Mating Instinct (The COMPLETE Ridgeville Series)

by Kyle, Celia

  Carly turned toward the door, but it opened before she could reach for the handle, and in strolled the blonde bimbo, Naomi. She was a pride familiar, a human who visited on the Gaian Moon in the hopes of getting pregnant, but that was about it.

  The thin woman strolled in, all runway model gorgeous. “Did I hear something about happy news?” she purred, but the look in her eyes belied the smile on her lips. Hatred, pure and hot, bore into Carly. “Oh, darling, I heard about you mating with Neal. Congratulations.” That smile turned wicked, almost a sneer. “I’m sure your little one will get along famously with our children.”

  She didn’t want to know. Didn’t. Really. Because, in her mind, this was his first. The girl was going to be his pride and joy and they’d go through all of the baby stuff together. She was selfish enough to have wanted theirs to be his first. She had conveniently forgotten about the Gaian Moon, the part Naomi played and how close she seemed to be to Neal. Pain snaked through her with every beat of her heart and it hurt to breathe.

  “Your children?” She choked out the words.

  Yes, Naomi was getting way too much enjoyment out of the situation. Her eyes sparkled with triumph, probably sensing her ache.

  “Of course. We have three together. Elijah is three, Carson is two, and Ryan is just over six months. I thought he told you…” The woman waved a dismissing hand. “I suppose it doesn’t matter that I got to him first, does it?”

  Carly didn’t listen any longer. She couldn’t. It was stupid and immature and dumb, but she was pissed and hurt and…she wanted to cry. Fuck, but she was naïve. No, she wasn’t a virgin. Not by a long shot. Gaian Moons existed for a reason, and she’d participated in her share every year, twice a year. That said, she’d never gotten pregnant. No…this was her first.

  Her Disney happily-ever-after was crumbling just a little more. She wasn’t ready for this, not when it all hurt so much. She should have dumped her dreams a long time ago and focused on reality.

  Carly brushed past Naomi and, once through the door, she leaned against the roughhewn wall, pressing the heel of her hand over her heart. She needed to get a hold on her emotions.

  Within a second, Maddy was beside her, speaking softly into her ear. “Calm down, Carly. Deep breaths. It’s not good for the baby to get so upset. Don’t let Naomi get to you. She’s a jealous human bitch who wanted Neal to herself, and he’s yours.” The words surrounded her and she let the Sensitive woman work her magic. If Maddy were a wolf, she’d be labeled an Omega: able to soothe shifters with a word and a touch.

  Carly definitely needed some soothing. Like, mad soothing.

  “Take another breath. That’s it.”

  She watched Naomi, the smirking beyotch, glide past them and back into the bar.

  Maddy stiffened beside her and she felt her heart rate soar once again. “What?”

  “Your big, bad lion just caught sight of Naomi and is heading this way. He does not look happy.”

  She snorted. Couldn’t help it. “Probably thinks the cubs are out of the bag and is trying to get a jump on damage control.” She growled. “He should have told me. Fuck. Someone should have told me.” As soon as she got Neal to a nice, private place, she’d go crouching rabbit, hidden ‘super sharp teeth that gnaw through his Achilles tendon’, bad ass.

  Maddy stayed quiet. Smart lioness.

  It didn’t take long for Neal to get to her side. “What’d she do?”

  Carly snickered. “Maybe you should talk about what you did…Daddy.”

  He stilled. “Fuck.”

  She straightened, tilted her head back until she could look him in the eyes. Tall asshole.

  “Yes, that’s what you did.” She poked him in the chest. “Convenient that we’ve known each other for six months, mated last night, and you didn’t bother to clue me in on the fact that you’ve got three kids. Interesting, ain’t it? At least, I thought so! You stupid ass-licking, butt-sniffing, litter box using asshole!” By the time she finished with her tirade, she’d begun punching him in the chest and he had the good grace to wince and back up with each strike. Not that she hurt him.

  More’s the pity.

  “Carly…” He held his hands up. “I was waiting for the right time.”

  Carly snapped her teeth at him, wishing that she was more fierce that a just a little fuzzy bunny.

