Chapter Nine
Lily
“Da Pard will be celebratin’ tonight; you should stay for da party,” Gage said once the noise died down. He couldn’t help gazing down at his newborn son with pride.
“Of course I’ll stay. I wouldn’t miss partying with the Pard for anything.” Lily laughed softly before she smiled warmly at Mia. “You look tired; you should get some rest.”
“Not yet. Gage tells me you’ve found your mate but dat you’re tryin’ to ignore it. What’s dat about, Lily?”
“Your mate has a big mouth.” Lily glared at Gage before she answered Mia’s question. “Yes, I’ve found my mate, or he found me, whichever way you want to look at it, and yes, I’m ignoring it. It’s animal instincts controlling that and I’m more than just my wolf, Mia. I’m not going to just walk away from someone I care about simply because of an animal instinct built into our kind.”
Mia shook her head. “You can’t ignore it forever, Lily. Eventually your wolf will take over and den where will you be? I know you don’t want to be a cheater—it goes against your morals—but when da wolf takes over, you won’t have much say in what she does. You need to face dat now before you’re in dat situation.”
Lily sighed. “I’ll fight it as long as I can. I know that doesn’t make sense to you but it’s the only way I know how to be, Mia. I’m going to go join the celebration and let you and the little one get some rest. He really is a beautiful baby.” She sat on the edge of the bed and gave Mia a hug before she got up and left so the new mother could rest.
Emelise had a nice, long talk with her grandmother and was waiting near the front door of Mia and Gage’s home when Lily came out.’ “I take it the baby is healthy?”
“Yes, he is. Feel like staying for the celebration? It might be hard to tear Remy away in order to get a ride back to New Orleans, but if you’d rather not stay I’m sure I can figure something out.”
“No, I’d like to stay. This is a joyous occasion and…it’s nice getting to know the Pard a little.”
“Then we’ll stay and party.” Lily flashed her a grin. “Everything okay with the whole family thing?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it right now. I need time to process it all, to be honest.”
“Fair enough.” Lily looped arms with her and headed over to grab a drink where various bottles of alcohol were being set up, along with a barrel that was being filled with ice and bottles of beer. She scanned the labels before she settled on Jack Daniels. She was in the mood for some strong whiskey. She downed several shots fairly quickly, and soon enough the alcohol had her feeling good.
Declan
The chat with Caine went better than he’d expected. As soon as the Alpha knew Declan was once in Special Ops, he’d enlisted Declan’s aid in monitoring the jaguars who were slipping into Pard territory. Declan had an advantage over the leopards in that the jaguars wouldn’t expect him to have any real contact with the leopards so he’d have a better chance at getting close to them and figuring out what they were up to.
Declan found himself wandering the Pard’s compound in search of Lily when he happened upon Remy. “I wanted to thank you and your brother for keeping an eye on Lily all this time. I know you did it because the Pard considers her family, but thank you all the same.”
“Don’t mention it. If you’re lookin’ for her, you’re gonna have a bit of a wait. Seems my niece or nephew decided tonight was a good time to be born. Lily is helpin’ keep Mia, Gage’s mate, calm.”
“In other words, find something else to occupy my time because we’re going to be here all night. It could be worse. I could be surrounded by people who wanted me dead. I’ve been there before. Trust me, it’s no fun.”
Remy just looked at him a moment. “You’re an odd one, dat’s for sure.” After a moment he grew serious. “You just be sure you don’t hurt her. Lily is family and if you hurt her, you’re a dead man.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. She’s your family, and if there’s one thing I’ve already figured out about you and the Pard, it’s that you take care of your own.”
“Dat we do, Declan, dat we do.” When Caine approached them, Remy nodded at him. “Caine. How long do you tink it’ll take Declan here to wear down Lily’s resistance?”
Caine chuckled. “A few days, at least. She’s a stubborn one.”
Declan made a noise that sounded like a snort of derision. “I’ve already figured that out about her. Unfortunately for her, I’m just as stubborn, if not more so.” His comment made them all laugh.
“You’ll have to be if you want to win her over.”
“I’m aware of that. Like I said before, I like a challenge.”
“Dat’s a good ting.” Remy flashed a grin. “I’m gonna go see how Gage is holdin’ up under da strain of his mate bein’ in labor.” He nodded at both men and walked away.
Caine watched Remy go. He’d not been aware that Mia was in labor, but then, he’d been in his office with Declan for a bit. He’d have to go check on her shortly. “Let me know when you and your team are ready to take action against da Red Moon Clan.”
Declan glanced at Caine. “Will do.”
