by Dold, V. A.
She encircled her legs tightly around his thrusting hips, locking her ankles behind his sweet ass. She met him thrust for thrust. Suddenly she felt like she was exploding with ecstasy. Her channel clamped down on him as she came hard screaming his name.
She had him in a tight fisting grip which was the last straw, he joined her in his own release. Fine tremors quaked her body, milking him with rhythmic clenching.
He collapsed to her side, not wanting to crush her with his weight. She was so beautiful with a completely sated look on her face and he was honored to be the one allowed to put it there for the rest of their lives.
“That was incredible,” she breathed, reaching up to run her fingers along his jaw.
“Yes, it was,” he panted. “We are really mated.” It came out as an awe-filled statement.
Anna was breathing heavily, still recovering. “Yes, I do believe we are.” She giggled a little. “You’re mine, Cade Le Beau. Now and always.” She smiled a huge smile. “My five year plan worked, now you’re stuck with me.” She laughed as she teased him.
“Are you sure, you’re not the one who was snared in my trap?” he teased back. “The goddess works in the strangest ways but I am glad she found a way to bring us together.”
His wolf howled in satisfaction and hopped around like a happy pup. He wanted to meet his new wolf mate. He had to settle him down. One thing at a time for their mate, shifting to her wolf could wait for another time.
After a few minutes of recovery, he propped himself up on one elbow as he absently caressed his mate.
HIS MATE.
Damn, he liked the sound of that. He just wanted to lie there and gaze at her in his bed.
“I felt something strange after you said your part of the ritual.” She recalled the feeling, not sure what to make of it.
“Can you explain what it felt like?”
“It was as if something whooshed into my body and filled me up like air filling a balloon.”
“I would guess that was your wolf being joined to you. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like having another soul, a wild animal wolf soul sharing your body.”
Anna quietly considered his explanation. “I think you’re right, that makes sense. So how long will it be before I can shift?”
He hesitated. “You can shift at any time, but I wouldn’t recommend trying right now. Shifting when you are already tired can leave you stuck as a wolf until you have the energy to shift back.”
She sure didn’t want to spend what was essentially her wedding night as a wolf. Waiting until morning was a perfect option.
“Remember that weird energy hitting me? It almost knocked me off the bed.” That was something he’d never heard about during the claiming.
“I felt it too. It happened when I said I would offer to share my magic with you. I think you just got amped up.” She grinned at him.
“I didn’t think of that. You do have a ton of power. I think you’re right, I received power from you in return.” Cade was awed by that.
Chapter 13
Not more than five minutes later Anna didn’t feel well. Maybe she had eaten something to make her sick. She placed her hand over her stomach, the muscles cramped a little. A sharp twinge that eased a moment later. The pain etched her face. He saw it, he sensed it.
“Do you feel all right? Can I get you anything?” His brows were tight with worry.
“I just feel kind of sick and my stomach’s cramping. Maybe this will pass.” She saw the alarm growing in his eyes.
She rolled over and came up on her knees, clutching her stomach with both hands, a very pain-filled grimace on her face.
“I think this is the regression. Your body must be changing and that’s causing the pain. I’m so sorry, cher, I didn’t mean to cause you pain. I had no idea there would be pain!” She heard panic in his voice. “I’m calling my mother, she might know what to do.”
She rocked back and forth on the bed, trying to ease the cramping. Dull aches throbbed throughout her joints and muscles like when her foot fell asleep.
He returned to her side to rub small, soothing circles on her back. All his mother knew was there would be some pain, but not too debilitating, and it would pass fairly quickly.
She rested a little easier now that the stomach cramps let up. Her joints throughout her body were hot and achy. And her muscles continued to contract and tighten. The sensation felt like the day after a heavy-duty workout. She had a feeling she was going to be very sore tomorrow.
“Is the pain getting any better?” he asked
“Actually it is. I can tell the change isn’t over, but the cramping isn’t as bad as it was.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
“Just stay with me and try to be quiet. The pain control is like childbirth, I need to focus and breathe through it. If you break my concentration, I get hit with an unexpected wave, and then the level is more intense.” She tried to smile.
Okay, shut mouth and be invisible, got it, Cade thought. I’ll just do what seems to sooth her and try to let her handle this.
Anna smiled at his thoughts. He must really be upset to have left his thoughts wide open. He was normally so guarded.
There was a change in the sensations, she felt her skin tightening over her new sculpted and shaped muscles. A human shrink wrap was the only way to explain the feeling. The thought made her giggle.
Cade wanted to ask what was funny, but, dammit he was told to stay quiet, and that’s what he would do. As he rubbed her back, he saw the changes happening. He wasn’t completely pleased when her curves started to shrink making her soft, round body he worshipped, trimmer and a bit more lithe. He adored her extra padding, and though he would take her any way he could get her, he would miss those extra curves. She still had an incredibly curvaceous body even with the change. He studied her and thought, Now she is more Marilyn Monroe and less Queen Latifah.
