by K. S. Martin
“It’s okay baby, that’s the adrenaline. I’m right here, and I love you.” He murmured against the tender skin of her inner thigh. Mac parted her thighs gently and kissed her there, she shivered. Tina watched down the length of her body, was this happening? Was he going to do this? Really? Mac tasted her and Tina jolted. “Easy baby.” He held her thighs with his warm hands. He nibbled at her inner lips and suckled the overly sensitive bundle of nerves. Tina nearly came off the bed. Slipping a finger inside Mac found her to be very wet and ready for him. He eased in another, circling her rim, and letting her grow accustomed to him being there. Tina’s inner muscles clenched at his fingers when he curled them forward over the rough patch of skin on the front wall of her vagina. She knotted the linens in her fists and tried to control the tremors that shook her. Mac dragged his tongue over the sensitive flesh and she detonated, Tina’s back bowed and a loud moan escaped her plumped kiss bruised lips. “That’s my girl.” Mac pulled his briefs off and settled in the cradle of her thighs. The large bulbous head of his erection rested against her throbbing flesh. He moved against her wetness coating his member in her cream. Tina’s eyes sprang open and he kissed her again, nibbling at her lips then kissing the corners. He let his tongue trace the seam of her mouth begging entrance into the sweet cavern. She could taste herself on his tongue. That was so sexy. “Are you ready for me sweetness?” Tina nodded. “Good.” It was sigh filled with hope and relief. Mac positioned himself and eased into her slowly. “So good.” He pulled back and eased into her further carefully, she was tight, and he knew this was foreign to her. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her, he wanted her to love this. Tina spread her legs further and wrapped her arms around his neck. Mac was gazing into her eyes when he wasn’t kissing her. “You feel like home sweetheart.” Further he went, nearly filling her now. He was stretching her gently, giving her time to adjust to the fullness. Tina wrapped her legs around his hips and locked her ankles in his lower back. She was ready and Mac eased all the way into her and stilled as he broke her hymen. Tina winced. “Oh sweets, you feel so good, it won’t hurt long.” He kissed her, long and slow, Tina raised her hips urging him on. “So sweet.” Mac moved and she moaned. He was having a hard time restraining himself, he wanted to fill her fast, hard and he wanted it now. His wolf wanted it too, there was a constant chant in his head now, claim her, claim her. He thrust into her gently, slowly caressing her most intimate parts. Heat filled her starting at her core and racing across her nerves and through her veins. She cried out when the orgasm clenched her womb sweetly and shook her with tremors. Mac eased out of her and rolled her gently to her front, she whimpered at the loss. He pulled her hips up until she was on her knees. She tried to slip away, still sensitive about him seeing her bottom. “No, no sweetheart, I love this sexy ass, let me have it, you can trust me this is the way it must be. This is a female submitting to her mate and her alpha.” His warm lips left a trail from one pale globe to the other and she relaxed again and nodded. Mac eased into her gently then covered her body with his. He kissed her spine and shoulder blades as he moved against her, moving her hair out of the way he mouthed the muscle that ran from the neck to her shoulder. His tongue touched the frantic pulse there. Tina moved against him. “I’m going to claim you Kristina. It won’t hurt long and it will bond us forever.”
“Yes.” Her voice was a breathy sigh. She felt his teeth against her skin and braced herself hoping it only hurt for a second like her hymen had. Mac was moving faster now and a flush crept over her skin. Her channel throbbed with her pulse and heat spread from her core over her nerves and through her veins again. He shifted changing the angle of his movement inside her and the orgasm rocketed through her as his teeth sank into her shoulder. White lights burst behind her eyes and Tina cried his name loudly. She heard him saying something that she didn’t understand something in another language that she’d never heard before and when he finished, she felt his tongue tracing the bite. Her arms shook with sudden exhaustion. His body shook and vibrated against her, and he roared his release. Mac held her against him and lowered them to the bed staying buried inside of her. “I love you.” She sighed and drifted on the peacefulness that comes before sleep.
“I love you too mate.” She felt him murmur against her neck.
