BACHAR PACED IN the hospital’s waiting room, his lion berating him for allowing their mate to be hurt. It was no worse than how he was condemning himself. How could he have been so foolish as to have left her alone, knowing that the humans were in the area?

It was one more reason why he wasn’t fit to have a mate. And certainly not one as precious and brave as his. He stopped at the windows, clenching his fists. A flood of emotions washed through him. Fear that Sally’s injuries were far more serious than he knew. Anger at the fact that Tarek had not allowed him to tear apart the man who had shot his mate, limb by limb. Disgust that he, and his lion, had allowed her to put herself in such a position. The safety of a shifter’s mate was more important than anything in the world. The life of a shifter or even the well-being of a pack or pride.

A mate was fate’s ultimate gift to a shifter. One not to be squandered and taken for granted.

“She will be fine.” He knew the heavy hand on his shoulder was meant to relieve some of the feelings of failure flashing through him. Keair had been by his side from the moment he’d lifted Sally in his arms, arranging for a helicopter to airlift her to the hospital. Tarek had stayed behind to take care of business. Rationally, he knew the wolf would deliver swift and irrevocable justice, but that didn’t mean his lion didn’t want to do it himself. It was rare that Bachar killed as a lion, but not unheard of. It was not something he nor his animal enjoyed, but in this case, it was his duty. His responsibility. Damn it, his right.

Bachar gazed out of the window without actually seeing anything beyond the snowflakes swirling in the fading evening night. Another storm was on its way, and he wished the day had never happened. That he hadn’t pushed his instincts aside this morning. That he’d stayed in bed with his mate. They’d be there now, making love in front of the fire as the snow fell outside, isolating them from the demands of the outside world.

“She will be fine,” Keair repeated his statement without answering.

The doors to the waiting room opened, and Bachar spun around. “Fuck,” he growled when he saw Tarek had entered instead of the doctor.

“You know, a person could get a complex from the warm greetings you’ve given everyone lately, Alpha.” Keair’s lips lifted into a half-smile, but Bachar didn’t respond.

“He is waiting for news from the doctor.”

Tarek frowned at the tiger and Keair sighed. When had his two friends become some joyless beasts?

“I know, man. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Lighten the mood? Would you be so quick to crack a joke, if it were your mate lying on a table, under the knife of a surgeon?” Tarek growled the words and Keair eyes widened in surprise. Passion was usually the last emotion the lone wolf exhibited.

“Not. Helping.” Bachar bit out the words.

The doors opened again, and this time it was the doctor who entered, dressed in surgical scrubs. Before Tarek or Keair could stop him, Bachar moved across the room, backing the doctor up against the wall, his hot breath fanning the man’s face. “Tell me.”

Keair let out a sigh of relief as he moved closer and realized the doctor was a shifter. A human would have already pissed his pants at the look on the alpha’s face. This doctor merely blinked before telling Bachar what he wanted to know. “She’s fine. The bullet went in and out. There was a lot of blood—”

Keair stepped forward, tugging at Bachar’s shoulder until the other man stepped away. “Thank you, doctor. When can he see her?”

The doctor smiled. “She’s being moved to recovery as we speak. Once out of there, she’ll be moved to a room. He can see her there.”

Keair gave a rueful shake of his head. “I don’t think that’s going to work, doc. I suggest you have her moved directly to a private room with a private nurse. ASAP. You’ve got about ten minutes.”

The doctor looked at him, then at Bachar and finally at Tarek. They made a formidable team. One that would not take no for an answer. “Okay, then. Ten minutes.” He eased away, walking quickly back out the doors.

“You should have said five,” Tarek said.

“You shouldn’t have given him any fucking time,” Bachar growled his words as he leaned against the wall, his gaze firmly fixed on the clock on the other side of the waiting room. Keair knew the second those ten minutes were up Bachar would be striding down the hall and heaven help anyone who tried to stop him.

