Snowdonia 1 - Wolf at the Door

by Sofia Grey

  “Not yet, Cariad.” He kept his fingers still. “I don’t want you to come until I’m inside you.”

  She tried to grind onto his hand but he was expecting that. He delivered another, lighter slap onto her red butt. She yelped, but he was already kissing the sting away. He took a couple of rapid breaths and tried to control his racing heart. He ached to be inside her. “Tell me what you want, baby.” His cock was on the verge of meltdown.

  “Take me,” she whispered. He pumped his fingers again and she groaned.

  “Take you, how? Soft and gentle, or hard and fast?” Please say hard and fast. Please say…”

  She strained onto his hand. “Jake,” her breathing was labored, “fuck me, baby.”

  Chapter 32

  It only took seconds for Jake to dispense with his jeans, for his impatient fingers to fit the condom, and then he climbed onto the bed behind his Mate. His wolf felt giddy with excitement. He freed her ankles and then he spread her legs wider and positioned himself. He ran one finger along her slit and swirled it in the cream, enjoying her drawn-out moan. “You ready, baby?” He smeared cream over her clit and was nearly bucked off the bed.

  “Jake, I can’t wait.”

  Neither could he. He guided the tip of his cock inside and held it there while he drew a calming breath, and then pushed in hard. Her wail of pleasure wrapped around him as much as her insides squeezed his dick. Jesus Christ and all the saints, she felt good. He eased back and then slammed in, making her wail again. Oh fuck, his balls were tightening already. Lillian groaned his name and clenched around him and pure instinct took over.

  One hand on her hips to hold her steady, the other tangled in her hair, he began to pump into her. Hard, deep, hungry. Leaning forward, he pressed kisses along the side of her neck. Her skin was so smooth, silky, and pale. He couldn’t fight the urge to claim her properly.

  Her cries rose, repeating his name over and over. So beautiful. His Mate. As he pounded into her, jolting the bed with every thrust, he felt her tighten even further. She was close. He closed his mouth over the soft skin at the crook of her neck and held on with his teeth while he released her hair and rubbed her clit with the heel of his hand. She screamed, bucked, and thrashed beneath him when she came. He followed, a second later. Christ, it felt as though his cock exploded, he came so hard.

  *

  Lillian dropped her head to the pillow and tried to breathe normally. Her ass smarted and she was sure it probably glowed. Her eyes were damp and she knew her mouth was swollen and wet, but God. There was sex, and then there was sex with Jake. She swallowed. Her orgasm had been so ferocious, she wasn’t sure if she still had legs or if they’d been blown off in some freaky explosion. Sex bomb. Yeah. That summed him up nicely.

  Belatedly, she realized he was untying her hands. Next thing, he rolled her over and smiled down. She saw more than a trace of concern in his eyes.

  “You still with me, Cariad? You’re worryingly quiet.” He lifted her hands one at a time and gently rubbed her wrists with his thumbs.

  “That was—” His brows pulled together at her whisper. “Jake … I can’t describe it.”

  He kissed the palms of her hands before whispering back. “Let’s start with good or bad?”

  Conversation seemed too difficult. She settled for a vigorous nod. “Good,” she rasped. “Definitely good.” Little aftershocks continued to race through her body and when Jake ran his fingertips down the side of her breast she gasped from another jolt of pleasure. She imagined her body had become hardwired to respond to him; she’d never experienced such intense sex before. He rained little kisses across her face, his hands caressing her skin and rippling through her hair.

  “You are so beautiful,” he murmured against her throat before nuzzling at her ear. “I want you in my bed every night.”

  It was a struggle to speak, especially when he began to press his lips down the column of her throat. “You’d better not be thinking of spanking me every night.” Her butt still stung.

  Little laughter lines crinkled around his eyes. “Depends how compliant you are…” He closed his mouth around one nipple and promptly took her breath away. She arched her back and tried to push onto him but he released her again. “There is so much I want to do with you. So many ways to pleasure you.”