  “Like when you first wrapped your arms around me, darlin’? Or when you took me home a few months ago, darlin’? Or when you came to me last night and claimed me, darlin’?” Yes, she knew she was probably more emotional because of her pregnancy, but that didn’t calm her one bit.

  “Any time during all that you could have mentioned cubs. But, no, I had to hear it from her.” She spat the word, disgusted with even having to mention the skinny bitch. That woman had taken too much joy in announcing the existence of their children. Hurting her on purpose.

  Before she could smack him again, he snagged her, hugged her close, and propped his chin on her head. “You’re right.” His chest rose and fell with his sigh. “I’m a coward. Totally. You were saving yourself for your mate, fighting the moon, and I’ve been a slave to it. You were already against me for being a ‘man-whore’. I didn’t want to add three more reasons for you to resist me even more. And my relationship with Naomi is permanent because of the little ones.” His lips brushed across her temple and she refused to melt against him. She wasn’t ready to forgive him. Yet. “You still don’t really believe I’m your mate. Still think I’m going to be unfaithful.” A single large finger tapped at her chin and she raised her face to stare into his. “But you’re it for me, Carly. My mate. My world. I sound like a pussy.” She wasn’t going to snicker. Really. “But I live for your smiles. I love you, baby. You don’t have to say it back; just know that I do.”

  Neal really did take all the fun outta being mad.

  Asshole.

  And now she felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. With a huff, she thought of something else to be pissed about. “In a bar, Neal? A bar? ‘I love you’, here?”

  He looked over her head and she heard him talking to the forgotten lioness. “Little help here, Maddy?”

  The woman giggled and skirted past them. “You’re on your own, big guy. But, I will tell ya that she’s got a secret of her own. Maybe you should drag her out of here. I have a feeling you’ll need a bed. Soon.”

  Alone. Relatively. Neal tightened his hold in a small hug. “So, gonna tell me?”

  She could feel the tension strumming through his veins. “What if I don’t wanna?”

  “Carly…” She could hear the threatening growl in his voice.

  “I won’t be threatened by the big, bad lion, cowboy.”

  “Fine. Please? Pretty please with whipped cream and me lapping at your pretty pussy for hours?”

  Carly rolled her eyes. She was annoyed, but her rabbit was definitely interested in the whipped cream.

  “Fine.” She huffed and put a tiny bit of space between them, stared right into his eyes and said, “I’m pregnant.”

  * * *

  Pregnant. Hot damn.

  Oh. Damn.

  Maddy had obviously told Carly about their cub and Naomi had swooped in and chatted about Elijah, Carson, and Ryan right after.

  Bitch.

  In all honesty, he hadn’t followed Carly’s tirade all that well, but now he understood everything that she’d screamed at him.

  What the hell had he ever seen in the human woman? Sure, the moon had a fierce pull, but he should have tried to resist, should have waited for the woman who was now in his arms. Or, hell, picked a woman worth having.

  Without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed Carly, stroking and teasing the seam of her lips until she opened for him and then he chased her taste. His mate was all surrender and sweetness. He savored every hint of her flavor, poured his love into the kiss and prayed that they could move past the confusion and hurt.

  His cock throbbed in his jeans, begging to be released, aching to fill
his mate. Not that he could get her any more pregnant than she already was, but he could give it the old college try.

  Reluctant to release her, he slowed their tangle of tongues and broke the kiss with a last flick to her bottom lip. “Angel, I think Maddy’s right. We need to get out of here.”

  “You’re happy, then?” A flush stole over her cheeks.

  “More than you could imagine.” He cupped her cheek. “Lemme take you home and show you.”

  “We’re gonna have to talk about things.”

  He winced. Well, damn. He’d really hoped they could just skip over that part. “Yeah, Lucky. We will.”

  Neal tugged her arms from around his waist and snagged her hand. Without another word, he wove through the bar, his mate right on his heels. A minute later, they pushed through the front door and into the night, the cool air enveloping them, and he took a deep breath, hoping it would dampen his need.

  His mate was pregnant.

