by Ruby Shae
Gage nodded once and changed back into his human form.
“I have to say, Gage, that’s a neat little trick,” Dave commented.
“Yeah, it comes in handy on occasion,” Gage laughed.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. You two head on home and I’ll call this in. Don’t forget the meeting tonight.”
“We won’t forget. Thank you, Dave…for everything,” Gage added.
“Not a problem. I look forward to working with you again soon.”
Dave turned and walked to his squad car and Gage picked up Kate and carried her to his truck.
“I can walk, Gage. I’m okay.”
“Yes, you can, but I’m not letting you get away this time.”
“Did you mean what you said back there? I’m your mate?”
“Yes, Katie. You’re mine.”
He placed her in the truck, fastened her seat belt and drove them home. This time he wouldn’t let her out of his sight until she understood her place, and what it meant to be his.
Chapter Five
Kate stared out the window, exhausted, as Gage drove them to his home. So much had happened and it wasn’t even lunch time yet. She closed her eyes and mentally berated herself for letting her insecurities take over her normal rational thoughts. Even though Gage hadn’t said the words, if she’d been paying attention, she would have asked more questions and figured out he’d meant to keep her.
Instead, she fled and put them both in danger. She hated that she’d forced him to show his bear and attack Tom, but she didn’t take responsibility for Tom’s death. In the sheriff’s office, Dave had relayed some of the things he’d found in the man’s home. If the pictures were telling the story, Tom had been obsessed with her since she’d arrived in town.
She shuddered at the thought of him watching her all that time.
“You okay? Do you want me to turn up the heat?” Gage asked.
“I’m okay, just thinking about what Dave had said earlier.”
“He won’t hurt you again, Katie. You’re safe now.”
“I know,” she smiled. “Thank you. I’m sorry I ran from you.”
“It’s partly my fault, too, but we’re going to set some ground rules when we get home.”
She hated that her body reacted in a sexual way to his warning, but all she could think about was his hand on her ass and how much she liked it. Would he smack her again? Punish her for running off? Her cheeks heated and betrayed her thoughts.
“You want me to spank you again, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she looked out the window again to hide her smile.
“Liar,” he laughed. “I have no problem smacking your luscious ass, but we’re going to talk first and this time when I ask if you understand, I’ll know that you actually do.”
He parked the truck in front of the house and got out.
“Don’t move.”
He walked around to her door and opened it, then released her seat belt as though she were a child.
“I’m not a child, Gage.”
“Oh really?” he said, lifting her over his shoulder in the fireman’s hold again.
“Gage! Put me down!”
Smack!
“No, I don’t think I will,” he had the nerve to laugh.
“Oh my God, Gage! If you fall, I’ll land face first on the cement.”
“I shoveled and de-iced the walk this morning and it hasn’t been hot enough to melt the snow, or cold enough to refreeze any left over water.”
Smack!
“What was that for?” she squeaked and squirmed again. Heat flooded her core and dampened her panties.
“You should know by now that I would never compromise your safety. Now quit wigging around.”
She gave in and let him carry her in the house like a sack of potatoes. When they were safe inside, he set her down in the living room and started unbuttoning his flannel shirt.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Striping. You should do the same.”
The heat in his gaze moved her to take off her coat and scarf.
“I thought we were talking first.”
“We are,” he pulled his t-shirt off and bared his smooth, sculpted chest. “But when we’re done talking, we’re fucking, and it won’t take me long to say what I have to say.”
She removed her sweater, revealing the tank top she wore underneath. He groaned when she pulled the tank over her head to reveal her lacy bra. She never wore the lacy set, but when he’d brought the clothes from her apartment, he’d chosen sexy over her basic white. Her nipples hardened when he’d said fucking and poked through the thin material. Though the room was warm, his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She didn’t want to talk anymore.
Gage unzipped his jeans and pushed the material down his legs, then used his feet to step out of them. His hard cock jutted toward her, tenting his green and blue boxers. She stared at the invitation and grasped her lower lip with her teeth.
“Take off your pants, Katie.”
She did as he asked and tried not to fidget as he raked his gaze over her body.
“I want you, Katie, like I’ve never wanted another woman and I’ve been searching for a long time. I always knew I needed someone who could handle the bear and the man, in and out of the bedroom, and you are perfect. You are smart, loving, caring and I love feeling your soft curves against me as I sink into your warmth. I don’t want anyone else. Will you be my mate and live with me for eternity?”
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.
“Be sure, because once I mark you, you can’t change your mind. You will become immortal, like me, and be tied to me forever. I’ll never look at another woman and you’ll never date another man. You’ll be mine, Katie, and I’ll never let you go.”
His description sounded fantastic and she wanted to be his more than ever.
“I’m sure,” she whispered, then raised her voice so there would be no mistaking her agreement. “Please mark me, Gage, make me yours forever.”