It was hard to tell for sure, but in the soft lighting of the bedroom it seemed her hair had gotten lighter in color, a brighter red than it had been, and as he stroked the length he was shocked by the silky softness. He was dying to see her face, but refused to move from where he sat behind her. I won’t be the cause of her losing concentration again.
“I think the changes might be over. I don’t feel any pain or tightness anymore.” Her voice was almost a whisper
“Let’s give it a minute or two to make sure before you move.” As much as he wanted to wrap her in his arms, he also didn’t want the pain to return.
It seemed they were in the clear. The pain and uncomfortable tightness were gone. She slowly stretched on the bed, trying out her muscles throughout her body. Surprisingly, there was no ache or soreness from over-strained muscles. She turned her attention to him, almost afraid to ask what she looked like. No mirror was visible from where she lay, and she wasn’t sure what she would see. Do I look okay?
His eyes were huge and he had a goofy expression of shock and awe on his face.
Oh, man, it’s bad, isn’t it?
He just shook his head, he had no words for how she looked. He stood from the bed reaching for her hand to help her up. I want you to see for yourself.
She gave him one long, worried intent look and walked to the full-length mirror mounted in the dressing area next to the closet. She gasped covering her mouth with her hand. Glancing back and forth between her reflection and Cade’s image as he stood behind her. Is that really me?
Beautiful. Mon amour, you are stunning.
She was back to a curvy size ten like in her twenties. Her hair was a brighter auburn red. Red hair tends to slowly turn brunette as you age. But now it was a beautiful shade with copper highlights throughout the lengths of soft, flowing waves. Her skin was tight and supple without the wrinkles that had started showing up in her late thirties. She could hardly believe the woman gazing back at her was really what she looked like now. She ran her palm up and down her arms amazed at the softness of her skin. Now this, she thought as she
gazed in the mirror, was worth the pain any day of the week.
He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “I didn’t believe you could be more beautiful, but now you literally take my breath away. How do you feel?”
“I can’t believe that’s me in the mirror. This is great, but it’s going to be a long time before I can look in the mirror and not do a double take. Believe it or not, I have no residual soreness at all. I feel wonderful.”
He let out a sigh. “That’s a relief. I never want to go through that again. Your being in pain and my being unable to do anything about it was tearing me apart. My wolf was going insane.”
Anna busted out laughing. His expression turned to confusion and hurt at her laughter. “Babe, that was nothing compared to childbirth. You’d better learn to suck it up if we have children.”
His expression instantly turned to horror. “I suddenly have no desire for offspring. Someone else can supply the grandchildren.”
That made her laugh even harder.
“Oh no!” she cried out.
“What!” He frantically searched for what was causing her distress.
“I don’t have any clothes that will fit the new me. I can’t go to the barbeque tomorrow naked. I need to buy something quick.”
“Jesus, Anna, don’t do that to me. You took a hundred years off my life. I’ll make a few calls and get some clothes sent over. Do you have a way to measure yourself so I can tell them what size you’ll need?”
“I have a cloth measuring tape in my purse.”
Within fifteen minutes, he had a new wardrobe on its way
“I think the conversion burned up everything I ate tonight. I’m starving. Do you mind if we order room service?” She was incredibly hungry, she couldn’t remember the last time she had been this starved.
“Anything you want, cher. Here’s the menu. I’ll call down an order whatever sounds good to you. I’m happy to be able to take care of you again after the horrors of the conversion, even if it was just room service and new clothes.”
“I feel like such a cow, but I’d really like filet steak and the bread pudding with bourbon sauce with a huge glass of very cold milk.”
He smiled at the wistful expression on her face as she imagined the food she was ordering. “That sounds delicious, I’ll order two of everything and eat with you.”
Twenty minutes later a knock at the door announced dinner was served. She floated in a state of bliss, everything smelled better, tasted better than she ever experienced. “This is the best food I’ve ever had,” she moaned in food ecstasy.
“That’s your new wolf senses. You will hear better, smell everything, which isn’t always a good thing, tastes will be layers now instead of a mixture of flavor, and you will have perfect night vision. All of the senses I have.”
“You could’ve told me about this before, a girl likes to be prepared. Geez, Cade.”
He laughed at her indignant scowl. “Would it have helped in any way?”
“Well, no, but still.”
“I’ll try to think of anything else I failed to warn you about while I enjoy my steak,” he teased.
It was already almost midnight and they had a big day tomorrow. He hustled her off to bed the minute they finished eating, and for the rest of the night the only bedroom activity on the menu was sleep. He wanted to make sure she was rested after her ordeal. Loving her would wait.
Anna woke the next morning feeling incredible. She stretched her muscles in bed relishing the feel of having strong, young limbs again and a flat stomach. Well, that was just the bomb as far as she was concerned.
She rolled over and snuggled against his side, rubbing herself on him like a cat, until he stirred and slowly woke up. “Who’s this ravishing creature in my bed?” he peered at her through one barely open eye. He pulled her in close to try to get a few more minutes of sleep.
She thumped him on the chest. “Cade Le Beau, don’t you dare go back to sleep.”
