Chapter Twelve
Caleb held his beautiful mate and rushed to the bed, barely taking his eyes off her as he laid them both down. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, baby.” He stroked her cheek and nuzzled her, lying on top of her. Straddling her, carefully so as not to squish his perfect mate, he kissed her full lips, reveling in the tart, spicy taste of her mouthwash.
“It’s okay, I hurt you first,” she said somberly. “Turnabout’s fair play, right?”
He growled and looked away, trying to focus on anything but her brilliant blue eyes. “You hadn’t accepted me as your mate yet, and your head was fucked-up. You did what you had to to survive. I had no such excuse. I should have fought harder, protected you with my life or died trying.”
“Look at me, big guy.”
He turned to her, ready for her to lash out and kick him out of her bed, to tell him how badly he fucked up; he was a monster. But all he saw was love and adoration in her gaze as she rose to kiss him. She commanded his lips with her own, demanding he yield to her needs. And damn, if it wasn’t the hottest thing ever. His feisty little mate was trying to out-alpha him. Hell, he’d worship the ground she walked on, give her anything she desired. Anything to make her happy, and to keep her soft body in his arms.
“I love you, you big dolt. I had to come to grips with it in my own time and accept it. But I did. I was being an idiot, too. I want you as my mate. To hold me, kiss me, make love to me. To drive me bat-shit crazy with useless trivia and off-key singing of my favorite songs—just not “Somebody to Love” by Queen, okay?”
She laughed, the tinkling sound sending a thrill down to his groin.
“That one is sacred. But the rest are all yours. I’m yours. Now, please claim me before I throw you down and take you myself.”
“Don’t you want to talk?”
“Talking’s overrated.” She grabbed his cock and gave it a light tug. He groaned at the silky, smooth hands gliding up and down within his pants.
Before he knew what was happening, she had shimmied her legs up and around his waist. She pressed out hard and fast and rolled him to the side, catching him by surprise. Then she tackled him with her own body. He was on his back, and she was straddling him like the hot alpha princess she was. And damn, it was sexy as hell. “You got me where you want me now, don’t ya, Princess?”
Her grin turned seductive, and she lowered herself to kiss his lips, his stubbled cheek, his neck. A sharp tug and bite along his collarbone sent him reeling, and his cock felt like it would explode. She hadn’t broken the skin, but fuck she’d been close. “I’m going to mark every inch of your body with my tongue and lips.” She practically purred, continuing her mission southward. He grimaced and fisted the sheets when she pulled up his shirt, her soft tongue lapped at his nipple and she drew it between her perfect lips.
“God, I think I love make-up sex.”
She closed her mouth, and her teeth grazed his nipple, hard. Okay, shit, that one probably drew a bit of blood. She licked it again, soothing the sore spot away, causing more blood to flow to his already-raging-hard cock. “This isn’t make-up sex,” she said, peering up at him through her long, dark eyelashes. “This is a claiming. I claim you as my own. I’m going to lick you, suck you, and drive you crazy until you beg me to let you come.”
“Is that so, Princess?” He grinned. He’d let her play her game a bit longer, since his whole body seemed to be enjoying this. But, in a matter of moments, she was going to be all his.
“Damn straight.” She sank back down and trailed hot, feathery kisses down his abdomen, bypassing his aching groin, down to his inner thighs. Little minx was toying with him.
“If you keep playing with me, little wolf, I’m going to punish you,” he growled and let his eyes flash. Oh yeah, this was the hottest fucking thing he’d ever done. His body was on fire.
He lifted his ass so she could pull down his jeans. Another soft lick and kiss, a mere inch from his cock. The rumbling was building in his chest. She circled his cock, her hot breath engulfing it, but her lips didn’t touch him. “What kind of punishment are we talking?” she asked before sending another hot breath up and down over his cock.
