by Dahlia Rose
Sam stroked her back for a long while, absorbing her warmth, and enjoyed her soft form in his arms. He had locked the pain of his people’s betrayal away. The problem was, even at two, he remembered every detail of that day. Maybe it was the owl side that provided such total recall, but at first it had tormented him in dreams. Later, he learned to suppress the emotions behind the memories—all of the emotions except anger and hatred.
Tondi pulled back from his chest, and they returned to the cabin. She led him to the couch and hugged him after they sat, drawing his head to her chest. Sam scooted down to lessen the awkwardness of the position. He shut his eyes and breathed deep while Tondi stroked his hair.
“I wanted to be human,” he admitted.
“Really?”
“Yes. My family, the ones who raised me, are human. Zuria is human, and my best friend, Fane, is human. I wanted to be like them. That’s why I tried to ignore the call to shift each year. The last time, I collapsed.” Heat suffused his face at the embarrassing admission. He didn’t want Tondi to think he was weak, but she made soothing noises.
“You have to embrace your owl side, Sam, but you can definitely live the way you want.”
He shrugged. “I learned my lesson. I won’t skip shifting.”
She gave him a shove until he straightened. “But will you love who you are?”
“I don’t hate myself.”
“You should love the owl,” she declared with enthusiasm. “You’re so cute.”
He glared. “I am not cute.”
Tondi laughed. He listened to the melodiousness of her voice and dismissed thoughts of his people. They spent time together in the cabin and then out among nature. As they strolled hand-in-hand along a riverbank, Tondi returned to the uncomfortable subject.
“Sam, why did your people kill your parents?”
He tensed, but didn’t let go of her hand or move from her side. He didn’t want to talk about it, but neither did he desire to keep anything about himself from her. She needed to know everything if she was to accept when he asked her to stay with him in Aves as his mate. The length of time they had known each other made no difference to him. Tondi’s alternative was to keep running from her dad or those in league with him. Sam had already made up in his mind he would protect her, and he would do so in his hometown where she had already found peace and happiness. Fane teased her, but he had no ill will toward Tondi. The two of them had already discussed her. Zuria would come around once she realized Tondi was for him. He didn’t want to burden his sister with his true nature to explain the quick bond with Tondi, but time would fix the issue.
“My mother was half human,” he told Tondi. “That in itself was a stigma against her. My dad wanted to take her to live among the humans. My people forbade it. A fight broke out, and in the end, they were killed.”
“Oh no, I can’t believe it. How could they do that? Just because she was different? It’s not right. Then they wanted to go away. The least they could have done was to let them go.”
Sam touched her cheek. The rage in her gaze warmed him. He knew from Tondi’s story, she understood feeling like others tried to force her to do what she didn’t want to.
“It must have felt like a prison,” she said, staring off over the water. “Your mom was probably used to civilization and missed it. To be told she couldn’t go…”
“Oh she could go,” Sam corrected her, “but not with my dad.”
“Bastards!”
He agreed, although the word he would have used would have been stronger. “When I turned for the first time at eleven, I was told they came looking for me to take me in.”
“Why would they? You’re what, one fourth human?”
“Yes, my blood is tainted.” He spat the word between clenched teeth. “I was told they regretted what happened.”
“You don’t believe it?”
“I don’t care.”
“Sam.” She turned to face him and pressed herself close. Sam held her tight around her waist, molding her soft form to his. He knew they needed to head back soon, but he had enjoyed this time together and didn’t want it to end. Holding her here now that the beast was tamed would be no better than what his people had done to his parents.
“We can head back any time you’re ready,” he said.
She uttered a contented sigh. “This trip has been wonderful. I wish we could stay here longer, which is crazy, because I always thought of myself as a city girl. Before I came to Aves, you wouldn’t have caught me without makeup.”
He examined her face. “You don’t have any on now?”
She broke from his hold, and a hand shot to her hip. “I know you’re not telling me with or without makeup it makes no difference, Sam Belle!”
