by Sedona Venez
“Mmm,” she stated in a husky voice.
He growled low in his throat before running one hand down to her neck, threading his fingers into her hair, fisting it, forcing her to look up at him. Her body swayed as his Alpha power snapped around her. Boulder loved the touch of her tongue against his manhood and wanted to slide it between her pouty lips, demanding her utter submission, but she was his mate, and their first time would not happen on her knees. This wasn't how he wanted to take his true-mate for the first time.
“Time’s up, you little tease,” he growled.
She looked up at him with eyes glazed over with want. “I was just getting started.”
His manhood jumped at the sight of her beautiful mocha neck bared to him in submission. “If you want it—then you have to work hard for it,” he grumbled with a teasing glint in his eyes.
He loved that she felt no shame being fully exposed and at his mercy. Her emerald-green eyes dilated with raw desire, running her pink tongue along her bottom lip as if enjoying his lingering essence. She pouted prettily. “Believe me, I'm a very hard worker,” her voice low and husky as she wrapped her hands around him, running her fingers over his manhood.
His fist tugged, pulling her hair gently before snatching her up. “Next time, baby.” His wolf was fighting for dominance, to mark her in the most brutal way. But she was too new to the shifter world and he had to break her in gently. Effortlessly, he scooped her up, rolling her onto the bed. Wasting no time, he deftly ripped off her jeans and panties in one swoop before branding her with hot kisses.
She let out an amused chuckle, and damn, she was sexy.
“Wow, for such a big man, you're really graceful… when properly motivated.”
He smiled sexily. “Yup, that's me. Graceful.”
He barely stifled his growl at the sight of her naked body. It was curvy and soft in all of the right places. His desire to possess her gnawed at his beast. He felt the mating fever roaring through her body. She was ready to give herself to him freely, and he was planning to take everything she offered with both hands. Plundering her until all she thought of… wanted… was him.
“Do you have condoms?” Scratching her nails along his back, she enjoyed the sensation of his hard, sculpted torso responding to her touch.
God, he loved the way she smelled.
“Darlin’, Others don't give or receive diseases,” he responded, nearly coming from her long deliberate strokes against his back.
She smiled. “And I’ve been on birth control forever.”
He smirked, one cinnamon-red brow arched.
She rolled her eyes. “Even virgins need birth control, Boulder.”
He didn’t bother to tell her that birth control didn’t matter. He could scent that it wasn’t her fertile time.
“So it’s all systems go, baby.”
His smile was breathtakingly beautiful. “Good, because I don't want anything between you and me.” He nipped her bottom lip. “You belong to me and I most definitely belong to you, and by the time I’m done with you tonight… you'll feel me on your skin even when I'm not there. Taste me on your tongue and crave me between your legs… always.”
She moaned deliciously. Pushing her legs open, he settled between them. He settled his elbows alongside her head as his fingers pushed through her hair, fisting the thick, long jet-black strands as he continued to kiss her deeply and thoroughly. Infinity kissed him back breathlessly.
Her long legs squeezed him. “My turn,” she rasped, her eyes heavy-lidded with need.
He rolled her, allowing her lean, curvy body to straddle him. The scent of her desire was overpowering, almost short-circuiting his brain.
“Simply delicious,” she purred, breathing in his purely masculine scent. Kissing his skin, her tongue brushed against his nipple, teasing it with her teeth until it pebbled. His hands settled on her hips, squeezing hard.
Sliding her hands down his chest, they roamed down to his hard, throbbing manhood. Wrapping her fingers around him, she squeezed hard, enjoying the jerk of his response.
“Infinity.” He groaned huskily.
He had thought of nothing else but her for the last couple of hours. The touch of her soft fingers against his manhood made his wolf press forward. The Alpha in him wanted to dominate, but he pulled back. It was too soon. Too fast. This was her first time. He had to ease her into the way he wanted to eventually take her, from behind, riding her hard and fast with her neck bared to him in submission. He cuffed her wrist, taking the lead. He kissed her long and hard, spiking the passion in her blood.
