by Evelyn Vox
Everyone shuffled out of the dining room and soon the front door closed and the house was silent. I gave Addie one look before my wolf growled, and I slammed her against the table.
12
Adelaide
I didn’t care that Zander had just thrown me into a half-eaten plate of food. Dishes crashed to the floor and wine spilled in my hair, but none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was the feel of my mate’s hands and mouth on my body. Zander ripped my sweater down the middle before he sliced my skirt and bra to ribbons.
My body quivered, swollen and begging to be touched. I growled when he lowered his head to a nipple, biting it roughly. His other hand cupped my throbbing pussy before he filled me with two fingers, and I half-moaned, half-howled into the now empty house.
“I want to feel you orgasm,” Zander said around my breast. “I want to feel you gush all over me.”
He lifted his mouth from my nipple only to replace it with his other hand. His lips found mine and captured them in a blazing kiss. His fingers pumped me, working me up to that peak of ecstasy. The heat of his tongue slaked over the mating mark, pushing me over the edge.
I screamed, my hips bucking wildly as I came all over his hand. Zander moaned, male satisfaction pouring off of him. He brought his fingers up to his mouth and licked them clean.
“Delicious,” he said.
It was hot enough to make me want to come all over again. I snarled, ripping his shirt off his back. Zander chuckled, pulling off his pants to reveal the one piece of meat I’d been craving all day. His thick cock sprung forward, landing on my torso with a heavy thud. I moaned at the searing rod against my flesh, and wrapped my legs around his waist.
Zander pushed into me inch by glorious inch. My nails raked along his back and my mouth sought the mark I left on his neck. His whole body shuddered when I licked it, and his thrusts grew wild, erratic, as he speared me over and over. The pleasure was overwhelming. All the tension, all the need that had been building up this afternoon, broke over us to make the mating all the more intense.
My thighs squeezed him tight as the ecstasy assaulted me. My orgasm barreled through me, and I clamped down so hard on Zander’s cock, I heard him hiss. Soon, he was groaning as he burst inside me. I felt his hot cum gushing out of me, slicking down my thighs along with my own juices.
But we were far from sated.
I flipped Zander over, plates and glasses flying, and a wicked idea came to mind. I reached for the gravy boat and drizzled a long line over Zander’s muscled torso, down, down, down, stopping just before his red, throbbing arousal. I gave him a naughty grin before I lowered my mouth to the top of the trail.
“I love gravy,” I said, licking my way down his body.
Zander groaned, his eyes rolling back, as I nibbled and sucked, following the dripping line of gravy. I lapped it up, licking him clean as I went. The closer I got to his cock, the more it jumped and twitched. Zander hands fisted the table cloth, his knuckles white. His whole body went rigid when I got to end of the line. His head snapped up and he glared at me.
“Guess I’m all out of gravy,” I grinned, pushing myself away from him.
He growled, low and menacing at me, before he flipped me on my back in one strong, graceful move. He snarled before flashing his fangs at me with a mischievous grin of his own.
“I never did get any of the wine,” he said, a terrible gleam in his eyes.
I was too distracted by the girth between his thighs, and by the time I realized what he was about to do, it was too late. I squealed as he grabbed the carafe of wine and poured it over my breasts. I tried to get out of his grasp, but he held me tight.
“Ah, ah, ah,” he intoned. “It’s my turn for seconds.”
I giggled when he lowered his face to my bosom and began to lap up the red liquid that streamed down my bosom. My laughter soon gave way to moans, as his tongue licked every inch of my breasts clean. He gave special care to my engorged, aching nipples, sucking them for so long they were dark and swollen when he let them go. By the time he was finished, I was drenched and ready for more, but he stopped.
“Guess I’m all out of wine,” he said, smiling wide and standing up, leaving me spread and wanting on the table.
It was my turn to growl. I leapt up and jumped him. Though he staggered back, Zander caught me easily. My hands went around his neck, my legs around his waist, and my mouth on his. He kissed me greedily and soon his stiff arousal found my dripping pussy. I clung to him as I thrust onto his perfect, huge cock. Zander’s hands gripped my hips, urging me faster.
I marveled at my mate’s strength as he held us up while we fucked hard and fast. I peeked over his broad shoulders to catch a glimpse of his muscled ass. My mate was so damn sexy. His strong body looked like it was carved out of stone, and his cock felt like it was carved out of something even harder. I was one lucky female.
I screamed his name as I convulsed with ecstasy. Zander huffed, spilling inside of me once more, and collapsed onto the ground. We giggled, still connected, and I rocked onto his ever-hard cock. He captured my mouth with his and soon we were both coming again.
By the end of the night, after we’d mated for hours, it was finally enough to quell the burn of the heat…for now. We both sat up and I laughed when I looked at Zander.
“What?”
“You have stuffing in your hair,” I giggled.
“Well, you have cranberries on your cheek,” he pointed, laughing too.
We took in our surroundings—the stained tablecloth, the spilled wine, plates and food strewn all over the table and floor, and burst out laughing. The whole thing was so absurd, so hilarious, that we laughed until tears streamed down our faces.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I gasped, hardly able to breathe.
