The Mate Challenge (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Sassy Mates Book 4)

by Milly Taiden

“Right,” she said, staring at him with her tear-filled eyes. “So we argued and I told her I wasn’t going.” She inhaled sharply. “Our last conversation was me telling her that she ruined my vacation.” A new sob came from her. “Their plane went down during a storm. There were no survivors.”

  Christ. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “I had a bunch of messages from my mom telling to meet them at the airport that the guy wasn’t going to go, but I’d refused to answer her calls all day. I missed her messages and the flight. I didn’t find out about it until I tried calling my brother and then my dad. I couldn’t get a hold of anyone.” She turned her face into his chest and he held her there, close to him. “The police finally called to tell me later that night.”

  “I...” He didn’t know what to say. There was nothing he could say to curb her pain. She had every right to cry and grieve for her lost loved ones.

  “The worst part is that I’m all alone.”

  “You’re not alone, sweetheart. I’m here.” He realized then why his mother had said what she’d said. What he’d done was to push Emma away instead of pulling her to him.

  “You don’t understand what it’s been like,” she cried. “I pick up the phone and I can’t call them. There’s nobody there. Not my brother. My best friend. Not my mom. Not my dad.” Her words tore through his gut and stabbed at his heart. “I didn’t even get to tell them how much I love them,” she sniffled. “And my mother died thinking I was angry with her. Now I will never get the chance to apologize and tell her I was being stupid.”

  “Emma—”

  “I should have been on that plane too!”

  No! The beast inside him refused to listen to her words. The man in him knew that was survivor’s guilt talking, but he didn’t like it. He cupped her face and forced her to look at him. “No you were not. If you had been meant to be there, you would be. You’re not. You’re meant to be mine, Emma.”

  “I miss them.”

  Those three words tortured him more than anything she could have said. There was no way he could fix that. “I know, baby.”

  “I miss them so much. Every single day. I have nobody.”

  He swallowed back the anguish from seeing her in pain and shook his head, bringing his lips down over hers. “No. You have me, Emma. Accept me already. Be my mate and I’ll always stand by your side. No questions asked. You’re never alone.”

  She lifted her tear-stained face to his and licked her lips. “Kiss me.”

  At that moment, he’d do anything to make her happy. Anything to take some of the pain inside and stop her from hurting. She was his heart. Seeing her like this broke him.

  He met her lips in a soft brush. Sweetness. That’s what she tasted like. Even with the sorrow pouring out of her, kissing her was like a cool breeze on a hot day. Perfect.

  “Say you’ll be mine, Emma.”

  Emma stared deep into Mason’s eyes and knew it was time to let go of her bullshit. Mason had shown her how much he cared for her since before he’d marked her. Her heart crashed against her ribs, pounding hard. She had a difficult time making the decision on being his mate in the past, due to her fear of losing him. Losing people you loved made you afraid to love. What if you lost again?

  Mason had proven time and again that he was there for her. Not just physically, either. He’d been there to hold her hair when she’d had too much to drink in Vegas. He’d given her his undivided attention in her search for Jordan’s perfect dress. Hell, he’d even helped.

  “I’m already yours.”

  She’d been surprised the words came out of her mouth so smoothly. There had been no fear or momentary shock. Instead, she finally felt free. Telling Mason she was his was the truth. She’d been his the moment he’d given her that unwanted but amazing kiss on their first meeting. No man had lived up to him ever since. None ever would.

  “Emma...”

  His eyes clouded with indecision. She knew he worried about her choices when it came to him. This time, she didn’t question her feelings. This time, she knew this was right.

  “Bite me.”

  She watched the gold brighten in his eyes. His lips came crashing down on hers. Desire flowed from his body to hers. He tugged on her robe, pulling on the strings and opening to leave her bare to his touch.

  “I will never get tired of seeing you naked.” He pushed her back on the bed.

