by Cecilia Lane
Mara shoved at him a second later. She panted and swallowed hard. Hungry eyes bored into him with a challenge. “Is that your plan? Just kiss me until I give in? You’re still collared. You’re not the biggest predator in the room at the moment.”
Hudson pinned a hand behind her back and leaned hard into her. His lips barely touched hers as their breath mingled. The sweet scent of her arousal made his mouth water.
“I don’t need my bear to make you submit, kitty.”
Good skies above. Mara wanted to slither to the floor and melt into a puddle at his words. They held so much... promise didn’t seem strong enough a word. Vow. They were a vow.
A shiver worked its way down her spine as her body boiled from within. Her lioness stretched and kneaded and rolled over to flash her belly for the bear and the man. He was worthy of her. He was all male and would treat her like a queen.
The sendings read as much. Mate marks and screaming pleasure and a lifetime of standing and fighting side by side. Oh yes, he wouldn’t dream of making her stay at home. She’d be his equal.
Mara couldn’t find an objection to save her life. She’d shoved him around all night, and now he was eager to take back some control. That came with its own comfort. He would fight for his place at her side. He wouldn’t be pushed around without a thought of his own.
Equals. He’d helped her to her feet when she was broken down and on her knees. He’d punched at her buttons and shored up her weak points. He expected her to find her footing and couldn’t resist rewarding her when she gained it.
Was there any other man in the world who could have read her needs before she knew them herself?
It was almost enough to forget her plan to disappear as soon as they rescued Kerry and the other cubs.
She licked her lips and watched his eyes dart to the movement. Testing, she did it again, slowly dragging her tongue across her lips. His eyes darkened, and a growl rumbled in his chest.
He dipped a hand between her thighs, teasing her through her panties. The soft touch was enough to send a wave of desire surging through her veins. Need followed next, then a small moan.
“You need to tell me if you want me to stop.”
Her lioness clawed up her insides at the mere thought.
Mara wrapped one arm around Hudson’s neck to hold him close and slowly shook her head.
Naked longing filled Hudson’s eyes as he shoved her panties to the side and slid a finger inside her wet heat.
So good. Too good. One little touch made her want to writhe against his hand. He ripped down all her carefully built walls and weaponized pleasure against her.
Mara tensed when a second finger pushed inside. Hudson slid deep until his knuckles brushed against her clit. Her hips bucked, and she moaned when he curled his fingers in his retreat. He knew just where to touch her, and how to work broken noises from her throat.
He dropped to his knees and made quick work of sliding her panties down her legs. His wide shoulders shoved her legs further apart, and he dragged long licks up her inner thighs. Heated eyes never left her face even as he plunged his fingers back inside her.
Mara cried out, back arching as pleasure racing straight to her core, but he wasn’t anywhere near done. He swept her curls aside with his free hand and attacked.
Mara stayed frozen and trapped between watching his worship of her and letting her head fall back and her eyes close.
“Kitty,” he groaned, “you taste good. So fucking good.”
Mara swallowed her moan, unable to find any words. Hudson’s appreciation vibrated through her and she melted against the table. She held herself up on her elbows, but he’d turned her spine into jelly with his clever tongue and fingers still licking, still pumping, still building up pleasure with every passing second.
“Don’t—don’t stop.” A high pitched whine filled the air. Hers. So close. She lost the battle not to fuck herself on him. Her hips rolled against the fingers he pumped into her. Her fingers dug into his hair and held him against her. “Hudson,” she moaned.
Her back arched, and she dug her nails into his shoulders. It was that, or lose herself completely. He grounded her, kept her sane, while pleasure blinded her completely.
And he didn’t stop. His fingers still fucked into her and his wicked mouth still flicked and sucked her clit. He didn’t give her any rest or a moment to catch her breath. He claimed her, made her his, by branding her with ecstasy.
“Hudson,” she pleaded after the second obliterating orgasm.
He circled her clit once more, eyes daring her to say a word. Mara growled. Dominant man pushed at her buttons. She loved that he wouldn’t bend easily. He’d give her what she wanted, when he deemed it the right moment.
He stood and took a step back. His thumbs hooked into the waist of his hot pants and he teased the edge of one side down an inch. With lowered eyes and a smirk, the other side dipped an inch.
Mara bit her lip. “If you want to strip for me, I’m going to get shorts with bedazzled words on the back. Pet. Hers.”
The dirtier options were left unsaid when he growled and ripped the flimsy shorts down his thighs and legs. Mara’s mouth went dry to see him in all his glory.
He’d been practically naked all night, and she’d seen him when he finished on her stomach, but the combined view was enough to make her glad she didn’t need to worry about anything as easy as standing. Muscles cut sharp lines up and down his stomach, with deeper indentations hugging his hips.
He was huge. She doubted her fingers could wrap around his thickness. He could, and he did. One pump of his hand teased a drop of moisture to the tip.
“Tell me what you want.”
“Please,” she begged. Her, begging for a man. The hold he had over her was astounding.
“What do you want?” he asked, voice as thick as her head felt.
It took two tries to make her voice work. “You.”
