by Lynn Howard
“You guys want us to stick around?” Colton asked through a yawn when Shawnee was done with her closing duties.
“Nah. We’re good. Thanks. Go home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Noah said, waving them off.
As Noah followed them so he could lock the door behind them, Hollyn continued with the closing duties, dancing to Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name. When Noah caught her, she made her moves bigger, pretending she was in the video, even using a beer bottle as a microphone. She swung her head, making her hair go everywhere until Noah was laughing.
He had no idea how big of a dork she could be at times, but she had a feeling after meeting all of his friends, he was fine with that. They’d been so funny and treated her as if she’d been one of them for years.
Noah’s hand lowered and he rearranged his junk. A rather impressive bulge made her swallow hard. She remembered how he’d looked naked. And couldn’t wait to see all of him again.
The music changed to Two Feet’s I Feel Like I’m Drowning. Hollyn decided to use the music and her love of dance to her advantage. Noah seemed like the kind of guy who would wait for her to make the move for fear of making her feel rushed. So, she’d just show him exactly what she wanted.
Coming around the bar, she used the bar stools, the tables, anything she could as a prop, spinning, opening her legs, swinging her hips, even turning and bending so he got a good look at her butt as she stood slowly, running her hands up the back of her thighs.
Before the song was over, Noah took three long strides in her direction and tangled his hands in her hair, tilting her head back and crashing his lips over hers. There was nothing hesitant or unsure about this kiss. It was full of need and lust and want. His tongue danced in her mouth, moving with the same sensuality she had with her hips. One hand left her hair and trailed down the nape of her neck, her back, then landed on her ass, pulling her closer until his hardness pressed against her belly.
Hollyn moved as close as she could, reveling in the feel of his hardness against her, of the rattling feel of his chest as he growled deep, of the way his big hands felt on her. He left her ass and gripped one of her thighs, hooking it over his hip. Oooh. If only they were naked.
Noah released his grip on her hair and grabbed her other thigh, lifting her and urging her legs around his waist, never pulling his lips from hers. She gripped his hair and tugged, earning a throaty moan as he did this thing with his hips that drove her crazy as he massaged her sex through her jeans.
Setting her on the bar top, Noah pulled away and pulled her shirt over her head, nipping at her shoulder bone, the swell of her breasts until he teased her nipple through her bra with his teeth. The slight pinch sent shivers of pleasure rushing through her body.
And then he straightened so fast Hollyn almost fell off the bar.
“What are you doing?” Hollyn asked, reaching for him. So close. Just a few more items of clothing and they’d be naked.
“I won’t fuck you on the bar, Hollyn,” he said, pushing a rough hand through his hair.
“Why not?” she said, giving him her best sexy smile and looking up at him through her lashes.
“I don’t want it to be like that for our first time.”
So he’d been fantasizing about her, too. That shouldn’t come as a surprise since she’d seen him sporting a boner several times since yesterday morning.
Her magic was trying its damnedest to wrap itself around Noah. Not yet. Not until she knew without a doubt that was what they both wanted. Although, she’d be lying to herself if she said she didn’t want Noah forever.
Two days and something like love bloomed in her heart as she watched Noah war with his need to take her then and there and his need to make their first time together as romantic as possible. She didn’t need romance, though. Never had. The things she found romantic were gestures, like when he’d carried her to his bed and slept crammed up on the couch. Or the fact he’d sat back and let her control the bar in his own place.
Or the way his eyes blazed bright amber and his hands shook with need, yet he stayed a couple feet away from her.
Fine. He was worried about their first time? She’d just take the situation into her own hands.
Sliding off the bar, she lowered to her knees, looking up at him as she undid his button then zipper. His cock sprung free the second it was no longer restrained behind his jeans. He hadn’t donned boxers this morning after his shower.
Noah jerked and hissed when she lapped at the flared head, kissing away the drop of moisture glistening in the dim light in the room.