He grabbed her hair, fisting it hard, close against the scalp, and yanked down her pj bottoms and panties. Then he brought the palm of his hand down on her bare ass. Once, twice, once more for good measure. The sound of the hard slaps echoed through the room, and she groaned and let out a cross between a shriek and a giggle. “Who’s in charge in this bed, baby?” he growled and focused on her dilated eyes and pink cheeks. Her breathing was fast and heavy as she rubbed her core against his thigh furiously. Score. His little wolf liked it. Her arousal permeated the air, and she wiggled her ass for all it was worth, practically begging him to do it again. To slap her perfect round globes with his hand and squeeze them as he fucked her senseless.
“Y-you are.” She grinned. “For now.”
She squealed when he smacked her right buttock, and he pulled her into his chest before turning them in the bed, rolling them both over.
“I ought to really punish you.” He leaned over her and nipped her neck. “Tease you like you teased me. Spank you hard. Lick your gorgeous nipples. Tickle and tease your wet pussy. Get you all ready to explode. And then not let you come. What do you think?”
Her brow furrowed, the pout she gave him priceless. “No,” she wailed. “Please. I’ll be good. You can do any of the stuff you just mentioned, but it will kill me if you don’t let me come.”
“Right answer. I’m going to taste you now. And if I’m feeling charitable, I might let you come this first round.” He grinned at her pout. “Hold your arms above your head, spread your legs for me, and don’t move an inch. Or else.” He cocked his brow, making sure she understood the “or else” meant no more fun. Who was he kidding. He’d die, too. “Spread your legs a bit wider, Princess. I want to see every bit of you while I feast.”
She complied quickly, with a pink tinge to her cheeks. He had to remind himself she was a virgin, and not get too carried away. Another of those things she’d accidentally told him while drugged out in the prison. He wouldn’t take any chances on hurting her.
He drew his tongue in circles around her rosy, taut nipples, loving how they reached out to him for his mouth to pleasure. Her soft moans gave him a heady sense of delight as he sucked and caressed each one, drawing one then the other into a peak into his mouth. One between his lips, the other a stiff peak between his fingers, he played her like a violin—a very happily groaning and begging for more violin. He carefully closed his teeth around one, and she shrieked underneath him. He hadn’t drawn blood and was very careful to keep everything pleasurable.
“Do it again! Please,” she said breathlessly, tugging his head over to her other nipple.
“Arms.” He didn’t even have to raise his voice. She complied quickly, her arms shooting upward to clasp her hands above her head on the mattress. “You want me to nibble on this sweet bud, too, baby?”
“Yeaaaaaah.” Her long, throaty groan was killing him. He wouldn’t last much longer if he didn’t get inside her.
He nipped at the other firm bud, careful to only pinch the soft skin of her nipple, not to draw blood. She mewled, and her pelvis rocked up and down below him, but her arms stayed put. Good girl. When he released the bud, he blew on it and gave it a tender flick of his tongue to the sensitive spot, and she almost bolted off the bed. He was lucky to have a mate who was so willing, so in tune with her body, so sensitive. He’d never take this for granted. Trailing kisses down her abdomen, he worked his way to the coarse hairs between her legs and gave a soft blow.
She shuddered, and her legs started to close, but he pulled them so she was spread out perfectly for him again. “I promised I wouldn’t tease you like you did me, and I won’t. I’m just getting a good look at what belongs to me now. I can’t wait to see if you taste as rich and perfect as you smell.”
Her cheeks flushed; her pupils dilated. She seemed to appreciate his words as she opened herself even more to him.
He knew she was a virgin, but had anyone ever touched her? The thought made him want to go kill whoever might have touched his mate before him, but he let it go. They were in the present, he couldn’t change the past, and the things he would do to her body would ensure she would never even think of another male again. He dipped his head lower, taking a deep breath, loving the scent that was all Izzy. Her arousal mixed with her pure feminine musk, and he felt overloaded, like he could die a happy man after one taste of her. He brought his mouth to her core, loving the way the soft hair tickled his mouth. One flick around her sweet pussy.
