by Becca Van
“Why baby?” Tarik asked, and then grimaced. “Not that I’m complaining, but you’re a modern career woman.”
“I just never—”
“What?” Hodge asked, as he glanced from her to Tarik.
“Celeste is a virgin,” Tarik murmured, still staring at her intently.
Hodge cupped her cheek turning her gaze toward him. The blazing hunger in his glowing brown, now amber eyes caused her to shiver. Her internal muscles clenched around Tarik’s cock and more juices flowed.
“I knew you were special,” Hodge breathed against her lips, and then kissed her hungrily. When he broke the kiss, he scooted a little farther away from her.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m not leaving, love. I’m just giving Tarik some more room. We’ll have our turn another time.”
Did that mean he didn’t want her? Was he turned off by her innocence?
“Look at me, baby,” Tarik demanded.
She met his amazing green-eyed gaze.
“Hodge still wants you, Celeste.”
Hodge snorted and pointed toward his groin. “I ache to make love with you, sweetheart, but you might be too tender after Tarik’s finished with you. There’s no hurry. If you’re too sore, then we’ll have another day.”
Tears burned her eyes as emotions surged into her heart. They were so kind and gentle. They must have some feelings for her if they didn’t want to hurt her, but as the mating heat coursed through her body again, she knew she wasn’t going to deny Hodge no matter how tender she was.
Tarik unhooked his arms from beneath her knees, before coming down over her, bracing his upper body weight with his elbows on either side of her head. He cupped her face between his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers into his hair and kissed him with rapacious need.
She sobbed with pleasure when he began to move inside her once more, his cock sliding in and out, the head pressing against the membrane every once in a while. The anticipated pain was driving her to distraction. All she wanted was him to drive into her and get it over with so they could get on with enjoying the rest.
Celeste wanted him buried deep inside of her. She needed to feel his thick cock driving in and out of her pussy until she was screaming with pleasure. Deciding to take matters in to her own hands, she bent her knees up farther, until her feet were flat on the mattress and then arched up as he thrust forward. The pain was more intense than she had imagined it would be. Tears stung her eyes so she quickly closed them to hide her pain and concentrated on breathing in and out evenly and deeply.
“Fuck!” Tarik held himself tense on top of her. “Baby, you shouldn’t have done that. I was trying to be careful with you.”
The pain was already diminishing and now that the tears had dispelled she opened her eyes and met his concerned gaze. She caressed his slightly stubbled cheek with her fingers. “I’m fine. You were taking too long. The waiting was worse than the pain.”
Tarik turned his head and kissed her fingers. “Are you okay?”
“I am,” she answered sincerely with a smile. “I want—no—I need you to move, Tarik.”
His gaze turned hotter, if that was at all possible, and then he withdrew until the tip of his cock was just inside her entrance, and then he thrust back in.
Celeste moaned as nerve endings sparked to life with the erotic friction as his erection caressed her wet walls. When their pelvises met, he twisted his hips slightly, pressing against her clit making her gasp.
“Oh. Again. More.”
“Whatever you want, baby,” Tarik panted, as he withdrew and drove in again, this time he went a little faster and deeper.
Each time he retreated and advanced he pumped his hips quicker until he was pistoning in and out of her sheath, their bodies slapping together. She smoothed her hand up and down his back going lower and lower with each pass, trying to reach his ass, but he was so much taller than she was, she couldn’t reach her goal. She whimpered with bliss and then groaned with frustration, the sound muffled as he slanted his mouth over hers. And then he bowed his back more, or rose farther up on his knees, or both, because when she caressed down over his muscles and hot, damp skin, she was able to reach his buttocks.
She gasped and groaned as his dick surged in and out of her pussy and just as she gripped his buttocks, he slid a large hand beneath her ass and lifted her pelvis higher. He released her lips, buried his face against her neck, and began to pound in and out of her.
The head of his erection rubbed over a highly sensitive spot inside and then his pubis pressed against her clit. Her pussy rippled and flexed around his cock and the pressure inside began to build.
Her internal muscles quivered. The liquid heat in her belly spread outward and her clit began to throb harder. She gasped in breath after breath and the coil inside her grew tauter, until she was hovering right on the precipice of something so big, for a fraction of a second she got scared.
And then she was flying.
The coil snapped and she was catapulted up toward the stars.
She cried out as rapture consumed her. Her pussy clamped down on his cock only to release a moment later and then clenched down again. She shook and shivered as moisture wept from her cunt onto her anus with each internal contraction.
Just as the intensity of the orgasm began to wane, Tarik licked the skin at the crook of her neck and shoulder and then bit down.
This time there was no warning, no build up. Celeste toppled over the cliff, tumbling into the churning blissful storm. Her mouth gaped open on a soundless scream as a kaleidoscope of colors burst in front of her eyes. She shook and shuddered as the nirvanic tsunami tossed her every which way until she didn’t know which way was up.
As she came back to earth her awareness returned. Tarik was licking over where he’d bitten her, making a deep growling sound as he shuttled in and out of her pussy faster and faster. And then he plunged in deep with a shout. His body tense over hers, his cock jerking and juddering as he, too reached his peak and ground his hips into hers.
