by Lacey Thorn
“What did you talk about?”
“You,” Bastion said and laughed. “He’d get a kick out of this.”
“Out of what?” I asked.
“Us,” Bastion said then continued before I could ask another question. “Your brother wanted to form an alliance between us. Not a merge the way your elders agreed to.”
“Why would my brother want an alliance?”
Bastion shrugged. “He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. At least, not that question. I asked what was in it for me.” He sighed as if feeling guilty for that.
“I would have asked the same question,” I assured him. “What did Rowan say?”
“He said he knew a fiery blonde with big eyes, who could use a strong mate to keep her corralled.” Bastion laughed as I realized who Rowan had been talking about.
“He wanted us to mate?” I knew my face looked horrified, but it had nothing to do with Bastion or not wanting him as my mate. It was the thought of my brother trading me for an alliance.
“Your brother wouldn’t have given you without your consent,” Bastion swore. “You know that better than I do, I’m sure. I think he would have introduced us, given me the chance to see for myself how amazing you are. He was right about you.”
“How so?”
“It’ll definitely take a strong mate to keep you corralled. Luckily, I’m perfect for the job.”
I snorted and smacked his chest. “You think my brother was calling me home to meet you?”
Bastion shrugged. “I have no idea, Raina. There could be a million reasons why he wanted you home. Do I want to believe it was so we could meet? Yes, because it would feel as if we had his blessing. I know that would mean a lot to you. I know how important he was to you. How important he’ll always be.” He cupped my face. “I don’t have to be your alpha, but I am your mate. As such, I need you to listen to me, to talk to me. Don’t run from me.”
“I didn’t run from you. I ran from…everything. We just met last night. Now, we’re mated, and you’re giving me orders. I needed to breathe.”
“I’m not an easy man. I’m arrogant and demanding. As a mate…I promise I’ll never say or do anything to hurt you intentionally. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I’m a male, and my sister tells me that makes stupidity inherent.”
I laughed. “I met your sister. She’s very smart.”
His lips twitched. “She’s a minx, but she means well.”
“She loves you,” I whispered.
“It’s what siblings do.”
I nodded. It was. Rowan had always kept me safe, and now, I had to wonder if he still watched over me.
“I think I’m going to love you, Bastion James.” The words left my lips and resonated inside me. His slow smile made my heart beat faster.
“I already love you, Raina James. You’ve been mine since the moment I saw you.”
“My name’s not James yet,” I reminded him, but I had to admit I liked the sound of it. Just as I liked the way he called me his.
“Tonight, it will be.”
“Tonight? We can’t have a mating ceremony that quickly!”
“Can and will,” he challenged, surging to his feet with me in his arms. I quickly looped my arm around his neck to hang on.
“Bastion,” I argued when an SUV pulled up.
“It’s just Simon,” Bastion said as he moved toward it.
The man who stepped out had his head averted and held out a blanket. “Seriously, Alpha. Will this be a habit with you two?”
“Shut up, Simon,” Bastion said.
“What does he mean habit?” I asked as Bastion wrapped the blanket around me.
“I’ll tell you later,” he replied. “We’ve got a mating ceremony to prepare for.”
Chapter Eight
Bastion
I held my breath as Raina walked toward me. Our pack had gathered to witness our joining. For them, it was the joining of two groups of wolves. After this, they’d all be protected under my name. For me, it was solely her. The woman I’d been too afraid to hope for would spend the rest of our lives at my side. She’d bear our children. She’d lead at my side. My sister was correct. Raina brought life to us. Life and purpose.
Her long, blonde hair hung loosely around her, and the lights that had been strung up in the backyard made it shimmer. She wore a white, sleeveless dress, her feet bare. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to me.
“Breathe before you pass out,” Belinda said, throwing her elbow into my side from her place next to me. Tradition dictated I have a wolf brother at my side, but my beta had yet to show himself. Besides, long before it was the James pack, it had been just Belinda and me. It felt right to have her beside me. I reached back and took her hand, giving her fingers a squeeze.
