by Unknown
She felt her body melt into the mattress as she gave over control to her lover.
She shivered. Zachary Beckett was her lover.
“I want to see your wolf.”
He paused halfway down her body, a horrified look on his face. “Now?”
She giggled. “Not now. After.”
He blew out a relieved breath. “Thank the Lady. I’m not into that particular kink, thank you very much.”
She giggled again as he shuddered. “Neither am I.”
“Good.” He swiped his tongue across her belly button. “I’ve got other kinks I’d rather explore with you.” He nibbled the inside of her thigh, the slight sting soothed by a soft kiss. “If that’s all right with you?”
“I think I could get behind that.” She nearly lifted her arms to reach for him but remembered his command at the last moment.
His eyes lit with approval. “And in front of it, and to the side of it…” He bent down and took her clit into his mouth, sucking on it so strongly that her body bowed off the bed in reaction.
Fuck. Much more of that and she’d scream the house down. She didn’t want his brothers to know what they were doing.
A vision of Zach staring at Gen’s ass flitted through her mind just as Zach sucked again.
Jo screamed. Fuck ’em. Let them know what her man was doing to her, and how much Jo was enjoying it. Take that.
Jo’s groans and whimpers seemed to spur Zach on. He doubled his efforts, latching onto her like a starving man at a free chocolate convention. He lapped, sucked, nipped and nibbled until she was nothing more than a gigantic, throbbing need that only Zach could fulfill. “Zach. Please, Zach.”
Zach sat up, took hold of her hips and flipped her onto her stomach. “Want me, sweetheart?” He nudged at her until her ass was up in the air, her head bowed down until her cheek rested on the pillow. She knew how she must look to him, hot and wanting and the thought brought her arousal up even further.
Only Zach would ever get to see her this vulnerable. He would take care of her. She smiled as she heard a condom package tear, knew he was taking care of her in more ways than one.
She whimpered and thrust her hips back, too far gone for speech. Her hands clenched the bed sheet. She needed to be fucked, and she needed it now.
Zach’s dark chuckle surrounded her. He rammed into her, her passage more than wet enough to accommodate him now.
The pounding Zach gave her was exactly what she needed. It didn’t take long before she was coming, toes curled, teeth clenched, her body so tight she could barely breathe.
It wasn’t until the orgasm passed that she realized Zach hadn’t joined her. He leaned over, his chest to her back, his hands sliding down her arms until they curled around hers. “Feel better?”
She wiggled, earning a gasp. She knew her grin was every bit as feral as his.
Zach pressed a kiss to her cheek before beginning the ride all over again.
Jo hung on and prayed she’d survive.
Zach clung to his mate’s hips and drove into her, determined to drive her out of her mind one last time before he took his own pleasure. He could sense how much she was loving this, loving the way he arched over her. He couldn’t believe how good fucking Jo was. He’d never felt anything close to what she did to him just with a look and a quick clenching of her muscles.
Zach gulped, his rhythm broken. Yup, just like that.
“C’mon, Zach. You’re young. You can handle it.”
He gave her ass an easy slap, careful not to hurt her. “Do you really want to see how long I can last if I put my mind to it?”
She shuddered around him. “Goddess.”
Zach began moving again, thrusting into her sharply, determined to bring her off one more time before he came inside her warm heat. “C’mon, sweetheart. Come for me.”
She thrust back against him. “You first.”
He collapsed over her, using one hand to hold himself up as the other reached between her legs. “I don’t think so.”
Before she could do anything he was stroking her clit, rubbing in time to his thrusts, reveling in her wordless cries. He surrounded her with his heat, his scent, his body, protected her even as he took her. The urge to bite was so strong he shook with it.
Zach sat back up, desperate to watch himself shuttle in and out of the body of his mate. His wet cock slid in and out, the sensation nearly overwhelming him. This was Jo.
This was his mate.
He licked his lips. He needed her to come once more, just once, so he could mark her, fill her with his seed. Make it so no one else would ever lay a hand on her.
