by Marie Mason
He tensed, every muscle rippling, sweat coating his skin. He drew back his head, the tendons in his neck jutting out, as he uttered a guttural groan that sounded like her name. She cried when she felt the middle of his cock start to grow, filling her pussy as never before. As it did, he continued to pump inside her through his orgasm, the large knot pulling against the walls of her stretched pussy. Then he was filling her with his seed as he came. And came. Hot jets of cum burst against the mouth of her womb and she could have sworn she felt its warmth. His big body shuddered and he fell forward, catching himself before he landed on her. He stayed like that. His body tense, his back heaving as he struggled to breathe. He bowed his head resting his forehead on her breasts.
Somewhere she found the strength to lift her arms and stroke her hands across his broad shoulders. She ran her fingers through the damp locks of hair, as if trying to soothe him and his wolf, even as her own heart beat out of control.
Finally, he lifted his head and she gasped at the color of his eyes. She’d wondered a time or two over the last few days, swearing that she’d seen his brown eyes flash golden, but now, now she knew for sure. His eyes were glowing, changed to a pure amber.
But what did it mean?
He looked at her, holding her gaze with his own.
And then he growled the one word that might change her life forever.
“Mate.”
CHAPTER SIX
Julie woke alone the next morning, instantly missing Hunter’s warmth. For long minutes she simply lay with her hands at her side wondering where he was. He’d kept her warm and toasty all night long, and knew he would have even without the soft down comforter they’d slept under and the heat rumbling from the unit under the window. Her wolf would see to all her needs. How he had seen to all her needs. Her body temperature rose on its own when she thought about last night.
Snuggling deeper into her pillow, she thought of simply closing her eyes and letting sleep overtake her again. When was the last time she’d had no reason to jump from her bed and start the day. Almost never. She smiled and hugged her pillow to her, wallowing in the sense of well-being that seemed to have permeated her very being.
Yeah, having mind-blowing sex with a shifter would do that to a girl.
She moved in order to see the time on the bedside clock and let out a little groan. She was sore in places, she hadn’t known existed. Her pussy clenched remembering the feel of Hunter inside her.
She buried her face in the pillow, embarrassed even though she was alone in the room when she thought of the knot that had formed every time he’d come inside her. The entire night seemed to run together, as time and time again they’d made love.
It was as if he’d stayed hard the entire night. The knot would no sooner go down until he was thrusting inside her again. He’d taken her in ways she’d never really known were possible. Except the one way she thought he would. With her on her hands and knees and him behind her, his fingers tight on her hips as he thrust inside her.
He had entered her from behind as she lay on her side, but that had been a slow and easy joining almost at dawn when they were both nearing exhaustion and she’d almost been too sore to take him again. It had been no less exhilarating that the first time he’d taken her.
It hadn’t been the rough, wild sex she’d anticipated when he’d told her shifters were like their brothers in the wild. Now she knew he’d meant the knot, but maybe she just didn’t bring out those baser needs and wants in him.
Peeking at the clock again, she saw it was almost ten o’clock in the morning. Time to get up and about. But, if she stayed in bed, maybe he’d join her when he came back from wherever he’d gone. Suddenly a sense of foreboding over took her and she looked at the clock again. He’d been gone for nearly two hours.
Had he left her? Despite what he’d told her yesterday, he didn’t owe her anything. She’d known his words were more to get into her pants than to reassure her of his intentions. He’d done more than she’d ever expected. Rescued her from the side of the road and taken her some place safe and warm.
She threw back the covers and grabbed a clean set of clothes. Good thing she’d packed more casual clothes than dressy ones for the wedding. She’d have hated to be stranded here with nothing to wear but taffeta and satin.
After taking a bath and washing her hair, she was sitting back against the pillows with her knees drawn up when the door opened and Hunter stood there, snow covered and damp. The black locks of his hair were capped with white flakes just like the ones that clung to his brows and lashes. He had on shit-kicker boots, jeans, a black t-shirt and the fleece lined winter jacket. He took a moment to knock the snow off by the door. He hadn’t shaved and his jaw was dark with stubble. He looked huge. And sexy.
“It is a bitch out there again,” he said. He turned before she could get her gaze in a more appropriate location. She’d been staring at his package, so lovingly outlined by the softness of his well-worn jeans.
She stared at him and felt herself color.
He returned her look with a little glint of wicked amusement in his eyes. “Good morning, baby.” His gaze drifted from her freshly washed hair looped behind her ears to the black t-shirt she wore. His t-shirt. She hadn’t been able to resist putting it on. Thankfully, with her knees drawn up he couldn’t see her hardened nipples. Which had more to do with his electric stare than the cold he’d let in.
“Good morning, Hunter.”
Hunter wanted to close his eyes and groan at Julie’s sweet, sleep-coated voice and the sight of her in his shirt. His wolf rumbled in contentment. His scent was covering her and it made the animal want to take her again.
Instead, he held up two white paper sacks he was holding. “I brought breakfast.” Now why the hell did saying that make him feel like he’d just taken down a ten-point buck for her? To feed his female.
Care.
Cherish.
Protect.