“Hollyn—”
She didn’t give him a chance to protest or argue, just took his length in her mouth slowly. He was too big; she couldn’t take all of him. But when she looked up in time to see his eyes roll shut, she figured she was doing just fine.
****
Noah’s hand gripped the bar top as he panted. Hollyn leaned against it beside him, grinning.
“That was…” There were no words. It wasn’t his first blow job, not by far. But compared to what Hollyn had just done, he was a fucking virgin before her.
She shrugged and smirked. Then she pulled her hands over her head and stretched with a wide yawn. “We almost done? I’m whipped.”
Noah gaped at her. She was so nonchalant, so relaxed over the fact she’d just sucked him off behind the bar. He’d wanted to take it slow, take his time learning every single spot on her body that made her moan. He’d wanted to break the ice with a little wine, maybe some music. He wasn’t exactly Don Juan, but for the first time in his adult life, he wanted to make love to a woman instead of just fucking her and running out the door.
She’d shattered that proverbial ice to smithereens the second she took him into her mouth.
“You’re tired?” Noah said, a shit ton of growl lacing his words. His bear had begged to be released, at least enough to mark their mate. Noah would have to find another way to indicate to other Shifters she was taken.
Hollyn left him standing there and moved toward the door, looking at him over her shoulder with the hottest come-fuck-me look in her eyes and a soft smile on those wicked lips.
Oh, hell yeah. He might’ve finished, but he was ready for round two. Only this time, he wanted to hear Hollyn scream his name more than once before he found his second release. And he wanted to be buried balls deep in her when that happened. Good thing he had a stash of rubbers in his nightstand.
Noah jogged toward the door, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind him as he exited and locked the door behind him. Shit. He’d left the lights on. Who fuckin cared at that moment? All that mattered was the woman giggling beside him as he continued pulling her behind him, hoisted her into the passenger seat with his hands on her hips, then ran around the hood of his truck.
Never had he felt so out of his mind with lust that he literally ran to get to a bed faster.
Foot on the gas, he pushed the speed limit as much as he dared; he was one of the few cars out and would be targeted fast as fuck by any cops patrolling the area.
Hollyn undid her seat belt, scooted over into his space, and then redid the lap belt in the center. He lifted his arm so she could move closer to his chest. She nuzzled his neck, leaving little kisses as her hand smoothed down his chest, down his stomach, then cupped his hard again dick.
He hissed through his teeth but chuckled when Hollyn looked up at him with a hungry look.
“One taste just wasn’t enough,” she teased and moved to lower her head to his lap.
“Nope,” he said, gently pulling her back up to a sitting position. “You’re coming next. Keep your hands to yourself, woman.”
Hollyn giggled a sexy sound as she ducked back out from under his arm. “Fine, big boy. I’ll just sit here and behave.” She’d called him that a couple of times, and each time he’d loved it even more. Now that she’d not only seen his cock but had it in her mouth, his ego swelled as much as his junk.
The closer they got to Blackwater territ
ory, the more excited he got. And nervous. Would sex bind them? Was it another step? And why did the thought send such a thrill through his system? Stupid question; he knew exactly why that sent a thrill. He’d be tied to the woman he was already falling for and would be able to find her if some fucker got their hands on her. He’d know if she was in trouble and could get to her side to fight for and with her.
Hollyn’s skin grew warmer as Noah pulled the truck up the long gravel driveway that led to all the cabins. Her magic was filling her in anticipation.
“Will it hurt?” he asked. He had no idea why that came out of his mouth. His Shift was agony, although it only last seconds. He could handle pain, especially if that pain gave him Hollyn.
“I don’t know,” she said. Without asking, she knew what Noah was talking about. “I can try to reel it in, though, if you want. It doesn’t have to happen tonight.”
