by Celia Kyle
Elise stepped away from him and crawled onto the bed, her mate quickly following and then stretching beside her. She fit her length along him, curving into his larger body and drawing on his strength.
She traced the lines of his face, fingers dancing over the curves and dips of the muscles on his chest and abdomen. She traveled further south until she brushed the short curls of his groin. His cock was still hard and waiting for her.
She slid her palm over his length, not grasping, just playing as she discovered him once again.
This was a reconnection, a rebirth, of what they shared. It wouldn’t be tainted by the others. She and Brute wouldn’t be ruined by her past.
She wrapped her fingers around his width, encircling him and letting his warmth fill her palm.
The chest beneath her ear stilled and then picked up a new quickened rhythm, and she smiled against his skin. With a gentle move, she stroked him, traveled to the base of his cock and then to the tip, running her thumb over the slit to gather the bead of moisture.
She’d never done this, never taken control and discovered a man’s body. And now, Brute was submitting and giving her what she didn’t even know she’d desired.
She rubbed that little droplet over the head of his dick and then brought his thumb to her mouth, lapping at the salty flavor of her mate. “Mmm…”
“Damn, baby.” His curse turned into a deep groan when her hand returned to his shaft, squeezing him just below the crown.
Elise returned to her explorations, stroking and petting him, watching for his reactions as she discovered what brought her mate pleasure. He throbbed and twitched against her, dick seeming to have a mind of its own as the flesh sought her touch.
More and more of his pre-cum seeped from his slit, giving her lubrication for her travels. Down and then back up, a twist, a squeeze and then back down again. She let her fingers reach even further, stroking his balls and feeling them draw tight beneath her touch.
“Elise.” His voice was both a plea and a prayer.
She ignored him. No, she didn’t ignore him. Not really. She simply tormented him further.
Hot skin was beneath her cheek and she turned her head, raising it so she could lap at the smooth, brown nipple near her mouth. She licked the nub, once, twice and again, smiling when it hardened from her ministrations.
With each touch her body prepared for him. Her pussy moistened, growing slick with her desire for her mate. Her clit throbbed within her folds, aching for his attentions, and her heat became wetter with each breath. Her own nipples hardened, mirroring his body’s response.
She wanted him. Craved his possession like a drug and ached for the connection of their bodies.
But still she continued tormenting him. Sharp nails scraped along her arm, his shifted claws making themselves known and showing her how she’d affected him.
Elise resumed her torture, returned to stroking his throbbing length and nibbling and lapping his nipple. True, her body demanded completion, but she enjoyed the power she held.
She hadn’t had that for the last two years, hadn’t held the reigns and called the shots. Now she could.
Another tug, another twist, another squeeze.
Brute’s breathing came in harsh, heavy pants and she could see that his other hand had shifted to a claw as well, the nails shredding the blanket beside him. A glance at his face revealed a pleasurable torment.
“Brute?” Her mate grunted. “Want to ride you.” She whispered the words against his moist flesh and then blew a cool breath over his nipple, smiling at the further hardening. “Can I?”
A harsh breath escaped his lungs. “Anything.”
With a last lingering pet, she released his cock and rose to her knees. She straddled his hips. Instead of lowering to his cock, she remained raised, hovering over his straining erection.
Elise stared down at her mate, the male she’d be with for the rest of her life, and was in awe. He held a strength that she couldn’t imagine and yet he was so gentle when he touched her. Scars peppered his body, proof that he wasn’t afraid of a fight, yet he never once touched her with anything other than love.
And that’s what she saw shining in his eyes. Love.
With trembling hands, she stroked his chest, traced the various pale remnants of his wounds and pet each dip and curve of his skin over muscles. Brute twitched and moaned beneath her, but didn’t move. He lay passive as she took the time to discover him, learn his body as well as she knew hers.
She counted the valleys between his abs, sliding over the tensed muscles until she once again met the juncture of his thighs. His cock was hot and hard, straining for her and she finally gave in.
