by Lia Davis
“Where are you taking me?”
By the slight tremble in her voice and the smile on her lips, he guessed she already knew the answer. However, he loved the way her cheeks colored when he teased her. “I’m taking you to your room so I can claim you.”
As he suspected, she didn’t back down. No, not his Tiffany. She wrapped her arms around his neck and bit his earlobe before whispering, “I accept all of you, forever.”
His cock jerked and his soul filled with notes of her. Her acceptance had started the mating bond. The only thing left to do was take her, which he planned to do. All night long.
***
Tiffany watched Holt as he laid her on the bed and tore off his shirt. Hard muscles flexed with each movement, making her mouth water. He was hers, and he wanted her for his mate. Briefly, the thought that everything was happening too fast entered her mind, but she shoved it away.
All her life, she’d dreamt of the day she would mate. And to find a mate in a friend was icing on her cupcakes. She’d grown to admire, respect, trust, and even love Holt over her lifetime. Until the day before, when she’d felt the tug to him, she’d only seen him as a close friend. Right then, she knew it was so much more. They were fated mates.
His mouth claims hers in another toe-curling kiss. Pleasure burned in her belly and spread to more sensitive areas. Her skin heated and she ached for his touch. As if knowing what she needed, he traced his hand over her hip to the hem of her shirt. With quick efficiency, he removed her tee and bra then set upon her jeans.
“I want to take it slow, but not sure if I can this first time.”
“Then don’t,” she pleaded, needing to feel him inside her. “I’m already wet.”
His sexy mouth lifted and one brow raised as he slid his hand down her belly and sank his fingers into her folds. A gasp escaped as desire she’d never felt before flared to life, threatening to consume every inch of her.
When he entered her with his fingers, she nearly came. Tingles of pleasure skittered over her and she moved her hips in tempo with his hand as he fingered her to an orgasm.
She cried out in complete bliss as the climax crashed over her, making her body jerk and twitch. Good gods, he was going to kill her with pleasure.
He quickly stripped the rest of the way and trailed kisses up her stomach to her breasts before taking one of her nipples into his mouth. Desire rolled within, building up for another wave of ecstasy. With his right arm, he lifted her leg and slowly pushed inside her. She fisted the sheets and sucked in a breath as pain and pleasure mingled, fueling the building climax.
Once buried deep inside her, he began to move, slowly at first then faster. She wrapped her arms around him, one hand in his hair and the other gripping his shoulder as they moved as one.
A scream ripped from her throat as a more intense orgasm exploded through her. Holt followed suit as he reached his own release.
Panting and feeling boneless, she hugged him tightly. “That was amazing.”
“Yes. Now I know why men go crazy without their mates.”
She laughed and looked inside herself, seeing the mating bond weaving together, growing stronger and brighter by the moment.
They were mated.
Holt framed her face with his hands. “I never realized until yesterday that I love you so much more than a friend.”
Her heart bloomed with glee and adoration. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Six
Everything blissfully ached and hummed at the same time. Tiffany smiled and stepped out of the shower, amazed at how much better her ankle felt upon waking that morning. Sex with the Healer really was good for the body.
Her smile died as a loud crash sounded from the front of the house. “What the hell?”
Grabbing her pink, plush robe, she slipped it on and rushed out of the bathroom to see Holt exiting the bedroom, naked. She briefly enjoyed the view as she followed him down the hall. Once in the living room, her heart dropped to her feet and her stomach soured. The ceiling over her kitchen had caved in. Snow, wood, and plaster were scattered everywhere.
She shivered and drew her robe tighter around her as she made her way to the kitchen to assess the damage. Holt followed and grabbed her hand in his. “Be careful.”
“I will.” She squeezed his hand.
The farther she crept into the kitchen, the sicker she felt. The whole roof had caved in on that corner of the house, right over the walk-in fridge. Dread slammed into her. The cake! Charging forward, she tossed debris out of her way and opened the fridge door. Sadness mixed with anger swirled inside of her. The cake that had once stood tall in the middle of the walk-in had been toppled over by a beam.
Over half of the shelves were broken off the walls, and all the prep work they’d done the day before was ruined. Gods, she wanted to cry. They’d never get everything done in time for the winter celebration in six hours.
Holt came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She sighed. “You better get dressed before my family walks in. She’d smelled her brothers when she entered the walk-in, their scents growing closer by the moment. As shifters, they didn’t have an issue with being nude, but she didn’t want to deal with her overprotective brothers and father, finding Holt naked in her destroyed kitchen.
“Yeah…I’ll do that.” He backed away then added, “Come sit and wait for your family. We’ll figure out how to fix this.”
She wrapped her arms around her waist. There was no fixing this. Everything was ruined. Blinking the tears from her eyes, she left the fridge.
As she entered the living room, the front door swung open. Trey was the first to reach her side. “Are you okay?”
Absently she nodded, barely noticing her other two brothers and parents file into her house. A moment later, her sisters-in-law came in and tugged her to sit on the sofa. “We should go to Mom and Dad’s.”
Tiffany wasn’t sure if it was Connie or Nichole who’d spoken, but whoever it was, she was right. The house was freezing. “I need to get dressed and gather some clothes.”
