by Alanea Alder
"It's also why I want to pledge myself to you. I trust you, Rebecca, to take care of us. All of us," Nicholas said, taking her other hand. Rebecca turned to Damian and Rian.
"We trust you too, kiddo, but before we can pledge anything we have to discuss it with our Alpha," Rian said, smiling.
"I don't have that restriction, unless you don't want me," Nicholas asked hesitantly.
"I do! Hmm. How do I do this? Liam was there last time," she said.
Nicholas tilted his head, exposing his neck.
"Just do what you did with me and lay your lips on his neck. There has to be an intent to bond. With me, I dedicated myself to you as my Alpha and you offered your protection, because you said I was your friend and would do it anyway. It will be the same with Nicholas," Ashby said.
"Okay, here goes nothing," Rebecca said, leaning forward, and gently placed her lips on his neck. She knew that she would protect Ashby and Nicholas and care for them because they were precious to her as her friends. Nicholas gasped and then sighed happily. Rebecca felt another shift in her heart and the connection to Ashby and Nicholas. Nicholas had tears streaming down his face.
"I feel like I've come home," he said brokenly as Rebecca and Ashby hugged him.
"I think we all have," Ashby said.
"I wonder what Aleks will think about you two being pledged to Rebecca," Rian mused out loud.
"Well, after I explain that I didn't know about the whole vampire thing and then let him grovel over the whole 'you could find a way to get in trouble at a book store' and 'stupid human custom' comments, I'll see what he thinks." Rebecca sighed. "Being mated is hard." She yawned again, snuggling down between Nic and Ashby. It felt right being with them, like being with lost family.
"You've had to deal with discovering about shifters, vampires, and other paranormals. Then we have hyenas going even more bat-shit crazy than they normally are. Usually finding and claiming your mate is an orgasm-a-thon," Rian said. Rebecca giggled.
"Oh oh, does that mean Aleks has been taking care of business?" Rian asked, wagging his eyebrows.
"He always does. I miss him. I wish I could have been there for him. If I had been a shifter I could have shifted and stayed with him," she said softly.
The men exchanged sad looks, because she was right. As a shifter she could have stayed with him. As a human she would have been in danger. Rian cleared his throat.
"So do you think you will get your wedding?" he asked. She looked up surprised.
"I don't know. I hope so. God, what if he says yes? I'm so stupid. Can you imagine the wedding? There would be no one to walk me down the aisle or sit on my side of the church. I should have kept my dumb mouth shut." She sighed and closed her eyes. She had pissed off Aleks to the point that he had to shift and she could no longer be around him, practically offered a vampire a blow job, and brought up a wedding that really wasn't needed.
Determined to lighten the mood, Rian continued.
"Who cares about that? Pa would shit car-sized bricks if you asked him to walk you down the aisle and probably bawl like a baby the whole way down. You have me and Damian on your side, plus most of the pride would definitely sit on your side of the church to avoid those grumpy bears. The most important thing is the dress!" he said, clapping his hands.
"Oh my God, you guys have to help me with this if he asks! I've never even been in a wedding," Rebecca exclaimed.
"You mean it? You trust us?" Rian squealed as Damian broke into a wide grin.
"This town is so boring. You come in and everything is changing. I get to plan a wedding! Oh my God, we have to go to New York for the dress, nothing off the rack. I need to call Kate," he said, whipping out his cell phone.
"Rian, it's close to midnight," Rebecca said.
"Girl, please, they are probably between rounds two and three." He waited as the phone rang. "Katie! Yes I know what time it is. Yes I knew what you'd probably be doing. Fine, I won't tell you about the wedding I get to plan." He held the phone away from his ear as a loud screech of "whaaat" came over the phone line.
"Tell him it will still be there in the morning." Rian giggled evilly then placed the phone on speaker.
"Rebecca, is it true are you getting married?" Kate asked, somewhat breathless.
