Werewolves & Whiskers: Sawtooth Peaks Wolf Shifter Romance Box Set

by Keira Blackwood

  Trailing my fingers down the ridges of his powerful chest, I stopped at his belt and struggled to release him. My thighs ached, ready for him to fill me, desperate for the pleasure that only he could provide.

  Lance removed his mouth from my breast, leaving me cold and exposed to the icy air. Goosebumps blanketed my bare skin, then he moved to the other breast, and put his hand on the first. His mouth moved, and it was even better than before, with his fingers massaging my tender tissue. I pressed my hips up into his, then unclasped his fly. Coils of bliss penetrated down through me, settling between my legs and increasing my need.

  Slowly pulling away, Lance stood before me and dropped his pants to the floor. He leaned down and slid my heels off, one at a time, then my pants. Standing over my naked body, he smiled widely as he devoured me with his eyes.

  “You are so beautiful.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” I said, appreciating each defined muscle of his athletic frame. “Come back down here with me,” I begged.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  I had never wanted anyone the way I wanted Lance, never been so sure I wanted to spend every day of the rest of my life with someone. The answer was easy.

  “Yes.” I touched my neck where Stratton had put his mark, where Dashiell had inflicted his.

  Lance watched me, then traced my scars with tender fingertips.

  “Not there,” I said.

  He nodded. There was no need to explain, he understood what I needed, and what I couldn’t take. Lance was sensitive to my feelings, as he always was. He moved his hand to the other side, then looked at me as if for approval. I nodded.

  Propping myself up on my hands, I met his mouth with mine. His lips were tender, a feeling I looked forward to enjoying the rest of my life. Parting my mouth with his tongue, he moved slowly, softly into me. I rolled my tongue over his, savoring the tender embrace, and wondering what he would do next.

  He kissed down the side of my neck, over my scars, then placed one peck on the other side, the side that would bear his mark. I reached down and wrapped my fingers around his length, and he smiled. He was hard, but the skin was soft. I slid my fist downward and watched his face soften as he gave in to me.

  I ached to feel him inside of me, to be filled by his massive length. I pushed him down on his back, then straddled him. He reached up and touched me, tickling between my wet folds. I bent down onto his tip. As he expertly moved his nimble fingers on my clit, I slid down onto him, stretching gloriously as he filled me inch by inch. Each time I moved down, the sensation of him was overwhelming. When I pulled back up, I needed more still. My tunnel adjusted to him until he filled me with his entire length. His fingers sped and my vision began to blur. Pressing down harder and faster, I knew I was close. I needed to keep the pace, desperately so, but I knew this wasn’t how we were to mate. To finish, he would have to be behind me, like the union between our wolf brethren.

  “I don’t know if I can hold on much longer,” I gasped. “Maybe we should,” I started, but it was too late. One last thrust and pleasure coursed through me, radiating from where we connected. I settled my hips down onto his, and sank onto his chest as aftershocks of ecstasy drained my energy.

  “That was,” I started, resting on his chest and looking up into his fierce, sapphire eyes. “Wow. But we didn't turn, and you didn’t mark me.”

  He smiled. “We will. Are you ready?”

  Focusing on the pleasure, I hadn’t considered going for another round. I slid up off of him, and found him still hard and ready.

  “Yes,” I said, and climbed on hands and knees. It took all of my strength to hold my weight, but I needed to do this.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I followed his gaze to my shaking arms.

  “Mmmhmm,” I said between ragged breaths.

  I waited, but he didn’t press in. Lance placed his hands on my hips and I braced myself for him, but he gently pulled me upright. I looked back as he sat down on his knees behind me, and gently lowered me onto his lap. His firm tip pressed into me, lighting every nerve aflame.

  I gasped as he filled me deeper than before, pressing farther into me and stretching me past what I thought was possible. It was uncomfortable only for a moment, then my body ached for him to move me.

