by Hazel Gower
Griffen had been teaching her how to swim. She was good at it. Anything to do with the earth and nurture she enjoyed. She loved the water and didn’t want to be far away from it again.
Hands lifted her from under her arms. “Hope. Hope. Stay awake. We need to cheek you over.” She heard Kirby’s sweet voice and felt her gentle touch as she helped her to stand.
She didn’t want to open her eyes. Every muscle hurt, and she didn’t think she could move without assistance if she tried. Prying an eye open, she looked at Kirby, seeing she had some scrapes here and there, but otherwise she looked good. Hope was happy Kirby was okay. Hope had fought so hard to make sure her family was safe, and it looked like Kirby was.
“I’m so happy you’re safe. Is Ryland okay too?” she mumbled.
“Ryland is fine. He’s with Aunty Sandra.” Kirby’s voice was soothing, and Hope closed the eye that was open.
“Is Ava good too?” Hope needed to know all her family was alive and not taken.
“Oh, Hope, we’re all alive and doing as best we can.”
Hope nodded, or at least she hoped it was a nod, before dots spotted her vision and her then blackness completely took over.
Chapter 8
Hope
Hope awoke in a soft, warm bed. She was alive, and her body only ached slightly. She remembered fighting. She remembered shifters showing up and Kirby and the rest of her family being okay.
She took a deep breath, moaning as Griffen’s scent surrounded her. She arched up, stretching. Her lips quirked up when she heard a long, drawn-out groan, and then Griffen’s lips trailed from the bottom of her feet and made their way up her body.
“I hear you were amazing the other day,” he said against her skin.
She bolted up right. “What the fuck do you mean the other day?” she shrieked.
Hope’s shriek turned into a moan as he moved his hands down her body and eased two fingers into her, sliding them in and out. “Relax, you’ve been recovering for forty-eight hours.” He hovered above her, his fingers still inside her. “You’re fascinating. I’ve been watching you and taking care of you, but your body has healed itself. You’re so amazing and all mine.”
His mouth covered hers, and his tongue traced her lips before she opened them and together they tangled. She grinded herself down on his fingers that delved in and out as their mouths devoured each other. She craved more from him, loving the taste of them combined. She wanted satisfaction. She wanted him, inside her. She wanted their bodies to be doing what his tongue was to hers.
Griffen’s fingers left her core, and he flipped them so Hope was on top. He eased his mouth from hers and rasped out, “Ride me. I want to see you take what you want.”
Hope moaned with deep, building need, eager to get what her body wanted. Grinning, she wiggled down so she hovered over his thick, hard erection and slowly, ever so slowly, slid down onto him, savoring every inch. Her head reared back as she seated herself, basking in the full, sensual feeling. Her hair was wild and messy, but she didn’t care.
She stared down at Griffen and loved the dopy, smug grin that spread over his face as he stared up at her. She stroked his cheek and was unable to resist telling him how she felt. “I love you.”
Griffen’s eyes grew bright and his megawatt smile took over his whole face. “I love you too, Hope. You’re amazing. You helped protect everyone down by the beach. I’m so proud of you. I love you so much.”
Hope knew she was beaming like an idiot, but she didn’t care. He pulled her face down and locked her lips with his own.
She was in heaven. She kept him buried deep as she could while she ravished his mouth. Burning need skyrocketed through her. Wanting—no, craving more, she eased back and used her hands on his muscular chest so he stayed down as she rode him, rising up and down on his hard length.
Her tits bounced the more she picked up pace, and she brought one hand up to cup them. His groan had her tweaking her nipples. He growled, and the vibration through his body caused her pussy to tingle at the sound. He moved her hands back down to his chest but brought his own up to cup and caress her breasts. His thumbs rubbed over her nipples, and she let out a whimper as tingles shot straight to her pussy. Her body already close to the edge, she knew she didn’t need much before she’d get her release.
He moved a hand down her stomach to rest on her hip, and he helped her pick her pace up. She started slamming down on him and grounding into him. Griffen let go of her breast and the pads of his fingers tickled their way down her stomach and stopped on her clit to rub circles around it.
