“Is she your mate?” Dex asked nonchalantly.
“No.” Singh paused. “Well, I don’t think so. I mean…how would I know?”
Shrugging, Dex took an interest in Singh’s DVD collection. “I’ve heard others talk about their mates. I guess when the time comes to claim them, they’re all you can think about. They tell me once you’ve had a sample of your true mate, you never want for another.”
Singh stared at the floor, blinking several times and feeling faint. She was his mate? No. That couldn’t be. She wasn’t a full-blooded shifter.
“And there is no denying the fact you can read your mate’s thoughts,” Dex added, making Singh’s stomach churn. “So, no worries since you can’t read her mind.”
“I can.”
It was Dex’s turn to look as if he was about to be sick. “Wait, you’re telling me you can read Annora’s thoughts?”
He nodded.
Dex paled. “How long has this been happening?”
“I’ve kind of always been able to sense what she’s feeling, but the full-blown reading of her thoughts started a few months ago.”
“About the same time she was getting serious with that professor guy?”
Singh hated being reminded of how close Annora and her ex-boyfriend had gotten. He’d heard the guy pushing Annora to commit fully to him?to consider being his wife, and Singh had been left fighting the urge to rip the man’s head from his shoulders. He’d also gone out of his way to break them apart. It was underhanded, but he’d done it all the same, giving the professor every reason to believe Annora was cheating on him.
As the reality of the situation set in, Singh nodded. “Yeah, about the same time pretty boy asked her to marry him, I started to be able to read her thoughts.”
Dex slapped his upper thigh and let out a “yeehaw.”
Singh arched a brow. Now wasn’t the time for Dex to lose his mind.
“Do you know what this means?”
“No.”
Dex grinned. “Jealousy kick-started what nature was slow to respond to.”
Shaking his head, Singh stared at his longtime friend. “Huh?”
“Don’t you get it?” Dex motioned around the room. “Annora’s a half-breed.” He put his hands up. “Don’t attack me, I’m trying to make a point.”
“Make it quick,” Singh said, his fists clenched.
“You’re a full blood. Since your mate isn’t, it took longer for the cat side of you to catch up with the human. Hell, I’ve known you’ve been in love with the girl since we were all kids, but I didn’t think you’d act on it. I knew the shifter side of you wouldn’t let you.” A sheepish smile came over Dex. “Or at least I thought I knew. That would have been the case if she wasn’t truly your mate. Which she is, and it took nearly losing her to another man for your shifter side to wake up.”
“A sleeping lion.” Singh laughed. “Who would have guessed?”
“Yeah, well, now that he’s awake?” Dex tipped his head “?and if you can refrain from biting her during the height of passion, you might be able to buy yourself some time to try to convince the elders to allow you to claim her.”
Singh groaned, recalling how he’d given in to the urge to sink his teeth into Annora’s shoulder as he raked his finger inside her, making her come.
“You didn’t,” Dex said, disbelief in his voice.
Singh managed to keep his features composed. “I did.”
Dex pulled his hand over his face, looking as defeated as Singh felt. “Shit.”
“You can say that again.”
Dex put his hand up. “Don’t panic. Maybe we can think of a way to hide the fact you’ve claimed her, just long enough to sweet-talk the elders into giving the union their blessing.”
That was so far from likely that Singh didn’t even bother to comment. The last time someone had tried to talk their way out of ignoring pride rules and regulations, they’d found themselves cast out.
A shifter without a pack was as good as dead. There was strength in unity, but Singh knew he’d turn his back on it all to keep Annora. Apparently, from the expression on Dex’s face, he knew it too.
“Well,” Dex offered. “Seeing as how that’s all done, what do you plan to do now? Cut and run? Or put your tail between your legs and pray that the fact your daddy is the current leader of the pride and close to passin’ the title to you saves your ass?” He leaned, putting a hand out. “Might I suggest option two?”
Singh laughed only he would be foolish enough to lose his heart and mind all at the same time. He took a deep breath. “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to find and fuck my little half-breed until she screams my name. I’ll worry about the rest later.”
“Your little what?”
The sound of Annora’s voice sliced through the room. He’d been so absorbed in his thoughts he’d never heard her enter.
