by E A Price
“My tiger doesn’t bother you?” she panted, trying to regain her breath.
“No.” He was amazed she thought it would make any difference to him. “But from now on, you will hunt with me.”
Lauren’s lips formed a moue of distaste.
“It will be good for your beast,” he insisted. “You struggled through your shift.”
“You noticed,” she muttered.
“Eating more fresh meat will help.”
His eyes wandered from her face, taking in the soft swells of her breasts and…
“Eyes up here,” she said snapping her fingers in his face.
His lips quirked. “You’re very distracting.”
“Sure. Maybe I should get dressed.”
“No,” he growled.
The panic started to return to her eyes. “I, ah…”
Carrick took her hands and gently pulled her to her feet, leading her over to the bed.
“We must mate,” he murmured.
If they didn’t, the mating would not be considered complete. Carrick would be considered a failure as a male and Lauren would be given to another. His tiger roared. Not. Happening.
“Okay,” she whispered in a small voice. She climbed onto the bed on her hands and knees, shaking slightly. “I’m ready.” Her voice had a slight hitch.
Carrick stared at her. Not that the sight of her presenting herself for him wasn’t a turn on – her rounded ass and perfectly peachy cheeks made him even harder and eager to be with her. But he hadn’t exactly pictured it like this.
“What are you doing?”
“Isn’t… isn’t this what you want?”
On one level, definitely. He was barely holding back his animal instinct just to take her, dominate her, show her she was his. But her unease was now morphing into outright dread. He hardly wanted their first night together to be remembered with more anguish than a horror show.
“Lauren, just… just, relax.”
She dropped down and scooted up the bed, leaning against the headboard and pulling her knees up to try and cover herself. Relief and perhaps a little resentment marred her pretty face. “Don’t you want me? My mom said…”
“What did she say?” he snarled.
Her fucking parents had a lot to answer for in their treatment of Lauren, but he was damned if they were ruining his mating night.
Lauren stared at her knees. “She just said that I had to… to present myself like that, and that it would hurt, but I’d get over it. She said eventually I’d get used to the way tiger males mate, and maybe I’d even like it.”
For. Fucks. Sake.
“Don’t listen to your mother anymore,” he grumbled. “Lie down.”
Reluctantly, she did, watching his movements with suspicious eyes. The bed dipped as Carrick kneeled on the end.
Lauren sucked in a breath as she caught sight of his bobbing arousal. She’d seen him naked before – he hated clothes – but she’d never seen him so hard. He wasn’t sure he’d actually ever been this aroused before.
Carrick clasped her ankle, gently trying to open her legs. Unconsciously, she clamped her thighs together.
“Relax.” he growled, and she allowed him to part her legs.
He raised her ankle to his mouth and kissed it. Slowly, he started kissing his way up her leg.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
“Trust me.”
He pressed more kisses and the occasional nip to her flesh, traveling up her leg to his real target. Her nervousness was slowly ebbing, giving way to curiosity and her own desire. He could scent it, infusing her scent, making it even sweeter. His slow kisses were awakening something in her.
Carrick pressed his mouth to her sex and inhaled before swiping his tongue over her folds.
“Oh my god, what are you doing?” she squealed, her hands flying to her face.
“Just enjoy it.”
He circled her nub with his index finger, enjoying the way her body twitched against him. He doubted she’d even touched herself there, never mind anyone else. He was the first, her first, and she belonged to him. Mine. Rawr.
Lauren let out a small whimper as he pushed a large finger into her opening. She wasn’t very wet yet, but as her hips moved against him, he knew he could get her there. Withdrawing his finger, he pushed his tongue inside her, and that really did make her squeal in surprise. Her body nearly jolted right off the bed. He slung an arm over her hips, anchoring her in place. No way was she getting away before he showed her how good it could be.