Jo was his, and he’d never let her go.
He dug his fingers into her hips and set their rhythm. He wanted this coupling to be as fast and hard as the last. The sensation of Jo coming around his cock had nearly had him coming with her. He still wasn’t certain how he’d held off, but he had the feeling his wolf had helped.
The need to bite down on the fleshy part of her shoulder, right where her neck and shoulder met, was so fierce his fangs descended. He’d bite her when the time was right, take her blood into him, chant the last of the spell to mark her forever as his.
Only when it was time.
Jo was beginning to pant underneath him, her hips rocking with him. So sexy, so incredible, his Johra. He couldn’t believe his luck at finding someone like her.
He’d make sure she never regretted accepting him as her mate. He’d bring her pleasure every single day of her life, make her laugh, make her scream, give her the world if she asked it of him.
He reached down, between her legs, and stroked her clit. That earned him a moan, so he did it again.
And again.
Soon she quivered underneath him, her climax so close he could practically taste it. “Soon?”
She nodded, too far gone for speech.
Zach pressed his mouth to her neck, ready to bite her when they came. He would come with her this time, let himself go inside the only woman he’d ever loved.
Jo began to chant through her teeth. “Yes, yes, yes, now, fuck, Zach, now!”
Zach let go, the orgasm rushing through him, so intense his vision darkened. He bit down, drawing blood from his mate, taking it into himself even as he released inside her. Her scream of pleasure rang in his ears, pleasing the man and the wolf.
They’d satisfied their mate twice. Both of them were beyond pleased.
Panting, Zach collapsed to the side, taking Jo down with him. He curled his arm around her back, whispering the words that sealed both their fates. The bite mark turned, twisting, darkening, until the shadow of a black wolf rested on her skin.
“Zach?”
He took off the spent condom and dropped in the wastebasket next to the bed. “It’s done. I’ve marked you.” He kissed the shadow, moved almost to tears to see it there on her golden skin. He almost let slip how he loved her, but held back, not sure she was ready to hear it yet.
She settled down with a sigh. “I belong to you.”
He shivered. His cock twitched. Fuck, who’d have thought four little words could be such a turn-on? “And I belong to you.”
She turned and curled into him, resting her head against his chest. She looked so right there. “Now what?”
He grinned happily as his stomach rumbled under her hand. “Waffles.”
Her shoulders shook.
“What? You’d rather do pancakes?” Oh, that sounded really good. He could go for that. Maybe with some bacon and eggs?
When his new mate buried her face in the pillow he figured he might have to wait a bit for his breakfast.
Chapter Twelve
Zach stared from the darkness of the bushes, not sure if he should be grateful for the light of the fire or not. A dark altar had been placed right where Zach could watch the horror unfold. A hooded man stood over a naked woman, bound to the altar with silver, enchanted chains. Blood stained that silver, a mark of the sacrifices that had gone before. He coul
d see the woman straining at her bonds, her wrists chafed raw from the cuffs.
A low growl escaped his throat. His fur damn near stood on end. He knew that woman, knew her scent deep in his heart and soul.
He was going to kill the men who had hurt her.
A knife flashed into the air. The chanting increased in intensity. The foul language seared his ears. Below the girl, the runes on the altar glowed a vicious green. They were going to sacrifice her to the dark powers, and Zach was there to stop them.
The girl turned her head and pleaded with her eyes for someone, anyone, to save her. Zach gathered his legs beneath him, ready to pounce on the man who threatened his mate.
The hood fell back, exposing the face of Davis Godwin. Behind him, Zach could just make out the glowing eyes of Gareth as the knife flashed down.
Zach’s eyes snapped open. “Fuck.” They must have fallen asleep soon after making love, because Jo’s sweet ass was nestled against his hip, her breathing even.
“Shit.” He sat up, careful not to disturb Jo. He was going to have to bring his brothers along with him when he confronted Davis Godwin.
He was also going to have to figure out a way to keep Jo safe. If Davis got his hands on her…
Fur sprouted from his arms. His claws descended. Inside him his wolf howled.
