by Milly Taiden
“Tell him I’ll call him back,” he growled.
The woman flinched. “He says it’s an emergency.”
Kasen groaned but snarled again. “I said I’ll call him back!”
The woman held the phone to her ear. She glared daggers at him. “Hey, now. I’m just the messenger. He says it’s life or death this instant.”
“Well, shit, Spike!” One of the men hurried their way.
He kept a distance and glanced at Kasen with genuine concern. “I’ll walk her in, alpha. You take the call. I’ll just run over and get her a blanket.”
Kasen considered him for a moment, his face tight. She wondered if he’d growl at the guy but he didn’t. He gave a sharp nod and the guy ran to the house. Then he turned to face her. “You okay with someone else helping for a second?”
“Kasen,” she grinned at his soft tone like she’d fall apart at any second. “I’m not a baby. I can handle this. Go on. Spike sounds serious. I’ll wait for the guy.” He gave her another mind-muddling kiss and ran around the pool. Andi stood on the tile floor in front of the spa rooms. Actually, a spa pampering would be great tomorrow. She’d ask Kasen about it. Maybe they could do a couple—
From the hedges, a dark wolf darted out toward Andi. It was Kasen’s mom. Oh, come on! She so wasn’t in the mood for more fighting. Andi stood in the open, nowhere for her to hide but the spa rooms, and she’d never make it to one in time. Realization set it. She’d have to kill this bitch or die trying. After all the shit she and Kasen had been through, he’d never want her if she killed his mother. What man would?
The wolf leapt toward her face; Andi fell to the ground and covered her head. She tried to get to her feet to run, but her body wouldn’t obey her brain’s commands. Her lioness needed more time to recuperate. Shit was going to go down hard. She got to her knees. The lioness was still unresponsive.
The wolf landed behind her and now made its way to her. She sat up straight and tall, once again asking her lioness for help. She was born an alpha. If need be, she’d go out like an alpha. Trying to shift her hand into a paw, she stared into the wolf’s eyes. The same hatred as before. Maybe more if that was possible.
The wolf opened its mouth to take a chunk out of her. Kasen and the other guy were on a full out run toward her. They were too far away to save her. From the side of the closest spa room, a golden blur whipped forward. The wolf was gone, and water splashed her from bodies diving in.
Swirling on the deep end of the pool, the torrent water and the night hid what was happening below the surface. Gold and black twisted and turned around each other. The little light that shined from the house showed the dark floating liquid in the water to be blood. It came to the top and spread.
The thrashing water slowed, waves rippling less and less. The gold and black glided toward the steps of the pool. From the water, a huge lioness dragged out a black mess of fur and dropped it deck side.
Andi was too exhausted to think or react to what she witnessed. Kasen had her in his arms, all of them watching the lioness shift and turn away. From four to two legs, the woman stood. Andi gasped.
Shantelle stood with her back to them, then walked through shadows toward the driveway and parked cars. Over her shoulder, she said, “Shifter justice for my grandson has been delivered. It is done. I’ll tell Naya that you’re staying with your mate tonight and will be home tomorrow to properly introduce him to the community.” Andi thought she saw the old woman wink at her.
Yes, tomorrow she would introduce her mate to the pride. Damn, if Gerri wasn’t right again. She worked miracles.
THIRTY-FOUR
Andi walked out the back of Kasen’s house. The full moon was at its peak. Her body warmed from the inside, letting her know it was time. She needed to mate. Her heat was on. She tugged off the robe she’d been wearing and shifted. Her prey would be out soon. She wanted to see what he’d do.
Kasen told her to go ahead, he’d be out momentarily. He stopped to take a call and promised to meet her outside. He better hurry the hell up. She was tired of waiting.
Instead of mating the night of the party, more important things had to be done. Andi and her pride had to find Josh, which they did, sort of. Turned out the pain in the ass wrecked his truck a couple towns over and was taken to the hospital to be checked out. There, he met his mate, a female doctor in the ER.