  Her breath caught in her throat. One second she was watching him strip off his clothes and the next he was flipping her over to lay on her belly. She wiggled, lifting her ass up high and he groaned.

  “Perfect.”

  She might just come right on the spot if he continued raking his claws down her back. “Mason. God, that feels unbelievable.”

  He chuckled, caressing her abundant ass cheeks and pulling them apart. Desire punched at her gut when he licked a trail from her ass down to her pussy. Her legs wobbled. Her body demanded to be touched. Taken. Swarms of fire shot up through her veins, heating her blood.

  He sucked on her folds, dipping his tongue in and out of her channel. She lifted on to her elbows, tossing her head to the side to glance over her shoulder. Mason lifted his head from her ass, licking his lips. Need curled tight in a coiling ball in her belly.

  He met her gaze and her breath rushed out of her lips. His features were tight with desire. “I want inside you.”

  “Take me. Fuck me. Make me yours.”

  He pushed his hips on her ass, pressing the head of his cock into her pussy. “Ah, baby. Always so tight. So fucking slick.”

  His cock felt bigger this time. As though more of the wolf were in control. He pushed into her slowly, stretching her muscles with his gradual glide. Once he was fully inside her, she couldn’t stop the moan from escaping her. She gripped the sheets in her fists, clinging to them as he pulled back and plunged in.

  “Oh, God!”

  “Fuck!” He growled.

  Another pull and he was lifting her ass with every drive into her. His movements quickened. The speed from his thrusts increased to a skin-slapping song that drove her need wild. He propelled deep and retreated. Filling her only to leave her aching for more with each pull back.

  Her nipples rubbed on the soft bed sheets, adding a new dimension of torture to her aching need to come.

  He dropped on all four, caging her with his body. The heat of his slick muscles cocooned her in sensual warmth.

  “Your pussy’s so wet,” he grumbled by her ear. “So tight and hot.” His breath caressed the back of her shoulder, making goose bumps break over her skin. She shuddered and he groaned. “This is where I always want to be. Inside you.”

  Oh, good God! Her muscles burned with the need to let go. She gasped at the growing tightness inside her. Soon. She was so damn close. She scrunched her eyes closed. It felt like a raging inferno was growing in her pussy.

  “That’s, oh, that’s good,” she moaned, loving how hot he felt going in and out of her.

  “That’s better than good, sweetheart.” He slid a hand around her hip and between her legs, spreading her pussy lips open and flicking a finger on her clit. “Let’s make it amazing.”

  He tapped her clit, almost tugging the tiny bundle of aching nerves. She gasped, her back curving as the tension unraveled inside her to the speed of a derailed train. She choked on a scream, gasping at the force of her climax. Her pussy squeezed his driving cock in a tight grip.

  “Ah, baby. That’s what I like,” He groaned. “Your pussy sucking me deep.”

  He growled by her ear and struck, biting deep into the fleshy back of her shoulder. Another wave of pleasure assailed her to the point it left her shaking.

  His bite on her hurt, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he bit again and slowed his thrusts. Then he tensed completely, filling her womb with his seed. He continued coming longer than ever before. Her body softened, dropping down to the bed once he was done.

  He moved them on their sides, still embedded in her pussy and not appearing to want t
o get out. She sighed, leaning into his embrace and closed her eyes. Her shoulder burned and hurt like a bitch. Mason placed kisses on her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry I had to hurt you,” he said softly.

  She yawned, closing her eyes and wincing. “It definitely hurts, but I’ll be okay.”

  He kissed the back of her neck and pulled her closer, cupping her breasts with his hand. “You’re mine, brat. I’m not going anywhere. I’m always here for you.”

  She smiled at the way he said the words. A promise to her. She’d known Mason wasn’t going to leave her side, ever. Even if she hadn’t mated him. This just gave them a deeper bond. At least he wasn’t talking marriage. That was a whole different can of worms.

