by P. Jameson
It was there, small and fragile, but it was there. Their impossible bond.
He knew when his eyes flickered with the evidence of his animal because Adira let out a tiny gasp. But he was too distracted by what he felt to wonder if he was scaring her. Besides, his female didn’t scare easy.
The bond that linked him and Adira was thin. Baby new. A tiny web-thin thread that joined them together, even though it shouldn’t have been possible.
A bond. They shared a bond. So weak, but he knew how to make it stronger. Shit, he knew exactly what to do.
Heal female first, his lion purred.
They weren’t strong enough for a total healing, but he could help with her symptoms. Sure he could. And then… then he was going to do something about that scent he’d noticed earlier.
He was going to make her come. Right here in her bed. Using his magic fingers. His tongue. And whatever else she’d let him use.
It would be the start of something amazing. The start of their growing bond. He didn’t have a clue where they’d end up, but one thing was for sure.
They’d get there together.
“Sunshine,” he rumbled. “I’m going to take care of you.”
“You said that earlier.”
He nodded. “Yes, but now I mean something different.”
Yeahhh, he was going to take real good care of his female. Such good care that she’d be screeching his name before it was over. Clawing at his neck. Moaning in his mouth.
Good fuck, and he was going to be completely heart-lost. But right then, he couldn’t think of a single reason he shouldn’t be.
They were doing this.
***
Adira tried to breathe as something magical swept through her, starting where Mason touched her neck. His touch was gentle but urgent, and his eyes flickered from cougar gold to human. He didn’t whisper a spell, so she knew it was some of that Ouachita magic. Love. Or maybe not that, but something like it.
Her heart pounded, her chest went warm. The most amazing feeling of rightness settled over her in a wave.
Yes.
It felt like the light, but was seductive like the darkness. It was the perfect combination of both. A perfect shade of gray.
And it seemed to push back her lethargy. Her throat felt less raspy. Her head felt less weighty. Her body less achy.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Connecting.” His voice was gravel and sent new shivers over her heated skin. Her neck must be cherry red by now with her blush.
“It feels good.”
His thumb where it swept across her jaw, froze, and he stared into her eyes, that hot intensity from earlier returning.
“I mean… I feel better. Eagan’s soup… maybe?”
“I don’t think so.”
“No?”
Mason shook his head.
“What then?”
But instead of answering, he bent his head until his lips softly pressed into hers. His hand in her hair and the grip on her neck held her for his kiss, but she wasn’t going anywhere. He brushed along her lips over and over, carefully, gently. Like he was getting her used to the feel before he went at her harder.
And she had the feeling he wanted to go much harder.
Her lion, kissing her like she was important to him. Was this real? Or some kind of cruel sickness induced dream.
A wanting whimper eased past her throat, and Mason groaned at the sound. And god, she loved the way he sounded right now. It did crazy twirly things to her stomach.
“Kiss me back, Sunshine,” he pleaded, his mouth still close enough that their lips brushed with his whispered words. “You want to.” His thumb came to her chin, tugging slightly so her mouth opened. “Give me your lips, my female. Let go.”
My female.
He called her his female.
Did he mean it?
She stared into his eyes, searching, feeling with what instinct she could muster. What she saw had her defenses melting once again. He was so earnest, so real, in this tiny moment between them.
Let go.
Could she? Was this safe? If she kissed him, showed him her heart, would he turn her away again?
Inside she wrung her hands, wanting to trust him. To forget the words he’d carelessly tossed out a week ago. Trying to believe the words he used now instead.
My female.
No, those words had to mean something to a werecat like Mason. My female. It was a claim.
Let go.
Like a dam bursting, she did.
Her hands flew to Mason’s neck and she crushed her lips against his even though she had no idea what she was doing. No male had ever kissed her until him, and she certainly didn’t know what to do with her mouth. This was all feeling, and she hoped it would be enough.
A small growl rolled up his throat as both hands tangled in her hair to steady her. But she was practically famished for him, now that she’d given herself permission to be. Now that she was his.
He effortlessly edged her lips open and his tongue dove in, urgently tasting every inch of her, sucking and lapping at her mouth until she was dizzy with pleasure. He was hot. So much heat, moving from his body to hers, with every hypnotic stroke.
When he went to pull back she realized if she didn’t do something, she was going to lose this moment. So she moved her lips, danced her tongue against his, making sure he’d stay. Right. Where. She wanted him.
One arm banded around her waist and he dragged her body closer to his, pressing all that hard muscle right into her soft curves. Nothing in her past—no spell, no triumph, no magic—had ever felt so perfect. So right.
He broke away from her lips, and she pushed forward following him. But he stopped her by cupping both cheeks and bringing her gaze up to his. The gold of his eyes swirled with emotion making them look like liquid sun. Maybe it would be for her how it was for her sisters. Maybe Mason was her light to fight against the darkness.
“Hungry little Sorcera,” he rumbled low. She felt the vibration of it between her legs, sliding up her core, and making her tremble. “You like being kissed.”
She nodded, unsure if she could make her voice work.
“Mm, your mouth tastes so sweet.”
