Ride: The Bet (Puca Mates Book 2)

by A. C. James

  Smiling, he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, pulling her a little closer with his other hand, which was still wrapped around her waist. Her breasts pressed against his chest. “You’re stunning.”

  It was easier for him to say than ‘you’re the kind of woman I could seriously fall for’ because his immediate need was to be with her.

  She looked away shyly. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t just tell me what I want to hear.”

  Oh, for fuck’s sake. He had no idea what she wanted to hear. “And what do you want to hear, love?”

  She paused as if deciding whether to give him a real answer or come up with some bollocks like ‘you’re stunning’ instead. Of course, it was only wishful thinking that she felt even half of what he did.

  “I want what everyone wants.”

  “What’s that?”

  Instead of answering, she stood on tip-toe and planted a kiss on the side of his neck, trailing all the way up to his earlobe, where she nibbled before whispering... “I’m not supposed to tell. It’s a matter of secret intelligence.” She smiled teasingly.

  “I know what you want.” He didn’t, not really, but he’d fill in the gaps with what he wanted.

  “Do you?” she purred.

  “You want your absence to be noticed, to be painful...” he whispered against her lips.

  She shivered against him, pressing into his hard grooves, so he kept going. “You want to be craved and driven over the edge...” This time his lips brushed against her neck as he spoke.

  “Shhhh. Don’t talk anymore.” Her eyes were unreadable, but he didn’t want to miss his opening. Aye, not talking sounded good to his stallion too.

  Niall kissed her and grabbed her under her thighs, his hands cupping her backside. She wrapped her legs around his hips, digging her heels into his lower back as he carried her. He drank her in as he laid her gently onto the bed. Then he reached for the drawer in the bedside table. He’d do this right—in accordance with human mating rituals—as Tomas had instructed.

  “Don’t worry, you don’t have to use a condom as long as you’re clean. I can’t have kids. You are clean, right?”

  He stiffened at the abrupt shift in mating behavior. Tomas had explained that ‘condoms’ were part of standard human courtship, but he knew diseases couldn’t be transferred from a púca to a human. All part of the crash course he’d been given after being commanded to find a mate. “How do you know?”

  “I have fibroids, the doctor told me it was highly unlikely, and in all the years I was with my ex we never conceived.”

  He knew nothing about this, but he’d take the stroke of good luck and think on it later. Thank fuck he’d met a woman who he could be with and fulfill his father’s order without placing her in a dangerous position. This outcome was more than he could have possibly hoped for. She’ll be ours. Take her now.

  Chapter 8

  Felicity never realized how miserable she’d been until Niall was looking at her spread out across the bed like a dessert he wanted to devour. She only hoped her little spiel about infertility hadn’t killed the mood. It hadn’t for her...but bloody hell, she’d said something so stupid that he might grab his clothes and run for the hills. Still, she licked her lips, anticipating his response.

  Niall edged his way between her legs, which dangled off the edge of the bed. He placed his hands on her denim-covered thighs, sliding them up until he’d almost reached her most intimate area, and then stopped. “Well, that’s good news for both of us. But these are in my way, love.”

  “Maybe you should do something about that?” With a grin, he undid her jeans and slid them down her legs, kicking them away from his feet. “But in all fairness I think you need to ditch yours too,” she teased.

  “Yes, my lady.”

  She giggled. A girl could get used to hearing that. She stared up at him as he took off his jeans and lowered his boxers. Her eyes had dropped to his erection, and her mouth was gaping like a fish out of water. Crap. Crap. No. Crap. He laughed. She shut it and licked her lips. He was big. Not monstrously big, but certainly the biggest she’d ever seen outside of the porn her ex used to put on the telly to get her attention while she was reading. Frankly, a good book was better than that shite, and her imagination was far more creative than William’s attempts at seduction.

  A shudder of desire went through her anyway at the thought of Niall filling her.

