by Olivia Arran
Hearing loud splashing behind me, I turned and saw James deliberately following my path through the water, stalking me. The water surrounding him took on a rusty-colored tinge as the trials of the day were washed clean.
My eyes followed his hands as he cupped water over his chest and shoulders, the droplets running in rivers down his broad, defined chest and getting lost in the short black hair that traveled from his belly button, down his abdomen, and grew thicker at his groin.
A pheromone haze misted the air, our mutual lust zinging like electricity, causing a throbbing, pulsating warmth in my core.
With a dry mouth, I watched as he rose from the water. His cock, thick and long, thrust proudly toward me, bobbing with his movements. Clenching my thighs, a moan escaped my lips as I shuddered, imagining him moving, thrusting inside me.
With a spike of adrenaline, I turned and ran, thighs slick with the sticky moisture of my arousal, leading him on the mating hunt.
With a roar, he thundered behind me, moving closer and closer.
Dodging under a branch, I circled an old fir tree, chest heaving, excitement thrilling through my veins.
On a growl he pounced, grabbing and rolling me on the soft ground, lush with leaves and scented with pine. Our legs tangled and my breasts were crushed against his hard chest, the friction hardening my nipples to tight peaks of sensation.
His mouth came down on mine, savage with lust, teeth and lips moving, demanding entry. Tongues dueling, his hands pinned mine above my head while gently cradling my wrists. The gentleness of his hold was a vivid contrast against the hardness of his body pressing, insistent against mine, moving, seeking entry, seeking fulfillment.
Releasing my hands, he skimmed his down my ribs, tweaking and massaging my generous breasts, his eyes hot with desire and wonder. A hot wetness at my breast, as his tongue curled around my nipple, lapping and teasing. The edge of teeth causing me to cry out into the moonlit sky.
Probing at my core, his work-roughened fingers delved between my lips and stroked over my sensitive clit, pressing and rubbing.
I arched my back, my skin too tight for my body. The throbbing deep inside me intensified as he slipped first one, then two thick fingers inside me, stretching and pushing.
“So tight,” he groaned, the first words spoken other than our moans and cries of pleasure.
My answer died on my lips as the peak I was climbing fell away and the stars shattered around me.
Shifting, he pushed my legs wider, his engorged cock nudging at my entrance, the thick head slick with his excitement.
Drifting back down from the clouds, panic started to engulf me. Flashes of Eric, his grabbing hands and rough attempts on my body.
“Open your eyes, Kara. Look at me.”
James held himself, poised over me, his face a blend of exquisite agony and love. He was holding back the mating lust for me. His muscles twitched with the need to mate, the need to be inside, to have, to take.
He was waiting for me to choose.
The fog cleared. I chose.
“I love you,” I whispered, pulling his head down and laying hot, wet kisses on his firm lips. Wrapping my legs around his hips I pulled, impaling myself on the tip of his cock.
“Thank the Mother! I love you, too,” he moaned, a garbled whisper as he thrust deep inside me in one smooth stroke.
My body felt invaded, filled and stretched. I felt complete for the first time in my life.
“Are you okay, my love?” he asked anxiously, stroking my face, holding himself perfectly still.
“Better than okay, my mate. I can take it, I won’t break. I want it — I want you!”
It was like a dam had been broken, pulling back his hips he thrust hard, deeper inside me, again and again, his hips like a piston. His cock filled my pussy again and again, pushing me higher and higher, the bliss nearly indescribable.
Cries of ecstasy flew from my lips, breathy moans mirrored by his husky growls and grunts of pleasure.
Sweat dripped off the both of us, our skin slapping and limbs trembling. Like a roller coaster ride, I felt the rush of the climb then suddenly I was falling, again, spine arching, mouth open with my silent screams of rapture.
Pinpricks of fire burned on my shoulder as his teeth punctured my skin and he claimed me as his mate. Turning my head, I extended my fangs and bit hard, making him mine and completing the bond.
The mating bond swelled and grew, barreling through me, linking us eternally, our souls entwining. A rush of love and admiration from James engulfed me, together with his growing urgency, his need, his lust.
Swiveling my hips I lifted myself to him, squeezing him tight, while whispering words of endearment and love.
With a roar he bucked madly, and thrusting forcefully, his spine arched in climax and I felt the warm, thick gush of cum filling me deep inside. Echoes of his rapture ricocheted through the bond, and writhing under him, I rode the shock waves of his orgasm.
Clasping me to him, his breathing ragged, he tenderly licked the wounds on my shoulder. Contentment washed over me. I was exhausted, sticky and dirty once again, but I was irrefutably happy. I had found myself.
“Shall we go home?” His words were muffled against my neck.
“Let’s run as wolves. They haven’t met properly yet, and I know she’s dying to meet him.”
Pulling back he grinned at me, his happiness and satisfaction pouring through the bond.
“My wolf says, yes please!”
