Last Chance Mate: Tate (Paranormal Shapeshifter Mystery Romance)

by Anya Nowlan

  Staring at the beautiful face of this kind, brave woman in front of him, Tate reached out, cupping the side of her face with his left hand. Tessa leaned into his palm, eyes wide and lips slightly parted, the thud of her heartbeat like music in his ears.

  Slowly, he reached out his other hand, grazing his thumb across her jawline before moving on to the outline of her lips. She sighed softly, her scent blossoming all around him, telling him she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Their eyes still locked, Tate leaned in, no longer able to stop himself. Holding her face in his hands, he slanted his mouth over hers, a deep growl resonating in his chest when their lips finally met.

  Mine, the thought echoed through his mind, and he knew there was no turning back now.

  Seventeen

  Tessa

  Pushing herself up on her knees, Tessa melted against Tate, lost in the kiss he had pulled her into. Her hands were already sliding up his arms on their own volition, her body knowing what she wanted better than she did.

  At that moment, she knew she couldn’t stop what was happening between them even if she wanted to. This pull between them was too strong to ignore, and she couldn’t fight it anymore.

  There was so much going on, but when her lips parted and his tongue snaked into her mouth, she couldn’t worry about any of it. It was wiped from her mind, replaced by a yearning that made her veins burn and her head spin.

  Tate’s hands slid up into her hair as he deepened the kiss, reaching parts of her she didn’t even know existed. Stomach clenching, she locked her hands behind his neck, her nipples hardening as she pressed against his broad, hard chest.

  Hunger swirled in her gut, primal and undeniable, demanding more and more. Their kiss devolved into them making out like teenagers, hands roaming everywhere, Tessa biting Tate’s lip and him pulling on her hair.

  This wildness inside her was unfamiliar to Tessa, yet she couldn’t wait to explore it further. With Tate, she felt safe enough to not hold back, to give herself over to the passion exploding between them.

  Sliding his hands down her neck and to her back, Tate’s fingers trailed across the thin cotton fabric of her shirt, making her arch against him. Going even lower, he cupped her ass in his huge palms, squeezing and massaging until she was a moaning mess in his arms.

  Pulling back from the kiss, he let his mouth trail down her neck, sending a shiver down her spine that led straight to her core. She could feel him smile against her skin, pleased with the reaction he was getting.

  “Tessa… You’re perfect,” he whispered, his voice thick with lust.

  Her pussy already wet and her clit throbbing, Tessa let her head fall back, lost to the sensations taking her over. How Tate knew exactly which buttons to press, she didn’t know, but she sure as hell wasn’t complaining.

  “I thought you’d never kiss me….” she sighed, her filter entirely gone.

  Under any other circumstances, she wouldn’t be in such a rush to admit she had been waiting for Tate to make a move, too much of a coward to take the first step herself. And it wasn’t like they had had a lot of time for romance, in between stealing from a dead man and hiding from a demon.

  But it had been there, that undercurrent of craving, wherever they went or whatever they were doing. Now, the dam was broken, and everything that had been pushed aside in favor of survival was rushing out, consuming them both.

  “All you had to do was ask,” Tate chuckled, peppering her shoulder with kisses as he pushed aside the strap holding up her shirt. “I’ve been dying to taste you.”

  His hands moved from her back to her front, sliding up between them, slowly running over her ribs and then her breasts, his thumbs grazing across her nipples.

  “Oh, god…” she muttered under her breath, a delicious pulse thumping all through her body.

  Putty in his hands, Tessa could only think of how she wanted to surrender herself to him, for him to play with and tease, to get to know her body until it was more his than hers. Hands weakly pulling on his shirt, she gasped when he pinched one nipple in between his fingers, and then another.

  “Off,” she commanded, going for stern but ending up sounding needy and hoarse.

  Luckily, Tate knew what she meant, pulling off his shirt and discarding it over the side of the bed. Tessa pulled back to study him, hands splaying across his perfectly carved chest, then trailing down the sides of his narrow waist.