The three men stood in silence as they waited, each lost in their own thoughts. All would have been surprised that they shared the same thoughts. Thoughts about mates. Bachar knowing that he would gladly give his life for the safety of his. Tarek, reaffirming the fact that he would never be worthy because of his past transgressions and Keair knowing that it would take a very special woman to relieve him of his playboy ways. He did not believe in fated mates.

Bachar mentally held his lion by the throat as they waited to go see their mate. The animal had been clawing desperately to get out, to go to his wounded mate. As the minutes ticked slowly away, he made plans. Big plans. His first order of business would be to wipe out The Group. Never again would a shifter have to worry about the safety of their mate. Or a cub. His body shuddered thinking of planting his seed inside Sally. And marking her. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting her, her blood spilling down his throat as they made a cub together. He pushed himself away from the wall. It was time. As he passed Tarek, he extended his arm and clasped the man on the shoulder. He did the same with Keair. “Thank you, my friends.”

Tarek nodded his head. “Anytime. Now go claim your mate so there will no doubt in any one’s mind that she belongs to you.”

“And I belong to her.”

Not surprising, a grin lit Keair’s face. “You will be breaking many hearts tonight, but the reward will be well worth it.”

“No doubt, no doubt.” For the first time that night he felt like smiling and returned his friend’s grin before hurrying out the door and down the hall. He hurried towards his mate.

Not surprisingly, no one stopped him or even bothered to give him directions to Sally’s room. Not that he needed them. Not even the harsh smell of the chemicals used to keep the hospital clean could cover her scent. He hesitated just outside the door, gathering his control once again. His cock, awoken by the thoughts of claiming her, impregnating her, had grown thicker and heavier and now pulled with each movement, paining him greatly. It took careful skill to walk that thin line between instincts, craving, and the need to protect. She was his mate, and as such, he needed to protect her from anything that might harm her—even her own mate.

He heard no stirrings from inside and wondered if Sally had already succumbed to sleep. She’d had a harrowing day, and he knew she needed her rest. But, heaven help him, he needed to be with her, if only to watch her sleep.

He slipped inside the door, and his heart stopped. There she lay, looking so small and fragile against the white sheets. Her dark hair had been combed and lay fanned across her pillow. Her eyes were shut, her long lashes casting shadows against her pale cheeks.

Fuck. He could have lost her tonight. His knees threatened to give way at the gravity of that thought, and he made his way to the chair by her side. He gathered her small hand between his, wincing at the coolness of her skin. He rubbed it gently, trying to instill some warmth. Just as he was reaching for the call button to insist they bring more cover or turn up the heat—anything so she wouldn’t feel so damn cold—her eyelids fluttered.

“Bachar?” Her voice was hoarse, no doubt from the effects of surgery. Her eyes were slightly glazed, the beautiful brown color dull. Again, the fear of losing her washed over him, and he lashed out.

“If you ever do something as fucking stupid again—”

“You’ll what?” Her voice may have sounded like a rusty bucket, but it held no less steel than it had when she had demanded that he go find her brother. He looked at their joined hands and slowly entwined their fingers together.

“I’ll turn you over my knee and spank you so damn hard, you won’t be able to sit down for a month.”

One of her dark brows rose. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” He whispered as he leaned closer, their noses brushing, their lips almost touching. “And I’ll damn well guarantee you’ll love every minute of it.”

“Oh.” That comment had her eyes widening and her lips curving into a smile. Her other hand lifted and threaded themselves into his hair right above his ear. His lion purred. Her happy expression didn’t last long as she bit her lip, looking at him with so much sadness that he felt his heart breaking. “I was so scared. I was afraid they were going to kill you.”

“Oh, baby.” He hesitated briefly, his instincts for keeping her safe and those needing to be closer to her warring with him. But soon he was standing and gently picking her up into his arms. Sitting back down, he pulled the blanket from the bed, maneuvering it around the drip in her arm until she was wrapped up tight against him, all warm and toasty. “You are the one that scared the hell out of me,” he breathed against her lips, before taking them in a kiss that quickly morphed from light as a feather to one heavy with passion.