And why did that always come to the forefront when he thought of her.
“Was the diner open?”
“Yep. We were lucky it just now started snowing again or the owner wouldn’t have tried to come in, I’m sure.”
He opened the curtain and Julie glanced towards the window, white frost covered the corners, telling her how cold the room had become last night, but she could still see out. The wind growled fiercely on the other side. It was snowing harder than it had been when they’d arrived. Now, visibility looked like it was down to zero.
“You went out in that?”
His mouth moved in a lazy smile, making her breath hitch at the back of her throat. “I’m a wolf, Julie. I like the cold and the snow. I needed to get you something warm to eat.”
He was right. Even in a battle with the elements, Hunter would come out the winner
She started to giggle which made one of his dark brows raise in response.
She got her laughter under control and smiled at him when he asked what was so funny. “I was just picture a big black wolf trotting down the highway with a white paper bag in its mouth.”
An answering smile curled his full lips up and she thought she’d melt right there. Damn, the man was gorgeous. Sexy. He took off his jacket and hung it on the back of one of the chairs that matched the small dining table at the side of the room.
“Let’s get a couple of things straight, sweetheart. For one thing, I would not trot. I’d be running. And for another, any shifter would know exactly what I was doing.” He stepped over to the bed, looking down at her from his great height.
“And what’s that?” She had the sudden desire to lean back on the mattress and yell take me, big boy. Take her like he had last night.
“Taking care of my mate.”
Well, that stopped her train of thought in its tracks. Having a pleasant—who was she kidding, damn panty and snow melting—interlude with a stranger was one thing. Having a shifter declare she was his mate was another.
She’d somehow pushed away the memory of
the one time he’d said it last night. Right after he’d taken her for the first time.
There was no way in hell that fate had decreed that chubby Julie Monroe was Hunter McCall’s one and only. A woman he’d be stuck with all of his supernatural life. No, men like Hunter would be paired with women who were beautiful, refined. That’s what he needed.
Not a sturdy little nobody like herself.
She was grateful that she’d had last night—and if she could get that idea out of his head that she was his mate—maybe tonight as well. She was realistic enough to realize that memories were all she would be taking away from this snow-bound adventure.
She swung her legs off the other side of the bed, getting away from him as fast as she could. Once on her feet, she faced him, grimacing when she realized the borrowed shirt she wore revealed more than it covered. Not the thing to be wearing when taking the stand she was about to take. “Look, we had a good time last night.”
A grunt interrupted her speech and she rolled her eyes.
“Okay, we had a scorching hot time. But that’s all. A pleasant interlude to wile away the hours. I’ll make us some coffee.”
Julie didn’t particularly like coffee, but anything hot would be great. She thought she was in the clear when he allowed her to walk around the end of the bed. She’d had the feeling he’d like nothing more than to jump over the bed and take her down. Like the predator that he was.
He didn’t move until she passed him on the way to the coffeepot. A large hand gripped her arm right below her elbow and he took a step, closing the distance between them. Warmth seeped into her from his body even though he wasn’t touching her. His breath moved her hair when he spoke.
“Keep telling yourself that, baby, if it makes you feel good to ignore the truth.”
He bent his head placing a kiss on the soft skin beneath her ear. Before she could stop herself, she felt her head lull back on her neck, giving him a clear path to her throat. He moved his mouth and opened his lips over the skin where her neck joined her shoulder, taking her flesh inside. He sucked slowly, reminding her of how he’d sucked her clit last night.
When he let her go, he whispered in her ear. “Here, baby. Right here is where I’m going to mark you as mine.”
He let go of her wrist and stepped back.
On shaky legs, she grabbed a pair of knit pants from her suitcase that still lay open on the low chest of drawers. Turning around, she pulled them on before moving on to the coffeemaker. Her hands shook as she emptied the packet of coffee into the disposable filter.
All of Hunter’s good intentions almost flew out the window when Julie bent over and pulled on a pair of pants. That was the one way he hadn’t taken her last night. The one way that would have broken his control if he had. He never could have resisted marking her if he’d pounded into her pussy from behind. His wolf would have snapped the bonds that held him in place and overrode any human restraint Hunter might have still had.
He wanted their mating to be a mutual decision, not pressed upon her in the heat of the moment because he couldn’t control his damn wolf. He watched as Julie busied herself with making coffee. He stood there like a hungry man outside a bakery, salivating for a taste of something sweet.
Or a wolf, hungry for his mate.
One part of him told him he shouldn’t have kissed her. Held her last night. Taken her. He should have left her the hell alone. He wasn’t any good for her. The other part, the part that felt the healing of his soul when he’d touched her, knew he’d never be able to let her go. In the bright light of the morning, he’d realized he’d only been fooling himself when he’d thought he’d been able to fuck her and walk away. Now that he’d tasted her passion he knew she was his for eternity.
How the hell was he going to claim her? She was as skittish as a newborn colt around a wolf.
He took the cup of coffee she handed him, watching her every move as she did everything she could to avoid him. When she’d made the bed, he reached out and pulled her to the table. She resisted at first, then gave into his forceful tug. “Sit down and eat before it’s too cold to eat.”