  There was no doubt that he loved each of his children, but his mate was carrying his young. Unfamiliar protective instincts poured through him and the lion paced, both thrilled and agitated. It rejoiced in the impending birth, but clawed at the human side of him for bringing their mate out and making her vulnerable. It couldn’t protect her in the open, outside of their den.

  Their feet crunched on the loose gravel, stones shifting beneath their shoes. The sounds of music lessened as they put distance between them and the building, quiet wrapping around them while they approached his truck.

  Just as they reached the bumper of his vehicle, two soft thunks split the night air, and Neal recognized the sounds the moment they reached his ears. Someone was firing a gun with a silencer. Close. While the sound wasn’t like the crack of an unaltered gun, it was lessened by the modification, but nowhere near as silent as many believed.

  He spun on his heels, yanked on Carly, and lowered her to the ground, his body hovering over hers. Another half-dozen shots split the darkness and then the rapid retreat over gravel split the night.

  “Carly? Angel?”

  His answer was a low moan.

  Shit, fuck, damn, and growl.

  Chapter 5

  “For the love of lettuce! I haven’t been shot!” Carly shoved at Neal’s hands. The man was bound and determined to keep her in bed and she was just as resolved to get her bubble butt into the living room.

  “Carly…” Her mate’s voice was low and deep, too low for a human male, and that told her just how close Neal was to losing control.

  Taking a deep breath, she reached up and placed her palm against his cheek. The lines of his face were hard, ridges instead of smooth bones. She stroked and petted him, watched while his eyes lost some of his panic.

  “Cowboy, I’m fine. I didn’t even need stitches. The bullet grazed my arm and the thing is already healed.” She growled at him. “Let me out of this bed and let’s go talk with the others.”

  See? She could totally be all diplomatic and shit. She hadn’t even bitched about him stripping her down once they’d arrived at his home.

  He grumbled and she couldn’t quite make out his words. “What?”

  Neal gave her a glaring stare. “You’re naked. I don’t want them looking at you.”

  Carly rolled her eyes and shoved at his shoulders. “Okay, it’s your fault I’m naked, so shaddup about that. And Neal? I’m yours. Yours. I don’t want those guys, just like you don’t want any other women.” At least she hoped. “Right?”

  “I guess I’ll just have to prove to you how much I want you, and only you, won’t I?” Oh. That smile was predatory. His eyes seemed to glow in the low light, the right side of his mouth kicked up just enough for a hint of his dimple to appear. His body was too languid now, too smooth moving, and she figured he and lion had come to the conclusion that making love was better than fighting.

  Had it been any other time, she would have agreed.

  As it was, they had three shifter leaders out in Neal’s living room, and all that testosterone and power could easily spiral out of control if they didn’t get through everything and get them shoved back to their own territories ASAP.

  She’d hardly blinked and then his hands were on her, shoving the blanket aside, head bending down to her breast. Neal captured her nipple with his lips and tongued the now hard nub, drawing it into the moist cavern of his mouth.

  Her pussy responded in an instant, grew plump and wet, pulsed with every beat of her heart. She panted and arched, gave him more of her.

  Neal palmed her neglected breast, kneading and teasing her. With every pull on her nipple, a shudder of arousal slithered through her as if the nub had a direct line to her clit. “Mmm…”

  Carly slid her fingers into his hair, pulled him closer. The bunny, that total slut, wanted him, wanted to nibble and bite and kiss him from head to toe. Fuck getting shot at; she craved her mate.

  Hopefully, someday, the heat of their new mating would dim. It couldn’t be healthy to walk around with this all-consuming need twenty-four seven.

  Who was she kidding? She never wanted this desire for him to cool. Ever. She craved the taste of his skin, his blood in her mouth as she sunk her teeth into his shoulder, and the feeling of being filled by him.

  He released her breast and blew a soft puff of warm air across the damp flesh. “I almost lost you.”

  “You didn’t almost lose me, idjit.”

  His talented pink tongue snaked out and flicked her stiff flesh. “Well, if I didn’t almost lose you, I guess there’s no reason to let the lion have you right now. He’s anxious to slide into your heat, Lucky. Wants to make sure you’re alive.”