  She stretched. “I like the sound of that.” His rising erection nudged against her hip and she smiled and reached down to stroke it. “I don’t have to be anywhere for a few days. How about you?”

  *

  A few days? Is that all he meant to her? Jake refused to believe that. She was probably just being cautious, and he could understand why after the way Asshole had treated her. Take it slow, he reminded himself.

  “It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow and I need to go see my family in the evening. It’s one of our traditions.” He broke off to explore her breasts with his mouth. “I don’t need to stay long. Would you come with me?” He held his breath, wondering if she’d refuse. Indecision warred on her face, but then she wrinkled her nose and smiled.

  “Sure, but just for a little while, okay?”

  Chapter 33

  Now that his most urgent need for her had been sated, Jake intended to make love to his Mate slowly. He’d had the forethought to bring several condoms from the bathroom, so this time, he didn’t need to leave the bed to find one. She responded eagerly to his kiss and reached for him, her touch sending shivers down his spine. Passion flared bright once more and before he knew it, Lillian lay beneath him, her legs wrapped around his waist as he pushed slowly into her. Her heat made his dick feel on fire and her scent made his head spin. He felt intoxicated by her.

  “Jake, Jake,” she moaned, surging against him, her nails digging into his shoulders. “Harder, baby.”

  He would never tire of her—of this. The way her breasts trembled with every thrust. The wild red curls that stuck to her damp forehead or the look of ecstasy on her face when she came, clutching at him and milking him dry.

  He collapsed onto her, exhausted. He dragged in a deep breath and prepared to move but she clung to him. “Stay there. Hold me, Jake.”

  * * * *

  When Lillian fled from her hotel in London, she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams that she would spend Christmas Eve in the arms of a new lover. They slept, tangled together in his huge bed, made tender love, and slept some more. He fed her scrambled eggs and tempted her with coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice, before kissing her so fiercely that she forgot her own name.

  They sat in his lounge after their breakfast, Lillian in her fluffy pajamas, Jake in jeans and T-shirt, and they decorated his tree together. He produced a set of tiny hand-carved wooden ornaments and passed them to her one at a time, for her to hang. Lillian watched as Jake unwrapped one, removing it from a twist of colored tissue paper.

  His eyes met hers, and she was unable look away. “Thank you, Jake.”

  A puzzled look flitted across his face. “For what?”

  She smiled and swallowed the lump that had appeared in her throat. “For this.” She spread her hands to encompass the room, the decorations, and the leftovers from the snacks he’d prepared. “All of this. For pampering me today, taking care of me.”

  In response, he held out his hand to catch hers. Raising it to his lips, he kissed each fingertip in turn. “This has been the best Christmas in a long time for me. I should be thanking you, Cariad.” He nipped playfully at her thumb. “It’s not over yet. I have plans for when we get back from the family.”

  She had reservations about meeting his parents, his fellow wolves, but she already knew if she wanted to have any chance of a future relationship with Jake, she needed them to accept her.

  He passed her another ornament, a delicate acorn on a length of silver ribbon, and she searched for the best place to hang it while thinking about Jake. There was so much she didn’t know about him and so little time. They only had a few stolen days to spend together.

  Evening came t
oo quickly and Lillian dressed casually for Jake’s family, as that was all she’d brought with her. Skintight, faded gray jeans, white T-shirt, and a soft, loose cashmere sweater in a smoke gray, along with a pair of spike-heeled ankle boots. She dreaded being recognized as Ella Hart. She wanted to be Lillian for a few hours.

  Jake held her hand on the short drive there, and used the time to talk about his parents, Gareth and Katy, his multiple cousins, aunts and uncles, and his two sisters, Mimi and Catriona. They all sounded reassuringly normal and the house, when they arrived, looked like all the other stone-built homes she’d seen in the area. A sprawling building, it nestled in the shelter of the mountainside, with bright lights welcoming them from all the windows.

  The dark-haired woman who greeted them at the door had the same color eyes as Jake. She swept him into a hug and then ruffled his hair, before turning her attention to Lillian. “Jake said he was bringing a friend. I’m so pleased to meet you, Lillian. I’m Jake’s mother, Katy.” Her smile was genuine but Lillian saw the curiosity in the woman’s eyes. “Come on through and meet the rest of the family.”