She felt the magnetic pull, hunger, and desire—things she never felt in her life. “Do you feel that?” she whispered huskily.
Flipping her onto her back, he nudged her legs apart with his knees until he was settled on top of her. “Yes. It's how it should be.” He didn't add that their connection was also unique and dangerous.
Supporting his weight with his elbows alongside her head, his fingers pushed through her hair. He kissed her deeply, sucking her tongue sensually. Infinity kissed him back, intoxicated by his scent. She was his, and he needed her to know that with every cell of his being. And before he was through with her tonight, she would.
She moved under him, her body open and ready. She tilted her hips. He knew she wanted him to feel how wet she was. She then kissed his neck, opening her mouth over his jugular as though she were going to bite him. He growled, low and gravely.
He pressed, restraining her against the bed. The only way he would take her was if she submitted her heart and mind to him completely.
He pushed harder against her, saying between her lips, “I’m trying so hard to be gentle, but I can’t fight the urge to bury myself so deep within you that you won’t know where I end and you begin.”
Her sex clenched as she panted. “Don't you dare hold back, Big Red. I can take it. Just love me hard.”
He suckled the bared chocolate tip of her breast. Gently, he swirled his tongue around the areola until it was stiff. He released it with a pop, then moved on to the next breast, lapping at it sensually.
“Boulder.” Her exclamation came out as a groan. Lost in his touch, she pushed her hips upward against the engorged tip of his manhood.
He’d never seen a sexier woman in his life. “Infinity.” Boulder growled sensually. “Look at me,” he urged.
Trailing his thumb along the seam of her lips, he whispered, “I am yours. You’re mine. And there is nothing that will tear us apart.”
He kissed her sensually before sliding his hard length slowly into her. Her inner wall tightened around his manhood. The fullness of his girth made her stiffen. He waited patiently for her sex to adjust to his size. His nostrils flared as his slid slowly in and out of her.
Her eyes almost rolled to the back of her head. “Too slow.” She licked his neck. “Don’t you dare be gentle. I can take it.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, driving her hips up to meet him.
He moved fast and hard. “Let go, Infinity,” he instructed. “Trust me to give what you need. Trust me to take care of your heart and body. Trust me. Trust us.” The thrust of his thick hardness in and out of her core quickened.
He smiled, his heart swelling with pride and love. He knew how hard it was for her to trust, yet she gave him the greatest gift: her trust. Giving herself to him to take however he wanted.
Tension rolled through her body before he felt her let go. “That’s right, baby,” he encouraged.
“I need more,” she cried out with pleasure.
He groaned, relishing the hot, sweetness wrapped around him. “Feel me taking you. Filling you.”
“Oh God.” This was unreal. This connection was just there and couldn’t be denied.
He felt the slow slide of energy wrap around them like a cocoon. He knew then that their mate-claim would be different, bypassing the pomp and circumstance of the first- and second-bite circle. Tonight his bite would bind them,
forming a mental connection, sealing his claim. Mating them for life.
“Do you feel it? Do you understand now?” He ground his pelvis against her sex, making her writhe upward. “We belong together.” He plunged into her again.
He felt the pulsing energy sliding across their bodies. It was slow, sensuous, and powerful.
“Yes. I feel it.” Tears flowed down her cheeks.
He continued to ravish her mercilessly. Working her over until she was consumed with nothing but him. He struggled to control his wolf. She panted, crying for release. His manhood grew, got more powerful in strength. Her spasms clenched around him as her body convulsed. Waves and waves of spasms racked her body.
“Boulder,” she whispered desperately as her climax fought to swallow her whole.
“Yes, Infinity, I can feel you,” he whispered as her womanhood pulsed around him. He thrusted deeper. Her sex contracted greedily.
