by Eva Harper
He landed on the ground with a bang, and his breath was knocked out of him. Eli laughed loudly and clapped his hands. I took a big bow and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
“Very nice,” Theo’s booming voice called as he exited the house. “I’m kind of worried that my own brother can’t protect himself from the wrath of this little minx.”
“Oh, give it a rest,” Reese grumbled, standing up and walking towards Eli, who wiped an imaginary tear from his cheek.
“I wonder if you’d like to test your skills against someone a little more, qualified.” Theo smiled as he walked towards me, rubbing his hands together.
“Oh, no,” I backed up, shaking my head. “I’m not going to fight you.”
“Why?” His smile was kind compared to the threat behind his joking words. “Afraid to be knocked on your cute, little, butt, just like Reese?”
“Yes.” I looked away and frowned. Theo came closer and grabbed my arms, which were crossed over my chest.
“I promise I’ll be gentle,” he whispered huskily.
Reese let out a loud noise of disgust.
“Come on, Theo, she’s not going to be humiliated in front of her mate’s family,” Eli said, his words irked me, and I uncrossed my arms.
“I am not going to be humiliated,” I promised. “Let’s do this.”
“Alright,” Reese clapped his hands and hollered.
Theo smiled at me and backed up; I followed him. He took the same sort of stance that Reese did and flexed his arm muscles. I rolled my eyes and walked toward him casually. He narrowed his eyes and stood up straight. I stepped behind him and launched myself, jumping on his back childishly.
He grabbed onto my legs and laughed.
“Do you really think this is going to work?” he chuckled, turning his head to look at me.
“Isn’t it?” I joked, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck.
“I could literally have you on the ground in seconds, little one.”
“Oh, please-”
Before I could even finish my sentence, Theo had grabbed my arms and flipped my body over his shoulder. I was flat on my back with Theo above me, eyes twinkling, mouth pursed.
“Looks like I win,” he poked. I laughed and brought his face even closer to mine, pressing a firm kiss to his lips. He groaned and lowered himself until he was resting on his elbows. I lifted my legs and wrapped them around his waist.
“Ew, guys, stop,” Eli called.
Without warning, I torqued my body and flipped Theo onto his back. He released my lips, stunned, and moved his hands to my hips as I sat on top of him.
“I’ll have you know that I am a very deadly werewolf now,” I teased, leaning down to lay one more kiss on his lips. “It’s going to be harder to take me down now.”
Theo sat up, forcing me to lean back, but he wrapped his arms around my waist.
“That was the first time you’ve called yourself a wolf,” he breathed happily. I looked down and tried to fight the grin that was trying to come on my face.
“Yeah, well,” I mumbled non-committedly.
“Margo, you don’t know how happy that just made me.” His voice was serious. I peeked back, and Eli and Reese, who were trying their best to look like they weren’t eavesdropping.
“I’m still getting used to it, but...” I shrugged my shoulders.
“I know you are, and you’re doing great.”
He moved me off his body, and we stood up, grabbing each other’s hands before walking towards Eli and Reese.
“I think we’ll just be going right about now,” Reese badgered us, talking large steps backward, hitting Eli’s shoulder to follow him. “Leave you two to your hanky-panky nonsense.”
“Reese,” I yelped. He wiggled his eyebrows and skipped away. Eli followed him with half the enthusiasm.
“Come on.” Theo put his hand on the small of my back, and we went back inside. Theo had already picked up dinner from Emily’s bakery. There were a few sandwiches on the table along with raspberry scones, the same thing I ordered when we first went.
I beamed and bounced over to the table.
“I thought you might be hungry,” Theo said. “I didn’t want you to have to cook.”
“Thank you,” I said through the bite of sandwich I had just bitten off. Theo sat next to me, not eating, just watching me devour my food. I stopped and looked over at him, awkwardly with a piece of lettuce poking out of my mouth. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I’m not really hungry for that,” he mused, crinkling the wax wrapper from my sandwich.
“Then why did you get it, you should’ve gotten something else,” I told him guiltily. I set my food down, noticing I had already eaten half of the large portion.
“I’m hungry for something else.” His eyes were lowered.
“What it is? We can go pick something else up, I can take this in the car with us,” I insisted, beginning to wrap the wax paper around my food. He chuckled and pinched his nose between his eyes.
“Margo,” he relented. “I’m not hungry for food.”
I was confused for a moment until I saw the dark glint in his eyes. He continued to stare at me as realization coated my features, and I blushed a dark crimson.
“Oh,” I said stupidly and let my food sit on the table.
“God, you don’t even know what you do to me,” he groaned, pulling the base of my chair towards him. I jumped a little in surprise. “How hungry I am for you, I’ve been trying to hold myself off, to give you time to adjust, but I don’t know how much longer I can wait. Now that you’ve turned, it’s like my instincts are so much stronger.” He continued kissing and nipping the fabric near my neck.
“I know, I feel it too,” I admitted.
“Then why don’t we do something about it. I don’t want my girl to go unsatisfied,” he teased, flicking his tongue out to touch the very edge of his mark on my neck.
“Theo, I’m all sweaty still.” I blushed, a shiver erupted through my body when he touched his mark.
