by Amelia Jade
“So you didn’t tell me, because you think it would have scared me off?”
“Essentially, yes. I know the concept of love at first sight exists in humans, but in shifters that’s a quite literal definition of how it goes with our mates. I have loved you since that first day we went jogging together,” he said, finally allowing himself to speak the truth. “Every day since then has been the best day of my life, and also the worst as I’ve seen what my courtship of you has put you through. I do not know what I did to get such a strong and intelligent woman, but I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make up for losing your dream. I would even give you up if it got your dream back, but since I already got yelled at for that once, I’m not going to bring that up as a suggestion.”
Karri giggled, the first noise she’d made in a while. It was an encouraging sign, he thought. She wasn’t freaking out and trying to pull away from him.
“Good, I’m glad.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I think my father is going to come around. I went over to his place and we had a really good, long chat. Something I think I’ve been avoiding since Mom disappeared as much as he has. I don’t know if he’ll ever see me the same way he would if I were a male, but I think I can convince him to turn the company over to me in the end.”
“Really?” he asked, elated to hear that. “That’s fantastic! You let me know what you need. Whatever it is, even if it’s staying out of sight while he’s around, I’ll do it.”
She kissed his arm. “I know you will. That’s why you’re amazing. That’s why I care about you so much.”
He looked over at her, cupping her chin and lifting it so that two pairs of blue eyes met.
“I care about you a lot too,” he said slowly, never looking away. “A lot.” He paused. “I love you, Karri. I love you so much.”
There was no hesitation in her reply. “I love you too.”
She lifted herself up to him, then allowed herself to fall into the kiss as he pulled her on top of him, leaning back onto the bed so that they could be at equal levels without anyone breaking their neck. For the longest time they just kissed and repeated the three sweetest words he’d ever heard.
It didn’t take long for the proximity and constant contact to change that though, and her hands began to tug frantically at his shirt at almost the same instant his fingers wrapped around her hips to grab her rear, squeezing it.
No words were said as they frantically undressed each other, rolling around and sitting up as necessary to disrobe in the easiest, if not sexiest, manner. Finally free of clothing, he rolled on top of her, admiring her slim body. Andrew was well aware that Karri didn’t think of herself as feminine, but he didn’t see it that way. Her small perky breasts practically begged for his mouth on them, and as her hand clamped around the back of his neck she arched her back, pulling him in tight.
Andrew felt his cock stiffen to its fullest, aroused by the noises of pleasure from his mate as she spread her legs around him, inviting him inside of her.
“I want you so bad,” she breathed into his ear, flicking her tongue along the outside of it.
Andrew shivered and gripped the bed tightly as bolts of lightning raced down his spine from her touch. She stroked his sides with her nails and hot air washed over his skin from her breath, leaving a trail of fire wherever it went.
Lining himself up with her opening, he gripped his shaft tightly and teased her with the tip, rubbing it up and down until she begged for him inside her. Her eyes were frantic, scrunched up as they looked up at him, needing what he was about to give her. Andrew hadn’t thought he could get any harder, but that sight proved him wrong.
Without another delay he pushed himself inside of her, feeling the way her walls moved around him, their tightness squeezing hard against his side. He took it slow, not wanting to hurt her. Karri had other ideas though, and she quickly began thrusting her hips at him, trying to capture more of his length with every move. Sensing she didn’t need as much warming up today, he pushed the rest of the way inside of her in one smooth move.
“Oh shit,” Karri hissed. He watched as she slid a hand between her legs and began to move her finger in circles. No more than a handful of seconds later he felt her insides contract around him as she jerked and spasmed through a powerful climax. “Fuck me,” she ordered as she fell back onto the bed.
His hips rose and fell automatically, sliding his hard cock in and out of her with piston-like regularity, building her up once more. As she recovered from her climax he increased the tempo, his face close to hers as they kissed hard and frequently. The only sounds were her moans and his growls.
“Oh Andrew,” she gasped at one point. “I’m so close.”
“Me too,” he groaned. “I can’t last…”
“Don’t,” she hissed. “Go. Now. I’m going to—”
Her words transitioned into a wordless cry of ecstasy as he exploded inside of her, the flexing of her own climax drawing forth everything he had inside of her. They crashed into each other crazily, both overwhelmed by the power of the moment.
“Karri,” he whispered, slumping down over her body, spent.
“My Andrew,” she said, her nails scratching lightly over his back.
