~ Chapter 18 ~
Clayr’s brow furrowed, head tilting to the side, her hand reaching nervously to cup his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so beautiful.”
Ryder’s heart stuttered. Had he heard right? Was that good or was she just being kind before she told him . . . no.
“I’ve never allowed anyone . . .” She stopped, her voice faltering.
“To help?” he asked, shuffling closer.
“Aye,” she admitted. “It’s not something that I can easily do, what with the confidentiality issues. The kids open up to me because they know I don’t whisper one word outside the room we talk in. The reports I do for Nate are another matter and I try not to give too many details in those so I don’t break their confidences, but . . .”
“No buts,” Ryder interrupted. “Mates share everything but we don’t tell anyone else and you should know that. I’m good at keeping secrets . . . you of all people should be aware of that. Or did Mason find out it was you that broke his brand new phone? And did he ever find out about . . .”
Clayr’s face brightened as she let out a giggle, the sound lifting his heart as she shook her head. “No, he never did find out. So I guess you can keep secrets.”
“I would never break a confidence of yours, no matter how small, and anything to do with those children . . . fuck, Clayr, I can’t say how important that would be. I’d never hurt you or them like that. You can trust me.” Ryder moved closer, nose to nose, inhaling her glorious scent. “Please, baby, let me in and trust me. I won’t let you down. I’d die first.”
He sensed her weakening, her Wolf reaching out to his Panther, searching for him, aching for him as much as he ached for her. His hands moving to clasp her face, his lips moving to caress hers softly. “I need you, Clayr, more than I need my next breath. Please be mine, say you’ll be my mate. Let me love you from now until the end of time, my wild and beautiful lassie.”
Her hands landed on his cheeks, dropping to loop around his neck and drawing him to her lips. One word escaping as their mouths crashed together with white hot fire. “Yes!”
Ryder felt as if his body was aflame, every cell coming to life with his mate in his arms and confirmation that she was his. His. Clayr was finally where she was meant to be and he was about to show her exactly how much he desired her, loved her, craved her.
He’d seen the bed earlier, large with fresh pure white linen and that’s where they’d end up . . . once they’d rid themselves of their damn clothes. Too many layers stood between them.
Arms around her, he stood, lips devouring hers, his tongue plundering her mouth as his dexterous fingers went to work. Desperation engulfing him like a fever as he rushed to feel her skin against his . . . and he wasn’t alone. Her hands fought to tear his jeans from his body and his t-shirt . . . which ended up ripped and tattered on the floor.
Their mating call which had been subdued for too long came rushing forth like a tsunami of blissful desires crashing together, every stitch of clothing soon littering the floor as they fought to devour one another. Clayr’s ardor matched his, her hands roaming his naked body as her lips captured his as if he was the last man alive. Her tongue spearing inside his mouth to tangle with his, her taste delicious and tantalizing, sending him to the brink in a haze of pure lust.
She moaned, pressing her body hard against him, her hips rocking against his and he wasn’t sure how long it would be before he could hold off sinking deep inside her warmth. Ryder reached down, between their hot skin, cupping her mound and dipping his fingers between her folds.
“Shit! You’re so wet, Clayr. So fucking wet for me, baby.” He sank a finger inside, her moan lost against his throat when he lowered his head to sink his teeth into her shoulder, nipping, suckling, lower, lower, until he captured her nipple, taking it boldly between his teeth and licking it until it was a tight bud and she was bucking in his arms.
“Ryder,” she moaned, gasped, her heart beating wildly in her chest, her hips grinding against him.
He needed to see it, the first time she shattered with his touch. Reluctantly, with one last lick, nip, and suckle, he left her breast to slam his mouth to hers briefly. Ryder tore his lips away, his voice raw, rough, and as near animalistic as he’d ever heard as he ordered. “Open your eyes, Clayr.”
Impossibly blue orbs sprung open, latching onto his dark-as-night eyes as she whimpered, “I’m near . . . I’m so near.”
“I know.” Ryder ran his tongue over her lips as he adjusted his fingers at her core, his thumb circling her clit. “I want to see you come for me, right here, right now, Clayr. Come for me, sweetheart.”
He thrust his fingers inside, roughly, once, twice, three times and her walls clamped around them, her chest heaving as her eyes rolled back and her legs gave way . . . his name tearing from her throat as she ran the bliss of the first orgasm his touch had wrought from her sweet body.