  “See something ye like, love?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  He winked at her. “Aye, never heard anyone say little before, but when you look at me like that...” He nodded toward his erection. “I suppose ye mean it as a compliment.”

  Niall was teasing her. She was sure her face was beet red. “Oh, god,” she whispered.

  He slid onto the bed, his naked body next to her almost-naked one. Her heart hammered against her chest. Niall must have sensed her uncertainty, because he took his time. He enveloped her waist and pulled her to him. They spent a long time kissing. A slow burn of desire coursed through her, and his kisses poured through every inch of her body. It made her feel cherished and desired all at once. Then he trailed a fingertip down her shoulder, over her arm, to travel across the curve of her stomach. All the while, his mouth was leaving hot kisses along her neck and then following the same path his fingers had taken. A path that led him between her legs, where he teased her with feather light touches through her underwear. She was panting and desperate for more.

  He teased a finger under the elastic rim. “These are in my way too,” he said, his voice husky. “Take them off.”

  Her mouth went dry. She shimmied her ass out of her underwear and kicked them off the bed. Felicity only hoped he wouldn’t get any wild ideas about pulling her on top of him. She didn’t think having her breasts dangling and swaying as if they had a mind of their own was her most flattering angle. Her worry vanished as Niall got between her legs and left a moist trail of kisses up the inside of her thigh. Her fingers dug deliciously into the muscles of his shoulders as he teased her with his fingers, making her moan softly. She revelled in the sweet touch of his tongue as he tasted her. She wrapped her legs around his head, which made his tongue thrust deeper. He groaned.

  NIALL DUG A HAND UNDER her ass. He savored her taste as he buried his head between her legs. The total spectrum of sensation—touch, taste, smell—was intoxicating. His tongue slid through her outer lips with a flick. He could tell by the way she’d wrapped her legs around him, pinning him in place, that he was on the right path. His stallion could be a very demanding beast, and he fully intended to keep her here until the sun set across the bay. He wanted to make sure he satisfied her before giving into his urge to take her.

  His hands drifted from under her backside to her hips as he delved deeper into her folds with his tongue. A soft moan escaped her lips. Yes, she’s our mate. Her hands tangled into his hair, tugging enough to cause a sharp twinge of pleasure-pain. He felt her clench around his tongue while her fist clutched his hair.

  “Oh, God,” she said, panting. “Take me.”

  Niall chuckled. “What’s the rush?”

  Felicity moaned. “I need...more.”

  “More?” He leaned up, angling above her and forcing her legs to loosen their grip on his head. Niall kissed her mouth and murmured against her lips, “Tell me. What do you want?”

  “You.”

  “Let me take care of you first.”

  Her eyes met his, unreadable. There was something profound in them, but he couldn’t pinpoint the exact emotion flitting across her features. He wanted to take care of her, possess her, and make her scream his name. He leaned down and lowered his head to continue exploring her with his tongue. Niall stayed between her legs, listening to the hitch in her breathing and the soft sounds that escaped her—licking and tasting until he knew she was close. Her heart was pounding—his stallion could hear it beating like the sound of galloping hooves, urging him on
. His tongue darted faster and faster. His finger made its way to her entrance and plunged deep. First just one finger, then two, all while he continued swirling his tongue at the same speed, same spot. Then he felt her come, in glorious waves and ripples.

  “Niall...”

  His name was the sweetest benediction he’d ever heard. It was almost sacred as she fell apart in his hands. She’s ours. Take her now.

  Chapter 9

  Felicity pushed up to her elbows, panting. She’d just barely caught her breath before Niall started kissing her senseless. He tumbled on top of her, and she was pressed to the mattress by the hard planes of his body. She sank her fingers into his almost shaggy brown hair, her palms cupping his cheeks. He hadn’t shaved, and she relished the slight stubble scraping across her palms. He smelled earthy, animalistic, and definitely male—a smell she would forever associate as distinctly Niall. With his body pressed into hers, she could feel his shaft prodding her entrance.