“You too, my love,” Zander said, kissing the top of my head. “You think everyone else is okay?”
“Yeah, Mom was right. They never should have come over. I didn’t want to let anyone down, but I should have just given all the food to Mom and Dad to host at their place.”
Zander nodded. “I can’t said I’m unhappy they left.”
“Me neither,” I agreed. “What a disaster! Do you think Holly will ever forgive me?”
“Who knows? Bears are strange.”
“Will you go out with her again?” I asked, my wolf bristling just at the thought.
“Not if you don’t want me to,” he said, his brown eyes warm. “I don’t ever want to do anything that displeases you, my mate.”
I smiled, beaming at him, and my heart swelled with love.
“We’ll see how I feel after the heat ends,” I said. “Now lets get this cleaned up before the heat pulls us under again.”
Even as I said it, I felt a familiar throbbing between my legs, and Zander reached for me, pulling me back to the ground. I guessed it was going to be a while before we cleaned up this mess.
13
Zander
We’d been holed away in Addie’s house for days. We both woke up this morning to find the insatiable need that had claimed us since the Full Moon had calmed at last. I still wanted her with every fiber of my being, but it was something I could control now. It had been one wild ride, but my wolf was finally sated. And more importantly, I wasn’t walking around with a third leg hanging between my thighs anymore.
We were headed over to the Barkley’s, the early morning mist moistening our skin. Addie hopped up the front steps and let herself into the house where she grew up.
“Hello?” she called.
“You’re alive,” Dex exclaimed, barreling down the stairs, catching her in a hug.
I was pleased to find that my wolf, while still aware of the contact, was not hyper aware of it like before. Sadie came round to give us hugs, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder as she leaned over. Vincent and Willow weren’t home, having gone to work their shifts at the bar.
“Nice to see you two,” Sadie grinned.
Addie sniffed the air
.
“Where is Holly?” she asked, unable to smell the bear in the house.
“She and Jace left a few days ago to track down more info about those hunters,” Bo said as he walked into the room and gave us hugs of his own.
“Don’t worry,” Sadie added, seeing the look of concern on Addie’s face, “your father and Jace were able to make Holly understand more about what happens to wolves in heat.”
“So she’s not mad?” Addie asked.
“I don’t think she’ll ever forget,” Bo grinned, “but no, she’s not mad anymore.”
“She and Jace are awfully close,” I commented.
The whole room broke into grins.
“Now you know what it was like being around you two for years,” Dex said, and Addie shoved him.
“Mating bonds are mysterious that way,” Sadie said as we all followed her into the kitchen. “There’s no telling how long it will take for the bond to slip into place.”
I sat at the table and sipped a cup of coffee. I thought I knew why I hadn’t been ready for the bond. My whole life had been shadowed by the loss of my pack, and I couldn’t bear to be so attached to Addie. The fear of losing her was too great. But when I learned more about the hunters, when the puzzle pieces came into place, something clicked in my heart.
We had real, serious enemies out there, and life was too short to not spend every waking moment with the ones I loved. And I loved Addie more than anything and anyone, I always had, and I always would. Addie’s jaw dropped open as she felt the realization through our bond. She returned the sentiment, sending me a flash of her memory of when we first met.
I saw through a toddler’s eyes as I walked into the bar, a child, scared and helpless. Even when she was so young, something inside of Addie knew I was supposed to be there. She’d tottered over to me on wobbly feet, a gummy Halloween decoration in her outstretched hand. She hated that I was upset.
“Don’t be sad,” she said before crawling into my lap and giving me a hug.
I remember how stunned I felt, to have this small girl in my arms, but her presence calmed me. And even back then, I felt it. With her in my arms, I knew I was home. I’d always felt at home around Addie. All of this transpired silently between us, the only sign was Addie’s hand on mine, giving it a squeeze.
I shook my head, awed. This mating bond was something else.
14
Adelaide
One Month Later
I woke up today feeling different. I couldn’t explain it, but I just knew something was different. I smiled, watching Zander sleep before I hopped out of bed. Immediately, I fell to my knees as a wave of nausea hit me. I gasped, clutching my stomach. Was I sick? I closed my eyes and sat back on my heels as the nausea dissipated.
“What’s wrong?” Zander was up in a flash, eyes wide with concern as he jumped to my side.
“I’m fine,” I said, still a little shaken. “I just…” my mouth dropped open as I did the tally in my head.
I was late. I was really late. Could I be? It had to be…
“Oh my god,” Zander gaped as he felt my thoughts, “you’re pregnant!”
“I-I think I might be,” I gasped, still stunned.
I didn’t know why it was such a shock. After all, that’s what the mating heat was for—to get females pregnant. And we’d certainly mated enough for me to be pregnant twenty times over. Zander scooped me up into his arms and laid me gently in the bed. He sniffed me carefully, but shook his head. Pregnant females had a distinct scent, but I didn’t think it was detectable until two or three months into the pregnancy.
“I need to take a test,” I said. “It’s the only way to be sure this early.”
“I’ll get one right now.” Zander jumped up. “Stay in bed. Don’t move.”