  Tate sucked in a breath when she traced her fingers along the hard ridges of his stomach. Of course he would have a six-pack. Wasn’t that a given from the way he looked? Biting her lip, she couldn’t help but stare at him, from his broad shoulders to his thick arms, to the way he just oozed confident sex appeal.

  Her shirt came off next, Tate pulling it over her head in one smooth move. Hair falling to rest on her back, she watched him study her, his gaze burning a hole in her center. Her nipples were already standing at attention, her chest rising and falling as a feeling of breathlessness settled in.

  “Like I said, perfect,” Tate commented, making her smile.

  He kissed her again, slow and teasing this time, only fanning the fire burning right through her. Running her hands over his back, she felt his muscles cord beneath her touch, his skin warm and smooth.

  Was this what it was like to be completely consumed by something? It had to be. The rush was intoxicating, shutting out all those little voices in her head that were usually vying for her attention.

  Right now, all that mattered was how he was making her feel, her whole world revolving around his mouth, his hands, the way his breath fell on her skin when he pulled away to nibble on her neck and drag his lips down to her breasts…

  Staying upright was becoming a problem as her body quivered, Tate sucking her nipple into his mouth and teasing it into a hard nub with his tongue. She gripped onto his shoulders so she would have some sense of what was up and what was down while he mercilessly heaped pleasure on her, until all she could do was moan and writhe in his arms.

  Her panties soaking wet, she ground into him, eyes falling shut and the world slipping away. He grabbed onto her thighs and pulled her into his lap, her pussy rubbing against the hardness in his pants.

  Reckless with desire, she rocked her hips back and forth, starved for him despite having him close.

  She didn’t even realize when or how it happened, but suddenly she was on her back, with Tate kneeling over her, looking like a marble sculpture, painted by the rays of an early morning sun. He was breathtaking, and Tessa licked her lips at the thought of having him all to herself.

  You’re all mine, Tate Silver, and nobody else’s.

  Eighteen

  Tate

  Looking down at Tessa, Tate couldn’t help but wonder – how had he gotten so lucky? The sexiest woman alive was staring up at him, eyes hazy with desire, arms reaching out to pull him close.

  He pushed her back onto the bed, hands tracing the outline of her hourglass shape, stopping at the edge of her panties to hook his fingers underneath the fabric and pull the garment down.

  Her pussy was so wet for him, pink and glistening, and she sighed when he slowly parted her legs, fingers kneading her inner thighs. If there was a more beautiful sight than her in front of him right now, wearing nothing but a smile, he hadn’t seen it.

  He loved the way she responded to his every touch, moaning, trembling, squeezing her eyes shut or biting on her lower lip… It was like a secret language that flowed between them, more honest than words could ever be.

  Dipping his head down, he kissed around her navel, listening to her breath quicken when he traveled downward. Glancing up, she was like a wild goddess, hair strewn all around her, her lips still red from their kiss.

  Burying his head in between her thighs, he spread her pussy open with his tongue, enjoying the deep sigh it drew from her. Her hips already bucking against his face, he grabbed hold of her thighs and steadied her, teasing her with one long lick after another.

  His cock
was throbbing, the head almost painfully rubbing against his underwear, but he ignored it, focusing on the sweet sighs escaping Tessa’s lips. Her hands buried in her hair, nails raking across her scalp as he laved her pussy, feeling her velvet skin his tongue.

  Her thighs still squeezing around him, she slowly relaxed to the rhythm of his mouth, her back arching and her body demanding more. Tate pulled one of her legs up and threw it over his shoulder, while slowly inserting a finger into her warm, wet pussy.

  She shivered, muttering something under her breath as he began to curve his finger inside her, looking for that one spot that would drive her crazy. Coaxing, he circled his tongue around her swollen clit while working his finger, feeling her clench around it.