He came at her with the same speed he’d used to charge at his enemy earlier and she yelped when he picked her up and pressed her against the wall behind them.
He held her in place with his hips, his cock pressing against her clit, and devoured her mouth. She could only hold onto his shoulders as he slid his tongue between her lips and kissed her with the intensity of a man faced with the possibility of losing his mate. She accepted his need to brand her and kissed him back with the same amount of passion.
He pulled back to look at her, but kept his hips in place.
“Who do you belong to?”
“You. Always you.”
“That’s right,” he moved his hips so his cock glided across her clit. “I love you, Katie.”
“Oh Gage, I love you, too.”
He supported her ass with one hand and pushed off the wall with the other. She tightened her hold around his neck and linked her ankles together on his lower back. The position pushed his cock against her clit with every step into the bedroom.
“Gage! Please stop teasing.”
He stopped next to the bed and eased her down his body. Her clit ached from the hard pressure of his cock and her pussy pulsed, begging him to enter.
“Get on your hands and knees, honey.”
She turned to crawl toward the center of the bed and he ripped her panties off and smacked her ass. He removed his boxers and joined her on the bed. He pressed down between her shoulder blades and she lowered to rest her weight on her forearms.
Her ass waited in the air, bared for him, and she didn’t care.
“I need to fuck you now, Katie. I can’t wait or go slow.”
He didn’t wait for her response. His hands grasped her hips and he rammed his cock deep inside her soaking wet core. The different angle meant he touched her in different places, and she gasped at the intrusion. He didn’t give her time to adjust and she moaned each time he pulled out and
pushed his thickness deep inside her.
He slapped her ass and moved faster, causing her moan to become one continuous cry as she let go and he mercilessly slid back and forth along the soft walls of her pussy. He leaned over, covering her back with his front, and placed a finger on her clit at the same time his teeth sank deep into her skin. His finger circled the hot button and he growled with his jaw still locked on the juncture between her neck and shoulder. The animalistic sound sent a shock wave of electricity through her and she came again as his cock pulsed deep inside her.
Slowly, he retracted his canines and licked her wound before placing a kiss on the sore spot. He withdrew from her pussy slowly and she felt every movement until they were no longer connected. She collapsed on the bed, unable to move.
Gage left briefly and returned with a warm washcloth. He urged her onto her back and wiped her thighs and pussy clean before rejoining her on the bed and pulling her against him.
She fell asleep with her head on his chest and a smile on her lips.
***
Gage slept for a couple of hours, but he woke when he sensed another presence in the room. He looked around and realized it wasn’t another presence, but another energy, and there were two of them. They’d had sex without a condom a second time and Kate was pregnant with twins.
He couldn’t hide his smile or the warmth that wrapped around his heart. He remembered they hadn’t discussed the consequences of unprotected sex and he hoped she wouldn’t be angry.
He’d waited a long time for a family and couldn’t wait to see her stomach swell and grow with their children, but Kate hadn’t known about mates and matings until the previous day. After everything that had happened yesterday and the day before, he decided to wait on sharing the news. He didn’t want to overwhelm her with the addition of children so soon.
“Wake up, sleepy head.” He kissed the top of her head. “We need to eat and get ready to go into town.”
“Mmm… I’d rather stay in bed with you,” she whispered and inched closer to him.
Her sultry voice was like a siren and he wanted nothing more than to do her bidding, but he couldn’t right now.
“Trust me. I’d like that, too, but right now we have to get up.”
“Are you sure? Wouldn’t you rather stay here naked? With me?
“Of course, but I’ll have you all night and this meeting is important.”
When she didn’t budge, he leaned over and licked her bite mark from their earlier lovemaking.
“Oh, God,” she sat up. “Did you just lick my mate mark?”
“It’s supposed to be an erogenous zone. Is it?” He’d heard rumors, but he honestly didn’t know.
“Uh, yeah,” she straddled his waist and leaned down to kiss him. “Now you’re my prisoner. How much time do we have?”
“None. I need to feed you and get you to that meeting.”
“No fair,” she pouted and slid her tongue across his closed lips.
Smack!
His palm landed playfully on her ass. She gasped and arched her back, giving him better access as she licked one of his nipples.
Smack!
She laughed and grazed her teeth over his sensitive skin.
“You’re a brat,” he flipped her on her back and kissed her as he slid his cock inside her wet pussy. “But still so wet for me.”
“Always. Fuck me now, Gage, and hurry. We don’t want to be late.”
He did as she commanded and an hour later they sat in the assembly hall with the rest of the town. When they got dressed, she’d put on the clothes she’d bought at the mall and he’d seen the lacy chemise and panties she’d purchased as well.
“Did you buy these for our date?”
