by Lola Gabriel
He could hear her breathing changing, becoming heavier, as his hands roamed over her body. Raina stopped when her legs hit the bed, and Logan momentarily stepped away from her. He reached down and grabbed her dress in both hands, pulling it up and over Raina’s head. He threw it aside and pulled her back into his arms. He ran his nails over her bare skin, kissing her again.
She opened his belt and then his jeans, and she reached inside of them, stroking his hard cock through his boxer shorts. Even that light, teasing touch was almost enough to send Logan over the edge. He had never wanted anyone as badly as he wanted Raina. His cock pulsed, sending shocks of lust through his entire body. He wanted to devour Raina, to make her his.
He gently moved Raina’s hand away from his cock and fell to his knees in front of her. He peeled her panties down, and she stepped out of them, kicking them away. He pushed her backwards gently, and she sat down on the bed. He moved to kneel between her legs, pushing them further open. She leaned her head down and kissed him again as he reached behind her and unhooked her bra, peeling it down her arms.
He ran his thumbs over her nipples, feeling them springing to life beneath his touch. He kissed down her neck again and sucked one of her breasts into his mouth. He bit down gently on the nipple, his cock throbbing as Raina moaned, a low, husky sound that almost made him come in his boxer shorts.
He moved his mouth downwards, running his tongue over Raina’s flat stomach. He pushed her again until she lay back, and then he sat back on his heels for a moment. He couldn’t take his eyes off her glistening center. He could smell the lust coming off her, her juices further exciting his bear as he caught the scent of her need for him.
Logan leaned closer, moving his tongue slowly over her clit, enjoying listening to her moan. He upped the pace of his tongue as Raina writhed beneath him, thrusting her hips to press his tongue tighter against her. She hooked one leg over his shoulder, bending it at the knee and pushing his face further into her slit. Her scent, her taste consumed Logan, and for a moment, he and Raina were the only two people in the world, and his only purpose for existing was to pleasure her.
He sucked her clit into his mouth and pushed two fingers into her pussy. Her breath caught as he worked her clit and g-spot simultaneously. She was going wild beneath his touch, gasping, and her moans became an incoherent whimpering sound as he pressed down on her g-spot and held it, gently nibbling on her clit.
She screamed his name as her orgasm took her, almost bringing forth Logan’s own climax. She was salty and sweet at the same time, a delicious juxtaposition that was the perfect reflection of Raina.
Logan moved his head back from her, admiring her once more. He put his palms flat on the bed one on either side of Raina and stood up. He looked down at her, her face contorted with ecstasy, her back arched up from the bed. Sweat glistened on her skin, and for a second, her eyes rolled back in their sockets. They slipped closed, and then they flew open again, and Raina’s body relaxed. She sucked in a big gulp of air and panted quickly, trying to get control of herself.
He opened the remaining buttons on his shirt and threw it on the ground. He pushed his jeans and boxer shorts down, kicking them away. Finally, he peeled off his socks and pushed one knee between Raina’s legs, ready to climb onto the bed with her. He could feel how wet her pussy was against his knee. Raina thrust her hips again, needing to release the pressure that was still inside of her.
Logan smiled down at her and removed his knee. He wasn’t ready to let her get away that easily. He wanted her to feel every second of the build-up before he pushed her over the edge again. She seemed to come back to herself as Logan moved his knee, and she smiled up at him, her lips swollen and red from desire. She scooted backwards, making room for Logan between her thighs. He crawled onto the bed between her legs and ran his fingers down her stomach. She pushed herself up off the bed, moving into his touch. He leaned down and kissed her again, teasing her by rubbing his cock through her wet lips. She moaned into his mouth and turned her head to the side.
“Logan, please,” she whimpered. Her words sent another wave of pleasure through Logan. His bear growled within him, and he looked down at Raina, hungry for her, needing to claim her. He thrust all the way into her in one hard, fast movement. Raina gasped as he filled her, stretching her wide open. He felt her tight little pussy hugging his cock, pulling him further in.