Being so much in love, the idiot didn’t think about calling anyone to let them know he was all right and staying with his new mate for a few days. Lulu would’ve killed him for scaring her if she wasn’t so happy her son found the love of his life.
Kasen had taken two days to handle his mother’s death. Two days of fighting her urge to mate and the incoming heat to allow him to grieve, not that he’d really done any grieving.
Rochelle Steel had never truly been a mother to her son. The more Andi thought about how cold and mean that woman had been to Kasen, the more determined she became to be a good mate, a loving one to him and the children they’d have.
The thought of children made her body heat further. Shit. He needed to hurry his ass up already. Suddenly, the sound of the back door opening made her lioness crouch. She watched Kasen through the bushes. He glanced around the back, obviously looking for her. The back light of the house illuminated his features. She loved that man so damn much. She couldn’t wait to bear his mark and his children, too.
He inhaled and his eyes glowed a bright gold.
“You want a chase, huh?”
He stripped, his sexy body making her ache for him. Then he was in his animal and she darted off. She ran fast, her lioness loving the grass under her paws, the wind over her coat, and the moon lighting the way. Her ears perked up. He ran after her, closing in the distance.
She did a loop, going down to the area by the river where they’d picnicked before. The moon shone bright in the trees. When she couldn’t hear him behind her, she went back into her human body and hid behind one of the largest oaks.
She glanced around the tree, a grin curving her lips. He’d be pissed that she got away from him. Before the thought fully formed, a low growl from behind her made her turn. Not ten feet from her stood a massive wolf, watching.
She licked her lips and stared him down. In seconds, he was Kasen again. Naked Kasen. Aroused Kasen. Her back pressed to the tree, excitement bubbling in her veins. Fuck, she wanted him so badly. He didn’t stop or ask any questions, just prowled toward her.
At first, she figured he’d ask her why she ran, but he didn’t. He pressed up against her, rubbing his cock on her perspiration-coated body and cupped her cheek with his hand.
He gave a soft growl. “Mine.”
Yes! Finally. She couldn’t stop herself. She threw her arms around his neck and brought her lips up to his, kissing him hard and letting him see how she felt by opening the link between their animals. A mate link was unlike any other. With her permission, he could feel what she felt and sense her thoughts. He could look into her heart and see how much she cared.
Wordlessly, he stopped their kiss and turned her around to face the tree. He’d seen what she wanted and was ready to give it to her. Ready to take her as his. She was slick, hot, and ready, her heat making it almost impossible for her not to always be horny and wanting him inside her. It’d been a real struggle to keep her need at bay while they each dealt with their families. Now, one big family.
She bent at the waist and leaned in, placing her hands flat on the tree trunk and clawing at the bark. Seconds later, his cock was filling her from behind. Dropping her head forward, she moaned as he snugly fit into her. Her channel flexed around his length. She was sleek and hot and if he didn’t move, she might die.
He pulled back and rammed forward. Repeatedly. Not stopping. Not slowing. Taking her hard and fast and deep. Oh, so fucking deep, she had no words for what he was doing to her. All she knew was she didn’t want him to stop. Every thrust sent her closer to the wave of bliss she knew only Kasen could give her.
“Yesss.”
He shoved her hair out of the way and licked her shoulder. “You’re mine.” His voice was pure ownership. He fucked her so rough it was hard to catch her breath.
“Yes.” She couldn’t deny it. She was his.
“My gorgeous, curvy woman,” he growled. “The only woman for me.”
Goosebumps broke across her skin. His soft words had the effect of being doused in gas and lit with a match. Rapid fire heated her blood to boiling.
She panted. Her orgasm edged closer.
“My mate.”
He bit down on her shoulder, pushing her headlong into a surge of bliss.
She dug the left hand claws into the tree bark and shook through the powerful ripple of pleasure racking her core. Her right hand slapped against his right hip and dug deep, pulling to create long gashes on his hip, allowing her own lioness to leave her mate mark on him.
