Prideless

by Kasey Belle

  He glanced at the tree as he built the fire. He smiled and rolled his eyes when he noticed Shelly had moved some of the ornaments since this morning. Most likely, the new edition had caused an imbalance in the force. His mate’s little quirks were adorable. He toyed with the idea, of moving them back to their original places. He shook his head, quickly deciding against it. Bad idea. Max knew, she would notice the minute she walked in the room and wouldn’t be happy until every ornament was in its proper place once, again. He had plans for his mate, and they didn’t include her Obsessive Christmas Disorder.

  Max looked up when Shelly entered the room and froze. She had followed his instructions and stood there gloriously naked. He lit the kindling and closed the screen. He didn’t take his eyes from her as he stalked her. Yes, stalked. His primal need, at the forefront, pushed aside every other thought. He wanted her. He wanted to see her fall apart in his arms. It had been too long. He was man enough to admit, he had been a bit overprotective when she became pregnant. He made sure she was satisfied, but gone were hard, fast fucks and bringing her to orgasm over and over until she passed out. During her pregnancy, their lovemaking was always gentle because, he was afraid he would hurt her or the baby. He couldn’t bring himself to risk them, no matter how many times she tried to convince him otherwise.

  He stood in front of her, his gaze never leaving hers as he traced his finger across a mating mark, then down her breast to circle her nipple. Her growl in protest when he removed his finger made him smile. He wrapped his arm around her lower back and pulled her flush to his body. She gasped and her eyes glazed over with arousal. Her tongue darted out to lick her plump, pink lips. It was an invitation he couldn’t ignore. He took her mouth with a rough, dominating kiss, mimicking with his tongue what he wished he could do with his cock, in her pussy. She mewled and moaned. Max swept her into his arms and carried her to the couch. He broke the kiss, placed her gently on the cushion, and knelt between her knees.

  Max grabbed her ass, pulled her forward until it hung off the end of the cushion, placed a thigh on each shoulder, leaned in, and buried his nose in her cunt. He breathed her in. By the fates, he would never tire of her scent or her essence. His mouth watered. It had been six weeks since he had a taste of her cream, and he would not wait a second longer. He used his thumbs to open her bare outer lips. He hadn’t even touched her yet, and she was already hot, creamy, and ready for him. She was always like that and it made him feel ten feet tall. He took a long, slow swipe with his tongue from opening to clit. She buried her hand in his hair and breathed his name. He continued to torment her alternating between licking and probing her entrance with his tongue, nibbling and sucking on her clit. She begged him to let her come. Three times, he took her to her peak then backed off just before she went over, then took pity on her, after a litany of, ‘Please, Max, I’m begging you’, and let her come.

  Shelly’s pregnancy and Lily’s birth had been hard on her, she wasn’t ready for intercourse, but he needed to be inside her. He had to feel her clench on him as she came. Careful not to hurt her, he slowly slid two fingers into her tight wet sheath. Her dripping cunt soaked his hand. He wrapped his mouth around her clit and sucked at the same time he brushed his fingers over her g-spot. Her grip on his hair tightened as her inner muscles fluttered. One more stroke.

  “Come for me, Mate. Come now.”

  She ignited. She screamed his name. Her pussy clamped down on his fingers and liquid desire spilled from her into his waiting mouth. He rode the wave with her, prolonging her orgasm until he was certain she couldn’t take any more, and then slowly brought her back down to earth.

  Max looked up from between her legs to her flushed face. He loved to watch her come and especially loved the look she was wearing right now. It was the look of a thoroughly debauched woman, eyes closed, heaving chest, tangled hair, face and body glistening with sweat, and a well-loved smile. She opened her eyes and the adoration in them would have brought him to knees had he not already been on them. He grabbed the large throw pillows from the couch and tossed them on the floor in front of the fireplace. He picked her up and settled on the floor with her tucked to his side. Shelly wrapped her arm around his middle and let out a contented sigh. She trailed her fingers down his stomach and he stopped her before she reached his aching cock.

  She looked up at him, confused. “Don’t you want to?”

  “Not yet, Doll. I want you to rest for a while. I’m fine.”

  She scoffed. “No you aren’t. You’re hard as concrete, Max.”

  “Later, Mate. I just want to hold you for a while.” She looked uncertain and a little hurt. Did she honestly believe he didn’t want her? He cupped her cheek. “Stop it. I know what you are thinking. I want you sweet Shelly. I will always want you.” He opened their link. “Feel how much I need you. Adore you. Love you. Later, if you aren’t too tired, then I will let you have your wicked way with me.” He waggled his eyebrows making her blush.

  “Okay. I guess I am a little tired, post orgasmic bliss and all that.”

  “We have a lifetime, Mate.”

  He loved these moments when they would just hold each other. It didn’t matter if they talked or lay there in amicable silence as long as she was in his arms. This moment seemed more perfect than normal. Perhaps, it had to do with the ambiance that surrounded them. Their bodies entwined as they lay on the floor, the scent of sex lingered in the air, the Christmas tree bright with lights and obsessively decorated, ambient light from the flames highlighting her perfect skin, and her happiness permeating his soul. Perfect.