The eggs and toast weren’t hot by any means but they were still warm and tasted better than anything she’d ever had. And she didn’t even really like eggs. She almost moaned in appreciation. As she finished her last piece of buttered toast smothered in grape jelly, she looked at him, savoring the sweet taste.
Imagining the taste of him on her tongue. They hadn’t done that last night, but she really wanted to. “I’m not your mate. I can’t be.”
“Why not? You’re all rose and ivory and have the most tantalizing curves. Perfect for my wolf.”
“I’m not. I’m a chubby, overweight woman with very little experience in these types of situations.”
“Situations?” One dark brow rose above his dreamy brown eyes.
“Situations. Seduction. One-night stands.”
His dark brows drew together in a frown and he started to speak
She interrupted quickly. “That’s what we agreed on last night.”
“Things changed, sweetheart.”
“No, they didn’t.”
“Yes they did.” They were both remembering the first time he’d come inside her and his knot had stretched her pussy. How his eyes had turned a dark rich amber and his voice had grew thick as sin as he’d whispered the word mate.
Fuck. He shifted on his seat, his cock more than ready for a repeat of last night. His language be damned at this point. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this as much as I do, Julie.”
“I don’t.”
He half rose in his chair, leaning across the table, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he snared her gaze. “Oh, you can lie to yourself, baby, but you can’t lie to me. I know you want this.”
He pushed his chair back, straightening to his full height. Before she could protest, he pulled her up against his body. “You want this. You want a man’s hands running over your skin.” He stroked his palms over her shoulders and down her arms. They weren’t skin to skin but they might as well have been the sensation was so powerful. “You want to be held. Have your breasts touched, your nipples pinched, your beautiful mouth claimed.”
And he did just that, drew his hands down the front of her borrowed shirt to cup her breasts and run his thumbs over her nipples beneath the soft cotton. Her breasts were tender to the touch from his possession of last night. The thin layer of cotton provided no barrier and the heat of his thumb seeped into her nipple. She closed her eyes, wanting to tell him to stop. Wanting to tell him never to stop.
He rubbed and pinched and played with her nipples until her breathing became erratic. He stopped, sliding his hands down to grasp her waist. He gently squeezed her roundness before tracing the curve of her ass to the bottom of her borrowed shirt. His hands moved again burrowing under the shirt and breaching the tops of her pants and panties. He gripped the cheeks of her ass, squeezing hard. With a swift move, he’d pushed her pants down and they fell to the floor, puddlinig at her feet. His hand caressed the junction at the top of her thighs, his touch hindered by the white cotton of her panties.
“These have got to go.” With a savage pull, he ripped off one side of her panties. She cried out as the material bit into her flesh. Another yank and they were history and he threw the torn garment away “I’ll kiss it and make it better, baby.”
“Spread your legs,” he whispered in the curve of her neck, tracing the vee of her legs with his finger. His hand moved closer and closer to her heat. Against her better judgment, Julie did. With a rough sigh, she gave herself over to him, adjusting her stance so he could touch her where he wanted. Immediately he palmed her pussy. “Oh, yeah, baby, you’re so damn hot. You’re almost burning me.” He stroked up and down a time or two and her panties dampened as he pressed the cotton to the lips of her pussy. “And wet. So fucking wet for me.”
He pulled her closer so he could kiss her lips.
She kept them stubbornly closed e
ven though she’d just allowed him such an intimate touch. That didn’t detour him. He moved to her jaw, peppering it with kisses before moving to her ear. When he licked the soft skin under her lobe, she moaned. And opened her mouth.
He took immediate advantage, covering her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue inside so she couldn’t lock him out again. As if that set something off inside of him, his kiss deepened. He thrust his tongue in and out, his other hand coming up to hold her head still so he could ravage her mouth. On, and on, the kiss went, until she was running out of air. When she pressed against his shoulders, for a moment she didn’t know if he would stop. He growled and pulled away, breathing just as heavily as she was.
It was as she’d feared it would be from the moment she’d seen his face outside the window of her car, impossible to remain unaffected. There was between them a surge of sheer magnetism, a physical match between the tall hard planes of his body and the soft, padded curves of her own. Surprisingly, she felt none of the self-consciousness she had when she’d thought of having a lover. The need to pull away when if his hands touched her belly, the fleshy part of her thigh.
All the time he’d been kissing her, he’d been fingering her, stroking up and down her slit, rubbing her clit.
He smoothed his palm over the bottom curve of her hip.
She stared into his eyes and felt like a butterfly pinned to a cloth.
“You’re my mate, Julie.”
“I—but. How could you want me for a mate?”
His laugh was without humor. “How could I not? You get me so fucking hard every time you’re near. Let me show you how much I need you for my mate.”
Now this was the way to spend your time when you were trapped inside by a blizzard, Hunter thought as he woke later. Julie’s body was draped over his, her head against his chest, her round leg slung over his thigh, her knee nudging the very alert part of him. He tightened his arm, pulling her closer and buried his nose in her hair. Flowers and sunshine. Everything good. Everything right.