He chuckled with his eyes still closed as he tightened his arm around her.
She squirmed, but he had an iron grip on her and she was stuck. “I want to learn how to shift,” she said in her best little girl, whiny voice.
“Maybe in an hour. I’m still tired,” he teased a little more.
She let out a harrumph sound in defeat. Then she felt his chest vibrating with his silent laughter. She thumped him again.
“Violent little thing, aren’t you.” He laughed out loud and released her so she could get up. “I suggest we get showered and eat breakfast first. Then I will help you make your first shift. Wear something loose and comfortable.”
She practically threw herself out of bed and into the shower she was so excited.
He shook his head and smiled at her excitement then went to brew the coffee.
Once they were both showered and breakfast finished, she was ready to try this shifting thing. He moved the furniture to the walls creating a large open area in the middle of the room.
“I’m really going to need all this space? You never do.” She studied the room speculatively.
“Better safe than sorry. This way, the furniture may avoid damage if your wolf gets frisky.” There was a little too much amusement in his eyes.
“Yeah, right, you wish,” she teased. “What do I need to do?”
“Close your eyes and visualize yourself as a wolf. You don’t need to worry about the color and size to do it. You’ll naturally become the correct wolf.” He took a step out of the circle.
She closed her eyes, scrunching up her face as she concentrated really hard. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes feeling defeated. “I think I’m broken.”
“You aren’t broken, you’re actually trying too hard.” He grinned “Picture a wolf in your mind and imagine yourself as a wolf. Your hands are paws, you have fur and a tail.”
She closed her eyes again and breathed deep to relax herself. Next thing she knew she was a little wolf tangled up in her t shirt and running pants. She struggled to get free, but she was stuck and frankly felt ridiculous. Her wolf’s head turned toward him and tried to scowl. Now what, Yoda?
He laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe. “Imagine the clothes gone.”
The petite russet wolf closed its eyes and the clothes vanished. She was so shocked she just stood blinking for a few seconds.
She was a solid, deep rusty russet color with black and gold blended throughout the coat. In the mirror across the room her eyes glowed a vibrant green, the combination was astounding. She resembled a red fox without the white chest and tail tip.
Anna gave him the biggest wolf grin she could manage and started hopping and jumping around the room, leaping on the couch, over to the chair, on top of the dining room table. She stopped in the middle of the table, gave him a sly glance, crouched lower on her front paws, and wiggled her back end playfully. She felt her tail wag, which was just plain freaky, and spun around in a circle trying to see it.
She had him laughing so hard he was in tears.
Come and play with me, big boy. She wiggled her butt at him again.
“Mon coeur, I’d love nothing more, but two wolves in this room wouldn’t be a good idea. We can go for a run at my house later. See if you can shift back. I don’t want to explain a wolf in the lobby when we leave.”
She concentrated, suddenly she was a human again, but dang it, she was naked in the middle of the dining room table. She folded her arms across her breasts and scowled at him again. “How do you manage to have clothes on when you shift?” she asked in an accusing tone.
“You have to visualize yourself as human, but also exactly what you will be wearing. The reverse of shifting to the wolf, where you visualize the wolf and only fur,” he explained very calmly, and for some reason his utter calm just plain pissed her off. This was serious business.
She scooted off the table and stood in the middle of the room again. She needed to visualize her clothes. Instantly she had on jeans and a t-shirt, but no bra
or panties. “Are you kidding me!” She threw her arms up in the air in total annoyance.
“What? What’s the problem, I thought you did quite well.”
She rolled her eyes then lifted her shirt and exposed her very naked breasts. They both laughed at her lack of underwear.
“Let me try this again.” She was determined to get this right. She imagined the wolf again and this time got it right, all wolf and no clothes. She sat down in the middle of the living room very proud of herself.
He stood and clapped for her, a one-man standing ovation.
I’m going to try shifting back with clothes this time.
He waited still standing for what seemed like minutes to her but was really only heartbeats. She stood before him, human and fully clothed. They both laughed as he swung her around in a circle like a little girl.
He took her face in his hands. “I knew you could do it, mon amour.”
“That was so awesome!” Her eye sparkled a brilliant green. “Should I keep practicing?”
“Not right now. I want to discuss something serious with you. I hope you will agree.”
Chapter 14
She accepted his outstretched hand and joined him on the couch.
“Since we’re now mated, I’d like you to move to my home. I can protect you there and also teach you everything you need to learn as a shifter.”
She didn't hesitate. “Do you want me to pack up my apartment today?”
As far as she was concerned, he was right. There was no reason to stay at the hotel.
“No, I’ll send a crew to pack your belongings and move everything. Now, let’s get ready for the party.”
Anna stood in the middle of the bedroom in only her bra and panties with her hands on her hips. She’d already tried on six different outfits, and each of them had found their way to the pile of discards on the floor. She wanted to make the perfect impression, Lee jeans and white T-shirt weren’t dressy enough, but she didn’t want to overdress either. She finally settled on a pair of designer jeans and a designer blouse as the perfect combination of dressy casual.