***
“Wake up beautiful.” Mac said some time later. Tina stretched and cuddled against him. “Come on sweetness.” Tina murmured and tried to roll away from him, still exhausted and boneless, still craving sleep. “Oh, no you don’t.” Mac pulled her back over to face him. “Kristina.” Tina opened one eye and gazed at him then smiled. “We have to finish the bonding.”
“I thought that we did.” He was already shaking his head.
“No baby, we haven’t completed it. I’ve tasted your blood but the bond is not complete until you taste mine. You won’t be able to bite me without fangs so we have to improvise.”
“Explain.” She rose up on one elbow. Tina grew worried because he hadn’t said anything about this before.
“I’ve mated you and claimed you but we aren’t bonded until the exchange is complete.” Mac’s nails morphed into claws and her eyes widened, watching. He sliced into the skin over muscle that connected his neck and shoulder. “Suck.”
“Will it hurt me? I mean make me sick?” He shook his head and smiled. Tina smiled leaning up and sucked hard on it, hollowing her cheeks. Mac went hard instantly and she could feel it twitch against her belly. Her small hand palmed his erection, it was hot and silken. Fully engorged, he thrust into her hand and her eyes widened feeling her fingers not quite circle its girth. She traced the veins and circled the head. A drop of pre-cum slipped out of the slit in the end and Tina spread it with her thumb.
“How do you feel?” Mac asked pulling her away from his shoulder.
“Happy.” She didn’t look up she was exploring but she knew he was smiling. Men had always fascinated her. In college, she’d had a subscription to a woman’s magazine that featured nude males. They were all so different, shapes, lengths, girths, and colors, all beautiful in their own way. Those men had been hot, but not nearly as hot as this man. Tina lifted her knee to his hip and put his flesh inside of her. Mac’s big hands pulled her closer and then he rolled to his back so she was straddling him. She traced the hills and valleys of his abs, letting her fingertip trace the lines until she’d worked her way up to the beautiful pectoral muscles. Mac watched her, she could feel his eyes on her and she glanced up to smile back at him. He was letting her learn him and was delighted that she wanted to. He rolled his hips and shifted until he was inside of her deeply making her inhale sharply. His mate was incredible and curious. She was like a child on her first trip to the playground, she wanted to touch everything. Bending over him Tina tugged his nipple into her mouth and laved it with her tongue. Mac shifted and rolled her onto her back. Tina wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips urging him on. Mac growled against her neck.
“Sweetheart, I want you too much, don’t move like that, I’m not sure that I can be gentle and I don’t want to hurt you.” He kissed the tender skin beneath her ear.
“Bobby MacEwan, are you holding back on me?” She shoved at his shoulders. His head jerked up, he was Bobby again which meant he was in trouble. “Don’t you dare hold back, I want all of it, I want to experience everything, I want everything you have, and you’re going to give it to me. You can’t think of me as some fragile human that you can’t be yourself with or that you have to be gentle all the time with, you have to think of me as your mate. I am your mate, you said so.” Her fists knotted in his hair now controlling his head. He grinned down at her. “Give me more MacEwan, I want it all.” She jerked her hips up into his again and Mac snarled playfully. He stopped being gentle, stopped being easy, and stopped holding back.
***
Tina eased out of bed while he still slept and went to her apartment to get ready because two- ten came so early lately. She showered smiling at the sor
eness, and dressed before opening the door. Mac was sitting on her side of the bed sipping coffee. “Did I wake you?” Tina went to kiss him and he pulled her down in his lap, she winced a little. She took his coffee and sipped. Mac tried to take it back but she wouldn’t let him have it. He chuckled and settled for kissing her neck instead. “I have to open the bakery, it would normally be…”
“I know baby. I know you’re hurt. You trusted him, and he let you down, betrayed you. We’ll work through it. I had an idea, since you’re going to be pack now I was thinking that at the picnic you can conduct interviews.” Tina shook her head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, I mean I want your friends to like me and if I don’t hire them will they still like me? Maybe it would be better if I just placed an ad in the paper instead, but I have to ask Cassie first. She’s been loyal and if she wants to learn, she should have the opportunity.” Mac nodded and took his empty cup from her. “Do you want more?” He shook his head.