"Well not yet. It came up in an argument tonight. Aleks is actually kinda mad at me at the moment, but I'm hoping he'll marry me," Rebecca said.
"Oh my goodness, I want to help. Please let me help!" Kate pleaded. There was a muffled sound of someone getting hit.
"Bran, hush, we were resting between sessions anyway," Kate said and Rebecca blushed.
"I was hoping you would be my maid of honor. You've become like a sister to me," Rebecca said quietly.
Silence filled the room. Everyone stared at the phone. Finally an extremely loud sniff heralded squeals and sobs from Kate's line. The men let out their collective breath.
"This is so amazing!" Rian said, bouncing around.
"Of course I'll be your maid of honor. Who will be your bridesmaids?" she asked.
Rebecca hesitantly looked at Nic and Ashby then looked away.
"We'd be honored as long as we don't have to wear a dress," Nic said, laughing. Ashby smiled.
"Thank you! And Rian and Damian are the wedding coordinators. I feel like we're missing something," Rebecca said then looked down at her empty hand.
"Crap! I'm missing the damn groom. Boys, let's head back to the ranch. Y'all can stay until Aleks comes back, and then I have some major begging to do and it's going to involve cakes. Come on!" She jumped up.
"Go get him, Rebecca, and call me first thing in the morning. I am dying to hear what happens!" Kate said.
The guys got up grinning, and headed towards the door.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Aleks woke up the next morning with his brothers in the small cabin they had on the property for when they spent the night out shifted. All three had passed out there when they had exhausted their bears.
"God, I forgot how bad you snore. I feel sorry for Rebecca," Connor said, opening his eyes.
"I hope you're not still mad at her. She didn't know about the vampire thing," Emmett said, eyes still closed.
"I was never mad at her," Aleks said confused, getting dressed.
Connor snorted. "You could have fooled us. Your eyes and hands shifted and you were yelling at her. I'd be surprised if her stuff is still at your house," Connor said, pulling on his sweats.
"Oh God, you're right. She would think I was mad at her. Why did I say that about human weddings?" He groaned into his hands.
"You were probably still pissed at the human assaulting her and the vampire coming on to her," Emmett said, grabbing his sweats and stepping back, hands up in the universal "my bad" gesture as Aleks growled.
"See, you're still snarly," Emmett said, heading to the small kitchenette to make coffee.
"She mates me and she's attacked what...like three times? Thank God the vampire she volunteered to feed was honorable enough not to take her up on her offer, but ultimately that would have been my fault for not explaining things to her." Aleks stared down at the floor.
"She's a part of our world now, Aleks. There's no taking that back. But you're not alone, you have us, and Ma and Pa, and from the looks of things, Liam, his pride, and Kate and her pack watching over her. As far as the wedding bit is concerned, you know human females dream of getting married the way our people dream of finding their mates. She fulfilled your dream, go fulfill hers. Get a ring and ask her to marry you. Done," Emmett said, grinning proudly at the solution he found.
"It's not that easy," Aleks said.
"Why not?" Emmett asked. "You love her, she loves you. You mated her, she's mated to you. She wants to get married, so marry her. It's one more tie that will hold you together. She keeps tripping over shifter and paranormal rules. Sit down and explain them to her. Then fuck like bunnies. See? Easy," Emmett said.
"You know as crazy as that sounds, I think he's rig
ht, somewhere in there," Connor said, smiling.
"I especially like the fuck like bunnies part," Aleks said, grinning. "So, get a ring, beg forgiveness, and then explain rules before resuming post-mating sex?" Aleks asked.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Connor grinned.
"Being mated is harder than I thought it would be," Aleks said.
"Anything worth having requires some work, Aleks," Emmett said.
"When did you get so damn smart?" Aleks asked, smiling.
"I've been reading," Emmett said.
"Does Ma know you can read?" Connor asked then ducked as Emmett swiped at him.
"Asshole," Emmett said, laughing.
"Okay, so plan is set. I think I know where to get a ring too," he said.