She groaned and pushed her pelvis up toward him, but he pressed her back down easily with one hand. His breaths were hot and ragged as he gave in to temptation and allowed himself the nirvana of his mate. His first taste as he dragged his tongue across her plump, wet pussy lips was heaven. He needed more. More of the sweet honey, drenching her hair and thighs. He groaned and dove against her pussy, tasting, licking, for the first time in his life—living. He could never have enough. Darting his tongue, exploring every inch of her core, her sweet lips, the engorged nub in the center. Every bit was more glorious than the last, and his cock bellowed at him. He needed to take her. Claim her. Fuck her hard and fast and roar with the knowledge she was forever his.
He calmed himself, reveling in her soft groans of delight—he even allowed her to tug at his ears for a few more moments—as he pleasured his mate. Her first orgasm came so suddenly, it surprised him. Her whole body tightened, and her knees were suddenly up around his ears as she shrieked and flailed beneath him. Holy fuck. He’d done that to her. Made her come unglued.
He gave one more soft lick as she eased back, shakily against the bed again, her legs no longer trying to pummel into his ear drums.
“Oh...my...God…” Her voice was as wobbly as he felt.
“Good?”
She smiled at him, eyes still glazed over. “Better than good. Best of the best. I… I don’t know how to explain it. Is that what sex is going to feel like?”
“Princess, sex is going to be a million times better because it’s us.”
She smiled and leaned back again. “I’m ready.”
“Not quite, little wolf. But you’re close.” He kissed her on her lips and lay on his side not taking his eyes from the beauty next to him. “I’m going to help you get ready, and then I’m going to take you. Nothing between us but our love and our mating. Then, when you’re at your peak, I’ll claim you with my mating bite. Do you understand?”
A flash of apprehension only lasted a second before being replaced with resolve then eagerness. “Yes. I’m ready, Caleb. Claim me.”
~.~
Izzy leaned back against the soft pillows and waited for the moment that would change her life. Yeah, a bit cliché, the whole losing your virginity and seeing stars thing, right? She focused on all she had learned over the years. She might still be a virgin, but she wasn’t innocent by any means. She’d read up on it, researched it, listened to her friends as they explained the joys of sex and mating. Most of it sounded pretty hot. Orgasms, yeah. Love, yeah. Frenzied sex while teeth and skin met, scorching new paths as each person marked the other—mind, body, and soul. But she’d never found the one man who called to her and her wolf. And as much as her friends teased her about it, she wasn’t going to give something so special to someone she wasn’t meant to spend the rest of her life with—so she remained unpracticed. She knew what she liked, though. She’d tried her own fingers, bought specialty toys. But no one else had ever claimed this special, untouched area. This was for her mate alone—for Caleb. And now, he was going to finally teach her, give her the completion she had yearned for, for years. She whimpered at his dark gaze as he perused her naked body. A jolt of lighting sped to her core, and her tummy spasmed. God, she wanted him. Now.
He lowered his head and took her lips with his own. Not a gentle kiss, either. It was the claiming kind, showing her she was his, that he would never let her go. Her lips tingled as he thrust his tongue into her, exploring every inch, leaving her breathless and dying for more.
When he released her lips, he gave them a gentle tug with his teeth, not breaking skin, but definitely adding fuel to the fire already building within her.
“Open up, Princess.”
She opened her mouth and moaned when his thick finger entered, brushing gently against her lips and tongue. She closed her mouth and sucked him, loving the way his eyes rolled back into his head for a moment. Yeah, she could do even better if he gave her his cock. She sucked harder and gave the tip of his digit a long swipe.
“Good girl.” He pulled out and held his wet finger in front of her.
She licked it again for good measure, and he grinned. Without touching any other part of her body, he went straight down to the spot between her legs and stroked. Oh God, the heat from his finger combined with the wetness from her own lips was enough to make her explode. The feelings were so intense. He tickled her clit, pulling up more of her wetness, and entered her with one finger. One drew wetness, sliding through her curls, brushing her pussy lips, as the other pressed farther in then out. In. out. Exquisite. Her body was on fire.
He withdrew his fingers and popped them into his mouth, his face showing sheer joy and ecstasy. “You’re delicious, Princess.”
