Hunted And Claimed (Wayward Mates Series Book 7)

by Delta James

  As was often the case with celebrations within the Galway pack, various members who were musicians began to play traditional Irish music. Riley saw the look of surprise on Cameron’s face when Liam handed Riley her bow and fiddle and the pack began to clamor for her to play. He stood and pulled her chair back for her.

  “The things one learns about one’s mate after he marks her,” he purred at her.

  Riley took the point of her bow and pushed at his chest.

  “Perhaps if one had asked, one would have known more,” she teased.

  “But what did I need to know other than you are my fated mate? And that I knew when I entered your loft and found you sleeping.”

  Riley blushed at the memory. That first morning at the loft was where Cameron first spanked her. She had felt his pull even then, but had tried desperately to deny it and him.

  Riley joined the other musicians and led them in several lively rounds of traditional Irish music, including a spirited rendition of ‘Galway Girl.’ Then she indicated she had something different up her sleeve. She began to play a haunting song on her fiddle. The room became quiet and everyone, including Cameron, was mesmerized both by the quality of her playing and the melody itself.

  Riley saw Aidan lean over to Cameron. Even though she was playing, she could hear him tell her mate, “That was our father’s favorite song. It was he who taught Riley to play. They say he played it for our mother the day they were paired. He played it for the last time the day they laid her in her grave. He never played it again. He didn’t last six months without her. The last time I heard it was when Riley interred them together on the cliff. I never thought to hear it played again in these halls.”

  When she’d finished there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Riley handed her fiddle off to one of the other players and walked toward Cameron. He stood and met her halfway. She felt him fold her into his embrace as she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

  “I’m sorry I was such a pain. I do love you.”

  Cameron kissed both of her eyes before kissing her deeply on the mouth.

  “I love you too, Irish. Your brother told me about the song. I hope it didn’t upset you to play it for me.”

  “No. ‘Tis my way of letting my parents know I understand what they had and have it now for my own.”

  “You do indeed, my mate. You do indeed.”

  Cameron picked her up in his arms and carried her up to their room. It wasn’t until they had reached the top and turned to head down the hall that the entire Galway pack crowded around the foot of the stairs and howled and wished them well.

  Once the door was closed, he set her down before kissing her again.

  “Don’t think I don’t recognize what you did down there. Playing that song for me was more binding that any vows said in front of your brother and Liam.”

  She found she couldn’t make words. She merely nodded before reaching up to bring his head back down to hers. Cameron took command of the kiss almost immediately. In the way she had spoken to him with her fiddle, he spoke to her with his kisses.

  They undressed each other languidly. There was no rushing or frenzied discarding of clothes, just revealing each other piece by piece.

  Riley could tell at one point Cameron was focused on suppressing the knot she knew wanted to form.

  “Don’t... please. I know you want us to be home in Texas. But this was my home for most of my life. I want you to claim me fully here where you marked me as yours. I want to feel your knot breach me for the first time in the same bed in which you marked me.”

  “It’s important to you?” he asked softly, reaching around and unclasping her hair.

  She nodded.

  As Cameron finished undressing, Riley turned back the bedcovers and got in between the sheets. Cameron turned around to see her hold open the covers. This was the first time she had invited him into their bed. He smiled.

  “I do love you, Colleen Riley Gentry Byrne Nichols.”

  “I find I rather like just being simple Riley Nichols. But fair warning, you call me Colleen, I’m calling you Jethro.”

  She started to say more, but her voice failed her when she got the first glimpse of his knot.

  “Darlin’,” he drawled, his voice filled with lust, “you can call me anything you want as long as you keep calling me to come join you in bed.”

  Riley knew he was exaggerating his drawl to make her laugh and relax. While she’d seen his fully erect cock on more than one occasion, she’d never seen it with a fully engorged knot. The tales she’d heard had failed to truly describe the size and/or intimidation factor.

  “Cameron...”

  He eased into bed with her and pulled her close.

  “It will be fine, Riley. I haven’t done anything to hurt you yet...”

  “Except spank my ass and ripping part of my throat out...”

  “Well, other than that...” He grinned at her.

  She giggled nervously.

  “You can’t honestly be afraid of a little ole knot, can you?”

  “First, it’s not all that little and second, I’m not sure that I can’t be...”

  “This from a woman who I’ve seen take down those who would have harmed her and others? A woman who has become infamous among some sectors of our society for slicing open the throats of those who have been involved in atrocities?”

  “Cam, you know you’re the only wolf I’ve ever been with and I’ve never even seen a knot until now.”

  “They aren’t much to look at. If it helps, the damn things are uncomfortable outside of your mate’s pussy and then hurt like hell when they swell inside her. I won’t lie to you. It is painful to be breached by one, but afterwards it’s the most amazing feeling, but I can wait. I don’t want to rush you. I don’t know what you girls tell each other, but men who know what they’re talking about say to take your time and make it right for her and your mate will welcome your knot on a frequent basis.”

  “But I asked you...”

  “And I’m telling you that you can change your mind. There are many, many ways we can enjoy each other. I don’t think we’ve done bad so far... do you?”

