He avoided the dining room where his mother would be having her breakfast. Taylor quietly slipped out the front door and hurried to his pickup truck, which was still parked outside the four-car garage. There had been no room for it inside.
After he unlocked the driver’s door, he got inside and started the truck. He backed up onto the circular drive that looped to the front of the house, then headed down the quarter-mile lane that would take him to the main road.
Taylor didn’t pull over to the shoulder until his family’s home was out of sight. He put the pickup in park, pulled out his cell phone and called Aspen. A sense of calm settled over him at the sound of her voice when she answered.
“Hi, Aspen. It’s Taylor. Are you busy right now?”
“Hey. I was just thinking about you and then you called. Actually, I’m not. I was looking through the want ads, trying to find a job.”
“Would you mind if I came over to your place? I really need to see you.”
“Sure. I’m in my apartment above my parents’ garage, so don’t knock at the house.”
“Okay. See you in a little bit.”
Taylor ended the call and turned the truck back onto the road. During the drive to Aspen’s place, he had enough time to cool his anger. He wasn’t going to think about his father and would focus on the woman he wanted to have a relationship with. He’d stated his opinion about his dad’s matchmaking, and that was that.
After he arrived at his destination, Taylor parked the truck at the side of the road and walked up the driveway to the garage. He took the short flight of stairs along the side of it, then knocked at the door. Once Aspen opened it, he gathered her close with one arm, pulled the door shut with the other as he walked them inside and claimed her lips in a desperate kiss.
Chapter Six
Aspen barely had enough time to register that Taylor stood in her doorway before he hauled her against his chest and kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her for a year. She lifted her arms and put them around his neck as he walked her backward. She returned his embrace, getting more turned-on with each second that went by.
Taylor didn’t stop kissing her as he continued to walk them to the center of her small living room, then stopped. He put his hands on the small of her back and pressed their hips closer together. Aspen moaned at the feel of the hard ridge of his erection settled against her stomach. Her pussy clenched as she remembered what it was like to make love to Taylor. She’d ached to have him again, had found herself daydreaming about it.
He pushed his hands up the back of her shirt and undid her bra. He left her mouth and placed kisses along the side of her neck. “I have to have you. Right now. I can’t wait.”
“You don’t have to,” she replied in a breathy voice. “I want you too.”
Taylor made a noise that sounded like a cat’s purr. If she’d been able to do that, she would have been purring right along with him. Her body had gone up in flames and she wanted to have his cock inside her. She’d missed him—a lot. And from the way he held and kissed her, he must have missed her as well.
He pulled away only long enough to drag her shirt up and over her head, taking her bra with it. She stripped him of his long-sleeved t-shirt as well, relishing the feel of his warm skin against hers as he once more hugged her close.
Taylor bent Aspen over his arm and set his lips to the hollow of her throat, then worked his way down to the tops of her breasts. She gripped his shoulders to keep her balance, but soon didn’t have to worry about that when he lifted her and took her down to the floor with him. He stretched out half on and half off her as he continued to make a trail with his mouth toward one of her breasts. She sank her fingers into his tawny-blond hair and held him to her as he took a nipple inside his mouth.
Aspen gasped as pleasure swamped her. Taylor sucked at her breast, making her pussy clench and grow wet. As he switched to her other one, not only did he purr like a cat, he borderline growled like one too. It was the most erotic thing she’d ever heard.
She moaned, enjoying the feel of Taylor’s mouth trailing along her skin in the downward path he’d taken. A warm sensation preceded him. Aspen lifted her head to see his cougar head pendant brushed against her as he moved. Like the last time they’d been together, it seemed to have taken on a heat of its own.
Taylor’s tongue dipped into her bellybutton, causing her stomach muscles to jump. He was decidedly taking too long to get to the good part. Aspen grabbed a fistful of his hair and gently tugged him back up her body until his lips were even with hers.
“Time to get this show on the road,” she said in low voice.
Not giving him any warning, she pushed against him and rolled him to his back. She landed on top of him. With a smile, she met his gaze as she undid his jeans and tugged them and his underwear down enough to spring his cock.
There it was. She’d been dreaming of it, and of doing whatever she wanted to Taylor. Now was her chance to live the fantasies her mind had come up with. She straddled his thighs and fisted his shaft at the base. Aspen bent over and flicked the bead of pre-cum that had leaked from the slit with the tip of her tongue. That sexy cat’s purr pushed out of him.
His cock jerked in her grip as she lowered her mouth over it, then took it inside. She was rewarded with another purr and cat-sounding growl. She slid him almost all the way out before she sucked him back as far as she could take him. She then set a pace that had her head bobbing with the in-and-out motion.
Taylor grew harder, his harsh breathing filling the room. His hips lifted off the floor as he fucked her mouth. Wetness leaked into Aspen’s panties as her arousal ramped up.
All too soon Taylor gently pulled out from between her lips. “You’ve driven me crazy enough.”