Hope groaned, “Mmm, don’t stop. Please don’t stop. Soooo close.”
His hips thrust up to meet hers as she sank down onto his dick, delving deeper into her. He pressed down harder on her nub, and she arched into his touch.
Letting herself go, she threw back her head and screamed, “Yes. Griffen. Yes.”
Her release washed over her as she shattered into a million pieces. Her whole body quivered as he pushed up one last time, grunting. Hope felt the base of his cock expand and his muscle flexed with his release.
Hope collapsed down on top of him, and his arms came around her, hugging her to him. She nuzzled her cheek against his chest. “You can wake me up like that anytime. Actually, make that the only way you wake me up from now on.” She pressed kisses all over his chest. “I really do love you. Thank you for loving me back.”
He cupped her face, and she stared up at the man who had become a vital part of her world. “You’re easy to love. Once you let yourself be you, it became impossible not to fall in love with you.”
Snuggling her man, she gave a contented sigh. Life was good. No, it was better than she could have dreamed. She closed her eyes and basked in her bliss, happy with her new family and life.
Epilogue
Hope
She held one of Ava’s triplets, Phoenix, and stared down at the perfect little replica of his daddy. The triplets all had their father’s red hair, but they had their mother’s eyes. Carrick was in his mother’s embrace, feeding, and Griffen held the beautiful little Keela. You could already see she was going to be a stunner, with her super long lashes, big full lips, and red hair.
“You did so well. They are amazing, Ava.” Hope kissed Phoenix. “I hope I have one just as cute.”
Ava lay in the bed, and even though yesterday she gave birth to triplets, she looked beyond beautiful. She radiated love and happiness. “You will.” A huge grin spread over Ava’s face. “I’m so excited to see what your baby will look like. I wonder whose genes will be stronger.”
Hope couldn’t help putting her hand on the slight swell of her stomach. She was ecstatic about being pregnant. All her wildest dreams were coming true. She had an amazing mate in Griffen, great friends, a loving family, and was starting a family of her own.
She caught Griffen’s gaze and mouthed I love you.
Hope’s heart soared when his gaze softened and he whispered, “I love you too.”
Life was good.
* * * *
Eve
She shouldn’t be doing this. She didn’t want to, but her wolf was driving her insane. She sat in her car, her binoculars up to her eyes as she watched him. Her wolf growled we go to him. We claim him.
Shut up, she snarled back at her wolf. She didn’t want a man, a mate to control her. She loved her freedom. She might find the man she was spying on gorgeous, with his high cheekbones, massive full lips, and big brown eyes, but she wasn’t ready for a mate. She wasn’t ready for children, and she’d learned that when shifters found their mate they ended up knocked up within months of being together.
She was so drawn to her mate, and with each passing day it was getting harder and harder for her to stay away from him. She was even getting sick to her stomach, for denying her wolf. She’d resisted the urge to shift, because she knew her wolf would search out their mate and not let her go back until they found him and claimed what was theirs.
Putt
ing her binoculars down, she closed her eyes for a moment, gaining control of herself before she gave in and did what her wolf wanted...claim her mate.
Starting her car, she drove home to her little house, missing her family and pack.
About Hazel Gower
A USA Today bestselling author, Hazel Gower is a mother of four energetic children. When she isn’t chasing after her children or being their chauffeur, she’s sitting at her computer writing hot, sexy romances with alpha men and women who always get their man.
In the little amount of spare time she has Hazel likes to read any romance book she can get her greedy hands on.
Hazel would love to hear from any of her readers, so feel free to send her an email and like her on Facebook.
Hazel’s Website:
www.hazelgower.com
Reader eMail:
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About the Armageddon Mates Series
Book 1: Kane’s Mate
Now Available
Book 2: Rane’s Mate
Now Available
Book 3: Ava’s Mate
Now Available
Book 4: Arden’s Mate
Now Available
Book 5: Griffen’s Mate
Now Available
Kane’s Mate
Armageddon Mates, Book 1
Faith’s life has always balanced in two worlds—the normal human world and the supernatural. Now she has to choose between the two.