  “No,” she said, feeling somewhat shy. “I’ve never had anyone make me feel the intensity and frequency of climaxes that you do.”

  He chuckled.

  “That, my Galway Girl with the red hair and green eyes, is the true gift of the fated mate.”

  “I want to, but...”

  “Shh, Riley. If you want me to stop before I breach you, I will, but once I’ve breached you there is no going back until we’re done. I’ll try to make it as easy as I can. Do you trust me?”

  She nodded. “Curiously, even when I didn’t like you and denied what I knew to be true, you always had my trust.”

  “Then trust me now. Let me claim you in the most profound way of our kind.”

  He rolled her gently onto her back and began to coax and tease with kisses and caresses. Mostly he plundered her mouth while he fondled her breasts, focusing mostly on her nipples. He rolled them between his fingers and brought what had been stiff peaks when she’d invited him to join her to painful points that needed more attention than his fingers could offer.

  Riley soon forgot to be concerned about the size of the knot at the base of his cock. She arched her body up into his, pushing her breast into his mouth for him to lick, nip, and suck. The man was orally gifted. She bucked her hips in rhythm to his sucking. He brought one hand up to play with her other pleasure globe but then snaked it down her body to find her lower nub to tweak and rub.

  She placed her hand over the one that was delving between her legs to rub her clit harder. Her breathing became erratic and heavier as her body began its run toward her climax. Cameron moved his hand lower and began to finger her pussy. He lifted his face from her breast.

  “God, you’re wet.”

  “More,” she pleaded.

  “More than my fingers or more than just my cock? Tell me w
hat you want, Riley.”

  “You. I want you.”

  He moved to part her thighs and settled himself between them.

  “All of me? Do you want me to breach you with my knot? Do you want to know what it is to be fully and completely claimed by your mate?”

  “Yes, Cam, please.” She took his head between her hands and made him look deeply into her eyes. “I am no longer afraid. I want the gift that you offer and will return it in kind.”

  Cameron nuzzled her as he slid up her body.

  “Then yield to me, Riley, take my knot.”

  “Yes,” she sighed.

  Cameron cupped her bottom in his hands, holding her steady. The head of his cock slowly parted her labia and found the sheath that was made for it. His mouth descended on hers. He reached between them with one hand and began to rub her clit until she was just at the brink of an orgasm and then removed it back to her bottom and surged forward in one move.

  Riley had learned already that when Cameron mounted her, he made it clear who was possessing whom and her pussy gloried in his dominant control. This time was no exception. Her body offered him no resistance as his knot was forced deep inside of her. The pain was sharp, exquisite, and fleeting. As she realized he had stilled all his movement, she opened her eyes to find him looking down at her.

  His eyes had a deep glow and were filled with passion and raw lust. He nuzzled her neck and kissed his healing mark with great reverence. She cradled his head against her and felt her body relax and fully accept his knot. As she did, it began to swell and Cameron inhaled sharply.

  “All of nature has balance, Riley. As you feel pain when the knot breaches you, so I feel pain as it swells to seal you to me.”

  “But does your pain give way to the most amazing sensation of fullness and just right?”

  He grinned. “Yes, my sweet, beloved mate, it does.”

  He began to softly move his hips, causing his cock to rock within her. Not a true stroking motion, but a rocking one that moved them both. Riley swore she could feel the head of his cock touch the end of her channel. She was filled by both girth and length and her entrance was sealed to him.

  The first orgasm took her by surprise with how swiftly it arose and how completely it engulfed her. She felt as though her spirit were soaring with no tether to her physical body. The seductive rumbling Cameron made called it back and then he began to rock her to a second even more intense climax. That one had barely hit its peak and started to subside before another rushed forward, pushing it out of its way to achieve its own summit.

  As the third of her orgasms subsided, Cameron began to rock her with a speed and ferocity she would not have dreamed possible. Riley clung to him in desperation and called to him to take everything she offered and to give to her that part of him that would fill her completely and give them both the release and satisfaction they needed. Once again, she felt herself free in time and space where nothing existed except this man and his need for her complete surrender. She gave it to him without reserve and reveled when he began to pump torrents of his cum into her, filling her more than she thought possible. She knew that had her entrance not been sealed by the swollen knot, she could not have contained it all.

  As she floated back down into her body, she felt Cameron nuzzling her neck, whispering in her ear, and kissing her repeatedly. He was resting on his forearms so as to not make her bear all of his weight. He watched her intently.

  She happily wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting herself to kiss him deeply before relaxing back on the bed.

  “Put me down for the frequent flyer program.”

  Cameron made the noise she had found unique to him. It was a half chuckle/half seductive growl. She rather thought it might be her favorite sound in all the world.

  “I see,” he said. “I’m awfully glad to hear that because after your response, there was no way I was only going to get to do that once a month. Now do you see why I wanted to wait? We can’t go into seclusion here and I’m not quite sure how I’m going to be able to wait for the length of time it takes to fly from here home to Texas.”

