by T. Cobbin
“I, Belle Grant, promise to uphold shifter law, to aid our Alpha by holding the spot of beta until Felix Rockwell returns to take his rightful place.”
Felix and Belle’s claws extended, and they both dug four of them into each other’s skin just inside of the other’s wrists. They then moved their arms so that their blood mixed, until the small pinpricks healed. Belle wasn’t sure if it was her emotions or something else, but she was sure a zing went through her, and she gasped. She suddenly felt more in tune with the village. Weird.
Harris broke through her thoughts with a community-wide mental announcement. “With my brother’s departure, Belle Grant has temporarily taken his place as beta. Please don’t bombard them with your tidings, there will be a party in the community hall tonight for you to do just that.”
“It’s all up to you now,” Felix said, patting her on the back. “Gotta look after this lunkhead, ’cause while I’m away things might go awry. I mean, he is supposed to be Alpha, but we all know who does the work around here.”
Felix didn’t even have a smirk on his face, he had said it with full seriousness. Belle laughed and looked toward Harris who stood shaking his head with a smile.
“You wish, little brother.” Harris’s expression changed, his smile fading. “But then one day this could be all yours.”
Belle watched as Felix paled. “Nah, you’re all right. I’m happy where I am, bro. Walker will take over when you get old and retire.”
Belle swore she scented a tinge of fear coming from Felix. Was he worried he’d lose his brother? His parents had died when he was pretty young, and it was something he’d never really gotten over. Belle recalled in his teenage years how the boy had gone on several benders, punching other teens who offended him. Or he’d spent nights, even weeks, going on camping trips with the girls from the village. It was Harris, his Alpha, who gave him the space he needed before he had to take on his role as beta, as well as Harris in his role as brother-turned-parent who gave him the love he sought.
“I’m not going anywhere just yet, bro.” Harris slapped his brother on the back affectionately. “Now I do believe we have to get ready for a party.”
Felix whopped and left the room. “The tide awaits. Sex, sun, and more sex,” he chanted down the hallway, passing Melinda, who was carrying a wriggling Walker and a large, white envelope.
Melinda gave Walker to his father and flapped the envelope. “When are you going to give it to him?” she asked.
“At the party.”
“What are you giving him? I got him two boxes of condoms.” Belle chuckled.
Harris snorted out a laugh. “That lad will need a factory of fucking condoms at the rate he goes at it.”
“A little bit of traveling money,” Melinda answered Belle’s question. “He’s done so well saving up, we thought it would be nice to double what he’s got.”
“Wow, that’s like…”
“Yep.” Melinda nodded with a smile on her face.
“He’s going to have one bloody nice trip,” Belle said. She knew full well Felix had saved a good couple of thousand.
* * * *
That night most of the village gathered in the town hall for Felix’s going-away party. Felix had been saving for so long, adamant he was going out in the world before settling down. Belle thought it was very likely that he was going to see a whole lot more of naked women than the sights; that’s why she’d bought him the condoms. He’d gone through the village females already.
By the end of the evening presents had been given to Felix, along with acknowledgments to Belle for now being beta. Belle was sure she’d seen a tear in Felix’s eyes when Harris and Melinda gave him their gift. The love Felix had for his brother was as clear as the sun. Even though it was his brother who’d brought him up most of his life, there seemed to be no regrets. Both men hugged each other tight, ending in a lot of affectionate back slapping.
As for Belle’s gift, Felix had laughed and tucked them into his rucksack.
“I’m glad I didn’t get to shag you,” he said, holding her in his arms.
“Oh really?” she asked, pretending to be heartbroken.
“Yeah, I would have spoiled it for your mate. Once you’ve had Felix, there’s no going back.”
They both laughed as a small growl could be heard behind them, coming from Shawn. Belle knew he wasn’t really jealous of their friendship. he was just putting on a show. Felix pulled back from her and winked at Shawn.
Belle was tired. Turning around, she walked straight into her mate’s arms and asked him to take her home. The last week was finally catching up with her.
Grabbing hold of her lifelong friend one last time before she left, she hugged him tight. “Take care out there, pussy cat. Call home a lot, right?”
“Aye aye.” He winked, letting her go.
Without looking back Belle walked out of the building, silently wishing him to come home safe.
“He will be back,” Shawn said, taking hold of her hand as they walked home.
“Yeah, I know. It’s just he has been a friend for so long. I think a lot of the girls were jealous of our friendship. They tried so many times to have what I did with him. What they didn’t know was I was the only one who didn’t sleep with him. I didn’t want his body, I just wanted to be his friend.”
“I can’t fill his space, but I will always be here when you need me.” He pulled her tighter against him, his arm banding around her waist, halting their walk.
“You couldn’t fill his space,” she said, looking up and into his eyes, knowing full well what she was doing. He could do with a little winding up now and again. He needed to not take everything so seriously. Was that a little bit of panic she saw in his eyes? Oops. “You know why? Because I slept with you. I want more than just your friendship, my tiger, I want all of you,” she added with a huge smile.