He didn’t understand her annoyance. “Beautiful either way.”
The sun shone on her face, and she beamed at him. “Okay, I forgive you.”
He smiled, and she took his hand, leading him in the direction of the cabin. Sam followed like a whipped puppy, eager to be with her, no matter where that was. He considered what he would do if Tondi ever told him she desired to live in the big city since she’d said she was a city girl. He cringed at the thought, but where his mate went, he went. Funny, not so long ago, Fane had made the same declaration regarding Zuria when she’d decided to leave Aves. Of course, he hadn’t used the word mate, but in Sam’s mind, the two were as meant to be as he and Tondi.
“Tondi,” he said as they walked along.
“Hm?” She watched the ground in front of her, stepping over small rocks and twigs.
“Stay with me—in Aves.”
She stopped walking and looked up at him. He cleared his throat.
“If you want…”
“You goof.” She thumped his arm, pursing her lips and shaking her head. “I think we both know by now we’re mated.”
She admitted it as if she hadn’t struggled with it as recently as that morning. He caught a lock of her hair and let it slide through his fingers. He always wanted to touch her and to have her close by. Not long ago, he’d thought of finding a woman who could take his insatiable sexual desire. Never having left Aves except to travel to a couple of larger cities in North Carolina, he had limited experience with other shifters.
“I knew the instant I saw you,” he said.
“I’m not saying I’m not scared. I just know the truth in my heart.” She started walking again. He waited until she reached for his hand to take it. “I came here with the intention of proving my independence, but here I am with you. A part of me wants to keep running.”
“You won’t?” Panic tightened his chest.
She squeezed his hand. “No, I won’t, but I’m still going to stand my ground and do things my way. Got that, Mr. Belle?”
“Got it.”
They entered the cabin, and Sam watched as Tondi moved ahead of him. He let his gaze slide from the back of her head to her narrow shoulders, slender waist, and on down to her ass, round and firm. Hunger started deep inside and grew. He’d just made love to her an hour or so ago. Yet, he craved her again.
“Tondi.”
She strode toward the bedroom door, and as she spun to face him, she pulled her T-shirt over her head. Her luscious breasts bounced into view, hidden behind her bra. He had a sudden mental image of the dark chocolate nipples and areolas, and he gave thanks for finding her. For the rest of the evening and into the night, he intended to show her just what she meant to him.
Chapter Six
“You know what you’re doing to me,” Sam told Tondi.
She smiled at him, a coy expression that lured him closer. No woman had as much confidence in her appearance as Tondi. She squeezed her breasts, still hidden behind the bra, and circled the nipples with her fingertips until they hardened. Sam’s cock strained in his pants as he watched the buds rise. He didn’t need the smirk on her perfect lips to tell him he’d lost a little of his control, which meant his eyes had changed colors. That was the first physical reac
tion when his desire grew. He’d had a devil of a time hiding it with other lovers, and ended up having sex in low lighting more often than not.
“I like to watch,” he said, and followed as she backed into the bedroom. Sam flicked the light on, anticipating what had been denied him for so long. “Take off the bra.”
“What, this?” She moved one strap from her shoulder, but didn’t unclip the bra. He ground his teeth and reached out, but she moved with swiftness and grace out of his reach.
“Tondi.”
“Ohh, I hear a warning in your tone, Sam. Are you threatening me?”
She unbuttoned her jeans but left the zipper. Just that one inch of extra skin made his mouth water, especially since the beginnings of the tattoo to the left of her belly button showed—a dragonfly and kanji symbol meaning determination. He craved to see more.
“I’m threatening the bra.”
She laughed and turned away, but he grabbed her arm and jerked her back to him. Just before she bumped his chest, he formed talons from his fingers, snipped the delicate material, and suppressed the animal once more. Tondi gave a small yelp when her bra fell into her hands, exposing her breasts. He glanced down over her shoulder and gave a satisfied moan. That was more like it.
“You bum. You know I only brought two bras with me!”
