by T. S. Ryder
His breath fled him as his gaze latched on his bride. She wore a simple but elegant dress: white, more of a human color than the traditional green that Shifters wore, suited her perfectly and matched his uniform. It had a gold trim as well, and there were gold ribbons woven into her hair. She knelt across from him and held her hands out.
The alpha drew a small ceremonial dagger and cut across their palms, then indicated for them to join hands. Ryan pressed his stinging cut against Jamie's, their blood mingling.
"Recite after me," Melissa said. "'By my blood I am yours. By your blood you are mine. From this day forward, the bond will not be broken till the day we die. '"
Ryan repeated the phrase, gazing into Jamie's eyes. They were wide, her buttery skin a slightly paler color than normal. She held herself rigidly, and he couldn't help but wonder if he should pull his hands away and break this marriage before it was fulfilled. But then the cup was being placed beneath their hands, collecting their mingled blood and the alpha was offering it first to him and then to her to sip from, and they were married.
Their guests cheered as Sean and Katrina came forward to bind their hands. Jamie smiled, but she looked almost panicked. Behind her, her mother’s smile looked more smug than happy. As soon as the bandage was wound around Ryan’s hand, he put an arm around his new wife and held her close.
The rest of the day was filled with toasts and feasting, but Ryan noticed that Jamie hardly touched her food. When the sun was setting, the wedding party ushered the new couple to their house, then pushed them in with catcalls and crude jokes. Jamie remained utterly stiff, and Ryan felt the need to shield her from the remarks being thrown their way. Why did people find it necessary to speak that way to them? It was tradition, he knew that, but it seemed an unnecessary one right now.
Once in their room, Ryan drew the curtains to block out the day and the people around the house. It was a tradition for them to stand around and continue to jeer for hours into the night, but when Ryan built his place he had designed it to be soundproof for when he needed to sleep during the day. The sounds outside were little more than muffled murmurs.
Jamie sat on the edge of the bed, toying with the bandage on her hand. They'd both be healed by now, but neither had taken off the bindings yet. Ryan sat beside her. She leaned slightly away from him.
"Are you alright?" he asked, keeping his voice low and soothing.
"I'm fine," she said quietly.
Ryan arched a brow. After a moment's beat, he stood and shook his head. "No. You're not. I am going to the alpha to break our marriage."
Jamie's face blanched. She jumped to her feet and grabbed his wrist as he took a step away. "No. No, that's not what I want. I'm sorry. I'm just nervous. I really am fine. I'm just . . . " Her gaze swept over his form. "Nervous."
"Why? If you don't want to sleep together, we can wait."
She jumped, clearly surprised, and the pallor in her cheeks was replaced by a red flush. Her teeth clamped over her lower lip and she shook her head. "It's not that. You are very attractive and I do want to sleep with you. It's just . . . It's been a while. And you're . . . big."
"Big," Ryan repeated.
More red flooded her cheeks. "Really big. I assume that . . . well, you're proportional?"
Ryan suddenly caught her meaning. "Ah. You're afraid that because you're so petite, I'll hurt you?"
"I hardly know you." She looked embarrassed and shrugged.
Ryan drew her into his arms, clasping his hands lightly on her hips. "I won't hurt you."
He lightly brushed his lips against hers. Jamie's eyes fluttered shut. She threw her arms around his neck and brought herself closer to him with a deep, throaty moan.
Chapter Five – Jamie
Jamie groaned as Ryan's tongue breached her lips. She pulled him tighter as heat swirled inside of her. It didn't matter if her mother's threats were hanging over her head – she was attracted to the big Lion in her arms and there was no reason why she shouldn’t sleep with him. Was there? She kissed him fiercely and moved to his neck to see his reaction. He shuddered. Jamie couldn’t help but grin.
She hadn't lied. It had been a long time. She struggled against the heavy fabric of her dress as she straddled him, rocking gently against him. Her body felt like it was on fire and she was glad her mother had picked someone so skilled at kissing.
But he pulled away.
Panting, Jamie blinked in surprise as she stared up at him, into his rich brown eyes the color of fertile earth. "What's wrong?"
"You're not telling me everything," he said, brow furrowed. "There is more to your reluctance than how much bigger I am than you."
She ground her hips against his. "Does this feel like reluctance?"
"During the wedding, you looked as though you were going to the gallows. Don't try to deny it. I saw. You didn't want to marry me, did you?"
Jamie sucked her lip between her teeth. How could she tell him the truth? My mother is holding me hostage, using my connection to my little sister as ransom to force me to marry you. Somehow, she didn't think it would go over well. He'd be angry, she was certain of that, but would he be angrier at Leila or her? He'd probably feel used, just like she did. But as he tried to shift her off of his lap, she clung to him tighter. This wasn't over, at least not as far as she was concerned.
"I had a fight with my mother just before the wedding," she said, honestly enough. "That doesn't mean that I don't want to sleep with you right now. I do."
"You haven't kissed me since you arrived."
"Because if I did, the floodgates would open . . . and you said you wanted to wait."
"Is that true?"