Chapter 23
“You, my tigress, are a minx. I certainly did sleep with you, and I intend to forever more.” Shawn’s lips clamped down over Belle’s, leaving her breathless as he delved his tongue deep inside and made it dance with hers.
His hands roamed over her backside, and he kneaded her fleshy buttocks. A sudden slap had her squealing into his mouth.
“Mine.” He grinned, then smacked his lips and licked them. “I suddenly feel awful hungry. I have a craving for some kind of rare honey.”
Although she had a clue what he was up to, she wondered where he was going with this. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep and moaned.
“I can see it now, all wet and sticky, dripping from its pot.” Shawn licked his lips again.
When he opened his eyes they burned with lust. Belle stepped back, somehow knowing that with this game he was playing, she was going to be running in a second.
“I’ll put my fingers in and lick them first, then I’ll use my tongue and lick the pot.” He paused. “Why are you backing away from me, love?” he asked, his muscles tensing, ready for the chase that was about to begin.
“I’m not. I’m…umm… I am…” Fuck it, what was the word she was trying to think of? Why did those clear blue eyes that burned with a heavy dose of lust have her brain turning to mush and her body burning? Her pussy was also now dripping with the honey he spoke of, and her nipples were perky and poking out of the front of her top.
The grin on Shawn’s face grew even wider. “Come here, little kitty.”
His muscles tightened even more, and Belle could see he was ready to pounce. She’d show him. She pivoted on the spot and ran. She pushed herself as much as she could. Her muscles pumped, and her heart thundered. She could hear his footsteps behind her. She gained a little distance, but was sure that was just Shawn giving her time to run. He was enjoying himself. Seeing their house, she decided to take a slightly different route than just heading in the front door; hopefully it would give her the advantage of going somewhere he wasn’t expecting.
She zipped to the right and took a barely walked path. The grass was
flattened just enough for the mud to show the odd footprint or two. Jumping over a low wall, she then bounded over the wooden fence and into their back garden. She carried on running, a smile still on her face. If she was honest with herself, she enjoyed the game as much as Shawn did.
When fate put them together, it had certainly chosen right for her, and for him. She loved the man with all of her heart. The thought of losing him now… No, she couldn’t think that. Was this how her mother and father had felt about each other? Did she have what they had? Yes was the only answer to that question.
At the bottom of the garden was a small clearing where her parents would often sit and look over the village. It sat on a high enough peak that they could see most of Stonesdale. Arms banded around her hard enough that she misjudged her step. She couldn’t lift her hands to protect herself from the ground as they were tightly held against her body. Shawn spun them around and he hit the ground and rolled so she lay under him, looking up into the sky.
“Gotcha.” He lowered his head, and she found herself carried away with his heated kisses.
Her tongue dueled with his, and she savored the taste of her man. Spice and Shawn rolled into one. He pressed his engorged shaft against her jean-clad pussy. He was hot, hard, and ready. One of his hands clasped her butt while his other arm rested by her head, holding some of his weight off her, not that she minded. He was like a loveable, heated blanket on a cold winter’s night that she didn’t want to part with.
The hand on her butt moved as he kissed her neck. He unclasped her jeans button, pulled her zipper down, and slid inside. She shivered when a finger slipped through her damp folds and pressed against her throbbing clit.
“Oh!” Her hips bucked against his digit. Again he pressed then circled his finger around her clit. “Oh God,” she cried out as he repeated the movements over and over. She swore the man was torturing her. She’d give him anything if only he made her come. “Pleeaase,” she begged.
A bite to her neck and another hard press on her clit and her hips bucked, then her body froze for a few seconds and stars appeared as an orgasm flowed through her. Shawn’s fingers delved inside of her pussy, and she could feel her slickness on his digits helping him enter her easily.
“Oh, my tigress, so hot, wet, and waiting for me. Do you want my cock?” he asked low and huskily near her ear.
She couldn’t find her voice, but to moan. Shawn curled his fingers inside, hitting the most sensitive part of her. Another orgasm ripped through her.
“Please,” she wailed again. “Please, Shawn, I can’t… I...” She didn’t think she could take another orgasm.
“Another one, Belle. Give me another and I’ll fuck you here and now. I’ll shove my cock deep inside you. I’ll have you on your hands and knees, looking over the community you now help run. Do you want that, mate?”
She purred deep in her throat, her chest heaving with panting breath. Oh God, she wanted him inside her so much. His fingers were no match for his long, thick dick. His fingers kept running along her slick walls, her hips undulating, although she wasn’t sure if it was for more or less. Pain and pleasure combined together.
“Now, please,” she shouted. “Shawnnn!”
He bit down on his mark, and her whole body bucked underneath him as her pussy again clenched around his nimble fingers.
* * * *
Shawn watched his luscious mate twitch underneath him. Her face was peacefully sated, her eyes closed in bliss. She was flushed from her orgasms, and her chest rose and fell in small pants.
Pulling his fingers from her pussy, he licked them clean, moaning at her taste as it filled his mouth. Finally, clean, he moved his hand down and unbuckled his jeans, wincing slightly when his cock hit the air. Pre-cum already dotted the end of his shaft. He was eager to be inside her. Once he was free he lifted his mate up and rolled her over to her hands and knees. He smirked when she groaned at having to move. He had wanted to lick her honey, but now he was too eager to be inside her.