  “What were you thinking about before I came in? You projected your happiness, and I was wondering what brought it on.”

  “I was thinking about, how much has changed since March. How this would be the best Christmas ever. We have Lily, Fiona’s happy, Emma Grace is perfectly spoiled, and Fee and I are raising our kids together. I wasn’t sure I would like it here, you know. It’s so different for New Orleans, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I can’t imagine you living anywhere else, either. You fit in with the men, with the pack, more than you ever fit in with the Pride.”

  “You noticed that, huh? It’s easier to be an alpha here. Two alpha lions in the same pride territory, trying to remain civil, was a strain for both John and I. We tried to make it work as best we could. We did, mostly, but the strain was always there, and it wore on both of us. That strain doesn’t exist here. I’m lion and Dec’s a wolf. There is no need to compete with him. I no more want a pack of dogs then he does a pride of big cats.”

  “Declan is also a different from John in how he rules.”

  “He is. John is a good alpha, but he isn’t always open to suggestions or opinions. Declan is more receptive, but from what Kell tells me it wasn’t always that way. He’s calmed down quite a bit since Fiona came into the picture. Who knows, maybe it will be the same for John.”

  “I hope so. He seems so lonely.”

  “He is.”

  “You know what else I was thinking about?”

  “What?”

  “Lily Rose will be six-weeks-old tomorrow, the same age Emma Grace was, when we first met.”

  ****

  “Damn, you’re right. Man, it’s hard to believe Emma Grace will be four in a few months. She’s going to be knock-out.” He groaned when an unwelcome thought entered his mind.

  “What?”

  “Lily Rose will be knock-out, as well. She has my eyes, but she looks like you. I need to dig graves.”

  “Max!”

  “What?”

  “You can’t go around digging holes to bury the bodies of innocent boys in.”

  “They won’t be innocent. They will have had impure thoughts about my daughter, a crime punishable by death. Declan and Cade agree with me, and they even said I could dig my graves the same place they were digging theirs.”

  They were still arguing the finer points of grave digging and body disposal when the sound of clicking nails on tile
and clinking dog tags came from the kitchen. They shared a smile. Sam came around the end of the couch and settled on the floor behind Shelly. He huffed out a sigh.

  “He must have gotten tired of being left out of the Shelly love fest.”

  “That sounds weird when you say it like that. Like I have peanut butter stashed somewhere or something.”

  “Gross.” He goosed her side. “Thanks, that was a mental picture I didn’t need.”

  “You brought it up.” She giggled.

  “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” He eyed Sam. “Jealous canine.”

  Shelly poked his chest. “You love him and you know it. He loves you, too. He knows if it wasn’t for you he would have died.”

  “No, if it wasn’t for you he would have died. He certainly wouldn’t have found a home with me if you hadn’t been there. Big cat, remember?”

  “Okay, fine we’ll call it a draw. You know when I reflect and remember that time, I don’t dwell on all the sadness that surrounded me. I hated that David had to die to bring us together. I hate that Fiona had to experience that kind of grief, but my thoughts don’t linger there. It’s been almost four years and the day we met is still the best day of my life. When I look back on that day, I’m so thankful. I’ll never forget it, Max. I cherish it.”

  “Even the tweaker?”

  She giggled. “Even the tweaker.”

  Max shot her a look calling total bullshit on her statement. He knew better. Still to this day, she was nervous walking around after dark.

  “Well okay, maybe not the tweaker, but everything else was pretty damn spectacular.”

  A carefree smile lit up Shelly’s face and Max couldn’t help but return it. “Yeah, it was pretty damn spectacular. It was the best day of my life, too, even though it included a tweaker and a mongrel.”

  Chapter 1

  April 14, 2012

  New Orleans, LA

  Shelly held the bottle for Emma Grace while she nursed. Thank god, E.G. was too young to understand what had happened. Tears filled Shelly’s eyes again, as she thought about David, his death, and all that this sweet, little innocent girl and her mother, Shelly’s best friend, Fiona, had lost. Emma Grace would never know her father’s love and Fee, poor Fiona, was so devastated and lost without David. Shelly knew the only thing stopping Fiona from following David to the grave, was Emma Grace. Fiona would never abandon her daughter. Shelly knew that in her heart, but it didn’t stop her from worrying about what she would find every time she came over to help Fiona. That fear was one of the reasons Shelly decided to move in with Fiona. She didn’t care how long it took, whether a few weeks or months, to help Fiona back on her feet again.

  She looked down at Emma Grace and smiled when she saw the baby’s mouth had gone slack around the rubber nipple. She was asleep once again. That girl sure could eat for such a tiny thing. She stood to put Emma Grace back in her crib when her phone on the changing table vibrated. She grabbed it and looked at the caller ID. She didn’t recognize the number so instead of answering it she laid Emma Grace in her crib. If they knew her, they would either leave a message or call back.