  ELEVEN

  Emma woke up with a smile. Mason had once again managed to outdo himself. Her memories of the previous night came back with aches and pain of too much loving. She could hear him in her kitchen. Excitement rushed through her and she stood to go to the bathroom.

  She glanced at herself in the mirror looking for something, anything different. Nothing. She frowned at her reflection. How long would it take for her to know if she was going to change or not? He’d bitten her twice and from what she knew that was once more than most people did to mate.

  Nothing felt different. She didn’t look like her friends with that golden rim around her eyes. What if it didn’t take? What if she was going to be the only one who stayed human? Fucking hell!

  She sighed and took a shower, worrying about whether she’d turn or not was not productive. Besides, she and Mason had to talk. Having been so emotionally distraught the previous night had stopped her from telling him about what he did.

  Once she’d dressed, she headed for the kitchen and found him making toast and coffee.

  “You messed up my surprise,” he said, pulling her to him for a kiss.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him, taking his warmth and loving how protected she felt. “What surprise?”

  “I was bringing you breakfast in bed.”

  She raised her brows and stared at the half-burned toast. “I could have sworn your mother praised all her boys for knowing how to cook. I don’t think you paid any attention when she gave classes.”

  He grinned and her heart melted. Stupid hormones again. Ah, fuck it. He was a sexy god and she loved staring at his face.

  “I did pay attention but I haven’t had much time on my hands to really practice. So I sort of forgot most of it.”

  She squinted, giving him a suspicious look. “Is that why you always want us to go out. Or for me to cook?”

  He nodded, his shoulders slumping. “Yeah. I didn’t want you to know I’m the only one that can’t cook out of the four of us.”

  “Great. How do I end up with the mutt that isn’t domesticated?”

  He grabbed her ass and squeezed. “Careful, or I might have to show you my animal side again.”

  Ah hell. Why did she have to go to work? It was so overrated. “I would love nothing more than to start doggy training you,” she laughed at his frown, “but I have to go to work.”

  She kissed him again and stood there for a second just enjoying him holding her.

  He kissed the top of her head and mumbled. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  She pulled away and picked up her bag. When he offered her a piece of the burnt toast she shook her head and scrunched her nose. “No, thanks. I’ll get something on the way to work.”

  At the door, she turn to glance at his hot body one last time. “Don’t pee on my carpet, mutt.”

  “Don’t play with fire, Emma. Unless you don’t want to make it to work.”

  “And don’t bite any of my good shoes!” She added to mess with him a little more.

  “Emma!”

  “Later, mutt. Be a good boy.” The last thing she heard was his growl as she walked out the door, giggling.

  * * *

  Emma was half-way through her work day when she got a text message from Aria.

  I must see you. It is important.

  It had been almost a week since she’d spoken to Aria. Emma knew that whatever it was would be helpful toward her search for Maria. The rest of the day dragged and she wished she could skip out early in order to go meet the vampire. Much good that would do. Aria couldn’t be out in the day time anyway. So even if she could have gotten out of school, Emma would still have had to wait to see her.

  By the time evening rolled around, she was chomping at the bit, counting the minutes. Aria had asked Emma to meet her at the same spot she’d parked by the mansion. She’d readied to leave her house when Barbara showed up.

  “Barbara, hi,” she said, wondering what Mason’s mother was doing there.

  Barbara smiled and pointed to her car. “Ready to go?”

  Emma frowned, trying to figure out what Barbara was talking about. “Where are we going?”

  “Wow. I wouldn’t expect you to forget. You’re usually the one on top of everything. We’re supposed to go to dinner tonight.”

  That’s right! Barbara had called her a few weeks back and made the date so they could spend some time together. She felt Emma needed to get out and relax because all the previous wedding planning had stressed her out.

  “Um,” now what? Barbara was a wonderful person and Emma knew she could trust her to know what she was doing. “I was just going out, but why don’t you come with me?”

  Interest sparked in Barbara’s blue eyes. “Sure. Where are we going?”

  They got in Emma’s car and she started driving before she finally told her. “Don’t freak out.”

