“Second thoughts? You know the distance won’t help, and the first twinges of pain from this mating can already be felt. The longer we put this off, the worse it will be.” She raised an eyebrow at him in question. “Or is the assassin afraid of what he might find hidden behind the shell of his mate?”
“No.” His tone was harsher than he intended because of the way she taunted him with the word assassin. It was his former life, something he wasn’t proud of, and he didn’t want to be reminded of it.
“We’re both exhausted, so we need to do this.”
He stopped hesitating and threw caution to the wind. Mate or suffer the consequences. Slowly, he slid his hand up her arm and watched as the heat from the simple touch brought the change in her eyes. Her tigress edged closer to the surface, lighting the orangey glow within her eyes, and turning the smoky blue into a fiery orange.
He cupped the back of her head, tangling his fingers into the long strands of her hair, and leaned in for a kiss. His lips gently brushed against the softness of hers. The sweet spiciness met him, urging him forward. He kissed her again, this time with more passion, and she met his desire with that of her own. His tongue slipped between her lips before teasing along the sharpness of her teeth.
With each kiss, their desire grew. A soft moan escaped her and she pressed herself closer to him, sliding her hand up his body. All hesitation disappeared as their tigers led the way to their destinies.
He pulled back, ending the kiss, and leaving them both breathless for a moment. Their gazes locked and no longer did the fear shine in her eyes, which were now full of desire and need. “Styx…don’t stop.”
“Have no fear, Catnip.” He took hold of the edge of her sweater and pulled it over her head. Curves in all the right places sparked another wave of desire within him and he ran his hands along her hips until he reached just below her bra. “Take this off and lie back.”
Arching her back, her breasts pressed against his chest, as she reached behind her and unhooked the bra. “I’m not sure it’s fair I’m this naked while you’re still fully dressed.”
“Shh, I’m trying to put you at ease.” When she didn’t lie back he stepped toward her, forcing her back onto the bed.
“I’m not nervous any longer. I want the essences of our beasts to mingle together and bond. I want you, Styx.”
“That is the mating desire talking.” He climbed onto the bed beside her, teasing his hand up the side of her chest.
“No, it’s me. I was terrified before. Some of that is because of what I’ve been brainwashed with, but the rest of that is because everything is so upside down in my life. I’m alone. Even if David has gained control over the clan, it will never be my home again. Too many risks there, since my so-called betrayal was what got many of my former clan family killed. I’d never be safe there.”
“That’s why you’re returning to Alaska with me.”
“What am I supposed to do there? I’ve no skills.”
“Catnip, you continue to underestimate yourself, but I’m going to prove to you that you’re so much more. You’ll come home with me and be a part of what you were willing to risk everything for. The future will be amazing and you’re going to play a role in bringing it around.” His fingers teased over her nipple, gently rolling it between his forefinger and thumb. “Now, enough talk, I’ve got something better to do with my mouth.”
He pressed himself along the length of her body, and his tongue teased around her areola before sliding over the nipple. He dragged his teeth over the area, sending a wave of chills through her and making her arch her back toward him, thrusting more of her breast to his mouth. His fingers teased her other nipple until it stood to attention.
“You’re beautiful.” He slid his hand down her stomach, his finger circling around her bellybutton before moving to the top button of her jeans. “Are you still okay with this?” He paused, not moving toward the zipper as he waited for her answer.
“Yes.” Her voice was breathy with need.
With that, he slid the zipper down and tugged her jeans over her hips. She kicked off her shoes, making it easier for him to slide them off the rest of the way. She was naked before him, and his beast surged forward.
He crushed his mouth to hers and slid his hand between her legs. His fingers slipped between her folds, quickly finding her center. The simple touch pulled a moan from deep within her. He slid a finger within her while his thumb made contact with her clit, gently rubbing over it. She pushed against his hand, and with one final kiss he pulled back so he could watch as her body responded to his touch.
The beauty of mating wasn’t just that they’d have someone to spend their lives with, it was the way they were supposed to be completely matched. The way her body responded to him, the moans of pleasure, and the glaze to her eyes, were all undeniable signs that they were meant to be together. With every wiggle and push against him, he sped his pace, letting his finger slide in and out of her while continuing to caress her clit with his thumb. With every moan, he grew in confidence when it came to her. They’d find a way to work through all the other drama because this was what mating was all about.
The way she moaned his name had him wanting to remove his hand and shove another part of him deep within her core. Still, he held off. He scooted lower on the bed, spread her legs, and lowered his head. The instant his tongue traced along the tip of her clit, she gasped. Enjoying the way her body reacted, he licked over the sensitive bud, sucking it gently. She tried to wiggle away, but he held tight to her hips, keeping her just where he wanted her. Over and over he licked, until her body was taut and ready for her release.
Another moan had fierce desire rising within him, and he wanted to take her right then. This slow pace would work better without the mating desire burning within them. He needed her now.
“Styx.” She took hold of his shirt and tugged it up his chest. Her nails grazing along his back as she did so. “I want you naked.”