Her mother may have tried to poison Lauren against sex, but Carrick was going to coax her into loving it, wanting it, maybe even desiring it so much she came to him, begging him to take her... That might just be just wishful thinking on his beast’s side, but he could dream. He knew their relationship was pretty one-sided. He wanted the mating, desired her something fierce, while Lauren mated him because she didn't have a better option. He wanted her to think of him as something more than the male she was tethered to; he wanted to show her all the good things that could come from their mating… so she could ignore the bad things.
Carrick pushed his tongue inside her as far as he could. She squeaked his name, and his tiger preened. His tongue darted in and out of her, taking her in the same way he would with his cock.
Her body writhed and she screwed her eyes shut at the new sensations. He enjoyed taking females this way. Showing them intense pleasure, watching them come at his hands and mouth made him feel incredibly powerful and dominant. But never so much as he did with Lauren. He would be the first male ever to show her this pleasure, the first male to ever make her come, and lord it made him feel ten feet tall. This beautiful creature moaning beneath him was his – she belonged to him. No other male could ever have her.
His beast roared excitedly. Mine.
He attacked her sex even more vigorously, pushing his tongue in and out, lapping at her sweet juices. Fuck, she tasted heavenly. His finger rubbed her clit, getting faster and faster, manipulating that small bundle of nerves as her breathing sped up and her body quaked like she was going to explode.
The damn broke and Lauren froze for a moment before crying out and jerking her hips as the pulses of her release shot through her body. She clamped her thighs around Carrick’s head with near-crushing tightness. If Carrick weren’t enjoying her reaction so much, he might have feared for his life.
Gently but firmly he pulled her legs apart and climbed up her body. Still reeling, Lauren gripped at his shoulders, pulling him to her, trying to find some purchase to the new and unexpected sensations.
Her eyes glazed as they watched him, but she didn’t stop him, didn’t ask him what he was doing. He wanted to take her while she was still half-dulled and reveling in her first orgasm. Taking her virginity would hurt, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was cause his mate pain.
Carrick wrapped his arms under her, cradling her as he pushed his rock-hard member against her nether lips. He didn’t think he’d ever been harder, hadn’t ever wanted a woman as much as her. A ripple went through his body as he tried to rein in his restless beast. He wanted just to plunge inside her, but he had to restrain himself.
Lauren’s mouth opened as a small gasp escaped and she nodded her readiness at him.
Slowly, but insistently he pushed inside her. Her inner muscles were still clutching in orgasm, nearly strangling his member. He growled and forced himself inside her. She was insanely tight and as he tore through her innocence her body tightened around him even more. Lauren whimpered slightly as he came to rest fully inside her.
Carrick groaned with the effort of holding back. She felt so wonderful, so amazing; he wanted to come right away, to pour his seed inside her. But no, he wouldn’t, not until he saw her dissolve in pleasure once again.
“Okay?” he rasped, looking down on her.
“Yes,” she said, her voice clear and sure. “It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.”
Lauren giggled lightly and actu
ally smiled at him. Her cheeks with flushed and glistening, her eyes bright, and her hair splayed around her head like a halo. Fuck, she’d never looked more beautiful. He swallowed as he trembled with the effort of holding still inside her.
She snaked her arms around his neck and nodded, her expression excited and expectant. She was so receptive to his touch, to the pleasure he could give her, it made his heart sing. His tiger howled, and Carrick pulled his hips back and pushed inside her again. He rocked himself in and out of her, over and over as she emitted bewitching little moans.
He took her for a long time with steady, even movements, waiting for her to get used to him until eventually, she did. Her legs previously splayed, moved to clutch at his hips, squeezing around him, while her fingers pressed into his shoulders and her hips moved of their own accord. It brought him untold joy that she was enjoying their coupling, actively participating, sharing in his passion.
Carrick could not hold back the tiger’s roar. He threw his head back and let the primal call escape him. Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise for a second before the deep blue softened to the yellow of her own beast and she let out an answering growl.
