The Hunter's Mate

by Christina Benjamin

  Wes always used sex this way, as a distraction—a way to hide from his true feelings. It was the only way he could shut down his mind and heart simultaneously while ridding his body of the coiling anger that built inside him like a viper. But as Cali leaned into his touch and bent to kiss him again his chest tightened. He couldn’t do this to her. She cared about him. And he . . . he didn’t know what he felt.

  “Cali . . . I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t,” she purred kissing a trail of fire down his bare chest.

  It was heaven. Wes could already feel the crackle of arousal pulsing through him, begging to let this beautiful woman continue to quiet his ache.

  “I’m fucked up, Cali. You know that, right? Like fundamentally broken.”

  “I know,” she said reaching his waist. She looked up at him coyly. “That’s sort of what I can’t resist about you.”

  Cali unbuttoned his jeans and slid a hand inside, lightly grazing his throbbing length with her fingertips. His cock twitched in her grasp and she smiled stopping to pull off her shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra. She didn’t need one. Her small, perky breasts stood proud. Fuck, she was beautiful. Her milky white skin glowed in the moonlight filtering through the window in Wes’s bedroom. His hands were on her bare breasts in an instant, rubbing her pink, pert nipples until she moaned.

  She tugged at his pants until he sprang free. Cali appreciated Wes’s impressive length, dipping lower to caress him with her tongue. He hissed when she swirled her tongue around the tip. In one swift move Wes flipped Cali onto her back, pinning her beneath him. “I’m no good for you,” he warned.

  Cali grinned wolfishly. “Are you gonna talk all night or put your mouth to better use?”

  “You’ve been warned,” he growled, reaching under her skirt and sliding down her wet panties. Wes hitched her skirt up and nudged her legs wider with his knees. He thumbed a circle between her thighs teasingly, grinning with satisfaction at the wetness he found waiting for him. Wes slipped from the bed, pulling Cali to the edge in one strong, swift motion.

  Wes knelt before her, spreading her wide. He took his time, teasing her with light touches and kisses. She yelped when he finally tasted her, caressing her endlessly with his tongue. He splayed a hand across her stomach pinning her to the bed as she writhed and bucked under his sweeping tongue. She fisted the sheets with a white-knuckled grip as Wes drove her toward the edge of ecstasy.

  Cali’s labored panting drove Wes wild until he finally could wait no longer. He grabbed her hips and plunged into her, sheathing himself deep in one powerful thrust. Cali cried out in approval, clenching tight around him as Wes pounded into her, racing toward his own oblivion.

  Chapter 9

  Greyson

  Warm joy filled Grey’s chest as he gazed adoringly at his sleeping mate nestled in his arms. Etti’s hand cradled her growing belly and Grey thought he might be content to stare at her like this forever. He kissed her forehead, joining his hand with hers to caress her belly.

  Etti’s eyes fluttered open, heavy with sleep.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” Grey murmured into her temple.

  A smile brightened her face. “Morning.”

  “How are my girls feeling today?”

  Etti’s smile grew. “My girls . . . I like the way that sounds.” She snuggled closer to Grey’s chest and he curled his arms around her.

  Etti snaked her hands down his bare chest, kissing as she went. She smirked, unable to suppress a girlish laugh as Grey’s body reacted to her touch. His length blazed against her belly and she pressed against him.

  “Babe, you feel so good,” Grey murmured into her neck. He could scent her heavy arousal. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I can tell,” she purred, slipping her hand into his boxers to caress him.

  Fire roared in Grey’s veins. He wanted to flip her onto her knees and claim her again and again to prove she was his. He wanted his scent insider her, all over her—his mate. His. He had an insatiable need to mark this beautiful woman and her baby as his own, even though he knew she already was. But thoughts of their precious child stopped him. “Is this . . . okay?” Grey asked tentatively laying his hand on Etti’s warm belly.

  She stilled. “I don’t know.”

  “Maybe we better not, until we know for sure.”

  Etti groaned, biting her lip.

