A Mate's Healing Touch

by Merryn Dexter

  Bridie pulled free from Will and took a step toward where the wolf had crowded Hannah up against the wall. She crouched down and examined the wolf, her movements gentle and her gaze averted from his. The wolf tipped his head curiously and submitted patiently to Bridie’s tentative touch on his shoulder. Bridie lifted her head, her face wreathed in a huge grin.

  “He’s so soft, so warm. I imagined his fur would be much wirier than this. A miracle.” She turned to regard Connor over her shoulder as she continued to stroke the wolf. “You too? Another miracle like your brother?” Connor nodded once and she smiled again. “All my years of a mundane life.” She glanced over to Will and continued quickly. “Not that it was boring, not at all. We’ve had a wonderful life, but it was always safe and steady. I knew I wanted to be with Will from the day he asked me out when we were fifteen years old. Our only sorrow was we never brought any children of our own into the world. And then our Hannah came to us one terrible night—the first miracle. Our Jessie was the second, Hannah’s ability yet another, and now this.” She shook her head in wonder and Will nodded in agreement.

  “If I might suggest something?” Bridie turned her attention to Connor who moved closer to perch on one of the stools by the counter. “As someone who has been on the receiving end of Hannah’s healing, I can tell you it takes a while for it to settle down. I’m always a bit giddy afterward and that’s with the majority of the strength I’m given being used to heal me. The residue is a buzz, like too much champagne. I can’t imagine how it must be for someone who is healthy. It’ll probably take Caleb a few hours to come to terms with it which is maybe why the wolf is in ascendancy at the moment.”

  Connor considered what she said for a few moments before he took his phone out and made another call. He spoke briefly to Drew and, after a bit of back and forth, obtained his agreement to postpone the trip to Los Lobos until morning to see if Caleb could bring the wolf under control himself. He called his father next and, after assuring him everything was okay and promising he would be staying, they agreed to meet in the morning. The whole family would face whatever consequences arose from the evening. He glanced over his shoulder and sighed. It looked like his family had almost doubled in size in just a few hours.

  Chapter Seven

  Hannah studied the ceiling as she willed herself to go to sleep. Will and Bridie had taken Connor to their house, no more than a five-minute drive away while Caleb, still stubbornly in wolf form had escorted her and Jessie to their upstairs apartment. It had taken a while for her to get her daughter settled, but eventually the excitement of the evening had given way to a series of huge yawns and she’d dropped into a deep sleep.

  The wolf had not been persuaded to stay in the lounge and had padded into Hannah’s bedroom after her. Efforts to remove him had proven futile, given he outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds, and she’d given up with a sigh. The wolf had whined when she gathered her nightclothes and disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door firmly in his face to take a quick shower and get changed for bed. Will was right; the shower was useless and her stomach fluttered at the idea of Caleb working up here in her private space. He was already here, she admitted, but it was different while he was in wolf form.

  She’d cleaned her teeth and turned her face from side to side as she examined her reflection. She didn’t look any different, although she definitely felt it. Not just from the surge of endorphins Caleb had induced in her during their encounter in the pantry. The memory of it had her body flushing and the wolf scraping and whining at the bathroom door. She’d quickly rinsed her mouth and tugged the door open before the noise could disturb Jessie and the wolf had darted in and pressed his nose to her groin and sniffed deeply.

  After Hannah shoved him away, the wolf had given her what could only be described as a leer before backing out of the bathroom and crossing to her bedroom. She’d sighed in despair as the wolf settled on the end of the bed and waited expectantly for her to join him. She had already told him he would have to sleep on the floor, but clearly the wolf had other ideas.

  He was still there now, sprawled across her legs, his breath even and relaxed. She thought he was asleep finally and envied him for it. She wanted to turn over, but the wolf had her pinned and she didn’t want to wake him. She closed her eyes and tried counting slowly to herself, hoping to calm her whirling brain and bore herself to sleep.