“Damn, I didn’t mean to do that.” He pulled away, his breathing heavy. Hers was labored, and he called himself all kinds of a fool. She wasn’t in any shape to receive his passion. He started to stand, intent on putting her back into bed and calling the nurse.

“No, don’t.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “I want to stay here.”

His lion, sensing she was okay, rubbed against him and he settled her on his lap again, promising himself no more kisses.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. He contented himself with holding her, occasionally running his hand over her hips and down her legs. Cupping her feet to assure himself she was warm enough. As he sat there, with the love of his life in his arms, the events of the day started to catch up with him as well. His eyes drifted shut. He knew they had a lot to talk about. A lot to say. Starting with the words I love you and ending with, you’re my mate.

But it didn’t matter. Not in this moment. Not in the moment when he and his lion were both finally content after a lifetime of feeling lost and alone.

After so many long years, they had finally found their home.

Why? Because they had finally found their mate.

For a mate was a shifter’s home.

 

ONE MONTH LATER…

Sally walked out of the hotel and placed her hand over her eyes to block out the morning sun as she searched her surroundings. It was still too early for a true spring, but the mountain was already showing signs of the renewal of life. Small pockets of green were pushing their way from the cover of the forest floor, and some of the trees were already sporting small green buds. She moved to her right, taking a private pathway leading away from the hotel.

It was taking longer than Bachar had anticipated to build their new home higher up on the mountain and they were still living in the hotel. Sally had been happy staying here with him—who wouldn’t be with maid service and as much ice cream as she wanted just a phone call away—but the mighty lion had wanted more for his mate.

As she walked, she couldn’t believe the changes that had occurred in the last thirty days. She didn’t entirely like it, but her brother was now staying with the Richardson pack and learning how to be a wolf. She had quit her job in Maine and moved here to be closer to him. And, of course, to be with Bachar. She hoped to find another teaching job soon. Bachar had even talked about starting a school on the mountains so the children didn’t have to travel so far.

She smiled when she spotted what she’d been looking for—a magnificent lion sunning himself on top of a boulder.

With carefree steps, she made her way to her husband. The air was warm on her face, and she looked forward to spring and summer. But her favorite season would always be winter. After her kidnapping, Bachar had helped her recover in the most delightful of ways. They had spent the last of the cold winter days in each other’s arms.

“May I escort you?” Tarek’s deep voice sounded behind her, and for once she didn’t jump. It was amazing how quite the man was.

She smiled at him as he dropped into step beside her. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. But I’ve found it’s best if I at least give you the illusion of being in control.”

Sally snorted. During her recovery, Bachar had assigned Daniel full-time as her personal assistant and made both Tarek and Keair guard her when he was away. Tarek took his duties seriously, never leaving her side. Keair did the same but would disregard the strict guidelines Bachar had tried to enforce concerning her welfare. The tiger was one mischievous—and downright sexy—package from the tips of his ears to the sharp points of his claws. And it drove Bachar nuts that she and the tiger had become BFFs.

Tarek was also her friend. A friend that she wanted to help.

She stumbled and immediately his hand was under her elbow. “Careful. The alpha would not like to see you injured.”

“And neither would you, big softy.” She bumped her shoulder against his, secure in the knowledge that he would keep her from falling.

“You are correct.” He glanced down at her, a smile hovering on the edges of his mouth. Keair’s features might draw the eyes of more women, but those were not the type of women Tarek needed. Well, neither did the tiger, but at least the tiger knew not to let his heart be broken by a pretty face.

No. Tarek needed a woman who could look past the silent and slightly abrasive exterior to the heart of gold beneath the massive chest of muscles. She thought of the female shifters she had met over the last few weeks and realized there wasn’t one that she deemed good enough for this wolf. Besides, as Bachar had explained many times, a mate was a gift. Not the result of overzealous matchmakers.

