by Sophie Stern
But I’m ready.
I’m ready for all of that.
I want him to know how I feel.
I want him to know that I crave him.
That I need him.
That I’m so fucking wild about him I can’t stand it.
“I love you, too,” he finally whispers, and my heart feels like it’s singing. He does. He loves me. Okay, cool. Happiness and contentment wash over me, but also just this crazy feeling of peace. He’s accepting me just as I’m accepting him.
We’re actually going to do this.
“I have to mark you,” he tells me, as though this is the worst thing in the world.
“Where?”
“You can choose where you want your mark,” he says. “You can have it here,” he presses his hand to my neck. “Or here.” He touches the inside of my wrist.
I only think about it for a second before I hold out my wrist to him.
“Why there?”
“Because I like to wear my hair down,” I tell him honestly. “And this way, everyone will see my mark no matter what I’m wearing. Everyone will know that I’m your mate, Flynn. They’ll know that no matter what’s going on and no matter where I am, that I belong totally to you.”
He doesn’t wait a second longer. He bites me hard. I start to cry out, but he covers my mouth with his hand, and somehow, this seems to help with the pain. I can’t say it stops the pain, but not being able to scream reminds me that I’m going to survive this somehow. As soon as he tears open my flesh, he’s instantly sealing it closed again. He licks my wound, searing it shut with his tongue, and then he pulls back and just looks at it.
“Look at your mark, little writer,” he whispers.
I peer at it. Then I touch it. It’s smaller than I thought it would be, but it’s definitely a distinctive mating mark. No wolf is going to look at me and think that I’m single. That much is for damn sure.
“I love it,” I whisper.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
He pulls me close again and kisses me once more. This time, we don’t stop kissing. He falls back on the bed and I climb over him, sliding slowly down onto his length. It feels like our entire lives have been foreplay and we somehow can’t seem to wait a minute longer for this.
At least, I don’t want to wait any longer.
I just want more of this.
More of him.
More of all of it.
He runs his hands up my sides and all the way to my neck. Then he pulls me down so he can kiss me as I ride him deeply. I sink lower onto his cock, and I feel like my entire body is on fire. I love the way he’s filling me, thrusting inside of me. Every nerve seems to be alert and alive and awake and just begging for more.
As Flynn kisses me, he runs one hand down my side and then moves between us so he can stroke my clit as I ride him. Instantly, my entire body clenches, tightening in anticipation. If my dreams are anything to judge this interaction on, then the orgasm I’m about to have is going to be an epic one.
But I don’t even care about that.
All I care about is him.
All I care about is our future together.
All I care about is the fact that after tonight, we’re going to be completely one. We’re going to be mated in every way, and I can’t wait.
“Such a pretty girl,” he murmurs, nipping at my neck. He’s still stroking me, touching me, and I feel like I’m on the very edge of my orgasm.
“Flynn...”
“That’s it, baby,” he murmurs. “Come for me, little writer. Come for me.”
As though I can’t control myself anymore, my entire body seems to let go. Everything I’ve ever worried about seems to just vanish as the world’s most powerful orgasm washes over me. I cry out, but this time, Flynn doesn’t stop me. He’s coming, too: I can feel him pulsing inside of me. Waves of contentment and pleasure pour over my body. My clit seems to be more sensitive than I ever dreamed possible. Everything about this moment is so absolutely perfect.
And then I look at him.
There’s something on Flynn’s face I’ve never seen there before.
Peace.
“Flynn,” I whisper, and I kiss him. I press my lips to his, tasting him like I’ve never tasted him before. Somehow, this kiss feels even more intimate than what we’ve just done, and I wonder how I managed to live as long as I did without him.
“That was incredible,” he whispers. His hands are firmly on my hips. I have no intention of moving, so it’s perfectly fine. I just want to stay here, on top of him, forever. I don’t ever want to move. My readers will understand. There are other, better writers who can create books for them. I’ll just let the rest of the world pass me by and I’ll stay right here in bed with Flynn forever.
We whisper to each other for what feels like eternity. Maybe we will get to be alone for always, after all. Flynn and I have been through a lot today. I think we’ve both been fighting this mates thing, but we aren’t fighting it anymore. Now, as we move forward, we’re going to do it together. Our lives are forever intertwined now, but that doesn’t scare me anymore.
It actually thrills me instead.
“I love you,” I whisper over and over, and he whispers it right back. I’ve never said that to anyone before. I’ve never had a reason to. Yes, I’ve dated people before, but I never found someone who made me feel the way Flynn does. I’ve never found anyone before who was willing to be loyal and strong and fierce. I’ve certainly never met anyone who was willing to fight for what they believed in.
“I can’t believe we finally found each other,” he whispers.
But then, suddenly, it seems as though destiny isn’t on our side because there’s a knock at the door.
