“Then why are you worried?”
“I don’t like surprises.”
She giggled but ignored him to scoot down his body until her face was level with his once-again erect cock. She licked the length from the base to the tip, eliciting a low groan from deep inside him.
Empowered, she sucked the head into her mouth, wrapping her fingers around the base and stroking up and down in sync with her lips.
“Joselyn,” he warned.
“I need to taste you. Don’t fight me,” she communicated without breaking her suction.
“I’m so aroused I’m gonna come too fast if you do that.” He wrapped a hand around a section of her hair.
She’d grown to crave the slight tug. But she had plans and didn’t want him to thwart her efforts. The way he made her come after binding them made her want him to have a similar experience. And now was the time.
Releasing the head of his cock, she continued to hold the thick length in her palm while kissing a path down to his balls. She flicked her tongue over one, pleased when he flinched on a moan. When she gently sucked it into her mouth, he nearly shot off the bed.
He outweighed her significantly, so any attempt to control him was fake but still heady.
As she let the sac fall from her mouth, she slid her tongue to his thigh and shoved his knee out farther so she would have more room to maneuver.
“God, that feels so good. Lick my cock again. I want to be in your mouth.”
She ignored him, thrusting her hand loosely up and down the shaft faster while she nibbled on his inner thigh.
He didn’t balk. If he had any idea what she was about to do, he didn’t let on. Although he also didn’t share any thoughts at all. Nor did he pull away.
So she took the opportunity, licked a spot high on his thigh, and punctured his skin with her teeth. At the same time, she pumped his cock harder.
He stiffened. His body arched off the bed, but she was aware of his hands dropping to his sides to fist the sheet. His head tipped back. His mouth fell open, but no sound came out.
So heady. She let the binding serum run into the small puncture wounds to seep into his bloodstream. It wasn’t precisely necessary for her to bite him as he’d done to her. In fact, it made no difference whatsoever. They were fully bound for life. But many couples enjoyed doing it simultaneously or soon after. And she’d felt compelled to participate equally.
A new rush consumed her, like a drug, as her serum entered his blood stream. Amazing. If she’d known how damn good it would feel, she might have pressured him to do this years ago.
He groaned as she licked the small mark on his thigh at the same time as he came. The force of his orgasm shook his body. She lifted her gaze to watch him shudder with every pulse from his cock. Before he was finished, she sucked him back into her mouth, anxious to swallow the rest of his orgasm.
“Jesus, Jos…” he somehow managed to convey.
When he was spent, she released him with a pop and climbed back up his body to straddle his hips. Her pussy rubbed against his still-erect length, and she shocked herself with the amount of sensation that spread through her body. With both hands on his chest, bracing herself, she masturbated against his cock. Her clit was swollen and sensitive, but she wanted more.
“That’s it, baby.” His hands landed on her sides, gripping her hips, helping her slide back and forth. “Take what you need.”
Her head fell forward, her eyes closed, as she concentrated on how incredible it felt. Her orgasm grew at the same time his erection fully returned. The second she was about to come, he lifted her off him, grabbed his cock, and lined it up to thrust into her.
She screamed. It was exactly what she needed. The last second of contact against her clit came from the base of his cock, pushing her over the edge while he filled her.
She didn’t raise her body, but she did lift her face to his, blinking around the pulsing grip she had on his length.
“So sexy.” His words were gentle.
When she was spent and her arms would no longer hold her up, he eased her to one side and tucked her against his chest.
“That was hot,” he said as he rubbed up and down her arm and then cupped her hand against his pecs. “I was a little worried when I realized your intention, but it turned out explosive.”
“Mmm, I’m glad. I needed to bite you too. The need was crawling under my skin. I hope you didn’t freak out over my location choice.” She spoke against his chest.
“It went straight to my cock.”
“That was the plan.”
He smoothed his hand up and down her body and kissed the top of her head. “You want to rest, or are you hungry?”
“I can’t move.”
He held her tighter. “Sleep, then.”
Chapter Sixteen
The sun was coming over the horizon when Alton sat on the edge of the bed and stared down at his mate. She was still asleep, not having moved a muscle as he slid out from under her and tucked the covers around her naked body.
Mornings had never been her friend. She hated to get up. At U of C, she rarely took an early class. He’d teased her about it often. Some days he managed to go for a run, eat breakfast, shower, and study before she got out of bed and would return his calls.
He loved to watch her sleep, though. And today was special. Their first day as mates. The first day they would not be able to hide their relationship from anyone, not even when they weren’t together. Any grizzly shifter would be able to scent their status as bound to another.
He cringed, unable to imagine them going their separate ways to tackle the insanity that would fill their day. He’d give anything to stay inside his tiny apartment and fuck her ten more times instead of dragging their asses into the shower and out the door.
A nudge from Austin into his mind had him concentrating on his brother. “You up?”
“Yes. Everything okay?” Alton asked.
“I was going to ask you that. We didn’t have a chance to speak yesterday. I’m so happy for you and Joselyn. And sad at the same time. Please tell me you aren’t going to put this off any longer. I can’t imagine the pain. I mean, in a way I can, but at least while I knew Nuria was my mate, for most of my life, she wasn’t in town. I can’t imagine having her and not finishing the binding.”
