by Quinn Loftis
“Yes,” she agreed. “But then you wouldn’t have let me leave our bedroom for girl time.”
“You’ve had a lot of girl time over the past couple of weeks. What happened to mate time?”
“You do realize that you sound like a child who hasn’t gotten to play with his favorite toy in a month, right?”
Decebel was quiet for a moment, but she could practically feel the wheels in his mind turning, though he wasn’t letting her hear what was going on in there. Then she felt a wicked glee come through the bond. That didn’t bode well for her.
“You know, baby, I think you females have the right idea. It’s been a little stressful getting everything ready for the celebration. I bet all the males would like massages, too. There’s a lot of tension in the shoulders and back from all the tree lifting, lighting hanging, and sleigh building work. I’m sure we could get Adam to take us somewhere.”
Jen thought about a woman’s hands on her mate’s delectable body. She tried not to grind her teeth. “You have the ankle biters, B. You won’t leave them behind.”
“We could go in shifts. A few stay behind and watch the kids while the others go and get their… What did you call it? Oh, right, zen. They can get their zen.”
Jen counted to ten in her mind and then reminded herself that she was a mature adult who was fully capable of having a productive argument with her mate without resorting to physical pain. “Do I need to remind you that it’s a female rubbing my back?”
“Do I need to remind you that your body is mine, just as mine is yours? The only hands that should be rubbing either of us is each other.”
Why was that sexy and irritating at the same time? Probably because it meant she was about to have to give up her massage. “You owe me.”
“And you know I’m always happy to pay up,” he said with a satisfied purr. She could feel his satisfaction at having won this little skirmish.
“I want a massage that works out all my knots and makes me boneless and sleepy with no hanky panky.”
“Wait, what?” His voice rose and the satisfaction fled.
Jen laughed out loud. “Sorry, babe. Got to go. We’re getting dressed and then heading to the hotel restaurant to get our grub on.”
Jen heard rustling around her and opened her eyes. She lifted her head and saw the masseuses were leaving, and all of her friends were wrapping sheets around their bodies as they climbed off their tables. She pursed her lips. “Let me guess, y’all’s mates weren’t thrilled with the evening’s activity either?”
“Stupid furbutts,” Jacque huffed.
“It’s kind of sexy.” Zara’s eyebrows bounced up and down. “My man wants to be the only one who puts his hands on me.”
Jen stood up and looked at the newly bonded female. “You’ve just been demoted from new favorite to HBB.”
“Do I want to know what HBB stands for?” Zara asked.
Jacque and Sally shook their heads as they answered in unison. “Definitely not.”
“Is it disturbing that I’ve known her long enough that I’m starting to understand the acronyms?” Crina asked.
Jacque nodded. “That’s a sign that you need to be reprogrammed. You’ve let the Jen virus infiltrate your brain. Don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us.”
“Well, if they’re not going to let us get our massages, let’s go eat expensive food until we can’t move,” Peri suggested.
“I can’t believe you let Lucian put his foot down,” Elle said as they retrieved their clothes.
“I pick my battles,” Peri responded.
“And he threatened to let a chick give him a massage, didn’t he?” Jen said with a laugh.
Peri muttered something under her breath. It didn’t sound complimentary.
Within twenty minutes, they were all dressed and seated in the fancy hotel restaurant. Jen practically salivated, staring at the menu. “I say we order it all.”
Jacque pulled out a black credit card and slapped it down in the middle of the table. “Let’s do our worst.”
Their worst took the better part of three hours. After it was all said and done, they’d not only ordered at least one of everything on the menu, but two of most of the desserts. Now, the women were leaning back in their chairs, hands resting on their stomachs. Groans could periodically be heard coming from each of them.
“Why did you guys let me eat so much?” Sally laid her head on Elle’s shoulder.
“Because we were all scared to come anywhere near the hand that was shoveling food into your mouth. You growled whenever any of us even reached for a plate close to you,” Rachel told her, a small smile on her lips.
“I didn’t.” Sally shook her head.
“Totally did,” Jen agreed with Rachel.
Sally looked a little sheepish. “I was hungry. It was a long day.”
“It has been a long day, but a fun one,” Jacque looked around the group, her eyes landing on Jen. She winked at her friend, and Jen smiled. She couldn’t disagree. Even with their mates going all caveman on them, which was kind of sexy though she’d never admit it, it had been a great day.
“I say we get some sleep, and then tomorrow we can go get the awesome cakes and head home before our men come hunt us down,” Jen suggested.
Laughter erupted. They knew she was not wrong, and nods of agreement went around the table as they stood up. Peri snapped her fingers, and a large amount of money sat in the middle.
“After the mess we made, the waitress deserves an amazing tip,” the high fae said. Peri wasn’t wrong. It looked like a litter of wolf pups had gone to town on the table instead of eight grown women. Jen figured once the waitress saw the large sum of cash waiting on her, she wouldn’t care one bit.