Connie hugged her. “We’ll come with you while the guys and Mom see what is salvageable.”
Tiffany nodded and stood. Her mind worked over the quick recipes that would work as replacements for what was lost. She may be a little childish and a brat at times, but the one thing she was not, was a quitter. Sure it upset her to lose all the hard work, especially on the cake. But she would not give up. “We have a lot of work to do, and I’ll need everyone’s help.”
Just then, Holt entered the living room. All eyes but hers turned to him, and silence filled the space. Tiffany wanted to hide under the couch or run out the door. Instead of growling, her brothers just sent the Healer a short nod before they headed toward the kitchen.
Meeting her mom’s gaze, Tiffany said, “I’m confused.”
Nichole laughed and tugged her to the bedroom. “Your brothers already grilled Holt.”
“Apparently, while we had our girls’ night here the other night.” Connie smiled then grabbed Tiffany’s overnight bag.
Figures. Her brothers couldn’t let her live her life. That was probably the reason Holt had been so hesitant before they made love. “What did they say?”
The females glanced at each other for a moment before Nichole spoke. “Trey told me he sensed that Holt was a little freaked out about recognizing you as his mate. So he called Ant, who called Ryan.”
“Since when do my brothers, who have chased all my boyfriends away before, start playing matchmakers?”
Connie smirked, shoving things into the overnight bag. “Because they know how it is to find a mate, and how incredible it is to bond with them.”
“Plus Holt is already part of the family from what I understand. He’s the Healer, and his loyalty to your father will die with him.” Nichole spoke from her seat on the bed beside Tiffany.
“I guess I thought they’d be mad…” She fell silent, letting everyth
ing sink in. There were so many emotions running rampant inside of her. But the one thing that stood out the most was her love for Holt. “We’re mated.”
“Yes, we know,” the females said at once then giggled.
“How did that happen? Why did it take so long for us to feel the pull?”
Tiffany had scented her mother before she spoke from the doorway. “Sometimes, we need to be friends with our mates first.”
Smiling, Tiffany nodded. She really didn’t care about the hows or whys. The questions were on her mind because she didn’t want to think about her destroyed house and cake. “I’m glad it worked out that way.” Her chest swelled, but her mind kept going to Holt, then the mess in her kitchen. “First, we need to figure out what we’re going to do about the food for tonight’s Solstice/Mating ceremony.”
Nichole patted Tiffany’s hand. “Now we have three matings to celebrate.”
Yes, they did. Tiffany smiled widely. Despite the way the morning had started out, the rest of the day and her life were going to be great.
Chapter Seven
“Winter is definitely here. Last night’s storm dumped a lot of snow on us, and a few houses, my daughter’s included, suffered some damage. But we pulled together and helped each other out. Like a strong clan should.” Elijah Black’s opening was warm and powerful.
Pride and love lingered in the air and in Holt’s heart. Beside him, his mate leaned in. He hugged her closer and kissed the top of her head. “The food turned out great. Everyone is going to love it.”
“Thanks. I’m still sad the beautiful cake didn’t make it.”
“But your cupcakes are amazing.”
She laughed softly to not disrupt her father’s Solstice speech. “Yeah, even though most of them aren’t as pretty as others.”
After the males had returned from hunting, they helped decorate the cupcakes. Tiffany frowned at them when they were finished, but didn’t let it bother her. Or so she liked everyone to think. She was too OCD, and she couldn’t hide it from Holt. They were mated now. Her emotions were his, and his, hers.
Elijah called to the newly mated pairs of his family. “As we welcome the birth of the sun god, I’m welcoming three new members to my family. I’ve gained two more daughters and another son over the last few months. Nichole, Connie, and Holt, welcome to the family.”
The clan roared out their congratulations and clapped. The strength of the den intensified the magick within the circle they used for celebrations—like the one they held that night. Times like these were why Holt loved his clan so much. Now he had one more reason to love it. She stood by his side like she had all her life, now completely open to him.
Turning to her, he lifted her chin so she met his stare. “I love you, my mate.”
She stood on her toes and kissed him quickly on the lips. “I love you, always and forever.”
The End
If you enjoyed Lia’s bears, check out her dragons…
Excerpt from Dragon’s Web
Kara paced the cramped, windowless shoebox they’d stuck her in a little more than a week ago, right after she’d squeezed through the bars on the window of the last room they’d placed her in. When Henry Carter and his minions had brought her here—wherever the hell here was—they’d placed her in a cage only big enough for a small child. They’d also kept her under some kind of spell, or laced her food with something that interfered with her magic to shift into her black cat form. A few months ago, she’d shifted in her sleep, which led her to believe it was a potion they’d given her, and that her system had somehow built up immunity to it. Once she realized she could shift again, she didn’t think twice about escaping from the cage.
Did they really think they could keep a shapeshifting cat contained for long? They were idiots if they did. Cats were great escape artists. Kara was no exception.
