by Elena Aitken
There was no doubt what she had on her mind, and of course Nash always had the same thing on his mind, too. But there were a few things he needed to say to her first. “You should know exactly how I feel about you, Kira.” He placed a hand on hers, stilling its travel south. “And I hope you know exactly what that means for me.” Nash let the silence go for a few minutes before he asked, “You do know, right?”
She stilled beneath him but then answered, “I think so. I’m just not entirely sure I know what it means.”
It meant everything. He just didn’t know how to tell her that. He’d been wrestling with what he was feeling, unsure of how exactly to tell Kira what he was thinking and feeling. He’d been waiting for the right time, but there never seemed to be a right time. Because he was terrified he’d scare her away.
Nash wrapped his arm tighter around her. “I don’t have a lot of experience with things like this, Kira.” He swallowed hard and continued. “I already told you that in my pack, mates aren’t a choice you make—they’re chosen for you. So quite honestly, I don’t even know if how I’m feeling is normal or not, or even if there is any normal anymore. But all I know is—”
“Did you say mate?”
He squeezed her arm and twisted so she was underneath him. He hovered over her, able to look down in her dark, sexy eyes when he said what he needed to say. “I did.” He waited for that to sink in. “And like I said, I don’t even really know what it means right now, but I…” Her eyes had filled with unshed tears. “I’m sorry,” he added quickly. “I wasn’t trying to upset you or scare you or…well, the very last thing I wanted to do was make this—”
“You didn’t.” Kira’s hand came up to his face and cupped his cheek. Her fingers scratched the scruff of a beard that had started there. “I’m not scared,” she clarified. “The exact opposite, in fact.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded and smiled and it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. “Yeah. In fact…” Kira wiggled until her other arm was free from the blankets and she wrapped them both around his neck. “I feel the same way.”
Of course she did. He already knew without a doubt that she felt exactly the same way he did and it was long past time he did something about it.
A deep growl rumbled within him. Nash knew his animal would not be satisfied until he made her his. And that’s exactly what he was going to do.
He kissed her hard and thoroughly. It was a kiss of possession and desire and when he pulled back, she was gasping, her face flushed with need. Her hands dropped away from his neck, and Nash seized the opportunity to shift and grab both her wrists with one large hand and pinned her arms above her head. Kira’s eyes widened with surprise.
And desire.
He let his eyes move slowly over her body. Every curve, every dip, every sexy inch of her. Then, with his free hand, he traced a finger slowly down her neck. Kira moaned and turned her head, giving him greater access. He followed his finger with his tongue, licking and tasting the smooth, sensitive skin down to the swell of her breast.
Nash took one breast in his hand, letting his thumb flick over her nipple before he pinched it between two fingers. Kira made a sexy sound that had his cock throbbing, but he wasn’t ready yet. With his hand occupied with her nipple, he sucked the other one between his lips where he bit down, just a little.
She screamed out her pleasure, and it was almost Nash’s undoing.
With more restraint, he did it again, and again, until she writhed beneath him.
“You like that.” It wasn’t a question, but her eyes, hooded with desire and need, were all the answer he needed.
Once more, Nash slid up her body, his hand still holding her arms firmly in place over her head. He took his time, savoring the heat in her body, the way her breasts heaved beneath him, her hips pressed up into him, desperate for more. And she’d get it. He’d give her everything. Always. But first, he had to claim her. He needed to quench the fire raging through his veins. It was time.
“Kira.” His voice was rough. “I need you. Forever.”
She nodded, understanding in her eyes.
He could smell her desire, her need. He knew instinctually she was ready for him. And although he’d like nothing more than taking his slow, sweet time with her, that would come later. Now, he needed to make her his.
Leaving her hands clasped over her head, Nash shifted until he was poised at her entrance. Kira’s eyes clouded with passion and she moved beneath him, pulling against his grip. He knew she wanted to be in control; she craved it because she was the finest damn alpha female he’d ever seen. Which was exactly what made her the perfect match for him, and he’d let her have her control. But not today. This was his.
His cock throbbed against her wet heat and Kira groaned.
He lifted his hips and with a smooth, hard thrust was inside her. Kira’s sweet, hot heat enveloped him. Nash gave himself a moment to savor the feeling of his cock inside her, but then he was moving.
Together, they found their rhythm immediately. Nash’s free hand slipped between them and found Kira’s clit. He pressed down with just enough pressure and she groaned. She was close, but it had to be together.
“Babe, you are the sexiest fucking woman I—”
“Kiss me,” she demanded. Control or not, Nash was not one to deny a request. His mouth crashed to hers; their tongues immediately entwined, thrusting into each other’s mouths, battling for dominance. Her need to try to control was the sexiest thing he’d ever experienced, but today, need or not, she was his.
She protested with a groan when he pulled his mouth from hers. He responded by thrusting into her harder than before and her eyes closed to absorb the sensation. He could feel her body begin to tense. He was close, too.
“Open your eyes.” It was his turn to make demands. She did as requested. “You’re mine, Kira.” He thrust again. “My love.” And again, their climaxes were right on the edge. “My mate.” With one final thrust, Nash barred his teeth and bit into the underside of her arm, still held over her head, as their mutual orgasms crashed through them.