  She got to two hundred and forty something when the weight resting on her legs shifted. She snapped her eyes open and gasped as the outline of the wolf shimmered and shifted until a very naked man lay in his place. She jerked up in bed and reached for the bedside lamp. but Caleb caught her arm, his movements lightning quick.

  “Leave it,” he murmured hoarsely. “My eyes will be too sensitive for a while.” Her hand relaxed in the grasp of the big, beautiful man crouching over her.

  “You came back,” she whispered and she could just make out a flash of white as he grinned at her.

  “Yeah, I came back, P.R. Been trying for goddamn hours but that bastard wolf of mine was too stubborn to let go. Are you okay?” He cupped her face and she turned instinctively into the warmth of his palm. His rough, calloused thumb stroked her cheek as he bent forward to press kisses across her forehead and down her face to her neck.

  Caleb grounded himself in the sweet raspberry scent of his mate and his body shuddered in reaction. He was still a little jazzed from the huge surge of strength that had shot into him earlier, although it had faded to a comfortable buzz. He nuzzled her neck, licking the sweet, soft skin and he grinned into her flesh as she gave a breathy moan and rolled her head farther to the side, giving him more access to the spot he craved. He lowered his body against hers then cursed at the thick quilt trapped between them, preventing him from feeling her soft, warm curves against him.

  Lifting up, he stripped the quilt away and eased down using his feet to press her legs apart so he could settle between them and not crush her with his weight. The heat from her core radiated through the thin cotton of her pajama shorts and his cock thickened and lengthened in response.

  He raised up on his elbows and she turned her head toward him, brown eyes huge, those sweet, soft lips damp and parted slightly. Her hair spilled like black silk across the crisp, white pillow and he wanted to fist his hands in it and hold her head captive as he pillaged her mouth.

  He wanted her naked more though so he unbuttoned the cotton top that matched the shorts and spread it wide. Her breasts were a marvel that made saliva pool in his mouth, plump and ripe with a hint of silvering down the sides highlighted against the tanned skin. The little stretch marks showed evidence of her previous pregnancy and he liked them. They were a symbol of her fertility that spoke to the deepest most fundamental part of him that existed to rut and breed and bring forth cubs. Her nipples were dark, rich brown like milk chocolate, and wide. They puckered under his attention and he lowered his mouth to suck one between his lips.

  Arching up at the contact of wet heat around her nipple, she gasped as he shaped her breast with his hand and drew more of her flesh into his mouth. Using his tongue, he laved the sensitive tip and her body rippled beneath him as she ground her cotton-clad core against him. He palmed her other breast, the rough pads of his fingertips playing over the nipple, tickling and teasing before he gripped tightly and pinched the tip hard. The sharp bite seemed to flip a switch inside her and her whole body lit up in response. It tensed beneath him as he stoked her desire and then her body language and scent suddenly changed from ecstasy to fear.

  He whipped his head up to stare at her; she’d gone from languid and loose in his arms to rigid and shaking. He cupped her cheek and bent to press a soft kiss to her lips.

  “What’s wrong, P.R? Did I play too rough for you? I forget my own strength sometimes. I’m sorry.” His hands stroked softly over her arms and front, sweeping strokes designed to soothe rather than arouse.

  She shook her head and leaned up to press a kiss to his
mouth. “Nothing like that, if anything, it was too good. It called to me. Oh, Caleb, what if I can’t control it again? I want you to touch me, but we can’t risk bringing your wolf. You’ll get in trouble if you can’t change back again.”

  Caleb sat on his heels between her legs and regarded her. She could sense his frustration, and his cock jutted in front of him. The sight of him naked and aroused in the moonlight made her shudder inside and out. Turning her senses inward, she examined the source of her healing. It was different, had been different since their earlier encounter, but she’d been too distracted to notice until now. She felt stronger, more connected and aware of her ability as if the release he’d brought her to shattered a barrier between her and her ability.