She stood near the entrance to their home with a hurt look upon her beautiful face. “I thought you were different, Sin.”
“I am.” He made a move to go to her but she backed away, setting one hand on the back of a maroon chair.
Dex cleared his throat. “Annora, you didn’t hear all of the?”
“Don’t defend him.” She narrowed her gaze on Dex. “You’d lie and he’d swear to it.”
She was right. Dex would back him on just about anything. Singh stared at the ceiling, fighting the wash of emotions running over him. To show weakness in front of Dex wasn’t excusable, but Singh couldn’t stop. He blinked back tears and cleared his throat. “Annora, I?”
“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” She made a move to head toward her room and Singh knew it was now or never.
“I love you,” he sputtered.
Annora froze. “W-what?”
“I. Love. You.” He clenched his fists, unsure of her reaction. “I have for a long time.”
She remained in place as if held by invisible strings. “You’ve what? For a long time? Sin? Why?”
He let out a long breath. “Woman, do not make me list every reason why I’m in love with you. It would take me forever and I’d never hear the end of it from Dex who is already lookin’ like he can’t wait to tell everyone I was cryin’ like a baby, beggin’ you to stay.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I see no tears and hear no begging.”
He winced. “Not planning to make this easy on me, are you?”
“Should I?”
“No,” Dex chimed in.
Singh growled. “Enough from you.”
With a snort, Dex gave a haughty look. “Someone has to keep you in line.”
“And that person would be her,” Singh said, pointing at Annora.
She licked her lips, doing little to help the need pulsing through him. “And?”
Confused, he swallowed hard. “Uh, and?”
“I’m waiting for the begging.”
“Babe, please. I love you.”
Dex snickered and Singh cast him a dirty look, shutting him up before anything else stupid fell from his lips. He focused on Annora, who paled. “Are we okay?”
She didn’t respond and Singh clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into his palms. He’d been a moron and joked with his friend, never meaning the comment the way Annora took it. He couldn’t lose her now. Not after he’d finally made his move and professed his love for her.
Annora’s blue gaze flickered to his hands and her eyes widened. “Sin, stop it!”
“Stop what?” he asked a second before he smelled blood.
His blood to be exact.
He glanced down to find his nails cutting into his palms. With a sheepish shrug, he looked away. “Are we okay, Annora?” he repeated.
Suddenly, she was there before him, taking his hands in hers. “I can’t believe you’d be so stupid as to?”
“Oh, believe it,” Dex offered from the sidelines. “The man’s head is on backward when it comes to you. Always has been.”
“Uh, t
hanks,” Singh mumbled, unsure if he wanted Dex coming to his rescue. The man hardly made a great character witness.
Annora brought his hands to her lips and planted tiny kisses on the uncut portions of them. She stared up through thick lashes, her gaze penetrating. “You’re an idiot.”
“I know,” he said with a lopsided grin.
“A really big idiot,” she pressed.
He watched as his hands began to heal over and then he stroked her cheek. “Oh, I know. I’m a huge, gigantic, colossal, enormous, mega?”
Annora pulled his head down enough that their faces were close to touching. “That’ll do.”
His gaze swept to Dex and back to Annora. “One minute, babe.”
Dex grunted as Singh hurried across the room. He grabbed his friend by the arm and yanked, practically shoving him out the front door.
Giving a tiny salute, Dex laughed. “You could have just asked me to leave.”
“Yeah?” Singh flashed a white smile “?I could have, but that takes the fun out of throwin’ your ass out of here so I can make things right with my woman.”
“Your woman,” Dex replied. “I like the sound of that. How about I go get a head start on making sure the rest of the pride likes the sound of it too? I have a feeling when they see your lovesick ass, they’ll buckle. Besides, I’m thinking your mother will skin your father alive if he tries to keep you from Annora in any way.”
“Thanks, man,” Singh said, shutting the door and locking it tight. He spun around and stalked toward Annora like an animal going in for the kill. Though, this animal had other things on his mind, like taking what was his. He yanked her to him and she gasped.