As her breathing began to slow she clung to him tightly. This time when she tried to blink back the tears stinging her eyes, she failed. Moisture welled, spilling over her lower lids, down over her temples, and into her hair.
She could feel him. There was a slight connection between them. He’d claimed her as his mate. She followed that connection until she saw his sabear. The animal huffed out a breath and then butted his head up against her transcendental body.
Celeste hardly dared to breathe. She’d only seen Hodge’s animal and though his sabear was huge, Tarik’s was much bigger. The sabear drew back and sat on its haunches, head tilted to the side as it stared at her. This was the alpha without a doubt and though she was a little trepidatious of the animal, she wasn’t scared.
She had a feeling that if it was necessary, Tarik’s sabear would give its life to protect her.
She just hoped that it was never necessary.
Chapter Twelve
Tarik had never been more in love, happy, or content in his life.
He had a mate.
He kissed her shoulder right over his mating mark and then lifted his gaze to hers. She had her eyes closed but the satiated smile on her face had him filling with pride. He’d made sure that Celeste had reached her climax before marking her because he’d known she would orgasm a second time.
His sabear was rumbling with satisfaction and happiness inside of him, and the mating heat was no longer present. At least not since he’d made love to and claimed his woman. He’d never felt so close to another living soul, but it still wasn’t close enough. He wanted to burrow under her skin and right into her heart and soul.
He’d never be able to get enough of her. Thank fuck she was now his mate because he wouldn’t have to worry about never seeing her again. She was embedded into the depths of his being, in his very essence, his blood, and his psyche for as long as he still ha
d breath in his body, and even when he didn’t.
Her lids fluttered open and though her stunning light blue eyes were still hazed with passion, there was dreamy quality to her gaze. He’d put that look in her eyes, and that smile on her face. His beast roared with triumph and then to Tarik’s surprise curled up into a ball and went to sleep. It had been a long time since his sabear had been so relaxed and content, the same with the man.
“Are you okay, baby? Did I hurt you?” He hoped not but in the end, he’d lost total focus as he plundered her depths looking for his own pleasure.
“No, you didn’t hurt me.” She smoothed a small delicate hand down his chest. “I’m fine.”
Only fine, he thought with a frown, but that was quickly replaced with a grin when she continued.
“Actually, I’m way better than fine. That was…unbelievable.”
“Good?” He punctuated his question with a quick kiss.
She shook her head, her lips curving up even more. “Amazingly, gratifyingly, orgasmic.”
Tarik chuckled and then laughed outright as he held her to him and rolled until he was lying with her draped over him. He’d never felt so light, so carefree, until now. He had a great responsibility being the alpha of their stealth. His dads, Talon and Royal had decided they’d had enough of being leaders of their pack and had handed over the reign to him just before Tammy had gone off to college. He’d been awed and humbled and had accepted with an alacrity to do the best damn job he could.
Luckily for him he had a head for business. He’d been trying to get the dads to bring their business into the twenty first century for close to ten years. Although they’d kept the business running with enough of a profit to benefit everyone living in Savoonga, Tarik had quadrupled the profits with the help of Hodge and their other friends. They had enough money stashed away to live in comfort for the rest of their lives without having to work another day, but none of them were the type of people to sit around on their asses watching life pass them by.
As far as Tarik was concerned, life was for living, and that’s just what he and everyone else had been doing—but now that he had a woman to love, to hold and care for. Life had new purpose, and new meaning.
He just hoped that in the near future, Celeste would want to have cubs with him and Hodge.
He sucked in a breath and his heart sank. He hadn’t even thought to ask her if she was using any contraception and he’d been so consumed with the mating heat, protection had never entered his mind.
Damn! You’re such a fucking asshole, Tarik.
Tarik gently tugged on her hair. “Baby, I’m sorry.”
She frowned. “What for?”
“I didn’t use any protection. Are you on the pill?”
She rolled her lips inward and shook her head. His heart flipped with anguish. “Damn, Celeste, I should have asked you the responsible questions and though it’s no excuse, all I can say is that I was out of my head with the mating heat.”
* * * *
Agony stabbed into her heart. She couldn’t believe that Tarik was apologizing to her for making love with her. She pulled her hair from his grasp, shoved up to her knees and scrambled from the bed. Anger and pain roiled in her chest and gut. She wanted to scream at him for hurting her, but she was worried if she started ranting and raving she wouldn’t be able to stop. The heat was starting up again and though she wanted and needed Hodge, she was too angry and hurt to make love right now.
For a fleeting moment, she recognized she was being irrational, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
Celeste hurried across the room, slamming the bathroom door closed behind her and locked it. She turned the shower on and stepped in under the water without waiting for it to heat. Goose bumps raced over her skin as the icy water rained down over her body. Her breaths were coming out in foggy, sobbing pants and her throat was so constricted with emotions she wasn’t sure how she was getting air into her lungs.
She wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered uncontrollably while she waited for the water to heat and then sighed when it finally did. She grabbed the bottle of shampoo, quickly washed and rinsed her hair before she started cleaning her body. She scrubbed her skin so hard it hurt, but the physical pain was much easier to endure than the emotional pain breaking her heart into pieces. As she bathed she tried to work out why she was feeling so hurt. It didn’t take her long.
She wanted kids but it seemed as if Tarik didn’t. Surely, he wouldn’t have apologized if he did? You’re acting crazy, girl. She shook her head and as the sobs grew closer together sank down onto the shower base and let the tears flow.
She could have been there for seconds or minutes but she was lost in her own pity party and wasn’t aware of how much time had passed. The flashes of heat came closer and closer together until she was shivering, but not because she felt hot. The heat flaring to life inside of her made her feel so very cold inside and she knew that something was drastically wrong. Plus, she couldn’t feel the slight connection she’d had with Tarik anymore. Had she done that? Had she somehow managed to break the link they’d formed because he’d hurt her?
Celeste shook her head. No. She couldn’t have. She didn’t have any of their abilities. She was just a normal human being. A chuckle turned into a sob. Maybe she wouldn’t be relocating after all. Maybe taking another modeling gig was on the cards. Work was her only constant and her only friend besides Tammy. Working kept her mind busy. Would she be able to pull herself back together if she got back into her normal routine?
She shook her head again. Celeste was already half-way in love with Tarik and Hodge. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be the same person again. How could she be? She’d given Tarik her body and part of her heart and soul.
There was no way for her to get it back.
* * * *
Anger burned in Hodge’s gut as if it was a living breathing flame. He scowled at Tarik but his friend didn’t see his fury because he was looking at the closed bathroom door. His sabear rose up on his hind legs and roared as Hodge rolled from the bed. Tarik turned toward him with a perplexed expression on his face.
Tarik’s mouth opened as if he was about to speak but when he saw Hodge’s ire, snapped it closed again. His friend slowly sat up, swung his legs over the side of the mattress and then stood. “What the hell did I say?”
“What did you fucking say?” Hodge yelled his question incredulously. “You just fucking apologized for not using protection!”
“Well, yeah.” Tarik ran his fingers through his hair and then his hand down over his face. “I would love to see our mate rounded with our cub, but it’s her body and I can’t just assume she’d want to get pregnant straight away.”
Hodge’s anger drained with the breath he blew out on a long exhale. “Fuck!”
“What? I don’t understand why you and Celeste are so upset.” He turned toward the door and tilted his head when he heard what sounded like a muffled sob. “Ah, damn.”
“Think about it,” Hodge growled angrily.
Tarik frowned as tried to remember what he’d said. When he went back over the words he’d spoken Hodge saw the blood drain from his friend’s face and nodded.
“You apologized for not using contraception.” Hodge scrubbed a hand over his face as his anger dissipated. “She agreed to mate with us, to be our woman. Surely you of all people know how damning those words were. She’s a woman. She no doubt had or has dreams of finding someone she could love and have a family with. You saying you were sorry sounded as if you didn’t want to have that with her.”
“Shit!”
“Exactly.”
Tarik strode to the bathroom door and snarled when he couldn’t open it. Celeste had locked him out.
Hodge scooted from the bed when Tarik tensed his body. “Don’t.”
“I need to explain. I can hear her crying. I hurt her without meaning to, but I have to fix this.”
“Yes, you do, but give her some time to cool down.”
&
nbsp; “Fuck that.” Tarik slammed his shoulder into the door cracking the frame as the door gave way. He hurried farther into the room, tugged open the shower door and kneeled next to Celeste. Hodge rushed in after him and his heart damn near broke when Celeste lifted her bloodshot tear-filled eyes to Tarik.
Tarik scooped her up into his arms and sat on the shower base with their mate in his lap. She tried to shove Tarik’s arms away but she was no match for his shifter friend. Hodge was glad that the shower stall was large enough for them all to move about with ease because he stepped in under the streaming water and sat next to his best friend and mate. He clasped one of her hands in his, threading their fingers together. As he inhaled through his nose, his sabear growled causing his chest to rumble when he scented their mate’s pain. It was a sour acrid scent he hoped to never smell again.
Tarik nudged Celeste’s chin up with his knuckle and then grasped it between his finger and thumb when she tried to turn away. “Baby, I didn’t mean to hurt you. When I said I was sorry for not using a condom, it wasn’t because I don’t want to have cubs with you. I was feeling guilty for taking your choices away. I would love to see your belly swell with our cub.” Tarik caressed a hand over her belly as he stared into Celeste’s eyes. “Nothing would make me happier than having a baby with you.”
Celeste gnawed on her lower lip, drew in a deep rugged breath and then nodded. “I’m sorry, too.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Tarik kissed her forehead and hugged her tight against his body.
Celeste pulled her hand from Hodge’s and then wrapped both of her arms around Tarik’s neck. “It seems I do.” She sighed. “I don’t normally get over emotional or angry at the drop of a hat. I don’t know why I reacted that way.”
Hodge rubbed a hand up and down her back when she sobbed. “Shh, love. Everything’s all right.”