"Do you think I don't want to sleep with you?"
Ryan's hand coasted down her back, settling on her rump. He pulled her closer and nipped at her lower lip. "No. I mean, yes. I mean . . . I think that you do want to sleep with me right now. You can't fake a reaction like that. And your scent . . . " He buried his nose into her neck and inhaled deeply. "But that doesn't mean that you want to be bound to me forever."
Jamie sighed. She had to get him to stop thinking about that! "Look. This wasn't exactly ideal for me. I never thought I'd be the type of girl who would let her mother arrange her marriage. I had grand ideas of love and romance growing up. But it's practical, you and me. You have a good job and social status, and, as you know, my family is not doing well financially. I suppose part of me thinks that I'm being sold. But it's okay because you're hot and I want to sleep with you."
"And what else?"
"What else?"
Her new husband nodded. "I am a trained interrogator, Jamie. I know when I am being told half-truths. There is more than you're telling me."
Jamie groaned as she stood. She began to fight with the tiny buttons along her back, but there was no way she was going to get them off herself. Her fingers trembled as her mind danced around, trying to land on a suitable lie. But what if he just knew she was lying?
"There are other things at play here," she admitted finally. "Even though we're married, that doesn't mean that I trust you fully. We haven't known each other long. Here's the truth. I want a wedding night that is full of passion and sex and I want that with you. Everything else? You need to let me have my secrets."
The Lion looked thoughtful at that. He stood up behind her, towering over her, and rested his hands on her hips. She moved back against him, pressing her body to his. When he wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed her neck, she let out a relieved sigh. Her eyes fluttered shut as she ground back against him, moving slowly. Even through the layers of their clothing she could feel the effect that her motions had on him.
"I might not be thinking clearly right now, but okay. You can have your secrets, Jamie. I hope that one day you will come to trust me enough to share them. But for now . . . " His huge hands slipped under the neckline of her dress, kneading into her breasts. The sensation was pleasant, and she leaned against him, moaning lightly.
If she told
him the truth, this would be over before it began. And she didn't want that.
"Undress me," she whispered, lifting her face to his.
Ryan's head dropped. He pressed a fiery kiss to her mouth that took her breath away and sent heat surging through her blood. One hand moved to her back, but after a few fumbling attempts, he had to step back to concentrate on the buttons.
With a huffed-out breath, Jamie turned her back to him again. This time his movements were slower, and she soon felt the tight bodice releasing. Cool air drifted in behind his hands, making her shiver. When he was done, she folded the dress over the back of a chair and turned towards him. The cut of the dress had meant that a bra was unnecessary, and she just wore the lace underwear, stockings, and garter belts.
She grinned at Ryan's eyes roved over her. He groaned, beginning to tug off his jacket, but stopped when Jamie held up a hand. Her stomach fluttered and tightened as she stepped forward and began to unbutton his jacket.
"This one is my turn." Her voice was deeper than usual, belying her arousal.
She didn't care, as she could see the same desire in her husband's eyes. His strong scent filled her nostrils, making her mouth water. The buttons were easy to remove and she took off his jacket quickly, then started on his shirt. Unlike her, he left his clothes in a crumpled mess on the floor. His body was as magnificent as she had envisioned: hard, sculpted muscles under warm skin. Her hands drifted over his chest, fingertips catching on the light smatterings of hair there. They slid lower, tracing over the V at his hips to follow the trail of hair down lower still.
Ryan's eyes rolled into the back of his head as she grasped him. His hands gripped her shoulders and for a moment she thought he was going to encourage her to get to her knees, but he just pulled her closer. A deep, hungry kiss had her toes curling into the carpet as she pressed herself higher, eager for more.
"You are beautiful," he whispered. "Tell me what you like."
Jamie nipped at his earlobe and giggled an answer into his ear. Ryan groaned then turned her around. One of his hands slipped between her thighs, quickly finding its target. Zings of pleasure went through her and Jamie gasped, her head falling back against his chest. She kept her own hand moving, loving the choppy little gasps he was giving her. His free hand fondled her breasts, tweaking first one nipple and then the other. There was a slight sting that came with it, but she didn't want him to stop.
The hand between her legs continued to do its work, making her tremble. Her knees bowed so it was hard to stand. Then he spun her around and was lifting her. His strong hands wrapped around her thighs and he picked her up as though it was the easiest thing in the world. Her legs looped over his elbows and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Another deep kiss to her mouth and he settled her down over his hips, grinding against her. The motion made everything tighten even further and Jamie clung to him, gasping for breath.
"Are you ready?" he grunted, sweat beading his forehead.
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
Jamie rocked her hips against him, mewling with frustration. "Yes!"
"If I hurt you—"
"I know, I'll tell you."
Ryan chuckled at her impatience, then moved her back. She took him into her hand to help him ease himself into him. His strong arms kept a tight hold on her as he moved her up and down, his hips jerking forward in time with their movement. A gasp, then a moan. The fire was liquid as it spread to her fingertips, then wrapped around her spine and made everything tremble. Her arms tightened around Ryan's neck as he moved her in a rhythm that had her breath bursting out of her with every thrust.