Careful of his sensitive flesh, she positioned the head of his cock at her weeping opening and let her pussy kiss the tip of his length. She circled her hips, tormented and teased them both with the hint of contact.
“Elise…”
She eased down, letting the crown slip into her, and she lowered a fraction more. An inch in, then back out, another in, retreat… She tortured them both with the hints of possession.
Eyes trained on her mate, she watched as he shredded the blanket beneath him, claw-tipped fingers fisting the soft covering. His muscles were tense, straining with the effort to remain still.
And she loved it. Loved all of that constrained power, her self-restrained warrior.
Unwilling to wait longer, she lowered her body, taking her time as inch after inch of Brute eased into her heat. The searing brand of his cock burned her from inside out as she accepted him.
Further and further she traveled until her hips came to rest upon him, his dick fully embedded in her sheath. Completely possessing him, she paused and met his gaze, absorbing the love he showed and returning it in kind.
Elise’s pussy pulsed, spasming around his length, and her clit twitched in response. She ached for release, was desperate to come with her mate.
Ever so slowly, she rose above him, letting his cock stroke her inner walls while she moved higher and then she retraced her movements. A gentle fall along his length stroked nerves inside her pussy, and a gentle shudder traveled along her spine.
She moaned and repeated the intimate caress, up and then down again. She moved her hands from Brute, stroking herself from hips to waist and then to her breasts, cupping their fullness. She found her nipples and she plucked the hardened nubs, teasing herself further.
Another shudder, harder than before, slithered through her and then settled around her pussy. Her cunt responded with a quick tightening of muscles which pulled a groan from her mate.
“Yes…” She hissed the word, enjoying the bolts of pleasure that poured into her.
Another up and another down, cock stroking her just right as she snatched snippets of bliss from Brute.
Her mate’s hands released the mattress and came to rest on her thighs, callused skin sliding higher until they rested on her hips. He squeezed and kneaded her flesh but didn’t force a rhythm.
“God, you’re beautiful. So lush. So gorgeous.”
Elise pressed down hard, grinding her pussy against him and moaning with the pulse of pleasure from her clit.
Brute snarled. “So mine.”
“Yours.” She gasped and repeated the move: up, down and a hard circle of her hips.
Again and again, her cunt spasming around his length, clit twitching with the bliss, the move elicited from her body.
“Need.” God, she needed.
Dropping her head forward, she let her eyes drift close and focused on her release. Sparkles of light danced behind her lids like fireflies of pleasure that danced in and out of reach. They grew brighter with every grind of her hips, but not quite enough to lead her over the edge.
“I can give you what you need, sweet fox…”
Brute’s voice was rough and she raised her head to look at her mate, revealing heavily sharpened features. Oh, the cat wanted out to play. His claw-tipped hold shifted along her hips, thumbs sliding ove
r her vulnerable skin until they rested just above her slit.
“I can stroke this pretty clit while you ride me. Want that? Let me make you come, mate.” He purred then, vibrations traveling along his cock and then into her, stroking her aroused nerve endings and making those pretty lights burn higher.
“Yes.”
Elise kept her motions sure, gaze intent on Brute while his entire focus was on the juncture of her thighs. Those deadly digits moved again, teasing the top of her slit, dancing between her lower lips and then away again. He tormented her with that peek-a-boo touch. In and then out, the pad of his finger petting her clit before disappearing again.
“Brute…” She couldn’t withhold the whine in her voice.
“I’ve got you, mate.” He purred again and she gasped, pussy clenching hard around him. “Tell me, is it the purring or my fingers, Elise? What’s getting you off more?”
“Both.” She gasped.
“Hmm?” He pressed hard against her clit, a fierce, rough circling pressure.
“Both!” Elise pinched her nipples, adding that sliver of pain to the pleasure her mate was drawing from her body.
So he purred some more.
His thumb continued circling the bundle of nerves hidden within her folds, round and round, as she rose and fell along his thick length. With every lowering the head of his cock stroked her G-spot, drawing her bliss out even further.