He kissed her neck softly while they lay there together, until she fell asleep under him. Smiling, he slid off of her, draping one arm across her chest until he too promptly passed out.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Karri
“Okay Tina, send him in,” she said, releasing the intercom button on the phone.
Damn it feels good to be back.
It had taken two weeks, but eventually her father had come to his senses. It had helped that, much to everyone’s surprise, Liam had told her that that he didn’t want the company. Not yet at least. He’d admitted he wasn’t ready, that he had some living to do first, and maybe afterward he’d want to come work there. With Karri as his boss. All of the signs had finally penetrated her father’s dense brain, and he’d brought her back. Now she was in the driver’s seat and he was relinquishing more and more control to her on a daily basis.
A month, maybe two, and he’d be no more than an advisor most likely. She didn’t care though. He could stay as long as he wanted. In the end after all, it was he who had started the company. She wasn’t going to run him out of it. Not now. Not after everything was going her way. After tonight, it would all be perfect.
Her mind drifted away, back to when Andrew had first told her about the mating ritual. She’d thought it odd, but the prospective of being able to live for several more centuries with him at her side was far too enticing to pass up. She’d jumped at the chance. Especially once he’d told her all the other added benefits, like an increased healing system—though nowhere like his, but still above anything a normal human could boast, immunity to most known diseases, and slightly sharpened reflexes and stronger muscles. Again, nothing that would make her superhuman, but enough that she would notice it, he’d said.
And all I have to do is have one of his feathers embedded under my skin. From what she understood it was a bit more complicated than that, but he hadn’t been willing to share everything with her. He’d said some of it would have to be a surprise, and she’d have to discover it for herself. Karri had no idea what that meant, but he’d promised her it was nothing bad, and nothing that would change her life completely. Not any more so than all of the other things at least.
So now she smiled and rose to greet the man coming into her office. It was time to put her personal life aside. A shark-like smile crossed her face, only growing wider as the salesman paused slightly at the sight of it. He was here to try and sell her something, which meant that they were about to engage in her favorite activity.
It was time to negotiate.
***************
This concludes Wing Her Over. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did
Furred Lines
A Fated Mate Romance
By Amelia Jade
Furred L
ines
Copyright @ 2017 by Amelia Jade
First Electronic Publication: November 2017
Amelia Jade
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s permission.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
All sexual activities depicted occur between consenting characters 18 years or older who are not blood related.
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Furred Lines
One
Aiden
He glided up to the compound, as silent as death.
There was no need for stealth; all the scents were familiar to him, and none of the warning lights were lit. No, his near-silent movements were simply a matter of habit. Truthfully, he wasn’t being all that quiet, what with his flanks heaving the way they were. He struggled to bring his lungs under control, but after the wild run he’d just been on, it was going to take time to calm down.
The cool stone of the courtyard came underfoot, and he was home. Surrounded by the high stone walls, a feeling of familiarity washed over him. Not safety—never safety in a pack house—but as close to it as he was ever going to be.
With a mental decision, the large lupine creature shivered and then suddenly was replaced by a naked human. He was on his knees, forearms resting on the ground. The muscles in his back flexed and contracted wildly as he heaved for breath, unable to stay as quiet in this form as his animal. But long practice worked in his favor, and the tortured complaints of his respiratory system soon eased.
Standing up, he padded forward across the rear courtyard toward one of four stone obelisks that rose up between the entryway and the house itself. Reaching one, he slipped two fingers into a notch and pulled. The beautifully fitted stone door swung out easily on its hinges and he pulled a robe of luxurious cloth from within before closing it. The garment was dyed a deep, rich purple that had the look of royalty to it.
Clasping it in one hand, he walked over to the large fountain in the middle of the courtyard. The simple design was circular. The water spouted from the mouths of four stone wolves standing back to back, facing the four primary compass points. The features of the carved spouts were so finely detailed a master sculptor would be jealous.
But Aiden ignored all that as he plunked the robe down on the thick ledge that ran all around the overly deep catch basin. He glanced around, and then hopped over and into the pool. Water that wasn’t warm, but wasn’t freezing slipped over his body, washing clean the sweat from his pores. He relaxed into it, running a hand across his skin to help clean it deeper.
“Ahhh,” he said quietly, glad that for once he was out here alone and uninterrupted.
If Rayne had been there, the entire thing would have been—
“What the fuck are you doing?”
Ruined.
“Hello, Rayne,” he said languidly, opening his eyes and giving an equally lazy wave. “What brings you out to ruin my day this time?”
Don’t do it. You know you shouldn’t taunt him. Mack said to leave off on each other.