With a growl, Ryan buried his face into her neck. His teeth scraped against her collar bone and she let out another cry. The fire burst through her, sending shockwaves up her legs so they kicked, throwing her head back as her back bowed. A howl tore through her, so loud that her husband jumped. He didn't stop though, even as she squirmed in his grasp. As the pleasure increased, he walked to the bed and threw her down, still inside, still moving in a steady rhythm.
When he finished with her, he held onto her tightly for several minutes before he sighed and withdrew. His arms remained wrapped around her waist as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Jamie giggled. "I should be the one thanking you. I didn't have to do anything at all. And it was still a much better experience than I've had with any of—" She cut herself off. Now was not the time to start talking about past boyfriends. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks and she shook her head. "Sorry. That was untactful."
Ryan shrugged. "You have a past. I have one too."
She rested her head against his chest. "Tell me something about you. Do you have any family?"
"I was given to the Guard at a young age. My father was part of it and my mother . . . Well, I never knew her. The Guard is my family."
Her heart clenched. She opened her mouth to say that it was sad, but was it really? Would she rather have Leila, the manipulative wench, as a mother or a mother that could be anybody? She kept silent, tracing her fingers across his pecs.
No, maybe he wasn't the one to be pitied.
Chapter Six – Ryan
What secrets was she hiding? Ryan frowned out the window, thoughts lost in the wife he had left at home. It had been a couple days since the wedding and things were settling into a comfortable routine. Jamie applied for jobs while Ryan went to work, and when he got home they would cook dinner together and then go to bed. Neither of them slept much, though. He was grateful for how receptive she was – how eager. There were even times when he was the one who had to put an end to their lovemaking because she wanted to keep going to the dawning hours.
But she still wouldn’t tell him any more about herself than she already had. Not that he was pressing for her to do so. She wanted to keep her secrets, and so he would let her keep them until she was ready to share. It was a distraction, though, one that hung over his head constantly.
He shook his head and forced himself to look back at the screen with the transcript from the latest threatening video that Jordon had released. In it, he had said that the packs could not be ruled by a 'weak Deer Shifter' and that Melissa had no rights to be the alpha. He went on to talk about how alphas were supposed to be chosen among the men and that if the Deer Shifters hadn't 'overpopulated' themselves, she never would have been elected as alpha in the first place.
"Racist and sexist," the alpha mused from beside him. "Funny how those always come in pairs."
Ryan had to smirk at that. In his experience, it was quite often that those traits went hand-in-hand among the zealots, but this wasn't a laughing matter. "We've established that he had inside information on your movements, Melissa. Until we can find his informant—"
"You are going to want me to step down from my duties."
"No. Just public appearances."
Melissa leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face. Most Deer Shifters like her had a reputation for being shy, overly cautious people, but she was far different. So were most of the people Ryan knew, for that matter. If his nature was determined by the type of animal he could Shift into, he'd be a grumpy loner who gathered a harem of women around him. It was, quite frankly, an insult to think that a Shifter was nothing more than an animal, and that attitude heralded from when they were being hunted for sport by humans. Unfortunately, some Shifters still bought into that idea, to the detriment of them all.
"I'm not going to allow myself to be intimidated," Melissa said eventually. "I know these threats are credible, but if I back down I'll just be giving him what he wants. So, no, I will not cut out my public appearances. The pack is still settling into this new form of government. We have to be strong."
"If you're assassinated, it will hurt everybody," Ryan pointed out, but he understood Melissa's point and also knew she was not going to back down. "I will increase security around you at all times. If we think there is too high of a risk at an eve
nt, it will be cut short or terminated."
Melissa nodded. "I can live with that. But I am still going to interact with the public, Ryan. I need to show them that I'm strong, otherwise Jordon will get more recruits."
"Agreed. As long as we take the necessary precautions, I don't think it will be a problem. It may also be able to help us pin down Jordon once and for all."
"Good," Melissa said as he turned off the projector. She poured him a cup of coffee before settling down again. "Now that business is taken care of, you and I have to talk about some other things."
Her eyes twinkled as Ryan frowned. "What would that be?"
"I have noticed that you're looking a bit tired lately," the alpha continued, her voice light and teasing. "I take it that you and your new wife are getting along well? I must say, I was worried about your arrangement that first day I met her . . . Her mother is a real piece of work, and I wondered if Jamie really wanted to marry you. But judging by the smell of endorphins on her yesterday when I saw her, she's quite enjoying being married to you."
Heat rushed into Ryan's face. He gulped down the scalding coffee to avoid having to speak. Melissa was very much a people person and always showed concern for those around her, but talking about his personal business wasn't something that he wanted to do.
"It must be lonely for her, though." Melissa sipped her coffee. "Being stuck at home most days, all alone living among the Guard as a lone female. I know that they're not going to try anything with her, you're far too well liked and respected for that, but a girl needs friends, especially after being uprooted like that."
"She's looking for work," Ryan said awkwardly. "She keeps busy."