He ducked his head to dip back in for more, and Adira took advantage, licking him back.
But before she could lose herself again, he pulled back, pressing his lips against her ear to whisper, “You smell delicious. Not sad anymore. You smell needy. And I know just how to cure you, Sunshine. Trust me?”
She could. Somehow she needed to trust Mason. When everything was so rocky, when her future was jagged and messy, what she needed was something to really trust. Hold on to. Cling to, until things made sense again.
She chose Mason.
“Yes,” she breathed.
His shoulders seemed to dip with relief, and then with a sexy purr, he said, “I’m needy too. Need to taste all of you. And I’m going to cure that achy feeling you have down low. With the same tongue that just kissed you.”
Lecherous.
One hand slid under her waistband, inching downward and causing her breath to hitch with anticipation, until he reached her sex. His strong hand slipped between her legs to gently hold her while her breath stalled at the blatant action.
Adira moaned, not caring if anyone outside the room heard.
“More of that,” Mason growled. “You’re going to give me so much more. Wait and see, Sunshine.”
His hand moved—just a fraction—and a finger slipped between her folds, revealing the wetness his kiss had conjured.
“Fuck,” he hissed. “You’re so wet.”
Another tiny move of his hands and Adira stiffened. This was all too much. She was feeling too much. His touch and the emotion it wrung from her, felt like a tidal wave that could pull her under permanently. It felt huge. Monumental.
“No, no,” Mason murmured, his lips falling to her neck and trailing tiny kisses there. “Feel this, Sunshine. Feel
what I’m doing to you. Don’t you go anywhere, hear me? Feel.”
Softly, slowly, he moved his fingers along her wetness. She felt vulnerable but safe. Trembling but never in danger of coming apart.
Gripping his shoulders when she went weak from the pleasure drew another possessive growl from him. She never knew something could feel like this. It was the strangest magic and she knew Mason was the only one who could wield it for her.
She clung to him, lips pressed to his neck, sucking like that could relieve the delicious pressure building in her center.
“Yesss,” he hissed. “Suck me. With that hot little mouth.”
A thrill moved through her body at his dirty talk. Her cat was so blunt. She loved it. Something dark and mysterious inside her wanted more of that. She wanted him hissing and cursing and reckless for her. The way he’d looked when he broke into her room. The way she was right now for him.
She writhed her hips to get more of his touch, moving herself on his insistent fingers.
“Aw, fuck, Sunshine. You’re burning me with this. Gonna be fucking ashes when this is all over.”
She never wanted it to be over. She wanted this to be forever. This, them. All of it.
Her fingers raked his hair, pulling until he let off a sexy snarl and nipped at her jaw.
Too much, it was too much. She was… she was definitely coming apart, but she wasn’t scared. She had no time for being scared of pleasure when in a matter of days, her entire world was going to upend. It was time for her to suck up every bit of marrow life had to offer. It was time for her to let go of cures and research and solutions that were ever evasive. Let go of hope and her plans for the future.
Let go.
And just be.
With him. For now. Until her time was up.
“Mine,” he whispered, but she was sure she’d imagined it, because she didn’t feel his lips move against her skin.
That single word was enough to tip her over the edge, to send her soaring on pleasure soaked waves that wracked her body. She convulsed as Mason’s fingers move faster against her center. Faster and faster, dragging her ragged breath along with it until she felt like she’d lose consciousness.
“Mason,” she gasped, and he gripped her waist tighter. Pushed her release farther.
“You feel it, Sunshine?” he ground out.
But her answer was lost in a guttural moan as she tightened and went completely limp against him.
Eventually his hand slowed, but his breathing didn’t. He eased out of her pants and part of her was scared he might be done. But before she could worry, he shoved the sweatshirt up and over her head, exposing what she’d accidentally revealed earlier. This time it had a whole new meaning.
“Lay back,” he instructed. “Want to see you how you woke up.”
A pleasure-weak smile curved her lips. So he was thinking about that too.
She dropped to the bed, only a teeny bit self-conscious about being naked before him. Maybe no man had seen her like this before, but Mason liked what he saw. It was enough to make her feel like a goddess.
“Goddamn, you’re beautiful.” His eyes were lust glazed and he spoke as if he was telling himself instead of her.
Hooking his fingers under her pants, he slid them down in three anxious tugs.
“Remember what I said, Sunshine? About my tongue?” He tossed her pants to the floor and settled between her knees, inhaling deep and groaning hard. His face was inches away from her most private parts. The place he’d already familiarized himself with.
Adira’s eyes went big. “You’re going to lick me. Aren’t you?”
Mason’s eyes flicked up to hers and they held a wicked sexy gleam. “Oh, hell yes.”
I’m going to lick you so good you shake apart in my mouth like you did on my hand. Gonna have your sweet scent all over my face. Taste all this wet heat, and make it mine. As mine as it can be.
Adira froze as she heard the words in her head, but didn’t see them fall from his mouth. There was only that spine tingling grin, and licking his lips like he was going in for the most decadent dessert.
Impossible.
But she lost all thought as he dove between her legs and licked up her center in one long stroke. In that moment of bliss, nothing else mattered.