But still…

As they neared the place where Bachar sunned himself, the lion turned, letting out a small tuft of sound at the sight of Tarek’s hand on her elbow. Even though the other man was helping her, keeping her safe, Bachar still had issues with any male touching her. And she felt the same. She’d gotten into more than one verbal match with the females of the pride who overstepped the bounds when greeting her husband. Didn’t matter that he was their alpha. He was hers.

She picked up her pace, eager to get to her mate. “Thank you,” she called over her shoulder as she pulled away from Tarek and covered the last few yards on her own.

She climbed onto the boulder, ignoring the small growl the lion gave. He didn’t like her exerting herself if she didn’t have to. “You should have thought of that before you climbed up here, big boy.” She grabbed a handful of his fur to steady herself as she made her way over the warm surface of the rock. In seconds, she was beside him, resting against his side, her fingers buried deep in his golden mane. He laid his head down and stretched back out. When she didn’t immediately start to scratch him, he bumped his head against her thigh.

“You big overgrown house cat.” She smiled at him and did what he wanted, running her fingers through his fur until her nails could glide over his skin. Instantly, his loud purr filled the air around them. She continued to stroke him even as her eyelids grew heavy. “I love you,” she murmured as sleep overtook her. “I’ll love you forever.”

She didn’t know how long they stayed there, the golden lion lying quietly beneath her touch. When she woke, the lion was gone and in its place was the man she loved. She loved the animal, knew it would give its life for her. But the man held her heart, held her soul within the very palm of his hand.

“Hello, beautiful.” Bachar smiled up at her. Somehow, he’d managed to maneuver them until she was sprawled across him, his body protecting her from the unforgiving surface of the granite rock.

“Hello.” She covered her mouth as a yawn escaped her. “How long have we been asleep?”

“You’ve been asleep for about an hour.”

She punched him playfully in the chest before sitting up, thrusting her arms above her to stretch out the kinks that had developed during her short nap. “Don’t give me that, buster, you were sleeping too. I heard you snoring.”

“That was you. Cats do not snore.” He sat up too, and she started to avert her eyes when she realized he was naked. She’d learned over the last few weeks how unselfconscious the shifter community really was. She’d walked up on more than one of them naked after a shift.

She allowed her gaze to travel over his body. She had more than a right to look at him. All over. She was one lucky girl because her lion was golden and delicious all over. As she looked, his eyes sparked gold, and his cock grew.

“And don’t give me that look either,” she laughed. Before she even finished her sentence, he had her wrapped in his arms and lying flat on her back, his body bowed over hers.

“And what look would that be, albi?”

My heart. The word he had repeated over and over again when she had been shot. A flash of fear at what had almost happened filled her when she remembered that she could have lost him that day. She could have lost her heart.

“The one that says you’d like to eat me right now.”

His smile grew sexy as his eyelids grew heavy. She knew the smoldering look was only the beginning of the fire that was about to burn out of control.

“You are my favorite meal, habib albi.”

“You say the nicest things.” Another giggle escaped her.

“I will show you nice.” He wiggled his brows, and she wondered at the change in him. Either he’d been hanging out with Keair more, or her husband was indeed growing less rigid.

Well, maybe less rigid wasn’t exactly correct as he pressed himself against her thigh. He was definitely rigid today.

“Come.” He sprung off the boulder showing the gracefulness of a cat even as a man. He reached for her, and she grimaced, knowing her descent from the boulder would be anything but graceful. In fact, she probably reminded him of a small rock rolling downhill.

He didn’t even allow her feet to touch the ground. Instead, he lifted her straight off the boulder into his arms, managing her bulk with ease. She wrapped her arms around his neck. During the first days of their being together, she had protested vehemently each time he had carried her. Soon, he convinced her how lucky she was that he was indeed a big strong lion shifter more than capable of taking care of his woman. And taken care of her he had.