“That’s it mate. Come on my cock. Use me.”
Elise whimpered and did as he asked, took her pleasure while giving in return. His cock twitched and pulsed within her sheath, and her pussy in turn stroked him with rhythmic touches.
His thumb never quit, never ceased as she increased her pace, fucking herself on his thick long cock. She relished the feeling of his possession, moaning and gasping with every slide of his dick within her heat.
“Brute…” She needed. Needed so bad.
Pleasure was tickling her nerves, plucking each one in turn and traveling through her with lightning speed. She ached to embrace the feelings. Bliss emanated from her cunt, wrapping around her hips before traveling along her limbs. Muscles tensed and twitched as the sensations tormented her.
And still she went on.
“Take what you need. Come for me.”
Those sparkling lights nearly blinded her then, glowing brighter and drawing her toward the edge of release. She lost control of her limbs as she fought for her orgasm. She chased the pleasure, fought to find the ecstasy of climax until it hovered just before her.
So very, very close…
Brute’s cock throbbed and twitched within her and pain-tinged pleasure flashed across his features, telling her without words that he was close to coming as well.
“Come for me, mate.” She gasped out the words, the first uncontrollable trembles of orgasm surging through her. “Come for me.”
Heaving breaths escaped Brute’s chest, but his touch never faltered. No, it continued in a steady rhythm. His mouth opened wide and he released a deafening roar that filled the room. Her fox answered in kind.
Her beast wailed within her mind, answering her mate’s call, while Elise’s human body was overcome with the pleasure of climax.
Her limbs tensed and twitched, filled to bursting with the ecstasy of release. Her pussy milked Brute’s cock, pulling more and more of his seed from it. She felt him fill her sheath with his cum.
And on it went.
Her shattering release overcame her body, stealing control of every cell until she was a jumble of overwhelming spasms as her passion crested. Higher and higher her release climbed, tossing more pleasure through her body with every step.
Sweet blissful death overtook her until she couldn’t control herself any longer. She arched her back, the lava-hot waves overtaking her, and screamed as the pinnacle of her orgasm slammed into her body.
With the peak reached, she slowly began the descent, chest heaving as she panted and her lungs searched for air.
Brute slowed his touch, easing the pressure until he withdrew his thumb from between her thighs and returned his hands to her hips.
Gaze entirely focused on her mate, she saw the love shining there, saw his bone-deep desire for her, and knew without a doubt that this male would care for her like no other.
“Mate…” She reached for him, stroked his chest and let him take control when he brought her hand to his mouth. He pressed a kiss to her palm and then placed it along his cheek.
“Mate…” His voice was hoarse, from shouting or emotion, she didn’t know. But then a tear slid along the cheek of her big, bad, fierce mate and she wasn’t left to wonder any more.
Chapter Ten
“We’re all given skills in life. Mine is how to kill people. Deal with it.” – Brute Mauer, Ridgeville Prima guard and growly badass.
Two weeks. Two weeks since the asshat that had trashed her apartment and tried to destroy her life (again) had made an appearance.
And, other than worrying about that guy, they’d been the happiest weeks of her life. She’d moved in with Brute rather than go back to her apartment. They’d cleaned her temporary home from top to bottom, but the only place she wanted to be was at her mate’s side, in his bed, every day. They’d started looking for a house. Brute had encouraged her to get her nursing license in North Carolina since she enjoyed healing others so much. Plus, Ricker had just begun his job of training shifters for the council and that tended to get bloody.
And now she’d get to go on her first run with her hunky lion. It’d been postponed after the whole picture thing. With the guy having not reappeared, Alex gave the pride run a green light.
And, holy cow, it was a lot different than a skulk gathering. The foxes tended to arrive in a handful of cars at midnight, hide behind trees to shift and then run for a few hours. After which, they’d go back to their cars and leave. No talking. No socializing. And definitely no munchies.