"Go get her!" Connor said, pushing him out the door.
"Think they'll be ok?" Emmett asked.
"He's following your plan," Connor said.
"I heard that!" Aleks yelled back at them.
* * * *
Aleks patted his shirt pocket where his grandmother's ring sat. He grinned remembering the happy looks on his parents' faces when he asked for the ring. He pulled up in his driveway and frowned. Ashby's car was still here. He also smelled Rian, Damian, and Nicholas.
He walked up to the front door and heard Rebecca say, "No, that one goes in the family room, and that one goes in the bedroom. It has a special meaning." Letting his curious nature take over, he walked around to the window and peeked in to see his mate wearing a short robe positioning a cake in the den. He frowned not liking other males around his mate when she wasn't dressed, he quickly made his way back to the front door and unlocked the deadbolt. When he opened the door, Damian, Rian, Ashby, and Nicholas practically ran him over leaving.
"Good luck!" Rian said, winking, and then the group of them jumped into Ashby's car and took off like a bat out of hell. What in the world was his mate up to?
"Rebecca?" he asked, walking into the foyer. When he got to the family room he practically swallowed his tongue. Rebecca lay on the couch in nothing but a frilly white apron with a chocolate cake in front of her on the coffee table.
She sat up and looked up at him.
"First, I want to say I'm sorry for offering to feed the vampire. I didn't know what it meant. I thought I was offering him a sandwich. I don't deliberately go looking for trouble." Aleks opened his mouth to speak but she held up a hand.
"Second, I'm sorry I'm not a bear shifter and can't be with you when your bear needs to get out. But I promise to always be waiting for you when you come home. Third, I know that a human marriage is nothing like a shifter claiming, but it does mean something to me. Sometime, whenever you're ready, I would like to get married." She hurried up with that request and looked down at the cake on the table, then back up at him. "I made you 'I'm sorry' cakes," she said, smiling timorously.
For as long as Aleks lived, he would never forget this moment. Her innocent apologies made naked in an apron. She could have asked for anything and he would have gladly done it. Did she have no idea how precious she was to him? He cleared his throat and removed his coat, throwing it on the chair.
"First, I want to apologize for not explaining about our world, including vampires. It left you vulnerable and it's my fault. I will take the time to tell you what you need to know. I know you don't go looking for trouble, but the fact that you are in danger makes me lose my mind. Please be patient with me." He took a step forward and removed his boots.
"Second, I want to apologize for losing my temper and making you feel like you are lacking as my mate. If given the choice between a huge furry body to sleep next to after shifting or coming home to my soft-skinned mate in nothing but an apron with cakes, I will choose you and the cakes every time," he said, then winked. He dug in the shirt pocket, removed the ring, but kept it hidden from her before removing the shirt and tossing it next to his boots.
"Third, I was an asshole to demean a human marriage, I should have known it meant something to you. I wouldn't have hurt you for the world." He removed his pants and let his heavy cock spring free. She licked her lips and he almost came. He stepped forward until he was standing in front of her then he knelt between her and the coffee table. He spread her legs and pulled her body forward until his cock lay nestled between her soft folds. They both sighed. Breathing heavily, he looked down at her half-closed eyes and smiled.
"In fact, I like the idea of something else tying us together. I went to my parents this morning and got this." He opened his hand and revealed a small ring with a large emerald set in the center.
"My grandfather had to leave town often to do business. My grandmother wanted him to have evidence that he was taken. They exchanged mating rings. This was hers. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked. He looked down and watched as tears began to run down her face.
"I love you so much! Yes! I will!" He slipped the ring on her finger and leaned down and kissed her, taking time to nibble her lips and plunge his tongue into her mouth over and over again. His eyes crossed when she reached down and grabbed his cock. She guided him to her entrance and thrust her hips upwards, taking him completely inside of her.
"As much as I would love to make love to you slowly right now, I can't. It's going to be fast and hard, baby," he said.