They were just finishing up their conversation when a roar ripped through the night air, quickly followed by others. Soon the air echoed with the Pard’s roars of celebration. How did Declan know they were roars of celebration? The tone. A human wouldn’t be able to tell the difference but a fellow shifter, even one from a different species, sure as hell could. When Lily’s voice joined the Pard’s, he couldn’t help but crack a smile. He also couldn’t help his body’s reaction to it. He was instantly hard. He wanted to drag her off somewhere dark and ignite the passion he knew was brewing beneath the surface, get her to let down her guard enough to let him in.
“Da Pard has a new member,” Caine said when the roars died down. “You’ll have to stay for da celebration; I doubt Remy will want to leave just now when it’s his brother’s mate who just gave birth.”
“Not a problem. Knowing Lily, she’ll want to stay anyway.”
Caine chuckled. “Dat she will. Drink, enjoy yourself, it’s goin’ to be a long night.” That said, he made his way to Gage and Mia’s to congratulate them.
“I’ll do that.” Declan watched Caine walk away before he turned his attention to where the Pard was setting up the alcohol. He spotted Lily downing a shot of Jack and cocked a brow. Damn, every time he thought he couldn’t get anymore turned on by her, she did something to prove him wrong. He fucking loved a woman who could shoot whiskey. He hadn’t met many of them, so the fact she was doing that made him ache for her even more. “Good choice,” he growled next to her ear as he reached around her for the bottle to get himself some as well.
Lily was startled by his voice. “Jack, Jim, and Johnny are three of my favorite men.” She finished the shot she had and poured herself a larger glass and drank a bit slower.
“Woman after my own heart.” Deep laughter erupted from him at her words. He liked this playful side of her. Maybe he needed to get her drinking more often to get her to loosen up.
Music filled the air and Lily found herself swaying to it while she studied Declan. “So what did you and Caine talk about?”
“Nothing I feel like sharing tonight, doll. Tonight is about celebrating new life.” His eyes trailed down her body as she moved to the music, and a soft growl escaped him. “Fuck, you’re killing me here, Lily. Do you have any idea just how gorgeous you are?” His voice was rough with need.
Lily tilted her head at him. “Gorgeous? That’s sweet of you to say, Declan. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m pretty, but gorgeous? Not hardly.”
Declan’s eyes narrowed at her. “Bullshit you’re not.” He pulled her close without thinking. “Woman, I have seen women of all shapes, sizes, and colors over the years so believe me, I know what the fuck I’m talking about. You’re gorgeous, Lily.”
She squeaked when he pulled her close but shook her head. “I’ve got too much meat on me to be gorgeous. I won’t ever be a size four and I’m okay with that, but I know being too curvy isn’t exactly the most alluring thing in the world.”
“Baby, you’re not too curvy; you’ve got just the right amount of curves in all the right places.” Before he could talk himself out of it, he crushed his mouth to hers. She hadn’t tried to pull away when he’d tugged her close, and he was taking full advantage of that.
A moan escaped Lily and it made him tighten his hold on her. Declan wanted nothing more than to drag her away from the celebration. He needed to be alone with her. He needed to feel her skin beneath his hands. He kept kissing her even as he backed them away from the party, away from the lights that were burning to keep the darkness at bay.
Lily
Lily found herself swooning when his lips met hers. The fire that was burning low in her ignited into a raging inferno, and she pressed closer to him. Vaguely, she realized she shouldn’t have been drinking whiskey, but for the moment, logic had no part in what was happening. She couldn’t think; all she could do was feel. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he ravished her mouth, and a moan escaped her.
She wasn’t sure when they’d slipped away from the others, but the sudden darkness pulled her from the kiss. She gazed up at him, her breathing ragged, and she started to speak but he silenced her with another kiss.
“No talking, no thinking, just feel.”
Lily could have argued with him, should have argued with him, but his lips on hers felt so good, and she gave in to the way he made her feel. Never before had she been kissed with such passion, such need, that she could feel it in her bones. Was this what it was like between mates? This overwhelming, burning need for each other?
Declan growled against her lips before he slipped his hands beneath her shirt and up to cup her breasts. His thumbs skimmed her nipples and he smirked when they hardened beneath his touch. He pinched one between his finger and thumb and was rewarded by her gasp. He trailed his lips down her throat before he nudged her shirt up enough to expose her ample breasts to his heated gaze. He locked eyes with her and took one of her nipples in his mouth, suckling it through the lace of her bra.
The look in Declan’s eyes thrilled her, and when he took her nipple into his mouth, her knees felt weak. Liquid heat burned through her and she knew her panties were soaked. “Declan…” She wasn’t sure what she was going to say; was she going to ask him to stop or beg him for more? Before she could say anything more than his name, he gently bit down on her nipple, and all thought fled her mind.
“Tell me you want this, Lily.” His voice was a muffled growl against her skin. His free hand slid down and tugged her skirt up so he could skim his fingers over the crotch of her panties. “Fuck, baby, you’re so wet.”
