Happy Howlidays: Shifters in Love Romance Collection (Shifter in Love Book 1)

by V. Vaughn

  Finally, when he was just about ready to race down the aisle and find her himself, his Elsa appeared, a vision in flowing white, on the arm of her father. Words could not express the love and complete devotion he felt in that moment. Not only was his elf gorgeous, she was glowing from the inside out. Her goodness and purity of spirit a beacon in a long life of darkness for both man and beast.

  She had left her long red curls down, just the way he liked them, and had only pulled the sides up, securing them with the diamond clips her mother gave her as a wedding present. Her makeup was simple, reminding Quinn of their discussion in which he’d told her she didn’t need it, she was beautiful just the way she was, and Elsa had given him the eye and explained that every girl needs a little something, especially on her mating day.

  Smiling at the memory, he let his eyes wonder down her body, completely mesmerized by the way the tiny red and green crystals danced across the top of the corseted bodice of her gown, accentuating her ample bosom and making him want to taste each and every freckle that dotted her chest and shoulders. His hands longed to wrap around her waist where the thick red satin ribbon was perfectly tied and highlighted the flare of her chiffon covered hips and the red and green flames that decorated her skirt as it fell the floor showing just the tips of her red painted toes. Carolyn and the other elven ladies had outdone themselves.

  His eyes caressed her body until he was once again staring into her brilliant blue eyes. They twinkled and danced with the promise of a long happy future, making his heart beat like the bass drum of a marching band as Elsa and Donovan moved toward him. Every step brought her closer. Every step was the fulfillment of the prophecy promised by his ancestors that Fate would not be denied. Every step was the realization of his happily ever after with the elf of his dreams.

  The wait was finally over as Donovan placed Elsa’s hand in Quinn’s and the couple turned toward Alara. The Elven Prime Minister smiled lovingly at her granddaughter and then gave the Guardsman a wink. Looking behind them, she addressed their family and guests.

  "Today we gather with the blessing of the Goddess, the Universe, and our Queen to bear witness to the Lifemating of Elsa Arianna O’Leary to the one she has chosen to live out her days with, the Dragon Guardsman, Quinn MacKenna. Never have two souls been more perfectly aligned than these two before me. It is evident they were created to complete one another, nourish one another, and love one another from now until the end of time.”

  “Their Spirit-bonding was immediate and complete. It took but one glance and their souls became one. This is rare for our kind and even more so with one from another race, but for these two the Blessing of the Goddess was nothing short of miraculous. It is with great honor and love that I, Alara of the Seelie Court of Fairies and Elves, Second in Line to the throne and Prime Minister to the Elven Nation, join my granddaughter with her Beloved. Please speak the words as the Goddess and the Universe intended.”

  Elsa smiled at Quinn and began, “I name you, Quinn MacKenna, as my Lifemate. You shall be forever first in my heart, and I in yours. Your life I will defend as my own and your honor is entwined with mine until our spirits both find their peace in the Elder Wood. Our bond is as strong as the mountains, as living as the forest, as free as the wind, and as lasting as the stars."

  Leaning forward, she kissed his lips and whispered, “I love you more than the flakes of snow that fall from the sky and harder than the wind that blows from the north. You have captured my heart, my soul, and my devotion.”

  As she stepped back, Quinn had to clear his throat not once, but twice, as more emotions than he’d never felt formed a lump in his throat. Looking into the eyes of the woman who had changed his whole world in the blink of an eye, he repeated the words just a Alara had given them to him. “I name you, Elsa Arianna O’Leary, as my Lifemate. You shall be forever first in my heart, and I in yours. Your life I will defend as my own and your honor is entwined with mine until our spirits both find their peace in the Heavens. Our bond is as strong as the mountains, as living as the forest, as free as the wind, and as lasting as the stars."