“My precious beauty.” Ryder’s throat closed with a gamut of emotion rolling through him, his arm around her waist holding her firmly against him as his fingers continued to caress her wet sheath to milk every last ounce of pleasure from her body.
Only when he was certain there was nothing left did he scoop her up and stride to the bedroom, placing gentle kisses over her face which basked in the afterglow of her orgasm. Her eyelids growing heavy as he placed her gently on the bed before stepping back to bask in her beauty.
Ryder shook his head . . . no, beauty didn’t come close to describing what lay before him. She was magnificent, glorious, a fucking exquisite angel . . . and she was his.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her blue eyes gazing up him, confusion and doubt marring her face.
He couldn’t allow that. Not for one more second. Moving quickly, he lay beside her, his fingers trailing up her side, before cupping her breast boldly to tweak her nipple. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong. On the contrary . . . you’re so right for me. You’re my precious gift from the Goddess, Clayr, and I can’t believe how damn lucky I am. I keep expecting you to disappear and wake from a dream. You’re perfect, every inch of you is so fucking perfect.”
Clayr reached for him, her fingers dancing across his chest. “Shit, Ryder, you’ve turned into one scorching hot man . . . I think that’s what part of the problem was too.” She paused, nibbling her bottom lip.
“Damn, if you don’t stop that I’m gonna—”
Clayr giggled, reaching down to grab hold of his cock, her hand taking possession of it firmly. “As I was saying . . . you’ve turned into a man that would turn any woman’s panties wet, but I still saw you in my head as the boy I once knew. I’m pleased to say that’s no longer the case, Ryder, your body is hot as hell and I want you just as much as you obviously want me.”
She ran her hand slowly up and down his length, her touch sending shockwaves of pleasure throughout his body, sending him insane with desire. “Good to know,” He ground out, moving over her to cage her in. “I’m not leaving this bed until you’re mine, all of you, Clayr. Mind, body, and soul.”
Positioning himself between her thighs, he nudged her apart, his cock seeking entrance to her wet, warm core. “Will you be mine? Will you accept me as yours from now and forever? I promise to protect you, Clayr, to love you, cherish you, and be your rock whenever you need it. But I’ll never hold you back, baby, not ever. I’ll be your mate in this world and the next . . . if you’ll have me?”
Clayr’s eyes gazed up at him, darkening with emotions too many to mention, as she responded to their mating call. “Ryder, I accept you as my mate and I too promise to protect you, love you, and cherish you. I’ll be your mate in this world and the next . . . if you’ll have me?”
“Aww my precious angel,” Ryder ground out, slowly sliding inside as he lowered his lips to hers, their kiss almost chaste for a moment until he’d filled her fully.
“I need you to mark me,” she moaned into his mouth, desperate and needy and that’s all it took to send him into a frenzy as she surrendered beneath him.
His Panther reared within him, powerful, domineering, and in control as they moved into position to seal their bond. His hand tangled in her hair, holding her firmly in place, his fangs tearing through his gums in readiness as he licked her shoulder at the same time as his claws on his free hand sprang free.
He was feline and although he’d mark her as other Wolves did . . . biting her so others would see, he'd also mark her as his kind did. He didn’t want to scare her beforehand so neglected to warn her, instead he pounded into her, rolling his hips to increase her pleasure.
Clayr bit deep at the same time as his fangs sank into her shoulder, her hips bucking against him as their passion grew, her walls clenching around his cock as they rose together. He waited, pausing, holding back for that magnificent moment when she flew over the edge, her body spinning away into ecstasy . . . her mouth tearing away from him as she screamed his name . . . and he struck: clawing her hip, quickly, deeply, and leaving his true mating mark.
Her body tensed for a mere moment, eyes flying open to look up at him, confused and questioningly. “What?”
Ryder leaned down, placing his forehead against hers. “I’m a Panther, darling, it’s what we do.”
“You could’ve warned me.” She slapped his arm.
“If I had it would’ve hurt more with the anticipation.” He kissed her quickly, deeply, his tongue taking, taking, and taking some more until she gave up and relaxed beneath him.
“We’re not moving from this bed until you can’t walk,” Ryder mumbled against her lips. “And maybe even then I’ll still keep you here.”
“I think you meant that as some kind of threat . . . but it sounds divine.” Clayr nipped his lips between her teeth, drawing blood.
“No threat . . . it’s a promise,” Ryder stated, his hands roaming her body, his cock still within her body and already growing hard again.