“Then I will cut the other one later.” Sam spun her to face him, hoisted her by the waist, and tossed her a few feet away to the land on the bed. She gave another squeal, but he landed above her, a hand on either side of her torso, and took in the sight of his lover. Too much material still separated her from him. He reached for the jeans, but she smacked his hand.
“Oh no you don’t. You’re not cutting these jeans. They were a hundred fifty dollars and worth every penny.”
His eyes widened. He examined the jeans for what could cause them to cost so much and saw nothing more than the usual blue denim. Sure, they clung perfectly to her curves and accentuated her lovely ass, but one hundred fifty dollars?
Tondi laughed. “I can see my small town mate’s got a lot to learn about me and my tastes, but forget that for now.” She wiggled out of the jeans, and he caught a whiff of her excitement. The white silky panties were already wet between her legs. He traced a fingertip there and felt the dampness. A moan rose to Tondi’s lips. “Sam, wait.”
“Why?” he demanded.
“Because…”
She seemed to scramble for words, but Sam hadn’t paused more than an instant. He snatched the panties over her thighs in case she didn’t want him to destroy them as well. That molecule of control was all he could give her. Soon her pussy lay before him, moist with her cream and bare because she had shaved for him. He ran a finger over her dark chocolate folds and breathed deep. His mouth watered. He could almost taste her already. Why did he love eating her so much? Was it because of her flavor? Of course there was that, but there was also the way she trembled, the way she was so vulnerable and subject to every whim of his tongue.
Sam raised one of Tondi’s thighs, and her pussy opened to him, inviting and juicy. He leaned in and scooped the cream on the tip of his tongue. A moan escaped him. He licked her again and again. She began to squirm, and he held an arm across her hips. Yet, secretly, he wanted her to fight him, to push and try to get away so he could show her who was in charge.
He let up a little, but kept assaulting her delicious pussy with hungry lashes. She creamed some more, filling his mouth. Her whimpers drove his desire higher, and just as he hoped, she broke free and twisted to her hands and knees to climb across the bed.
“No you don’t.” He caught a calf and dragged it back. Flattening her beneath his weight, he enjoyed the curve of her ass pushing into his groin, but then he slid lower again. He thrust her legs wide. Her ass rose, and he guessed she didn’t realize she arched for him.
This time, her puckered little butthole teased him, but he resisted. He would fill that spot with his cock later. He glanced lower to her pussy. If he made love to Tondi for a thousand years, he would never get enough.
Sam grabbed both thighs to drag her closer to his hungry mouth. She gave in to a few lashes with his tongue across her clit before she moaned and tried to escape again.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s so good. I can’t take it.” Her throaty tone was killing him.
“You’ll take it, and you’re going to come in my mouth. For my pleasure.”
She glanced over her shoulder, eyes wide. Sam stared at her beautiful face and the open expression for a few seconds, and then he dove between her thighs, eating her out. He didn’t spare the tiny clit for a second, but added to Tondi’s conquest by thrusting two fingers into her pussy. Her walls closed around his digits, squeezing them, pulsating. She ground her hips against his hand, making it harder to reach the treasure. Sam pulled away, flipped her to her back, and buried his face between her legs again. She wrapped her thighs around his head and screamed his name. An instant later, delicious come filled his mouth, and he lapped up every drop.
When Sam sat up to rip off his clothes, he didn’t take his eyes off Tondi. She panted, her breasts rising and falling in a mesmerizing rhythm. He let his gaze travel to her belly and on down to her pussy. Her thighs were still spread, and he forgot what he was doing an instant while he stared at the moist goodness. Then his cock reminded him he needed so much more, and he leaped from the bed to shed his clothing.