Alton smiled. “I’m staring down at her right now. Don’t worry about me. It’s done.”
Austin let out an audible breath in Alton’s head. “Thank God. You were stressing me out.”
“Can’t imagine how anyone’s going to take it, but fuck them. I’m not sure now why I ever cared.”
“Best feeling in the world, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” He cut off the connection abruptly and stared at his sweet mate as she stirred and then blinked her eyes. Austin would understand.
Her smile lit up the room. She reached for him. “Please tell me we don’t have to get up.”
He leaned over her and kissed her. “We can pack up the SUV and run for the border if you want.”
She groaned. “If only it were that easy.”
“It can be. Say the word, and we’re out of town.”
“Maybe we should try to sort this mess out first, yeah?”
“Maybe,” he teased.
She inhaled. “You made coffee.”
“Of course.” He reached for the nightstand and lifted a mug.
She moaned as she pushed herself to sitting, leaning against the headboard. After taking the cup and sipping, she spoke again. “Bless you.”
He glanced down at her breasts as the sheet fell to her lap. God he loved her. “You didn’t have any nightmares, did you?” Could they possibly enter a new phase of life—one that didn’t include bad dreams or any other barriers between them?
She shook her head, her eyes lighting up. “Not one. Thank God. Maybe the stupid curse is broken.”
He stroked a finger down her cheek. “Maybe they were a result of the stress of living a lie.”
“Let’s hope so. Best night of sleep I’ve had in years.” She took another sip of coffee.
“What’s the game plan? I’m not inclined to send you to the wolves alone, Jos.” He rubbed her thigh, loving that she had no inhibitions that caused her to cover her gorgeous, naked body.
She cocked her head to one side and then the other, working out the kinks. “It’s not a bad idea. We could join a pack of wolf shifters and start fresh.”
He laughed. “Okay, not my first choice.”
“My brothers met a pack of wolves in Montana when they were there helping with the bizarre series of natural disasters.”
“I remember when they did that. But I don’t think I realized they were working with wolves.”
“Yep. Their stories are fascinating.”
“I bet.” He squeezed her thigh. “Shower?”
“I suppose.” She continued sipping her coffee without moving. It seemed her thoughts were deep.
He didn’t want to nose around in her head too deeply without her permission, afraid it would be disconcerting. “Let’s go by your office together and see what we encounter. And then we’ll go from there.”
She nodded. “You think that’s the best idea? My stupid, ignorant family is going to pounce on you.”
“Well, they sure as fuck aren’t going to pounce on you without me there. I absolutely won’t tolerate that. If anyone disrespects you, I’m going to blow fire out of my ears.”
She smiled. “My hero.”
An hour later, they were showered, dressed, and out the door. He was glad to find out she’d brought a bag of clothes and left it in her car. At least she hadn’t planned on leaving. They would need to go by her parents’ house later and pack up more of her things, but at least for today, she had what she needed.
It was comical how they headed to her office with her wearing a dark blue Glacial Brewing Company polo and him wearing a black Mountain Peak Brewery polo. Nothing about their attire screamed competition. Nope. Not at all.
The logos themselves weren’t extremely different. His was a white-capped mountain peak. Hers was the flat face of a glacier against a lake.
When they pulled into the parking lot, she sighed. “Not looking forward to this.” She turned to him. “Let me apologize for my pack members in advance.”
He took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. “You aren’t your family. Nor your extended pack.”
“I know. But I can’t stand for people to be so ignorantly rude.”
“We’re going to get it from both sides, so keep in mind you don’t own a monopoly on bigotry in the family.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the headrest before finally seeming to muster the energy to face the day.
They stepped from the SUV at the same time and headed for the front of the office building. He inhaled deeply as they approached the front doors, the air giving him a rush with the rich scent of hops he always smelled entering his own brewery. He loved the smell.
He had realized the layout of her brewery was similar to his the day before. Nice office space in front with the plant attached behind.
Any concerns he had about what her packs’ bottom line might look like had dissipated the moment he stepped inside the previous morning. At least they gave off the appearance of a thriving business.
Both breweries employed about fifty people. They were undoubtedly neck and neck. There was no reason for this insane need to attempt to hurt their primary competition. If it were up to him, they would come together, support each other, and grow their businesses until they took the lion share of the market in an expanding territory.
Alas, instead the vast majority of both packs were stuck in their ways, trapped in a cycle of maintaining an ancient feud. Exasperating.
When Alton pulled the glass front door open, he set his hand on Joselyn’s lower back to guide her inside. He kept his hand there, making a statement that didn’t need physical affirmation at all.
The receptionist, a cute girl about Joselyn’s age, lifted her gaze with a smile that immediately fell as her mouth dropped open.
“Good morning, Liddie,” Joselyn said in a cheery voice as they walked by her. She bee-lined straight for her office, dropped her briefcase and coat on a chair, and turned around as he took off his own coat.
He wasn’t going to lie to himself. He was nervous. But they didn’t have options. And he wasn’t in the mood for ignorant ranting. No one was going to get under his skin, he vowed to himself.