Running up the steps to the pack house, clad only in our skin along with a little dirt, James grabbed me and swept me up into his arms. Holding me as if I weighed little more than a feather, he shoved the front door open with his broad shoulders.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Colstone,” he said, his face all teeth and crinkly eyes. “Human tradition, carrying you over the threshold. Also, meant I got to have another squeeze of that lovely—”
“James, Kara, welcome home!” Claire, James’s mom, barreled out of the kitchen and swept us into a group hug, bringing with her the scent of apple pies and cinnamon. “Congratulations! All is now as it should be, thank the Mother. I was worried about you, both of you, but now here you are — the new Alpha pair, ready to start a new life.”
Fishing in her voluminous apron pockets, she pulled out a wrought iron key, the old kind that were used before deadlocks were invented. Turning to us, she grasped our hands together and pressed the key into our palms.
“I want you to have this. This is the key to a little log cabin over on the mountain. It was a special place for me and Adam, James’s father. Somewhere to go to escape pack life, and the responsibilities of being an Alpha. Now it will be somewhere you two can escape to.”
“Mom!” James protested, looking like he’d been sucker punched. His eyes glowed with love and affection.
“Now, now, James. I have no need for it now, not with your father gone. Enjoy! And I don’t want to hear another word. I have my happy memories, now it’s time for you and Kara to make your own. And some grandbabies, mind you! Lots of grandbabies!”
Giving our stunned faces a pat, she smiled wryly and bustled off back to the kitchen. “Breakfast in fifteen minutes! You’d better wash up before you come to my table…”
Seated at the large, wooden table, I looked around at the many faces helping themselves to the feast that Claire had put on. Not as many as the night of the party, but enough that I couldn’t put names to all the faces. Feeling a little anxious, I groped for James’s hand, his strong presence beside me acting as an anchor while I flailed in the winds of self-doubt.
“They love you, like I do.”
Buoyed by his reassurances, I looked into the sea of faces and saw love and respect. Love because of James, and they wanted him to be happy, but the respect was just for me. I had earned that by standing up for what I believed in, for standing by Lisa.
My heart stuck in my throat at the thought of my friend, alone and hurting somewhere.
“We will f
ind her, I promise. Sean has sent word that he might have a lead. He is chasing her, as fast as he can. He will bring her home to us, to you.” Raising her hand to his mouth, he brushed a gentle kiss over her knuckles.
“We leave today,” Amanda announced from across the table, setting her cutlery down with a clatter. Turning to Tarq, she glowered furiously. “You don’t have to come, you know.”
“Oh, but I want to come, babe,” he replied, his tone sugar sweet and mocking. Turning serious he added, “There is a lot of work to be done. You’ll need my help, even if just for the muscle.” He joked the last bit, flexing his impressive bicep under Amanda’s perfectly upturned nose.
Huffing and shooting Tarq a distinctly unimpressed look, she turned to James. “Whatever. I’ll send word of what we find.” She turned to look me directly in the eyes. “I will search for Lisa, too. If anyone knows anything, I will find out. I make that promise to you.”
“We will find out,” Tarq grumbled next to her.
Cutting short the brewing argument, James held up his hands. “Thank you both. We need all the help and people on this we can. Kara and I will visit of course, but first, I think we have a cabin to go investigate,” he glanced at me, a lustful twinkle in his eye and lowered his voice to a growl, “and some grandbabies to make.” Sweeping me off my chair and into his arms, he carried me out of the room to the sound of cheers and catcalls.
And I agreed with him completely.
Read Lisa & Sean’s story in Taken: True Mates Book 2 buy HERE
Recommended Reading Order
True Mates Series
Found: Book 0.5 (Claire & Adam) Standalone short Prequel - buy HERE
Promised: Book 1 (Kara & James)
Taken: Book 2 (Lisa & Sean) buy HERE
Healed: Book 3 (Amanda & Tarq) buy HERE
Redeemed: Book 4 (Macey & Jason) - buy HERE
Cherished: Book 5 (Ana & Oliver) buy HERE
The Everson Brothers (Standalone Bear Shifter novellas)
My Curse to Bear (Merrie & Craig) buy HERE
My Duty to Bear (Amy & Ryan) buy HERE
My Curse to Bear by Olivia Arran & Alana Hart - buy HERE
A witch without power…
Merrie Havencroft hasn’t got time for men. She’s too busy trying to run her shop and prove to herself, and her family, that she is not a failure as a witch.
A bear without a mate…
Bear shifter Craig Everson knows all about feeling inadequate. Years ago, he broke a witch’s heart — and got himself cursed. He can never be happy in a relationship again...not until he finds his true mate.
When Craig bumps into curvy Merrie, his passion ignites. His bear is certain she’s their mate — theirs to claim, to bring to the heights of pleasure, to cherish and protect. Craig knows he wants her with every inch of his being — but can he ever trust another witch?
A dark secret that could end it all…
Merrie’s heart says Craig is the one...but when she uncovers a shocking secret from her past, will it destroy their chance at happiness?
**This is a standalone romance with bear shifters, witches and a Happy Ever After. 18+ recommended**
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About Olivia Arran
Olivia has been an avid reader since childhood, devouring page after page by torchlight, hidden under the covers in her bed. As an adult, she still reads voraciously but also enjoys penning her own tales of romance.
Steamy, paranormal, strong alpha heroes, feisty heroines – Olivia writes what she likes to read, and hopes you like it too!
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