“God, put some clothes on.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “We’re fucking werewolves. What kind of frea—”
He stopped as the pack’s second-in-command narrowed his eyes, daring him to finish his sentence.
“—freedoms should we expect to lose if we lose this one?” he finished.
It was a lame attempt, but the point was more that he tried, not that he was successful. That in itself was a change in the right direction. Before Mack’s last warning, he would have just kept taunting the other shifter, despite his higher rank.
After all, I can’t help it if Rayne is an idiot. That’s not my fault.
“Why are you out here?”
“Because I’m not inside.”
Rayne glared at him. “No more games, funny guy. What were you doing beyond the walls?”
Aiden sighed. “You realize leaving the compound isn’t against the rules, right? But,” he said, smiling cheerfully, “just for you, I’ll tell you what I was doing.”
He closed his eyes and sank back into the water, letting it cleanse his face.
Fingers closed around his ankle and yanked him closer to the edge of the fountain bath. Aiden’s eyes flew open at the unwanted interruption and touching of his person.
“What the fuck was that for?” he snarled.
“Because, you little shit, I can tell you’re trying to get the best of me. But the jokes on you. You’re the one who needs to be careful. One word from me and it’s buh-bye for you. So tell me what you were up to.”
His temper flared and Aiden splashed to his feet, water soaking up over the ledge and drenching the robe. He stood there naked, lips pulled back and teeth bared as he growled at the other man.
Rayne matched him, his arms slightly pulled behind him as he leaned forward, spitting and snarling in return. The two of them stood like that for several seconds, issuing challenges and taking the mettle of the other. It wouldn’t be the first time they had clashed. Nor would it likely be the last. Rayne had had it out for Aiden from the moment he’d joined the pack.
Probably recognizes competition when he sees it.
Just to irritate him some more, Aiden started swaying his hips back and forth from left to right. The movement produced some rather interesting movement of his junk.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Rayne snapped, his eyes momentarily distracted.
“Ha! You looked!” he crowed, doing whatever he could to make the situation uncomfortable.
Aiden didn’t have a problem with nudity. He was a werewolf; it came with the territory. Any time they shifted, they were naked, or prepared to lose the clothes they were wearing. Which meant when they shifted back…you guessed it, nudity! He’d seen more dicks than he could count. Which could sound bad, when taken the wrong way.
“Not much to look at,” Rayne shot back.
He growled angrily, knowing he shouldn’t be irked by the insult, but angry about it nonetheless.
Rayne began to taunt him. “You just gonna stand there and take it, aren’t you?”
Aiden simply stared, willing his temper down.
“You’re no better than a bitch in heat, taking everything she can get.”
He launched himself at Rayne, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. The pair bounced and rolled across the stone courtyard, the individual pieces ripping patches of skin from Aiden’s naked body even as he struggled for position with Rayne. One particularly rough patch of stone tore a large patch of skin from his back. Aiden yelped more in surprise than anything.
Rayne took advantage of the opening, slamming a forearm into his neck and pressing down with all his weight. Aiden was too experienced to fall for that though. He simply brought a knee up and into Rayne’s rear end. It didn’t knock his opponent away, but it forced him forward.
Right into range of Aiden’s head. He connected perfectly, right onto the bridge of the nose of his pack’s second-in-command. Rayne reeled from the unexpected blow and Aiden was able to use this to fling himself free. There wa
s a snarl midair and clothing exploded as Rayne shifted.
He contemplated the white wolf streaked with charcoal for a split second before initiating the change himself. He could feel his body shiver, the precursor to the change, and a moment later he was three feet lower to the ground and standing on all fours. Aiden stepped forward, noting the deep black fur that covered his legs now as he and Rayne stalked each other in a slow circle around the courtyard.
There were lights on in the pack house now, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before someone came out to see what all the noise was. Fights weren’t uncommon when you housed nine werewolves in one building, but that didn’t stop them from always being a big spectacle.
Shit.
The single word summed things up quite nicely he felt. A spectacle was exactly the last thing he wanted just then. Because that meant it would draw the attention of Mack. And the Alpha had made it fairly clear he didn’t want to even know that Aiden existed for the new few weeks.
That had been yesterday.
But he couldn’t back down from the challenge now that it had been issued. And dammit! He was sick and fucking tired of Rayne always strutting around like he was some sort of gift from God. Aiden knew he could take him. This time he was going to prove it. It wasn’t like it would change how much shit he got in from fighting Rayne. Again. So he may as well go all out and prove to everyone that he was better than his tormentor.