She’d never felt so loved and well-cared for in her entire life. He had insisted on being there for each of her follow-up appointments. He’d even had a specialist flown in before she’d been released from the hospital. Thankfully, the wound to her shoulder hadn’t been life-threatening. It had been somewhat slow to heal, but she was fully recovered now. In fact, she’d been given a clean bill of health over a week ago.

To celebrate, they had made love in front of the fire that night. The first time they’d been intimate since she had gotten out of the hospital. It had been so slow and so sensual that she’d had tears in her eyes before it was over. He had kissed them away and started all over again.

But he hadn’t shown her the passion they’d shared that first night together. She tried not to let her mind go where it shouldn’t, but it was difficult. Was she really his mate? He hadn’t marked her which was one of the first things she thought happened. She was afraid to ask Keair or even Tarek in case that would somehow show disrespect for Bachar.

“Where are we going?” The both knew she would follow him to the ends of the earth and back. And she knew he would never break her heart, never lead her astray. Always protect her. Always love her.

“I have something to show you.” His voice was a low, throaty growl that immediately got her girlie parts ready for action.

“Well, if you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.” She wiggled her eyebrows as she laughed. She tilted her head up until her lips could reach his throat. She pressed her mouth against the strong, brown column of his throat, licking the saltiness of his skin. She gave a satisfied smile when he stumbled slightly because she knew it wasn’t from the unevenness of the ground, but the way her touch could turn his knees weak. He had admitted as much to her.

She continued to nibble on his neck. “But why didn’t we stay on the boulder?” It was nice and flat, and she’d imagined him taking her there on more than on occasion.

“You are too delicate at the moment,” he answered, ducking beneath a large tree limb. The move brought his dick into contact with her ass, and she couldn’t resist giving a little wiggle.

“Oh, aren’t you the sweetest lion, thinking of me like that.”

He gave a little growl as he walked a few more yards, then he was placing her on her feet. In front of them was a wrought iron gazebo anchored firmly into the ground complete with sheer, white fabric draped from the top and down the sides. Inside was a raised platform bed covered in matching satin bedding. She didn’t know how he had done it, but a bed of bright green moss lead up to it, making her eager to take off her shoes and sink her toes into the springy green flora.

It was beautiful and erotic. Much like the man who had stolen her heart without even trying.

“It’s beautiful, Bachar.” She turned her face up to him, tears glistening in her eyes at his thoughtfulness.

He frowned down at her, his hand coming up to cup her face. “I did not mean to make you cry.”

“Everything makes me cry at the moment.” She placed her hand on top of his, turning her face to place a kiss in the middle of his palm. He bent his head and pressed a soft kiss against her lips.

“You are still too delicate for what I had planned.”

She stepped away from him, her hands on her hips. “Now look here, mister mighty lion shifter. I’ll tell you when I’m too delicate for something. Now tell me what you had planned. Or better yet, show me.” She cocked her head to the side, every line of her body a challenge she was hoping her mate couldn’t resist. “Or are you lion enough?”

She yelped as he lunged towards her, picking her up and throwing her onto the bed. She bounced once, trying not to let her gulp for breath show. He stood by the side of the bed, all fierce and warrior-like and her panties were suddenly drenched.

“On your hands and knees.”

She eagerly complied, kicking off her shoes and wiggling until she was turned away from him, her ass in the air. She’d worn a lightweight knit dress this morning that wouldn’t prove much of a barrier. She gave her ass a shake, looking back over her shoulder at him. “Ooh, are we’re going to play—”

“Silence.” The sharp command was delivered with an even sharper slap against her tender rump.

“Bachar!” Her voice quivered as she looked at him. It quivered with need and want.

“There are two things that you are to learn this afternoon, Sally Wilder.” He climbed on the bed behind her. She could feel the heat of his body as he snuggled up against her. His naked lower half pressed against hers, as hard and heavy as she had ever felt him. “First, you will learn that a mate does not disobey her lion.”