He was a blur as he threw on some clothes and jumped into the car. I laughed at him. He acted like I’d break if I got out of bed. I waited until the car was well out of the driveway before I got up again. I stopped as the nausea hit me once more. Oh god, this was terrible. I stumbled into the bathroom and ran a cool shower.
I sat in the tub and immediately felt better, like the water had the power to wash the morning sickness away. I was still there when Zander found me, not fifteen minutes after he’d left. The man must’ve sped to the pharmacy and back.
“What are you doing?! Are you okay?” he all but whined, his panic and worry evident even without the bond.
“Zandie,” I said, calling him the pet name I gave him when we first met, “you need to calm down. I’m fine. Did you get the test?”
“Yes!” He was hopping with nerves and excitement. He set the pink box on the sink. “Are you going to take it now?”
“Give me a second,” I laughed, getting up. He rushed over, hands out as if I was about to topple over. “Why don’t you go downstairs and make some tea?” I offered, sensing he needed a task. “It will help settle my stomach.”
“Okay!”
I listened to the sounds of Zander bounding downstairs as I toweled myself off. All too soon, I was peeing on that stick, pacing the bathroom while the minutes ticked by. My hands shook when I picked up the test and read the result: Positive.
I was pregnant. I was pregnant! Oh my god, I was pregnant! I heard something crash in the kitchen and Zander howled with joy, feeling it through the bond. His footsteps raced up the stairs and he burst into the bathroom, beaming. He scooped me into his arms, peppering my face with kisses.
“I’m so happy, Adelaide,” he said, eyes glistening.
“We’re starting a family,” I smiled, getting teary myself. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“Just in time for Christmas,” he exclaimed. “Your mom and dad are going to be so excited!”
“I can’t wait to tell them,” I agreed. “Maybe we should make it a Christmas surprise?”
Zander kissed me.
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Zander. I love you too.”
And I already loved the life growing inside of me, so fiercely and strongly, I couldn’t put the feeling to words. Zander felt it too. I couldn’t wait to meet the pup inside of me, the next member of our pack. I also couldn’t wait for Christmas, to surprise everyone with the good news.
It was turning out to be quite the eventful holiday season this year. Who knew what else was in store for our growing pack?
The Holiday Shifters will be back Christmas 2017.
Sneak Peek
Santa Claws
Jace, the rakish and powerful wolf shifter, is out tracking hunters with Holly, a curvy, spitfire of a polar bear. Jace can't shake the feeling that the luscious bear shifter is his mate, but she's focused on finding the hunters who killed her mother. When Holly gets taken by the hunters, can Jace save her in time to claim her during the mating heat of the Full Moon? And will they make it back to Portland to spend Christmas with the rest of Jace's pack?
This one's sure to put you on Santa's naughty list! Full of Christmas cheer, the Portland pack is back. Steamy, action-packed, and sweeter than a candy cane, this novella is sure to please. Safe with HEA and all the warm fuzzies you could hope for this holiday season. Can be read as a standalone or part of the Holiday Shifter Series!
“Please, Holly.”
“No.”
“Come on,” I begged.
“Jace, No.”
“It’d be so badass.”
“Jace.”
“Hoooooolly, please. Pretty please, can I ride your polar bear as my warrior Santa’s mighty steed at the Christmas parade?”
Holly laughed, the sound like jingle bells, and shoved me.
“No way, so stop asking!”
“Fine,” I moped. “Who wants to ride a polar bear anyway.”
Holly smirked at me and raised an eyebrow, as if to say: I know how you’d really like to ride me. Her pine-green eyes glimmered with mischief and something about the look made my heart skip a beat. I had these moments when I looked at her, and it was like a
social media filter would click into place. Suddenly, she’d be gorgeous and glowing; beyond perfect. If I was honest, it happened all the time when I looked at Holly.
All she had to do was smile, and I’d see her skin sparkle, her lips glisten, and her white-blonde hair glitter like snow under the sun. In fact, it was happening right now. I smiled, basking in her beauty. She’d been dazzling me since the day I found her sitting alone at Harvest Moon, the family bar, almost two months ago. It was hard to believe it had been such a short amount of time.
It felt like I’d know her for years.
“Jace,” Holly laughed, a blush gracing her fine features. “You’re staring at me.”
The sunlight dappled her skin through the trees, snow crunched under our feet, and all I could do was shrug. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, and it wasn’t going to be the last.
“I can’t help it,” I told her, for the thousandth time.
A few days after Thanksgiving, I’d agreed to help her find more information about the group of hunters who had killed her mother. The same group of hunters who had likely killed Zander, my adopted brother’s, pack. The pair of them had followed a lead to Idaho, where they found a town of shifters that tipped them off to search near Seattle. And since Zander was now mated to my sister, Addie, he wasn’t exactly free to traipse about the woods with Holly anymore. So I’d more than willingly volunteered to go in his stead.
Not that I’d minded.
These last few weeks in the woods with her had been incredible. She fascinated me. Every move, every sound, even her scent, enthralled me to no end. And she seemed to be as enamored as I was. I saw the way she looked at me. Hell, I could smell the way my heated stares excited her. Even now, the sweet scent of her arousal peppered the air.