Sassy Ever After: Kiss My Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Serena Pettus

  Cracking the door open, Benson stuck his head in first. “See, just me.”

  “It’s not like I’m going to throw something at you,” she chuckled, amused by his cautious expression. The guy was damn near seven feet tall for crying out loud.

  “Well, I’ve seen my mother’s temper, and that is one woman you do not want to end up on the wrong side of, and I’m a grizzly, so that’s saying something.”

  “So your mom’s a bear too? I have to admit I think this whole shifter thing is pretty neat. I’m still weirded out by the news, but who the hell wouldn’t be?”

  “Eh, mom’s not a bear, she’s just mated to one,” he explained.

  “So you’re afraid of a human?”

  “Nope, I’m afraid of a witch. I’ll have you know that woman gave me boobs—boobs—when I was in high school, all because I made a lecherous comment to a girl in my class who was well endowed.” At her snicker, he gave a sad nod. “I had a nice set of perky D’s for the whole weekend, and she even drug my butt to the grocery store with her. She made sure that, to everyone else, I looked like a very attractive woman, and I had to endure the same sort of comments I had been lobbing at school. Let’s just say the woman has a way of teaching you a lesson you won’t soon forget.”

  Ashe didn’t know what to say. She honestly didn’t think her jaw was even capable of closing because it was hanging so far open at this point. It was when he brought his hands up like he was cupping said boobs on his chest that she completely lost it and fell over on the bed laughing.

  Man did she know a few guys who could have benefitted from that lesson when they were in school. She had a lot of respect for a woman who went above and beyond to teach her kid to respect people.

  “Your mom sounds like a great woman,” she giggled. “I’d love to meet her sometime.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll get the chance. She’s been mumbling about Luke getting mated ever since he came to town.”

  Ashe held up a finger to stop him. “About that. What did Luke mean when he referred to me as his mate? Is that like an Aussie term for friend, or something else?”

  Chuckling, Benson shook his head. “What you don’t know about shifters is our kind has the ability to recognize our destined mates. This person is our other half, and is recognized by both man and beast. It’s a combination of things that is still largely a mystery, but there’s never been a failed relationship between destined mates.”

  “And Luke thinks I’m his? But I’m human.”

  “Well, my father is a grizzly and my mother is a witch, so what’s your point?” he asked. “You can’t help who Fate throws you together with, but have faith that he or she knows what they’re doing. It’s because of this that divorce is something that’s unheard of in these couples. Once the mating is completed, the two are bound together, their souls becoming one. They’ll spend the rest of their lives together.”

  Could it be her intense attraction to Luke had to do with her being his destined mate? Then again, maybe he’d never mentioned all the sappy things she’d spoken about to his canine side because he wasn’t a hundred percent sure about her. The kiss that afternoon had certainly felt like he was into her though.

  Shit, who was she kidding? This whole situation had to be fucking with his head every bit as much as it was hers. After all, finding out that the mother of his best friend’s kid was his mate would probably be a major hurtle to get over.

  “While that all sounds wonderful, I’m not sure how Lilly and I will fit into his life. Not many men are up for taking on another’s child.”

  Benson shook his head, an understanding smile curving his lips. His black eyes gazed over where Lilly was snoozing. “Have you not noticed how he is with her? I’m fairly certain he already loves that little girl. If I’m not mistaken, he’s pretty taken with you too.”

  Ashe couldn’t help the rush of excitement she felt over the possibility of Luke having feelings for her. The very idea of them having a future together made her giddy and made her stomach dance. “I’m pretty taken with him too. I mean, sure he’s hotter than any man has a right to be, but it’s more than that. I’ve been attracted to him ever since we first met, and now that we’ve gotten to know each other better, my feelings have only grown,” she confessed. “It’s so easy to fall for someone, but it’s harder to find someone who’ll catch you when you do.”

  “I certainly managed to catch you in the garden earlier today,” Luke drawled from the doorway. “And I’ll do my damnedest to keep you and Lilly safe and happy, Ashe, whether you decide you want me or not.”