Kira screamed out with the pleasure and pain of their mating.
When his powerful climax was finally spent, Nash pulled back and examined his mark. He dropped tender kisses around the bite, soothing her.
Perfect.
Beautiful.
His.
Chapter Nine
“I still can’t believe you bit my arm.”
Kira gingerly slid her arm into her uniform, trying her best to avoid the bite mark. Shifters healed quickly, but the bite mark Nash had left was not disappearing as fast as she would have expected.
“Babe, I didn’t bite you. I claimed you.” Nash came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Big difference.” He pushed her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck, sending a fresh thrill through her. “Besides, it had to be your arm.”
She turned in his arms. “Why did it have to be my arm? People will see it there.”
“Only if they’re looking.” Nash slid his fingers along her skin, until they traced his bite mark. “And it’s not like a regular wound. It won’t go away completely. It will leave a beautiful silver scar.”
A scar? The idea gave her an unexpected thrill.
“And besides, the mark isn’t for them, babe. It’s for us.”
“Us?”
He grinned. “Absolutely. Every time you feel the outline of my mark, or your tender skin rubbing against your clothes, you’re going to remember me inside you, making you scream out.” Kira’s body vibrated with the need she always seemed to be right on the edge of when Nash was around. “And every time I catch a glimpse of my mark, I’m going to remember the way you looked under me, your naked body hot and ready and begging for me to make you mine.”
A pool of moisture gathered between her legs, and if she wasn’t already running late, Kira would have been more than happy for Nash to make her his over and over again. But she had to get dressed
and get into the registration office. She’d already pushed it too far. Nash’s hands slid down her body, over her hips and… Maybe she could be a few more minutes?
No.
She shook her head and forced herself to move out of Nash’s grip. He was like a drug. And she was happily addicted.
“I have to get to work.” Kira used her firmest voice, more to convince herself than Nash. She tugged her pants on and tucked her shirt in before she fastened her belt. “You will have to wait until later.”
“Baby, I’ll wait forever for you if I have to.”
She kissed him chastely on the lips. “I won’t make you wait that long.” Before she could step back, Nash pulled her close and kissed her properly until a fresh wave of desire washed through her.
Damn. Distance was going to be the only thing that helped her move on with her day. Their passion had only grown stronger since he’d claimed her.
Claimed her. It was still crazy to think about. She wouldn’t have thought it was possible to mate a bear with a wolf. But when it came down to it, nothing had felt more right—and crazy or not, that was the only thing that mattered.
“Okay, I really have to go.” She pulled away before she could get sucked in for another kiss. “Shouldn’t you get to work, too?”
Nash waved his hand, dismissing her comment. “How can I work after the most amazing night of my life?”
She knew he was teasing, but there was so much truth in his words that Kira couldn’t help but smile. “Seriously.” She tried to sound stern. “You should get to work.”
“I will, I will.” Nash reached out and grabbed her arm. “Before you go, I really just wanted to ask you something.” His face shifted so quickly, worry pricked at her spine. His teasing smile was gone, replaced by a mask of seriousness.
“What is it?”
He slowly pulled her close, but didn’t kiss her this time. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. With everything that happened last night, I mean.”
“I…of course…I…” Words escaped her. But that was crazy, because of course she was okay with everything. Wasn’t she?
Nash reached out and stroked a strand of her hair, not yet tied back in her signature braid. “Because I know it was a lot,” he said. “What happened between us. I know it might feel a little…”
“Crazy?”
He smiled. “I was going to say intense.”
Kira nodded. That was a good word choice, too.
“But as crazy or intense as it all was,” Nash continued, “it was right, too. Don’t you think?” When she didn’t answer right away, he added, “Me and you? We’re right.”
She nodded again. But this time found her words. “Yes. We are right. I feel it, Nash. I always have. I think that’s why I resisted you so much when I first met you. It was all too intense,” she said, using his word. “And I’m not going to pretend how it makes sense,” she continued. “A wolf and a bear? It’s…well, I guess it just is.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “It is.” His strong arms wrapped around her into the warmest, most secure hug Kira had ever experienced and in that moment, she knew: crazy, intense, weird, or whatever other word anyone could come up with, it didn’t matter because all that really mattered was that together, they were right. Mates.
One more kiss and Kira finally managed to slip out of Nash’s bedroom and make her way into work. She’d been bracing herself for a phone call about more dead fish, but it never came and she really hoped it wouldn’t. After all, she hadn’t seen anything the night before and if there were no dead fish discovered today, that would be two days in a row that everything was good. Definitely a trend, no matter how small, in the right direction. Maybe whoever was responsible for the mess—and it was definitely a someone, of that much Kira was sure—had grown tired of their game and moved on?
Yes.
That was the attitude Kira would take. The perpetrator had moved on and everything would be fine from now on. She almost laughed aloud at her rose-colored attitude, but everything seemed a little brighter after last night with Nash, so why shouldn’t it carry through all aspects of her life?