Faith York is human, but she has psychic powers, which is a little odd since neither of her parents have paranormal abilities. Thankfully, the werewolf family who lived around the corner help her learn to control her powers. She instantly fell in love with the entire family, but especially Kane, the oldest son who is next in line to be Alpha. Unfortunately, Kane doesn’t see Faith the same way she sees him. Heartbroken, she leaves town.
When Faith returns from two years overseas, her parents throw her a welcome home party. Faith is shocked when Kane kidnaps her from the party and mate marks her. Now she struggles with the choice of whether to leave again and live a normal life—a life she yearns for—or stay with the man she’s always dreamed of and live a supernatural life.
To complicate matters further, her psychic powers intensify and she begins to have visions of an upcoming demon Armageddon. Then she learns she was switched at birth, and she has a half-brother…who is half demon.
Faith must be stronger than she ever believed possible, and maybe in the process, she can trust herself to give Kane another chance.
Content Warning: Sexy werewolf alpha, graphic sex, strong language, and violence
Rane’s Mate
Armageddon Mates, Book 2
If you could help save the world, would you?
That’s the choice offered to shy animal empath Kirby Brown by her new friend Faith.
Faith is mated to one of a warrior race of werewolves, the only beings who can save the world from merciless demons, and she believes Kirby’s abilities can help them in their battle.
Intrigued by the strange new world, Kirby is tempted to assist them—especially when she’s drawn to the compelling and sexy Rane Wolfen.
Immediately upon meeting Kirby, Rane knows she’s his mate. Fearing for her safety, he forbids her from using her talents in the brutal battle that is to come.
Kirby worries that she’s finally escaped her overprotective brothers only to find herself involved with an equally dominating man.
Can Kirby and Rane overcome their differences and work together to help save the world? And can Rane convince Kirby that they are indeed destined to be mates?
Content Warning: contains a sexy alpha werewolf, graphic sex, strong language, and violence
Ava’s Mate
Armageddon Mates, Book 3
They’re not what either one expected or wanted, but they’re destined to mate.
Ava Wolfen has dreamed of her mate since she was a little girl—a powerful werewolf shifter—but what does fate give her? A shifter-hating military human named Logan Brown.
It has only been a few months since Logan learned that werewolves exist. And although they’re protectors of the earth and are fighting to save the world from demons and other horrific creatures, Logan despises them. Because of that he’s having an extremely difficult time coming to terms with the fact that both his sister and brother have mated with werewolves. And if that wasn’t enough, now he finds out he’s supposedly destined to mate a werewolf also.
Ava and Logan try their hardest to fight fate, not willing to settle for a mate they neither expected nor want. When a girls’ night out goes wrong, Logan comes in to help save the day, and in the process he reveals a huge secret of his own….he has supernatural powers that he’s kept hidden.
After the rescue, the attraction they’ve fought for so long becomes undeniable, and they spend an explosive night together. But if they give a relationship a go, will it work, or are they a disaster that’s doomed from the start?
Content Warning: contains graphic sex, strong language, and violence
Arden’s Mate
Armageddon Mates, Book 4
Can you run from fate, or is destiny’s pull too strong?
Remy, a young woman with the ability to harness fire, finds herself helping a group of werewolf shifters and other paranormal beings in a battle against demons who want to take over the world. When she is badly injured and on the brink of death, Arden, a werewolf shifter, bites her, giving her supernatural healing abilities. The last thing she expected was for it to also mark her as his mate. With her choices for her life slowly disappearing as it becomes clear what being with Arden will entail, Remy flees.
Arden is devastated when his mate runs from him. Hope for his future disappears and his wolf takes over, turning him into a feral mess.
Remy soon realizes she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. Returning to the shifters and a changed Arden, Remy has to not only gain their forgiveness but also build their trust in her while helping Arden overcome his feral nature.
Will Remy be strong enough to be the mate Arden needs or will she let the fire she controls consume her and run again, this time never looking back?
Content Warning: contains graphic sex, strong language, and violence