Noah parked his truck and turned, cupping Hollyn’s face and dipping to taste her lips for a brief second before pulling away and looking into her hypnotic eyes. “I want this, Hollyn. I want you. I know…” He took a deep breath. “We’re not human. We fall faster, we know our mate right away. And you are my mate. My bear claimed you from almost the very beginning. And yeah, I’m scared shitless. I don’t do commitments. I’m too busy for dating. But I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy and I will keep you safe.” He sipped at her lips once more before pulling away and waiting for her to respond.
“I think I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you on your porch,” she admitted and ducked her eyes. “That sounds so Hallmark chick flick-ish.” A soft pink flushed her cheeks.
Where he was rushed and frantic when he left the bar, now, all he wanted was to lay her down and kiss every inch of her body starting at her feet.
Noah left the truck and rounded the hood. Hollyn was already climbing down by the time he made it to her side. He wrapped his hand around hers and led her inside. Nerves he hadn’t felt since he was a teenaged virgin tickled his insides. Guiding her up the steps, he opened the door and swung it open, letting Hollyn move ahead of him.
Once they were behind closed doors, he pulled all the curtains closed then took Hollyn into his arms. He kissed her silly, nipping at her throat, her shoulder, before lifting her into his arms and carrying her down the hall and to his bedroom. He took her lips the whole trip, not wanting to break contact. He needed to feel her, taste her. Even as her lips damned near burned his, he couldn’t pull away.
Laying her on his bed, he slowly undressed her while keeping his own clothes on. The next however long it took was all about Hollyn. He wanted to see her writhe on the bed, wanted to hear her breath come in pants, wanted to hear her moans. He couldn’t wait to see how many sounds he could pull from her.
Noah started with her shoes, untying them and slipping them off, followed by her socks. He kissed his way up her legs until he got to the button on her pants. Nuzzling the strip of skin showing on her belly, he worked the zipper down, then laid soft kisses along her thighs as he peeled the denim off. Next was her shirt. She sat up and raised her arms so he could pull the shirt over her head. He tossed the cotton into the pile he was forming on the side of the bed.
And then Hollyn laid there like an offering in nothing but pink, lacy panties and bra.
“Fuck. You’re so beautiful,” he said, lying beside her and trailing his fingers over her pale flesh. Seeing her like this, on his bed, half naked with her dark as midnight hair fanned beneath her reminded him of her lineage. Her features were in such stark contrast with each other but made her all that much more appealing to him.
Hollyn smiled up at him as her legs shifted, one knee lowering and the other rising as if she were trying to create friction between her legs. Oh, he’d take care of her discomfort. That was for sure.
Leaning over her, he cupped one of her tantalizing tits in his big hand and massaged it, nipping at her nipple through her bra. He pulled the cup down to release the pink bud and lapped and sucked it. Hollyn gripped his hair and held him to her breast, arching her back beneath him. As he laved at one of her tits, he slid his hand down her soft belly until it tucked under her lacy panties. Had she intentionally worn these for him or would she be wearing this kind of stuff under her clothes all the time? And how the fuck was he supposed to concentrate if he knew the sexiness she donned beneath her pants and shirt.
When his finger touched her wet heat, he about lost his mind. Hollyn’s eyes fluttered closed and her lips parted. And Noah was gone. As he dipped first one finger then the other, he came so close to losing it in his jeans. That couldn’t happen. The next time he went, he wanted to be cradled between Hollyn’s thighs.
Noah continued to work Hollyn with his fingers and lowered himself, pulling the pink lace down her hips with his other hand. She lifted her ass so he could remove them fully, then dropped her knees apart, giving Noah a glimpse of ecstasy.
Moving in jerky movements to keep from diving at her, Noah took a long swipe of her core and hummed in approval. So sweet. So warm. Hollyn gasped sharply and raised her arms over her head.
He spent as much time as it took between her thighs, trying to focus on anything other than the sounds coming from her mouth. He’d wanted nothing more than to hear those sounds, but now, it was about to push him over the edge.
And then, Hollyn reached down, tangled her fingers in his hair and screamed out his name. He kept lapping at her clit, working her through the aftershocks until she twitched and giggled.