Her eyes blackened again, and her nails felt sharper, claw-like, as she ran them down his back. He began to move inside of her, long, slow strokes that he knew were stimulating her g-spot once more. She wrapped her legs around his waist, grabbing his ass cheeks and pushing him in deeper with each stroke. Her hands moved back up his back, caressing him and tugging at his skin while they moved as one, Raina’s thrusts matching his now.
He kissed her and nibbled on her bottom lip as she moaned his name over and over again. Her words tailed off, and Logan watched her face change as her climax approached. She gasped in air, and with each breath out, she made a sound that turned Logan on more than anything he had ever heard. He felt like he was lost in a sea of Raina, and he had never felt more content, more at ease with himself. This felt right. Like he and Raina had been searching for each other all of their lives.
He began to increase the pace of his thrusting. The throbbing he could feel radiated through his while body, sending fire through his veins and over his nerves. He listened to Raina scream unintelligible words as her climax hit her. She went rigid, her pussy clenching so tightly he was held still for a moment.
Raina threw her head back, her mouth open as she tried to breathe. She opened and closed her mouth, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she fought for air and got none. Logan felt her pussy clench again, and then it started to relax, and he thrust into her again, sending another wave of pleasure through her body. He felt her nails digging into his back, warm blood running from the crescent moons she was leaving behind. He didn’t care. All he cared about was becoming one with Raina. She managed to suck in a long, gasping breath. It came out as a blasting call of his name, and hearing it on her lips, hearing the primal ecstasy in her voice pushed him over the edge.
Fire exploded through his body, uniting them, as Logan claimed Raina as his own. He moaned her name. Another wave went through his body, turning his muscles to rigid iron. He threw his head back, and his next moan became an animalistic growl as his bear threatened to burst forth. He relaxed, letting his bear come out slightly. Raina was a bear herself; she wouldn’t be afraid of him. He looked down into her blackened eyes as she roared with him.
He pulled himself back, leaving his limbs like jelly and his heart happy. He pulled out of Raina, but he stayed on top of her for a moment, looking down at her. She gave him a sated, lazy smile that made him want to make love to her again.
“You are mine, Raina,” he said. He allowed himself to move off her, collapsing in a heap beside her. He took her hand in his, stroking her palm with his thumb as they lay side by side, gasping for air. The room smelled of their union, of their mating. The ceremony would come later, but Logan knew in his heart he and Raina were mates now.
He turned onto his side, propping his head up on his palm, and looked down at Raina. Her face was flushed, her skin glowing, her hair fanned out around her. She looked like perfection. He put his hand on her stomach and began to move his fingers in a circle around her belly button. He didn’t say anything. No words were needed. He could see in Raina’s eyes that she knew they were mates as well as he did.
Raina sat up suddenly. “I need to use the bathroom,” she said, almost shyly.
Logan gave her directions and lay back on the pillow, waiting for her to return. For the first time in his life, he felt truly fulfilled. His head was full of thoughts of Raina and the life they would build together.
He heard the toilet flush and Raina’s quiet footsteps as she headed back to the bedroom. He watched her come into the room and walk back towards the bed. She lay back down, her back to him, and pressed hers
elf against him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his cock instantly hard again as Raina ground her ass against it. He heard her quiet laugh, and he smiled. She was clearly ready for round two.
Logan didn’t need any further persuading. He pushed himself once more into Raina’s tight pussy. He moved his fingers down her stomach as he thrust into her, slow, sensual thrusts that made her moan. He smiled to himself again as his fingers found her swollen clit. She sucked in a breath as he pressed his fingers against it, moving it side to side with just the right amount of pressure to bring her to the edge but not push her over it.
Raina turned her head slightly, searching for him over her shoulder. He lifted his head, and he kissed her, hard and deep, and then he kissed down her neck and ran his tongue over her shoulder bone. He watched as she moved one hand to her breasts, running her fingers over them and pinching one of her nipples between her thumb and her forefinger until she was gasping. Her other hand moved lower. She pressed her fingers down on his, moving his hand faster, applying more pressure to her clit. He let her take the lead, following her direction until she was once more screaming his name, her center clenching hard around his erection.