Two seconds later, someone rounded the corner and stepped into the office. “You have a lot of nerve, Joselyn.”
Alton recognized him as Fletcher, the asshole who sat steaming in the boardroom yesterday. The vibe coming off him was ominous. It pissed Alton off, but he refused to let it show. Instead, he wiped his palms on his thighs and reached out a hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. Alton Tarben.”
The jerk had the gall to glance at Alton’s hand, smirk, and ignore him.
Alton in turn, expecting the reaction, simply shrugged him off and put himself halfway between Joselyn and her cousin.
Alton was pretty sure Fletcher was the son of Carroll and Esta Arthur. Carroll was one of Bernard’s younger brothers. He put Fletcher at about twenty-eight years old.
The fucker stared hard at Joselyn before finally having the balls to look at Alton when he spoke. “You’re not welcome here. No one in your pack is welcome here. I suggest you get the fuck out of our brewery before I have you physically removed.”
“Isn’t he pleasant,” Alton said into Joselyn’s mind.
“Always has been. He’s four years older than me, and he’s behaved like an imbecile for as long as I can remember.”
A booming voice from the hallway interrupted. Bernard. “Fletcher. What the fuck are you doing?” He rounded the doorway, having spoken before he was even in sight. “I believe I warned you about your behavior yesterday. Go back to the plant. You’re supposed to be supervising first shift today, not pumping your chest out like some sort of rabid animal.” He pointed at the door.
Fletcher glared at him for several seconds and then turned and fled the room.
Bernard lifted a hand toward Alton, unable to fully unfurrow his brow and hide his disdain for his nephew. “Sorry for the shitstorm.” His face softened. “Welcome to the family.” His grip was firm.
Alton nodded. “Thank you, sir. I promise I’ll always put your daughter first. She will never lack for support from me in anything she chooses to do in life.”
Joselyn wrapped her fingers around his biceps as he spoke, leaning into him. “You’re gonna make me cry.”
“I know, son,” her father confirmed. “Now, how about we head to my office? Several people are waiting for us.”
As Alton followed Bernard down the hallway, his hand wrapped over Joselyn’s, he decided Bernard had assumed his daughter would arrive this morning bound to her mate. It warmed his heart.
Joselyn’s grip on his arm didn’t lighten. She was leaning on him for support or out of fear or rage.
“You okay, baby?”
“I’m still standing.”
He grabbed her hand and slid it down his arm to hold it. Threading his fingers with hers, he kept her right at his side. “We’ll get through this. You sure you want me so outwardly claiming you?”
“As if it would make a difference. It’s not like they can’t sense it from a mile away.”
“Of course, but it’s so blatant, and tempers are rising. Don’t get me wrong. I’d gladly kiss you in front of them. I just want you to be as comfortable as possible.”
As they rounded the doorway into Bernard’s office, she responded without looking at him. “If you let go of me, I’ll hurt you.”
He chuckled into her mind and squeezed her hand tighter. “I’ve got you. Always.”
Alton hadn’t personally met everyone in the room, but he knew most of them. There were five—Bernard, his mate, and all three of his brothers. Joselyn’s mot
her stood and came across the room. She hugged her daughter close, whispering in her ear, “I wondered. I’m so proud of you.”
Alton thought it was an interesting way to congratulate her, but then he realized what Rosanne was saying. She was proud of her daughter for taking a stand, for putting aside her family and binding to the man she loved, for showing up at the office today in his arms. Rosanne was proud.
Alton was too. He didn’t release his mate’s hand. He had no intention of doing so for any reason.
Rosanne turned to him next. She lifted up and kissed his cheek. “Welcome. Proud of you too.” She smiled warmly, making him wish he had taken this stand years ago. What had he been afraid of?
He was about to find out.
∙•∙
Joselyn slid in front of Alton, bending her elbow so that her hand was still threaded in his at the small of her back. She leaned into him to absorb his strength. She cleared her throat and lifted her head. “I’m sure the rumors have been rampant, but as you can tell, it’s true. Alton and I completed the binding.”
Her three uncles, who had been sitting when they entered, jumped to their feet.
Her Uncle Marlin’s eyes were twinkling. She knew he would not abandon her. However, her other two uncles on her father’s side looked fit to kill. Carroll and Jaren were scowling.
It was a mystery why the older two Arthurs, her father included, were more kind and loving while the younger two were hateful and filled with anger. Normally at large family gatherings, the large crew could put their differences aside and get along. However, lately that was only possible if the subject of the century-old feud was taken from the table.
Like a political squabble, the four sons of the late Normand and Odell Arthur had always been at each other’s throats in a house divided. When Joselyn’s grandfather Normand died five years ago unexpectedly, his mate passed away months after him. It wasn’t unusual for their kind. The bond between mates was strong, and after a lifetime of being together, one mate would frequently die of a broken heart soon after the first.
The death of Normand Arthur had somehow caused the rift between the sons to deepen. Or maybe it was really Odell’s passing that catapulted the feud into overdrive. After all, she had always been the family glue, the one who tried to keep tempers on an even keel.
Grizzly Secret (Arcadian Bears Book 3) Page 17