His tiger practically pranced around that her beast acknowledged him. Yes, she was perfect for him, perfect for his beast, how could there have ever been any doubt. As his lust for her rose, he started moving more forcibly, powerfully driving inside her, taking her with abandon. Lauren’s eyes never left his, gazing at him with wonder but no fear. He thanked fate that she did not object because he wasn’t sure he could stop himself now.
He tightened his arms around her as he pounded into her, clutching her almost punishingly close so that she could barely move in his grip. He watched her closely for any sign of pain or disgust, but all he saw in her flushed features was excitement and was that a little bit of awe? His tiger puffed out his chest.
His mate. His. Mine. Maybe one day even, the mother of his cubs?
Carrick let out another roar as he crashed into her, his thrusts becoming disjointed and uneven as his orgasm nearly reached its peak. Her inner muscles constricted even more, almost painfully so, and he knew it was only a matter of seconds.
Beneath him, Lauren let out a scream and closed her eyes, her body bucking uselessly in his arms as her climax hit. She called out his name and that was it for him. His name on her sweet lips was the point of no return. Carrick growled as his own potent release powered through him. He filled his mate over and over, coming inside her, taking her and making her his as no other male had. His tiger roared joyously.
Carrick nuzzled her neck and Lauren whispered his name. He waited until he was finally spent and carefully rolled them to their sides, his softening member still resting inside her.
Lauren’s eyes were still closed, but the expression on her face was peaceable. He cupped her cheek and rubbed a thumb over her soft skin. She moaned as if she liked it.
Carrick rested his head against the pillow, content to watch his mate, and finally at peace for the first time that he could ever remember.
Sixteen
Lauren awoke alone. The events of the previous night flashed through her mind. The mating ceremony, showing Carrick her tiger, Carrick taking her virginity… Her tiger yowled in satisfaction. Despite some soreness, she couldn’t deny that she had enjoyed it. Her tiger's kitten-like meows were a testament to that. The lightning shocks of pleasure he gave her still lingered. Her body felt different – she felt different, and no, that wasn’t just the slight ache talking.
After their initial coupling, they showered together, and Carrick took her again, pinning her against the tiled wall, almost trying to pound her through it. Then he stripped the bed of the blood-strewn sheets and remade it while she watched, before pulling her down and taking her again - this time from behind. But it wasn’t as harsh and painful as her mother predicted. They lay on their sides, Carrick spooning behind her while he pushed inside her at a much more moderate speed than the previous two times. His hands plucked and squeezed her breasts and the explosion inside her body was even more exhilarating than before. She didn’t remember much after Carrick’s answering growl as he reached his own explosion.
Now, she was neatly tucked into bed, right in the center of it. Lauren patted herself under the covers – she was still naked. Meaning she had fallen asleep after the third time they had sex and he tucked her in. But he didn’t share the bed while she slept.
She squinted at the clock. Wow, it was gone noon. She must have really needed her sleep. Who knew sex could be so exhausting?
The door to the hut opened and shut, and for a second she panicked before her tiger scented their mate and yipped excitedly.
Damnit. The beast was already smitten before they mated; she was only going to get worse after last night.
Carrick strode into the hut, carrying wood for the fire. Lauren pulled herself into a sitting position, making sure she was still covered.
“Hey,” she called out to him.
Carrick looked up from stacking the wood, completely unsurprised that she was awake. “Hello,” he grunted before returning to his task.
If Lauren had any fantasy about the two of them suddenly becoming closer after the intimacy they shared, she would have been extremely disappointed. Carrick was just his normal self. While the previous night had changed her, he was the same.
Of course he is, she thought in irritation. He’d probably had sex with dozens of females. Last night was nothing special to him. Her beast objected to her thoughts, but Lauren tried to push any soppy imaginings away. They had sex – they weren’t suddenly in love.