  A low growl started at the back of Grey’s throat as he smoothed back Etti’s wild black hair, staring at her flushed features. “Don’t,” he protested, thumbing her bottom lip from between her teeth. “You know what that does to me.”

  She bit his finger instead, sucking it into her mouth.

  “Etti,” he spoke her name like a plea.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m horny as hell right now. I feel like my hormones are working against me. I’m practically a walking orgasm and it’s torture.”

  “I’m sorry, babe. If it makes you feel any better I have blue balls just looking at you.”

  Etti flipped onto her back in a huff. “This is so frustrating. I swear my boobs grew overnight and all my nerves took up residence there. If you blew on my nipples right now I would probably lose my mind.”

  “Really?” Grey arched an eyebrow, grinning. “Shall we test that theory?” Wicked thoughts of pleasuring his mate with his tongue coursed through him, making his untended erection even more unbearable.

  “Greyson West,” Etti scolded. “Don’t you dare make promises you don’t intend to keep.”

  Grey prowled over her, tugging the hem of her shirt up. “I always keep my promises, babe.” She shuddered at his touch, his wide hand caressing the curve of her belly. He hitched her shirt higher, his thumbs grazing the underside of her tender breasts. Etti practically purred her approval. “You weren’t kidding, huh?” he teased taking in the size of her swollen breasts, her nipples tight red buds, begging to be tasted. He lazily traced a circle around one with his tongue, then blew a cool breath across it.

  “Shit.” Etti moaned, arching her back. “Don’t stop.”

  “Are you sure?” Grey asked, still worried about the pregnancy.

  “Yes,” she whimpered.

  He licked her other nipple, grazing it with his teeth before blowing across the puckered skin. Etti swore, throwing her head back as bliss overcame her. He watched her squeeze her thighs together as she slipped a hand into her panties to catch every last pulse of pleasure that pumped through her. Holy fuck! She wasn’t kidding. That was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

  Grey held her until her breathing returned to normal. “Are you okay?”

  Etti smiled up at him. “More than okay.”

  “Jesus. That was incredible to watch.”

  “It was even more incredible to feel.”

  “You’re so sexy,” he whispered kissing his mate.

  “I needed that,” Etti said breathlessly. “Thank you.”

  “Any time, babe.”

  “Wanna take a shower so I can thank you properly?” Etti asked enticingly.

  “Etti . . . let’s not push it until we talk to the doctor and make sure it’s safe,” Grey warned.

  “It’ll be safe. For me at least,” she crooned. “This will be all about you, babe.”

  After Etti relieved Grey’s aching erection in the shower with her talented mouth, they dressed and he made her breakfast. She was just piling on her second helping of bacon when the garage door buzzed to life. A minute later, Cali breezed in.

  She greeted them cheerfully. “Morning. How’s our little mama feeling this morning?”

  Etti chomped down another piece of bacon and smiled. “Fat.”

  Cali laughed. “Other than fat?”

  “Fine.”

  “Good. I got you an appointment at the clinic today. They can see you whenever you’re ready.”

  “Sweet!” Etti chirped. “Let me just finish my coffee and we can go.”

  Cali tisked and grabbed the mug from Etti’s hand. “No caffeine while you�
�re preggers.”

  “Are you serious?” Etti growled.

  Grey watched the anger bubble beneath Etti’s collected exterior. Even he wouldn’t grab coffee from his mate before noon. And that was on a good day when she wasn’t controlled by hormones. He sensed her wolf pacing and placed a hand on her shoulder. He tried to send soothing thoughts down their mating bond. Be calm. Think about the baby.

  Etti took a deep breath. “Okay, well it looks like I’m ready now if I can’t have coffee.”

  Etti

  Etti grumbled the whole car ride to the clinic. No coffee? How was she supposed to survive? Good thing shifter pregnancies were short. Etti practically mainlined coffee on a daily basis. She could already feel a headache forming behind her eyes without her morning dose. If they said no sex too, she was done for!

  Cali made introductions at the clinic and then settled Grey and Etti in a waiting room, promising to be back with a doctor shortly.

  Etti put on the hospital gown and climbed onto the exam table as Cali had instructed.