  Her phone buzzed indicating she had a voice mail.

  “Hi, this is Max Granger. I’m looking for Shelly. I’m a friend of Kell’s, and he told me to call you when I got into town. I know Kell from Afghanistan. He said he was going to call you and tell you about me. Call me back at….”

  Shelly put her hand to her heart, it felt as if the thing was going to beat out of her chest. Man, Max had a deep, sexy voice. She wasn’t expecting him for another few days and Shelly was sure she looked like hell. She took a few cleansing breaths. She was being a ninny. The man was here as a favor to Kell and David. He wasn’t here for her. He was here to look in on Fiona and help her out. An unfamiliar surge of jealousy took hold of her. The thought of Fiona having Max’s attention caused a burning in the pit of her stomach. What the hell? In all these years, she never felt an ounce of jealousy towards Fiona. They were best friends. No, they were more than besties; they were sisters by choice. She mentally slapped herself to get a grip. Then another errant thought crossed her mind of a faceless Max in a bar in the Quarter surrounded by beautiful, sexually experienced women. A man with a voice like that had to have women crawling out the woodwork. She shook her head. This was getting ridiculous. She didn’t know they guy. He was here as a favor. What did it matter if he fucked every girl who looked his way? He was nothing to her.

  She grabbed the baby monitor and eased the door shut before she hit dial on her phone a little harder than necessary. It rang only once before the man in question answered.

  “Shelly?”

  “Yes, he-hello. Sorry I couldn’t answer when you called I was just putting Emma Grace down.” Jesus, stutter much?

  There was a long pause. She pulled the phone back to see if the call had dropped. Nope. “Hello? Are you there?”

  “Yes.” The man practically growled at her.

  That should have pissed her off, but it just turned her on. She really needed to bite the bullet and have sex, a date at least, or something. Shit was getting out of hand if the sound of a voice made her panties damp. She heard him take a deep breath.

  “Sorry. I was distracted.”

  “That’s alright.” Was that lovesick breathy voice hers? “So, you said you were in town. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”

  “Yeah, I got in early. If it’s not a good time I can call you in a few days.”

  “No!” She winced. She did not mean to yell. She swore she heard him chuckle… whatever. “No. It’s fine. Um, Fiona is asleep right now. Could you maybe come by here in a couple of hours? I hate to wake her up. She needs sleep.” She cleared her throat to keep from bursting into tears once again at the thought of all Fiona had lost.

  “A couple of hours is fine.” Max’s voice had gone all gentle and soothing, as if he knew she was trying not to burst into tears. “I’ll call you say around noon and if she’s not awake by then, we’ll come up with another time. How’s that?”

  “Sounds fine. Thank you, Max.”

  “You’re welcome, doll.”

  Oh, god, the man could melt panties with that endearment. Again, she should be offended, but she wasn’t.

  “Is there anything you need me to do for you in the meantime?”

  Yes! Come over here and have your way with me! Shelly stilled. God, she didn’t say that out loud, did she? When he didn’t respond, she breathed a sigh of relief. No, she didn’t. “Um, no I think we are okay for now.”

  “Alright. If you need anything just call me. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  She hung up and sighed. Total swoon. She wondered if he was as sexy as he sounded. He was ex-military, a marine, if she remembered right. She bet he was built like Kell, who was sex on a stick times ten. She had a feeling Max would outshine Kell. Just his voice alone made her warm all over.

  She hurried to the bathroom. She hadn’t taken a shower or done anything with her appearance yet. She wanted Fee to get some rest, so she took Emma Grace watch this morning. However, since the little bundle of joy was sleeping she would rush and get a shower. She didn’t want to meet Mr. Sexy Voice with rat nest hair and unshaved legs. That would be rude, right? Of course it would be. She wasn’t doing this because she wanted him to want her more than he might want all those other women. No ma’am, she was not.

  She glanced at herself in the mirror as she entered the bathroom. Yikes!

  She might want to do more than just a quick shower. She poked at her cheeks and the puffy skin under her eyes. The late nights and crying had caught up with her. She had dark circles under her eyes; her skin and hair were lifeless. Yeah, not only did she need a shower, but she needed to do her hair and make-up, as well. If she was going to do one without the other two, she might as well forget the whole thing. A shower alone would not fix this.

  “What are you doing?” Fiona’s voice coming from the hallway startled her. Shelly jumped and put her
hand to her chest to keep her heart from busting through.

  “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.”

  The slight smile of Fee’s face was worth the heart attack. It was the first glimpse of humor she had seen from her best friend in a month.

  “Well, what are you doing?”

  “I was getting ready to take a shower.” Best friend or not, there was no way she was going to tell Fiona she was assessing how much primping she needed to do to impress Max, a stranger. Time to deflect the BFF’s interest. “What are you doing?”

  Fiona crossed her arms over her chest. “I asked you first.”

  Damn! “Um, I was just…. looking.” She wanted to roll her eyes. Her statement sounded like a question. Like she didn’t know what she was doing.