  His kiss was almost dizzying, consuming, and it ignited a fire that travelled south to begin another slow-building orgasm. She moved her hands to wrap around his shoulders, and her fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck. She broke the kiss and brought her lips to the side of his neck, nibbling her way up to his ear.

  “I want to feel you inside of me,” she whispered, delighting at the tremor her words elicited.

  “Aye, love.”

  Her tongue licked the shell of his ear and thrust inside.

  He groaned. “You’re driving me insane.”

  She raked her nails down his back and grabbed his ass, pulling him closer, urging him to take her. More than anything she needed to feel him penetrate her. Agonizingly, he paused at her entrance, teased her with the head of his shaft. She was more than ready—slick, wet, and needy.

  “Tell me you’re mine,” he growled.

  She’d tell him anything if he’d take her.

  “I’m yours. I’m yours. I’m yours.” Nothing more than a holiday fling.

  He thrust inside of her, to the hilt, possessing her to the very depths of her soul. She gripped his ass even harder, sure her nails would leave crescent indents. Niall picked up the rhythm, a pounding pace that was going to push her over the edge again. Their sweat-slick bodies melded together, and with each thrust, he moved her closer to the headboard. She moved her hands over her head to wrap around the brass rungs and circled her legs around his hips. Over and over again he hammered into her.

  “So beautiful... mine,” he growled.

  “Oh, god! Ohhhhmygod!”

  Her breathy words only encouraged him to move faster as she held onto the headboard and tilted her hips to meet each stroke. She moaned with ecstasy as she took every inch of him, filling her, stretching her. Even though Felicity was pinned to the bed by Niall’s body, she was far from helpless in this position. She dug her heels into his lower back to bring him deeper, and arched into him.

  The way he slid in and out created a masterful pattern of pleasure, and she couldn’t think straight with him inside of her. She was acutely aware of every single spot where their bodies met. He’d slowed the pace and lowered his head to kiss her. His tongue slid against hers, intoxicating. The pressure of his lips against her, kissing her, tasting her while his hips ground hers into the mattress, put her into an erotic stupor. Sensible, predictable, rational Felicity was gone.

  Niall stopped kissing her and picked up the pace again. She was lost in the wonderful feeling of him moving in and out of her like a piston.

  “You feel amazing, love. You’re mine.”

  She swallowed hard. “Y-yes...”

  Felicity couldn’t help but like how that sounded, even though she’d be back in London soon enough. No matter where their lives took them, they’d always have this moment. Nothing else in the world mattered, nothing else existed beyond this bedroom. He thrust deeper, harder, claiming her. A growl rumbled in his chest and vibrated against her breasts, the light dusting of chest hair causing a tingling array of sensation. Her breathing quickened until her chest was lifting and falling rapidly. She was going to come if he kept this up.

  In and out. Two bodies becoming one. Felicity came with a scream as a hot jet streamed into her.

  Niall stared down at her with stormy eyes. He continued to thrust rhythmically, deep and slow, to give her time to recover, she thought. She could feel every throbbing inch. Her sex fluttered in helpless delight around him. She’d won the bet, but this was definitely a complication. She’d given everything to William, saving nothing for herself, and she’d barely survived.

  Felicity closed her eyes and gave into Niall’s slow, insatiable strokes.

  Rocking into her, Niall planted shaking lips to her forehead, her closed eyelids, her cheekbones. She wasn’t ready for a next time, another relationship, but she wanted to get it right. Choose someone who wouldn’t be a long-distance relationship...someone like Niall, but in London. Only, this felt right, and the thought of leaving the island brought a tight pain to her chest.

  Chapter 10

  It was almost dark by the time Niall walked Felicity back to Pier House. They’d spent most of the afternoon at the cottage. He didn’t want to let her go, but she insisted on showering back at the bed and breakfast where she had a fresh set of clothes. She also wanted to check in with her friend. Tomas still hadn’t returned from keeping Cyn entertained. He’d have to thank his mate for providing a diversion so he could fulfill his stallion’s desire.