  He pulled his elf to his chest and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips before whispering, “I love you higher than the dragons soar, stronger than the waves in the ocean, and more with each passing second. I didn’t fall in love with you, I leapt into love with you with my eyes wide open and the knowledge that you were the one person in all the world who completed not only me, but also my dragon. The light of your soul, the love in your heart, and the grace of your very being serve as a beacon that will always lead me home, always fulfill me, and always remind me of how blessed I truly am to have you as my mate, my love, my everything.”

  He watched a single tear of joy roll down her cheek as together they turned toward their guests and said, "Before the earth and sky, we are joined."

  Everyone clapped as they faced one another once again and leaning forward, Quinn kissed Elsa until they were both breathless and thoughts of their mating night filled both their minds. Only Alara’s, “Ahem,” reminded the couple where they were. Chuckling, they turned and as the flute played a snappy little tune, walked down the aisle hand-in-hand.

  The next few excruciating hours were filled with food, dancing, drinking, and more toasts to the couple’s happiness than Quinn cared to count. He wanted to be alone with Elsa. No, he needed to be alone with her. He had been able to think of little else since defeating her nasty aunt.

  The Universe had spoken. He had found the one meant to be his. They were mated and in his mind and that of his dragon’s, that meant it was time to consummate their union, even if it was going to be in the guestroom of her parents’ cottage.

  Pushing his last thought out of his mind, Quinn looked around the crowd of elves whose names he couldn’t remember, trying to find his mate. Snapping to attention when Donovan appeared at his side, the Guardsman looked down at the smiling elf who asked, “You enjoying yourself?”

  Putting on the best front he could, Quinn nodded, “Absolutely. Who doesn’t love a party?”

  With a knowing expression, Donovan motioned for Quinn to sit down, and after the older elf had also taken a seat, he said, “No need to put on a good front for me. I may be Elsa’s father but I was also newly mated once upon a time and I know you want to be anywhere but here.”

  Reaching into his jacket pocket, Donovan produced an antique key and handed it to the Guardsman explaining, “Take the sleigh. It’s all ready for you. Follow the path behind the barn, around the patch of holly bushes, down the row of Birch trees, to the fifty-foot Jack pine that’s covered with pine cones and to the left you will see a little red bungalow.” The elf winked. “I think it might be the perfect place to start your honeymoon.”

  Needing no more persuasion, Quinn uttered a quick thank you before jumping to his feet, stalking across the dance floor, and coming up behind his beautiful mate. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he leaned down until his lips touched the point of her ear and whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”

  Turning in his arms, Elsa nodded, “I thought you’d never ask.”

  It was all the encouragement he needed. Picking up his elf, Quinn spun toward the exit and to the sounds of clapping and cheers, left the pavilion. Heading straight to the sleigh, he carefully placed Elsa on the seat and wrapped her in the fur blankets before climbing into the driver’s seat. Pushing the reindeer to their top speed, Quinn followed the directions Donovan had given him while his mate held tight to his hand. Arriving with a sliding stop in front of the secluded chalet, the Guardsman jumped from the sleigh, raced to Elsa’s side, picked her up, and flew to the door.

  Fumbling with the key, he finally relented and gave it to Elsa. No sooner had the lock clicked than he opened the door, crossed the threshold, and kicked the door closed, his lips finding hers while she was still in his arms. The slow burn of their passion rapidly became an uncontrollable blaze as he slipped his arm out from under her legs and her body slid down his.

  Hi
s erection pushed against his zipper, his need to be one with his mate a living, breathing entity within him. Walking Elsa backward, sure not to break their connection, Quinn reached for the first doorknob they came to, lifted his mate’s feet from the floor, and walked forward until they were standing next to the bed.

  Wanting their first time to last as long as both he and his beautiful elf could stand, Quinn kissed the column of her neck, nipped across the apex of her shoulder, and tasted of every freckle he could find as the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla filled his senses. He smiled against her skin, thrilled that she was just as excited as he was. Kissing his way back to her mouth, marking every inch of her silken skin as his and his alone, he kissed until visions of their naked bodies intertwined in breathless abandon was all either could imagine and then repeated his efforts on her other bare shoulder.