Sally remembered the words he’d spoken when he had first gone in search of her brother and later when she was still in the hospital.

His hands settled on the orbs of her ass, kneading the fluffy flesh. “In days past, a mate of a lion, especially that of the alpha, would be brought to the public square where her mate would deliver twelve blows to her backside.”

“Wait. Are there people watching now?” Sally tried to wiggle out from beneath him. There was no way in hell he was going to spank her with an audience.

“Stay still.” His hands gripped her hips and held her in place.

“Bachar,” she began, her voice holding a strident note that even an alpha lion should know to heed.

He leaned over her, caging her in with his arms and body. “Do you think I would allow anyone, much less another male to gaze upon your naked body?”

“I’m not naked, Bachar. And I don’t want anyone to watch you spank me.”

“You’re not naked yet, albi.” He rose above her again, and she felt the sharp edge of one of his claws as he slashed through her dress.

“Bachar!” Again, her voice rose with indignation, and again he ignored it, giving two more slices with his hand until the dress fell from her body. He snatched it away before she could grab hold of it and use the remnants for some type of cover. She had worn no bra, and he growled. “Why do you walk around half naked in front of my men?”

“I—I don’t.” Her voice quivered because his cock was pressed against the exposed slit of her cunt, hot, hard and throbbing.

“Mmm.” Was his only answer. “And now these.” His hand clenched around the fabric of her panties and gave a mighty tug. The satin gave a rendering sound that made her pussy quiver. “So much better,” he growled as his hands rubbed along her thighs

Bachar felt dizzy as he gazed down his mate’s perfect body. Her ass was heavy and heart-shaped. Perfection. All it needed was a little color.

He drew back his hand and slapped it against her right cheek. She jerked but didn’t pull away. In fact, her hips ululating as if trying to find his hand. Again, he smacked her. She groaned into the mattress, her fists clenched beneath her. He knew her nipples would be hard and aching, just as her clit. He raised his other hand and landed a blow across her left cheek. His dick throbbed between his legs. He wanted to slam inside her, fuck her until they were both raw and sated.

But first…

He gave each check three more strokes, enjoying the moans she made, the scent of her desire filling the air around him.

“Do you promise not to disobey me ever again?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he grew concerned. Her breathing was labored, and he cursed himself for doing this today. The doctor had given her a clean bill of health, but perhaps this had been too much, too soon.

Damn his lack of control. “Sally.” He was just about to move away and turn her over to when he heard her voice, low and soft.

“I can’t promise that, Bachar. You are very old-fashioned in some respects, and I’m a strong, independent woman. I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“Oh, baby, you could never disappoint me.” He turned her on her back, leaning over her. “And I didn’t mean to frighten you just now.”

“You didn’t,” she hastily reassured him. “It’s just that, these last few weeks have been wonderful.”

She didn’t need to say anything else. He heard the doubt in her voice and cursed himself. He laid down beside her and drew her into his arms, pushing back the dark covering of hair from her face. “First, let me make it perfectly clear that you can never be a disappointment. But also let me make if perfectly clear that if you do something foolish again—”

“Like getting kidnapped?” she interrupted him. “Hardly, my fault.”

Bachar gave a deep growl. “Do something foolish enough as to disobey—”

She interrupted him again. “Disobey? Sure you want to use that word, big boy?”

“Shut up and let me finish, woman.”

“Okay.” She blinked up at him with wide eyes, and he cursed again.

“If you ever do anything as foolish as disobey me when it comes to your safety and wellbeing, I will bend you over my knee and in front of the entire pride and any other damn shifters I can find. Do I make myself perfectly clear, mate?” He gripped the back of her head and brought her face close.

“Yes, Alpha.” She breathed the words and then licked her lips.

“Damn it, Sally.”

“What?” She licked her lips again, knowing exactly what it did to him to see her full, red lips like that. “I agreed with you.”