With a smile, Aspen nodded. She stripped his jeans and underwear the rest of the way off before she stood over him, her feet on either side of his legs. She undid her pants and pushed them down past her hips with a little wiggle. His gaze followed each of her movements. She managed to rid herself of the rest of her clothes without losing her balance. Bonus for her.
Now as naked as Taylor, she slowly went down on her knees. Aspen angled herself better, then took his cock inside her pussy. She pushed down by increments until he was seated to the hilt. He filled her completely, and he felt so damn good.
Aspen moved on top of him, taking him in steady strokes. Taylor thrust up into her as she pushed down on him. He slid so deep the head of his cock butted up against her cervix.
She looked down at his chest, her eyes caught by a flash of light. For a split second, it looked as if the ruby eyes in his cougar head pendant glowed. Aspen figured it had to be a trick of the bright sunshine that filled the living room.
As she continued to ride Taylor, Aspen found her gaze drawn to his necklace again and again. For some unknown reason she had the urge to take it from around his neck and put it on hers.
Taylor rubbed her clit with the tip of his finger and Aspen forgot all about his necklace. She rode him harder and faster. Pleasure built inside her, coiling tighter, getting ready for the release she craved.
It didn’t take long to achieve that goal. A keening moan pushed past her lips when her orgasm struck. Her pussy clutched and released his cock, which continued to plunge deep inside her.
Once the last wave of pleasure receded, Aspen found herself lifted off Taylor. He quickly positioned her on her hands and knees before he came up behind her. Taking hold of her hips, he thrust into her pussy. She pushed back to meet his rapid strokes. She was able to take him deeper this way. Since she’d already come, she hadn’t been sure if she could climax again so quickly. Aspen soon found that wasn’t the case.
Taylor reached around her and found her clit again. He continued to take her from behind as he stimulated the small bundle of nerves with the tip of his finger. His cock grew even harder.
Just as he thrust into her one final time, a second orgasm tore through her. She came along with him. His cock pulsed inside her
pussy, filling her with his cum. Once it was over, he took them to their sides to the floor with their bodies still joined.
“I have to say that was the best hello I’ve ever gotten,” Aspen said while she fought to catch her breath.
“I’m glad you liked it. It would seem I need to have you as soon as I see you.”
Taylor’s softening cock slipped free of her body. Aspen rolled toward him so she was on her other side. “I’m just as bad as you are. I was more than happy to follow along. I take it you’re still willing to give this relationship thing a shot?”
He took her lips in a tender kiss before he met her gaze. “More than you can possibly know.”
Aspen reached up and fingered Taylor’s pendant. It remained warm to the touch. “You sounded a little ticked off when you called. Things not going well at home?”
“In some ways yes, and in others, no. I had an argument with my father. He’s very ill, but he still acts as if he can dictate the way I live my life. I made it perfectly clear that wouldn’t be happening.”
She took the cougar head pendant in her hand and rubbed her thumb over it, the urge to take it from Taylor once again present. “I’m sorry to hear about your dad, but I think you did the right thing by standing up to him. I’m lucky that neither of my parents are like that. The only person in my family who drives me nuts is my older sister, but I don’t see her that often. She’s married and has a couple of kids to keep her busy.”
“Enough talk about family,” Taylor said with a smile. “How about we move to your bedroom? It’ll be a lot more comfortable than the hard floor. Plus, I don’t think I’m quite finished with my hello yet.”
Aspen looked down to see his cock was no longer soft. “I can see that. I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Before she could say anything else, Taylor gathered her into his arms and stood. He carried her to her bedroom and gently placed her on the center of her bed. He then proceeded to make love to her slow and easy. He managed to wring two more orgasms out of her before he reached his own release.
Snuggled up against Taylor’s side, Aspen listened to his breathing even out as he fell asleep. She wasn’t tired, but figured she’d let him have his rest. She’d then get to wake him up with her lips and tongue. With nothing planned, they could spend the rest of the day in bed.
Aspen angled her head so she looked at Taylor’s handsome face. They really hadn’t known each other long, but the more time she spent with him the more she felt as if they could really work. Being in his arms again, making love to him, the way she felt for him had grown stronger. She knew love at first sight was real. That’s how it had been with her parents, but she’d never thought she’d ever experience it. With Taylor, she had a feeling she finally had.
For now she’d keep that her little secret. Taylor didn’t need her to dump that on him at this moment, especially if things weren’t great with his father. She’d settle for letting him know she’d be here for him. Then when the time was right, she’d tell him how she felt. Hopefully he’d feel the same way about her.
* * * * *
Taylor and Aspen spent the majority of the day in bed. It wasn’t until close to dinnertime that they finally came up for air. For Taylor, it was the first time he actually felt as if he couldn’t bring himself to leave a woman. He was seriously considering staying the night, even though he had to be up early in the morning to start his first day back at the office.
They’d gone out to get something to eat and were now back at Aspen’s apartment. It reminded Taylor a lot of his old place in Juneau. They were on her couch watching TV. Aspen sat tucked under his arm, their feet up on her coffee table. It was nice, and was something he could easily get used to. Here, he wasn’t the heir apparent. He was only Aspen’s boyfriend.