“I’m going to shower and go to work early so I can leave early. I filled your travel cup, it’s on the table.” Mac kissed her lips and hugged her. “Have a good day sweetheart.” Tina glanced at her watch and kissed him again then hurried downstairs.
Chapter 10
“Good morning Cassie.” Tina was waiting for her knowing that she needed to replace Luca as soon as she could. “I want to ask you something.” Cassie poured herself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter. The bakery store would open in less than five minutes.
“What is it T?” Cassie blew then sipped.
“Would you like to work in the bakery? I am going to advertise for a position and its full time, salaried with health benefits and vacation time. I wanted to offer it to you first because you have seniority, if you’re interested you can try it out and see if you like it.” Cassie set her cup down careful not to spill it.
“Do you mean it? I can work in the back?” She cried excitedly and threw her arms around Tina’s neck hugging her tightly as she hopped up and down. “Oh.” Cassie stepped back, “you will still need to advertise for my position unless you’ll let me do you a favor and bring my brother in? He loves coffee as much as I do and I’ve been teaching him to barista just for fun. He just graduated high school and he’s looking for a job.”
“Okay, then it’s all settled, have your brother stop by. You can open the store now.” Cassie was nearly bouncing in her shoes with giddiness. Tina smiled and went to work. It was busy all day with the threat of four weddings in less than a week so everyone was on overdrive and without Luca. They were all going to have to work harder. Tina coordinated and planned all four cakes usually she would split them up. She and Brett worked on baking them the first day, they would be frosting and building on Monday and decorating the rest of the week. Tina offered extra hours to anyone who would like to come in on Sunday to frost so they could get ahead of the game. One of the cakes for the Mullins party had a lot of lace work and would take the most time, Brett would do that. She’d already moved Darla to full time and had her working on all bread and pastries. Tina would have to put an ad in the paper for another full time baker since Darla didn’t know how long she could pull full time hours with her bad back. It was wedding season and this would only get worse. Their record was six cakes in a week but they’d all pulled overtime to do it. The bakery was always busy with the regular sales of breads and her treat case; the cakes were just a boost. Cassie would still learn but the bakery needed someone experienced. Tina was writing the ad when Cassie brought her one o’clock coffee fix. “I thought that I was going to do that job?” Cassie said glancing at the screen.
“You are, you’ll still learn but I need someone with experience to fill Luca’s shoes and Darla can’t keep working this hard. It’s wedding season and we are struggling. Plus, I need to replace Eddie and Anna.” Cassie tipped her head to one side and thought for a second.
“I may know someone, I’ll have her drop by, don’t place that ad yet. Oh and my brother is here, I’ll go get him after you try your coffee, I did something new.” Cassie waited trying to contain her smile. Tina sipped.
“Mmm. Perfect as usual.” Cassie’s smile was uncontrollable.
“My brother made it. I think you should have him make an assortment of drinks and test him.” Cassie grinned.
“Good idea Cassie.” Tina stood and went into the kitchen. “Who wants a fancy coffee drink?” All hands went up. “Follow me.” Tina said after looking out into the store to make sure there were no customers. “Everyone, this is…?”
“J.D.” Cassie whispered.
“Everyone this is J.D., and he is trying out for Cassie’s job as barista so that Cassie may join us in the kitchen. Now, you are to place your order, whatever you like and wait, just like a customer. Make it difficult because the public will.” The staff gave him a run for his money and Cassie grew happier each time he got it exactly right. “Okay, let’s welcome J.D. aboard and get back to work.” Tina led the round of applause. “Teach him how to use the register and the rest of your duties. You can start in the kitchen as soon as he’s trained. Congratulations J.D. and good job to both of you.” Tina went back to the office and started on payroll, then printed all of the forms that J.D. would need to fill out after she’d printed checks. She ordered supplies from the vendors and went over cake plans to ensure that she had enough crumb to build with. Tina counted and recounted coming up two short, “Brett, how many cakes did we bake?”