An involuntary roar escaped his lips, pushing him closer to the edge himself. He moved his hand from beneath Raina’s and put it on her hip. He maneuvered himself onto his knees, holding her hips and bringing her with him. She got onto all fours as he slammed into her from behind.
Her hand was still on her clit, working herself furiously as he thrust into her. He moved his hand from her hip, grabbing her breast and kneading it roughly. He pulled almost all of the way out of her and slammed back in. Her low moan became a roar as she came hard. He kept working her, bringing on wave after wave of pleasure. Her elbows gave way, and she collapsed onto the bed on her cheek, but still, she worked her clit, and still, her desperate thrusts matched his.
Logan could feel his orgasm coming now, an intense, desperate need for release, and before he knew it, he was coming, his own cries matching Raina’s as they moved through a red wall of pleasure together.
He moaned Raina’s name as every muscle in his body contracted, every nerve screaming for more. He collapsed in a heap beside Raina as they began to come back down. She rolled onto her side and nuzzled him, and he wrapped her in his arms, holding her close. He could feel her chest heaving, and he kept a tight hold on her, enjoying the warmth of her body against his. He was aware of how small she was compared to him, but she was anything but fragile. Her body was lean yet toned, and she had proved how much she could take. Logan smiled to himself as he realized that in Raina, not only had he met his mate, he had also met his match.
Raina’s breathing finally began to slow down, and Logan listened as if it was the best piece of music he had ever heard. He knew the exact moment she fell asleep in his arms by the way her breaths became longer and deeper. He pulled her closer, and she mumbled incoherently as she snuggled against him. Her arm tightened around his waist for a moment and relaxed when sleep took her.
Logan was exhausted himself. He could feel his eyes closing, but he fought it. He didn’t want to miss a single moment with Raina. The feel of her in his arms was amazing, and he wanted to make every second count.
“I love you, Raina,” he whispered.
If she heard him, she didn’t answer, but Logan had planned it that way. He wasn’t quite ready to face her response. He gently stroked her back as his eyes slipped closed once more, and this time, he didn’t have the energy to pull them back open. He slipped into a dream filled with Raina and their eternal lives together.
9
Raina came awake slowly. For a moment, she had no idea where she was. The room was so dark. She felt her eyes starting to slip closed again, and she relaxed, falling back asleep. Her eyes flew open as she remembered. She was in Logan’s bed. The heavy weight on her waist, the one that made her feel so safe, was his arm. The warmth on her back was his chest.
Dammit. How had she let this happen?
She moved slightly, wincing at the raw feeling between her legs. She allowed herself a minute to remember the intensity of her orgasm, how it had consumed her, body mind, and soul. Being with Logan had been like nothing she had ever experienced before. She had felt her eyes changing, heard herself roaring. Her claws had even started to extend, and nothing had stopped it. She knew with a certainty that Logan was meant to be her mate. Yet how could she allow herself to be with someone who thought Matchmaking was an acceptable practice?
She couldn’t, no matter how much she wanted to. With a heavy heart, Raina lifted Logan’s arm and slipped out from beneath it. As quietly as she could, she shuffled to the edge of the bed. Logan muttered something in his sleep, something Raina couldn’t make out. He rolled onto his back, and his gentle snores told Raina she was safe to make her move. She collected her clothes from the ground and went out into the lounge, where she quickly got dressed and grabbed her bag. She slipped out of Logan’s room and made her way down to her own room.
She found herself wishing, not for the first time, that Logan had just kept up with his lie and let her think he was here on business. Raina would never have had to know about his deal with Chester, and they could have been together. She would never want to be with someone who lied to her, though—not about something so huge.
