by Celia Kyle
Typically, a parent would protect their child, but this situation was anything but typical.
He closed his eyes and a tear escaped. A single tear and she knew there were more. She didn’t think him less for crying, for releasing a physical representation of his pain. True, the pain was in the past, but it echoed in the present, putting a barrier in the path of their mating.
Hannah rested her cheek on his shoulder, pressing her face against his neck while stroking his throat with her free hand. She whispered against his skin, “Tell me.”
His chest rose with his deep inhale and he held it for one beat, then two, before releasing it in a slow exhale. “I was small to begin with. Smaller than other boys my age. My mother was the source of the jeers. Blood will tell. She hated that our leader allowed me to live—that her mistake was walking around. It was why I’m an Evans instead of a Fraser.” Another pause and he nuzzled her head. So the asshole pride was the Frasers. “I shifted. It was…” Painful as hell. He didn’t have to tell her. She could still remember the first time she’d changed, the first time she’d dropped to four feet and stayed there for what seemed like forever. “There was a roar. Loud. It seemed to stretch forever and, at first, I thought it was mine. That I’d disgraced myself by crying out.”
Hannah stiffened. “He expected you to be quiet while you’re turning yourself inside out?”
Ryland pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Silent. A true lion doesn’t make a sound.”
She couldn’t say much to that. She couldn’t imagine remaining silent through the ordeal. “What next?”
“The roar was our leader. I’d shifted into a lion, all right.” His tone was grim. “A gray lion. My blood finally told the truth, right? I couldn’t escape my father’s genes.” Quiet enveloped them once more and she swore she heard his ever-increasing heart rate. His heart pumped blood through his veins, the thump and swish announcing his uneasiness.
Ryland slipped his fingers around her wrist and captured her free arm. He slowly drew it down his chest and placed her palm over his ridged skin. She’d noticed the slight discoloration, but had been preoccupied by all of his nakedness to really look him over. “He did this. He tried to tear me apart piece by piece. I was so fucking bloody, so hurt. My skin was shredded, bones broken, fur missing.” He shook his head. “I don’t even know why I’m alive, but I survived. He tried to destroy me and left me to die, but I lived. I healed myself and lived,” he rasped. “A pride that put pure blood above all else tried to kill me and I survived.”
“Because you’re a better male than they’d ever be.” She kept her voice soft. “You’re here because you’re stronger than them. Your father’s blood is an asset, not a hindrance. I don’t wanna call lions lazy, but we are. We hunt a little and sleep a lot. Wolves truly stalk their prey, remain active, constantly battle others for dominance.” She ran her fingers over the scarring hidden by the shirt he’d donned not long ago. Wounds that should have killed him. “Wolves heal faster than lions because of that and that’s why you’re alive and here, holding me in your arms.”
Hannah pulled away from him and steadily met his intense stare. “Your mixed blood is what makes you stronger than your old pride. It makes you you and it makes you perfect.”
“But…”
“And my family, my pride, won’t hold it against you. For all of my father’s rules that kept me a virgin until college, he doesn’t have anything against hybrids. If you were a lone cat trying to join, he’d want lion blood in your veins, but everyone—every shifter type or human—is welcome in his pride.”
She made sure he saw the intensity, the truth, in her expression. He needed to know that he’d be welcome, that he wouldn’t be attacked or despised because of his nature. “You’re welcome as my mate and as a lion, Ryland. You’re a Buchanan lion from this point on.”
Emotions flickered across his gaze, shifting from frustration to hope to… a frown? “What do you mean ‘virgin until college’?”
Oh, that he focused on.
10
Ryland focused on that tiny fact and wouldn’t let it go. One little slip of the tongue about virginity and his mind was derailed. Part of her welcomed that. Welcomed the chance to prove to him that his hybrid status didn’t bother her. That she accepted him for him, wolf blood and all. He’d gone through so much, experienced pain that never should have been piled on another, and still he made a life for himself.
It made her feel petty and small about whining over her situation with Jeremy.
“Hannah.” His low murmur crept through her body, sinking into muscle and bone until it suffused her with burgeoning desire. Her nerves reacted to his tone and pitch, clit throbbing with the first hints of need.
Ryland released her hand, allowing her to continue stroking his chest while his went on a journey over her body. He skated his palms up her thighs, rough skin catching on her soft cotton shorts. He dipped beneath the bottom hem, continuing his path until he got to her hips.
“No one else, Hannah.” His nails transformed, the sharp edge of his claws pricking her. “Tell me.” His thumbs traced her panty line, taunting the juncture of her thighs with the touch. “Tell me.”
She’d tell him anything as long as he didn’t stop. Her pussy needed him, craved his utter possession and full domination. This was just the first step.
“Tell you what?” she whispered and lifted her head. “Tell you what, Ryland?”
She was poking the lion and didn’t care. Not when the results would be so pleasurable to the both of them. At least, she assumed so.
“Mine.” His bellow shook the house and she trembled with heightened pleasure. Her pussy clenched and clit twitched with the desperate need to be stroked and teased by her mate.
