by Kim Fox
“I’m going to come,” she moaned, squeezing her fingernails into his arm.
He pushed it hard, hitting her with faster, deeper strokes, pulling the orgasm from her.
“Do it,” he groaned into her ear. “Coat my hard cock with your juices.”
His words did it, pushing her over the edge. She let go with her legs shaking, her muscles convulsing around him. “Fuck, Rhett!” she cried out, thrashing her head from side to side.
The sight below him was too much to handle. Her gorgeous tits bouncing around, her face twisting up as she cried out his name. He sped up his pace for a few thrusts and then pushed all the way inside of her, releasing deep in her pussy.
Her name was on his lips as he came deep within her but his chest was too tight to make a sound. He gasped as his body went limp, crashing down onto the bed beside her.
“Thank you,” he said as she curled up into his side. Her heart was pounding against his ribs, the sweet smell of her shampoo was making him lightheaded. “Thank you for choosing me as your mate.”
She kissed his hot skin, just over his ribs. “Do skin shifters have mates?”
Rhett took in a deep breath as his pounding heart began to slow. “I do,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “We can choose our mates since we don’t have an animal to do it for us.” He held her impossibly close, never wanting to let go. “And I chose you.”
She looked at him with a happy grin. “You better,” she said, smiling. “Or I’ll kick your ass.”
twelve
“Mmmm,” Rhett groaned as he woke up and peeled Joan’s elbow out of his neck. After a wild session of making love, they had fallen asleep exhausted.
It didn’t stop Rhett from waking up numerous times, though. Joan was horrible to sleep with, constantly moving and digging her heels, knees, hands and elbows into his body. It felt like she was doing yoga in her sleep.
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head. Still, he wouldn’t have changed it for anything. Well, maybe a bigger bed.
She yawned as she opened her eyes, smiling as she looked up at him. “Did you sleep okay?” she asked. “I heard that I’m a bad sleeper.”
“I slept great,” he lied. “Didn’t wake up once.”
“That’s good,” she said, snuggling up to his chest. “Maybe I’m getting better.”
If you are, I wouldn’t want to see how you were before.
“Last night was fun,” she said, sliding her hand over his hard abs. Her mischievous hand continued down over his pelvis and over his hardening cock. “Really fun. My bear chose a good mate.”
Rhett grinned. He still couldn’t believe that she had chosen him for his mate. It was a very welcome surprise and he was thrilled. He knew what a mate meant to a shifter. She would be his forever and he would be hers forever as well.
It wasn’t something that he would take lightly. He was determined to spend the rest of his life proving to her that she had made the right decision.
“Hungry?” he asked, leaning up on the bed. He hoped there was something to eat besides another dead possum.
“Starving,” she said, gripping his dick. “Do you have anything that I can put in my mouth?”
Rhett grinned as she lowered her head, tracing the tip of his cock over her wet lips. “Anything?” she asked, looking up at him with pouting eyes. “Anything big and hard and delicious?”
“Like an apple?” he asked with a smirk.
“I was thinking more like a banana.” She licked her lips and then opened wide, taking him all in.
“Fuck,” he groaned as he laid down on the bed, focusing on her silky tongue, sliding up and down his shaft.
I’m a lucky, lucky man.
They headed downstairs together after another quick session of love making. Nathan and Emry were watching television in their boxer shorts.
“Another hard day of work?” Rhett asked, shaking his head at them as he passed.
“I like being a shifter cop,” Nathan said, scratching his junk. “Nobody can tell us what to do because we’re the bosses.”
“I’m the boss,” Rhett snapped. “Remember?”
Nathan and Emry both laughed. “You’re so funny, Rhett,” Emry said, wiping his eyes.
Joan walked into the room behind him and the two Chevy brothers sat up straight on the couch. “You didn’t come up from the basement,” Nathan said, staring at her.
“You’re quite observant,” Joan said. “Maybe you should observe that you’re not wearing any pants.”