  The last was said with such sincerity; Ashe felt tears well up in her eyes. Could it really be that simple? Was everything up until now Fate’s way of ensuring that she and Luke ended up together?

  It was a lot to take in, and yet she couldn’t deny the intense pull she felt to him. It was like a part of her yearned to be close to him all the time, like she needed to be with him. She had no way of explaining it, except on some level, she knew they were meant to be together. This thing between them was so much more than love at first sight, it was as if it was on a soul-deep level, and if what Benson had said was true then perhaps it was destined for them to be together.

  “I suppose by me spilling my guts to you already, it kind of bypassed that whole awkward ‘I like you’ conversation other couples start off with,” Ashe said with a forced laugh.

  Luke nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to ease you into a relationship, not dump all this on you so quickly, but when we realized the badger was your uncle, there really was no choice. I know you mentioned you might be falling for me, well I can assure you that I’m already there, so catching you will be a pleasure. Just know that I won’t be letting you go once I do.”

  “But Lilly…”

  “Is an absolute doll,” he interrupted. “She’s a living part of my best friend, and I have every intention of spoiling her until she’s so rotten we can’t stand it. I may not be her biological father, but I’ll do everything in my power to be her dad, and to make sure that she knows who Matt was and what an amazing man he was.”

  In her opinion he couldn’t have given a more perfect answer. When she was growing up, her mother had always told her to go with her gut, and trust her heart to know which paths to follow in life. Well, both were currently clamoring for her to get with the program and accept what he was offering.

  She remembered the bit of imparted wisdom her mother had given her. The same phrase she’d thought about when she was with Matt. Some people come into your life, not to stay, but to bring you to the path you were meant to be on.

  It was clear now that Matt had been one of those people for her. Without him, she wouldn’t have Lilly, and might never have met Luke or Benson. She still hated the fact that he was gone, but Fate had a design few truly understood.

  “I can give this a shot,” Ashe practically whispered, still unable to believe she was taking such a leap after only knowing Luke for such a short time. Yet there she was, jumping in feet first, and now waiting to see if he made good on his promise to catch her.

  Before she could say anything more, Luke had crossed the room and she found herself enveloped in a fierce hug, his clean, woodsy scent . “I swear you won’t regret this,” he vowed.

  Benson stood up and made his way to the door. “I’ll leave you two to the gooey stuff. By the way, my mother expects everyone to be at dinner tonight out at my bee farm. That includes you and Lilly,” he said to Ashe. “I told you you’d probably be meeting her soon. Apparently her witchy radar was tingling.”

  His laughter at his own joke trailed down the hall, and Ashe found herself alone with a very smiley Luke. “So what do we do now?” she asked, grinning right back.

  “Whatever you want.”

  Letting out a jaw-splitting yawn, Ashe glanced at her bed. “Well, now that all the excitement is starting to wear down, I wouldn’t mind resting for a few before dinner. Something you’ll learn soo
n enough is that when the baby rests, you rest.”

  “Especially shifter children,” Luke pointed out. “Once she gets to be mobile, there’ll be no stopping her. I’ll be here to help though, so no worries there. You go ahead and relax, sweetheart. I’ll make sure the house is closed up.”

  “Thank you, Luke.” She couldn’t contain the next yawn, so she crawled into bed and stretched out on her stomach.

  It wasn’t long before her eyes drooped closed and she found herself awash in visions of Luke, Lilly and herself enjoying the activities of everyday life like any other family.

  Chapter Nine

  Luke

  Luke walked through Ashe’s house ensuring that Benson had made it out, the doors were locked, and the kitchen was cleaned up from their interrupted lunch. He wanted to make certain she awoke from her nap and didn’t have to worry about anything around the house needing to be done.

  He was going to make it his goal to see each and every need she had was met, no matter what it took. She deserved that and so much more.