Brute pulled into a dirt parking space and cut the engine as she stared at the gathering. There were easily fifty lions, and who knew what else, wandering around the clearing. Small groups were sprinkled throughout, but it was a particular cluster (right next to the food table) that caught her eye.
Maya, Carly, Maddy and Gina were grouped together, taking turns rubbing Carly’s burgeoning belly while laughing and having fun.
“Elise? You ready?” Brute had been worried about her all day. All. Day. If she didn’t love him so much, she would’ve killed him.
“I’m fine. It’s not like you’re feeding me to your pride. Besides, we’re sticking with the big guys, right?” She gave him her best “let it go” smile.
“Right. But the man hasn’t been caught. We could come to the next one—”
“Brute, I’m going out there, getting furry and running. I know he’s still loose, but I also know that my mate, and my pride, will protect me. Right?”
Her mate huffed, looking annoyed and defeated at the same time. “Right. Let’s go, then.”
Mates. Gotta love ‘em cause you couldn’t kill ‘em. At least, that’s what Maya said. She also demanded that dead things be dropped at her feet as proof of her mate’s love, but Elise was happy to pass on that custom. Dead things? Ew.
Not waiting for Brute, she slipped from the truck, hopping to the ground and then pushed the door shut behind her. With a smile to her mate she headed toward the gathering of her friends, anxious to reconnect and have some “girl talk”.
“…so I’ve decided that the dead thing at my feet is going to be Alex. Who’s with me?” Maya raised a chicken wing in the air. The woman was still “eating for three” and justified it by saying that she was breast feeding and needed the calories. Elise thought the woman just liked chicken wings. “All in favor, say aye!”
Elise froze mid-step and looked at the other women. Conspiring to kill a Prime outside of challenge was a death sentence. When none of them spoke up in agreement, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Fine,” Maya grumbled, nibbling on her drum
stick. “Rain on my parade then. I just want a prize. A mouse even.” The Prima picked up a celery stick. “I’d say rabbit, but it might end up being Carly’s brother and then where would we be?”
Carly snorted. “Better off.”
Maddy seemed to realize that Elise had walked up and she wiggled free of the others, arms outstretched and embracing her in a tight hug. She could feel the tingles of the other woman’s power brushing her mind and Elise couldn’t hold back her smile.
“I’m fine, mom. But Brute may end up being the dead thing at Maya’s feet if he doesn’t relax a little.”
Giggling, Maddy eased the hug and stepped to the side. “You know I’ve got to check on my sister from another mister.” All chatting stopped and three sets of eyes focused on them. More specifically, Maddy. “What?”
“It’s that damn Urban Dictionary. She’s trying to be cool again.” Carly shook her head with a sigh.
“Honey,” Gina pointed at Maddy. “Embrace the dorkiness. You are the Queen of Dorklandia.” Gina took a bite of her celery stick. Lions and greens? Weird.
Maya ripped into her chicken wing, ignoring the barbeque sauce left in its wake. “Exactly. Hey! You get to have two titles. Queen of Munchlandia and Dorklandia.” The Prima’s eyes narrowed. “How is it you get two and I get none? Off with her head!”
Elise leaned toward Gina and whispered. “Is she always like this?”
“I think it’s sleep deprivation. Between the babies and Alex, she’s running on fumes.” The lioness shuddered. “Babies. Ew.”
Unfortunately, Maya heard them. “My babies aren’t ew-ey. They are sweetness and light. They are also poop factories, but Alex deals with that end.” The Prima cupped her boobs while still clutching her chicken wing, rubbing that sauce all over her chest. “I handle what goes in, he handles what comes out.”
“Maya? Um…” Elise waved at the woman’s abundant chest. “You got some…”
The Prima looked down and sighed before returning her attention to them. “They’re ginormous and get in the way of everything.” She paused for a moment, eyes going wide. “Dudes. I’m the Queen of Booblandia. Score!” A roar ended their conversation and all eyes shifted to the center of the clearing where Alex now stood.