Not knowing if she was supposed to politely thank him or nod her willingness, she opened her mouth to address him. “Take me already, or I swear to God, I will roll you over and take you myself.” She growled even harder at his low chuckle.
He pressed her back down to the bed and nipped her ear. “You be a good girl, or I’m going to punish you again.”
She whimpered. Not at the thought of another oh-so-yummy punishment by her mate, but at her increasing need. Her body was going to explode a million times, die, or catch on fire—something—if he didn’t claim her soon!
He didn’t take his gaze off her when he pressed two of his thick fingers into her slowly. Gently stretching her while playing with her clit and withdrawing. It felt so good having him inside her, and she promised herself she would be patient.
A vibration against her clit brought her to the edge again. “I’m so...close.”
“I know.” His eyes flashed gold, and he withdrew his hand and propped it behind her buttocks, holding her firmly. “This first part is going to pinch a bit, but I promise it will go away.”
She eagerly bent her legs and lifted her butt off the mattress as he positioned his cock at her entrance.
“Don’t move too much yet, baby. I don’t want to hurt you, okay?”
She needed him in her, now!
He must have seen the frustration in her eyes because he pinned her to the bed, his hard grip almost hurting. “I don’t want you moving until I give you the okay.” He leaned down and solemnly kissed her forehead.
She held so very still as he slowly entered her inch by agonizingly slow inch. His thick cock filled her more than she’d ever thought possible. Then the moment she’d feared and welcomed. The sharp twinge of pain stopped her breath in her chest. Then it faded away, and, within seconds, the dull ache disappeared, and she pistoned her hips up and down for all she was worth, mewling unintelligible noises up at him.
He released her and met her stroke for stroke. Holy crap, she’d never dreamed it could be this wonderful. The way his thick, long cock filled her, the way it slid in and out, creating a delicious friction that was delighting her and making her practically weep for more at the same time. She needed more. Faster, harder.
She dug her fingers into his firm ass and pulled him down hard onto her, demanding he give her more, and he complied with harsh, fast strokes. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. There was nothing but Caleb and her and the love growing so fast, it would surely firebomb the whole place when she found her release.
Her body tensed as the moment built upon itself, each tiny neuron in her firing as her senses collided. The sound of their skin slapping, Caleb’s hard grunts, the smell of their sweat and sex filling the room, the delightful feeling of him pumping in and out of her.
She almost wept when he pulled out of her and gazed at her, his whole body still shaking from rugged breathing, his eyes almost all black. He yanked her over onto her tummy and pulled her up so her bottom was in the air and her face was on the mattress.
“Going to claim you now.” His guttural voice sent shivers down her spine. “This is your chance to say no. But you’d better say it quick, or I won’t be able to control myself.” He stroked her thigh and gently kissed her shoulder. “Say the words, Princess. Tell me you want me to claim you.”
“Claim me, bear.”
She reared up toward him, and this time he didn’t waste any time stroking her or smacking her ass. He didn’t tickle her clit with his finger or kiss her shoulder. He took the moment in hand. Caleb took her hips in a punishing grip that was sure to leave more bruises in the morning and entered her. No slow buildup this time. This was hard and fast, and animalistic in its savagery. He pummeled her with his cock, deeper, harder, growling as he fucked her. And she let him. She sank her cheek so deep within the mattress she could barely breathe as she undulated her hips, meeting his every harsh stroke. It hurt so good.
Her stomach tightened then her legs, her nipples, her clit, every bit of her gearing up for the moment which would surely kill them both with its intensity. Her pussy tightened and clamped down on his cock, and the pleasure coursed through her whole body. A sharp pain in her shoulder let her know he had bitten her, but the pain mixed with the pleasure, and all she knew was joy. And Caleb. She shrieked his name as she lost hold of everything. He bellowed her name in return, and his hot seed filled her. A few seconds or an eternity of surging and crescendoing, and then they fell back to earth.