*****
Elle said her goodnights to all the other females, and they each headed into the rooms that filled the massive suite Peri had procured for them. The living area was littered with bags and bags of presents, but they were all so tired that they didn’t even stop to talk about what they’d bought or who they’d bought for. She was exhausted, which was kind of funny considering she was a fae warrior who’d fought in more battles than she could count. But one day of shopping and seven other chattering females wiped her out.
“Have you had fun?” Sorin’s voice nearly caused her to jump out of her skin. She turned to find him leaning against the doorframe that led to the bathroom. She was so tired that she hadn’t even picked up on the fact that he’d closed the mate bond down to a low hum, but it was blaring wide open now that he’d revealed himself.
“Let me guess. Adam?”
He shrugged a shoulder at her. “Canis lupus males don’t like sleeping apart from their mates.”
“What about Thia, Slate, and Titus?” She knew there was no way Decebel, Costin, or Fane would have left the children behind, even if Drake and Bethany were still at the mansion.
“They’re here.” His voice was a deep rumble as his eyes roamed over her. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to finish your massage.”
Elle snorted. “Liar.”
His lips turned up slightly. “Regardless.” He pushed off the wall and prowled slowly across the room like a wolf hunting his prey. “I’d like to make it up to you.”
Elle’s eyes narrowed. “You’re here to give me a massage and then let me sleep?”
“Something like that,” he teased.
She shook her head at her mate, and a shiver of anticipation made its way down her body. Elle didn’t know if she’d ever get used to the way Sorin made her feel. It was unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and she was careful to keep those thoughts closed down tightly. She’d found out quickly that he and his wolf, though they knew she had a past, didn’t appreciate it when she compared them to previous relationships—not that she was comparing them in any way other than as to the emotions her mate evoked.
Elle had never imagined she would have such devotion from a male. She’d never considered she could feel so strongly for one person. Wh
en he said that the males of his race didn’t like to sleep apart from their mates, she completely understood. She hated the idea of sleeping apart from him, too. Considering that when she’d first realized they were true mates, she’d sort of freaked out, Elle was now shocked she couldn’t stand the idea of being without him.
“Come here, mate.” Sorin held out his hand when he was halfway to her.
Elle’s feet moved before she even had time to register his words. Her hand slipped into his, and he sighed as he pulled her tightly against him. Sorin buried his face in her throat and breathed deeply. He spoke words in his native tongue, words that made Elle blush. A supernatural being that lived as long as she had knew many other languages, including Romanian. She never tired of hearing him speak to her in his language. It provoked an intimacy between them that made her think of the bond they shared mentally.
“I missed you today,” Sorin murmured. His lips began a slow trip up her neck to her ear. He bit it just hard enough to smart, but then kept moving until his mouth hovered over hers.
“Were you men bored out of your minds, or did you spar to release some of your pent-up energy?”
He chuckled. “We kept busy. But it was a poor substitute for being with you.”
Elle sighed as his lips began moving again, down her chin to her neck. “I’d rather be with you, too.”
His hand unbuttoned the red-and-green plaid shirt she wore, and with every brush of his fingertips against her flesh, Elle’s anticipation for her mate’s touch grew.
“I do believe you had to be naked for that massage you got today.” Her mate’s voice rumbled against the valley between her breasts.
“Mmm-hmm,” was the only thing she could manage to say as Sorin continued to undress her.
“I think you’ll find the massage you’re about to get will be much more satisfying than any that place had to offer.” She didn’t miss the bite in his tone, obviously still irritated over someone else having touched her. But she didn’t care. He could be as irritated as he wanted as long as he didn’t stop doing what he was doing.
Sorin chuckled, no doubt having heard her thoughts.
“On the bed with you. Lie on your stomach,” he mentally told her once he’d stripped her down. She could have magicked her clothes away, but Elle had found that there was something profoundly intimate about being undressed by her male, and she liked it. She enjoyed knowing she was the only woman who received his attention and care in such a way.
She did as he instructed, her breath coming in shallow pants as she anticipated how good Sorin’s hands would feel on her. The best masseuse in the world could not compete with what her mate’s hands did on her body.
The bed dipped as he joined her. A moment later, his hands were running down her back, followed by his tongue. Apparently, he wasn’t even going to set a pretense that this massage was anything like what she’d already received. Elle wasn’t about to complain.
“Are you still upset that I asked—”
“Demanded,” she interrupted him.
“Fine, demanded that you not allow the human female to touch you?”
She switched to the mental bond as she answered. “Do I get a happy ending?”
“Would I be here if I didn’t plan on it?”
Elle laughed. “Good answer.”
*****
“I’m not surprised you’re here,” Rachel said as she continued to undress. She’d known the minute they’d entered the suite that her mate was there. After so many centuries together, and with as much danger as they’d faced, they rarely kept the bond closed down enough that they didn’t know where the other was.
“I knew you wouldn’t be,” Gavril replied.
She could feel his eyes on her, running over her body as if he hadn’t seen her undress thousands of times.