“Say it.” His growl went straight to her core, pussy clenching on air as if begging to be filled by him. He gripped her hips even tighter, forcing her body to move as he desired. His firm grasp had her shifting forward and then back, rubbing her cloth-covered center over the hard ridge of his length. “Say you’re mine.”
He was more cat than man, the beast demanding something she was prepared to give. As long as he gave the same in return.
“And you’re mine.” She bared her elongated fangs, showing him she was more than ready to take him on if he objected.
He released what almost sounded like a mix between a purr and whine, the low sound vibrating from his chest.
“Yesss,” he released the word on a drawn-out hiss, his lion’s approval evident.
Hannah shuddered, a full body shake that overtook her with his agreement. Her nipples hardened to tiny nubs, pressing against the thin fabric of her bra. Heat suffused her, nerves flaming hot and fast with the rising desire. When Ryland once more encouraged her hips to move, she relaxed into his movements. She let him guide her back and forth, on and on as the bliss of his touch grew with each passing second.
“Hannah…” The single word reverberated in her body, the syllables bouncing off each nerve while she sought to make sense of what Ryland needed. Did it matter? Only because she wanted to sate his every desire.
She gripped his shoulders, holding tightly while he sought his pleasure. She truly did ride him then, moving her hips and pressing her body down in a way that screamed sex and pleasure.
Hannah wanted both.
Unable to resist the temptation of his mouth, she tilted her head and pressed her lips to his. Her tongue swept in to gather his flavors and that was the last bit of her aggression. Because that’s when Ryland took over. He speared into her mouth, overcame her sensual passion and replaced it with throbbing need. He sucked on her tongue and mimicked what they would soon do. The rhythmic penetration soon mimicked the roll of her hips and she could almost imagine Ryland sliding into her again and again. They would hiss and howl, scream and cry.
Ryland’s hands curled around her and nearer to the crease of her ass, his fingers dipping dangerously close to that hidden entrance. She’d never allowed a male to…
He tapped her asshole with a single finger and she gasped and twitched. “Ryland,” his name came with a breathy sigh.
“Ryland yes, or Ryland no?”
A jolt of bliss speared her with the sensual question. At the same time, he pressed a hint harder on that small rosebud, giving her another added dimension of desire.
“Ryland…” He rubbed small circles and she found her hips working in time with his delicious ministrations. “Ryland, yes.” She breathed the last word, hardly able to push it past his lips.
It was the only agreement he needed, apparently. Suddenly he had her mouth once more, that wicked finger prodding her forbidden entrance while her pussy continued to caress his hard length. The fabric kept them separated but couldn’t diminish the burgeoning heat that stretched between them. She panted and moaned, fighting the need to push against his shallow invasion while shying from the unfamiliar sensation.
But no matter what, she reveled in the pleasure, in the gloriousness of his attentions.
The bubble of joy built within her, gathering and centering around her soaked pussy. Each movement added more ecstasy to her rising desire, and each panting breath increased her burgeoning need. Her pussy clenched and tightened, aching to be filled by the hard cock currently tormenting her desperate pussy.
“Hannah…” he breathed. “Mate…” he gasped.
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Her fangs descended and the unmitigated need to bite and claim nearly overwhelmed her. The long fangs pushed free of her gums, that hint of pain adding to her need.
They remained locked together, bodies both stretching for that ultimate pleasure. Her panting moans warred with his rumbling growls and she knew her release was not far off. The pleasure was growing too high, was flying too hot and burning her from inside out. Any moment now, she’d shudder and moan and shatter into a million pieces.
“Fucking come for me, mate.”
The ecstasy surged, freezing her in place, and it wasn’t only due to her mate’s demand. No, it was also caused by the undiluted pleasure of Ryland’s touch. Her muscles knotted, body practically holding its breath while she rose to that uppermost peak. Like a rollercoaster, she perched at the upper curve, holding her breath while knowing what was to come.
And then… it came—she came.
Hannah’s toes curled, the bliss traveling along her legs and up her thighs. The bubble paused at the juncture of her thighs, filling her with wave after wave of joy.
But that wasn’t all. No, her fingers clenched Ryland’s broad shoulders, nails digging into his flesh while the unending release pulsed up her arms and across her chest. Invisible hands tweaked her nipples, pinching the hard nubbins, before that wave soon joined the first.
The pleasure grew as if it were a ball, orgasm spreading and growing until she was encompassed by the potential for breath-stealing ecstasy.
And it did steal her breath. It snatched every bit of air as she convulsed, body no longer her own when her release finally forced her to shatter into a million pieces. She was broken, trembling and fighting for air. She panted and moaned, hardly aware of Ryland releasing his own sounds—his own grunts and groans of joy.
He came with her, their bodies reaching the pinnacle together.
She wasn’t sure there was anything more perfect.
Panting, exhausted and glowing from the best orgasm of her life, Hannah slumped into Ryland’s embrace. The raspy sounds of their harsh breathing filled the air and the thud of her rapid heartbeat pulsed in her ears. The rush of release had been greater than any before, banishing the memory of any other male that might have lingered in her mind.
And he hadn’t even fucked her. This had been nothing but hands and mouths, bodies writhing in search of the ultimate pleasure. Boy did they find it.
