Ten

This was unbelievable. Total fairytale, too good to be true, pinch yourself because you must be dreaming kind of stuff.

This man, this amazing man, who was funny and caring and sexy as fucking sin, wanted her. Wanted her for life. Forever. Until the sun went down on the Surge show. And he knew her faults. Knew her flaws and that they ran soul deep, but it didn’t matter. He wanted her still.

For the first time in her life, she let herself believe that she could be happy. That she could be loved. Seeing Renner and Bethy had given her hope, even if she’d never admitted it. But Surge… he was making hope reality.

Tana spiraled out of control as he began thrusting into her. She hadn’t known their bond would be so powerful. Not when she was a cat and he was a wolf. Not when they weren’t intended mates.

But it was strong. It solidified everything Surge had said. And it would never be broken. Her mate would keep her heart safe. Never betray her.

There was not a more liberating feeling in the world.

She watched him, her mouth open on a silent gasp. Strong shoulders glistening from the heavy humidity. Powerful hands that held her hips steady so he could pound into her. His abs flexed with each push, a rippled cut of pure muscle that narrowed to his waist.

“That’s right,” he breathed. “Watch me. Watch what I’m doing to you, mate of mine.”

She was riveted, seeing his hard length disappear and reappear like magic over and over again.

“Surge,” she whimpered.

She’d followed his instructions and held on tight, but he’d banged her halfway off the rock, and was now bracing one foot against it for leverage. And he wasn’t stopping. He was all laser beam focus and white hot determination.

Her panther fucking loved it. Rawr, baby.

Without warning, he pulled her up and kissed her lips, his tongue delving inside and laying claim to her mouth. His thrusting slowed to hard measured pumps, and he sucked her lips as he pulled back.

“Mine,” he growled.

“Yes.”

“Always mine.”

“Always.” Her claws dug into his shoulder as another binding release rocked her body.

Surge dropped his head to her neck and a thrill of excitement travelled the length of her spine. This was it. The marking. The one that would rewrite the past and give her a future.

His hot tongue licked a slow path along the curve between her neck and shoulder.

And then he bit.

Tana jerked to a still, paralyzed by the mark of her mate and his warm fluid filling her, imparting her with his scent. Inside, she could feel herself changing, aligning with him. Her soul and his, becoming one.

Her panther hissed, claws peeking out enough to slash three small marks across Surge’s shoulder.

“Fuck yes,” he boomed, releasing her neck and continuing to push into her until she’d taken everything.

Eventually he slowed, coming to a stop, but Tana clung to him, unwilling to part for even a breath.

He panted against the raw bite before licking it softly. “It’s perfect,” he murmured.

Surge tried to pull back but still, Tana couldn’t make herself let go.

“Baby girl? You okay? Did I hurt you?”

Tana shook her head. “Just want to stay like this.”

He chuckled, bringing his hand up to cradle her head. As she burrowed against him, the laughter kept coming. It was free and genuine. Happy. She knew if she looked right now, his eyes would be smiling.

Turning her face, she stared at Surge seeing her guess was right. His laugh was real this time, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

Tana kissed his jaw, letting her lips linger.

Surge quieted, running his hand up and down her back in a lazy motion. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For giving us a chance. Told you we’d be beautiful.”

“You were right.”

He tipped her face up and kissed her lips so softly she ached from it. “I love these lips. I never want to stop kissing them but…”

“We should check on Grace.”

Surge nodded. “Our girl isn’t using a single thing those assholes made until I check it first. Can you believe they weren’t even reading the instructions?”

Tana gasped in true Hollywood style. “The nerve!”

Surge grinned, pinching her butt in retaliation. “Let’s go,” he urged, pulling her carefully to a stand. “Mate of mine.”

“You sure do have a lot of nicknames for me.”

“Yep. And I’ll probably come up with a million more before our time is over.”

“You need one. How about… Long Dong Silver.”

Surge didn’t miss a beat. “Nah. I’m not a pirate. Don’t even own a fishing boat.”

“Jackhammer?”

He squinted, thinking about it. “If I was in construction maybe. Though it could work by association. And I bet you’d be all about the Jackhammer, baby. Am I right?” he said, to a few sexy pelvic thrusts.

Tana laughed, the sound filling the forest as they found their way back to DTD’s property.

“Fine. How about I just call you… my love.”

Surge quit walking and pulled her to a stop. He stared into her eyes, his expression bleeding emotion. “That’s my favorite,” he whispered.

“It suits you best,” she said, stepping into his strong embrace.

He’d never said the words, but she knew he loved her by his actions. And it was unconditional. His love hadn’t changed when he’d learned she had less to offer him. For that alone, she’d be his for eternity

***

Late night feedings weren’t what most people would call the fun part of parenting, but Tana didn’t mind them. When the house was dark and silent, and it was just her and Grace, face to face in the rocking chair, that was the definition of peaceful.

She snuggled the baby against her chest while they waited for the milk to warm. Grace cooed impatiently, but there was no screaming. She’d learned Tana would feed her, she just had to wait.

Normally, she took her back to Surge’s room where they’d set up the bassinet and rocking chair until she was old enough to sleep in the crib, but tonight they were trying a little something different.

Creeping down the hall with baby Grace cradled in one arm and the bottle in the other, Tana hoped this worked. Opening the door to the spare room, she slipped inside and was shocked to find Diz. He was asleep in a chair he’d pulled close to the bed, but his head snapped up when Grace let out a whimper.

“Sorry,” Tana whispered. “I didn’t know you were in here.”

He wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up straighter. “S’okay. What do you need?”

Tana’s gaze went to the bed, to the woman lying there unconscious. Another two weeks had passed. The female had been weaned off the sedatives, but she didn’t wake. There was a glimpse of hope when she’d shifted from her bobcat to human. Ella was sure she’d regain consciousness after that. But then nothing happened.

“I thought it might help if I brought Grace in to visit. Well, not visit exactly. I don’t know, I thought maybe it would give the female a reason to wake up.”

“Ella says she probably can’t hear us.”

“Yeah. I know, but her animal, I bet it can sense the young.”

Diz’s brow furrowed. “You might be right. I guess it’s worth a shot.” He stood. “Here, take a seat. I need a coffee break anyway.”

He half stumbled from the room and Tana settled in the chair to begin feeding Grace.

There was no sound except the soft, rhythmic pull of the kitten’s suckling. Tana kept eye contact with the babe, until her lids started to droop. The last third of the bottle was always sleep-eating for Gracie.

While she finished the bottle, Tana’s gaze drifted to the bed. The female was still swollen and cut all over her body. Dark bruises in various states of healing speckled her skin. After nearly a month, this condition made no sense. She was healing at the rate of a normal human. It was like her cat wasn’t fighting for her at all.

They’d just have to give that bobcat a reason to fight.

Grace was asleep with left over milk dribbling from the corner of her mouth. Tana laid her carefully on the bed next to the female, keeping her hand on the kitten’s head. They’d stay ten more minutes.

And then they’d do it again tomorrow. For as many days as it took.

Because Tana couldn’t watch another shifter die. Especially one connected to Grace. She had to believe that when the woman woke, she wouldn’t break up their fledgling family.

She believed in the impossible now, and she was holding on to hope. Everything would be all right.