Nathan huffed out a laugh. “Pants are overrated. And who do you think I am, the President of the United States?”
“I don’t know,” Joan fired back. “Does the President of the United States wear dirty boxer shorts?”
Nathan looked down with a frown on his face. “I don’t have dirty-oh,” he said, shutting up when he saw the stain on the front of his underwear. “I have a perfectly good reason why that’s there.”
“I’m sure you do,” Joan said, walking past him. “Excuse me if I don’t want to hear it. I’m about to eat breakfast and I don’t want to lose my appetite.”
Rhett grinned as he listened to her. Man, I fucking love her.
Anyone who could shut those two clowns up had Rhett’s admiration.
Joan moved around the kitchen, looking in empty cereal boxes and opening dirty cupboards. “Is there anything in here besides rat droppings and hepatitis A?”
“There’s half a Big Mac in the fridge that I’m going to eat later,” Emry said, “but you can have the pickles if you want.”
“Gee, thanks,” Joan said, scrunching up her cute little nose.
“Don’t mention it,” Emry said, turning back to the TV as her sarcastic comment flew over his head.
Rhett took a heavy breath as he walked over to the TV. He absolutely hated living with these two but he still considered them close friends. They had grown up together and worked together for years back in Creston Falls. He would still get to see them at the Sheriff’s office if they ever decided to show up for work, but he was still going to miss them.
“Hey!” they both shouted when Rhett turned off the TV. They were watching an infomercial about a blender that could chop up an iPhone.
“We were watching that!” Emry complained.
“Why?” Joan asked, raising an eyebrow at them. “You don’t own any food. Why would you need a blender? To blend up a half eaten Big Mac?”
Emry sneered at her. “I changed my mind. You can’t have my pickles.”
“I have to talk to you guys,” Rhett said, taking a deep breath.
“We were going to go to work today,” Nathan said, scratching the side of his head like he always did when he lied.
“It’s not about that,” Rhett said, “but yes, you should definitely go to work. It’s about our living arrangements.”
The two brothers just stared at him blankly.
“I’m moving out,” Rhett said simply.
“Where to?” Nathan said.
“Can we come with you?” Emry asked.
Joan snorted out a laugh. Emry frowned at her.
“I’m joining the Wilde Crew,” Rhett said. Joan walked over to him and he slid an arm over her shoulder. “We both are.”
“You’re joining a crew of shifters?” Emry said, staring at him with a disbelieving face. “But you’re a skin shifter.”
“I know it sounds crazy,” he said, looking down at Joan. But it didn’t feel crazy. It felt perfectly right with Joan by his side. Only these guys would never understand that until they were in the same situation, feeling the intense love of a mate’s bond. “But it’s what I want.”
Emry glanced at his brother who was scratching his junk again. “Take me with you,” he whispered to Rhett and Joan.
Joan leaned forward and smiled. “No,” she whispered back.
“When are you leaving?” Nathan asked.
“Today,” Rhett said.
“This mor
ning,” Joan corrected.
“Great,” Nathan said, jumping up. “We better take the day off work to help you move!”
***
“Are you sure about this?” Joan asked as Rhett pulled onto the road that led to the Wilde Crew’s ranch.
Rhett nodded. He had never been surer of anything in his life. Wherever Joan belonged, he belonged by her side.
“It’s going to be good,” Rhett said, nodding as he parked the car. The back seat and trunk were full of their stuff. It was pretty sad that the total of both of their belongings was enough to fit in the back of a car, but they didn’t care. They had each other and that was all they needed.
And a house. They had stopped and rented a mobile home on their way over. It was being delivered later that afternoon.
“They’re here!” Rory shouted, running over.
“I guess there’s no going back now,” Joan said, smiling as she leaned over the hand rest and gave Rhett a kiss.
Rory opened Joan’s door, not bothering to wait for her to come out. “Hey guys!” he said, his voice brimming with excitement. “Welcome home.”
Home. Rhett smiled. This was his new home and it came just in time. He was ready for a new start.