  Jake ushered Lillian into a long hallway and took her coat, turning to hang it on a free peg. Lillian turned to watch him and heard Katy gasp behind her.

  “My dear.” She sounded shocked. Lillian glanced at her and then at Jake. Before she had a chance to say anything, Katy hugged her and then turned to whisper in Jake’s ear.

  Something didn’t feel right.

  Chapter 34

  “Jake!” scolded his mother in an excited whisper. “I can’t believe you claimed your Mate and didn’t think to tell us yourself!”

  Jake froze. What? How did his mother know? He could have sworn Lillian’s long hair covered the claiming mark, but it had faded so even if his mother saw it, she’d have thought it was just a love bite. In his mind and heart, he’d claimed her—he’d just intended to introduce the idea to her more slowly. As it stood, he’d fucked up. Royally.

  Time seemed to slow down.

  Lillian peered at him, her confusion visible, while his mother all but dragged her into the lounge before Jake could say anything. Sasha appeared, a bottle of champagne in his hand and a broad grin on his face. “Well done, Cuz, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  Fury swept through him. Sasha. Sasha knew that Lillian was his Mate. He must have been telling everyone. He grabbed the front of his cousin’s T-shirt and hauled him closer. “You fuckwit.” He had to stop, before he hit him. “Who did you tell?”

  Sash tried to wriggle free. “Tell? I didn’t tell anyone!” He slapped at Jake’s fist. “What’s the problem? She’s your Mate.”

  “The problem?” Jake’s head felt as though it was going to explode. “She doesn’t know. I haven’t told her. Yet.” He released Sasha, his anger spent.

  His cousin gave a low whistle. “Guess you’re the fuckwit.”

  *

  Lillian felt a second of panic as Jake’s mother hauled her into what was clearly the family lounge—a lounge overflowing with people. Had they realized who she was? Jake’s mother was behaving beyond strange. And where was Jake?

  Her sanity returned quickly. Jake’s family was keen to meet her. Maybe he didn’t take his girlfriends home very often. Maybe it was a big deal for them.

  Katy rattled a knife against a bottle and silence fell. Lillian squirmed under the combined weight of expectant stares. What was keeping Jake? Ah, there he was, with his cousin. Judging by the tightness of his jaw and the depth of his frown, this was more like a freaking big deal. Her stomach churned. Whatever was going down, she had a bad feeling about it.

  Jake strode forward. He gave her wary smile and stepped up to his mother, stooping to speak into her ear. The room seemed to buzz with excitement. Lillian strained to hear the whispered conversation but only caught a couple of words. Mate and claimed. Was Mate a wolf term for girlfriend? Even that status seemed premature for her. They’d known each other a matter of days.

  “Mother, no!” Jake glared at his mother, who scowled back at him with an identical frown.

  The smaller relations were fidgeting and two teenage girls were having a heated, whispered discussion. One of them tugged on Lillian’s sleeve. “Excuse me, miss, are you here with Jake?”

  Lillian glanced across at Jake. Yep, still arguing with his mother. She took a deep breath. Maybe this was because of who she was? His cousin might have told everyone how they’d met. She conjured up an enthusiastic face and beamed at the girls. “Yes. My name’s Lillian. You must be two of his cousins?”

  The slightly taller of the two girls bounced up and down on her toes. “I can’t believe it,” she gushed. “Our Jakey has a Mate!”

  Lillian hesitated, not really sure she wanted to know the answer to the question at the front of her mind. Gritting her teeth, she smiled at the girls. “Mate? You mean he has a girlfriend?”

  They squealed and clutched each other’s arms. “Girlfriend?” the girl repeated. “More like a wife!”