  Ashe had handled everything thrown at her so far like a trooper. Her strength never ceased to amaze him, and he knew she’d be an excellent mate. He also had no doubt that she’d be strong enough to accept the change when their mating was official. He’d neglected to mention it to her, but she seemed like she would be interested in being able to change into a wolf.

  God, I can’t wait to see what her wolf looks like, he thought with a smile. His wolf gave a rumble. Yeah, he already knew she’d be a stunner, and he couldn’t wait to run through the forest with her at his side.

  He was in awe every time he was with her. Life hadn’t been easy for either of them, but Fate had deemed them ready to find each other, and Luke couldn’t be happier. Well, he could, but only if he was finally getting a taste of the woman who’d been driving him to distraction with her coy smiles and the way her hips swayed when she walked.

  He’d spent many nights curled up on her porch, imagining those same hips swiveling on his lap, that lush mouth of hers doing wicked things as he urged her on…

  Luke looked down and groaned at the boner tenting the front of his borrowed shorts. So much for going back upstairs and curling up next to her for a few minutes of rest while holding her in his arms.

  He needed a distraction. Pulling out his phone, he checked his messages. He’d had a few from Barbara Wolfe since he’d arrived in town. She’d made him promise to come back by after he was finished in Honey Hollow. Now that he’d found Ashe, he wasn’t sure if he could keep that promise.

  He typed out a reply to her latest check-in, explaining that the news had been delivered, but there were circumstances that would be keeping him in the area. He knew her curiosity would get the better of her, so he grinned when her reply came back almost instantly.

  She wanted to know if there was a problem, and if he needed any help. The last thing he needed was the Wolfe Pack descending on Honey Hollow. The damn bears would shit their fur and be up in arms over the wolf invasion, so he quickly text her back.

  Luke: Everything is fine. It’s a funny story, but Matt’s girl is actually my destined mate. She’s in a spot of trouble with a honey badger shifter, so I’m sticking close. She’s taking the news of our kind better than I could have hoped, but I’m still taking things slowly. It’s about her, not me, at this point.

  Barbara: And that, my boy, is why you’re going to be an amazing mate to that woman! I’ll let you slide for now, but I expect you both to come and see us once things settle. Besides, I would love to see Matt’s daughter.

  Luke: She’s beautiful. Has his eyes and I think her hair is going to be nearly as dark as his too. She’s definitely got the shifter gene too.

  Luke could practically see Barbara smiling at her phone screen. The woman was a sucker for matings and babies. Now that her kids were settling down with their significant others, she would surely be broadening her matchmaking skills to any single shifters she found.

  Perhaps he should bring Benson when he went. Lord knows the man had suffered long enough over the loss of his mate so many years ago. If anyone could find someone suited for the big brute, it was Barbara.

  They said their goodbyes and Luke shut his phone down before stretching out on the couch. His dick had settled down, but he knew it would be standing at attention if he went back to Ashe’s room, so he closed his eyes and stayed right where he was.

  There was no telling how long he’d actually slept, but opening his eyes to find a smiling Ashe peeking at him over the back of the couch was something he could get used to.

  Pulling his arms over his head with a groan, he caught Lilly’s curious gaze and blew a raspberry at her. The resulting giggle warmed him and he sat up to give her tiny foot a tickle. “Did you two get a good nap in?”

  “A little power nap goes a long way,” Ashe replied, coming around to sit next to him. “Peewee here was playing with her toes when I woke up, so there’s no telling how long she’s been awake. I really lucked out with her not being a fussy baby.”

  “She’s a pretty laid back kid, that’s for sure,” he agreed. A glance at his watch showed the time to be nearly four-thirty. “We should probably get ready to head out to Benson’s soon. I haven’t met his mother yet, but I do know not to get on the bad side of a grizzly sow.”

  “But she’s not a bear. At least that’s what Benson told me earlier.”

  “She’s human? He’s afraid of telling his human mother that her decorating skills are seriously lacking?” Luke laughed. Oh, this is rich!

  “Well, I’m not sure. Are witches considered human? I’m still trying to figure this stuff out.”