“There you are.” Sasha’s voice burst through her thoughts. Kira turned to see her friend in the doorway of the registration office. “Where’ve you been?” She wiggled her eyebrows, but Kira was not about to give her any details. Especially after what had really happened the night before. She was not one to kiss and tell, and she was most certainly not one to bite—or have been bitten—and tell.
“Sorry,” Kira said. “I slept in a little.”
“Are you feeling better?”
It took her a moment to remember her lie from the day before, but then it came back to her and she nodded. “Much. Thanks for asking.”
“Good.” Sasha stepped out of the building and closed the door, looking behind her. “Because someone is here to see you.”
Kira’s heart leapt into her throat. Damn it. If the campground general manager had found out about the dead fish problem… Maybe someone had reported it and she was going to catch shit for not reporting it, or worse, maybe she would lose her job. She couldn’t lose her job, not now that she’d found Nash and together they were going to have the perfect summer. If she had to move, it would mean—
“Kira!”
She blinked once, twice.
Sasha waved a hand in front of her face. “I need you to focus. What just happened there?”
“Sorry.” Kira forced a smile on her face. Just because the GM was paying her a personal visit didn’t mean anything negative. Maybe he was coming to tell her what a great job she was doing. Or just making a routine site visit. There were a million reasons he would come out to Riverside. “I was just thinking of something.” She shook her head clear of any worry and asked Sasha, “Why would the GM be here? Did he say?”
Sasha’s face twisted up in confusion. “The GM? He’s not here. Although I did—”
A spark of panic lit in Kira’s belly, followed by something else. A feeling she couldn’t quite pin down. She froze and stared at Sasha. “Then who’s here?”
“I guess I thought you knew,” Sasha said. A hot shiver ran up her spine, and in that instant Kira knew. She felt it. She turned as Sasha continued. “He said he was your—”
“Brother.” Kira’s lips formed around the word while her eyes took in the scene before her. Kade.
Behind her, Sasha was saying something, but Kira didn’t even try to understand what she was saying. A low-grade buzzing took over her hearing, the earth beneath her feet started to move, and for one terrifying moment, she thought she might pass out. What was Kade doing there? How did he even know where she was? How could he…had he sensed her?
Her knees buckled, but she caught herself and straightened. To his credit, Kade didn’t try to help her or even move from the place he stood. He knew her well enough to know that she’d hate any kind of assistance at that moment.
He had known her well enough. She corrected herself. He didn’t know her anymore. They hadn’t seen each other in almost two years. He no longer had the right to say how she would react and how she wouldn’t.
Except he did. He was her twin. A bond stronger than any other. Even that of a fated mate. It didn’t matter what they’d been through, or the time they spent apart. He knew her. Kade knew her on a cellular level because they were twins.
“Kira.” He finally spoke, and the sound of his voice speaking her name almost undid her completely. “You look good,” he continued. “Happy.”
He knew.
How could he know? It was a stupid thing to wonder. After all, how could Kade know anything after so much time?
Because he did. Her thoughts flew to Nash and what they’d just done. What would her brother say if he knew she’d just mated with a wolf? Did she even care?
Yes. She did. A lot.
“I am happy.” She took a step forward, needing to touch him to really believe it was him. Sensing her need—maybe feeling it too—Kade ste
pped forward as well until they were toe-to-toe. “You’re happy, too.” It wasn’t a question. It didn’t need to be. He was radiating joy. But in a different way than she’d ever felt from him. It was pure, and heated and… “You have a mate.”
Kade’s face twisted into a broad smile. “There’s time for that later.” He laughed. “First things first.” His broad, strong arms wrapped around her waist and she squealed as he lifted her up and spun her around.
As soon as she was able to wriggle her arm free, Kira swatted at him half-heartedly. “Put me down. I’m too big for that.”
“You are not.” And to demonstrate, he lifted her higher.
“Okay, okay. But I’m not a kid anymore.” She smacked his back with a laugh. “Put me down.”
Kade did as requested but then pulled her in for another hug. “Damn, sis. It’s good to see you. I can’t even—”
“You don’t have to say it. I get it.” And she did. Seeing Kade, hearing his voice, feeling his arms around her…he filled a hole deep inside her. It was a hole she didn’t even realize she had, but now that he was there in front of her, she felt complete in a way that she couldn’t explain. “It’s been too long.” Her voice was muffled by his shoulder. “Why now?”
Kade held her out from him so she was looking into his eyes. “You tell me.”
It had to be last night. When she thought of him. When, even for a moment, she’d reached out to him. But how could he get there so fast? She shook her head. “No. It’s impossible. There’s no way. Not even you could travel that fast.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Last night. I…” She caught herself, remembering they weren’t alone. “Hey, Sasha?” Kira turned to see her friend watching them with wide eyes. “Can you do me a huge favor?”
Sasha laughed. “I’ll cover for you. But you owe me.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
“No problem.” Sasha walked close, and lowered her voice. “But you’re going to have to explain to me how you’ve had such a hot brother that you didn’t bother telling me about. Damn, girl, that’s not the type of thing you keep from a friend.”