He wanted to give her more, but he really didn’t know how much more control he had over his body at this point. He sat back on his knees and pulled the back collar of his shirt, yanking the shirt over his head and tossed onto the growing pile. He then reached down and undid his pants, stepping off the bed to push them down his thighs and step out of them.
Hollyn watched him with heavy lids, her lips still parted as she panted from her release. Crawling back onto the bed, he grabbed a condom from the nightstand. She sat up and helped him roll it over his shaft, squeezing him once before lying back and beckoning him down.
Noah positioned himself between her thighs, dipping to take her lips as he pressed the crown against her opening. As he pushed his hips forward, they moaned in unison, the sound caught between their lips.
His bear began to scratch at his skin, begging to be let out, begging to mark their mate. Too dangerous, he told his beast. They had no idea what a Shifter’s bite would do to a Fairy and he sure as fuck wasn’t going to experiment with Hollyn.
Hollyn’s arms tightened around his back as her ankles hooked around his ass. She lifted her hips and met him thrust for thrust. They needed to slow down. He was too close. She was so tight and warm, almost too warm. Her magic. It was trying to tie itself to him. When Hollyn opened her eyes next, they were a striking violet, lighter than the amethyst color he’d seen before.
“You sure?” she asked, her voice throaty and full of lust and emotion.
He nodded and bent to take her lips again, his hips keeping the same motion. His body grew warm, warmer until he felt feverish. It bordered on uncomfortable. But all he really cared about was Hollyn wrapped around him, clenching him as another release rippled through her. She threw her head back, opened her mouth, and this time, when she screamed, a wave of power flowed over him, moving his hair, rippling the curtains as if a hard wind had blown through the room.
His balls tightened as his release crashed into him, rolling over him, stealing his breath as Hollyn’s magic squeezed his heart. For a brief second, he felt like he was dying. But what a way to go.
And then the wind died down, Hollyn relaxed back against the pillow, her eyes rolling shut, and Noah was able to breathe again. The need to mark Hollyn was still strong, but now, there were so many other emotions floating through him he couldn’t think straight. Fear. Anger. Lust. Love. Affection. He was feeling Hollyn deep inside, feeling her emotions in real time.
He hated that she still felt fear, even
though she didn’t show it, even though she was good at hiding that shit. But the fact he could feel how she felt about him, the fact he could feel how embedded in her heart he’d become, that erased everything else. Even if she was afraid of being found, Noah knew she was safe with him.
“I can feel you,” Noah said with wonder.
“Well, you are still buried inside of me,” she teased, peeking at him through one open lid.
Noah chuckled. This woman made him laugh more in the last two days than he had in months. He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled from her, earning a disappointed groan.
Turning his back, he removed the condom and disposed of it in the trash can next to his bed.
“I just realized how clean your bedroom is,” Hollyn said.
Noah glanced back at her. She was pushed up onto her elbows and looking around his room. “Because I don’t spend much time in here. I tend to strip as I’m making my way to the shower after work and then just kind of fall into bed. You’re lucky I happened to pull on a pair of boxers before bed that night,” he teased.
Hollyn smiled up at him. “I wouldn’t have minded getting an eyeful.”
Noah shook his head as he smiled down at the woman who was now permanently tied to him. “My animal wants to mark you. But I’m scared of what will happen,” he admitted after a few moments of studying her face. It was like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. Not only could he feel her, feel every single emotion that floated through her heart, including the rush of anxiety at him admitting his animal wanted to mark her, but he could see her differently. She was more beautiful and he could see the tiny features that separated her from humans, something he hadn’t noticed before now. Her nose was a little longer, her ears a little pointier, and the color of her eyes were even more obvious now.
“I don’t know, either. It could kill me. Or it could do nothing.”
Nope. Not worth the risk.
“How bad is it?” Hollyn asked, rolling onto her side and propping her cheek on her palm.