He’d given her three orgasms and loved watching her rock and scream throughout them. He needed to be inside her now, with an urgency. He settled himself over the top of her, and his mouth covered his mark and lapped at it. He could still taste the tang of blood in his mouth. His cock twitched. With one hand he placed his shaft at her entrance, and with his other hand on her hip, holding her securely, he closed his eyes as he entered her slowly.
“Oh, my tigress, I am forever yours. Your cunt is like home, welcoming and allll mine.” He opened his eyes to watch himself withdraw. He groaned at the erotic sight of his cock soaked with her honey. He could feel his sex pulse.
Grabbing her hips with both hands, he thrust hard and fast inside her. His balls slapped against her clit. She pushed back at him and moaned. Lifting his right hand, he brought it down with an echoing slap against her butt. She cried out in pleasure and pushed back at him again. His kitty liked that. He did it again and again, making sure his slaps were in different positions on her backside so not to hurt or mark her too much.
Holding her hips again, he picked up his pace, thrusting deep, each time hitting the top of her cervix. She began meeting him thrust for thrust, and he watched her fingers curl into the earth below them. The cool air from the evening washed over his damp skin, and his breathing picked up. All around him the scent of nature mixed with the scent of sex. Small grunts mixed in with the deep purr coming from his chest. His orgasm was building, the tingling in his spine growing. He needed to get her off one more time. He wanted her pussy to grasp hold of his cock and milk it for all its worth.
“Fuck, baby!” he cried, so very close to losing it.
Moving his hand around her body, he found that hard, little bundle of nerves between her legs and circled it. She bucked harder, almost losing the pattern they’d created. She screamed out his name at the same time he roared. If he had to boast about something right then, it would be the fact he was fucking the village beta while looking over the community. That thought, though, stayed deep inside his mind.
* * * *
A month later
“Be home soon, babe. This meeting is taking forever.” Belle sighed in his head.
He blew her a kiss and sent her a flow of love. Things had been going great for them. At first it had felt like a dream to Shawn. He couldn’t believe his life had turned out as it had. When Belle had taken over as beta he’d been worried. He’d even had a few panic moments when Belle had come home in a bad mood. But not once had she been anything like Rosie. No matter what kind of day she’d had, she never once took it out on him. Yeah, she moaned and groaned, even to the point of snarling about her day sometimes, but she talked it through with him.
Belle had even commented how he was more relaxed, more at ease with everything. They had a unique companionship, which was helped by their tigers being able to talk to each other. If one was pissed, the other would find out why through their beast and, of course, rectify it. There was, however, a drawback to this uniqueness—their beasts were horny fuckers and would gang up together, getting more beast time out of Shawn and Belle. Well, at first they had, until the human side caught on to what the beast side was doing.
His work was brilliant too. Ben was a good man and had a lot of knowledge and stories about the village that Shawn loved to listen to. The old man was worried about his age and had spoken to Harris about it, informing him that if a new doctor wasn’t brought in soon to take over, the community would be without one if anything was to happen to him. Harris had shaken his head at the man, telling him he was being silly and he would be there for another twenty to thirty years yet. But to satisfy him a new female doctor, who was a jaguar shifter, moved into the community and started to work with Ben on taking over slowly. She actually moved into Shawn’s old place, new furniture included.
The new doc was pleasant enough and was welcomed into the community like any other person. Shawn was worried in the beginning that Belle would get jealous he was working with another woman. Bu
t his mate showed no signs of concern. He knew he wouldn’t touch anyone else with a barge pole, but things Rosie had said and done sometimes came to the forefront of his mind. Belle was always there to help him push them aside.
Shawn was currently sitting in what was quickly becoming his favorite spot—the small, green clearing in their back garden. He would often catch his mate sitting there, talking away to her parents, telling them about her day or week as if they were sitting with her.
They had also started to redecorate the house, turning the place into theirs. Shawn had even bought a new king-sized bed, hoping at some point Belle would stop thinking of the bedroom as her parents and instead as their own. It worked.
Two weeks ago, Belle discovered she was pregnant. It had been both a shock and yet somewhat expected, being they’d never used anything. Shawn didn’t want the feel of latex between them, and Belle was happy with the knowledge that if a kit came along they would manage. She’d told him she wanted to fill the house up with the laughter of a family once again. They were already talking about how to decorate a room as a nursery.
Belle had informed Harris about the pregnancy a few days ago. She’d told him she was happy to hand the role of beta over to someone else if needed. But he was content for her to remain in the position, although he did tell her to take it easier.
Felix also kept in contact with everyone. He sent postcards from every place he visited. Harris had even erected a huge notice board outside the post office where he stuck all the postcards for the community to read. For some reason Belle was the one who received the tales of his sexecapades. It seemed the man left a woman—or more—in every port with his stamp on them.
Shawn’s world right now was awesome, but somewhere in the back of his mind, there was always Rosie. She was still out there, still free. Her two brothers with her.