“A simple ‘yes’ would have sufficed.”
“What fun would that have been? You needed to squirm a little.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Life is never going to be dull with you, is it?”
“Probably not.”
“That’s okay, because you are mine. Only mine. Always mine,” I said in that growly voice that always came through when my wolf was worked up or my Alpha powers were heightened.
Lily just rolled her eyes back at me. “I thought we went through that already out in the field,” she teased.
“With everything you’ve put my poor wolf through this last week, I think I’m going to be reminding you both of that for a long while.”
She laughed, then leaned over and kissed me. “Take me home, Thomas. I really don’t want to show up at your parents’ with grass in my hair, smelling of sex.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I told her, unable to stop smiling as I drove us home.
When we arrived, Lily didn’t wait for me. She jumped out and walked right on into the house. She was confident and comfortable in my home, which would soon officially be our home. It made me want to puff out my chest and strut around for all to see.
When I walked into the house, I could hear the shower already running in my bathroom down the hall. It was a little disappointing how quickly she was willing to wash away my scent, though I understood her reasons as I looked at the time. We didn’t have long before we needed to be at the Alpha house for dinner.
Deciding not to waste any time at all, I kicked off my boots by the front door, carefully placed my hat on the rack, and headed for the bedroom. I discarded my clothes, leaving them in the hamper, and walked into the bathroom.
Lily had the radio cranked and was singing and dancing along with some upbeat song I didn’t recognize. I took only a minute to enjoy the show before sliding back the door and joining her in the shower.
She screamed and did some crazy ninja chop move with her arms until she realized it was me.
“You scared the life out of me,” she said, swearing under her breath as she swatted at me. “Don’t do that to me!”
“Calm down, slugger. It’s just me—everything’s fine,” I reassured her, rubbing up and down her arms and pulling her against my chest when it was safe to do so. “Maybe I should change your name to Ninja. Those were some bad moves,” I said.
“You mean badass moves,” she said with certainty.
“No, I’m pretty sure I had it right the first time.”
She smacked me, but there was no malice behind it. “What do you think you’re doing?” she finally asked.
“You,” I told her, enjoying the look of surprise on her face.
“We don’t have time for that, and I’ll just have to take another shower afterwards. Dinner, your parents’ house, have you forgotten?”
“Nope, haven’t forgotten a thing,” I assured her. “Figured we’d knock out two birds with one stone.”
“What are you talking about?” she questioned, feigning irritation.
I turned her around and pressed her hands against the wall of the stall and held them there for a moment. When I was fairly sure she wasn’t going to move, I reached around and grabbed a wash cloth and soap and cleaned her back, her backside, down each leg and back up, trailing my path with kisses and occasional nips as the water washed her clean. She was moaning and starting to pant for me before I made my journey back up, stopping at all the sensitive places I had noted for a little extra attention.
When I stood, she was still bent over with her hands braced on the wall. One thrust and we were fully connected. I wanted to draw it out, take things slowly, but I supposed I had paid her a little too close attention on my explorations. She pushed back hard, grinding against me, seeking her release. I couldn’t hold out for long before I was pumping hard, in desperate need of my own release, which came much too quickly. When she started to come, she turned and looked at me over her shoulder. Our eyes locked and for that moment, the only thing that existed was her. My balls tightened and my body shook as I fought not to close my eyes and break the perfect connection between us.
Panting and spent, Lily nearly collapsed in my arms. I protectively gathered her up and just held her as the water beat down on us. We stayed that way until our combined breaths began to normalize again.
“My legs feel like Jell-O,” she confessed with a giggle. “But, you were right. That was excellent time management.”
I threw my head back and laughed, reaching over to turn the hot water down and add a little cold. “This will help with the lightheadedness some,” I assured her.
“You know, I’ve always been more of a luxury bath kinda gal, but I am seriously rethinking that stance.”
I watched her as she reached for the shampoo and began massaging it into her scalp. I had to breathe in deep and try to think of anything else before I gave in to my desires and had her back pressed up against the wall. She gave me a sly look, as if she could read my thoughts. “Next time,” I promised.
She laughed as she finished rinsing her hair and turned off the shower. I shook my head and water went flying everywhere. She stopped and turned to face me with both hands on her hips. “Did you just wet-dog me?”
“Did I what?” I asked.
“Did you just shake off the water like a damn dog?”
I could see in her eyes she was teasing and I loved it. “So what if I did? And wouldn’t that be wet wolf to you? I’m not a dog, I’m a wolf.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her wet body against me, kissing me till my head spun. “Correction. You’re my wolf.”
I stood there speechless as she exited the shower and grabbed a towel. I had a dozen witty comebacks in my head, but I couldn’t articulate a single one of them.
“Come on, big boy. It’s time to go face the family,” she said, leaving the bathroom. “I’m never going to live this down, so we might as well get the worst of it over with,” she mumbled under her breath.
I shook my head, and finally managed to move my legs again. I dried off and left the towel hanging in the bathroom. She squeaked in surprise when I strolled out of the room.
“We don’t have time for another round right now,” she said, but the spike in estrogen throughout the room confirmed she wanted to.