She pressed her lips to his and Singh was lost to her once more. Singh had his hands woven into hers and was ravishing her mouth in no time flat. She tipped her head, granting him better access to her mouth. His cock hardened and he dragged her against his body, biting at her lower lip. “Annora.”
Nodding, she tugged at the tops of his jeans. Denying her wasn’t an option. He stepped backward, bumping into the sofa and taking a seat upon it. He dragged Annora lower, with him. Singh leaned back on the sofa, allowing her to free his cock. She bent forward and the moment she took the head of his cock into her mouth, he tossed his head back and moaned.
Annora cradled his sac with one hand as she eased her mouth over his shaft. She worked her hand up, gripping tight to the base of his cock as the head hit the back of her throat. A sweeter paradise he’d never known. He shook with the urge to release. “A-Annora.”
A sucking sound followed by a pop happened. She blinked innocently up at him. “Hmm?”
Singh took hold of his cock and lined up with her mouth before running his free hand to the back of her head. “More. Suck me harder.”
A wanton look spread over her face. She nodded eagerly and did as instructed, varying sucks with long licks of his shaft. Singh controlled her movements with his hand, enjoying the dominance he had over her.
She tilted her head, her gaze settling on Singh’s. She smiled as she pulled off his cock before moving her mouth over it once more, taking him deep in her throat.
“Ahh, yes, babe,” he said, fisting her hair and jerking her lightly to him so he could kiss her lips. “Like that.”
She licked around the edges of his mouth. “I’ve wanted this?you?for so long, Sin. No other man, just you.”
“Good, because I’m the only man for you. I don’t share well with others.” Singh grinned. It was filled with promises of carnal pleasures. “Babe, I’m ready to take what’s mine.”
“Mmm, and what is yours?” Annora asked, her lips pursed.
“You,” he said, pulling her higher.
Much to his delight, Annora fought him, breaking free of his grasp and slinking her mouth over his cock once more. She raked her teeth up his shaft lightly. The pain mixed with pleasure and the next thing Singh knew, he was fighting a full-out shift. His balls drew up and his cock twitched as Annora sucked him hard and deep. Cum shot forth from him, coating her throat. She swallowed around him, the added stimulation pushing him over the edge. Tipping his head back, Singh roared as cum continued to jet from him.
Annora giggled as she pulled off Singh’s cock. “Did you like that?”
“Woman,” he said, lifting her and planting her on his lap, “I loved that and I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you too, Sin.”
“Damn good thing.” He let a claw emerge from his fingertip.
“Why is that?” she asked, her gaze on his finger.
He reached down and caught her jeans. He sliced them open, taking her panties with them, being cautious not to cut her skin. The smell of her arousal lit the air and Singh’s cock came back to life, hardening at an alarming rate. He wasted no time, aligning himself with her wet entrance. Their gazes collided a second before he thrust up, going to the hilt in her exquisitely tight body.
Crying out, she clawed at his shoulders. A cacophony of grunts and pants filled the room. He stared down, watching the lips of her pussy spread over his cock. The combined juices of their lovemaking were evident and the sight of them turned him on more. As if that were even possible. She continued to straddle him and Singh controlled her movements, guiding her hips as she rode him. He neared climax and fought to stay in control.
Annora bent, her eyes swirling ever so slightly as she purred. The sound was pure magic to his ears. He lost the fight with his body, exploding deep within her. Her pussy convulsed around him, milking him.
She collapsed against him, her core still pulsing as his cock remained within her. She laughed softly, pressing her lips to his neck. “Mmm.”
“Mmm is right.” He waggled his brows, sliding his hands up her sides. He found her lips and kissed her passionately. “Annora, do you understand what happened between us today?”
She was quiet for a moment before nodding. “We gave in to what we’ve been feeling.”
“And?” He lifted her hair and focused on her neck, where he’d bitten her earlier.
She blushed. “And you went and pissed off the pride by taking me as your mate.”
Shaking his head, he leaned forward and kissed her again. “No. I made it known to them that you are to be accepted with open arms.”
Annora smiled at him coquettishly. “Yes, Sin.”
He winked. “I love you.”
She began to move on him again. “Damn good thing because I love you too.”
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-5150-6
Sin’s Pride
Copyright © 2010 by Mandy M. Roth
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