She nuzzled him, rubbing her cheek along the sweaty skin before turning her head and lapping at his flesh. Salty, musky sweetness filled her mouth and she moaned. She trembled, pussy fluttering in renewed need and desire for him.
Him. Her mate. Her one.
She moaned and licked him again, gathering more of those natural flavors. So good. So… hers.
Ryland stroked her, hands soothing her with his firm touch and delicious rubs. It kept her arousal simmering while also bringing her down from the high of release. She slowly calmed, nerves easing away from the fiery burn of ecstasy until she merely thrummed with residual joy from release. Ryland also relaxed, hands stilling on the upper curve of her ass while he slumped into the seat.
Hannah released a pleased hum and snuggled closer, cat—and human—demanding there be no distance between them. “That was…”
She didn’t have the words and it seemed her mate didn’t either. He merely nuzzled her head before pressing a soft kiss to her temple. Then again, were words truly necessary? Their bodies said what their hearts weren’t ready to reveal. He was her mate, her tomorrow and forever. When they fully came together, they’d practically shared the same mind. She had no doubt he was just as blown away by their connection as her.
And like all good things—and perfect moments—it came to an end via… her mother.
The home phone rang, trill busting through the comfortable silence, and the ring was immediately followed by a computer voice. “Call from Mom.”
Of course Bethany got a talking telephone. Of course.
Another ring. “Call from Mom.”
And another. “Call from…”
“You gonna answer that?” His rumbly voice filled her ear.
“Do I have to?” She didn’t care if she sounded like a whiny baby. She didn’t.
“From what little I know about your family, you should answer if you don’t want them driving here.”
Dammit. She hated that he was right. If Katie did her job, then she’d told their mother—and Jeremy—that Hannah had found her mate. Better a phone call than having the Buchanan clan descending on Deals Gap.
With a sigh and a groan, she wiggled away from her mate’s heat and stretched across the couch. She snatched the phone just as it spoke to her once more.
“Call from…”
She pressed the button and answered. “Hi, Mom.”
“I have to hear about my daughter finding her mate from her sister and her intended?” At least she knew Katie did her job and spread the word. Was Hannah a coward? Yes. Did she care? No. “I didn’t realize I was a failure as a mother.”
“Mom, it’s not like that…”
No one could work the guilt angle like a southern mother.
No. One.
11
Apparently, a willing woman wasn’t enough for Ryland. Nope. Not after he’d finagled his way onto the phone with Fiona Buchanan. From there, it’d been all about “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am” and “Of course. I’d love to meet you both before Hannah and I mate.”
Which meant, in essence, she was cock blocked by her parents. Her. Parents.
For the love of all that was holy…
After hunting up new clothes for Ryland—not that she minded because she was the one who made him come in his pants—she thrust the bundle at him and pointed him toward the bathroom. He could shower (alone) while she changed. He wouldn’t have had to be alone had he not made that promise to her mother, but he did. So that meant there was no hanky panky until he met them both.
There was no way Hannah could be in the same room as him—in the same bed—and not claim him. Clothing was at least a deterrent and would hopefully bring them to their senses before they did irrevocable harm.
Apparently he’d heard enough horror stories from Carter about her father’s reaction to Bethany and Carter’s mating, so he’d decided to “do things right.”
She’d tell him where to stick his “do things.”
With a whining sigh, she yanked a baggy t-shirt from her bag and followed that with new panties and a pair of comfy shorts. Basically, her period clothes. They were comfortable, big, and ugly. But when she had her period… she had z
ero fucks to give.
The patter of water hitting tile ceased, telling Hannah her mate finished his shower and would soon appear all steamy and damp and she could lick him dry with…
She was so in trouble. No way she could sleep beside the man when all she wanted to do was pounce on him like he was a cat toy. Lots of pouncing. Then a little riding. Then a little…
The bathroom door swung open, releasing the billowing steam it’d held captive. Ryland stepped into the bedroom, his hair still wet from his bath and skin… glistening with dampness that she still wanted to lick dry with her tongue.
“Be good,” he murmured, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Hannah sauntered toward him, hips rolling with each step, and she licked her lips. His eyes flared amber with her movement and she mentally grinned. He might push her away, but he still wanted her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh.” He so wasn’t buying it. At all. He wiped his bare chest with the towel once more, gathering the few remaining droplets of liquid. “Right.”
He slipped past her, staying out of reach while he moved through the house. She listened while he went to the small laundry room and dropped the towel. His heavy footsteps announced his return and then he stood in front of her once more, his carved body on display.
Had she mentioned the need to lick him from head to toe?
“C’mon, baby. Bed. Your family will be here early tomorrow and they expect to meet me and find us still unmated.”
Hannah huffed and spun, stomping toward the king-sized bed. Oh, the joy of having a sister with a big assed mate. They wouldn’t be crowded tonight. “I don’t know why you had to promise—“
A thick arm around her waist had her halting in her tracks and then a tug brought her back against his front. “You know why,” he murmured and nuzzled her neck. She tilted her head to the side, giving him more space to explore. “I hate that you’re getting a hybrid mate. I can at least do things rig—“
