by Kasey Belle
Sweet, sweet Shelly you can be so endearingly naïve. “I love you Shell, but you are sadly mistaken if you think you need a change of clothes, let alone a few.”
“Max didn’t say if we were going out anywhere or not, but I want to be prepared.”
“Max doesn’t strike me as a ‘thanks for the virgin sex, let’s go get a pizza’ kind of guy. In all honesty, if you have enough energy to leave the bed after the man removes the training wheels from you piecycle, then he doesn’t have a clue. Seriously, if that ends up being the case, you are better off with a vibrator. Cut your losses and come home. We’ll order Domino’s.”
“Fiona!”
“Scolding me like that would probably work better, if you weren’t all giggly and red-faced. The only reason you will come home dressed in something other than the clothes you have on now, is because those will be tossed on the floor and too wrinkled to wear again later.”
“You think?”
“Don’t you sound excited.” Fee snickered. “Yes, I think. Now get the hell out of here.”
Shelly gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Fiona glared suspiciously at Shelly’s retreating form. That was too easy. Shelly hadn’t reached half a dozen, Are you sure’s? An all-time record on the Shelly worry-ometer. Shelly paused with her hand on the door knob. Fiona mentally sighed. Yep, too easy.
Shelly looked back at Fiona. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Positive.”
“You’ll call me if you need me, right?”
“Yes, but I won’t. Emma Grace, Sam, and I will be fine. I’m not helpless, just sad.”
“I know.” Shelly shrugged. “I worry.”
“Some things never change.”
“You know where to find me if you need me.”
Fiona leveled her gaze. “Same goes for you.”
Fiona sighed in relief when Shelly blew her a kiss and left with no further argument. Regardless of what Shelly said, Fiona figured Max would have her bestie moved in by the end of the week.
Fiona could admit she was in a bad place when Shelly moved in a few weeks ago. She was better now, not great, sure as shit not perfect, but she wasn’t suffocating under soul crushing grief either. Fiona’s hand rubbed at the constant ache in her chest. She hated feeling like this and David would hate it, too. He wouldn’t want her to wallow. She missed him so much, always would, whether Shelly lived here or not. She wanted this for her friend. She wanted Shelly to have everything she desired because she deserved it. Good people like Shelly deserved good things in life. Fiona knew Shelly would never fully grasp on to that brass ring while worrying about her and Emma Grace.
Fiona leaned forward and grabbed the scrapbook, Shelly made them for Christmas, off the coffee table. She smiled as she ran her finger over the words on the cover.
David and Fiona
The Jock and the Troublemaker
She would use the alone time wisely. She would remember the good times. She would read all the letters and e-mails he wrote her, especially the last one. She would let the grief take her one last time. She would cry for all David had given her, all that she lost, and for the precious bundle he left behind. She had to move forward for herself, for Emma Grace, but most importantly for Shelly. Shelly couldn’t move forward with Max if she was stuck in limbo with Fiona.
Chapter 16
Max heard her car pull into the drive and he went out to meet Shelly. He helped her out of her car and retrieved her overnight bag from the back seat. He didn’t sense any fear in her, just nervous excitement. She took his outstretched hand and let him lead her inside.
He watched her face as she looked around. Max never really cared much about where he lived. Whether, barracks, apartment, or a house, it never mattered. Before Shelly, the space he called his own was just a place he attempted to sleep and maybe eat a meal or two. With her, here in his home, their home, it mattered, because she would occupy this space with him. He wanted her to like it, be impressed by it. He had no delusions; the place could use a decorative touch. It looked like a bachelor with absolutely no fashion sense lived here. He hoped she could see past what it wasn’t to what it could be. It really was a great space, just empty and lonely. She would make this a home, with her presence alone.
Max pressed his palm to the small of her back and led her into the den. He eyed the space with a critical eye. Large brown leather couch and a two-person recliner sat in the middle of the room, two side tables each with a lamp sat on either side of the couch, and a sixty-three-inch flat screen hung on the wall between two bay windows that overlooked the front yard. No art or pictures on the walls or surfaces. In his defense, the movers had only delivered his stuff yesterday.
His lion scoffed at him. “Who are you kidding? There wouldn’t be any of that stuff if we had lived here for years. We don’t need all the clutter around us.”
“Our mate does. You saw her room yesterday. It was full of memories, art, and knick-knacks. It was full of...her.”
His lion grunted.
“Oh, Max those windows are great. This hardwood is beautiful. Very inviting. That corner over there would be the perfect place for a Christmas tree.”
The tension in his gut eased, she didn’t hate the house. “You’re already thinking about Christmas trees? It’s April.”
“It’s never too early to think about Christmas. Okay, I may have a slight obsession with Christmas, it’s best you know now.”
“Slight, huh?”
“Just a little.”
He could handle slight obsessions. He had a slight obsession, with the taste of her pussy, the feel of her under his hands, her moans, and her scent.
“You okay Max? You look tense.”
Not wanting her to know where his mind wandered and have her feel rushed, he lied. “Of course. I’m going to put your bag in the room, make yourself at home.”
He found her in the kitchen hunting down a couple of glasses. “They’re in the dishwasher.”