  “But this…” I started.

  “Is for us,” he said. “And this will be easier for you.”

  He lifted me easily with his hands on my hips, moving me up and down his huge length. After just one stroke up and back down, I knew it wouldn’t take long to reach my climax again.

  “I’m so close already,” I gasped.

  “Good,” he growled, and lifted me harder and faster than before.

  I moaned with pleasure as he lifted me up and down, each movement more intense than the last. After only a few moments, the blinding pressure built between my legs, and flowed through my body, a flood of bliss affecting every nerve. He moved me up one final time, then down hard so our hips met, filling me with his warmth, and a sharp pain stabbed through my neck. I yelled out from the sting of his teeth and from the pleasure. Lance wrapped his arms around me, and held me close as I sank back against his chest.

  “I love you, Trixie,” he said, and kissed my temple.

  “I love you too, Lance.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lance

  Small scarlet cuts followed an oval pattern on her skin. It pained me to see her injured, but this oval was my mark. Trixie Walker was mine. The idea excited and aroused me all over again.

  “Mine,” I growled, tracing the small mark on her neck that represented our bond.

  “Yes,” she moaned beside me. Trixie’s eyes were closed, and her cheeks flushed. There was no sign of concern or regret on her beautiful, restful face.

  I couldn’t believe it was true. Trixie Walker was mine. Her hair was loose, spread across the pillow like flames. Her bare breasts moved gently with her chest as she breathed slowly and lay on her side.

  “Will you take my name?” I asked.

  “Mm-hmm,” she replied.

  Trixie Tenbrook. I loved the sound of it.

  “I guess we’ll have to figure out where to live, because I’m not spending a night without you ever again,” I said.

  She smiled, then her face softened as she dozed off. I kissed my mark on her neck and covered her with the comforter before climbing out of bed. This dark bedroom had been mine my entire life. Given Trixie’s sense of duty, she would be happier staying in Ellistown than so far from her pack. It was time to gather my clothes and say goodbye to this place. Trixie was too important to me to ask her to stay here.

  I slid on my boxers and grabbed a fresh t-shirt from the dresser, then set to work. Into the duffle bag from the closet, I packed my work loafers, a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts, slacks and dress shirts, socks and boxers. When we left, I would wear my boots and second-favorite jacket, making enough clothes to spend a few weeks without picking anything else up. I packed my toothbrush and my favorite soap, then went downstairs to make something for my mate to eat when she woke.

  There wasn’t much in the fridge, but it would have to do for now. Since Trixie hadn’t eaten dinner, I wanted to make sure she had a meal. I put together a sandwich on a plate and set it in the fridge. There was an apple on the counter, so I set it in beside the sandwich on the plate. Nothing fancy, but she wouldn’t go hungry.

  Feeling ready enough to start my new life, I went back upstairs and lay down beside my mate, pulling myself close to her back and taking in the sweet citrus scent of her hair.

  Trixie rolled to her back and peeked at me through sleep-filled eyes.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to bother you.”

  “I’m glad you did,” she said, then stretched her arms up toward the headboard.

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “I’m content,” she answered with a beaming grin.

  “I packed a bag,” I said.

  “
That was fast.”

  “I can travel for work. I know you need to be in Ellistown,” I said.

  “Well,” she started. “I do feel like I need to be there to help, but I don’t know that I want to spend forever in Stratton’s house. Maybe we should find our own place to start fresh.”

  “Are you nervous?” I asked, feeling excited and confident in my choice of mate. I never thought I would find someone like Trixie, someone who made me feel complete, like a better person than I was on my own.

  “Some,” she said. “But I’ve never had these feelings before. I know it’s you. I know there’s no one that’s a better fit. It scares me a little how sure I am so quickly, but you are my mate, the only choice for me.”

  I kissed her soft lips, appreciating that they were mine. “Are you hungry?” I asked.