  “Have you ever been here before?” Grey asked looking around the sterile room.

  “No. Didn’t know I was a shifter until a few days ago.”

  “Right . . . I keep forgetting that.” Grey took Etti’s hand. “It must be weird, all these changes.”

  “A little, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” She grinned. “It brought me you.”

  “And this little one,” Grey added pressing his hand to Etti’s stomach.

  Right at that moment a force poked back from inside her womb. “Oh my God!” Etti exclaimed, putting her hand next to Grey’s on her belly. “Did you feel that?”

  Grey’s silver eyes were huge. “Was that the baby?”

  “I think so.”

  Both of them stared at each other as if they’d just witnessed magic. And maybe they had, because the feeling that filled Etti’s chest was like nothing she’d ever experienced. It stretched her heart near bursting and her throat felt tight, as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

  Grey bent his head lower until his mouth was right next to her belly. “Hey little one. I can’t wait to meet you.”

  The movement happened again! And this time Etti couldn’t hold back the tears. “She heard you!”

  Grey kept one hand on Etti’s belly while the other covered his mouth. He gazed up at Etti, tears in his eyes too. He lowered his mouth to her stomach again and kissed it as he whispered words that sent Etti’s heart soaring. “I love you so much already, little one.”

  The doctor strode in with Cali on his heels. He smiled when he surveyed the sweet scene—Etti grinning, while Grey whispered to her belly. “Good morning. It looks like everyone’s enjoying this little miracle already?”

  Grey straightened and shook the doctor’s hand. “Good morning. I’m Greyson West. This is my fiancé, Etti Blackwell.”

  Fiancé! Holy shit! That was the first time Grey called her that. Etti’s heart sputtered, barely able to contain the overwhelming amount of joy that coursed through her.

  “Dr. Torez,” he said, shaking Grey’s hand and then Etti’s. “So, Cali tells me you’re pregnant?”

  Etti nodded.

  “And is this a happy occasion?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes,” she and Grey said in unison.

  Dr. Torez grinned. “Good. Is this your first?”

  Etti nodded.

  “Alright. So today I can do an ultrasound exam and some blood work. With that we should be able to determine how far along you are and maybe even the genders.”

  Etti sat up straighter. “Genders? As in more than one?”

  Dr. Torez smiled. “Twins aren’t uncommon. But lets not get ahead of ourselves.”

  Grey took Etti’s hand and stroked her back. “Breathe, babe.”

  “Good man. See, you’re good at this already,” the doctor crooned. “One of the most important things you can do during this pregnancy is remain calm. Stress is bad for mama and baby. We want to keep the heart rate nice and even.”

  Etti nodded while Cali cleaned her arm preparing to draw blood. Etti felt her wolf bristle as Cali approached with the needle. “Hey there, mama,” Cali said in a soothing voice. “I’m just gonna draw a little blood so we can check on baby, okay?”

  Cali must have been able to scent her fear. Etti didn’t have a problem with needles—she worked with them for a living—but apparently her wolf did.

  “Why don’t you look at your handsome mate for me?” Cali suggested. “Do you think the baby will have his eyes?”

  Grey stroked Etti’s hair and smiled at her. “I hope she has your eyes.”

  The distraction worked. Cali was done drawing blood by the time Etti looked back. The doctor took her vitals and then began the ultrasound. Grey held Etti’s hand while they both stared at the monitor displaying a little blimp. Dr. Torez flipped on a switch and a whooshing sound wave echoed through the room. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat,” he announced.

  Grey tightened his grip on Etti’s hand.

  “There’s just one,” Dr. Torez said. “And did you want to know the sex?”

  Etti nodded.

  The doctor smiled. “It’s a girl.”

  “You were right,” Grey murmured.

  “Everything looks great. Baby looks healthy, mama looks healthy. Your blood pressure is a little high, so try to eat healthy, stay away from caffeine and no stress.”

  Just then Cali walked in with the results from the blood work. “You’re just about three weeks along.”