“Thanks,” I whispered back to her.
“She’s beautiful.”
I nodded. Raina was breathtaking. The rest of the world faded away the moment she stopped beside me and looked up. She glowed, and the light inside her lit me up. I let go of my sister’s hand and reached for Raina’s.
The ceremony was a blur. I said the words needed, but this was all pomp as far as I was concerned. We’d already mated last night when it had been just the two of us in the woods. I couldn’t wait to get her alone again. I wanted to sink deep inside her. I wanted to spend the rest of my life filling her tight pussy with my cum, marking her over and over again as mine. I wanted to taste the sweet juice of her cunt on my tongue, feel it dripping down my cock and balls.
“Finish it,” I ordered and heard a few snickers from the crowd. Raina’s cheeks went a soft rose, and her lids lowered. I saw the pink swish of her tongue over her bottom lip and had to bite back a groan.
When I was told to kiss my mate, I dove and devoured. My fingers tightened in her hair as my tongue plunged deep. Raina met my ferocity with her own. Her arms curled under mine. She gripped my shoulders, nails digging deep as we kissed.
The howls of many wolves broke the spell she had me under, and giving a howl of my own, I tossed Raina over my shoulder and headed back the way she’d come.
I ignored the well wishes, hearing nothing but Raina’s laughter as I carried her into the house and to our bedroom.
“Strip,” I commanded.
There was heat in her eyes as our gazes met. Then she turned her back, glancing at me over her shoulder. “Get the zipper for me.”
I ordered myself to go easy, not to rip her dress. Nothing but bare skin filled my gaze as I followed her direction. She helped by shimmying her hips. The dress pooled at her feet, leaving her naked. I groaned, reaching down to palm her ass and give her cheeks a squeeze.
“On the bed. Hands and knees.” The words were gruff as I made quick work of taking my clothes off.
Instead, Raina turned and dropped to her knees. I’d just kicked away my pants, and my cock rose high along my belly, thick and hard with anticipation. She gripped my shaft and pointed it toward her mouth. I shuddered at the first touch of her tongue then growled when she sucked in the head.
“Fuck,” I muttered, cupping the back of her head to encourage her to keep going.
She worked her tongue along the underside of my dick, sucking as she moved her mouth up and down my length. One of her hands cupped my ball sac while the other wrapped just under her lips on my cock. She glided her palm in counterpoint to her lips. As she drew back to the tip, her fingers slid to the base then both met again in the center of my shaft. She added a twist and did something with her tongue that had me seeing stars. My balls tightened, and I knew if I didn’t end this soon, she’d be swallowing my cum instead of wearing it in her pussy.
“Raina.” I tugged at her hair, pulling her off me. “I need to be inside you. Now!”
“You were,” she rasped then leapt on me.
She took my mouth as her legs tightened around my waist, and she ground her hot pussy on my dick. I tumbled her to the bed underneath me, and with one slight tilt of my hips, I was in heaven. Her p
ussy squeezed my dick, pulling a grunt from me as I fucked her. She drew up her knees to grip my hips. Her nails dug into my shoulders, and we both got lost in each other.
I wanted to touch every inch of her. She arched her neck, and I knew she was close to orgasm. I pulled my dick out and shoved my shoulders between her thighs, taking her over with my tongue and fingers. I drank her juices, pressing my tongue as deeply inside her as I could get, wanting to savor every drop of her pleasure. While she was still catching her breath, I flipped her over and lifted her hips, coming up behind her and thrusting back into her pussy.
She growled against the sheets and spread her knees wider. The way she rocked back into me let me know how much she enjoyed it. Good thing because I was powerless to stop. My balls tingled, signaling I was close to finding my own release. I was determined to get her off again first.
“Play with your clit, Raina.”