Cole, Ashton, and Gunner walked over as they got out. Cole and Ashton greeted them with warm hugs, while Gunner stood off in the back, watching them with a sour look on his face.
“Gunner!” Joan said, waving him over. “Come. Now.”
Rhett hid his smile. He loved how his mate was so aggressive and dominant. Her tiny hundred and ten-pound body was ordering men around who were three times her size, and she was getting away with it!
Gunner walked over, his body tight, his expression even tighter.
“Aren’t you going to welcome us to the crew?” she asked, opening her arms for a hug.
Rhett’s heart started pounding as the lion shifter hugged his girl. He didn’t want his paws anywhere near Joan but he had to let some things slide. And this was one of them.
“And, Rhett,” she said as he released her. “You two hug.”
“I don’t think so,” Gunner said, staring him down.
Joan stepped in front of him and stared up into his honey colored eyes. “That’s an order,” she growled. “Do it.”
Gunner took a deep breath and walked over, his face twisted in hate.
Rhett put up his hand and stepped back. “I think it’s a bit early in the morning for hugs.”
Joan whipped her head around and glared at him. “This is your alpha talking,” she said, her voice tight and angry. “Not your girlfriend. I order you to hug him.”
Rhett swallowed hard. His girl was insanely intimidating when she got like this.
“You can’t order me around,” Rhett said, standing his ground. “I’m not an animal shifter. Your authority means nothing to me like it does to them.”
Joan gritted her teeth as her fierce eyes bored into him. “Then I’m talking as your girlfriend. I don’t need more authority than that.”
Rhett chuckled. She had him there. He was never the type to be easily pushed around but he was the type to pick his battles properly, and this wasn’t a battle that he would win.
“Fine,” Rhett muttered, opening his arms to the lion shifter.
They were going to be living together in the same crew. And although both of them were in love with the same girl, that didn’t mean they couldn’t be civil to one another.
Gunner gave him the world’s quickest hug, slapping his back a little too hard. “Enjoy having her while you can,” he whispered, his honey colored eyes turning a fierce gold. “It won’t be for long.”
Rhett answered him with a hard push, placing both palms on his chest and sending him flying backward. Nobody threatened his relationship with his mate.
A low vicious growl ripped out of Gunner’s throat as he caught his balance. Rhett squeezed his hands into fists, already dreaming of smashing his knuckles into pretty boy’s golden face.
His ravens began descending from the sky, cawing as they landed all around him. One bird landed on his shoulder, squawking angrily at Gunner. Maybe I should get a superhero costume.
“That’s enough!” Joan said, jumping between them. She grabbed a fistful of Gunner’s shirt and a fistful of Rhett’s and yanked them together.
“I won’t have fighting in my crew,” she barked at them. “If you want to fight someone, you fight me. Got that?”
They both nodded as they glared at each other.
She released Rhett and turned to Gunner, shoving her finger in his face. “This ends now. I’m with Rhett. I bonded to him last night. That’s the end of it!”
Gunner’s face dropped, his golden complexion turning pale. “You bonded to him?” he asked, his voice low and weak.
“I did,” Joan said, softening her voice. “I’m sorry, Gunner, but it just wasn’t meant to be. We’ll find you a girl that will make you happy.”
He whipped his head around and sprinted towards the forest, phasing into his lion before he disappeared into the mess of trees.
“Let him go,” Ashton said, waving him off. “He’ll be better with some time.”
Rhett clenched his jaw, watching the forest. He hoped so, or he would have to take things to the next level. Nobody was going to come between him and his mate.
“Is it too early for beer?” Cole asked, raising his eyebrows to the group.
Joan smiled. “It is a special occasion.”
Rory pumped his fist. “I’ll go get the cooler.” He ran off towards the barn, bouncing with every step.
Cole and Ashton went over to the firepit to spark up the campfire and set up the chairs. It was going to be a long day of lounging around and relaxing with his new friends and with his new mate. Life was good.