Hudson nibbled at the corner of her mouth. “What part of me?”
He wanted a dirty mouth, did he? She grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back. Her lips pressed against his bared neck. “I want your cock. I want you deep. I need you to fuck me.”
Silver flooded his eyes, and he surged forward to claim her lips in a punishing kiss. Every third stroke of his tongue came with a bite of her lips. The fingers he teased her with were replaced by the blunt tip of his cock.
Hudson slammed home inside her. “Fuck,” he groaned, squeezing his eyes closed. “So tight. So wet.”
Her body clamped around him, muscles fluttering as she adjusted. He’d prepared her with mouth and fingers and she still needed a moment to relax.
“Not a lot of action when you’re locked up,” Mara breathed.
He watched her face with a mix of longing, impatience, and bliss playing over his features. She felt each one unfolding inside her.
“Better make up for that.” Hudson nipped at her neck and surged into her again.
She locked her heels around his waist, riding the flex of his ass as every thrust drove him deeper and deeper. Already her body trembled and threatened to shatter once again. He fit perfectly, like he was made just to please her. Big man, strong man, with sexy noises and growls spilling from his chest to match her own. He felt like the life she denied herself.
His thrusts sped up. Shorter. Harder. His hands clamped down on her hips and held her steady. Mara growled and dragged her nails down his back. More. She needed more.
He gave it to her. Without question or teasing. A bruising kiss, fingers digging into her hip, his cock buried deep inside and pounding against her sweet spot. His fingers swiped over her clit and lights burst behind her eyes.
Nerve endings sparked to life and burned her to a crisp. Rippling muscles danced over his shaft and she watched his face turn hot and needy to utterly reverent. Twice more he pummeled into her, then he locked their hips together. Warmth filled her as her release stretched on and on.
There were no words. No so
unds. They were man and woman in the aftermath of bliss. Something cracked open in Mara’s chest and she knew there was no turning back.
He’d stolen a piece of her heart and replaced it with a shard of his own.
Hudson leaned forward and sipped at her lips. The slow kiss proved her right. Her cat, unusually quiet, bubbled a purr out of her throat as the seconds ticked into minutes.
Her mate hauled her against him and settled her gently on the bed, but she wiggled out from under him. Worry filled his eyes.
She gave him a reassuring smile. She felt as light as air. “Just getting out of this.” She gestured to the dress still molded against her form.
“Mara?”
She glanced over her shoulder and paused with her fingers on the zipper.
Hudson propped his head on his arm and stroked his gaze down her body. A naughty smirk hitched up his lips as he came to rest on the ribbons tied around her calves.
“Keep those heels on, kitty.”
Chapter 15
Mara let the hot water run over her tired body. She didn’t want to think of the man still sleeping on the other side of the bathroom door. Of course, she couldn’t keep her mind from straying to him when her legs trembled and heat spread through her core.
He’d worked her body. Gritty, rough loving they both needed after a fight. When he’d finally stripped her down completely, he’d been sweet and tender. Two sides to the same coin, he’d kept her distracted all night.
But morning was never going to be held off forever, and they had a job to do.
Mara tried to think through the possibilities and conclusions. They still had to travel to Santa Fe and meet up with Hudson’s backup. If the cubs weren’t snuck out under their noses, they’d need to find a way to them. She doubted the buyer would hand over his possessions if they knocked on the door and asked nicely.
Which meant a fight. And maybe death or serious injury. Shifters were hardy creatures, but even they couldn’t heal from the loss of a limb or too much blood.
Mara jumped as the bathroom door banged open. Hands paused on her soapy arms, she squinted at the large shadow on the other side of the shower curtain. “Can I help you?”
“You weren’t there when I woke up. I got worried,” Hudson rumbled.
“I didn’t want to wake you.” Grief clenched her stomach. There wasn’t a future with him. She’d hurt too many people. She would hurt him, too. The lies she told herself the night before were just fictions she wanted to believe in heated desperation.
The shower curtain shoved aside and Hudson barreled in with her before she could get more than a syllable out of her mouth.
“Hey! No one invited you!” She resisted the urge to cover herself. He’d already seen and touched and tasted every inch of her. It’d only be a sign he’d thrown her off balance. Instead, she glared.
He eyed her flatly. “You’re thinking too much.”
“And you’re not thinking enough.”
“Oh, kitty,” he smirked, “I have plenty of thoughts on my mind.”
His husky voice rolled through her body and set her lioness purring. Stupid, stupid animal. Idiot body. She didn’t feel in control of herself with Hudson near.
“Mara.” He pinched her chin between his fingers and raised her eyes to his. “Don’t shut me out.”
Fine. He wanted to know what was on her mind? Better to cut him loose now before he got any closer. “We can’t do this again.”
“Ah. So that’s what you’re trying to do.” He crossed his arms over his chest and flashed an infuriating smile. “No.”
“What do you mean ‘no’? You don’t get to decide that.”
“You don’t get to use me to make you feel good, then throw me away.”
“Does your ego hurt, pet? Can’t understand why someone wouldn’t fall head over heels for you?” The snapped words scratched at her insides and she turned into the water to rinse away the sting.