“I don’t care, you’re about to get sweatier, what does it matter?”
“Theo,” I said softly. His hand wove into my hair, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were honest, breath hitched, longing coating his skin.
“I know you’re nervous, but I promise you this will be amazing. I adore everything about you, from the way your eyes crinkle in the corners when I make you laugh, to the way your skin flushes when I touch you. I love that you’re shy but bold, and so damn strong. I love every hair on your head, Margo. Let me worship you.”
As Much As We Could
Theo kicked the door open. I had wrapped my legs around his waist and was hungrily kissing mouth, neck, any part of him I could. We tumbled onto the bed, and I was pressed against the soft covers as he hovered above me.
His breath was labored and frantic like he didn’t know when he would get another breath. I took just a second to notice the way his lips curved and dipped. I lifted my hand, bringing it to the back of his neck.
He lowered himself, and his lips melded with mine softly. The taste of him invaded my senses, and I knew I was lost to this man. He had every part of me, and I wanted to give everything to him. His nose touched mine, and his fingers grabbed at my hip, almost too harshly, but the sting only excited me further.
His eyebrows clenched angrily like he was angry he could only feel so much of me at once. I tugged his shoulder down to the bed and moved so that I was leaning over him. He lifted his head as I backed away, trying to keep us connected, but I left his lips and nipped at his jaw with a quick bite.
My hands grazed his chest, still covered in his gray, long-sleeved shirt. My hands drifted down to his waist, and I lifted the fabric, my fingers skimmed his taut stomach. He clenched his muscles, trying to control the urge to move and take over dominance, but I wasn’t ready to give up yet.
I tugged the shirt up as far as I could, and Theo grabbed the bottom and lifted it over himself. He took my head between his
hands and placed a searing kiss on my lips, keeping me over him.
I broke our kiss when I needed to breathe and lifted my leg to move it over his waist. Sitting on top of him was liberating for someone so used to being held down by muscular arms. I leaned down again, lips lathing onto one another.
His hands didn’t hold my face this time. Instead, they pawed at my waist, going lower and touching the curve of my backside. My breath hitched as he grabbed more firmly, and I tried to calm my racing heart.
My hands latched onto his hair, pulling at the roots, trying to tell him that I was just as much a part of this as he was.
He groaned low in his chest, blowing hot breath onto my lips.
“I love you,” I told him hastily as soon as our lips stopped touching. He smiled, mouth still parted and breathing heavy.
“I love you, too,” he assured me, sitting up, so he was level with me. We didn’t kiss for a few moments.
We took each other in.
Memorized each other’s features.
Breathed in the same breath.
He slowly peeled the sleeveless top off me as I held my arms up. He kissed my cheekbone as he trailed his fingers, sown my spine, and back up, stopping as he reached my bra. I swore the next time we were intimate, I would wear something more alluring. He didn’t seem to mind the tight fabric pressed over my chest and lifted that up next.
I pulled myself closer to him, trying to hide my naked chest against his. He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his head down to kiss my exposed shoulder.
His arms encased me.
We continued to kiss, fingers grazing skin, legs tangled, hair ruffled.
He laid me down on the bed, sliding himself off the edge. I lifted my head and gently bit my bottom lip, watching him. He was like a work of art as he undid the buckle of his belt, sliding it off as he looked in my eyes. His pants slid down his legs, and he kicked them off with his feet.
The only thing covering him was his boxers, and soon I was left in the same position. My thin, spandex pants were ripped from my body, threads snapping as he stretched them. I silently giggled as he growled, annoyed with the fabric.
His eyes met my laughing ones, and he smiled lustfully. His hands moved with him as he took his place on top of me once again. His fingers found their way beneath my underwear, gently stroking the fire that was burning. I gasped and pushed myself closer to him.
The evening light flooded through the window, hitting Theo’s eyes and lips. He was a painting, stuck forever in my mind, that orange glow around such crystal eyes.
His fingers found their way inside of me, stretching me. I had never known such a feeling, and I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise. Theo bent down and kissed my forehead. My legs practically slithered around him.
Soon, I was a shaking, mumbling mess of anticipation. He let me go, looking me in the eyes as he licked his fingers. I shuddered when I felt him move the last piece of clothing down the rest of the way.
He climbed back on the bed, and before he could guide me again, I turned over and pushed his back flat on the bed. He watched me curiously as I pressed kisses down his chest to the waistband of his boxers. I lifted them and gulped.
I promised myself when the time came, I was going to give myself to this fully, even if I embarrassed myself. I wanted to give Theo the same pleasures that he gave me.
This wasn’t a one-sided affair.
As I tugged the boxers down, I tried to keep my eyes on his. He watched me as my eyes trailed from his to his chest and down below.
I was nervous, inexperienced, fingers shaking.
“It’s okay,” he whispered encouragingly. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“Just let me do this,” I told him, smirking. I don’t know where the sudden confidence came from, but I was determined to try.
“It’s not going to hurt you,” he joked. I wanted to retaliate, but I was too focused on keeping my newly found courage.
