by R. A. Boyd
She’d gotten naughty in the bathroom with Bastian. That had been fun. Finding out that they were mates was the highlight of her day. Her car being hit by whatever the heck smashed into it could have been the lowest point, but remembering that she nearly died far outweighed the destruction of her vehicle. Nev could now boast about her big, bad, awesome saber-tooth. That was awesome. But mom was gone.
So many good things with just as many bad things happened in less than twelve hours, and Nev’s life would never be the same.
That might not be such a bad thing, she thought.
Bastian’s open palm lay against her thigh, and the heat that radiated from his touch made her animal purr in her throat. She would never get used to that. The large bed they slept in sat against the wall and below the open window. When she lifted her head, she could see the dark blue sky just beginning to catch the rays of the sun. Nev settled as a cool breeze flowed through the open window, the scent of dew and fresh flowers filling her senses, and it was incredible. Nothing had ever smelled as fresh and new and untouched. Her new sniffer was absolutely terrific.
As Nev shifted under the covers, Bastian’s hand caressed its way up her hip until his fingers tightened against her full waist. She smiled and twisted around in the bed to face him. He didn’t care that she was overweight. Neither did Nev. She was healthy.
She jogged at least four days a week and didn’t overindulge when it came to food. Most of the time. Sweets were her weakness, and if she denied herself the sugary goodness too long, she’d wind up binge eating. She’d found a healthy balance that didn’t include the standard weight guidelines the doctor kept on her exam room wall. Nev had child-bearing hips, thick thighs that jiggled, and boobs that sometimes made her question getting breast reduction surgery. It used to be a pain in her back, literally, but the slight discomfort disappeared after Bastian claimed her yesterday.
Nev watched him as the sunlight spilled over his handsome face. His eyes remained closed, and the steady cadence of his breath let Nev know that Bastian was still asleep. His long hay-colored lashes fanned against his cheek, and his lips were parted, revealing perfectly straight teeth. Her gaze wandered down to the shadowed line that divided his muscular pecs. His pert man-nipples were drawn up against the chilled breath of air that streamed through the window. Nev thought to lean down and bite one of them but decided against it. She hadn’t brushed her teeth yet and didn’t want Bastian to take in her morning breath.
The last thing Nev remembered was sitting on the living room couch and listening to Bastian’s velvet, melodious voice tell her about the things he’d seen in his long life. He stressed the importance of why you should never trust a fairy, regardless of how cute they made themselves appear. ‘They are treacherous little bastards who will trick you into servitude and torture.’
She’d assured him she would never make a deal with one as she snuggled under the blue and white afghan that he said he’d knitted over thirty years ago. It was soft, warm, and smelled of pinecones, fresh-cut grass, and all manly-man, just like Bastian. He must have carried her up to his room and slipped under the covers with her.
His body was warm and large against hers. She felt safe with him. His breath caressed her neck, and it was hard to think of anything else but Bastian. Nev brushed her lips over his and then nestled her face into the bend of his neck. His grip tightened around her as she closed her eyes to join him in sleep.
Bastian surprised her when he spoke. “Do you still want to have coffee on the porch and watch the sunrise?” He kissed her temple and hummed a sleepy sound.
Without opening her eyes, Nev shook her head and pressed her lips against the steady pulse in his neck. “No. Maybe tomorrow. Is this your room?”
“Mm-hmm.” He drew lazy circles on the exposed skin of her back. “Yes. I hope it was okay that I brought you up here. I didn’t want to sleep without you, and my bed is the biggest one in the house. Is it okay if I kiss you now?” His hand flattened against her lower back and pulled her hips closer to his growing erection.
Nev smiled against his skin and shook her head. “Don’t kiss me. I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
“Shifters don’t get morning breath.”
“Really?”
“No. I just want to taste your smile.”
Nev erupted in a fit of giggles and grinned against the skin of his throat. He leaned down and caught her lips in a kiss that instantly quelled the high-pitched noises she made. Nipping at her lips and holding her closer, Bastian thrust his hips against hers, and his mouth swallowed her moan. His engorged cock nudged between her legs, begging her to open for him.