“Hey.”
Zach quickly pulled his wolf back inside. “Hey yourself.” He couldn’t let Jo know how worried he was, not until after he spoke with his brothers. He glanced at the clock and grinned. “Ready for lunch?”
“Mm-hmm.” She rolled over with lazy grace and draped her arm over his hip. “After.”
“After what?”
“Breakfast.”
Zach gasped as warm, wet heat enveloped his cock. “Oh. Protein shakes. Those are good.” The suction stopped. Zach whimpered. “Banana? Bananas are breakfasty.”
Jo’s shoulders started to shake. Her mouth lifted from his cock.
“Oh, come on,” Zach whined. He threw his head back and pouted. “Is sausage better?”
“Zach!” She had the giggles now. He had the feeling Mr. Happy was going to go unfulfilled this morning.
“Damn it. Me and my big mouth.” He scooted under the covers. “Are we sure I got rid of all of the curse? Ow.”
He watched Jo rub her hand. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Hurt yourself?” He kissed her palm. Then he put her hand back on his cock and guided it up and down his length. “Here, rub this. It will make you feel better.”
She shook her head, the giggles threatening to overwhelm her again.
“Seriously. It’s one of those pump-action lotion dispensers. Keep pumping, sweetheart. Keeeeep pumping.”
“You are such a nut.”
He blew her a kiss.
“How am I supposed to blow your mind when you keep making me laugh?”
He rolled over until he was cradled between her thighs. “How about mutual blowing?”
She swatted his ass. “Aren’t you facing the wrong direction for that?”
At that point Zach’s big head shut down. His little head took over all bodily functions. Before he knew it, he was licking at the sweetest honey he’d ever tasted while Jo’s mouth bobbed up and down on his cock. He’d retained enough sanity to make sure Jo was on top before feasting on her. He didn’t want to accidentally choke her.
Zach tried to make sure that Jo got his full attention. She did, but not in the way he’d originally intended. Jo’s mouth was so hot, so good, that tongue so talented, he almost forgot what he was doing. It took a bite to his inner thigh to get his own mouth moving again.
At that point, it was a race to see who would come first. Zach was determined it would be Jo.
“Oh shit.” She was doing that tongue thing again, and Zach knew he was doomed. His hips lifted off the bed. Electricity shot down his spine. Zach poured down her throat in shuddering waves. “Fuck.”
“Mmmm.” Jo began to lick him clean.
Zach started to laugh. “Damn, sweetheart. I was planning on a sixty-nine, not a sixty-eight.”
Her ass wiggled over his face. “I’m calling in my debt.”
He slapped her ass, earning himself a gasp and an intriguing flush. “Let me see what I can do about that.”
Zach grinned and set about making her scream.
By the time he was done licking and sucking, he’d gotten her to yell twice. “Good ride?” He reached for the condom he’d tucked under the pillow, opening it and sliding it over his aching flesh.
She was panting, covered in a sheen of sweat. “The best.”
He crawled up her limp, damp body and slid his cock inside her. Listening to her find her pleasure had been a turn-on of monumental proportions. He grinned down into her startled face. “Sweetheart?”
“What?”
“Let’s go again.”
Her giggle hitched into a sigh when he began to move. Her arms lifted weakly and wrapped around his neck. “The things you do to me, Zachary Beckett, should be illegal.”
“Gods, I hope not. I just became some sort of magical cop. They might take away my badge and secret decoder ring.”
Laughter did wonderful things to her, especially when she was all pressed up against him. “Nut.”
“Your nut.”
She palmed his ass in both hands. “Damn straight.”
There was only one way to reward her for that. He began fucking her harder. He didn’t want to hear her scream.
He wanted to hear her to howl.
“Lord, yes. More, Zach.”
He groaned and gave her more, moving over her with sinuous grace, taking and giving everything she asked for. The need to feel her shudder around him overrode everything else, even his own need.
“Please.”