“Believe it or not, I’m just grabbing clean clothes.”
“Oh, well, then get a move on it. We’re going to be late,” she reminded me, heading back into the bathroom still wrapped in her towel.
I grabbed fresh clothes and dressed quickly. She still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. I peeked in, and my heart nearly turned over in my stomach. My canines elongated and my mouth watered at the sight before me. I took some deep, calming breaths, trying to get control of myself again.
Lily stood at the sink putting the final touches of makeup on. She was wearing a short blue dress that made her legs look a mile long, paired with heels high enough to bring her to the perfect kissing level. Her pink streaked hair lay damp and untouched. She was a vision to look at.
I walked just behind her, grabbing her by the hips. Her eyes met mine in the mirror and she shook her head. “Not this time, big boy. Dinner with the parentals, remember?”
I nodded, and kissed her neck when she stood to full height to stare at the two of us together in the mirror. Watching her turn in my arms, I knew I had been right. I gave her a light kiss on the lips. Perfect kissing height. She sighed as I feathered more light kisses across her cheek and down the ivory column of her neck. Catching me completely off guard, she smiled and bared her neck fully to me.
My breaths were coming in short pants as my canines began to grow again. I took one deep breath, pushing my wolf back.
“You have no idea how badly I want to see my mark on you. Right here,” I said, kissing the spot where I knew I would soon claim her. “But . . .”
She stiffened and looked at me with confusion and hurt in her eyes. “But? Did you really just say ‘but?’”<
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I gave her my sexy crooked grin, watching as her pupils dilated. Yeah, I knew the effect I could have on a woman, but that knowledge had never thrilled me more than knowing for certain I could have that effect on this woman, the only one that mattered.
“But, we’re late for dinner, and I am not sealing our bond and then heading to the Alpha house to eat with my parents and sisters. When I mark your perfect skin, I plan to spend the entire day and all through the night making very certain you are mine forever.”
She shivered in my embrace. “Okay,” she said, a little breathlessly and more agreeably than I think either of us expected. She still looked a little dreamy-eyed as I led her out of the house and back to the truck for the drive over to my parents’ house.
Lily
Chapter 17
I had always considered myself a dominant person.
I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
When Thomas got all growly or spoke to me with full authority like explaining exactly how our bonding was going to happen, it excited me in ways I couldn’t even fathom. And when he took the lead of things so assuredly in the shower, I wasn’t certain how I had managed to stay upright.
My cheeks started to pink, and the air seemed hot despite the coolness setting in as the sun dropped. Part of me thought it was a moment I would relive in my dreams over and over, and then reality spoke up reminding me I didn’t have to, because he was all mine, and I could have that anytime I wanted.
“You okay?” Thomas asked, sounding concerned. “You look a little flushed.”
“Oh, I’m fine. More than fine actually,” I assured him. He gave me that sexy grin and I sighed happily.
This is what I had waited for. This is what I had longed for, that moment of complete satisfaction and happiness that only a true mate could ever bring. I was a little disappointed we hadn’t already sealed our bond. Once I made up my mind on something, I wasn’t one to wait for it to happen. “Lily’s like a dog with a bone when she sets her heart on something,” my dad always said about me. Perhaps there was a tiny bit of truth behind his words.
I had decided to accept the mating call with Thomas, and oh my word was I ever thankful I did. I had big dreams and ideas of what it would be like, and he had so far exceeded every one of them. I was blissfully happy, and I no longer cared who knew it.
When we arrived at his parents’ house, he helped me from the truck, looking handsome in tight black jeans, black boots, and a navy and green flannel shirt that complemented my dress perfectly. We were a stunning match, walking in hand-in-hand.
The entire room went quiet when we reached the living room, where most of the family was sitting around waiting on us. Liam rose and crossed his arms over his chest, but Patrick came over and hugged me.
“Thank God!” he said.
“Come again?” I asked.
“I’m catching a flight back tonight and both Elise and Kelsey have been blowing up my phone looking for a play-by-play. You’ve given me nothing to tell them,” Patrick complained.
“Why are you heading back early? Is something wrong? Is E okay?” I asked, a hundred bad scenarios flashing through my head. Without realizing what I was doing, I clung to Thomas for support.
Shelby laughed. “Yup, they’re definitely a thing now.”
Lizzy scolded her.
“I wish I’d find my true mate,” Peyton sighed, hugging a pillow to her chest.
Maddie wrapped her arms around Liam and he finally began to relax.
“Look, none of that matters. What’s wrong that you have to head back early?” I asked Patrick.
“Nothing,” Liam said, trying to assure me. “He’s just whipped and missing his woman, so he asked if he could return a few days early.”
“That’s it? Really?” I questioned Patrick.
“That’s honestly it. I hate being away from Elise, but especially this long. It’s only a few days.”
I let go of Thomas and hugged Patrick. A low growl escaped from my mate. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Tell my sisters I’m fine, and to mind their own business.”
He laughed. “What the feck are you trying to do to me? They are going to eat me alive for every detail about the two of you, if your mate doesn’t kill me first.”