“Fuck,” he growls.
I climb off of Flynn and he yanks on a pair of pajama pants before moving over to the door. I grab a t-shirt and pull it on, along with my own pajama pants, just as he opens the door to our little room. To my surprise, it’s not just one guest, but a group of them.
Lily, Gaston, Maxwell, and Gerald are all there.
“Well?” Maxwell asks.
“Did he mark you?” Lily asks, clapping her hands together.
“What the fuck?” Flynn mutters, but I hold up my hand, and everyone cheers. Then instantly, they’re all in the room, hugging us, celebrating with us.
“We knew you would do it!” Gerald says.
“I always believed in you,” Lily adds.
Gaston just smiles and slaps his friend on the back.
“Welcome to the mated wolves club,” he grins.
“Thanks. I think.”
“It’s wonderful,” Gaston says. “Just wait and see.”
I look around the room and even though it’s pretty weird they all burst in here after we slept together for the first time, I can’t help but feel a little bit happy that they’re so thrilled for us. Being mated in the world of wolves is more serious than a wedding ceremony, even. To my knowledge, there’s no way to break a mating claim once it’s been made.
Nope, it’s me and Flynn forever now, for better or for worse.
We all talk for a few minutes and then decide to go get some food, but Flynn stops me before I can follow the others out of the room.
“There’s something else I have to ask you,” he says. He smiles shyly, batting his eyes as me, and I laugh gently.
“What is it?”
“It’s something I’ve never asked anyone before.”
“Um, okay,” I say, suddenly a little nervous. I’m excited, though, too, because I have absolutely no clue what he’s going to ask me. We’re already mated, after all. We’re already together. What could Flynn possibly say next that’s going to top him asking if he can mark me?
“Heather Miracle, will you be my date to the school dance next week?”
“What?” I laugh, grinning. “Of course! Really? But I’m not really a student anymore, now am I?”
“You can be a student as
long as you like,” he says. “You’re part of our pack now, and you can take any classes you like so you can learn about our world, but yes, you are welcome to attend the dance, but I’d be honored if you would be my date.”
I kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Flynn, I wouldn’t dream of having it any other way.”
Chapter Eighteen
Flynn
I remember going to school dances as a teen and feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Yeah, overall, I was a cocky sonofabitch, but I had my moments where I was just like everyone else: a little bit awkward. A little bit uncomfortable.
Tonight’s dance is different.
Tonight, I walk into the ballroom with the most beautiful girl at the academy on my arm, and oh, she really is perfect.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispers as she looks at the space. It’s true that the ballroom has been completely transformed. It no longer looks like a gathering place at the school used for announcements or performances. Now it looks like a magical haven.
There are white lanterns hanging from the ceiling and there’s beautiful music playing. Every single student, teacher, and parent who is here tonight is dressed to impress, and everything looks completely perfect.
I don’t notice any of that, though, because I’m so busy looking at Heather. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the only person here tonight. She’s the only person I care to look at because Heather really and truly is my mate.
I didn’t expect to be kidnapped by her vampire stalker.
I didn’t think that she’d come to the academy only to win everyone over, including me.
When I captured her, I thought she was involved in the kidnappings somehow, which was technically true, but it ended up not being her fault. More than that, she did more than just convince everyone how lovable she is. She completely stole my heart.
Now, as we move through the ballroom to the center of the dance floor, I wonder how I ever managed to live at all without Heather by my side. I pull her close and we start to dance, and I breathe in her scent.
“This is nice,” she whispers.
“A little more than nice.”
“Okay, it’s perfect,” she says with a dreamy sigh.
“Have you ever been to a high school dance before?”
“Flynn, human high schools aren’t quite this big or fancy, and their dances aren’t really anything like this.”
“So that’s a hard no?”
“That’s a no,” she says. “I mean, I know dances are supposed to be lame, but I never got invited. I was always kind of a nerd.”
“Your classmates were idiots if they couldn’t see how perfect you are.”
“Or maybe I was just destined for something better,” she whispers. She looks up at me and cups my face, and then Heather kisses me as we dance. Together, we move in unison, and I realize how very much I’ve been missing.
I never knew just how wonderful having a mate could be.
Oh, I’d heard stories.
I’d listened to the fables.
I’d heard the whispered dreams and rumors, but none of them compare to the reality. Kissing Heather, dancing with her, and just being near her is the most incredible and magical thing anyone could ever want.
Now that we’re mated, the dreams have stopped for both of us. There will be no more visions of our partner because now those visions have morphed into reality. It’s okay, though. Sleep feels more restful now because when I fall asleep, it’s wrapped around her.
