by Alisa Woods
And it was time to make that official.
“You’re sure about this?” Terra asked one more time.
He took her cheeks in his hands and brought her down for a soft kiss. “Absolutely positive.”
She nodded, and he could feel her approval through the submission bond that bound them together. He was her alpha, and she trusted him to make the right decision. It flushed him with a literal magical energy that had his cock surging to attention again.
He slid his hands from her cheeks to her shirt. “I hope you’re not fond of this.” He shifted his hands to claws—they might not be as razor sharp as Noah’s but they could easily slice through a cotton t-shirt. He shredded it as he pulled it apart at the neck, leaving Terra only in her flimsy bra.
She sucked in a breath, but he knew she liked it.
“The rest of it. Off. Now.” He sliced away her bra, then shifted his hands back to human so he could cup those delicious breasts while her hands worked at the buttons on her pants. He lifted her off him and set her on the floor so she could wriggle out of them. He watched as she undressed for him, deliberately licking his lips like she had before. And because he was dying to taste her.
Her eyes hooded as her pants hit the floor.
He brought her back to straddling him on the couch. His cock was a flagpole now, ready for her in every way. “Ride me, Terra,” he said hoarsely, but when she moved down toward his cock, he stopped her, his hands locked on her hips. “No. Up here.” Then he slid under her until his face was directly below her sex.
She gasped as his tongue made the first kiss. Then she was quickly moaning and clutching at the couch as he worked her sensitive nub. He slipped his fingers in soon after, and in no time she was riding them, clutching his hair, urging him on. His girl was a hot one, wild in the sack every time and every way. It would be a challenge to keep coming up with new ways to take her to that peak and beyond, but he had a lifetime ahead of him to figure it all out.
Her moans turned to shrieks, and she quickly came, her body convulsing around his fingers and quivering against his tongue.
God damn, he liked making her come.
His cock was screaming to have her, and he wanted to save some for the main event, but he couldn’t resist sliding forward before she could catch her breath and thrusting up deep inside her.
“Holy fuck,” she whispered as he took her from beneath.
“Oh, yes it is,” he gritted out between his teeth. She was so small and tight, it took him by surprise every damn time. He thrust up again, and soon she had the rhythm of it, bouncing down to meet him, driving him deeper and making him grunt with each stroke. His thumb found her nub again, the spot he’d just finished tormenting with his tongue, and her shrieks started climbing higher and higher.
The pleasure was grinding tight and low in his belly, but he wasn’t letting it loose yet. He had more plans for this than two quick orgasms for her… but that was a damn fine place to start.
“Oh, God, Kaden!” she panted, head tipped back, praying his name as she bounced on his cock. He gave her nub the extra pressure it needed to rocket her over the edge. Her screams satisfied something male and primal and deep inside him, in a way even his own pleasure never could. She was his. She had surrendered to him. And she was floating on an ecstasy high because of it.
When her shrieks settled into pants again, he gripped her hips and slammed her hard down on his cock… and held her there. Then he curled up, staying buried deep, and held her close, one hand on the small of her back to keep her joined with him, the other at the back of her head to pull her in for a kiss. A soft, gentle kiss that spoke of all his tangled feelings for her—the worship, the love, the hot, tight feeling of need she brought out in him every moment he was near her.
“I want you,” Kaden whispered against her lips.
“You have me,” she replied, a little exasperated as if he couldn’t have her any more deeply than he did at that moment.
Oh, but he could.
“I claim you for my mate, Terra Wilding,” he breathed, his heart spilling out in his words. “I will make you mine. Forever.”
She gasped, and her eyelids fluttered at the ancient words. They were primal, too, like all the feelings he had for her. He lifted her off his cock, instantly missing the feeling of her tight and warm around him, but he needed her on her hands and knees to do this right.
“Right now?” she gasped.
“Yes, right now,” he said as he turned her in his lap and pressed her forward, so she would fall on her hands and knees, her beautiful rear-end enticingly up in the air. He bent over her, sweeping the hair from where it cascaded over her back and whispering, “Now and always. You are mine.”
Then he took her from behind, the way he’d been dreaming of from the start.
Kaden filled her, hard and fast.
He seemed to know just how she liked it, even when she didn’t know herself.
His control loosened, and she felt his grunts as much as heard them, through the pounding of his cock and the hard grip of his hands on her hips. He’d already brought her to climax twice, but every part of her was quivering with anticipation. Would he take her this time, truly take her as a mate?
Her pleasure ramped up as he slid forward, winding his fingers in her hair, gripping it hard and pulling her head back. A minute ago, she was riding him like the world’s most decadent horse, but now he was riding her… hard… and it was hotter than anything she’d ever felt. His rock-hard cock was owning her. His strong hands were commanding her. And soon enough, his hard-breathing grunts leaned down toward her exposed neck, his fangs out and grazing her flesh.
Oh God yes.
His thrusts gained even more power, racing her toward a climax that was going to shatter everything that she was—break her apart so she could be put back together as a new woman.
A mated female.
With the strongest alpha she had ever met.