  Pushing her body toward him, Tessa writhed around beneath him, losing whatever control she still had left. He felt the moment when she unraveled, her spine jerking and a shiver rippling over her, from her head to her toes.

  Her choked moan hung in the air as he eased off the pressure from her clit, kissing around her thighs. Lids heavy, she looked down at him with a sated grin, and he smiled back, gently biting the inside of her thigh.

  “Come here and kiss me,” she said, and he crawled up beside her, pressing his lips to hers.

  Her hand trailed down the front of his chest, reaching lower until she was rubbing her palm against the outline of his cock. Tate moaned into her mouth, already driven to his limits from seeing her come for him, the taste of her still fresh on his tongue.

  Rubbing up and down his shaft and brushing her fingers over the head of his cock, Tessa teased him, until he ached to have her fingers curl around his length. He stopped kissing her for only long enough to pull off his pants and kick them aside, grabbing the back of her neck and devouring her as soon as that was done.

  Tessa met every inch of his urgency as they tangled with each other, her hand now pumping up and down on his cock while he grabbed every part of her he could reach –her supple breasts, the swell of her hips, her sweet, luscious ass. It was as if she was made for him, all soft curves and smooth skin, with a beautiful spirit that made him want to be worthy of her.

  Feeling the tension inside him build, he pulled back, taking Tessa’s arms and pinning them above her head. If she kept stroking him like that, he wouldn’t make it for very much longer, but he wanted more. Wanted to bury his cock in that tight pussy of hers until she screamed out in pleasure and her eyes rolled back.

  She squirmed beneath him as he held her wrists together, his knees on either side of her hips. Her gaze snaked hungrily across his body, stopping at his hard cock hovering over her pussy. When she licked her lips at the sight of it, Tate almost lost it.

  Holding her arms with one hand, he started to slowly stroke himself, feeding off the expectation in her eyes.

  “You’re such a tease,” she moaned, pouting.

  “I like seeing you want it,” he replied, rubbing the tip of his cock along her wet slit.

  “I want it,” she whispered. “So bad…” she complained, arching her back. “I want you in my hand,” she started, her voice full of heat. “I want you in my mouth,” she continued. “And I want you in my…”

  Before she could finish that sentence, Tate flipped her over, groaning with impatience. Hooking an arm beneath her stomach, he got to his knees behind her, positioning the head of his cock against her pussy.

  She moaned, pushing herself up on her hands. Kneading that amazing ass of hers, Tate slowly pushed inside, head falling back and fingers digging into her flesh. She was so wet, so ready for him, stretching around his cock in a way that made his head spin.

  “Oh, god…” Tessa cried out, her head falling in between her shoulders.

  Carefully, Tate made sure she was ready to take all of him before burying himself in her pussy. She shivered, and he let her adjust to his cock before gently starting to move, stroking her with his length and watching her spine curve as she lifted her ass to meet his thrust.

  A moan slipped out of his mouth, his whole body humming as he teased Tessa with his cock, deliberate and slow, until all she could do was whimper and beg for more. Smiling to himself, he moved faster, his cock coated in her juices and his mind slipping away.

  Reaching around to play with her clit, he slammed into her, making her gasp and groan, sweat breaking out on the small of her back.

  “Yes,” she hissed under her breath, urging him to lose control.

  The primal side of him took over, the side that only cared about having Tessa as his own, of having her in his bed every night, sharing her body with him. Now that he’d had a taste, how could he even live without it?

  There was more to it than mere flesh, though. The connection between them transcended that, the pleasure rolling over him having to do with more than just sex. It was Tessa that made it special, her every moan building and growing the tension inside him until he felt like it could snap like a rubber band at any moment.

  Tessa fell to her elbows, mewling under her breath, her hair sticking to her back. Tate’s thrusts grew relentless, his hands squeezing and spreading her ass as he impaled her on his cock, his hips bucking as he sank into her over and over again. Each time he barreled closer to the edge only to pull back at the last moment, avoiding his climax so he could hear Tessa moan his name.

