“Jordan, I’ll talk to the press. I’ll make sure they know the circumstances of the fight… You do Kghtas thinkinn’t have to lose your career.”
“It’s okay, Senna. It’s okay.” He pulled her close, reassuring her. “I realized in that ring that my life was empty without you. We’ll find something that works for both of us, make life work around our relationship instead of the opposite. As long as I have you be my side, I’ll be happy.”
Senna didn’t know what to say. She felt totally overwhelmed by how wonderful he was. “Okay,” she said quietly.
“Now, can I take you home?”
Senna nodded, then laughed as he swept her into his arms and carried her toward his car parked at the other end of the lot. She nestled into the strength and warmth there, feeling safe and loved, at peace with things.
She could hardly wait to take the next step.
* * *
Jordan’s adrenaline slowly wore off as he drove Senna home.
Knowing she was safe calmed him, but he wouldn’t be fully satisfied until she was his and his alone.
“Senna, will you be mine forever? My mate?” Jordan asked, needing to hear her response. It was abrupt, but it was the one thing he needed to know more than anything else in the world.
“Of course,” Senna said, looking over at him, her blues eyes sparkling with what looked like happiness.
Jordan could hardly believe it. This beautiful woman would really belong to him. He couldn’t believe how much his life had changed in such a short amount of time, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
They arrived at the mansion, and Jordan opened her door and picked her up to bring her inside, then took her upstairs.
“So what happens next?” Senna asked shyly.
“When you’re ready, we’ll perform the mate claiming, which is essentially making love with nothing between us.”
“Oh,” she said, her eyes widening slightly.
“I want you to be mine. I want to be yours,” he said, bringing her into the room and putting her down gently on the bed while he sat on the edge.
“And I want to be yours,” she said. “I don’t understand completely how this works, but I know enough to know my wolf wants it. That it feels right.” She nestled against him and then tensed. “But why was Ken trying to take me?” she asked with a little shudder. “Are females that rare?”
Jordan’s expression darkened and his jaw tightened. “Nothing excuses it. But yes, you’re a beautiful, rare shifter female, and unfortunately, some wolves are still a little animal about claiming mates.” He brushed hair behind her ears and looked tenderly into her eyes. “But I would never do anything until you were ready. Until you were sure you wanted me.”
She lowered her eyes, then looked up into his. “I’m ready. I do want you.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, stroking her hair gently. “You’ve been through a lot.”
She shook her head, holding his hand against her face. “You saved me. Nothing happened. There’s no point in waiting.”
“I’m still worried that—”
She grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward, holding him eye to eye with her, in shock. “Jordan Vale. You just proved you’d walk out on your career for me, give up everything for me, and kick your only friend’s ass for me. So what if I tell you right now that I want you to take me?” she asked boldly, her eyes roving over his body.
Jordan cocked his head and then one side of his mouth quirked in amusement. “Well, if that’s the case, then I don’t want to keep my woman waiting.”
He kissed her lips, cupping her face with both hands, his love and passion and feelings for her pouring out of him. He could kiss her forever Ks hnt you, the softness of her lips on his.
Senna gave a soft moan, and he brought his hands down her sides, feeling her luscious hips, feeling her soft curves and the perfect shape of her body.
“How about we wash the last few hours off in the shower? I’m still sweaty from the fight,” Jordan suggested, lifting Senna in his arms and carrying her toward the bathroom. Her eyes swirled with desire and she nodded to him eagerly.
Her scent was getting stronger by the moment, and he couldn’t wait to have her naked in the shower with him.
When they got there, he put Senna down and she wasted no time in disrobing as he turned on the water. By the time he was satisfied with the temperature, she was already inside, and she motioned to him to come in and join her.
His wolf howled, and he was instantly hard seeing her perfect, wet, beautiful curves just begging to be touched.
Jordan pulled off his clothes, feeling the heat of passion burning brighter and more strongly than ever toward his amazing woman. He pinned her against the wall and kissed her ravenously, slipping inside her mouth as his arms held her sides.
She arched against him as his tongue felt inside her, seeking out everywhere and anywhere that would draw a muffled moan from her lips and cause her body to tense against his as he held her closely with the heat and wetness of the shower surrounding them.
He left her mouth and moved toward her breasts, loving how they glistened with the water streaming down them. He kissed one hungrily, sucking it while he held the other with his hand, running his finger over the nipple and teasing it.
Senna moaned again, and Jordan felt himself get harder with each moment. He wanted her so badly; he would never be fully satisfied until she came over and over again.
He moved to her other nipple, running his tongue over the pointed tip, then holding it between his upper lip and his teeth, slowly applying pressure until she gasped out in arousal. His other hand massaged the breast he’d been kissing moments ago, supporting it and squeezing it lovingly.
The shower was beginning to fill with steam, which only further increased the heat surrounding them. Her scent mixed with it, filling his senses as his hands roved over her body, enjoying the feel of every inch of her.