“On your knees.”

It gave his ego a jolt when she obeyed him readily. “Are you going to spank me again?” She looked back over her shoulder that spark in her eyes that had been missing for the last few weeks back again.

“Do you think you deserve it?”

“Well, maybe.” She gave a little coltish flutter of her lashes.

He threw back his head and laughed. His life had taken such a turn that he was still a little dazed by it. Dazed by the passion and love he felt for this woman. For his mate.

He placed his palms on her reddened skin, rubbing slightly. He knew even that touch was somewhat painful but still sensual. Without giving her time to prepare he slapped his hand across her right cheek, then her left. She groaned and pressed her shoulders into the mattress, pushing her ass against his hands. He gave a hiss as he pulled her buttocks apart, exposing her to his gaze. Her pussy was now almost as bright red as her ass cheeks, she was so aroused.

“Do you want me to fuck you now, albi?”

“Yes, yes,” she almost screamed. “I need you now.”

 “You are so beautiful.” He slid one finger through her juices before placing it in his mouth, licking it clean. “And you taste so damn good.”

Unable to hold off another moment, he bent down and put his mouth on her.

“Bachar!” His name was a sound filled with need and desperation, and she melted under his tongue. Soon he had her twisting and panting. He ran his tongue over her opening, sucking up the nectar that was dripping from her body. Over and over, he licked her, gathering every intoxicating drop. He then lowered his touch until his tongue slid over the swollen bud of her clit. He lingered there, rubbing against it with his tongue, much as he would his finger. Her hips bucked and he tightened his grip, pinning her in place as he loved her with his tongue.

Sensing she was near, he drew the battered bud into his mouth and sucked. That was all it took for her orgasm to overtake her, and she was crying out into the pillow.

But he wasn’t done with his little mate. He slowed his movements, leisurely gathering the dew from her body. When her breathing had slowed, he covered her body with his. He pushed the hair back from her neck, exposing the place where he would place his mate mark. He placed a kiss on her shoulder, then moved along her back, before kissing the length of her spine. When he reached the mountains of her hips, he spread her cheeks apart again, loving her until she was on the brink of coming once more, whimpering his name. The sound tore at him. He placed another long line of open-mouthed kisses along her spine before gathering her close in his arms.

“Sally Wilder, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?” He knew by rights all he had to do was sink his teeth into her shoulder, take her, fuck her, and she would be his. But he needed her to know that this was her choice. More importantly, that it was his choice. He choose her.

“Bachar.” She twisted in his arms, and he allowed her to turn around.

“I love you, Sally. I want you to be my mate, my wife. The mother of my children.”

“Oh, Bachar.” She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. His mouth found hers and their tongues tangled.

“Say it,” he growled.

“Say what?”

He growled again. “You are spending much too much time with Keair. It is not safe to tease the lion. Now say it.”

“I love you.”

“Go on.”

“I want to be your mate.”

“Good girl, now what else?”

“I want to be your wife?”

“Why does that sound like a question?”

“Because you’re all growly.”

“Sally.”

“And I can’t wait to have your babies. Or cubs. Or whatever it is that we’ll have. I love you, Bachar, and I want nothing more than to share the rest of my life with you. Is that what you wanted to hear me say?”

“Yes, yes it is.” That superior smile that she’d come to love so much spread across his face. “Now, there’s just one more thing to do.” A look of almost trepidation entered his eyes.

“Oh, what’s that?” She had a pretty good idea what he had in mind, and her pussy was weeping at the thought of him taking her.

“I need to mate you.” Again, the hesitation. “And I need to mark you.”

“Oh.” While she’d been so caught up with the mating part, she’d kind of hadn’t thought about this part. It involved pain, or that’s what she’d read. But, anything was worth the sacrifice if it meant Bachar would indeed be hers.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Sally. It will hurt.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay. I’m prepared for that.”

“You know I would never intentionally hurt you, don’t you?”