My fingers gently touched him, and Theo sucked in a breath, taking all the uncertainty out of the room. I continued to explore, all the while, Theo groaned and clenched his eyes, bucking his hips into my hold.
I lowered myself further and, in some moment of dauntless wanting, touched my tongue to him. The moan that erupted from his chest was enough to fill me for days. Without warning, Theo was lunging towards me, taking a fistful of hair in his hands to pull me to him. His kisses were frantic, hungry, needy.
His legs moved mine and pinned them down, capturing me body under his. Our hands flew over each other, no inquisition other than needing to touch as much as we could. He dipped closer to the bed and, in one upward motion, licked me and kneeled.
I shivered, my eyes closed until I felt him against me. My eyes sought his, and he didn’t break our line.
Slowly, he began to push into me. He watched me for any sign of pain, and even the twitch of my lip was enough for him to pause and wait for me to adjust. He pushed my knees up and opened, holding them to control himself.
When he was in me fully, he lowered his head.
We kissed. Not frantic. No rush. Just one kiss, telling me he loved me.
He began to move faster and then slower when I lifted my hand to press against his thigh. Being filled so completely, physically, and emotionally by this man was more than my body could handle. Our bond hummed against our necks.
My breath was coming hotter and faster as he changed his pace. He moved and held himself up on his fists, our foreheads just barely touching. I moaned and panted, each noise fueling Theo’s resolve. A shiver wove its way from my toes to my core, and I pulled my legs tighter around him.
He took my breast in his hand, and at the sensation of being stimulated so completely, I shattered against him. My scream dissipated to a breathless moan as my vision swirled with black. He watched as my body trembled against him, grabbing at his shoulders and chest for some kind of reprieve from the pleasure.
Not long after, he threw his head back in reckless abandon, hands clenching my waist, bruising the soft skin.
He left me and laid beside me, grabbing my face and guiding it to his. He kissed me again, quickly, and then pressed his lips on my forehead. The cool air in the room drifted over our bodies on top of the bed.
“Theo,” I painted, noticing a drop of sweat slipping down his forehead.
“I love you so much,” he vowed. My heart swelled, and his mark burned like a fading flame.
“I don’t say this nearly enough,” I admitted, curling myself further into his chest. “But I’m really glad you’re my mate.” I pressed a kiss to his chest, laying my head there as exhaustion and residual pleasure coursed through my veins. His hand wove into my hair and held me against him.
“You are my entire world, Margo.”
Double Vision
Evening came, and hours passed, but we did not move. Naked and warm, curled up between Theo’s arms, I allowed time to pass without any plan to leave. Theo didn’t say anything as he played with my hair, messy and tangled from the sheets.
He chuckled suddenly, and I crooned my head up to look at him. He smiled down at me, eyes still laughing.
“What?” I asked nervously.
“I’ve been trying to fix your hair, and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” he said. I moved and sat up, reaching up to touch my hair that was frizzy and sticking up. I groaned and tried to pull my fingers through it like a comb, but they got stuck after a few inches.
“This is all your fault,” I teased, sliding off the bed to grab my brush from the bathroom. “If you hadn’t been pulling my hair, this wouldn’t’ve happened.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it.” His eyes narrowed, grinning at me like a snake. I scoffed and set the brush down. I ran into the room quickly, jumping onto the bed near Theo, and sat in his lap.
“Yes, how could someone resist this?” I asked, pulling on the roots of his hair. He grunted and lifted his head to kiss me.
“
Don’t tease me, little one,” he breathed hoarsely. I giggled and climbed off his lap.
“Come on, let’s go make something to eat.”
He followed me reluctantly, groaning the entire time about how we should have stayed in bed.
“Can’t we eat this in bed?” he grumbled.
“No, you’re going to get crumbs everywhere.” He rolled his eyes and continued shoveling slices of pizza in his mouth.
The phone in his office began ringing loudly, startling us both. Theo pushed the last piece of crust into his mouth, brushed his hands off, and jogged into the other room. I turned around on my stool and watched him answer the phone, smiling warmly when the voice on the other end answered him.
He sat on the corner of his desk, rubbing his hand over the stubble on his chin. He looked up and caught me watching him through the doorway; he smiled gently and looked down as if he were embarrassed.
It wasn’t until I shifted that I felt the attraction to Theo like he described. Now every inch of him attracted me, like a siren song luring me to his ocean.
He took the phone away from his ear, pressed it to his chest, and motioned for me to come into the room.
“Do you know a woman named Saskia?” he asked as I was walking toward him. I shook my head, no, and my eyebrows were tugging together in confusion. He nodded and lifted the phone to his ear again. “No, she doesn’t know either.”
I sat and listened to the rest of his call, wondering who Saskia was and why Theo looked so concerned. Hung up and ran his hand through his hair.
“Who’s Saskia?” I bombarded him curiously.
“I don’t really know.” He slumped against the desk, brushing his leg against mine. “The Alpha from the Audacia Pack just called me. Felix, he’s Joella’s mate, he said something about a woman named Saskia who was on the edge of their territory asking for refuge, but she wouldn’t say what she needed refuge from. Apparently, the pack next to them heard the same when she tried to pass through their territory.”