“You are mine.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he sank his fangs into her. The pain shoved her right over the edge, the climax rippling through and whiting out any and all thoughts she had beyond the pulsing pleasure in her body and the searing heat of his magic. It started as twin fountains of burning hot pleasure—one between her legs, the other where his fangs had clamped onto her flesh—and it quickly spread throughout her body, setting her on fire and flushing her with more pleasure than she’d ever known. He was still riding her, still pumping her, but when the magic filtered through every cell in her body, turning her more fully alive than she’d ever been, he reached his climax and roared through his bite, still buried deep and pulsing inside her. She felt his seed fill her and wished for a moment that she actually had been fertile at that moment… so she could start building a family with this magnificent man and beast.
Kaden stayed deep inside her through his climax, then released her from his bite.
His breathing was so ragged, he didn’t speak, just pulled out of her, then pulled her back to his chest, bringing her with him as he rocked back and lay down prone on the couch again.
“God, I hope we can do that every fucking day,” he breathed out. “Every day, Terra. You understand? We’re doing that every day.”
She couldn’t smile any harder as she curled up against his still-heaving chest.
“I might have to start exercising or something to build up endurance.”
“Do what you like, babe,” he said, still breathless, but now his hands were roaming her. “But I plan to work that sweet little body of yours hard every damn day. The bite included because Jesus Fucking Christ that was good.”
She crawled up to face him. His magic was singing through her body, binding her to him in a way so complete, she wasn’t even sure where she ended and he began. It was stronger than any submission bond. Stronger than anything she’d ever felt. And with Kaden’s magic wrapping her in a warm blanket of his love, she knew that she would always be safe.
The darkness of her lif
e had been permanently banished.
She lightly kissed him on the lips. He grabbed hold of her and kissed her thoroughly.
“You’re lucky a man needs a certain amount of time to recover,” he said, a gleam in his eye. “Or I’d be making you scream all over again right this moment.”
“I’m ready anytime you are, my sexy beast.” She grinned at him.
His eyes flashed. “Just one of the many things I love about you.”
Her heart stuttered for a moment. It could have been the magic that was coursing through every vein of her body… or it could have been that word.
He grinned and quickly rolled her to reverse their positions on the couch. His massively muscled body was now on top of her—not crushing her, but definitely dominating her tiny-by-comparison form. And there was an unmistakable growing hardness prodding her leg.
Her eyes went wide. “Already?”
“With you… always.” He reached a strong hand between her legs, making her jump when he pressed on her nub, still swollen and sensitive with the mind-blowing sex and the magical rush of his bite. Then he spread her legs, bringing one up around his back. His already-stiff cock was pressing again at her entrance. He pulled back and then entered her with one swift stroke.
She arched up and gasped. She hadn’t thought she could want more, or that her body could even take any more pleasure, but apparently it could.
With Kaden, it always would.
He took her with slow, long strokes, and she could tell this time would be different. Longer, slower, more intense… and just the beginning of everything they would share.
He pulled in a breath with each thrust and then said, “Always,” on each release, over and over again. Her heart soared higher with each one.
She would never have enough.
It had taken Terra three weeks, but the People of Seattle exhibit was finally ready.
“It’s absolutely stunning!” Sally proclaimed.
Terra was proud of her work—she wouldn’t show it, if she weren’t—but she was pretty sure Sally’s exuberance was related at least partially to the massive influx of people into her gallery to see the first exhibit of shifter art. The pictures she had taken of the wolves in her cousin Marco’s gang filled Sally’s walls and spoke to Terra’s heart. That so many people wanted to see the images first-hand was filling Terra with light—this was the heart of her city. This was the part that was open and caring and wanted to embrace the wolves in their midst, not cower in fear from them.
Riverwise security was thick amongst the crowd—Kaden had insisted on twice the number as at her last exhibit—but Terra felt in her heart that, on this day at least, the light was winning.
Her mate never let her out of his sight, which felt like a warm blanket holding her secure, but he must have finished checking in with his crew, because he was cruising over to her, grabbing a flute of champagne off a passing platter to bring to her.
Sally saw him coming and decided to make her exit gracefully. “I think I see the mayor!” she squealed and ran off.
Terra chuckled, then squinted at the Sally and the mayor, wondering if she had talked him into her bed. He had been newly widowed just a few years ago, and Terra would be surprised if Sally hadn’t at least tried.
Kaden arrived at her side, kissed her, and handed her the drink. Given she was standing in a room surrounded by her art as well, Terra figured this was as close to heaven as she would get… outside their bedroom at the Riverwise estate.
Which was something she wanted to discuss with Kaden as well.
“You’re a hit,” Kaden said softly, the pride in his voice making her heart swell.
“They’re the stars,” she said, gesturing with her glass to the images of the wolves, young and old, that she had framed on the wall. “I just captured their light.”
Kaden smiled wide. She had taken dozens of pictures of him, trying to capture his light, but the real thing would always outshine them.
She ducked her head. “I want to build us a home,” she said softly, not sure why she just blurted these things out at the least opportune times.