He stared down into her darkened eyes and wrapped himself around her. His hand cradled her head, his legs tangled with hers. He took her mouth, drank in her gasps, soaked in her pleas until she trembled under him.
He was panting, soaked in sweat, and more than ready to come inside his willing mate. “Now?”
She nodded. “Now. Gods yes, now.”
He twisted slightly, swiveled his hips, watched as his mate threw her head back and screamed out her release, his own blinding him until all he knew was Jo.
He dropped his head to her shoulder, totally spent. Her arms dropped to the mattress. He could feel her quivering around his still-throbbing cock. “God. Damn.”
Zach hugged his mate close, so happy his heart hurt. “Ditto.”
“Have a good morning?”
Jo blinked blearily at Chris as she shuffled into the kitchen some time that afternoon. She wasn’t sure she was up to reading the clock, so she hadn’t bothered to look at it. “Um.” She had been fucked within an inch of her life and her caffeine meter was running on empty. She wasn’t sure she could handle a conversation with a parakeet, let alone one of the Beckett brothers. Her voice was hoarse from screaming her head off.
God she felt good.
Chris held out a mug full of rich, steamy heaven. She lunged and snatched it out of his hands, sucking down the life-giving elixir. It was dark and rich, bitter just the way she liked it.
“Good thing I let go or I’d be missing fingers.”
Jo ignored him, content now that she had her coffee in her hands. All was right with her world.
“Zach marked you?” Jo felt Chris’s fingers brush against the new mark on her shoulder. Frowning, she moved away. She didn’t like the feeling of someone touching her wolf that way. It felt subtly wrong.
“Hey, Jo. I see you found the coffee.” Zach moved up behind her and brushed a kiss across the mark. The sensation shivered down her spine and straight to her pussy, heating her, prepping her for round two. Three? Whatever. If he kept that up he’d find himself pinned to Chris’s breakfast table and she’d be feasting on more than coffee.
“Oh hey. Welcome to the madhouse, Jo.” Lana Evans slipped past her to settle in ag
ainst Chris at the kitchen table. “Congrats on your mating.”
“Thanks.” She sipped more coffee, grateful once more to the beans of Java for the power of speech.
“Aren’t you exhausted, Zach? You used up all that power yesterday. I’d still be passed out if I’d cast that much.” Lana took hold of Chris’s coffee mug and took a sip.
Chris stared at the mug in his mate’s hand, now halfway empty. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m good.” Lana winked at Jo and took another sip.
Zach shrugged. “I’m tired, but I’m not bone tired. I think some of the energy I expended was returned to me during the ritual.” He frowned. “Something I’ve been meaning to ask. I know why a full moon, or new moon, ritual works for a wizard, but I’m a witch. How come the ritual worked so well for me? Usually I get a result from rituals but they’re muted somehow.”
Lana smiled, but Jo answered, the teacher in her kicking to the fore despite her caffeine-deprived state. “Did you use what felt right, or what you were told to use?”
“What felt right.”
“That’s why. You followed your instincts and the ritual worked just fine. If you’d tried to do it by rote, the way wizards do, your magic would have fought you.” She shuddered, thinking about the way the white candle had turned an evil green as it sucked the curse out of Zach. “I don’t even want to think about what would have happened in that case.”
“Hmm.” Zach wrapped her in his arms and instantly she felt calmed, at peace.
“We need to do something about the Godwins.” Gareth entered the kitchen, followed by Daniel. They put down bags of fast food and started handing out burgers and fries. “This hexing shit has got to stop.”
“Ahem.” Everyone turned to find a red-faced Gen standing in the doorway. “Allow me to help. Please.” Jo could tell from her tone of voice that Gen was willing to beg if necessary. It seemed wrong to see the elegant Own ready to get on her knees to make amends.
Jo made up her mind. She just hoped she could convince the others that her instincts were sound. “I think Gen should help. Having another Own, and a warlock at that, just makes sense.” She felt Zach’s arms tighten around her and focused her arguments on him. “Who better to help you stop a group of rogue warlocks? Besides, they’re her family. She knows how they think.”