  Witch? Did she say witch? “I’m sorry, did you say his mother is a witch? Are you meaning something like she has a witchy attitude, or that she uses a broom as a mode of transportation?”

  “After what he told me, I’d have to go with option two. I’m not sure about the broom though, but how cool would that be?”

  Her eyes were twinkling with mirth. Did she not know how volatile witches could be? True, some of them were fairly mild-mannered, but the majority had a screw loose and a hair trigger on their tempers. Luke sincerely hoped Benson got his demeanor from his mom, because nothing much rattled that bear.

  “Well, I guess we’re going to find out. Not that I’ll be the one to ask about the broom.”

  “Nah, you need to ask about the boobs,” Ashe threw in with a giggle. She rose and picked up a diaper bag from the table near the front door. “I’m going to make sure there’s enough diapers and such in here before we head out. I’ll be just a minute.”

  Boobs? Now he was thoroughly confused, and slightly intrigued. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t be asking the woman about either, though he was happy to see that the idea of meeting a real witch didn’t seem to trouble Ashe.

  Ten minutes later, she and Lilly came back into the room, both in different outfits. Ashe was in jeans and a dressy tank with a cream and pink rose design, while Lilly was in a light purple dress and little white socks.

  “Okay, we’re all set,” she chirped. Her dark hair was hanging down in waves around her shoulders, her eyes warm, and a welcoming smile on her face.

  “Are you sure you’re up to going to dinner?” he asked. “You’ve had a lot to digest today, and I don’t want you to feel rushed.”

  “Nah, I’m good with weird. Did it freak me out at first? You bet. The more I thought about it though, the more I want to know. If you and I are going to give this whole thing a try, then I need to be able to be around this sort of thing. Not to mention this is Lilly’s heritage too. I don’t know the first thing about raising a wolf shifter,” she admitted. “What if I screw up?”

  Luke strolled over to her, taking her shoulders in his hands and looking her straight in the eye. “You won’t screw anything up, Ashe. You’re a fantastic mother already, and I’ll be here to help you when her other side starts to come around. Don’t worry, everything will work out. You’ll see.”

/>   Ashe set the diaper bag on the ground, causing his hands to slip from her arms, but when she stood, he wasn’t expecting her free arm to pull him in for a hug. He returned it, careful of Lilly who was still in her arms, and was going to give her a kiss on the cheek, when she turned her head and took his lips.

  Just like that, his cock sprang to life, his whole being desperate to claim Ashe as his own. Her tongue was dancing with his, playing havoc on his good intentions, and his hand strayed from her back down to her shapely ass, giving it a squeeze.

  Pulling back, he relished the glazed look in her eyes. “We’d better head out. I’ll just grab my clothes from the dryer and change real quick.” In all actuality, he was seconds from begging off on dinner and spending the remainder of the evening seducing his mate.

  “I’ll get Lilly into her car seat then.” Ashe began to head for the door, and Luke almost stopped her, but he’d only be a moment, so he picked up his pace and dressed in record time.

  He was just coming back through the living room when he heard Ashe’s phone chime. Spotting the glowing screen on the side table, he picked it up, only to see that it was her uncle calling her once again.

  Could the man not take a hint? Angry that he was still harassing Ashe, Luke answered the call. “Listen, badger, Ashe doesn’t want anything to do with you. Leave it be, and move on with your life,” he growled over the line.

  “Who the fuck is this?”

  Luke could tell her uncle was positively seething on the other end of the line. “I’m her mate.” He didn’t know and didn’t care what else the man might have had to say. Luke disconnected the call and made his way out to find the girls already in Ashe’s SUV and ready to go.

  The drive didn’t take long, and he and Ashe passed it in a companionable silence. He hadn’t mentioned the call, not wanting to ruin her evening, but he planned to tell her once they’d left to head back to her house.

  She stepped from the car and Luke unlatched the car seat, lifting it out to bring Lilly inside while Ashe collected the diaper bag.