  Her pussy was clenching around him, pulling him inside, milking him until all he could think about was letting go and riding out the wave of ecstasy looming on the horizon. When a savage scream tore out of Tessa’s throat and her whole body trembled in front of him, he let go with a growl of his own, pulling out of her throbbing pussy to spill his seed on the small of her back.

  Tessa crumpled in a heap on the bed, breathing shaky and heartbeat erratic. Tate nestled in next to her, wrapping her in his arms and reveling in his release.

  They stayed like that for a while, their sweaty bodies sticking together. But neither of them cared. Tessa was the first one to break the silence, rolling over onto her back and giving him a lazy smile.

  “Is it just me or was that amazing?” she asked.

  “No arguments here,” he replied, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Not to be a downer,” Tessa propped herself up on her elbow. “But we still have to get out of town, sooner rather than later.”

  “We will,” Tate said. “Besides, it’s not like either of us has a lot of packing to do.”

  “Now that’s true,” Tessa laughed. “I’m gonna go take a shower,” she added, crawling out of bed and reaching into her bag for a towel.

  Tate stayed in bed, watching her naked body move around the room, the sway of her hips mesmerizing. She gave him a small smile after she had wrapped the towel around her and opened the door, right before stepping out into the hallway.

  He knew it would be an image he would remember forever – her hair still mussed up from sex, clad in nothing but a towel, his scent clinging to her pores, and that smile that made her eyes light up.

  After she was gone, Tate stretched out his muscles and lazily rolled out of bed. He cleaned off the table from their dinner last night and tossed the boxes. Then, because he couldn’t put it off any longer, he went and found his phone from his pants pocket.

  He already knew who the text on his screen was from, even before reading it.

  “It’s time to come home,” the message read. “The pack needs its Alpha.”

  Tate tossed his phone aside, a heaviness settling in his chest. As if he didn’t have enough to deal with right now…

  Nineteen

  Tessa

  Getting out a small compact she had tossed in her bag along with her toiletries when they had gone by her apartment, Tessa did her best to get her damp hair to look remotely presentable.

  She noted her lips were still redder than usual, and her cheeks still flushed, and smiled to herself. Was hopping into bed with Tate the best decision? Maybe not, but she didn’t care.

  Her body had come alive under his touch, and for
a while, she had gotten totally lost in the pleasure they shared. It was a welcome respite from the craziness they were dealing with, and a morning she would never forget.

  The sound of water on tile echoed out from the hallway as Tate took a shower before they hit the road. She was left to pack up her stuff, including a magical amulet and a mystical book. Shaking her head as she stuffed those into her bag, Tessa couldn’t help but think – did she and Tate really stand a chance against Loch?

  They had managed to evade him so far, which was mildly comforting. But when it came to the demon’s abilities, she only had one erratically written book to go on. There was so much stuff at Mr. Thompson’s house that she would have liked to get her hands on.

  Obviously, Thompson was some kind of an expert on the subject, and who knew what other trinkets he had stashed around the house. But they had tried their luck with one breaking and entering, and the things were probably being shipped out, if they weren’t with their new owners already.

  It was hard not to let a certain hopelessness settle in. At least she had Tate. She had no doubts if she hadn’t run into him that day, she would be dead already. And while Loch was very good at taunts and bravado, she had a feeling he was more intimidated by Tate than he let on.

  The door creaked open and Tessa almost jumped. When she turned around, it was just Tate, running a hand through his wet hair. His shirt lay unbuttoned over his chest, and she couldn’t resist ogling that perfectly carved body.

  Now that she had seen all that lay beneath his clothes, it was going to be even more difficult to not let her imagination run wild.

  “I’m sorry you couldn’t get more of your stuff,” he remarked, eyeing her bag on the floor.

  “That’s fine,” she waved a hand, looking away so he wouldn’t spot the blush on her cheeks. “Wouldn’t be a real being-on-the-run thing if I brought my whole wardrobe, anyway.”