His body stiffened at her back, his thrusts turned frenzied, wild. He did a final hard slam into her and roared. His cock expanded and filled her with his cum. He jerked with each pulse of his shaft inside her.
“I love you,” she said to him through their mate bond.
“I love you, beautiful,” he replied in her head. “The hardheaded and strong woman who has yet to thank me for saving her hide from four grown lions. I love you just as you are and I promise I will never try to change you or take over your duties with your pride. We can do this, together.”
He gave her a moment of just holding her before he slid out and carried her home. They went into his pool and with her legs around his waist, she glanced into his eyes.
“Thank you.”
He grinned, his two-day old beard doing some crazy things to her hormones. “You’re welcome. I was kidding, love. You never have to thank me. I will always have your back.”
She pressed her chest to his. “I’ll always have yours.”
He inhaled and pressed a kiss to her chin. “Again?”
She nodded. Her body ached from how badly she needed him. She was in full blown heat. Only he could help her.
“Then I say we take this inside, where I can feed you and make love to you all night long.”
She rubbed the side of her face on his beard. “Yes, let’s do that. After all, you did promise me babies.”
He chuckled and brought her inside. “I will give you all the babies you want, love. Now that you’re mine, I’m never letting you go.”
As she climbed out of the pool, she asked, “Did you know your flower trellis is bent? And why is your one shoe and sock on the porch roof?”
EPILOGUE
Gerri Wilder glanced at her communication unit. Oh, darn. She’d forgotten her newest client was in a rush. It was always like they expected her to do some kind of wham bam thank you ma’am, here’s your mate. Didn’t they realize she had to work at finding these women? Okay, not really. But still. The nerve. She had an office to eventually fix up again. All the travelling was just getting out of control. The piles of mail were crazy. Having her bills on auto pay was a life saver.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Wilder,” said the deep voice she’d come to know well in the past few days.
“I’ve already told you to call me Gerri. I got your message. I’m working on it now.”
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boys, and our fur children “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to iced caramel lattes.
I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there.
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Find out more about Milly Taiden here:
Email: [email protected]
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If you liked this story, you might also enjoy the following by Milly Taiden:
Sassy Mates Series
Scent of a Mate Sassy Mates Book One
A Mate’s Bite Sassy Mates Book Two
Unexpectedly Mated Sassy Mates Book Three
A Sassy Wedding Short 3.7
The Mate Challenge Sassy Mates Book Four
Sassy in Diapers Short 4.3
Fighting for Her Mate Book Five
Federal Paranormal Unit
Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One
Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two
Unwanted Protector Book Three
Black Meadow Pack
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
Paranormal Dating Agency
Twice the Growl Book One
Geek Bearing Gifts Book Two
The Purrfect Match Book Three
Curves ‘Em Right Book Four
Tall, Dark and Panther Book Five
The Alion King Book Six
There’s Snow Escape Book Seven
Scaling Her Dragon Book Eight
In the Roar Book Nine
Scrooge Me Hard Short One
Bearfoot and Pregnant Book Ten
All Kitten Aside Book Eleven
Book 12 (Coming Soon)
Raging Falls
Miss Taken Book One
Miss Matched Book Two
Miss Behaved Book Three
FUR-ocious Lust - Bears
Fur-Bidden Book One
Fur-Gotten Book Two
Fur-Given Book Three
FUR-ocious Lust - Tigers
Stripe-Tease Book Four
Stripe-Search Book Five
Stripe-Club Book Six
Other Works
A Hero’s Pride
A Hero Scarred
Wounded Soldiers Set
Wolf Fever
Fate’s Wish
Wynter’s Captive
Sinfully Naughty Vol. 1
Club Duo Boxed Set
Don’t Drink and Hex
Hex Gone Wild
Hex and Kisses
Alpha Owned
Bitten by Night
Seduced by Days
Mated by Night
Taken by Night
Match Made in Hell
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