what—?”
I put the car in reverse and drive away from him, not even bothering to look into the rearview mirror as I desperately escape his questions, his gaze, his presence.
Nolan cries my name out as he runs after the car, and I ignore him. Tears mist my sight, and I slam my foot to the gas pedal as I rush back home.
What a surprise. The one man I opened my heart to, and he’s cheating on me. Another cheater. Another liar to my list. Maybe mom was right when she said I can’t hold a man. I can’t keep them. There’s something in me that cries out “idiot”.
I tell myself it’s been only one week. There’s no reason for me to be heartbroken about a relationship that’s barely begun. But I’ve trusted him. I’ve given myself to him, and I wanted more. I let myself dream about more. And he’s broken it all.
And when I get home, and I expect to spend the rest of my day off wallowing in self-pity, life laughs at me again.
None other than my ex-husband waits for me. And from the smirk across his face, I know he’s here to remind me of the reason I should never have given men another chance.
9
NOLAN
This has to be a nightmare.
I’ve just watched my woman running away from me. Tears streaking her beautiful face, I know what’s the feeling across her features.
Betrayal. Disappointment.
The math’s easy. She saw me with Vivian, hugging her, and assumed I was cheating on her. She has reasons to doubt me. She’s warned me about it. I’ve been such an idiot, caught at the moment.
“Nolan, what’s wrong?” Vivian waits for me at the curb, hand on the tree where we have been hiding.
“I fucked up,” I breathe, my heart twisting inside my chest. My lion growls at me, calling me stupid. So close to having her, and now... “It was my mate. She must have seen me with you. She’s been cheated before...”
Vivian gasps, covering her mouth with a hand. “Damn, we should have thought about it. I mean, if it were Austin, he would have been pissed too.”
I shake my head, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. What an idiot. “I need to go after her. Sorry about it, Vivian. I’m thrilled for you, anyway.”
She shrugs, walking back into the station with me. “I know. We were caught off guard.” She smiles, pressing a hand to her lower belly. “Find your mate, apologize, and explain it all to her. I’m just asking your help for a surprise after all.”
I release a breath between my teeth. “Austin will be ecstatic. We’ll develop a fun way of telling him you guys are having your first cub.”
“I hope he passes out,” she giggles, evil intent across her face.
“I have to go.” I nod at her one last time and sprint after Hunter, our captain. Weaving between construction material, I dart to his office. There is only one desk and a chair now, and the landline we use to receive emergency calls. Hunter stands to one side, pressing his cell phone to his ear. I wait until his call is done, shifting my weight between my feet.
Finally, he looks over his shoulder at me. His face is covered in distress.
“Yes, Nolan?”
Words die on my tongue for a moment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this stiff. “Is everything all right?”
He presses his lips together, swaying his head. “My sister’s been in a car accident. I don’t know. She’s across the state. I’ll have to reorganize the schedule between you guys so I can leave for a couple of days. The drive there will take me some six hours...”
“Captain,” I breathe, my lion on edge. “I’m taking every extra hour you want me to. There’s just one thing I need to solve today.”
He arches a brow. “What happened?”
I shake my head. “A misunderstanding with my mate. I need to solve it as soon as possible.”
Hunter nods several times. “Then go on. Go get her.” As I leave, he calls again. “And I’m taking you up for those extra hours!”
In minutes I’m out of my uniform and inside my car, driving down to Faith’s place. My heart skitters inside my chest, and my lion roars with how mad he is. He keeps telling me this is my fault. I should have marked her. Should have explained the entire thing. But who would have guessed? Who would imagine she’d show up at the one moment in time I was hugging another woman?
I’m a fucking idiot. And I have to fix this.
When I park, my eyes find her. My damn beautiful woman. Her back is turned to me and her glorious rack catches my eye. But then, I feel something different. Something wrong.
A tug in my stomach. My lion perks up.
There’s a man with her. They’re arguing.
Without turning the engine off, I jump off the car and dart at them. It happens in slow motion. My lion stretches, forcing closer to the surface. I feel the shift in my eyes, the surroundings changing. My teeth protruding. The man shakes my mate, and he raises a hand as if to strike her.
My lion tells me to shift. I hold it in. With the last of my senses, I hold the urge back. But I sprint with a roar as his hand slowly comes down to my woman. He meets my eyes and his face blanks.