“A home?” he asked, his eyebrows lifting. “As in a house with four walls?”
She nodded, then peered up at him. “I want to build it next to the River estate. I want a sunroom and a darkroom… and a nursery.” She bit her lip. This was only part of her plan, but it was the key part. They were mated but not married. Kaden still kept his apartment in the city, even though they’d been effectively living a honeymoon life at the River estate at Mama River’s insistence.
Kaden seemed to struggle for a moment to speak. Then he cleared his throat. “Well, it’s a good thing I picked up this ring today.”
Her eyes flew wide as he dropped to one knee and fished a small box out of the pocket of his Riverwise jacket. A whisper went around the room, and heads turned, but all she could see was the glittering sapphire-and-gold band Kaden was holding up to her.
“Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Kaden asked, voice deep and booming in the sudden silence of the gallery.
Tears sprung to her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered, but it must have carried because a round of applause went up around the room. She threw her arms around Kaden, and he rose to hold her, which was good because her legs were suddenly unsteady. He slipped the ring on her finger while her mouth was still trying to find words to say how happy he had just made her.
She gave up and just kissed him instead.
When they broke apart, the crowd seemed to have gone back to the art… except her brother and sister were staring at her from a dozen feet away. Cassie’s face was lit up with the widest smile Terra had ever seen on her, but Trent looked like he’d just been hit by a bus but hadn’t figured it out yet—dazed and confused.
Terra held an arm out to Cassie, and she skittered across the gallery floor to hug her tight.
Then she peered up at Terra. “I want to be the flower girl!” she said.
“Flower girl?” Terra pretended to be aghast. “You’re my maid of honor. Of course.”
“And the flower girl,” Cassie insisted with an impish look.
“We can make that work, short stuff,” Kaden said, a smirk on his face as he ruffled her hair.
Cassie looked like she wanted to be the one marrying Kaden, and Terra couldn’t blame her a bit.
Trent finally arrived at their little circle. He awkwardly held his hand out to Kaden. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order.”
Kaden shook his hand but didn’t say anything.
Trent turned to her. “And… I guess this means you’ll be moving out of the River estate?” There wasn’t quite disapproval in his voice, but there wasn’t approval, either. It was the kind of vague thing her father would say, and it made Terra’s stomach twist.
She held in her sigh. “Actually, that’s something I wanted to discuss with you.” And by discuss, she meant inform, because Trent wasn’t going to have a vote on this, either. “I’m going to use my trust fund to build a home next to the River family estate. There’s some property for sale there. But I’m also going to help Mama River out with some modifications to the River estate itself. I want to expand it. Reinforce it. Make it secure. I’m really just building upon her vision—I want there to always be a safe refuge for shifters there.”
Trent’s eyebrows raised up and stayed up. “That’s… an interesting idea.”
“The location of the estate is already known to the public,” Terra went on, ignoring the disapproval in his voice. “It’s out… just like our family. But there are still hard times ahead for every shifter in the city.” She swept her hand out to include all the wolves in her exhibit as well as beyond the walls. “I want them to know there’s a place they can come and be accepted.”
Trent was struggling for something to say.
“It’s an amazing idea, Terra.” Kaden gave her a kiss on the cheek and draped his arm protectively over her shoulder. It meant the world to her, especi
ally since she hadn’t given him any notice whatsoever about this. She’d only pulled the idea together with Mama River this morning, and she had planned to tell Kaden after the show.
“Can I come live with Mama River again?” Cassie asked brightly.
Terra grinned. “She would love that. But you have school now, right?”
Her face scrunched up. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Terra said, but either way was fine with her. Wherever Cassie wanted to be, that’s where she should go. Terra was building her own life now, but her family would always be part of it. “However, you can visit me and Kaden in our new home whenever you like.”
That brightened her smile again.
“Is this really safe?” Trent finally managed to ask. He seemed to direct the question as much to Kaden as to Terra.
“We’ll make it safe,” Kaden said, and Terra had no doubt that would be true.
“We have to take a stand somewhere, Trent,” Terra added. “I’m not letting someone like the Wolf Hunter decide how I’m going to live my life. Not anymore.” She was echoing Mama River in that, but the woman was a pillar of strength, and it was an honor to follow in her footsteps.
Trent’s eyes widened a little. Then he gave just the barest of nods. But it was approval, and it made Terra’s heart sing.
A murmur went up through the crowd at the gallery. Kaden frowned and checked in with his earpiece—then he frowned even more.
“Is something wrong?” Terra asked. Was her newfound bravery in the face of the Wolf Hunter threat going to be tested so soon? People around the gallery were pulling out their phones and huddling together in groups.
“The gallery is secure,” Kaden said, still listening to his earpiece. “But you might want to check the news.”
Trent had his phone out first, and his frown turned quickly into a scowl. “There’s a new Wolf Hunter video.” He held the small screen out for everyone to see.
As it started, all Terra could think was, Of course he did—the Wolf Hunter ran right out and made another video, just so she would know he had survived. Her determination to carry out her plans only strengthened as she watched him spew his hatred on the video.