A small voice in her head was screaming at her to stop now. She wasn’t single—there was someone who would be hurt if she continued on the path she was on, but her wolf pushed that voice down. Instinct was taking over and Lily was unable to take back control . “I want this.” Her whispered voice was husky with need.
That was all Declan needed to hear. He ripped her panties from her and buried a finger inside her wet heat. He worked his finger hard and fast, and watched her face, wanting to give her release before he took her. “Come for me, doll.” Declan stroked his thumb over her clit to push her over the edge.
When he slipped a second finger inside her, Lily threw her head back and gave herself over to the aching need burning through her. Her hips thrust into his hand, and at his command, she could do nothing but obey. She cried out with her release and stood there shaking in his arms.
“That’s my girl.” He shifted a little and picked her up. “Wrap your legs around me, and don’t let go.” He got himself free of his jeans, managed to get a condom out of his wallet and on, then in one swift motion he buried himself inside her. He pushed her up against a nearby tree and stayed there, buried to the hilt, for a moment, as her wet heat gripped him.
“Declan…please…” Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew come morning she would be ashamed of herself, but right now it felt too right to tell him to stop. She needed this. They needed this. Just this once. She told herself it wouldn’t happen again.
Declan
Maybe it was selfish of him—hell, no maybe about it—it was selfish, but she was his mate. For fuck’s sake, he wanted her in a way he’d never wanted another woman in his life, and he knew she felt the same way. It was her sense of obligation and loyalty to that damn human that kept getting in the way. The moment she said she wanted it, he wanted to howl his joy to the moon.
Declan’s control snapped at her pleading tone and he thrust into her hard and fast. He knew he wasn’t going to last long, despite the fact male shifters generally had amazing stamina. He’d wanted her for too fucking long to be able to hold off his release for any length of time. The way she was keening and clawing at his back through his shirt though, Declan doubted she was going to last long either. Next time they could take their time and build the tension before finally letting go. He slid a hand between them and caressed her already sensitive clit as he pounded into her.
Lily was hovering on the edge of orgasm when Declan’s thumb caressed her clit. That single touch was enough to send her crashing over the edge, and she muffled her scream against his shoulder. Her nails dug into his back, and her inner walls clenched around him, dragging him over with her.
Declan bit back a howl when her inner walls clenched around him. He thrust several more times as she milked him of every drop of his seed. He held her close, kept himself buried in her as long as he possibly could, before he finally softened enough that he slipped out. As his legs threatened to give out on him, Declan sat on the ground, taking Lily with him. He pulled her close and cradled her in his lap. His fingers caressed her side and he nuzzled her neck. “Fuck, woman, that was…mind-blowing,” he growled against her skin.
“Mm…it was,” she agreed. “I’ve never… That was so intense. We should…get back before Emelise gets worried.”
Declan could feel her mentally pulling away. He should have expected it, but it pissed him off, and it hurt. They’d just shared a mind-blowing moment together, and now she was pulling back into her shell. What was it going to take to get through to her? “Don’t pull away. And don’t you fucking dare feel ashamed by what just happened between us, Lily. It’s natural. We’re mates; we’re supposed to want each other this way.”
Lily struggled to get up, and there was a look of relief on her face when he loosened his hold on her so she could stand. “I can’t talk about this right now.” Before Declan could say anything else, she bolted.
Declan watched her go and wanted to howl his frustration. If she thought this was the end of the conversation, she was sorely mistaken. He knew the reason for her panic was because of her sense of loyalty. What transpired between them went against everything she stood for—he knew that—so he would give her time to come to terms with it, and with the connection between them. He’d give her a day or two, but then they would talk.
Lily
Lily was in a daze. She’d never had such a powerful orgasm as the one she’d just had with Declan. Her entire body hummed from it, and she felt more sated than she could ever remember feeling. She was glad they were now sitting because she wasn’t sure she would be able to stand at the moment. Her legs felt like rubber, and all she wanted to do was curl up somewhere and sleep.
After the fire faded some, Lily was embarrassed by how easily she’d given in to the animalistic need to be with him. She felt ashamed and struggled to get out of Declan’s embrace. When he let her go, she bolted.
Lily felt panic rising. What had she done? Oh gods, how could she have cheated on Keith? It went against her very soul to cheat and yet she’d done it. She needed to get out of there; she’d swim through the bayou and risk running into gators if she had to.
Lily made her way first to Emelise and then to Remy. She didn’t tell her best friend why she was suddenly so desperate to get back to the city; she wasn’t sure she could tell her without bursting into tears there in front of everyone. “Remy, I need to go, now.” She winced at the strain in her voice.
Remy cocked a brow at her. “Did he hurt you, cher?” A threatening growl escaped him.