Her hips flexed against his as she brought her hands up and ran them through his hair, fisting the soft strands to bring his face closer to hers. A wave of pleasure took her over as he slid his hand beneath the elastic of her pajama bottoms and panties. She tilted her pelvis to give him complete access to her core, and her body jerked as his fingers sank between the folds of her wet heat.
“I want you,” she sighed, parting her legs to bring him into the cradle of her thighs.
They’d gone from talking to full-on making out in a matter of seconds. Nev hadn’t experienced a longing this intense ever in her life. A reckless desire that made her want to do everything Bastian asked of her filled Nev from head to toe. She wouldn’t deny him anything as long as he kept touching and kissing her. He adored her, and she could feel it coming from him with every breath he took.
Bastian’s thumb circled her clit as he slid one, then two fingers inside of her clenching channel. His tongue trailed over her neck and he whispered into her ear. “I want you too, baby. More than you know,” he said, running his hand down her back to squeeze her ass.
The bite of his fingers sent an erotic core straight to her pussy. Nev pressed her breasts to his chest, hating the fabric of her shirt that separated them. Her aching, pebbled nipples needed release. She wanted to feel his flesh against her flesh. Wanted the hard planes of his pecks to abraid her sensitive nipples. She released the grip on his hair and tore her top over her head.
“God-damn,” he drawled, fingers still working between her legs, forcing her closer to orgasm. “I love big nipples. I am going to spend fucking hours sucking them. Licking them. Biting them.”
She laughed again but groaned in pleasure as he released her ass and grabbed one of her large breasts, bringing it to his heated mouth. His tongue and teeth played with her, and for the first time in her life, Nev thought she might orgasm from the nipple play alone. He alternated between sucking and flicking the hardened peak with his tongue.
Much too quickly, he pulled away from her long enough to take off his bottoms and then hers. His cock jutted out proudly, and for some silly reason, she could here Bastian saying to himself, Behold, my big dick! It didn’t make sense for her to think of something so humorous, but that’s who he was. Bastian was funny and sexy and made her feel like the only person in the world. He’d catered to her yesterday, and now he was making her body sing just for him.
“I want to taste you,” he said, kissing a fiery path down her body.
Tasting her could wait. From the way he’d made her breasts feel from his kiss, she had no doubt that mouth of his was talented enough to bring her to a screaming release.
Nev grabbed a handful of his hair to stop his descent. She shook her head when his eyes met hers. “No. I want you inside me. I’m wet enough. I just want you to take me.”
She wanted to tell him she wanted him to fuck her, but she didn’t say words like that. Besides, fuck didn’t even begin to describe what she wanted Bastian to do to her.
Nev spread her legs wide as Bastian moved his hips toward hers. He pulled her legs up and rested the backs of her knees against his shoulders.
Oh, God. This was going to be awesome. She and Bastian were going to do all the things she’d been too timid to ask Derrick to do, and it was going to be fucking fantastic.
Bastian’s dick was perfect. His long
, thick, corded cock was topped with a mushroom-shaped head that Nev knew deep down in her nethers would hit that sweet spot just inside her pussy perfectly. His erection strained as he positioned his cock at her needy entrance, coating the tip of his dick with her juices.
He slowly pushed into her, taking his time to allow her tight sheath to fit his massive presence. She moaned as her muscles stretched and pulsed around his cock.
“Fuck, Bastian,” she cried as he lowered his body and rested his forehead against hers.
Her new shifter hearing picked up on the thunderous beat of his heart. Bastian was just as high on their joining as she was. Her thighs shook from his invasion, but she lifted her hips to urge him on. She needed to feel him move inside her.
Nev was ready to beg him to fuck her. She wouldn’t hold out long once the sweet friction of his cock sliding in and out of her tight sheath began. When she looked up into his eyes, she froze, and her breath caught in her throat. His liquid blue gaze was filled with a sensual haze of lust and adoration.