She whimpered and moved a hand down her body. I wanted to watch her touch herself and promised myself I would next time. Right now, it was enough to watch her eyes slip closed as her lips parted and she panted. I felt the tiny ripples of her channel along my shaft.
“Faster,” I commanded as my strokes grew jerky. “Make your pussy come on me. Now, Raina.”
She cried out as she tightened around me. I slammed deep and held there while my seed shot into her. She clamped on me, her pussy milking every drop of cum from my cock. Then her fingertips brushed my balls, and I saw stars as more cum left me, so much that it dripped from her. I scooped it up with fingers and brought it to her ass, massaging it into the tight rosette of her anus.
“Mmm,” Raina moaned as she removed her hand and collapsed under me. I followed her down, my weight pinning her to the bed. I needed to move, but first I needed to catch my breath.
“Move…in a sec…” I promised, and she reached around and patted me, holding me atop her. I let her for a brief moment then reluctantly pulled my cock from its preferred home and rolled to her side.
I pulled her over so her head rested on my chest while I stroked my fingers through her hair. I hadn’t been lying when I’d told her I’d loved her from the moment I’d seen her. I’d heard tell that some wolves knew their mates from scent or sight. I’d scoffed then, but I understood perfectly now. Raina was mine. All mine. I wanted to keep her in bed until her belly swelled with our first child, but somehow, I doubted she’d allow it.
Raina lifted her head. “Do you think Belinda sent everyone on their way?”
I shrugged. I didn’t care.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“How long before I can bury my cock in you again,” I answered and felt it twitch against my thigh when she glanced down.
“I could help with that,” she offered, walking her fingers down my belly. I shifted my legs wide, giving her full access, and she didn’t disappoint. Raina kissed her way down my chest, nipping my nipple with her teeth as she worked her way toward my cock. It had already started to rise to the occasion, and the first kiss of breath had me groaning.
“Hands behind your head, James,” she ordered when I reached for her.
I lifted my brow at her tone, but she just grinned.
“You want my mouth; you follow my orders, Alpha.”
I put my hands behind my head, lacing my fingers.
She took my cock between her lips again. There was no slow build. There was only heat and wet and the glide of tongue and teeth. I thrust up, pressing more of my length in her mouth, and she gave me a sharp nip that had pre-cum leaking from my tip.
“Suck me, Raina,” I ordered then softened my tone when her gaze flicked up to mine. “Suck.”
It took all I had to lie there without reaching for her. The longer she sucked the more I wanted to flip her over and fuck her. I could tell by the devilment in her gaze that she knew it. Still, I did my best to do as she bid. I gritted my teeth, eyes closed tightly, as she took me to the back of her throat and held me there for a brief moment. My eyes snapped open when her mouth disappeared, and she straddled me. I sat up, grabbing her waist and helping her seat herself on my cock. She slammed down, grinding against me before rocking her hips with me buried deep.
“Fuck!” I snarled.
“Yes,” she agreed, rising and falling on my shaft.
I cupped her breast with one hand, plumping it before leaning forward and sucking her nipple. Her juices ran down my shaft, coating my balls, and I knew true happiness. It was here, with her, my cock buried balls-deep inside her.
“Bastion,” she whispered.
I grunted in acknowledgement, words beyond me.
“I lied earlier.”
“About me being your alpha,” I teased and felt the sharp press of her nails against my scalp in response. Still, there was softness in her gaze when she looked at me.
“About thinking I’m going to love you.”
My heart stopped, and a growl left my lips.
“You’re mine. My mate. My woman. You’ll learn to love me.”
She laughed then leaned in and kissed me.
“I meant I already love you, Bastion James. I didn’t mean to. I planned to leave when my father mentioned a mating between me and one of your group.”
“Me. It was always a mating with me,” I snapped. “I made myself very clear to you father.” He still professed he’d withheld that fact from her out of fear she’d try to run. It wouldn’t have mattered, though. I’d have followed, no matter where she went.