When she admitted she had, he smacked her ass again and made her wear the panties to the meeting. Of course, she didn’t have much of a choice considering he’d ripped her other pair, but she didn’t seem to remember that at the time. She pulled on the panties and he’d knelt down to kiss her mound. She’d stopped him before it went any further, but later that night he would make love to her pussy again.
He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss against her bite mark and she smiled and shifted closer to him. The mark had bruised slightly, but the discoloration would fade within the week and become barely noticeable to others. It would be a secret they shared that only other shifters would recognize.
The news that surfaced at the town meeting had been upsetting. Several people had been touched by the old sheriff’s evil and none of the community seemed to mourn his death. Gage had worried they’d fear the bear was a man hungry murderer, but no one batted an eye at the news of how he died. They were just relieved he was gone.
Most of the residents hadn’t mentioned anything about their troubles with the sheriff because they’d been embarrassed or didn’t want the town to find out about their circumstances.
A few had needed money to pay the bills after a slow season, but others were trifle things that had escalated into more when the sheriff had offered aid. The scenarios ranged from unpaid parking tickets in the next town over, to a speeding ticket a man wanted hidden from his wife. Everyone who sought out the sheriff for help, or had been approached by the man with seemingly good intentions, had been blackmailed in one way or another.
All of the incidents seemed trivial to Gage. He’d never think less of his neighbors for the petty things they’d tried to hide, but he understood why they did it.
On the ride over to the meeting, he’d talked with Kate again about the sheriff’s job. She’d encouraged him to take it, and when the town’s people nominated him, he’d accepted.
The job started on Monday, and that meant he only had the weekend to love Kate’s body without any interruptions and somehow move her into his home. When he thought about it, the moving could wait. He’d give her the chance to redecorate first, and then they could bring over her things. A few of their friends would help if asked, but he’d let Kate decide how she wanted to handle it. It didn’t matter to him as long as she remained happy.
She’d given him herself and the only other thing he wanted right now was a weekend of uninterrupted sex with his mate.
Of course, the following weekend he would want the same thing.
Chapter Six
One month later…
Kate watched the plus sign on the stick blur and she closed her eyes. A single tear slipped down her face and she swiped it away with the back of her hand. She knew it made sense, they hadn’t used protection once, but the news still surprised her.
Would she make a good mom? Could someone who had been moved around as much as she had love a child? She pushed the stupid thought out of her head and turned to the side, pulling her shirt tight against her large stomach, and studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Whether or not she could love her children wasn’t the issue. She loved Gage deeply and she knew she would love her children as well. Her worries lied with her mate.
Would Gage still love her when her stomach swelled larger with more weight? She didn’t doubt his love, but they’d never discussed pregnancy and children. Did he want children? Would he leave her if he didn’t? Could he? Or would he stay and resent her for the rest of their lives?
No! Gage loves you unconditionally.
She chastised herself and put the stick back in the box and threw everything away. She knew Gage’s love wouldn’t die or fade if she gained weight or had children. Her hormones already seemed out of control. Until today, she hadn’t doubted his love once since he marked her.
The last month had passed easily as they melded their lives. Gage started the job as sheriff the Monday after the town meeting, and had already implemented some plans for the community to help each other move forward and put the past behind them. He was a natural leader and perfect for the job.
She still worked for Randy, but had dropped down to a part-time employee. She’d offered to stay on full-time until they found someone to replace her, but he and
his wife declined her offer. They wanted her and Gage to have plenty of time to enjoy their honeymoon phase and bring them grandchildren as soon as possible. They had always treated her special, but their words warmed her heart.
It looked like they would get their wish sooner than later.
“Katie, I’m home.”
She took a deep breath and left the bathroom to face her husband, anxious to get it over with and tell him the news. The sight of him made her pause.
She already thought him handsome and sexy, but seeing him in his uniform added a whole other level of hot. She knew every woman in town had noticed how the material hugged his muscles and molded against him when he moved.
The reminder sent her doubts running wild again and she stood in place, picking at a loose string on the couch, instead greeting him with her usual kiss.
He toed off his shoes and started unbuttoning his shirt.
“I want you. I have something to tell you, and then I’m going to fuck you hard and smack your ass just how you like.”
She smiled, but didn’t look at him.
“What’s wrong?” he stilled with his shirt half way down his arms.
“Nothing.”
“Katie, look at me.”
She did and he pulled his shirt back on, crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.
“What happened? Are you okay?”
She held on tighter than she ever had before.
“I’m fine, but I have something to tell you, too,” she mumbled against his chest.
He pushed her back and studied her face.
“Is this about the babies?”
“You know?”
“Yes, I’ve known since our second time together. I didn’t tell you because so much had happened leading up to that day, I didn’t want to add on the extra stress right away. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me.”
“I only suspected a week ago. Are you okay with it?”
“Okay? I’m more than okay. I’m perfect. You’re giving me everything I ever wanted. What about you?”