Taking his time, Bastian pulled out until only the bulbous head of his shaft connected them, the ridge of it massaging her G-spot. Flames of desire licked at every inch of her skin. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as his hips bucked into her. Nev whimpered as a loud rumble sounded in his chest, making her breasts vibrate with the sound. The heat of his body covered her, and she clenched the muscles of her pussy as he drove into her core.
A shiver worked its way through his body as she continued to squeeze and release his cock as he fucked her. “Your pussy feels so fucking good around my cock, Nevada. Feels like you’re sucking me in deeper.”
Bastian caressed the side of her face with one hand and slid the other down to grab her by the waist. His nails dug into her flesh as his rhythm sped up. She gripped his thick arms as he fucked her harder, deeper. She gasped as his eyes lit to a golden hue and wondered what her own eyes looked like.
A delicious ache deep in her belly warned of the oncoming orgasm. It usually took longer for her to reach this point, but Bastian worked her over, touching and teasing her as if he had a map of her body that gave away all her secrets.
His chest heaved, and his body tensed as the rumble in his chest grew louder. A fine sheen of sweat covered his face and torso. The hand that gripped her ass brought her up hard against his muscular body, and her pussy flooded with liquid heat. The spot above Bastian’s dock hit her clit perfectly every time he sank deep inside her.
A hot shudder raced down her spine, and Nev whimpered as a coil of heat began to unfurl deep in her belly.
“Are you going to come for me, Nevada?” he asked.
She usually hated being called by her full first name, but on Bastian’s lips, it sounded like a hymn of praise.
“Please,” she breathed.
That single word was all she could get out before Bastian stroked her to orgasm, screaming and chanting his name over and over until her voice grew hoarse. Her entire body vibrated as Bastian tumbled into release with her.
His body strained as he grabbed her shoulder and forced her body down onto his cock as he drove into her. Another orgasm blasted through Nev as Bastian’s cock throbbed inside her, coating her sheath with his hot seed.
Bastian’s lips met hers as he continued to move, his fingers no longer digging into her flesh, but caressing her reverently. “I’ll make things right. You mean more to me than anything in this world. I’ll make it right.”
Confusion darkened Nev’s eyes as Bastian pressed his body flush against hers. He lifted his hips, pulling his semi-hard dick from her core. What was he talking about? Had she done something he didn’t like?
Electric tingles bubbled in her chest, and she had to fight to catch her breath.
“What was that?” she asked, looking into his blue eyes as he stared down at her.
The corners of his lips pulled up in a smile. “Our bond. It’s the part of us that will always be connected. You feel it too?” When she nodded, he took her hand in his and brought it to his chest, placing it over her heart. “You’re mine, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. To keep our people safe.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked. His words of promise made her unsure.
It seemed as if this moment should be filled with nothing but goodness and burgeoning love, but something else marred what they shared.
Bastian averted his gaze, focusing on her hand on his chest. “I did some really bad things in my past, and I don’t want them to ever hurt you. There were things I should have done, and things I didn’t. I don’t ever think I can make up for it.”
“Do you try? To be better?”
“Every damn day,” he muttered. “I try every day.”
She shrugged and lifted her head from the pillow to kiss him. “That’s all you can do. You may be an angel, but a big part of you is influenced by humans. Humans make mistakes, Bastian. You wouldn’t be here with me if you didn’t make a mistake. And as long as you do your best to make up for it, I think that’s good enough. Be the best you that you can be, and understand that you will fail sometimes. It’s...” She laughed and sucked in a deep breath. “It’s human to make mistakes. There is not one single soul walking around this planet who is perfect, and that includes you.”
She watched as his tongue rolled along his front teeth. He chewed his bottom lip in thought, and when he finally met her gaze, he let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah,” he said, with a shake of his head. “I’m not perfect. I’m awesome, but not perfect.”