  *

  Jake knew the exact moment when Lillian found out just why his family was so interested in meeting her. His young cousins Cara and Yvette were chattering with her, but he could tell she wasn’t listening. Instead, her stare was fixed on him, her expression a mixture of shock and horror. He wanted to bang his head against the wall. His mother had scented the claiming mark on Lillian’s shoulder. He didn’t even know that was possible! He’d have to apologize later to Sash, but right now, he had to fix things with his Mate.

  He pushed past the rapidly growing group that surrounded her and then grabbed her hand. “I need a moment.” He tugged at her. “Come, Cariad, we need to talk.”

  She snatched her hand back. “You’re so right.” Her eyes flashed fire at him and his heart thudded. Jesus. In the history of giant fuckups, this one was monumental.

  She followed him out of the room and he thought rapidly. Where could they go where they might not be disturbed? His parents’ house was filled to bursting point for their usual holiday celebration. His car. She stalked behind him, stomping through the snow and climbed into the passenger seat without a word. With the doors closed and the chance for some privacy, he turned in his seat to look at her properly. He’d thought she was angry, but he was wrong. She was upset. Her hands twisted in her lap, and when he slid a finger down her cheek it came away wet.

  “I thought you were different, Jake.” She glanced at him and then looked away. “I mean you are different, you know, but I meant about being honest with me.” He tried to speak but she carried on, her voice dropping to a hoarse whisper. “Those girls, your family, they told me you have a Mate. A wife.”

  What the fuck? He covered her hands with his own. “No, God no! Why would you think that?”

  She took an uneven breath and raised her eyes to meet his. He risked a smile. “No wife.”

  Her brows dipped together into a V and produced a tiny crease that he longed to kiss away. “They said, and I quote, ‘Our Jakey has a Mate.’ I asked if they meant,” she hesitated, “a girlfriend, but they said a Mate was a wife.” Her eyes were steely. “Why would they say that if it isn’t true?”

  Chapter 35

  Lillian didn’t know what to think. Her heart longed to believe Jake, but her head screamed warnings that she couldn’t ignore. His smile disappeared and he squeezed her fingers. Her heart plummeted.

  “I didn’t say anything,” he began, speaking slowly as though he chose his words carefully. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured. We’ve not been together very long.”

  He placed one finger under her chin and lifted it to meet her stare. In the dim lighting, his eyes had an unnatural glow, and she reminded herself—he isn’t normal.

  He continued, “As wolves, we mate for life. There’s no concept of divorce. We love our partners with a passion and devotion that you don’t see often in regular society.” He hesitated as though expecting her to leap in, but she stayed silent. “We share a bond with our Mates, and we believe that
each of us has one special partner. Just the one. When we find our Mate it’s a cause for celebration.”

  Lillian stared. Surely he didn’t mean… She replayed his words in her head.

  “You don’t mean me?” It came out on a gasp, a hysterical laugh trying to break free.

  He nodded.

  She wasn’t getting this. She tried again. “You think I’m your Mate? Your … wife?”

  He nodded again, his eyes serious and his face still.

  She couldn’t help it, the laugh escaped. She clapped a hand over her mouth as she tried to stop, but it was too late. She couldn’t miss the hurt look in his eyes. “I’m sorry, but this is ridiculous. I mean, really. I’ve known you two days, and you expect me to believe I’m your life-long partner?”

  He stroked her cheek and she resisted the urge to rub against his hand.

  “Cariad.” His voice was gentle. “Have you never heard of love at first sight?”

  “That’s a concept that doesn’t exist outside of movies and books. I was with Kurt for a year and it didn’t work out.” His face tightened at the mention of her ex and she swiftly continued. “You can’t possibly think that I would fall in love with you after two days?” A little voice chimed inside her head and reminded her that she had, but that was easy to ignore.

  “I knew it was you when you opened the door to me. I knew then.”

  “You were frozen and bleeding. This is just misplaced gratitude.” She knew her voice was sharp, but she was scared. “How did your mother know? Did you tell her?”

  He winced. “I, ah, gave you a claiming mark. A love bite.” On her shoulder, she remembered. “Mother knew what it meant.” He shrugged in a casual way, but his eyes gave away his worry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen tonight.”