  Neal’s hand drifted down her ribs, over the gentle rounding of her stomach and cupped her needy pussy. She widened her legs without question, anxious for his touch.

  He slid a single finger between her sex lips, her wetness allowing him to touch her with ease, and glanced over her clit. She whimpered as a tiny bolt of arousal caused her pussy to clench.

  “Okay. You win.” That talented digit traveled further south and circled her heat, danced around her hole, and she was desperate to have him inside her. “Need you.”

  All she got was a wicked smile, his blue eyes deepening and shifting to a dark gold. Oh, his kitty seemed all about this.

  Between one heartbeat and the next, her mate was between her thighs, his jeans parted just enough for his thick cock to rise hard and strong from his groin. “Need you, too.”

  The tip of his cock settled against her wet hole, kissing the entrance to her body and teasing her with what was to come.

  Carly rocked her hips, raised them the tiniest bit, and silently begged for his possession.

  “Slow, angel.” With a huff, she relaxed into the soft surface of his bed. “That’s my girl.”

  Then he moved, gave her what she craved, and filled her.

  Sorta.

  No, instead of slamming home as he’d done the previous night, he went slow, inched his way into her pussy with infinite care.

  Neal gave her an inch and then retreated, gave her two and then withdrew once again. Three and then out…on and on he teased her, gifted her with what she desired, but then took it away.

  He possessed her, stretched and speared her on his cock in tortuous increments until she thought she’d go mad with her desire. With each thrust, her pussy pulsed and clenched on his invasion, clit twitching with desperate need, and slivers of pleasure poured through her.

  Every pound of her heart and gasping breath teased her.

  Carly’s nipples drew up tight and hard, the nubs throbbing and practically begging for attention.

  Eyes trained on him, she brought her hands to her breasts, stroked and tormented them with her palms, plucked her flesh with her thumb and forefinger, pinched and rolled the sensitive skin.

  And still he tortured her. That thick cock, his strong length of silk over steel, penetrated her in gentle, possessive strokes.

  “You’re beautiful. My angel. My ma
te.” Neal’s words came with huffing breaths, sweat coating his chest as he gave her pleasure.

  Carly abandoned one breast and settled her hand on the back of his neck, pulled him to her. “My mate.” She whispered against his lips. “Claim me, my mate.”

  That was all the urging he needed. With a deep growl, Neal withdrew from her body, her pussy clinging to his shaft as he pulled from her, and then shoved his way back into her heat, sending the headboard slamming against the wall.

  Carly screamed and arched, the pure pleasure of his possession overwhelming the desire to be quiet. No, she couldn’t withhold her sounds, not when his cock stroked her from within, scraped over sensitive nerves that ached for his touch. His hipbone pressed against her clit and she reveled in her mate’s ownership.

  He repeated the move, a quick withdrawal followed by a fierce thrust. The banging of the headboard mingled with their breathless moans and groans while he continued. In and then out, faster and harder with each flex of his muscles.

  Neal grunted and heaved over her, chased his pleasure while giving her great doses of her own.

  Hand still curved around his neck, she sunk her nails into his flesh, added pain to his ecstasy, and the scent of fresh blood filled the room.

  Her mate growled and flashed his elongated fangs at her. “Mine.”

  She did the same. Not as impressive since she was a rabbit, but still. “Yours.”

  Neal lowered his head to her chest, pinched the flesh of her breast between his jaws and pierced the vulnerable skin, adding the flavors of her to the fragrance of their sex.

  With blood flowing, his pace increased, the thump of the headboard against the wall nearly matching that of their heart rates while he pummeled her with his cock. His entire length pistoned in and out of her wet pussy. Her body accepted him with ease, eagerly clinging to him with every move.

  Carly’s cunt rippled around him, the thrum of his every stroke stoked her arousal, sent her pleasure spiraling higher with each thrust, each meeting of their flesh. Her clit throbbed and twitched, each brush of his pelvic bone easing her closer to the edge, nearer and nearer to her release.