  “Uh-oh. Usually when people say that it’s because they know you’ll freak out.”

  “Yeah,” she laughed. “That’s what I’m afraid of. We’re going to see a new friend of mine.”

  She glanced away from the road to catch Barbara’s brows lifting in surprise. “Oh?”

  “As you know, I’m trying to find out what happened to one of my students. I requested someone’s help and she might have some information for me.”

  They reached the area where Emma had last seen Aria. She shut off the engine and sighed.

  “Is there anything else you want to tell me about your friend, Emma?”

  She bit her lip. “Like what?”

  Darkness fell around them. But once her eyes adjusted, she was able to make out the area.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Like the fact she’s got killer curves and can suck you dry in a manner of minutes?”

  Emma jerked her gaze up from her cell phone to look out of her windshield. Aria stood in front of her car.

  Barbara opened the passenger side, hopping out quickly. Emma followed suit, hoping the two women wouldn’t find it hard to get along. She knew that vampires and shifters didn’t mix, but when it came to it, there were lives at stake and she hoped they could put their species differences to the side.

  “I see you brought another pet,” Aria sighed. She folded her arms over the top of her black T-shirt. Tonight, she’d worn hip-hugging jeans that Emma had to admit looked amazing on her and a set of spike heeled boots. The vampire knew how to dress. “What is it with humans and dogs?”

  “I’d watch that pretty mouth of yours, little girl. This dog bites,” Barbara growled.

  Oh, shit. “Aria, please. This is Barbara Wolfe, mate to the Alpha of the Wolfe Pack and a wonderful friend of mine. She’s just as worried about finding Maria as I am,” Emma said, hoping her words would cut the tension between the two.

  Aria nodded. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Wolfe. I have had a very trying day and it’s showing in my lack of manners.”

  “That part, I can understand. Try having five kids to drive you insane and then you can talk about having a trying day,” Barbara muttered.

  “Barbara, I’m sorry for this change of plans, but you know I’m trying to figure out what could have happened to Maria.” She turned to Aria. “Tell me you found out something?”

  “Yeah. Quite a fe
w things. One of them being I am almost sure someone in my clan is keeping things from me. I can’t say that your girl went to Embraced, but that’s a high possibility right now.”

  “Any way we can find out?” Barbara asked.

  Emma tapped the side of her car with her nails. “I went by the club with Nic the other day. You hardly see anyone going there.”

  “That’s because a lot of the dealings happen via the back entrance,” Aria stated. “Feel like taking a ride?”

  “No need to tell me twice, let’s go,” Barbara exclaimed, jumping back into Emma’s car.

  “So who runs this place,” Emma asked Aria as she drove.

  “Technically, it’s supposed to be a free sharing of blood and sex between my clan and one located further south,” Aria said in the quiet car. “Back in the time of my parents, they’d tried to find a place for the vampires to congregate.”

  “Do you know anything about this other clan?” Barbara asked, shifting sideways in her seat to glance at Aria in the back seat.

  “My council deals with them more than I did, but I think the idea was that one day I would unite both by marrying their clan leader. His blood-line is muddy and he’s looking to clean it up by uniting with me.”

  “I don’t understand,” Emma mumbled. “Muddy?”

  “I am a direct descendant, blood born, of Miralla Abarca. The original Queen of the night. He’s not. He was turned by someone who was turned. The strength and powers decrease when you are not directly linked to a clean blood-line.”

  “Oh.”

  They neared the club when Aria told her to turn down an alley and park. They left the car and walked to the mouth of the alley, where they could see the back entrance to the club’s building. A group of people were entering the door so they stood back and watched.

  “Why do they use the back door and not the front?” Emma whispered. She wiggled in her stretchy pants. They were the most comfortable pair she owned and she wasn’t sure what the night would entail so decided to go for comfort.

  “Those that are regulars use the back door, but visitors from out of town or newer vampires are scanned and tagged in the front.”