He instinctively pulled a soap bottle from the corner and filled his hands with it, lathering them and running over every curve of hers, massaging her breasts and her soft stomach, cupping and squeezing her perfect butt in his hands, and moving lower to feel between her legs.
She moaned and sighed with pleasure as he felt everywhere. Her breathing began to race as he ran his finger along her clit, the wetness of the shower driving them both crazy with desire.
He couldn’t wait to be inside her.
“Not fair,” she gasped out, catching her breath and holding his hand to stop. “I want my turn,” she said, grabbing the bottle of soap and filling her hands as Jordan stood at his full height next to her. “I want to feel those muscles of yours,” she said, her voice husky.
She lathered her hands and ran them along Jordan’s body, feeling every defined muscle from his pecs to his biceps and every abdominal. Her touch was ecstasy, knowing she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
Jordan was shocked as she grabbed his erection, running her slick hands along it. He could see the glint of her alpha wolf in her eyes, her sexual desire and dominant personality coming out in full force.
It made his wolf howl in approval and drive him mad with lust for her, and his alpha responded in kind.
He wasn’t going to wait any longer.
Jordan pinned her against the wall of the shower, kissing her along her neck as his ha Keckidth=nds found their way down her hips and to her butt. With one motion, he picked her up in his arms, holding her with his hands as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Senna looked into his eyes and licked her lips in anticipation. They both knew what they wanted. And with this, they would be mated forever.
Forever would never be long enough with this woman. But it was a start.
With one smooth motion, he came inside her, the wetness of the shower and the smooth slickness inside her a wave of sensation against him. And as he went all the way in, Senna’s eyes rolled back and her neck arched as she moaned in pleasure.
That sound. It wou
ld never cease to arouse him.
For a moment, they held together, his hands still cupping her butt and supporting her as the water continued to run around them and over them. Her skin glowed as it reflected the light of the bathroom, and he placed a kiss on the side of her neck as they enjoyed the feel of being together.
She moved her hips into his, and the motion revved him up inside. Using his hands to hold her steady, he glided slowly out, then came inside again, feeling her tightness surround him as she moaned his name again.
Jordan moved again, and Senna shuddered with pleasure against him. He continued the motion, feeling her body respond to his more and more with each passing moment as he kissed and lightly bit her earlobe and down her neck.
Her breathing grew heavier and heavier, and he could feel her orgasm fast approaching. His hands gripped her ass as he drove in all the way to the hilt one more time, and her body tensed and then exploded with energy as she yelled his name, the delicious declaration echoing off the walls of the shower.
He held her close as she came, enjoying the scent of her and the sound of her breathing evening out as the waves of pleasure abated.
“Finish it,” she said, her voice hoarse. She gripped his shoulders with her hands and pushed, bringing her body away and then down over him again.
Jordan growled with excitement as he moved faster and faster inside her as Senna met him with her own frantic movements. The friction and feel of it was unlike anything else, skin to skin, the feel of her wetter than she’d ever been.
His own breath caught in his throat as she brought him closer and closer to the edge. He could see in her eyes that she knew, and she moved more vivaciously against him, gasping but smiling with pleasure at him slowly losing control.
Jordan growled and held her thighs more tightly, loving the feel of her soft flesh, but not willing to be beaten at his own game.
He slowed for just a moment, letting his entire length move slowly inside, drawing a long moan from her lips. Then he followed up with fevered thrusting as her breathing became fast and ragged.
With one last push, Jordan came all the way into Senna, and she screamed loudly as she came apart. The sound she made, the feel of her, all of it brought him over the edge, and his senses burst with pleasure and fire across his entire body as he came with her.
It was pure euphoria. All of it. Senna’s quivering body connecting with his, the feel of the two of them together, surrounded by warmth and wetness and the promise of just the two of them joined for the rest of their lives.
His wolf howled in pleasure, letting him know he’d done the right thing and she was finally his.
Jordan gasped as the last pulsations of pleasure moved over him. He came back to his senses and saw Senna smiling at him and looking fully satisfied. He placed a tender kiss on her lips and then picked her up, slowly coming out of her, already missing the feel of being one with her.
Jordan carried her out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her, bringing Ker, breaher to the bed and putting her down.
“Wow, so that’s what being claimed feels like?” Senna said, her voice soft and her eyes beautiful as they looked up at him.
“Yes. But I can promise it only gets better from there,” Jordan replied, unable to keep from smiling at the sight of his beautiful mate, satisfied and in his bed. In their bed.
“Seriously?” she said, wide-eyed.
“You’re mine now. Forever. Just you and me,” Jordan said, pulling the sheets over them and wrapping his arms around her.
“I love you, Jordan Vale,” she said, Senna’s voice sounding tired and happy.
“And I love you, Senna,” Jordan whispered into her ear.
Within moments, she was fast asleep in his arms, sighing contentedly. Jordan remained awake, enjoying the feel of her against him.
So much had happened the past few weeks. He really owed everything to her. Most of all, the overwhelming happiness that filled him where emptiness and loneliness had once bee
n.