“Welcome home,” Joan said, pressing her body against him when they were finally alone. She kissed him long and slow on the lips.
“Mmmmm,” he moaned, hardening in his pants. “When does our new bed get here?”
“Not soon enough,” she said with a smile. “We’re just going to have to wait.”
Rhett glanced over at the fire where Rory was walking over with a full cooler of beer. “Can I buy you a beer while we wait?”
She smiled, biting her bottom lip as she gazed up at him. “You’ve already done so much for me. You helped settle my bear, something that I didn’t think was possible. You gave me a new home, something I haven’t had for years. You’ve given me love, affection, and hope. Hope for the future. For our future.”
She had given Rhett the same things. But hope for the future was the biggest. He couldn’t wait to live with her and see her every day. He couldn’t wait to put a baby in her and grow old and wrinkly together. They had a lot of fun times ahead, starting right now.
“But yes,” she said, kissing his lips again. “You can definitely buy me a beer.”
epilogue
A month later…
“Where is everybody?” Joan asked Ashton. He was sitting in a lounge chair, tanning with his eyes closed.
“You’re the alpha,” he said, not even opening his eyes. “Shouldn’t you know?”
Joan grinned as she picked up his bottle of suntan lotion off of the grass next to him. She popped off the cap and squirted a big glob onto his lips.
“Mphm,” he grunted, flying forward as he scooped lotion off of his face. “What the hell was that for? You’re the worst alpha ever.”
“Put your complaint in the box with all of the others,” she said, pointing at the firepit. “I’ll get to it shortly.”
He laughed. “Worst. Alpha. Ever.”
Joan stuck her tongue out at him. She knew that below Ashton’s rough exterior, he really liked her. She could tell by the way he was always teasing her.
Things had been going great the past couple of weeks on the Wilde Ranch. The name was fitting. These guys were pretty wild and reckless. But then, so was she.
Rhett and Gunner hadn’t become friends by an
y means but they stopped their constant fighting, exchanging it with ignoring each other. They were somewhere between lifelong enemies and roommates who didn’t get along. It was getting better but it still wasn’t great. Something had to change or one of them had to go.
“Seriously,” Joan said, “where is everybody?” She slept in for once and everybody vanished.
Ashton huffed out a breath. Joan held up the bottle again in a threatening manner. “You want another money shot or are you going to tell me?”
“Okay,” he said, inching away from her. “Cole is still in his trailer with the girl that he brought home, Rhett is at work, Gunner is getting a manicure, and Rory is by the lake practicing to be a cowboy. There. Can I rest now?”
“Sure,” she said, hiding a grin. “Don’t forget your suntan lotion.” She squirted a big glob onto his face, covering him like he was the only girl on set at the end of a porno.
“Hey!” he hollered as she walked away laughing. “Worst. Alpha. Ever.”
“I know you love me!” she said, raising her hand over her head and giving him the finger.
That was the last thing that she needed, another guy in the crew to love her. Gunner claimed that he was over her, but she wasn’t so sure. She could often feel his eyes on her, watching her, admiring her. He was also still hostile to Rhett, which wasn’t a good sign.
He wasn’t here today so she could breathe easier. Gunner was getting his weekly manicure. He was a lion shifter and took good care of his claws, both in his animal and human form.
“What are you doing?” she asked Rory as she walked over to him. He was by the lake twirling a rope over his head, wearing his new cowboy hat as usual. Rory was really taking this cowboy thing to a new level.
“I’m practicing to be a cowboy,” he said, looping the lasso over his head. He tossed it at a rock but missed it by a mile.
“Is that a skipping rope?” Joan asked, holding in a laugh.
“It’s all I could find,” he said, adjusting his black cowboy hat. “When are we going to get the horses?”
Joan sighed. They had big plans to deck out the ranch with horses, cattle, and nice living accommodations like on the Clawed Ranch but they were a little short on money. Actually, they were a lot short on money.