Gently, he cupped her cheek, pushing his thumb into her mouth. Wrapping her tongue around his finger, he turned her cheek into the pillow, baring her neck to him. She moaned in response, revelling in the sensation of being dominated by him.
He kissed her neck before extending his canines. Gently, he bit down, piercing her neck, the blood uniting them in the mating bond, sealing his claim. Now his mark covered her flesh, a warning to all Others that she was his.
She dug her fingernails into his back. Her back arched. His manhood exploded, spilling deep within her sex, causing her to shudder around him, clamping down and finding a release.
“Oh God, what’s happening to me?” She hissed, squeezing her eyes shut.
Boulder's wolf tensed, sensing her wolf fighting for dominance. It was aggressive and wanted to come out and play with his wolf. His wolf howled with joy, happy that her wolf was Alpha, aggressive, and could run by his side.
“Relax and breathe through it. You’re changing,” he responded in a growly voice.
He didn’t have to elaborate on changing to what. The sting of canines on her bottom lip said it all. Her body writhed with need. “I need…” She looked at his neck with greed. “I need you.”
His manhood twitched. “Take what you need.”
Her canines extended farther as a hot, searing heat spread within her chest. Screaming his name, she ground herself against him. She was wild, needy, on fire. The heat of the climax crawled through her. She struck, biting deep into his shoulder, claiming him forever. It was savage, wild, as if she couldn’t stop herself. Her wolf wanted him on a purely animalistic level.
He almost howled with pleasure when she marked him. “Infinity, you’re mine. My mate.” He grunted as his stomach clenched from her sweet possession. The sensual pleasure of her bite raged through his body while still fighting the need to come.
He knew the taste of his blood was powerful and intoxicating. It’s power sent a jolt of energy through her body, making her toes curl before his powerful essence jerked once before spilling into her. Shuddering around him, her sex clenched and clamped down onto him.
“Boulder…” She panted. “You are mine. My mate.” She growled. The guttural sound of her voice seemed to scare her.
A low growl came from Boulder and she sensed his wolf shifting.
“Always,” he responded huskily.
His arms tightened around her possessively. She was his now, claimed and marked for the world to know… and no one fucked with what was his.
Time stopped as they wordlessly connected. The emotional bond was so intense, their hearts stopped for a beat before she swore it restarted, this time beating as one. The connection of her heart and soul was instantaneous with his, her mind merging with his seamlessly. What she saw in his mind was both beautiful and dark. He was giving, honest, caring, and intelligent with a dark, bloodthirsty streak that took no prisoners and had no problem killing to protect what was now his—her.
They thrust against one another in unison, their desire heightened. Breathless, their pulses raced, hunger speeding through their bodies before exploding in unity. He gently slid out of her, rolling onto his back, taking her with him. Her head rested against his chest, his arms wrapping around her body. He sucked on her neck as she licked over her bite, then rested her head on his shoulder tiredly.
His heart embraced everything she was. Now claimed, the mark would become more pronounced as they strengthened their bond. Their love would burn eternally, consuming them both. This was their path and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I felt so crazed. It’s the darkness trying to control me,” she whispered, pressing her lips against his skin, licking the saltiness.
He cupped her butt possessively. “That wasn’t darkness. It was your wolf side coming forward. Needing to claim me. It’s natural. And when this chaos is over, I’ll show you how to control it, to shift seamlessly as nature intended.”
She stiffened. “God, I feel so inept. It’s like I should know all of this already.”
He gritted his teeth. The secrets that Kara kept about Infinity's true nature crippled her. From birth, shifters were trained and prepared for what to expect at their first shift. Infinity was being forced to learn things in a short span of time while shifters had years of preparation. This was not the way it should be. She needed time to understand her nature, both Valkyrie and wolf. This way was too brutal and destructive.
He rubbed her back smoothly. “This is new. Don’t beat yourself up about it. I’ll take care of you, baby. You’ll never be alone.”