Lauren awkwardly tried to slip out of bed without flashing her body. She was reaching for a robe – a fluffy white one that presumably came with the hut – when she noticed Carrick staring at her.
“What?”
“You don’t have to worry about covering yourself.”
“I don’t feel comfortable naked.”
“I’ve already seen you naked.”
Lauren shrugged, and Carrick continued giving her a piercing glare until she acquiesced, dropping the bed sheet covering her. Although, she did quickly scramble to put on the robe.
Carrick gestured to the kitchen table, which appeared to be overflowing with food. He waited for her and pulled out her chair for her, causing an unexpected blush to tinge her cheeks. She could almost think she was mated to a gentleman.
“How are you feeling?” he rumbled, dropping into the protesting chair opposite.
“Fine,” she answered automatically.
Carrick growled at her obvious lie.
“A little sore,” she admitted, trying not to redden anymore. She wasn’t sure she wanted anyone knowing that her hoo-ha throbbed, but at least he looked concerned.
Her tiger almost purred at his reaction. Perhaps he would offer to soothe her. Put some ointment on her, or use his tongue like he did last night…
“Are those pecan waffles?” she asked quickly, trying to distract her own imagination.
“Yeah.”
He dumped three on her plate and pushed the butter syrup at her.
“They’re one of my favorite foods,” she murmured while drowning them in syrup. Her gaze moved to the bowl of grapes. “So are grapes.”
She looked up at him inquiringly.
“I asked your sister what you liked.”
“You talked to Lois?”
“I tried talking to your mom, but she didn’t have a clue about you.” His lips thinned in disgust.
“I’m surprised you got any sense out of my six-year-old sister.”
“It took a while and there was a lot of talk about unicorns, but we got there. You prefer hot chocolate to coffee, right?” He rose and brought over a pot, pouring her some thick brown liquid.
“Yes… thank you.”
Uneasily, she realized he was actually making an effort. Perhaps she was wrong about him – he was different.
For a moment, she had trouble believing that any of it was r
eal. It was hard to believe how much her life was changing – everything still seemed so unreal. Any second, she thought she might wake up, and she’d go home to her family and continue as normal.
“Why didn’t you just ask me what I like?”
“I got the feeling that you didn’t want the mating to go ahead,” he said thoughtfully. “I doubted you’d want to tell me anything.”
Perhaps that was why she hadn’t seen much of him during the past four weeks. He avoided her because he thought she might call off the mating. Not likely given the threats against Lois. Though her tiger was adamant that Carrick had no idea about that, and that if she had told him, he would have tried to set the alpha straight about his behavior. Meaning, kick the crap out of him.
Lauren took another bite of her waffles. “Did you make these?”
He nodded. Lauren chewed slowly. They were freaking delicious and also made her feel a little guilty. Since she was going to be spending the rest of her life with Carrick, she really should make an effort, too.
“What are your favorite foods?”
Carrick stared at her for a few moments. “I’ll eat anything.”
“But you must have some favorites, something you prefer more than anything else.”
He inhaled one of his own waffles. “Nope.”
“Maybe you just haven’t found what you like yet.”
Carrick gave her a heated look. “I know what I like.”
Lauren squirmed in her chair as her tender sex moistened at the memory of last night. “Not what I meant.”
His lips almost curled into a smile before he wolfed down a few more waffles. Carrick was shirtless, wearing only a pair of jeans with a distinct bulge at the front of them. She had to assume that was because of her; he was ready and keen to be with her again. That gave her a small thrill of pride that she could inspire desire in him, but also an alien feeling of power.
She sipped at her chocolate as her eyes took in the multitude of scars covering his torso and arms. They were varied in shape and length, but they all looked wicked, and one of them even looked like a damn bite mark. He’d told her that the scar under his eye was down to a lion shifter. Perhaps the bite was also down to the lion. Or maybe that was down to an over-zealous lover. Pointless jealousy needled at her beast for a moment before she pushed it away and realized her mate was watching her.