Nev grabbed a handful of his hair and brought him down into an embrace. It was scary giving yourself to someone, and Nev knew that her fallen angel wasn’t exempt from the fears of falling in love. That’s what they were doing. Falling in love.
She could feel it in her bones with each passing moment, word, and glance between them. They were falling together, and they would be all right. Everyone made mistakes, and Nev knew as long as Bastian did his best, there was nothing they couldn’t get through.
Bastian rolled over to his side onto the bed and brought Nev with him. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the strength of his heart.
“You’re right,” he said as he hugged her close. He kissed the top of her head and then rested his cheek on the same spot. “It’ll be okay. I have you.”
Chapter 9
The ceiling needed to be painted. It was too blah.
Nev laid back nestled amid the pillows of Bastian’s bed, watching the stark white fan go round and round as it dried the remaining beads of water on her chest and arms. She’d just gotten out of the shower and decided to stay naked. Her body ached from the hours of acrobatic sex they’d had. Bastian knew positions Nev never even imagined her body was capable of bending in to, and the tightness of her muscles along with the tenderness of her nether-bits was totally worth it. While she’d taken a shower, Bastian had stepped inside with her and offered to kiss it to make it better. His quick reflexes and strong arms kept her from falling out of the shower when her orgasm hit.
Aside from the king-sized bed with the navy blue sheets that were soft and crisp enough to line the beds of royalty, the entire room was nothing but a white hole behind a closed door. Bastian said that Ronin and Willow now lived in his house, and he’d had yet to redecorate this one.
At first, it struck Nev as odd that they lived in his house, but he explained that he hadn’t lived in New Rose for almost fifty years. No one expected him to come back when he did, and Willow laid claim to the house.
Before Bastian left to go get leftovers from the community hall, he’d told her that they would have fun making this house whatever they wanted it to be. Sounded okay to Nev.
“Promise them we’ll be there for dinner,” Nev called downstairs as she heard the front door open. She knew he could hear her.
“Hello?” a feminine voice called. “It’s Cass. Bastian said it was okay to come in and say hi.”
Nev scrambled up off of the bed and tucked
the discarded towel over her breasts. “Um. Hi, Cass. Give me a sec, and I’ll be down.” She jumped up and ran to the bag she’d brought with her. “Clothes. I need clothes,” she whispered as she lunged for the bag and grabbed her jeans and a tee-shirt.
“No need to rush,” Cass called. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
She would swear she heard the woman chuckle. Dang-it. Nev forgot about how good her hearing was now.
Nev shoved her body into her clothes as fast as she could, almost tripping over a stack of books in the corner. Once she was dressed, she looked in the mirror and cursed. Her hair looked like she’d been screwing all day. It was true, but she didn’t need to look like it.
After brushing her tight coils and pulling them into a low ponytail, she headed down into the kitchen to meet the most powerful Ghost shifter. Nervous jitters took her over as she stood just outside the swinging kitchen door. What if Cass didn’t like her? That would suck. She wanted everyone to like her.
“I like you just fine,” Cass called from the other side of the door.
Nev paused and stopped walking. “Did I say that out loud?”
“Nope.”
Nev’s eyebrows raised in confusion, and she tried her best to calm herself. With a shake of her head, she pushed the door open and walked into the kitchen.
Cass stood, leaning over the center island. She was beautiful. Full-figured with brown eyes that seemed to catch every detail, an inch or two shorter than Nev, and dark hair that fell just below her shoulders. Her coils were perfectly structured, and Nev made a mental note to ask her how she got her hair to look so pretty and tame. They looked to have the same texture of hair, but Nev usually kept hers in a bun for fear of the Maryland humidity. If she didn’t keep it in a ponytail or bun, her hair absorbed the moisture in the air and would resemble a lion’s mane by the end of the day.
A smile took over Cass’s face, but she tried to hide it by taking a bite of what looked like a strawberry pastry. Even from where she stood, Nev could smell the sweet confection, and her mouth watered. She and Bastian had worked up an appetite.