Heather holds me as we dance in the center of the room, moving beneath the lanterns. I look over and catch my dad and Maxwell dancing, too, and he catches my eye. I smile at my father and he smiles at me, too. Then, in true dad fashion, he flashes me a little thumbs-up sign. I should probably roll my eyes, but he’s so genuinely happy for me that I can’t bring myself to.
Heather and I are going to have a wonderful, incredible life together, and I, for one, can’t wait to get started.
“I love you,” I whisper to her as we dance.
“I love you, too,” she whispers. “Mate.”
I press my lips to her forehead, and I wonder how I got so lucky to be with the most beautiful girl in the world. Not only are we together, but we’re destined mates, and no matter what happens next, I’m going to have Heather by my side. Together, the two of us can do anything.
We can change the world, if we want to.
All I care about, though, is making her happy and showing her every single day for the rest of our lives just how much I love her and just how much of a princess she truly is. Heather isn’t going to have to worry about anything because for the rest of my days, I’m going to worship her and take care of her.
I love the little human more than words could ever express.
Today and forever.
Epilogue
Heather
Six Months Later
Big Bad Academy lives up to its name.
I’ve been the creative writing instructor at the school since everything happened. I can’t go back to my old life, and to be honest, I don’t really want to. Oh, I still write novels and I still have my fans, but I’ve started focusing on other projects, too. Now that I’m no longer having mate-infused dreams, I’ve had a chance to start exploring other types of writing.
Just last week, I wrote a poem.
Next week, I’m going to start writing a screenplay.
Life at the academy isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. The students’ lives are chaotic and busy and wonderful, and there’s always something going on and someone to hang out with, and of course, there’s Flynn.
There’s my mate.
If you’d asked me six months ago if I ever saw myself getting married, I probably would have shrugged and smiled at you and said that sounded like quite the fantasy. Now, though, everything is different. Now, I can’t imagine my life without Flynn and his pack of wolves.
I’m not under any impression that life among the shifters is going to be easy. We’re all going to have to be careful. There are always enemies lurking in the darkness and sometimes, there are enemies lurking right in front of our faces.
Sometimes the monsters are easy to identify.
Sometimes they aren’t.
All I know is that with Flynn by my side, things are going to be okay. Hell, they’re going to be better than okay. They’re going to be great.
And it all started with a couple of dreams.
Now when I look at my mate, my heart swells with happiness. He’s the most wonderful guy I’ve ever met and even though we both have our flaws, I have a feeling that our story is going to be a good one.
THE END
Author
Sophie Stern loves cowboys, soldiers, and shifters. When she’s not busy writing, she’s got her nose buried in a book. Sophie lives with her husband and two little boys who are always keeping her on her toes.
You can connect with Sophie through her website or on Facebook.
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Books
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other books!
CONQUERED (The Hidden Planet)
Abducted.
Taken.
Locked away.
Fiona doesn't know true fear until she is whisked away from her loving family and doting boyfriend. When she finds herself on an alien ship with only a giant beast for company, her fear turns to anger when she realizes her loved ones have betrayed her.
Quinn doesn't know what to do with the squirrely little human aboard his ship. Yeah, he bought her, but only to save her from a worse fate. She has no idea what could have happened to her if he hadn't found her. She has no idea what could have happened on Dreagle. But now she's on his ship and somehow, she's wormed her way into his heart. Can he ever let her go?
CONQUERED is available wherever eBooks are sold.
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ALIEN BEAST
He's a war hero.
She's a virgin.
He's broken.
She's perfect.
When he finds her in the midst of an alien war, Luke takes Willow for himself. He can't help himself. He's never taken a prisoner alive before, but Willow is different. He needs her. He wants her. Most of all, he craves her.
Willow is a human who has the worst luck in the world. When the tour ship she's on malfunctions and crash-lands on the wrong planet, she's thrust into the middle of a war: one she has no desire to be in.
Then everything changes.
She's captured by an alien beast unlike anything she's ever seen before.
And the worst part is that after awhile, she's not so sure she wants him to let her go.
ALIEN BEAST is available wherever eBooks are sold.
ALIEN DRAGON
I'm on the last ship out.
I don't think I'm going to make it, but I do. Earth is dying and there's only one way I can possibly survive: fight for a spot on the dragon planet of Taneyemm.
They don't want humans there.
They don't like us.
They don't know us.
But when I step foot on the ship bound for Taneyemm, I know it's my last hope. I'll do anything I have to survive.
I'll do whatever it takes.
When I finally reach my destination and I see the alien dragons for the first time, I realize I'm in way over my head.
And I don't know if my heart is ready for this.
ALIEN DRAGON is available wherever eBooks are sold.
Hybrid Academy
If you love urban fantasy and fairies, you might also enjoy Hybrid Academy, a story by my alter-ego, L.C. Mortimer. Check out the first chapter here!
Chapter 1