  “I could eat. I still feel a bit shaky from all of that exercise.” She smiled.

  “I made you a sandwich,” I said. “I’ll carry you to the kitchen if you want to go down to eat.”

  “Yes, please.” Trixie sat and slid her panties back on. She lifted the shredded blouse she had worn, now missing half of its buttons.

  “Want a t-shirt?” I asked, and she nodded.

  Dressed in my shirt, and covered in my scent, she climbed onto me, piggyback-style. Squeezing around my waist with her strong legs, and tightly to my neck with her thin arms, Trixie clung to me as I descended the stairs and carried her to the kitchen. The heated skin on her thighs was soft against my fingertips as I carried her easily, and enjoyed every inch of her pressed against me.

  “Here we are,” I said, and set her gently on the counter.

  “So we are,” she replied.

  I handed her the plate and watched her eat. It was satisfying seeing the woman who was mine nourished by the food I had provided. Her pert breasts pointed beneath the t-shirt as she ate, and her thighs spread slightly apart as she rested on the counter. Everything about her pose, the comfort she showed in my presence, and the fact that she was enjoying my food excited me. I was ready for another round, but I needed to be sure she had the strength.

  “What?” she asked, just after swallowing a mouthful of ham and swiss.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said.

  She looked down at my tented boxers and giggled. “Already?”

  “Every day for the rest of our lives.” I grinned at her, and stepped between her knees.

  “I’d like that,” she said, cheeks heating with the adorable blush that showed her modesty even after I’d seen her totally exposed.

  “First,” I said, “you need to eat.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Trixie

  On the drive back to Ellistown, I wondered if my shaky legs would have the strength to walk when we got there. I held Lance’s hand and watched out the window of the pickup, enjoying the scenery. The world seemed brighter and more beautiful this morning than it had just one day before. Sunlight broke through the tree line and onto the snow-covered meadow at the forest’s edge.

  “That would be perfect,” I reflected.

  “What would?” Lance asked, turning his head and searching my face.

  “The tree line there,” I said, pointing to the transition between forest and field. “It marks the middle of our worlds.”

  “I guess it does,” he answered. “The border between Sawtooth Valley and Sawtooth Peaks.”

  “Wouldn’t that be the perfect place for a house?”

  “It really would,” he replied.

  Ellistown was unimpressive from afar as we approached, with short ranchers arranged around the brick prison at its center. Though Dashiell was dead, my brother still held Mara within those walls. Today I would see her, one way or another. Something told me Dwayne was my best chance at walking in without scaling the bricks.

  My mind wandered back to the bears Lance had spoken of. They hadn’t talked to Cole, and they hadn’t talked to me. Had they talked to Troy and Mara? Lance was right, if they were looking for the truth, there were a lot of people to speak to before drawing any conclusions. If they were looking for information about Stratton, I should have been their first contact.

  As we drove through the snowy streets, the town felt more alive than it had when we had left. Sidewalks were shoveled. Wolves and humans worked together on houses, standing straighter and with smiles. The holiday had been rejuvenating; Lance’s food had renewed hope once again. We could rebuild together as a town, with Lance by my side.

  Home felt different entering with my new mate, like I could see my residence through new eyes. Though I had packed up Stratton’s clothes, it still felt like his house. I offered Lance the dresser opposite mine for his clothes. He unpacked, and it felt good to share my space, but still like it wasn’t just us.

  Like he could read my mind, Lance said, “I want you to know, I will never try to replace him.”

  “I know,” I said. “You don’t have to. Stratton and I were friends, and he’ll always hold a special place in my heart. What you and I have is so much more.”

  “You mean more to me than anyone ever has, Trixie.”

  “I feel the same.” We stared into each other’s eyes, savoring the moment.

  “So what’s the plan for today?” he asked.

  “I need to see Mara,” I said.

  “Is that something you want me to come for? I was thinking of doing a few things here, then going back up to your grill.”