She squeaked and her hand flew to her chest. She turned abruptly and scowled at him. “Jesus, you move like a ninja. You scared the shit out of me.”
Max figured she was trying to look threatening and hostile glowering at him with her hands on her hips. He hated to break the news to her, but she was about as scary as one of those fuzzy, flat-faced kittens. He tried to hide his amusement, really, he did, but when she started tapping her foot, he lost it. Max couldn’t believe the boisterous laughter that filled the kitchen belonged to him. The more he laughed the more insulted she looked. He wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her to him and she smacked him in the chest for his efforts.
“Stop laughing it’s not funny.”
“Then why are you smiling, sweet Shelly?”
Her lips twitched, and she coyly looked up at him from underneath her lashes. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Mm hmm.”
She rubbed her belly against his hard cock. “Max? Is that dinner I smell?”
Seriously? She wanted to talk about food right now while she was rubbing up on him like that?
“It is. I hope you like chicken and rice casserole.”
“Yum! I love it. Is it ready?”
“No, it’s only been in the oven about ten minutes. It will be ready in about an hour.”
“Oh.” She rubbed against him again. “I don’t want to wait Max.”
“For dinner?”
“No, I’m not talking about dinner.”
Wait, what was she saying?
His lion popped him upside the head. “What do you think she is saying? She wants us to claim her now!”
His lion butted at him, the threat clear, get his ass in gear or the beast was taking over. With one arm around her waist and he slid the other up her spine and into her hair. He tangled his fingers in the silky strands and tugged. She gave no resistance to the show of dominance.
“Are you sure? You have to be sure. I can’t guarantee I will be able to stop once we g
et started.”
“It’s all I’ve thought about since this afternoon. I want you so much. I feel empty and my body aches with need. Please Max?”
He slammed his mouth on hers in a brutal kiss. She moaned, tangled her fists in his shirt, and pulled him closer. Their tongues danced together in a fight for supremacy. She gave as good as she got. Without breaking their connection, he placed his hands under her ass and lifted her off the floor. As he intended for her to do, Shelly wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to his bedroom.
He followed her down and pressed her body to the mattress. She writhed under him. Her lush body rubbing against his was driving him to the brink of no return. She was going to end him before he even got started. He forced himself to break the kiss. He touched his forehead to hers and their panting breaths filled the narrow space between their lips.
“I love you, Max.”
Stunned was such an inadequate word for how he felt. Flabbergasted. Amazed. Dazed. Those were a bit more accurate. He didn’t expect her to love him so soon. He knew it would come, they were mates after all, but he had been willing to wait. Her image waivered, and he blinked rapidly to clear whatever was obstructing his view. Fuck him, was he crying? He checked the impulse to reach up and wipe his eyes.
His throat was so tight with emotion he had to force out the words. He had to be sure. “You love me?”
She offered him a beatific smile. “Of course I love you. How could I not? You’re perfect.”
“I’m not perfect.”
“You are for me and that’s all that matters, right?”
He nodded. “I love you, too.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Uh, yeah, you didn’t hide it very well, if that’s what you were going for.” She raised her eyebrow in a haughty manner.
“Hmm... It was. I’m going to have to work on my stealth skills.”
She feigned indignation. “You better not.”
He continued to tease her. “Oh and why had I better not?”
He held his breath when all the humor left her face.
“Because I like the way you look at me. It makes me feel beautiful and cherished.”
He kissed her a without urgency this time. He brushed his lips back and forth against hers. Her tongue snuck out between her lips and traced his lips. He opened for her letting her have control of the kiss. She tentatively ran her tongue along his. Damn, she tastes so good, like cinnamon candy. “I love kissing you, Doll.”
He ran his hand under her shirt. Her skin was soft under his callused hands. She mewed like a kitten when his hand moved up her rib cage to her lace covered breast. He had to see her. He sat back and motioned for her to lift her arms. He pushed her shirt up and over her head. He carelessly tossed it over his shoulder.
“Mate.” He growled. “You look so fucking hot. I’m real partial to red lace.”
He ran his finger along her cleavage before he flicked the clasp open between her breasts and let the cups fall open. Max reached out and gathered her breasts in his hands. He massaged her soft flesh and plucked her nipples. He licked one then the other. He skimmed his thumbs across her nipples. She arched her back and threw her head back. “Yes!”
****
She was burning up inside. He ran his tongue between her breasts to her belly button. She felt a tug on her jeans and heard the rasp of her zipper. She looked down when she felt him leave the bed. He grabbed the top of her jeans with both hands and pulled them down her hips along with her underwear. He pulled them clear of her feet and tossed them over his shoulder.
He stared at her sex, her pussy clenched, and she felt the moisture seep from her seam. Max’s finger caressed her pussy lips before he pushed his finger inside her. Shelly’s eyes fluttered closed, and she threw her head back and moaned.
Max continued to finger her, adding another digit, before leaning in and placing his mouth on her pussy lips. The sensation of his fingers and tongue nibbling and sucking on her clit sent her over the edge and she screamed his name as her orgasm crashed over her.