She nodded. “I swore I wouldn’t mate you. Then I saw you, and it was as if you wrapped around me from across the room. I wanted you, and it scared me.”
“You have nothing to fear from me, Raina. I swear it.”
She bobbed her head again. “I know that, Bastion. What I’m trying to say is I loved you the moment I saw you, too. I didn’t want to. I fought it, but I do. I do, and I will for the rest of our lives.”
“Yes,” I agreed.
“Arrogant,” she said with a laugh that turned to a surprised squeak when I rolled us over and took control from her. She wrapped her legs around my waist and jerked my head down to meet her lips. Our kiss was as wild as our lovemaking. I pounded into her, wringing out her cries of pleasure.
I watched her as she came and kept my gaze on her as my cum filled her once more.
“You’re mine, Raina James. Mine.”
“All yours,” she agreed, and I felt like the luckiest man alive.
Epilogue
Raina
Two months later…
“Bastion!” I yelled as I made my way into the house. I found Belinda sitting on the couch thumbing through a bridal magazine. I didn’t ask. If I’d learned anything over the last two months, it was that I didn’t usually understand Belinda’s reasons for things. All I knew was she’d yet to be wrong about anything, including what she’d told me earlier.
“He’s in your room,” she offered as she stood. “He said he was jumping in the shower real quick.”
“Thanks,” I called and hurried to the bedroom.
I stripped down when I heard the water still running and stepped in behind him. I loved his body. He was all strength and brawn, the perfect contrast to my softer curves. He turned immediately and pulled me into his arms, and it was second nature to spring up and wrap my legs around his waist. His cock hardened, and he pushed me up with a hand on my ass. I reached down and guided him to my opening, and he let me sink down on him.
We both groaned between kisses as my back hit the shower wall. Bastion pounded into me. God, I loved the way he fucked me. He took me as if he owned me, and he did, though I’d never tell him that. He was arrogant enough, and the news I’d received today would have him strutting for a long time.
He lifted me higher, sucking my nipple into his mouth and it made me go off like a shot. They’d been extra sensitive lately, and now, I knew why. I came hard, seeing a kaleidoscope of colors behind my eyes as I clung to him. He moved his lips to my neck, growling my name as he filled
me with his cum.
I was weak in the knees when he set me down. Thankfully, he held me up while he cleaned us both. Then he carried me to our bed, not bothering with a towel.
“We’re soaking the sheets,” I warned but Bastion only shrugged.
“How’s Ivy doing?” he asked, and I felt color fill my cheeks at the lie I’d told him earlier in the day.
“I didn’t see her today,” I confessed.
He lifted a brow. “Where’d you hurry off to?”
“I had an appointment to keep.”
“What kind of appointment?” He studied me then cupped my breasts. “Doctor? You’re pregnant?”
I nodded, unsurprised that he’d figured it out so quickly. Bastion probably knew my body better than I did.
“I’m pretty sure this little one was conceived in the woods on our first night together,” I said, rubbing my belly.
He dropped his hand to cradle mine then bent and dropped a kiss below my bellybutton.
“Hello, little one,” he said. “This is your dad. I expect you to be nice to your mother. This will be an easy pregnancy. No sickness. She needs to grow big and strong, so you can be, as well. Do you understand me?”
I grinned. Of course, he’d already be giving dictates. Little did he know the joke would be on him. I had it on good authority our first baby would be a little girl who’d rule her daddy with an iron fist.
The first time I’d met Bastion’s sister, she’d inferred my presence would allow them to begin living. I’d asked her about it, but she’d merely told me she’d tell me when the time was right. This morning, she’d told me the new life I carried would be born in six and half months. She was adamant our little girl would rule the house and her father and bring joy to our family of wolves. I couldn’t wait to see. All I knew was I wanted a healthy baby. Bastion would be a great dad.
“Have you eaten?” he demanded as he stood and headed toward the door.