During the day, he’d also come to the realization that Aspen meant a lot to him. He didn’t think he’d be able to give her up a month from now, let alone a year or five years. And coming to that decision, Taylor had started thinking of ways to integrate her into the other aspect of his life—the cougar half and all it entailed. First off, he had to tell her what he was. At least having watched some of the sentinels go through that very same thing—telling their human mates they were immortal werewolves—he knew how to go about it the right way.
Aspen shifted out from under his arm and sat to straddle his lap. She rested her forearms on the tops of his shoulders, then kissed him. It started off as a soft brush of the lips, but soon heated to something more carnal. They tugged at each other’s clothes until they were both naked.
Taylor leaned his head against the back of the couch and watched Aspen take his cock inside her pussy. He purred, having given up a while ago on holding them back. Only with her did he lose all control.
He groaned, a cat’s growl lacing the sound. “I love being inside you.”
Aspen bit her bottom lip. “You feel pretty good yourself.”
He took hold of her hips, lifting up to meet her downward strokes, and pressing her tight against him. She ran her hands down his shoulders to his chest as she continued her up-and-down motion, his cock spearing into her. Her inner muscles squeezed around his length, increasing the pleasure he felt. It wasn’t going to be long before he climaxed.
The pace Aspen set grew faster. She moaned, her motions becoming jerky. She sucked in a breath, then her pussy gripped his cock tightly, milking him with her orgasm. It was all Taylor needed to join her. He reached the point of no return in a rush and didn’t hold back. He came, his dick pulsing as he gave her everything he had.
Aspen remained on his lap, his softening cock remained inside her. She ran a hand down one of his pecs, brushing along the chain of his necklace. “You know, every time we make love I swear your pendant heats up. And now, I don’t know if it’s a trick of the light or what, but the cougar’s ruby eyes look to be glowing. I also have this almost overwhelming urge to take it from you and put it around my own neck.”
Taylor stiffened. He looked down at his pendant. Aspen was right. The eyes were glowing. His gaze shot to her face as the ramifications of what it meant sank in. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, unsure what to say. He found himself looking at Aspen in a whole new light. She was his mate. A human was his mate. And with the surge in his hormones, all he could think about was making love to her over and over again until she took the pendant from him.
A knock came on the apartment door before a woman on the other side said through it, “Aspen, honey, would you and Taylor like to come to the house and have some pie? I made it this afternoon.”
Aspen shot off his lap, swearing under her breath. She gathered up his clothes and shoved them at him. “Mom, just give me a minute,” she called. To Taylor she said quietly, “Go to the bathroom and get dressed.”
He quickly did as she told him. A glance over his shoulder showed Aspen was pulling her clothes on in record time. Once he reached the bathroom, Taylor closed and locked the door behind him. His mind awhirl with what had happened, he fished his cell phone out of his jeans front pocket before he dropped them along with the rest of his clothing onto the floor.
Taylor found Blaise’s number in his contacts list and called him. He looked at his reflection in the mirror above the sink as he waited for his brother to pick up. The cougar’s ruby eyes were still glowing.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” he said.
On the sixth ring, just before his cell would have gone to voice mail, Blaise answered. “Hey, Taylor.”
“Where are you?”
“At the bar with Grady and Jase. Why?”
“Stay there. I really need to talk to you.”
“Okay. What’s the matter? You sound…different. Is it because of the argument you had with dad? Caleb said he walked in on you and dad having a disagreement about something.”
“No, it doesn’t have anything to do with that. I’ll explain when I get to the bar.”
“All right. We’ll be here waiting for you.”
He opened the bathroom door and stepped out to find Aspen just closing the entrance one. She turned and smiled when she saw him.
“I told her we were too full from dinner and that we’d have some another time. I also promised her I’d bring you to the house very soon. She wants to meet you.”
“Good, because we’re going out.”
“We are?”
“Yes. Go get your jacket.”
While Aspen went to do that, Taylor put on his that he’d taken out of his truck earlier when they’d gone out to eat. Once she returned, he ushered her outside, down the stairs and to his pickup.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Aspen asked when they were on the road.
“To a bar. I need to talk to my brother about something and that’s where he is. You’ll also meet two of my cousins.”
“You couldn’t say it over the phone?”
“Nope. It’s a serious matter, and I just remembered about it.” Taylor glanced at Aspen. “Sorry.”
“I don’t mind. I only thought it was a bit sudden. And thanks for not getting upset about my mom interrupting. That’s one problem with living above my parents’ garage—she likes to stop by whenever she wants, which happens to be frequently.”
Taylor smiled. “I understand. I’m not that close to my dad, but I am with my mom.”
He parked on the street a half block away from the bar. Once they were out of the pickup, Taylor took Aspen’s hand in his while they walked. He turned down the short alley and went to the nondescript-looking door that was the bar’s entrance.
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