  Riley giggled. “Were you not paying attention? Jean-Michel’s plane has a bed in the back. Send our men home on a commercial jet and you can knot and tie me all the way to Texas.”

  “I knew there was a reason I was fated to a strategic thinker,” he laughed.

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe I had convinced myself I was going to live without that.”

  He nuzzled her softly. “You’d never experienced it. You had no idea what you were missing.”

  “What a fool I was to think a human could make me feel what I feel with you.”

  “That, sweetheart, is because I’m your fated mate. I do wish your first time with me had been more loving than punishing.”

  “Don’t, Cam. You didn’t know... neither did I. And in some ways it was better because I knew in no uncertain terms that you were stronger and that I had no choice but to yield to you. I’m almost sorry I put you through all I did.”

  “Almost?” He grinned at her. “In some ways I’m glad you did. I learned a lot about you chasing you all over Europe. I learned the kind of skill and tenacity you have. I learned about the size of your heart and the strength of your will. And I learned I didn’t want to exist without you at my side.”

  She nuzzled the hollow of his throat. “For what it’s worth, I learned the same. Each time I left you, it was harder than the last. I so wanted to despise you for chasing me, for catching me, for spanking me—Jesus, that hurts!”

  He laughed. “It’s supposed to when you’re getting punished for something.”

  “I know. And that was the worst part, I knew you had every right to spank me even though I didn’t want you to. Tell me what our people are like. Are they going to hate me for being so awful to you?”

  He shook his head. “Quite the contrary. They will love your spirit as I do. And when they see you have realized I am your fated mate and have come home to them, they will love you almost as much as I do.”

  Nothing had ever felt more right than being tied to Cameron. It was as though she could feel his strength and power wrapping around her to keep her safe, secure, and loved. He told her about their home and asked about her restaurant. He assured her that if she wanted to continue on with it, he was fine provided one of their pack took her to and from and was stationed in it to keep her safe. He assured her that once they had destroyed those who threatened the women of the shifter society, that he would reconsider some of his more protective measures.

  Riley had fussed at him at first, but realized the futility of arguing with him when she was tied to him. She realized he wasn’t implying she couldn’t take care of herself or might try to flee from him, but that he just didn’t want her at risk anymore. He pointed out most of their females were confined to the ranch until the danger was over.

  They talked of their pasts, what was going on currently, and what they each wanted for the future. It pleased and reassured both of them that they had similar dreams and goals and both looked to a time where women of their species and human females no longer needed to fear being treated as chattel.

  As the swelling in his knot began to subside, Riley asked him, “Do you really love me?”

  Seeing how her eyes were dancing with merriment, she was quite certain Cameron knew she was teasing him.

  “You know I do.”

  “Good. Then can I have your appaloosa gelding? That is an amazing horse. He’s almost as much fun to have my legs wrapped around as you.”

  Cameron laughed at her. “Sweetheart, if you really want my gelding, consider him yours, but I think if you put an English saddle on him, he’s going to dump your cute little butt.”

  “Nope, I want my own western saddle. Yours was too big. I want to learn to be a cowgirl. Will you teach me to rope and handle cattle?”

  He nodded. Fact was, he was quite certain she’d be good at it.

  “We will get you your own
saddle made and I’ll make sure it fits your new gelding.”

  “You’re serious... I can have him? Next to this knotting and tying thing, best bonding gift ever!”

  Cameron laughed again. “How’d you get him not to dump you in the first place?”

  “I’m Irish. We have a way with horses. I kind of lied to you about not liking horses and not being able to ride...”

  “I figured that much out,” he teased.

  “I could ride before I could walk. And the idea of riding out with you every morning to start the day has a lot of appeal. How many will I be cooking for at the ranch?”

  “We have staff for that. And our cook is actually a classically trained chef from Napa Valley in California. She’s looking forward to getting some training and instruction from you and is nervous as hell about you being mistress of the pack—that she’ll disappoint you. By the way, one of the women you saved was a friend of hers. You’ll find you have a lot of fans in our pack—male and female.”

  “Not to worry, Cam. I’m not one of those snooty chefs. I’d be happy to work with her and happy to let her do the majority of the cooking... except on her birthday. On her birthday, I will cook her celebration dinner. Do you...”

  “We, Riley. You’re one of us now.”

  She grinned. “Do we celebrate birthdays in a big way? If we don’t, we’re going to start.”

  “We haven’t but I think that’s a grand idea. We used to do a kind of monthly thing...”

  “Nope. Individual unless two folks share the same day. But I want them all to know we’re glad they are a part of our,” she stressed the word, “pack.”

  “We’ve grown quite a bit in the last year. If you can, I’d like you to take a look at our staff and see if it’s adequate. I don’t want people overworked. How about I take care of the livestock side of running the ranch and you take care of the people. Not as an omega. Sam is our omega...”

  “I remember, Cam. And he’s mated to your little sister.”

  “Yes, and you are not to encourage her bratty behavior. I’m hopeful that Sam has finally gotten a handle on her and is making her behave.”

  “Ah, so my brother is not the only alpha with a misbehaving sister.”