He kissed her hard before his body tightened and his skin rippled. Her fingers gripped his forearms. “What’s wrong? Are the enforcers coming?”
His breathing became uneven. His piercing apple-green eyes flashed from human to wolf then back again. “No, but my time with you tonight is almost over.” His wolf rebelled at the thought of leaving her, but he had no choice. The Immortals were summoning him.
“What?” Her eyes widened. “No! You can’t… I need you.”
His fingers clenched. His wolf howled with displeasure, recognizing her wolf unhappy about being separated from him. The human side of him was also displeased. Under normal circumstances, they would stay in bed, bonding, with plenty of time to soothe her wolf. His wolf sensed her fear, ripping his insides and taking a protective posture. He knew that all hell would break loose if his wolf broke free, and he damn sure didn't need his overprotective wolf fighting him for control… fighting for the right to protect her.
He needed to get this situation under control and fast. He grabbed her head sharply. “Darlin’… breathe. You’re making my wolf anxious. I don't want to leave you, but this is out of my control.” She rubbed her cheek against his palm. “Let's be grateful the Immortals granted us this time together. They knew how important it was to claim you tonight, sealing our bond.”
She bit her bottom lip worriedly. “So you didn't do this? I thought that you used some sort of magic…”
“I'm not that powerful and neither are you… yet.”
“The Immortals?” Her eyes narrowed. It made her nervous that the Immortals were manipulating time to allow them to be together.
He shrugged his powerful shoulders. “Believe me, I was just as surprised to find myself here as you were to see me. It takes a very powerful force to hide my presence from the enforcers standing outside your suite.”
His fingers caressed her body. He didn't add the fact that the Immortals never interfered. Unfortunately, that also meant they would demand something in return from him and Infinity as gratitude.
He continued. “I need you to rest. You'll need your strength. Tomorrow, we plan to attack this compound to retrieve you and it won't be easy for anyone.”
“I know. I heard Alik and Mason talking about a planned attack tomorrow and something about a RejuvX shipment.”
His body stilled. “Alik told Mason that?”
She twisted her face to stare at him. “Yes. What�
��s wrong?” She paused. “What is RejuvX?”
He ran a comforting hand across her stomach, loving that she quivered from his touch. “Reengineered Rejuvenator. It's being used as a deadly weapon in a war brewing between the Others.”
She ran her hand across his chest. “This war is entirely my fault. If I didn't push for the concert…” she stated flatly.
He struggled with how much to tell her without scaring her, but he refused to leave in the dark when so much was at stake. “This war has nothing to do with your concert.” He grunted. “And everything to do with Glen's plan to destroy the Others.”
He didn't flinch when he heard the menacing hiss in his ear. Enough! One more word and she will pay… dearly.
“What…?”
He cut her off by placing a finger against her lips. “Darlin’, don't push. Not now. Just understand that once I get you out of here, I'll tell you everything you need to know. I promise.”
“Please be careful, Boulder. I don’t trust either one of them.”
He growled, grabbing her face softly. “The underworld will never be able to keep me from you, darlin’. Death is not a possibility for you or me.”
Her eyes dilated. “You heard my thoughts. How?”
“Our mate bond. I can feel and hear you through our connection.” He grabbed the back of her head. “Quiet your mind. Push away the fear, the clutter, and search for me.”
Her breath caught when she felt him. “You’re worried about me,” she whispered.
“I’ll teach you how to control it. To search for my presence and talk to me through our connection.” He nipped her bottom lip. “Now, I need you to listen to me carefully. No questions, just listen. The New York Council has authorized a team of nine warriors to lead the attack tomorrow. Kara, Torch, and I are part of the nine… and so is Alik. Some of the nine cannot be trusted. Some will try to kill you and some will try to steal you. If anything should happen to me, trust no one but Torch. I need you to fight as if your life depends on it because it does.”
She blinked. “Are you being overly cautious? Or is this a damn fact?”