She sat down at her desk and looked at the time. It was only five a.m. She wanted so badly to call Chessa and tell her about the mess she had gotten herself into, but she couldn’t call this early without a damned good reason, a better one than, “I’ve found my mate, and now I know I can never be with him.”
Raina was horrified to feel tears springing to her eyes as the reality of her situation hit her. She had been determined to hunt Matchmakers, sure that it was her fate. And she had told herself she’d given up on love. The thing was, though, she hadn’t. Not really. She had always hoped she’d find the one, and in her fantasies, they hunted Matchmakers side by side. Never, even in her worst nightmares, had her soul mate turned out to be someone who was using a Matchmaker’s services.
She wiped her eyes angrily and reminded herself she had known she couldn’t be with Logan, even as she had given in to her body’s demands. She had told herself it was a one-off, a bit of fun. But she hadn’t anticipated him being revealed as her mate in such a way she could no longer convince herself it wasn’t real.
She had to forget about Logan and concentrate on her real reason for being here. She had let her focus slip more than far enough, and now she had a full name to go on. Chester Dunbridge. Why the hell was that name so familiar to her?
It came to her in a rush, and she jumped up.
“Oh, my God. I know who he is!” Raina shouted to herself. She vaguely remembered her father telling her stories of the Dunbridges when she was just a kid. They were an infamous, legendary dragon pack who went back almost to the beginning of time. Chester had to be one of them.
Raina felt a surge of excitement run through her at her revelation. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and a wide grin spread over her face. She was so much closer to finding Chester now. She hadn’t really held out much hope that his card would give her what she needed, but it seemed like it had. In any case, it had given her something solid to go on.
She wondered if this was what Harvey felt like when he got a lead. Maybe not now, but he probably had felt this good in the beginning when he found clues. Perhaps that was part of the reason he had done it for so long. The excitement of the hunt, the thrill of the chase. It was definitely working on her. She was itching to find more, but for all she had scored what felt like a victory to her, she was finding it hard to focus on what came next.
She decided to take a shower and then settle in to do some serious research. Although she really wanted to get straight into it, Logan’s scent still lingered on her skin, making her bear frantic with lust, and she knew she would never be able to concentrate while she could smell him. She got ready quickly, putting on a pair of black leggings and a long w
hite button up shirt. She sat back down at her desk and fired up her laptop.
As she waited for it to turn on, she thought back to some of the stories she’d heard about the Dunbridges. They had been one of the first families to organize pack communities and make peace pacts with packs of other species. But they weren’t to be messed with. At the first sign of a rebellion, the Dunbridges fired first and asked questions later.
Raina’s laptop finally came to life. She figured such a prominent family would be known in the mortal world, too, and she decided to start with the easy option. She typed ‘Chester Dunbridge’ into the search bar. She found a few social media profiles, but none that looked likely to be the Chester she was looking for. Halfway down the first page of results, however, something caught her eye: a company called Dunbridge Enterprises had been featured in a business journal, and there was an interview with their CEO, Brandon Dunbridge. She clicked into the article. There was no mention of Chester, but there was a link to the Dunbridge Enterprises website.
Raina looked over the website, through the list of notable employees. There was still no mention of Chester, and Raina was starting to think that he was the black sheep. It made sense. A prominent family like the Dunbridges was unlikely to publicly come out in support of Matchmaking, and if one of their own had gone down that route, he had likely gone rogue.
She thought for a moment and clicked out of the employee directory and into the ‘About Us’ page. She learned of some of the areas the Dunbridge empire delved in, and she settled on the accountancy side of things. She found the number for the director of finance, Kevin Hall. She thought for a moment and then pulled out her cell phone, typing in the number.
She had a feeling that asking questions about Chester would raise a red flag and get her put through to someone high up. It was a bit of a gamble, but the Dunbridges seemed to have their shit together. If she was in their situation, she would have someone in place to divert the negative connotations of Chester’s name away from the business. If she was wrong, all she would do would be waste a few minutes. She wasn’t about to say anything to make anyone suspicious of her.