He let her slide his shirt over his head before he rose off the bed and stripped off the rest of his clothes. His shaft was already hard as he stepped out of his jeans and boxers and moved to the bed.
“Come here.” She rose up and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Now I want to taste you.” She leaned forward, kissing the tip of him before letting him slip between her lips. Taking him into her mouth, her hand worked at the base and he tangled his hand in the strands of her hair, holding her close. Her mouth worked up and down the length of him, milking him.
He moaned her name before placing a hand on her shoulder. “Not like this. I want to be inside you, and with the mating bond so close, I won’t last long.”
She let him slip from her mouth and he climbed back onto the bed next to her. He kissed her neck, nibbling down her jawline to her shoulder. He wrapped his mouth around her nipple, flicking his tongue over the bud, drawing it to full hardness. He teased over to the other one, tweaking it until it stood at attention. A moan of ecstasy echoed through the cabin when his tongue flicked over one hardened tip.
“Styx.” Her voice cracked with desire.
He let her nipple slip from between his lips as he gazed up at her. “Yes, Catnip?” His eyes gleamed and his lips curved up into the cocky smile she had come to know was all him. He grabbed her hips and pulled her so she was straddling him.
“Don’t make me beg for what I need.” Soft purrs mixed within her words. “You told me to embrace my tigress, but she’s impatient.”
He caressed his way up from her hips, sending moans of ecstasy from her lips. Heat soared through his blood, like a fire burning just below the skin, impatient and demanding. As she straddled him, he leaned up to kiss a path down her neck, his thumb playing over her nipple. Sensations collided and threatened to overwhelm her when he teased her nipples. She wiggled her hips, his shaft rubbing against her folds. “Please, I want you.”
With every touch, she arched against him, demanding more. Within him his beast roared with frustration and need,
but he swatted it down again. If this was the only time he had his mate without the fear of him in her eyes, he’d take his time. Next time they were together might only be to satisfy the mating desire, and not because they wanted to. He kissed along her throat, his teeth grazing over her skin, only to be met with a demanding moan vibrating in her throat.
“Styx…” She cried out as her hand wrapped around his shaft. “Now! Or I’ll make you suffer.”
“Oh my, the kitty has found her claws.” He spread her legs farther, giving him the access he needed. His shaft slid along her folds, and his control snapped. Instead of being gentle and easing his way into her, as he had planned. He pushed himself in, thrusting himself completely inside her.
He buried himself deep within her, only to pull out and slam back in again. With each thrust he sped his pace, each time completely filling her with his manhood. The heat between them built and their beasts mingled, amping up the tension building within him. Every glide of his shaft inside her seemed to set off another cascade of heat. Their bodies rocked back and forth, tension stretching her tighter as they fought for the release they longed for.
“Faster.” She clenched her muscles tightly around him and her nails dragged along his chest.
He grabbed hold of her hips, and as he plunged toward her, he pushed her down onto him. Together they worked to find the rhythm they needed until their breaths grew ragged as he rocked in and out of her. Each thrust brought him closer to the ecstasy he longed for.
“Oh, Styx.” She tipped her head back and cried out his name as her release took hold. Her nails dragged down his chest, drawing blood, but he didn’t care. His own orgasm followed. As he buried himself inside of her one last time, he tipped his head back and roared.
Mine…
Chapter Nine
With the mating bond firmly intact, Mira laid curled next to Styx and tried to make sense of everything she felt. He expected her to be appalled by his past, but she wasn’t. The blood of those he killed roiled her stomach, but not because of his actions. The blood only reminded her of all the blood Frank had spilled over the years. While it was true that he was an assassin and had more kills than anyone else, she had seen what had brought him to that. It wasn’t out of the desire to kill and he wasn’t a sociopath looking for an easy way to get away with murder. Like her, he had been led astray by someone he trusted. Lies led him to kill because he thought he was saving the world from a scumbag.
She also knew something that no one else knew. Sasha. She tipped her head up to him and found him watching her as if waiting for her to pull away from him. “I’m so sorry.”
“What for?”
“Sasha.” The name rolled off her tongue like a lead weight and her stomach sank. She was about to fall neck deep into murky waters.
“That was long ago.”
The words didn’t match with his reaction. His body tightened and his eyes filled with pain. Years might have passed on the calendar, but to him it was still a wound he carried within him. Never quite healing, only being bandaged over. No matter how he tried, the death of his sister was always there.
“I know what I feel, and maybe I know parts of it, but with everything flooding toward me at once I can’t keep things straight. What happened?” She ran her hand along his chest and hugged herself tighter to him.
“She’s dead, what more matters?”
“It matters because she’s the reason you became an assassin. You tried to protect her.” His pain ripped through her as if it was her own. “You’ve never shared the story with anyone but it’s time you tell it. Tell me.”