It was no use. Hudson wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her against him. His lips grazed her shoulder, and a shiver ran through her. No hiding that, and his smiling lips against her skin said he knew the hold he had over her.
“My ego is doing just fine after listening to you moan and beg for more all night.” As if he, too, couldn’t get those memories out of his head, his cock jumped to life between them. “What’s the real reason you’re pushing me away?”
“I’m not yours.”
“Aren’t you?”
She shook her head. Weak. He made her weak. “You deserve better.”
Hudson spun her back to face him. “I deserve a mate who will have my back, who will challenge me when I’m being an asshole, and support me when I’ve been maneuvered into a corner. I deserve someone who will be honest with me, and herself, and will work with me to better our lives together.”
Mara blinked, then looked down at her toes. “Those sound like marriage vows,” she murmured.
“What if they are?” He dipped his head to plant a chaste kiss on her lips. “You’re my mate. I’m not saying you get a free pass to turn heel and be the villain. But if that happens, I’ll show up to visiting hours with candy bars in my pockets and wait for you to come home.”
He’d proved that over the last year. The only days he missed visiting were ones that took him out of town to clean up her mess. “And that’s why you deserve better.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Hudson shrugged and smugness entered his scent. “I should get going. I need to find some hot redhead without any thoughts or ideas of her own and will regularly suck my dick.”
He caught her fist before she met his stomach and laughed. His eyes turned serious. “You’re stuck with me. For better or worse, till death do us part. I’m going to sink my fangs in you, kitty, just as soon as you let me.”
A wave of sadness washed through her. She wanted to accept his earnest promises. Her lioness begged her to let him lay his claim. The beast slammed images into her mind of mate marks and cubs and smiles all around.
Except that wasn’t how life worked. No one could predict the future. One moment could see her living a happy life, and the next could bring silver bullets and chains and threats of violence.
“Let me in,” Hudson urged. He pulled her close to his chest and massaged the back of her neck.
He made the choice sound so simple when it felt impossible. The words were lodged in her throat. The darkest fears were buried under all her logical reasons why he needed to stay away.
Those weren’t enough, though. He plowed right over them like they didn’t matter. He uncovered the pain planted the day she lost her brother.
Mara rested her forehead against him and shut her eyes. His hand rubbing her neck and the warm water raining down on her back and the heat from him coaxed the words into existence.
“Kate lost part of herself when Matthew was killed. Their children will never know their father except in memory.”
Kate had been in no shape to help herself or the kids. Matthew was dead. Ronnie and her goons made their threats. The world spiraled out of control and Mara stepped up while her sister-in-law fell apart. The severed mate bond snapped back into Kate the moment Matthew fell.
Mara dreaded binding herself to a man and living with the fallout. Dangerous people wanted her to hurt and didn’t care who they maimed or stole to get to her. She didn’t have the strength to hold her head up if she lost a mate, not after everything else.
“Oh, well that’s a relief.” Hudson sighed dramatically. “I thought it’d be something I couldn’t change, like you thought my dick was too small or you’re only into jellyfish shifters.”
Mara reeled back and her eyebrows shot together at his bland expression. She’d shared something big, and all he had were jokes? She wanted to hiss.
Hudson cut her off before she could stick her claws in him. “Do I make you feel good? Do you enjoy being around me?”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Yes, but—”
“Then no
thing changes.” He shrugged. “Don’t live your life by the whispers of fear. You’re stronger than that and I’ll help you realize it.”
“I’m damaged.”
“You’ve been through hell and found your way out on the other side.” He kissed one corner of her mouth.
“Broken.”
“Forged in fire and made stronger because of it.” Her nose received a peck.
“Blood on my hands.”
“Did what you needed to survive. You’re not going to push me away. I’m on this path with you. If all I have is a day or a year, then I’ll die happy knowing I had those moments. If it’s more than that, then I’ll consider myself a lucky man.” His arms around her tightened, and he kissed her forehead.
“Let me distract you.” He kissed her earlobe, then ran his tongue along the shell. “Let me make you feel good.”
“Let you shut me up?” Mara’s heart thumped in her chest.
“Let me ease your mind.” He hovered just over her lips. “Let me take care of you.”
So simple. So easy. She could let go in his arms and forget about the worries constantly plaguing her. He was honest and upfront with what he wanted, and foolish enough to think he could wait her out.
She was closer than ever to thinking his version of the future was attainable.
He drugged her. With his scent. His body. The beat of his heart. The more time they spent together—and it’d been near constant since hunters tried to murder her—the more she didn’t want to part. She might not have his mark on her skin, but he was binding her to him, nonetheless.
Dangerous man. Sexy man.
A purr vibrated through her the moment his lips connected with hers. The kiss was soft and tender and without the edge of lust that rode them both the night before. He made love to her mouth with each sip and stroke and taste. All his promises were made physical with his kiss.
He lifted her without breaking their kiss and pressed her back against the tile. Mara moaned into his mouth when his fingers speared into her wet center. Quick, short thrusts had her close to the edge in seconds.