Tondi reached for his cock when he climbed back on the bed. He let her stroke it and lick the tip, resisting the urge to shut his eyes and just feel. No way in hell. He got to enjoy watching Tondi give him head, and he wouldn’t miss a second. From the first time they made love, he had no need to tell her what he wanted. Tondi was either a natural or very experienced. He chose to believe the former. She took his cock deep into her throat. Despite his length and thickness, his lover could handle him. He watched as inch after inch disappeared into her mouth, and her throat encased his cock. His balls rose, ready to let go of his load. He tried to hold back, but Tondi was too good. He laid a hand on her shoulder to keep her in place and withdrew just enough. His come erupted, and his lover drank it all.
“Tondi.”
He stroked her hair and her cheek then grasped her around her lovely throat. She licked the tip of his cock while looking up at him. That position and her expression robbed him of any further words he would have spoken. When he placed her higher on the bed and settled behind her, she arched and pushed her ass against his crotch. He wrapped an arm around her waist and sealed her to him. She was his and his alone. He tossed a leg over her hers, keeping her where she lay, and he kissed her shoulder. She began grinding into him, and he knew she wanted to be filled.
Sam straightened. He pumped his cock while taking in Tondi’s small frame. Not even five strokes, and he was hard—the advantage of being a shifter and having a healthy libido. After he had capped his shaft with a condom, he raised one of her legs and guided his cock to her pussy opening then sank inside. They both sighed in pleasure when he was seated as deep as he could go. He began a slow rhythm, increasing speed a little at a time. He flattened his hand on Tondi’s belly and forced her onto his cock. She screamed in delight.
“Yes, yes, faster, baby, harder!”
He gave her everything he had, slamming his cock home, rocking the bed and making the springs creak. Their skin slapped together, her ass and his thighs thumping. The tension racheted higher, and he rolled over, pulling her with him. Tondi sprung up to ride his cock while she faced away from him. He stared at her ass. His cock disappeared into her heat then reappeared over and over. Sam clenched his teeth and gripped her hips. She rode faster, arching her hips deep so she could come down on his cock as if she battled it. He was all for her conquest this time, so long as it never stopped.
A cry wrenched from Sam. He raised his hips off the bed and drove up to into Tondi. Sweat made her darker skin glow, and a sheen formed on his. She screamed, and seconds later, they came together. Sam
sat up, keeping her on top of him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and repositioned them so she lay flat and he lay on top of her. He leaned up just enough so he could see his own body pushing her into the bed. He wasn’t climbing off her sweet ass tonight, and she didn’t seem to want him to. She gripped the edge of the bed and pushed up to him.
“More,” he growled, desperate.
“Yes,” she moaned, her eyes shut. “Don’t stop. Just one more, Sam. I’ve got to come again.”
“One more,” he agreed, and ravaged what belonged to him.
Chapter Seven
Tondi rode the entire trip down the mountain and into Aves doing her best not to stare at Sam, to constantly touch him, and to otherwise make a complete ass out of herself. Yet, it gave her great satisfaction to see Sam had trouble not doing the same to her. The man was hooked, no doubt about it. All she had to do was smile in his direction or make the smallest request, and he did whatever it took to please her. Sam made her heart skip beats, and her breathing constricted at just hearing the low rumble of his voice. With a touch, he left her wanting for more, and she wondered how in the world she’d play it cool once they were back in town.
“I want you to move into my house, Tondi.”
“Whoa, big boy.” She held up her hands. Now her heart raced for a whole other reason—fear. Sure, she knew they were mated and that Sam would probably be the only man for her from then until death. That’s how the mated thing worked in their world. Despite that, she still had the same insecurities and worries as human women. “No.”
“Hear me out.” He grabbed for her hand, keeping one eye on the road. She dodged his touch the best way she could in the confined space. Sam blinked at her like she’d lost her mind. “I thought we had something back there.”
“We did, and we do. Look, we both know we’re in it together, Sam. It’s inevitable, right?”
His hands tightened on the wheel, and she knew he didn’t like the way she explained their coming together, as if it had nothing to do with them and everything to do with their DNA. In some ways, she felt the same. In others, she didn’t give a damn. Even if it was written in her code that she connect with Sam and only him, what did it matter if wanting him consumed her just as much as it did him? That wasn’t the question or the concern.