Not even the fact that she’d just… read his mind?
Chapter Ten
Fucking hell. Mason was completely lost in his… his…
Mate, his animal hissed violently. And he wasn’t going to argue right now. Not when all he could think about was Adira’s taste on his lips, and wringing more of those cock-stroking moans from her.
Mason flicked his gaze upward as he lapped at her. His female watched him, eyes wide and panting. Fingers fisting the sheet. Muscles taut, ready to release, as he held her hips to the bed with one hand, and spread her wide for his mouth with the other. And holy hell, that look on her face was about to have him busting his balls. Reaching down, he fumbled with the button of his jeans and slid them open to give his aching cock some relief.
Need inside female.
But no. He couldn’t be with her like that. Not yet. He could smell that she was very close to her heat, and no matter what leaps and bounds he’d made in facing his demons, he wasn’t ready to chance fatherhood.
Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Mason snarled against Adira’s flesh and ground his hips against the mattress, pretending it was her. This beautiful piece of sunshine that batted away the shadows. Did what nothing else ever could for him. Made him feel good things again. Deep in his soul.
She was a damn miracle. Just like the others talked about.
His palm slid up her belly that dipped with rapid breaths, until he reached the lush mound of one breast. He squeezed, gently rolling her hardened nipple between his fingers, and she jacked up off the bed with a sweet gasp.
Mason pulled his mouth from her, blowing softly on her skin to draw chills.
“Wait,” she groaned, trying to saw her legs together. “I’m close. Need you.”
Oh, yes. His female needed him. And it made his cougar very happy.
He grinned and dipped his head back to her, ready to push her over the edge for the second time. But she stopped him with her hand on his head.
“No,” she said quietly. “I need… you. Your… manhood.”
He was really going to have to teach her some better words for that part of his body. Like dick or pecker or fuck wand.
Adira frowned, and oh, his cat didn’t like that at all.
Mason disengaged himself from her legs and crawled up her body, nuzzling her skin along the way. Belly button, ribs, full tits where he became distracted for countless minutes, and finally back to her lips. He kissed her softly before hovering over her face to read her.
“You like what I’m doing to you.” It wasn’t a question. He could scent her pleasure. Feel it leaking through their bond, which was growing stronger by the moment. But his words were still uncertain.
“Yes,” she said. “So much.”
His lips curled in a promising smile. “Good, Sunshine. Because I’m going to keep—”
“I just want more,” she blurted, staring between their bodies at his hips. “All of you. Like a real female is with her male. Like… like…”
“The others,” he finished for her. And damn if his heart didn’t break at the expression on her face.
“I want that too.” Goddamn it, he really did.
Her expression lifted before falling again. “But?”
He brushed his fingers down her heated cheek, hating the words he was about to say. “I can’t give you that.” Yet. He should add that. But so much had happened today, and he still needed to sort things out. Right now all he wanted was to connect with her. Grow their bond. Be with her in the only way he could right then.
“Because… because you aren’t for me, and I’m not for you?”
Her words were like a slap in the face. You aren’t for me and I’m not for you. He
’d said that to her last week when he’d lost it over the baby idea. But now those words felt all wrong. Like breathing in smoke. Like swallowing cotton. Like the sick feeling you get when you’ve fucked up bad, and know it.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“But you did. You felt it, so you said it. Because you don’t see a future for us. Because Mirena suggested giving me a young and you didn’t like it. But you should know, I’d never let you do something you hate so bad. I don’t want to go out with you despising me.”
Mason opened his mouth to tell her how wrong she was. She was his. Somehow, she was. And although it shouldn’t be possible, they even had a bond. And he intended on fixing shit between them. And—
A loud knock rattled the door making them both jerk in surprise.
“What?” he barked, glaring at the door.
“Code Poptart,” Layna called from the other side of the wood. “Code Poptart. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is NOT a drill.”
Mason hung his head, still braced above Adira, his erection pressing into her thigh like a bad reminder of the sweet moments they’d been sharing all night. Damn rom-com still playing in the background. Chest aching from all he needed to tell her.
One of these days, he was going to get this right.
“Shit,” he cursed, pressing his forehead to hers. “I promised Doc I’d be around to help her deliver the babies when they came. Just an extra hand in case her and Owyn can’t handle it all.”
Adira’s eyes went wide. “Babies? Code Poptart means one of the females is in labor?”
Mason rolled his eyes. “Layna’s idea.”
“We… we should go. Right now.” She pushed at his chest but he wasn’t quite ready to move.
Pressing his lips to her kiss-swollen ones, he gave her everything he had for ten tiny seconds. Sweet, promising more to come. Desperate, needing her to understand what he couldn’t put into words yet.
Sure, he wasn’t the best at expressing his feelings. In fact, he was fucking terrible at it. But if Adira thought he despised her, he’d been doing everything all wrong.
“Sunshine, I don’t hate you. Could never. I’m fucked up bad inside. Things from my past make it hard for my heart, but I’m trying… I’m trying to love you. I’m shitty at it, I know. And you deserve so much better, but… I’m trying.”