“I love you,” Jordan whispered again to his sleeping mate. He would always keep her and protect her. She was more precious than any fame or fortune the world could ever offer in a million years.
It was the start of a new day, a new chapter for both of them. But this one would never end. They would always have each other.
Jordan smiled and drifted off to sleep.
Epilogue
Three months later, they were at Jordan’s first fight back, and Senna was waiting nervously to see her love get back in the ring.
Even if she’d really enjoyed the break they’d had, just spending all of their time together. Every day was a new best day for her and Jordan.
The day after the fight, Senna had called the director of the league that had hosted the match that Jordan had unfortunately needed to end abruptly and explained what had happened. Jordan had told her there was no need, but she knew how much she loved fighting, and after some persuasion, she’d helped him see that letting the fans and organizers see the truth about him was better than just walking away. So she’d given them enough details of the event to help portray Jordan as a hero who had prevented a felony and saved someone, not an unruly has-been.
Once the news got hold of this, they gobbled it up with delight. News stories of athletes (especially MMA fighters) doing heroic things were hot, and in a matter of days Jordan’s phone was ringing off the hook with calls from sponsors, interviewers, and teams wanting to hire him.
Not long after, Jordan had whisked her off to a quiet exotic place so they could have privacy from all of the newspeople and media that hounded them.
The sex was amazing.
Once they got back, they had talked about what would be best. Jordan refused anything that would take him on the road or take him away from his mate. But Senna knew how much MMA meant to him, so they signed on to a local team that was just happy to have him there for the publicity, and as such didn’t have too many demands other than that he fight once in a while.
So here they were. The arena was filled to capacity with fans and spectators. Senna had a front row seat, along with Jordan’s brother Asher and their friend Laurel. Jordan had been slowly letting people in a little more, and as a result she’d noticed that Asher had gotten more involved with his brother. It was hard because they were both stubborn alpha males who would rather fight than talk, but Senna was just glad there’d be progress.
N">“ace so the
She loved having others see the side of Jordan she knew.
“Are you excited?” Laurel asked. Laurel was a close friend of the family and the younger sister of Jordan’s older brother Lucas’ mate, Lily. Lucas and Lily were traveling in anticipation of having their first child, so she didn’t really know them, but she’d gotten to see a lot of Laurel, as she worked at the dojo and liked to hover over Asher. Much to his chagrin.
“Mostly yes,” she said, answering Laurel’s question. “The fact is that the past few weeks have been so exciting already, it’s hard to compare,” Senna replied, eagerly awaiting her mate’s appearance.
“So is he going to pull another one-punch-wonder in this match?” Asher asked sarcastically. Lauren shoved him for the snarky remark. “Hey, just asking,” he retorted, settling back in his seat with a scowl, muttering something about “bossy females”.
Senna looked over and caught Laurel looking at Asher with a wistful expression and felt for the younger woman. Asher was like a more stubborn version of Jordan, and could look even more fierce, with his coal black eyes and hair. It was clear that if Laurel had feelings for him, she had a tough road ahead of her.
But one thing she knew about the Vale boys was that they were worth any trouble they caused.
“As for the one-punch-wonder, as you so charmingly put it, that’s up to him. Technically, I’m his PR manager. But more than anything else, I just want him to be happy,” Senna said.
An announcer stood in the arena and called Jordan’s name. The crowd roared w
ith applause at the return of the renowned, and now beloved, fighter. Jordan trotted down the walkway next to them that led up to the cage. But instead of walking up the stairs, he turned towards the three of them sitting together in the front row.
The announcer gave a confused look, and the crowd’s applause waned for a moment.
Jordan ignored it and strode right up to Senna, standing impossibly tall and muscled before her. The sight of him still took her breath away.
“Couldn’t go in there without a kiss,” he said, raising an eyebrow and smiling.
Senna stood up and Jordan took her hands in his.
“What, are you the PR person now?” she replied playfully.
“Nope. I just couldn’t go another second without doing this,” he said, bringing his lips down to hers and wrapping his arms around her in a warm, wonderful kiss that made her senses come alive.
The crowd erupted with applause and cheering around them, but Senna could barely hear them over the feelings of love Jordan was transmitting to her through the kiss. Each second with him like this was worth a million years of any other kind of happiness, it was so wonderful.
He ended the kiss, but lingered with her in his arms, deep brown-red eyes catching the light of the arena.
“Go get ‘em,” she said encouragingly.
“Will do,” he replied with a wry smile. Then he brought his mouth down to her ear and whispered, “I love you, Senna.”
“I love you too,” Senna replied, and with that, he turned back to go into the arena to face his opponent.
Senna sat back down into her seat, and turned to see Laurel grinning widely and Asher raising an eyebrow at the blatantly public display of affection.
Senna just tried to hold back the blush at the realization that thousands of people had just been watching.
As the emcee made the final announcements prior to the match, she saw Jordan smile down at her one more time and give her a wink. From the possessive glint in his eyes, Senna could tell that despite other people coming to understand and appreciate him, deep down, Jordan would always be hers alon S bet ie, just like she was his.
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