  He crouched, patient and still, between her knees and she smiled as an idea came to her. If he was willing, then it was time to experiment a little, see what this level of awareness could do. She sat up and stripped the open nightshirt from her body, his eyes flashing gold as her breasts bounced with her movements. Climbing off the bed, she pointed to the space where she had lain and he crawled forward, his body all lithe animal grace as he moved to the head of the bed and rolled onto his back. She bit her lower lip, a little nervous but excited at the prospect of playing with the magnificent man sprawled out before her. She hooked her thumbs into her shorts and shucked them before climbing onto the bed to straddle his thighs.

  He relaxed, letting one knee roll over so his legs were slightly spread, giving her free access to his cock and the heavy balls hanging beneath it in a bed of dark curls. He propped one hand under his head and she caught a flash of white as he grinned up at her. Her sight was sharper and not just from growing accustomed to the dark. She could see his features much clearer.

  “You keep staring at me like that, P.R., and I’m likely to embarrass myself. Don’t keep me waiting any longer, sweet thing. Tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. You know I like to hear your words.” His voice deep and seductive as the velvet night around them.

  She’d never done anything like this before. It felt shocking and empowering in equal measures. She took a deep breath and reached for him. Her hand seemed tiny as she grasped his thick cock and the vein pulsed beneath her palm. She stroked him lightly, getting a feel for him, learning the shape of his flesh with her fingers.

  “My ability feels different to me, bigger and more somehow but, when I consider it, I feel more connected to it. I think, now I am more aware of it, I can release it a little bit at a time rather than letting it build up. I’m not sure, though, and I can’t think straight when you are touching me so I thought, if we did it this way, if I play with you a little, then I can see if I can control it.” She licked her suddenly dry lips and raised her other hand to place it on his thigh.

  “Play away all you like, P.R. Your hands feel so good, I’m more than willing to let you experiment.” Relief flashed at his words and she concentrated on her task. She smoothed her hand up and down his thick flesh, twisting her palm as it reached the broad head of his cock, smoothing it over the slickness gathering at the slit. She opened herself to her ability and drew a thin tendril, releasing it slowly into Caleb’s cock as she stroked. He bowed up and snarled as he thrust hard into her hand before relaxing back onto the bed.

  “Fuck me, Hannah!” he panted between gritted teeth and her hand froze in place. Hot fingers reached blindly for her and pressed her hold tighter around his cock, pumping their hands up and down in tight, hard jerks.

  “Don’t stop, for fuck’s sake, don’t stop, sweet thing. That was like nothing else I’ve ever felt.” He relaxed his grip, dropping his hand away as she picked up the rhythm for herself.

  Okay so he definitely liked that; what should I try next? She leaned over and licked the glistening head of his cock, the salty taste of him rich on her tongue, and her body tightened in response. She rubbed herself against his thigh, wetting his leg with her juices as she pressed her lips down until her mouth covered the entire head of his shaft. She licked and sucked on his hot cock as she palmed him in her hand, stroking and squeezing at the base of his shaft. She slid her other hand up over his thigh, tracing across the ridged muscles of his stomach, releasing tiny flutters of power as she went.

  Chapter Eight

  The strength inside her merged with her own consciousness, became more a part of her, and control followed. It seemed all she needed to do was properly acknowledge that part of her and now she worked in harmony with it. She turned her full focus to Caleb, curling her tongue around the head of his shaft to rub at the point underneath, which made him buck his hips. He buried his heavy hand in the thick tumble of curls cascading from her head and draping over his thighs in a curtain. He gave a sharp tug that rolled her eyes back in her head. She moaned around his cock and sucked him deeper, rubbing her pussy frantically against his big thigh as she sought the friction she needed.

  He tugged her hair again, and she gasped and strained to take more of him into her mouth, but his grip held her back.

  “Turn for me, P.R. I can feel that hot pussy of yours creaming all over my leg; your scent is making me crazy. I need my mouth on you, sweet thing. I need those hot juices spilling down my throat.”