  The more he tasted, the more labored Elsa’s breathing became, making her voluptuous breasts a temptation he could no longer resist. Kissing across the neckline of her dress, letting his tongue dip behind the row of glittering crystals to taste the decadent flesh of his one true mate, was a treat from the Heavens. His heart beat faster and his cock grew even harder as she moaned with pleasure and held him close, unable to resist the unbreakable bond between them. Pulling down the zipper at her back, Quinn’s fingers touched every inch of naked flesh as it was unwrapped. Elsa writhed under his attention, grabbing his hands to hurry him along.

  “Patience, mo elf beag,” he growled against her skin. “I waited a lifetime for this and I plan to enjoy every single moment.”

  She groaned with disapproval as he continued his slow perusal. His mouth watered as he peeled away the cloth of her bodice, revealing all of her ample breasts and dusty pink nipples, begging to be teased and tasted. Licking across first one and then the other, he was rewarded with an, “Oh, sweet Goddess, Quinn…please…I love…I love… oh yes…” from his mate

  “You love who, mo chroi’?” he asked with a smirk against her heated skin.

  Not giving her time to answer, the dragon took the nipple he’d been teasing between his lips, sucking harder and nipping with a bit more intent until Elsa bowed her back, holding him to her chest, and screamed his name. His hand kneaded her other breast, working her nipple to a hardened point between his thumb and forefinger.

  The scent of her arousal grew more intense, filling the room with the aroma of love, life, and his Elsa. There would never come a time in all of eternity that he would tire of that scent. His dragon pushed and roared in his head, demanding he continue undressing their beautiful mate; both man and beast driven to taste all that their elf had to offer. Releasing her breast, Quinn immediately licked just the very tip of the other before pulling it between his lips as he pushed her gown over her stunningly rounded hips and let the material float to the floor. With a mind of their own, his hands lingered on her amazing curves, lovingly appreciating the fact that his mate was all woman. His fingers stilled as they slipped under the thin lace of her underwear.

  Letting her nipple fall from his mouth, Quinn kissed the valley between her breasts, loving her sighs of pleasure and moans of delight as he left a trail of heat and seduction down her body. Reaching the silk of her panties, the dragon inhaled long and deep, immersing himself in Elsa’s wonderful scent. Kneeling between her thighs, he ripped her panties from her body and threw the offending material over his shoulder. Looking up her gloriously naked body, Quinn’s mouth watered with the desire to feast as he desired.

  Elsa was gorgeous when clothed, but naked she was a thing of absolute beauty. As slowly as his growing arousal would allow, his eyes worked their way from the Christmas red of the polish that covered her toes, up her shapely legs that very soon would be wrapped around his head, to her soft, full thighs he could not wait to feel clinging to him. Her rounded stomach and curves only fueled his extremely vivid imagination and begged to be tasted over and over again.

  “Quinn?” His name on her lips drew his gaze.

  “Yes, mo grhá?” he sighed, massaging up and down her thighs, sure to brush the outer lips of her pussy on every pass, loving that her hips sought out his touch, moving in time with his strokes.

  “Quinn…I need…” She gasped, breathless as his index finger ran up and down her slit, dripping with the proof of her arousal.

  “What is it you need, mo stóirin?” he teased, enjoying her ragged breathing and need to move with him. Quinn gazed at Elsa in the throes of passion, thanking the Heavens, the Universe, and every other deity he could think of for such an amazing mate. He loved that her head was thrown back, eyes closed tightly, and mouth open wide as she called his name over and over like a lifeline holding her to his heart.

  “I…oh my, Quinn, yes Quinn…you, my love, yes…yes…” She wailed as he pushed his finger through her folds, the proof of her arousal freely flowing from her, wetting his hand and wrist. Her pussy contracted around the tip of his finger, attempting to pull him farther into her warm, wanting body. Adding another finger, he slowly glided in and out, her juices providing the perfect lubrication. His thumb drew lazy circles around her swollen clit while his fingers continued to work her toward completion. Every few swipes he bent the tips of his fingers in a come-hither motion and gently brushed the special bundle of nerves that he instinctively knew would drive his mate wild.