She spread her legs wider baring herself completely to him. He placed open mouth kisses on her thighs and whispered to her how beautiful she was, how perfect. He pulled his fingers from her cunt and smiled at her. He put them in his mouth and moaned as he cleaned her come from his fingers. “Fucking delicious.”
She held her breath when he stood and began to undress. She waited in breathless anticipation as he slowly raised the hem of his black t-shirt. The play of his abdominal muscles when his arms rose over his head was one of the hottest things she had ever seen. He tossed his shirt with the rest of her clothes on the floor and she got her first good look at his tattoos. His right arm sported a monochromatic full sleeve. Starting at his shoulder down to mid forearm were various scenes of a gladiator fighting a lion. The detail was amazing. Roses and lilies completed the sleeve ending just above his wrist. The tattoo on his left arm only covered the upper arm. It appeared to be a memorial tattoo combat boots, dog tags hanging on an upside down rifle of some type, Kevlar helmet, all backed by an American flag. There were some words there as well, but she couldn’t make them out. Over his heart was a wicked Force Recon tattoo. She made a promise to herself, she was going to trace every one of his tattoos with her tongue.
Max flashed that cocky half grin at her before flicking open the button on his jeans. He slowly lowered his zipper. She wanted to yell at him to hurry up already. Her heart was beating so fast she would probably have a heart attack before he got naked.
His body was incredible. Wide strong shoulders, bulging biceps, gorgeous lightly furred pectorals and chest, muscular trim abs. A thin line of hair bisected his abdomen to a trimmed patch of hair at his groin. A long thick cock jutted out from the nest of hair pointed towards his abdomen. He kicked off his pants and took a step towards her. He ran his hand up and down his cock and she watched in fascination as a drop of pre-cum ran down the underside of the wide head. He climbed on the bed lifting her to move her higher on the bed. She widened her thighs making a place for him. Max covered her mouth, kissing her. He left her mouth and skimmed his lips along her jaw nibbling and sucking, down her neck, to her breasts. He licked and pulled on her nipple then spread kisses along her chest to give the other the same attention.
She felt his finger at her opening and he pushed in with one finger and then two. She felt him scissoring his fingers, stretching her slightly. He raised up and kneeled between her legs. He placed each of her thighs on one of his, opening her completely to him. He ran the head of his cock up and down between her pussy lips.
“Do you accept me as your mate? Do you acknowledge the claim? Will you let me mark you and make you mine as the Fates have destined it to be?”
She nodded.
“You need to say the words, Doll.”
“Yes, Max. I want you to make me yours. Mark me.”
He placed the wide head at her opening and slowly pushed in. She was slick and wet from her previous orgasm allowing him to penetrate her easily. He pushed further into her, retreated, and then pushed in again gaining more ground with each pass. She felt her vaginal walls stretch, and she winced. He froze and closed his eyes. She knew he fought for control over his lion when his eyes glowed amber.
“If I go any slower, I’m just going to cause you more pain.”
“Do it. I want you to. Take me, Max.”
He growled before he shoved forward, instantly penetrating the small barrier, and burying his cock to the hilt.
Shelly cried out at the sharp pain. Max froze and then fell forward. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed away her tears.
“I’m so sorry, Mate. I didn’t want to hurt you. Do you need me to stop?”
“You stop and I will murder you.”
She felt him smile against her cheek. “I’ll just wait here until you tell me you’re ready for me to move, how’s that?”
She took a deep breath, and the pain began to fade. S
he felt so full. She moved her hips to test her pain level.
“If you are going to do that baby, I need to move to. You are killing me. You are so hot at tight. You are strangling my cock.”
“Move, oh please, please, please, move.”
The sensations as Max pressed in and out of her channel, initially started slowly, then harder and faster with each thrust.
“I feel you gripping me. I’m not going to last. It’s so fucking good.” He growled. He reached between their bodies until she felt his fingers at the top of her slit. “Come with me. Come now!”
He pinched her clit and her orgasm overtook her body. She screamed her release. He placed his forearm under her knee and pressed her leg up, opening her wider so he could get deeper inside her. She felt him lick her neck; the sharp points of his canines pierced her skin and caused her to orgasm again. He thrust hard three times then exploded inside of her.
They lay there panting trying to catch their breath. Max continued to lick her mating mark. He had explained about the healing properties in his saliva. He would use them to close the wound, leaving only a faint scar behind that was only visible to preternatural beings.
She swore she felt him in her soul. There was this warmth that wasn’t there before.
“Max?” She whispered not wanting to break the spell that seemed to surround them.
He whispered back with his face still buried in her neck. “What?”
“Is that you?”
He pulled back, his eyebrows creased in confusion. “Huh?”
“That feeling. Do you feel it, too? In here.” She pressed her hand to her heart.
“That’s us. The bond is complete. The Fates have blessed us.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and was mortified when she started to cry.
****
Max froze when Shelly started to cry. Actually, bawling was more like it. He rolled them to their sides and ran his hand up and down her back trying to sooth her. Had he hurt her? He didn’t think so. He didn’t sense that she was in pain.
“Doll, please you are killing me. Please tell me what’s wrong. Are you hurt? Did I do something?”