She smiled at the expression on his face. He looked just as tense and worried as she had felt. “I know. Let’s just get this over with. What do you want me to do?”

“Damn it, Sally, you don’t have to sound like you’re the virgin sacrifice for God’s sake.”

“Sorry. Just nerves.”

“Maybe we need to do this some other time?”

“Nope, you already asked, and I already accepted.” Trying to inject some levity back into the situation, she asked. “And by the way, where’s my ring?”

“Waiting for you back at the hotel. Where I had planned on surprising you this evening.”

“Oops, sorry.”

“I’m not.” He gazed into her eyes. “I am forever grateful that fate sent you to me, albi.”

He leaned down to kiss her, again the dominant lion that she loved so much. His mouth was hot and passionate, his kiss everything that she could have ever wished for. His cock was a hard, rigid length against her thigh. Without having to be told, she reached for him, stroking the heated flesh until liquid seeped from the slit. She pressed her thumb against that opening, earning herself a growl. He sucked her lower lip into his mouth giving the full flesh a nip with his teeth.

Without him seeming to move at all, she found herself on her stomach, his big body behind hers once again. Without warning, he was inside her, forcing her to take his massive length in one deep thrust. Her fingers gripped the sheet as he started to pound into her, moving inside and out, spearing her with his flesh. His girth stretched her as never before.

“So damn beautiful.” Bachar’s voice was deep and dark as he pulled her back on her knees, his fingers prying her buttocks apart. The move made her pussy lips clasp his cock even tighter. She could only imagine how she looked, her flesh stretched by his size, the dark star of her body fully exposed. He let go of her and fell forward on the one hand. His free hand found the extended nipples of her breasts as they hung down, swinging as she took the almost brutal punishment of his thrusts. He pulled and twisted, ratcheting up her pleasure level.

She cried out when he moved yet again, his hand seeking the warmth between her legs. With unerring accuracy, he found her clit and gave it the same punishing treatment as her nipples. Within seconds, she was calling his name, begging him to finish her off. She felt him shift and prepared herself for the onslaught of sensation she knew he would release inside her.

“Mate.” The whispered word near her ear was unexpected, just as the sharp, swift bite of his fangs into her flesh.

“Bachar!” She twisted beneath him, unsure what she should be feeling. At first, the pain overwhelmed her, and she forgot about everything—the pounding of her cunt, the sweet release that she’d been expecting. Everything, but the pain radiating out from her shoulder. She gasped when it suddenly disappeared, to be replaced by an overwhelming feeling of euphoria. Suddenly, she felt everything. And she did mean everything.

She still felt the sting of pain on her shoulder, but it was changed to a sensation that caused her excitement to increase, much as it had when Bachar had pulled on her nipples. She swore she could almost feel the pulse of her blood entering his mouth. She knew she could feel the pulse of his cock as he continued to rock inside her. His strokes were longer now, moving his entire length out before pushing it back inside.

She felt the lick of his tongue on her shoulder and then he was back to the almost punishing pounding of his cock inside her. She was being well and truly fucked.

“My mate.” the words whispered in the air around them as the tension built inside her. Suddenly, she was a spring on the verge of release, and then, she was flying, the only thing anchoring her in place was the feel of him, hot and heavy inside her. The feel of his cum as it swept into her womb.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her breathing slowed, and her heartbeat returned to normal. He moved as she recovered, lying on his side and pulling her back against him. They were still joined, his body still pulsing inside her. Her pussy still clenching and unclenching around his hard length.

“Wow,” she said.

“Wow, indeed.”

She laughed softly. He sounded like Tarek now, unsure what emotion he should be expressing.

She glanced over her shoulder, and he was there, turning her to face him and staring down at her as if she was the most beautiful, most precious thing in the world.

She cupped his cheek with her hand. “I love you.”

“I love you too, mate.” Bachar bent down and kissed her, placing a soft, yet telling kiss on the lips of the woman he would love for the rest of his life.