  “That sounds good. I need to visit with her alone. I’ll come by the grill to help you when I’m done,” I said.

  “Good luck,” he said and kissed my forehead.

  After I changed my dress pants and heels for jeans and boots, I put on Lance’s jacket over the t-shirt I had borrowed from him. I pulled a rose from the beautiful arrangement Lance had bought for me at Rosebuds and Greenery—my ticket to visit Mara. The bouquet was still just as perfect without the single bloom I had removed.

  The walk across town felt less cold and lonely than it had before. I felt like I carried Lance with me, his mark a reminder of his promise to be only mine for the rest of our lives. The thought kept me warm as I trudged through the snow toward Troy's stronghold, twirling the rose.

  As the details of the entryway came into sight, I noticed the guard by the door was unfamiliar. My chances of being allowed in were better if it was Dwayne Cullen at the door. Inhaling a deep breath, I tried the side door, where I found the man I was looking for. Dwayne’s gray eyes met my own and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

  “Dwayne,” I said, “happy Thanksgiving.”

  “You too, ma’am.”

  “I didn't see you at the feast the other night. Did you have a nice holiday?”

  “I was here,” he replied, and shifted his gaze down to his boots.

  “No Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's house?” I asked, lifting my eyebrows as I feigned concern.

  He shook his head.

  “That's too bad. Next time you should all come and join us.”

  “I'd like that,” he said.

  “Is Mara in?” I asked, as if she was ever allowed out.

  “I believe so.”

  “I missed my family on a holiday I spend with them every year,” I said. “I was hoping to bring my sister this flower.” I held up the beautiful rose, in perfect full bloom, even in the icy air.

  “You're not to enter,” he said.

  “Do you think she could come speak to me? It would only be a moment. I miss her,” I said, letting my sadness over the situation show. I didn't have to pretend to care; I truly missed Mara.

  Dwayne lowered his brow as he considered my wish. “If I say yes, you don't try anything. I don't need any trouble.”

  “I promise.” I didn't fear Troy taking it out on me if I entered his prison and he didn't care for my presence, but I didn't want Mara to suffer for it. He already kept her from the world. There was no need to test how he would take it if she allowed me inside against his wishes.

  “Just a min
ute,” Dwayne said, before stepping inside and shutting the door behind him.

  A short stone wall by the mansion’s side door had surrounded a garden during former months, and now surrounded snowy mounds. The stones were clear of ice and snow in patches where the sun had melted the accumulation. Cupping my hand inside Lance's jacket sleeve, I brushed the snowy ice off of a partially dried section of wall. Everything was quiet, except for the sounds of laughter and power tools off in the distance a few roads down. I took a seat on the cold stones and waited.

  Before long, I heard shuffling footsteps behind the door. I turned to see who was coming. The door opened, and Mara peered around, wide-eyed. She looked exactly the way she had the last time I’d seen her. I’d been regaining weight, but she still looked frail. Her eyes were hollow, and she looked like she had been living in that same room we had shared, the prison cell where she’d cried every night and day.

  “Mara,” I said, hugging her.

  Her bones stuck through her over-sized knit sweater. I felt ill. Troy had taken all of our food and it didn't seem like his mate was eating any of it.

  I took her hand and led her to the wall a few steps by the door, where we sat side by side. She stared at her hands and said nothing. Dwayne watched us with his brow furrowed and face hard. I mouthed thank you to him and he softened slightly. With no time to waste, I turned back to my sister-in-law.

  “How are you?” I asked. “Have you been eating?”

  She said nothing, only stared at her hands.

  Setting the rose gently on her palms, I said, “This is for you.”

  Mara touched the petals and down the stem. “Thank you,” she said and leaned her head on my shoulder.

  “If you want,” I whispered softly enough that Dwayne wouldn't hear, even with his heightened shifter senses, “we can run for it right now. Back to my place.”

  She gently shook her head on my shoulder.