  Etti did a quick calculation. That meant that they got pregnant the first time they had sex. And that she only had a few months to figure this whole motherhood thing out. Fear shot through the bliss that had cocooned her earlier. The heartbeat on the monitor sped up and Grey massaged her shoulders. “I’ve got you, babe. Breathe.”

  She did, calming herself with deep breaths until the heartbeat on the monitor slowed to its normal rhythm.

  The doctor printed a photo from the ultrasound before flicking the screen off. He handed Etti the photo and patted Grey on the shoulder. “Any questions for me?”

  “Is there anything else besides caffeine that she should stay away from?” Wes asked.

  “Not really. Her shifter ability makes most foods safe. Just get plenty of rest. Growing another life is taxing on the body. But you’re young and healthy. I see no reason why this should be a difficult pregnancy for you.”

  “What about physical activities?” Grey asked.

  Etti’s face flushed, but she held her breath waiting for Dr. Torez to answer.

  The older man grinned and patted Grey on the shoulder again. “Completely safe.”

  Grey and Etti thanked Cali, who congratulated them a million times before they left the clinic. She was possibly the sweetest girl Etti had ever met. She even lent them her car and offered to make dinner after work, but Grey said he wanted to take his mate somewhere special to celebrate.

  Etti was quiet when they left the clinic.

  “What’s wrong, babe?” Grey asked.

  “Nothing. I just have a million things running through my head.”

  “Share them with me.”

  “Well, for one, we’re sort of homeless at the moment. I can’t go to my parents, and living with Wes or Cali isn’t a long-term solution.”

  “Okay. We’ll find a place to rent. What else?”

  “We’re going to have a baby in a few weeks! Aren’t you freaked out?”

  Grey grinned and reached across the seat to take Etti’s hand. “No, I’m excited,” he replied kissing her hand. “We’ll find a place, set up a nursery and watch some parenting videos. We’ve got this, babe.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. I’m gonna take care of my girls.”

  God, it melted Etti’s heart when he said that.

  “Once we get settled I’ll get a job. You’re not in this alone, Etti. I mean it.”

  “What about getting married?” she asked timidly. />
  Grey’s face lit up. “I had an idea about that.”

  Chapter 10

  Wes

  Wes stormed into the Painted Wolf an hour late. After the night he had, he was lucky he made it at all. His face was a patchwork of purple and black bruises and his hand hurt like hell. Not to mention the raging hangover he was nursing.

  Cali was gone when he’d woken. She’d left him a bottle of water, aspirin and a note on his nightstand. The note thanked him for a fun night and invited him to dinner at her house. He’d sent her a quick text, declining dinner with some excuse about having to work late and then shut his phone off before hopping in the shower.

  He knew he was being a dick for avoiding her. It’s not that he thought she was being clingy. She probably really only meant dinner—Cali was a no strings kind of girl, something Wes loved about her. She was also genuinely kind—definitely too kind for a guy like Wes. He still felt shitty about using her as a distraction last night. But in the moment it was exactly what he needed. He was able to shut off the devastating pain in his chest and quiet the angry voice in his head with Cali sprawled before him. But now, alone with his thoughts, guilt plagued him.

  Using Cali for sex was becoming a bad habit for Wes. Last night, he’d warned her that’s all it would be. And even though she’d been okay with it, Wes still found himself being uncharacteristically selfless as he pleasured her. Cali was always taking care of others and Wes enjoyed returning the favor. At least he felt a little better knowing they’d both enjoyed themselves last night. His last conscious memory was of Cali laying atop him, shuddering with pleasure before they both drifted to sleep—wrung dry and content.

  Wes winced as he shrugged his jacket off, hanging it in the back room of the tattoo parlor. He kept forgetting about his stitches and trying to use his left hand to do things. He opened and closed his hand in discomfort, grateful Cali had been kind enough to stitch him up. She was good at taking care of people—even people that didn’t deserve it. Kindness was in her nature and probably why she ended up becoming a nurse at the shifter clinic. Wes popped a few more aspirin in his mouth and gulped them down before pushing through the saloon style doors to the Painted Wolf’s turquoise lobby.