He closed his eyes and leaned back against the pillows. “Sasha was a wild child. Maybe it was growing up on the streets and having to fend for ourselves, but she rebelled and got into some deep shit. We were in New York and there was a group of underground shifters. They weren’t of any one animal group, more like rebels joined together to survive. Sasha started hanging around with them, even began to experiment with drugs. Because of the beast within, things don’t affect us the same way as humans, so she was doing more and more of the drugs trying to seek that high she so badly wanted. It became expensive quickly and she couldn’t pay the shifter she owed money to. He was the leader of the group and threatened to kill her if she didn’t pay up.”
“You offered to work off her debt in exchange for her life,” she supplied when he fell silent.
“What else was I supposed to do, see her be murdered? I was her older brother and it was my job to watch out for her. In the end, I failed.”
She laced her fingers around his. “You didn’t fail. You saved her then, and you would have saved her later if you had known.”
“If you already know this, why are you making me tell you?”
“You need to get it off your chest. Who better to share the pain with than your mate? Now, go on.”
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to work off her debt. It started small, with guard duties and some minor unwanted tasks, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I thought I was getting off easy. Sasha was clean…it only lasted a few weeks, but it was something. When she started doing the drugs again, that’s when everything changed. No longer was he satisfied with what I was doing, and I received my first target.” He let out a deep sigh that held so much regret. “If I refused, Sasha’s life would be forfeited. He even held her hostage until the hit was complete to ensure I didn’t try to whisk her away to safety.”
“That was the first step to you becoming an assassin.”
“Yes.” He opened his eyes and their gazes met. “When she died, I embraced the job because of my anger. I had hoped that eliminating another scumbag would help me move past my own grief, but it didn’t. Instead, I just buried it deep within.”
“I know she killed herself, but why? Was she able to find the right combination of drugs that worked for her?” She tried to approach the subject carefully, but she wanted to know.
He shook his head. “She was to be mated, and the tiger was worse than any we had met before. What she didn’t know was he was my next hit. I was hunting him when she took her own life. She left me a note explaining that she’d rather be dead than be trapped with him. If only I had known that was her destiny, I could have told her he’d be dead before he could even lay a paw on her.” His voice trailed off, and he laid there for a few minutes before adding, “After she started using, we started to grow apart. I didn’t know what to do for her and every time I tried to fix her, it seemed to make things worse. The gap between us grew until we came to a point where we stopped confiding in each other. That’s when we doomed ourselves.”
“I’m sorry.” She rose up on her elbow, so she could get a better view of him. “Her choices were her own, and in the end it led her to an early grave. Those choices also took you down a road that led you to me. I’m sorry for your loss, for the pain you’ve suffered, but I’m not sorry it brought us together.”
“For the first time, I don’t regret it either. My past was the reason I was sent after you. Ty and Tabitha knew I was the best chance you had, especially since you went to Washington D.C. My years as an assassin make others think twice before they screw with me. It makes me good at what I do now, and keeps those I’m in charge of protecting safe. It will keep you safe, too.”
“Even if your past was different, you’d still keep me safe. You saved me when I needed it the most and you made me feel like I belonged again. When I left my clan, I lost that scene of belonging, but you brought it back to me.”
“We brought it back to each other. Though I have belonged to the Alaskan Tigers clan for some time now, you gave me back what I’ve been missing since Sasha died. I’ll admit I was terrified that you would turn from me, and this bond. Yet, here you are.”
“And I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
“There’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with.” He wrapped his arms tightly around her. “We should try to get some sleep. In a few hours, we ca
n call David and make our decisions.”
She nodded and snuggled deeper into his embrace. An hour ago, she felt no connection to him. He still had her on edge, but that all changed. She wouldn’t say she was in love with him, but there was a bond between them that made her willing to stand up and fight for him. She wasn’t lying when she said she wasn’t going anywhere. They were meant to be, and there had to be a reason destiny had decided to tie them together for all eternity. Mated to heal each other and make us into a stronger pair.
* * *
Morning came long before Styx was ready for it. He would’ve preferred a few more hours alone with his mate, cuddled together while the world passed them by. He didn’t want to get out of bed and call David, because no matter what news he had for her, it would bring the sadness back. He had no doubt that there were at least some deaths that David would report that would hit home for her. By mid-day, they’d know just how many friends and relatives she had lost and how much damage Frank managed to do to the clan before his death.
In a little more than twenty-four hours, his whole life had changed. He went from being alone, with no one understanding him, to being mated. It was all a whirlwind. He suspected the next day or two were going to be more so. His mate was going to go through many emotions as she accepted what had happened to her sister and other clan members. It pained him that the only thing he could do was be there for her, even when she fought against him. And she would, because her decisions brought her to him.
He rubbed his cheek along the side of her face, her hairs teasing along his skin as he marked her again. “Catnip.”
“Huh?” Her voice was whisper quiet and she barely stirred.
“We should get up.”
“Just a bit longer.” She tugged the thin blanket closer to her chin.
“I wouldn’t wake you if it wasn’t important.” He brushed the hair away from her face and stared down at her. She was beautiful, her face soft and relaxed as she fought to cling to sleep. “We need to call David and make a decision if we’re going there or back to Alaska.”
Tiger Tracks (Alaskan Tigers Book 9) Page 9