  His words. The man had a way with the dirty talk, for sure, and she shifted her position until she could straddle his chest, her ass in the air, baring her pussy to his hungry lips and hands. He tugged her farther up the bed and she sprawled forward, seeking his cock with her mouth as he parted her flesh and delved his thumb deep into her opening. The angle was different, and she slid her hands between his thighs, spreading them as she reached to cup his balls in her hand. She rolled them gently, a trickle of strength gliding through her fingertips as she opened her jaw and swallowed as much of him down as she could without choking.

  He thrust his face against her pussy and growled, the vibration shooting through her clit as he lapped at it with his thick, rough tongue. Rocking her hips back, she pressed against his mouth and sucked frantically at his cock. There was little finesse in her technique now, but he didn’t seem to care as he palmed her ass, both thumbs digging deep into her pussy as they fucked in and out of her body.

  His teeth grazed her clit, and she cried out as she drew her mouth up his shaft to lick and suck the head. The duality within her rippled and stirred, snaking through her body in all directions, lighting her nerves on fire as it seeped from her flesh and into him at every point where their skin met.

  Her grip tightened on the hot, silky shaft and pumped hard, milking his flesh as she sucked him deep and the connection flowed between them. Their bodies formed a conduit, the pulses of it surging through them both where their mouths connected to each other’s point of pleasure and they cried out in unison as their climax broke. Hot spurts coated her tongue, and she sucked and drank his salty essence down as she rode his mouth and hands, her pussy spasming again and again around his thick digits as she came in waves. Her ability settled but the connection between them remained and she could feel him nestled deep within her heart.

  His flesh softened slightly in her mouth and she released his cock to pant and gasp in air as her body twitched and eased itself down from the incredible high they had both experienced. His hands dropped from her, and he fell against the pillows with a sigh. She rested her forehead on the rigid muscles of his stomach, her knees quaking and threatening to give out. He lifted her as though she weighed nothing, turning her in his arms until she was tucked against him, her head on his shoulder, her hair spilling across his chest.

  “What the fuck was that?” he whispered into her hair and she giggled at the incredulous tone in his voice.

  “I don’t know, but I want to do it again,” she whispered and dissolved into laughter. She rolled and buried her head into his shoulder, muffling the sound against his hot skin. His hand curled behind her back, pulling her closer as he kissed the top of her head.

  “I think you bonded with me,” he said softly and his voi
ce held such a note of tenderness, her laughter died as her throat went dry.

  Caleb shifted his warm body, rolling until he had her caged beneath his large frame. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and she couldn’t stop a soft moan as his tongue teased the sensitive area. She let her head drop to the side as she raised her hand to stroke it through the thick curls at the nape of his neck. His hair was damp there, still sweaty from their passions, and she teased the curls between her fingers as he continued to kiss his away across her throat and shoulder. He opened his mouth and she gasped at the feel of his teeth against her skin.

  He didn’t exert any real pressure, just held her tender flesh in his mouth and her heart fluttered, a combination of fear and excitement. A deep, rumbling growl rolled from his throat, vibrating against her skin and the anticipation turned her insides molten. That primitive, animalistic noise and the prick of his teeth at her most vulnerable spot stirred her basest instincts. She was prey, she realized, at the mercy of a stronger, more dangerous creature, and she had no choice but to submit to him.

  His mouth dropped away and she panted in relief and perhaps a shade of disappointment as he lifted his head. His eyes blazed golden in the half-light, the wolf clearly present in his intent stare.

  “Mate.” His voice sounded gruff, more growl than speech and he swallowed and blinked hard, the golden hue softening but not fading completely.

  “You are my mate, Hannah. The wolf knows it, and I know it. From the moment you walked through the door this afternoon and your beautiful scent hit me, I knew you were mine.” He settled his body deeper between her thighs and the thick length of his cock nudged her core.