  Felicity rubbed her arms, which were covered in goosebumps. Even summer on Inis Mór could be brisk, especially as evening set in.

  “Cold, love?”

  Felicity smiled shyly. “Only a little.”

  He turned her toward him and pulled her into his arms as they reached Pier House. “I’ll have to warm you up then.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed as he traced a line down her arm with his knuckles. He could smell her hunger, and his stallion wanted to take her all over again. Her desire for him slammed into him and stole his breath. What was she doing to him? He’d taken many female púca-shifters to his bed, and it had never been like this. Touching her set every cell in his being on fire.

  She opened her eyes, smiling up at him. “Haven’t you had enough of me?”

  “Never. You are perfect, Felicity.” He brushed her hair back, which exposed her shoulder and sent a shiver through her.

  “Nobody’s perfect, least of all me,” she whispered.

  He sensed heat as passion pooled between her legs, and it took every ounce of willpower to keep his stallion from lifting her and carrying her through the lobby to her room. He didn’t care what anyone might think. He breathed in her scent and tilted her face up to grant him access to her mouth. Niall kissed her with the ferocious intensity his stallion demanded. She gripped his arms as she stood on tiptoe to meet that demand with her lush mouth. Her breath was warm, her body soft and pliable in his arms. Niall broke the kiss. His stallion needed to touch her, claim her again, and wouldn’t be satisfied until they were properly mated, but he didn’t want to scare her. It would take time he didn’t have to reveal himself to her.

  “I want to see you later. Will you meet me at Tí Joe Watty’s for dinner?”

  “Like a date?”

  Niall paused. Tomas had told him about these ‘dates’, and that they were a human custom when courting a woman. It wasn’t exactly what he was used to, but he had to eat anyway and if sharing food was what ‘dating’ a human entailed, he didn’t mind doing it as long as it was with Felicity. It seemed much simpler to tell her she was his mate, then throw her over his shoulder to take her beyond the veil, claim her as his for all to see in a sacred ceremony, and fuck her senseless. But he suspected she wouldn’t take kindly to doing things his way. Niall knew he’d paused too long to think about it, judging by the weight of her gaze and the funny expression on her face.

  “Niall, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. Just because we had sex doesn’t mean—”

  Niall
grinned. “Aye, it’s a date. A proper date, and I’d be honored to escort you to grab a bite to eat.”

  Felicity laughed. “Okay, well, I’ll see you later then. What time?”

  This was all very awkward for Niall. If anyone from the Realm could see him ‘dating’ a human, they’d fall on the ground in fits of laughter. His stallion even huffed at how silly this seemed after the way they’d spent their afternoon together.

  “Around seven?”

  “Sounds grand.”

  “Aye.”

  She smiled again before going on tiptoe to kiss him one last time. Their tongues danced and duelled as the sun set across Galway Bay. Every time he touched her, tasted her, his stallion branded her as his. He left his scent on her to warn off other púcas that might get the idea to take her once they reached the Realm. Before the sacred ceremony she was fair game, and pickings were slim. She kissed his upper lip softly while he lightly chewed and sucked her lower lip, drawing a soft moan from her mouth. His tongue wandered over hers to her teeth and the contrast of hard and soft was making him hard. Niall’s erection pressed into her thigh. If her moist mouth was enough to awaken his stallion, it was going to be difficult to ‘date’ her and not give into his beast’s need to claim her. This time it was Felicity who broke their kiss.

  “I have to go,” she panted. “It’s Cyn’s birthday, and she’s going to wonder where I got off to.”

  “Aye, you could tell her you got off with me.”

  Felicity grinned. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “You don’t know what you do to me. You make me this way, Felicity. It’s maddening to stand here pretending I can keep my hands off you.”

  Their eyes locked, and Felicity pulled away slightly. Her eyes dropped to his denim-covered erection and a wicked grin curved her mouth. “Well, I best get going then, so you can keep your hands off me and your pants on.”