She fisted her hands as she wore a track in the center of the burnt-orange carpet. Or was that blood-saturated carpet? She shuddered, not wanting to think about how many other people Henry had killed in his lifetime. Her capturer wouldn’t get away with murdering her best friend’s parents and then kidnapping Kara to keep her quiet. One way or another, she would get out of here, and Henry Carter would pay.
A sound from outside the door drew her attention. Coming to a stop in the middle of the room, she listened then growled. Anxiety and annoyance fueled her need to escape. Plus, the walls seemed like they were closing in on her.
She’d find another way out.
She had to. For Nyna. She’d do anything to protect her and give her the closure she deserved.
The sound of a door handle turning refocused her thoughts. When the door opened, she let out a low snarl as Dumbass One entered. That’s what she called her guards, Dumbass, with the number of the order she’d met them over the last eighteen months.
“Easy, kitty.”
“Get bent, asshole.” She tracked him with her eyes as he carried a tray to the small rectangular table against the far wall.
His brown hair fell over his face as he set the tray down. “I see I’ve been promoted.” He turned and smirked at her. She hissed at him, wanting to claw out his eyes. “Or is that a demotion?”
Smartass. “Bastard.” She eased to the table, lifted the cover from the plate, and sniffed. The aroma of garlic, butter, and red meat drifted up, filling her senses. Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled. “Steak? Is this my last meal or something?”
Dumbass One laughed, bitter and all too fake. “Don’t we all wish. No, the boss wants you alive.”
For what, she didn’t know. Kara had a theory that Henry wanted to use her as insurance in case Nyna—his niece—found out that he’d killed her parents. His own brother and sister-in-law. The fear that rose with that thought fueled Kara’s rage even more. Nyna had a right to know, and to have closure so she could move on with her life. Kara had to be there to protect her from her bastard uncle.
Studying the guard, Kara stepped closer to him. He raised a brow but didn’t move. Brave man. Or, he really was an idiot. She batted her lashes and gave him her best attempt at a sensual smile. “I could make it worth your while if you just…I don’t know, forget to lock the door when you leave.”
His lips twitched as if amused. Desire flashed in his gaze briefly, telling her that he considered it for a moment. With a quickness she hadn’t expected from the human, he gripped her upper arms and yanked her into him, their clothed bodies meshing together. Holding down the bile that threatened to surface, Kara wrapped her arms around his waist and allowed her tiny fangs to lower. “What do you say?”
He shoved her away and shook his head. Without another word, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. The click of the lock was her answer.
She laughed. Never underestimate a desperate female. She opened her hand and grinned. A single key rested in her palm. Her dad was a thief, and Kara had grown up studying all his tricks of the trade. Stealing a key from a horny guard was child’s play.
After advancing to the door, she listened to the sounds outside the room. Hearing no one in the hallway, she unlocked the door and eased it open. Her senses worked overtime—listening, smelling, and seeing her surroundings as she stepped out of the room and slowly made her way down the hall.
Footsteps sounded from farther down the corridor. Her heart hammered, and she darted into the next room, hoping it was empty. She quietly closed the door behind her and scanned the space. It was a bedroom, and by the lack of personal items, it appeared to be vacated. Good. A satisfying smile lifted her lips as she noted the opened window across the way.
Calling to her inner cat, she padded across the carpet. A moment later, she shifted into a petite, black kitty. After a good stretch, she leaped onto the thin windowsill, slipped through the bars, and then jumped to a nearby tree.
As soon as her paws hit the ground, the alarms sounded. Fuck.
She ran across the yard as fast as her short legs would ca
rry her. When she reached the dense brush surrounding the property, she darted into it. In the distance, dogs barked wildly. Her heart stopped briefly even while her small legs ran faster. Branches from the shrubs slapped against her fur as she pushed her way through them. She hadn’t a clue where she was or which way to go.
Exiting the brush, she skidded to a halt as the scent of dog and human reached her senses. Fuck. Turning in the opposite direction, she hauled ass, zigzagging through the trees. The barking canines closed in on her, raising her fear to lethal levels.
She had to survive this. She needed to return to Woodland Creek so she could tell her best friend since high school who killed her parents. Think, damn it. The smell of burning wood made her nose tingle. It also filled her with hope. It had to be from a fireplace, which meant there was a house nearby.
Following the scent, she rounded another tree and ran into two dogs with their handlers. Crap on a stick. Before she could dart off, one of the men grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. She hissed and growled. Just bring that ugly face a little closer, bastard. Sure enough, the dumbass held her up at face level to study her.
With efficient grace, she hooked a back leg around his wrist, digging her claws into his skin. Then she batted her front paws toward his face while twitching her body. It was great to be small sometimes. She bit his hand and managed to claw the fuck out of his arm. He let out a string of curses and dropped her. She landed on her feet, then ran toward the smell of firewood.
The man she’d scratched cursed again and yelled for the other guard, “Get that bitch.”
She wasn’t going to make it. Spying a large maple, she climbed it and scrambled up as high as she felt was safe. The tree would be her safe haven for the night, or at least until they gave up searching for her and left the area.
Settling on a large, high branch, she let out a sigh. She couldn’t, no wouldn’t, be captured again. The asshat traitor who’d held her prisoner would regret not killing her. He was going to pay for all of his sins.