“I have them T, they were cold enough to frost, and layer so I got started and Cassie is watching while there are no customers. I have J.D. mopping the front, refilling condiments and learning the breads. ” Tina could not see what Brett was working on. Cassie was watching intently until the bell tinkled over the door out front, then she hurried out. Cassie hugged a blonde woman who looked to be in her forties. She put her arm around her and brought her into the kitchen.
“Tina, this is my aunt Ruth. She just moved here from Vegas where she worked for one of the casinos in the pastry kitchen. She would like to interview for Luca’s spot.” Tina smiled broadly, if this woman could do anything they were safe.
“Hi, I’m Tina.” Tina held out her hand. “Come into my office.” Tina ushered her in and closed the door. “Ruth, tell me about what you did at the casino. Did you do any cake decorating?”
“Yes ma’am, I can pipe, do lace work, make several different kinds of flowers, bows and ruffles. I know bread and pastry too.” Tina nodded.
“Have you done any chocolate work?” Ruth nodded vigorously.
“It’s my specialty. I’ve worked in, milk, dark, and white, I helped the team last year with the international chocolate competition in France, we got second place.” Tina mouthed a silent ‘wow.’ “I’m ready to start anytime you need me and I can work any hours, full or part time. I would also love the opportunity to train my niece, she has a real flair for flowers, has she shown you?” Tina shook her head. “Oh, yes ma’am, she has a nice steady hand and an artist’s eye. Cassie is going to be a real asset to you.” Tina nodded in agreement.
“Let’s talk salary and benefits. Obviously, I am going to offer you the position with Cassie’s recommendation.” Tina smiled at the woman. She had the most fascinating grey and amber eyes. They were beautiful and reminded her of Mac’s a little. Her hair was long and graying but she carried herself with a strength that Tina liked and admired. Ruth looked you in the eye when she spoke and she was very likable.
“Oh I’m sure whatever you’re offering will be more than fair.” Tina was shocked, no one turned down a negotiation for salary. “I will do anything to help the new alpha.” Tina’s eyes widened. “Oh you did know that didn’t you? Oh gods please tell me you knew that!” Tina nodded.
“I know that Mac is the alpha, what he is, I didn’t know that you were the same, and I didn’t expect to hear it out of the blue like that.” Tina stifled a giggle. “Don’t panic.” Ruth blew out a breath.
“I am. Cassie and J.D.
are too. We will look out for you Tina, you’re the alpha’s mate, and we look out for our own.” She smiled softly and Tina nearly cried. ‘We look out for our own.’ Tina was being adopted into his family, how sweet was that? “I don’t think that you will have any problem at all fitting in or being accepted by the pack, you’re such a sweetheart.” Tina was confused, being accepted. Was that part of the deal? If they didn’t accept her would Mac leave her? Oh God. “I’ve said something to upset you, what was it? I’m so sorry.”
“If your pack doesn’t accept me, what happens? Will Mac leave me?” Tina swallowed hard, determined not to cry.
“Oh dear, he hasn’t told you.” Ruth took Tina’s hand and covered it with hers. “It’s not my place. The alpha should tell you all of this.”
“Please tell me or I’ll just make myself sick. Please?” Tina’s pulse was getting faster and it was getting difficult to breathe in the small room.
“He will bring you to the picnic on Saturday to introduce you to the pack. They’ve told him that he’s on like probation, they want to get to know him, and since you’re human, they have to vote on whether or not to let you stay. If they don’t like you, Mac won’t get the job. He also had to appoint a female beta because the females won’t take orders from a human.” Tina was chewing on her lip. “I don’t think you need to worry. Mac is a natural, and Cassie’s mom, the new beta and my sister, says that he is doing a fine job so far even though he doesn’t live in the alpha house. You are a very nice lady Tina and you have a lovely energy about you, I think everyone will love you straight away. It doesn’t hurt that you smell like chocolate, coffee, and cinnamon. All wolf favorites.” Ruth winked at her putting Tina at ease. Tina smiled with new confidence and pushed the print button on her computer. There was a lot to think over but later, right now she had to run this business.