“I never tire of it.” The deep timbre in his voice sent the heat of desire through her blood.
“The kids?”
“With their parents.” His warm breath brushed her neck, and she felt his fingertips run along the outsides of her arms.
Finally, when she was fully unclothed, she turned to face her mate. He was sitting in a plush chair tucked into a corner across the room from her. Gavril always did like to use the bond in creative ways. Rachel’s lips turned up as she stared at the glowing eyes of her mate. “Shall I pose for you?”
“You do not have to ask what I want, female. Not after all this time together.” The wolf and man’s voice blended together as they fought for dominance.
Instead of moving toward the bed, she walked to him and then climbed onto his lap. One of his arms immediately wrapped around her waist, while his other hand began to slowly travel from her ankle up her calf to her thigh and then back down again. “This isn’t posing,” he said.
“Posing is not what you wanted,” she whispered. “As you pointed out, I do not have to ask what my male needs.”
“And what is that?”
“Me.”
Gavril leaned forward, pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder, and then blew his warm breath on her sensitized flesh. “I always need you.”
*****
Lucian laid on the bed and listened to the sounds of his mate taking a shower. She hadn’t been surprised when she’d walked into her room and found him lounging across the comforter. She’d simply said, “Let me wash the shopping funk off of me, then we’ll talk.” Peri didn’t have to take a shower. She could have simply used her power to clean herself, but he’d learned she enjoyed the sensations that came with the human ritual of getting clean, not that he minded. His mate naked with water pouring down her body was not something he’d ever complain about.
When she finally emerged, she was wearing a white, glittering gown that hugged her body in delicious ways. If she thought they would be talking while she wore that, then she was sorely mistaken.
“I didn’t say we had to talk first,” she told him, his thoughts coming through their bond loud and clear.
“And do you really think there will be any talking after I am done with you?” Lucian’s eyes perused his mate’s lovely form.
“If you leave me with enough energy to gripe at you over your possessive obsession of ‘not sharing an inch of my flesh with another living being,’ as you so eloquently put it, then you might as well leave now.”
Lucian couldn’t help the deep chuckle. “You sound frustrated, beloved.”
“I would like to sound satisfied. Do you think you could assist me with that, my wolf?” Her eyes glowed as she walked toward him with the grace the fae were known for.
He patted the bed beside him. “Leave the gown on,” he ordered before she could use her power to make it disappear. Her flesh broke out in goose bumps at his command, and he could hear her heartbeat increase.
She laid next to him on her side, her elbow propping her up. Lucian rolled to face her. He placed a hand on her hip and pulled her to him until their bodies touched from ankle to chest. The hand resting on her hip gathered the material so that it crept up her body, revealing her delicate skin inch after inch. When he’d finally gotten the gown high enough that he could touch her silken flesh, they both moaned.
“I want you to make me a promise.” Lucian’s hand continued to push the gown up further. His female’s eyes fluttered as she tried to focus on his words, but through the bond, he could feel her senses were mostly focused on his touch. “We will never sleep apart again. I don’t care where in the world you are, or I am, or what we’re doing. You have the ability to make sure we’re together. Promise me you will always return to my side when we sleep.” Lucian had exercised much restraint in their relationship when it came to his possessiveness, but after seeing his sister in-law and brother lose their lives, he knew that there were some things he was no longer willing to give up. Holding his mate in his arms while she slept was one of them. No matter how long or how short their time left in this life was, Lucian wanted every day to end like this. With them together, where they belonged.
He nodded. “Just as you realize I would never ask of you something that would divide your heart between us and your duties. But this is something I need. And if you can’t come to me, then you can bring me to you.”
“I promise,” she whispered and leaned closer. His female did not press her lips to his but waited for him to take the lead. It was something Lucian treasured. This strong woman with immense power, who had led thousands in battle, preferred her mate be the one to take her. It was in the privacy of their room that Lucian had the privilege of seeing a side of his amazing mate that no one else ever would. Laid bare, vulnerable, flush with her desire and need of him, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever beheld.
By the time he finally leaned forward and kissed her, her gown had been torn in two, and Lucian had given up any pretense of patience. He’d missed his mate fiercely, and as she responded to his touch, his kiss, and his passion, he knew she’d forgiven him for his gruff statement that he’d wanted the human’s hands, female or not, off his mate’s skin.
“You’re not totally forgiven yet,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he kissed his way down her body. “By the time I’m done, you won’t remember that there’d been any other hands on you.”
“I’m counting on it, wolf.”
*****
Jen stumbled out of her room and into the main living area of the suite. She glanced around and saw the other females of their group in various states of wakefulness. All of them were still in their sleep clothes.
“By the looks of y’all, I’m guessing you were each rode hard and put up wet? And I mean that in the best possible way.”
Rachel coughed on the cup of coffee she’d been sipping from at Jen’s words.
“The original meaning of that phrase has no ‘best possible way’ scenario in it,” Sally pointed out.