Lily’s eyes widened at the growl and she realized how she must look. “No, it’s not… Just please, take me back. I know you want to celebrate the birth of your nephew, but I really need to go right now. I’ll swim if I have to.”
“Da fuck you will. Come on, cher, I can come back to da celebration.” Remy took her arm and, with Emelise on her other side in case Lily stumbled, he gently guided her toward the boat.
Lily was quiet on the ride back to the city. Her mind was in a turmoil. She wished she could blame it on the whiskey but that was only a small part of it. It had lowered her control over her animal urges but the whiskey didn’t make her fuck Declan. That was all on her.
“Give me the keys, Lily, I’ll drive,” Emelise said gently as they neared the dock. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay with her tonight,” she added to Remy before he even spoke.
Remy nodded. “Good. She shouldn’t be alone. Whatever happened, it shook her up but good.” He helped them both out of the boat and waited until they were at Lily’s car before he headed back the way he’d come.
Lily was only vaguely aware of the ride back to her apartment. By the time she came out of her daze, she was curled up on her sofa with a cup of tea in her hands. “I fucked him.” Her voice was a soft whisper. She was almost afraid to look at Emelise, afraid of the look that might be in her friend’s eyes.
“I kinda figured that since his scent is all over you. Lil, it’s okay. I totally understand what happened. He’s your mate and things came to a head. Hell, you probably saved me from the same damn thing because if Caine kept trying to get me alone to talk, I don’t know that I would have been able to keep myself from getting naked with him.”
Lily felt tears stinging her eyes, and after a moment of fighting them, she let them fall. “What I did tonight goes against everything I believe in, Eme. I cheated on Keith. I betrayed his trust. How am I supposed to be okay with that?”
Emelise scooted closer to her and wrapped her arms around her. “You own up to it—you tell him everything, including that you’re a wolf shifter, that Declan is your wolf’s mate, and that you gave in to the animal side of you in a weak moment. Then you decide which one you’re willing to give up: the human you care about but doesn’t compliment your wolf, or the wolf who completes you in every way.”
“You make it sound so simple,” Lily said through her tears.
“Oh, no, girl, it’s going to be hard as fuck to look him in the eye and tell him everything. We both know that. But he deserves the complete truth from you, and if you don’t come clean with him right away, it will eat away at you.”
“Gods, what a fucking mess.” Lily wiped her eyes. “But you’re right. I have to tell him when he gets back from his business trip. I’m sure he’s going to hate me, or at least be hurt very deeply.”
“That can’t be helped, honey. All you can do is be honest with him and go from there.”
Lily sighed softly. She knew Emelise was right. She sipped her tea before reluctantly heading to bed. She was exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Declan
Declan was nursing a drink when Remy Delacroix returned. He saw the anger in the leopard’s eyes and straightened his stance. If the leopard wanted a fight, he’d gladly give it to him.
“What da fuck did you do to Lily?” Remy snarled as soon as he was standing in front of Declan.
“I didn’t do anything to her. We fucked and afterward she pulled her walls back up around her.”
“So you took advantage of her being tipsy on whiskey and pressed her for sex?”
Declan laughed. “I didn’t take advantage of her. I made fucking sure she wanted it—I asked her and she said yes. Just because she felt embarrassed, because her wolf was more in control than the human part of her, doesn’t mean I pushed her into it. I’ll give her a day or two to come to terms with what happened, then she and I will be hashing things out. She’s my mate and I’m not giving up that fucking easily. If you’ve got a problem with me pursuing my mate, tough shit.”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” Remy was all but snarling at him. “Lily’s not da type of girl to stray. She’s more than embarrassed, she’s ashamed, and probably hatin’ herself for betrayin’ da trust of dat boy she’s been seein’ for da last two years. You can call it whatever you want, but we both know if she’d been stone-cold sober, she wouldn’t have given in so easily, and you took full advantage of dat. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t ask Caine to rescind his permission to let you stay in our territory.”
Declan narrowed his eyes at Remy. He didn’t like that the leopard knew Lily so well, and he really didn’t like that Remy had hit too close to home with the accusation he’d taken advantage of the situation. The truth was, that was exactly what he’d done. “She won’t. She might try to avoid me, but she won’t go that far because, deep down, she wants to be with me too. She’s fighting it out of a sense of loyalty to her boyfriend, but I can deal with that.” He sounded very sure of himself.
Remy snorted. “Just watch yourself, and don’t you fuckin’ hurt her or you’ll have more den just me comin’ after you.” With that he stalked off to get something to drink and calm his cat down.
Declan watched him go and played back what had happened between him and Lily. He wasn’t wrong about her; she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Tonight proved it. Now all he had to do was find a way to repair the damage he’d done by taking advantage of the situation. Knowing Lily, she wasn’t going to make that easy for him.