"I need you. Don't stop, this is perfect!" She arched her back. He lifted her hips a bit more until he was hitting that elusive spot inside of her on every stroke.
"No one, no one but me, you are mine!" he growled and slammed in her again.
"Only yours! Forever! If you stop, I swear I'm going to kill you in your sleep," she yelled. He grinned and pushed into her, picking up speed.
"God, I love the way you fuck me!" she said. His eyes went wide at her words, and he yelled, filling her with his seed. She screamed her release and deliberately squeezed him, milking every drop. Aleks felt drained, so he pulled her down with him onto the floor between the couch and the coffee table. Panting and out of breath, he looked at her in wonder.
"Where did that come from?" he asked. She giggled.
"Rian suggested some dirty talk to spice things up. Did it work?" She looked at him, smiling.
"As if you have to ask," he said, snuggling her under his chin. She wrapped around him.
"You didn't even eat any cake, and I spent a lot of time last night making them for you," she said, yawning.
"What kind of cake?" he asked, perking back up. She laughed as he untied the apron and threw it across the room
"There is chocolate down here in the family room, coconut cake in the study, cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, your honey bun cake in the master bedroom, and vanilla jasmine pudding parfaits in the bathroom. It was a full out assault." She kissed his chest.
He reached up and ran his fingers through the chocolate icing before pushing them both to sitting positions with her straddling him. He began to paint her breasts in chocolate. He leaned forward and licked the icing away. She sighed as he wrapped his tongue around her nipple, tugging lightly before placing a small bite on the soft flesh. She gasped.
"So you wanted to spice things up?" he asked, placing another love bite on the side of her breast.
"Yes, I want to experience everything with you," she said, running her hands over his hair.
"Do you trust me, baby?" he asked.
"Of course I do," she said, looking up at him. "For a bear you have a decidedly wolfish grin."
"Get on all fours, baby," he said. He heard her heart begin to pound in her chest with excitement. She quickly complied. He ran his hand over one ass cheek then the other. She let out the breath she had been holding. His hand reached between her legs to find she was dripping moisture down her thigh. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Does my baby like the idea of being spanked?" he asked, popping her on her left cheek. A loud moan escaped her. Embarrassed at her reaction, she looked back at him, biting her lip.
"There's no reason to be embarrassed by anything we do, baby. Though
it does earn you another smack." He hit her left cheek again.
"Put your hands over your head and don't move, baby." He leaned forward and kissed down her spine.
"Have you ever heard of using a safe word?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, shivering.
"What would you like as a safe word, baby?" he asked, nipping her shoulder blade.
"Cake," she said brightly. He smiled.
"If I do something that you don't like, cake is your safe word. Do you understand?" he asked.
"Yes, please do something," she begged.
"That earns you another five smacks. I give the orders, baby." In quick succession he smacked both left and right cheeks. They were starting to turn pink for him. He picked up the chocolate cake and dipped his fingers into the cake before smearing it on to her back. She gasped. Slowly he let his tongue caress her back as he licked every inch of her clean. She was moaning and squirming beneath him.
He reached under her to test her readiness to discover she was completely drenched. He reached down and lined up his cock with her entrance. He slammed his way home.
"Yes!" she screamed, and he smiled. He would go over not making noise later. He was enjoying it too much now.
"Count them off, baby." He plunged into her again before smacking her hard. He followed up with nine shallow strokes. She was clenching him tightly making him work hard to slam all the way home.
"One!" she screamed. He thrust into her twice more as deep as he could get and popped her on each ass cheek, followed by eight shallow strokes. Using her own juices he massaged her dark rosette and pushed a thumb in watching as it sucked the digit in. She gasped and pushed back wanting more.
"Two!" she yelled. He snapped his hips forward three times, alternated a slap on each ass cheek, and gave her seven shallow strokes.
"Does my baby like me playing in her tight ass? Do you want your dark hole filled too, baby?" Aleks asked.