“She didn’t flinch on ‘mate.’ Yes! I knew it. Pay up, ladies,” Ruby said as Cora and Zach walked in.
“Pay up for what?” Zach asked his daughter.
“Ruby has a pool going for when Thomas and Lily are going to seal the deal,” Clara confessed.
“What? Ruby,” her mother scolded.
Zach looked away and tried to change the subject quickly as his daughters all stared at him. He cleared his throat. “Congratulations, son.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I interrupted. “What’s the bet up to, and what were the rules?”
“Lily,” Maddie started to threaten, but I shushed her because I really wanted to know.
“I think it’s over five hundred dollars, and the bets are on when you’d seal the deal,” Shelby said as Cora quickly began apologizing to me on behalf of her children.
“Hold up now, seal the deal, as in seal our bond, or just sex?” I asked.
“Oh sweet Lord, what is happening to this family?” Cora said dramatically.
Lizzy choked on a drink and shot water through her nose. Ruby and Shelby just laughed, as Maddie tried to smooth things over.
“Seal the bond,” Clara finally spoke up. “The pool has date and time.”
My shoulders sagged and I shook my head. “Give them back their money, Ruby,” I said, turning my neck to show there was no mark there. Several people groaned.
“Yes,” Zach said. “I’m still in it.”
“Zachary Collier.” Cora turned to him with her finger wagging in his face, but he just snagged her around the waist and planted a kiss on her lips. Her cheeks were pink, but she was radiating with happiness from her mate’s attention. I wondered if that’s what I looked like to them.
“I was so sure it was going to happen today. What went wrong?” Ruby whined.
“Ask him to explain it. Was not my decision,” I confessed.
“Lily,” Thomas and Liam both warned in unison.
“What? I thought we came for a nice family dinner. You guys are the ones that bombarded us, not the other way around.”
“Lily Ann, we really need to work on getting you a filter,” Maddie said, laughing and hugging me. “I’m so happy we’re going to be sisters again, though.”
I rolled my eyes. “Me mating Thomas does not make us any more sisters than we already are.”
Shelby joined in and hugged us both, and so did Peyton. “Maybe not, but it does for the rest of us,” Shelby said.
“You guys are really okay with this?” I asked, feeling overwhelmed.
“Look,” Ruby said. “Someday we’ll have five more brothers added to this family, but we’ll only ever have one last sister. You and Maddie have been practically inseparable since you were just little pups. We all watched you grow up. You’ve always been family. When Maddie was gone, we clung to you every chance we got, holding on to just a small part of her. I think I can speak for all us when I say that there is no one else on this planet that we would rather see Thomas officially bring into this family. No one.”
The girls all hugged me, and I was teary eyed by the time Thomas’s strong arms wrapped around me. He kissed the top of my head, but quickly tried to diffuse the situation.
“I’m really happy you guys are happy, and I promise we’ll make it official soon, but right now, I’m starving, and I know Lily is, too. Can we please just eat dinner?”
“Amen to that, brother,” Liam said, giving Thomas a fist bump.
We all settled down to dinner. There was more light bantering and it turned out to be a fun evening. I felt right at home with the Colliers. I always had, but this time it felt even more right if that was possible.
The evening ended much too soon. We said goodbye to Patrick shortl
y after dinner. Lizzy and Ruby drove him to the airport while the other girls left to head to the bar in town shortly after. They invited me and Thomas to tag along, but we declined, not quite ready for such a public appearance. Maddie and Liam said goodnight when Sara was ready for her final feeding. Oscar had already crashed on the couch, and I watched as my brother carried his son to bed.
My head rested on Thomas’s shoulder as we sat on the couch talking to his parents.
“I’m glad the others took off early, son. I needed to discuss something with the two of you,” Zach said when it was just the four of us. “Tulok called and said he could use a little help for a few days and was wondering if you were available. He’s having a bit of trouble with something, but didn’t go into details. I had to explain about your situation, but he assured me that Amka would be most thrilled to meet your new mate. I would be surprised if you didn’t already know Tulok and Amka of the Alaskan Pack, Lily.”
“Yes, of course. It’s been a few years since I last saw them, but I have fond memories of the both of them.”
“Would you mind taking a trip up and seeing what we can do to help?” Thomas asked, and it warmed me that he was considerate enough to ask me before making a decision for the two of us.
“That would be fine with me,” I admitted. He smiled his approval, and it did something weird and fluttery to my insides.
“We’ll fly up in the morning then,” Thomas confirmed with his father.
We spent a little more time with the two of them just talking, before calling it a night. Once back outside, the crisp cool night air had me feeling alive and vibrant. We looked too good to just call it a night.
“Are you sure you didn’t want to go out with your sisters for a bit?” I asked him.
He seemed surprised by my question. “I assumed you weren’t ready to go public. It was only the other day you wouldn’t even walk into the deli with me, remember?”
“Yeah, well, a lot’s changed since then, I’d say. If I’m not going back with Maddie and Liam in a few days, then word’s going to spread really quickly. I’d rather control it at this point, instead of ignoring it, don’t you think?”
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