  Needing to taste her more than he needed air, Quinn quickly removed his fingers, chuckling as Elsa whined at the loss and grabbed for his hand, then leaned down and thrust his tongue into her pussy as far and as fast as he could. Her taste exploded on his tongue, flashes of light bursting before his shuttered eyes. Devouring his mate like a man possessed, the dragon grabbed every drop of her juices, fulfilling himself and his beast as never before. She tasted of happiness and home and everything good and right in the world. The more his tongue moved within her, the drunker he became on his little elf. Her hands tugged at his hair. Her legs flew over his shoulders and closed tight around his head. Breathing became almost impossible, and for the most part forgotten, as he consumed all that she gave.

  Elsa’s body tensed. He could hear her heart pounding in time with his. Her legs tightened even more against his head and in the next second, she was wailing his name as she came on his tongue, filling his mouth until her juices ran down his chin. Overjoyed at the responsiveness of his mate, Quinn continued to lick and tease as his mate floated back to earth. Looking up, he found her smiling a lazy smile and gazing at him through passion-filled eyes. His only thought was to find a way to keep that exact look on her face for eternity.

  His cock pulsed against the zipper of his tuxedo pants. Not wanting to leave his place between his mate’s thighs but needing to feel her skin against his, Quinn stood, and in one fluid motion, threw off his jacket and ripped the white dress shirt from his body, smirking as the buttons flew around the room. Reaching for the buckle of his belt, he stopped short as Elsa pushed them away.

  His eyes flew to hers. “What are you doing?”

  “It’s my turn, my big strong dragon,” she winked. He had no idea how she had moved so quickly, but from the look of mischief in her eyes and her sly grin, Quinn didn’t care. He was lost to her sweet seduction. All thoughts of anything but being buried deep inside her flying from his mind like ashes in the wind.

  Unbuckling and unzipping his pants, Elsa kept his eyes hostage with her magnetic blue gaze. She pressed her body to his; the electrical sensation of their connection raising goose bumps all over his body. Her hardened nipples brushed against the taunt muscles of his chest and his mouth watered with the need to taste her all over again. With her thighs pressing against his, she moved their bodies until the bed bumped the back of his knees. His pants slid down his legs, pooling on top of his shoes. Starting to bend over, needing to be naked, to feel every part of Elsa against every part of himself, Quinn was again stopped by his little elf’s hands, only this time on his shoulders.

  Slowly shaking her head, his mate gently pushed her hands against hi
s chest until Quinn was sitting on the side of the bed. Then without any notice, she drove the breath from his lungs as she dropped to her knees before him and demurely glanced up through her impossibly long, dark eyelashes. The Guardsman’s heart skipped a beat. He’d never seen anything more beautiful, more alluring, more enticing in his entire life. Needing to be inside her, Quinn grabbed her shoulders, trying to pull her onto his lap, shoes and pants be damned. But Elsa shook her head once again, denying him the pleasure he so desperately needed but promising him with her gaze so much more if he would only be patient.

  Lifting first one foot and then the other, Elsa removed his shoes and socks and then his pants. She ran her nails, painted the same Christmas red as her toes, up his shins and across his thighs, stopping mere inches from his straining cock. His mischievous mate drew figure eights up and down his thighs, the friction of her touch against the smattering of short, dark hair causing a friction that made it difficult for him to breathe.

  Her mind was completely open to him. She let him feel as well as hear that his pleasure was her only focus. The want and need to please him as he had pleased her and mark him as hers, just as she was his, was just as overwhelming for her as it was for him.

  Coherent thought became impossible when her lips closed around his cock. The air fled his lungs as she sucked as much of his considerable length into her mouth as would fit. Lost to their combined thoughts, Quinn once again missed Elsa’s movement. With slow precision that threatened his hard-fought patience, she worked him in and out of her mouth, her tongue massaging the pulsing vein that ran from base to tip.