Her body sagged into a heap onto the mattress, and Caleb collapsed on top of her with a loud groan. He rolled off her and took her into his arms. She was still trying to catch her breath while he gently licked the wound on her shoulder. Her mating mark.
She was officially mated, and she knew nothing but peace. Izzy welcomed the sleep overtaking her and snuggled deeper into her mate’s hot chest. She was safe, loved…mated.
~.~
Caleb watched the beauty laying in his arms and said a prayer of thanks to the Mother Goddess for her. For everything, blessing him with the knowledge he hadn’t hurt his cousin; he wasn’t really the monster he’d always thought he was. And for giving him this feisty, little wolf princess who would always keep him on his toes. Izzy calmed the beast in him like no other, and he was grateful. He loved her more than life itself and knew this was only the beginning of something awesome. Now, if he could just get her to wake up. Stone had texted an hour ago with news about another facility and wanted to meet. There was still a lot of work to do, shifters to be saved, these assholes to be taken down. But Caleb needed to talk to Izzy first. Would she hate him for leaving so soon after their mating? Did she want to go back to her family? Stay here in Bear Paw? They hadn’t really talked anything through before their wild, but amazing, mating last night. Not the smartest thing to do. But it felt right. Izzy and he together were perfect. They’d make it work. He smiled down at her when she rolled over and beamed at him in a way only a well-satisfied mate could, bedhead included.
“Hey, Princess, I thought you were going to laze about all morning dreaming about unicorns or something.” He gave her a kiss, and she returned it before sitting up leisurely. Her mate mark proudly showed along her creamy skin of her shoulder, healing up nicely. But it was there. His mark.
“I don’t dream about unicorns, silly.”
“Then what do you dream about?” He took a strand of her hair and wrapped it around his finger, loving the way the soft silk curled then released.
Her hand traipsed down his stomach to grip his already-hard cock. “I dreamt of all the cool things I want to do to your body today.”
A low growl rumbled from his chest as his mate stroked the length of his cock. Yeah, they could wait a few more minutes before meeting Stone. But duty reminded him who he was, and he pulled her hand off gently. “I’d like nothing more than to make love to you all morning, and make you howl your voice hoarse.”
She giggled.
“But we need to address some things first.” He sat up and pulled away to give her his most professional gaze. It worked on everyone else. Not his mate. She just grinned and fondled her right nipple. “Naughty minx.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless. “Give me five minutes then I’ll reward you.” He kissed her forehead and that adorable pout was still in place, but at least she’d stopped trying to seduce him. His cock was already about to burst.
“I’ll give you three minutes. Then I’ll reward myself.” Her eyes bored into his, all princess, all mate, and he loved her even more for it. For not succumbing to his alpha-ness. Yeah, she was definitely his mate.
“Okay, here’s the deal.” He rattled off everything he could think of, clicking a finger in the air with each new item. “I’m not the monster I thought I was. I pushed you away accidentally, thinking I would hurt you. You calm me like no other ever has. I love you more than anything. I forgive you for stabbing me and kidnapping me. I hope you forgive me for trying to kill you when I was under that asshole’s control. I never want to lose you, but I have to leave again tonight or tomorrow. We found a few more leads and Stone asked me to lead a new team.
“You can stay here at Bear Paw in my cabin as soon as it’s fixed up—sorry, our cabin,” he amended as he saw her eyes darkening with anger. “Or you can go back to your family. Whatever you want. Or you could come with me to Bol—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence because he was flat on his back on the floor, keeled over, gazing up into the angry eyes of the beautiful she-wolf whose sharp, white fangs were precariously close to his neck. And those damn claws? Shit. One was scraping even closer to his poor manhood which had suddenly lost all its initial gusto.
She growled once more and grazed a thin long line along his thigh. Please, no closer. Please, no closer to the big boy. He winced and prepared to throw her off him just in case she decided to go Lorena Bobbitt on him.
“Baby, this is probably the wrong time to tell you this.” He crossed his legs, so her claws were now on his hip and chest instead of his prize.
A low growl vibrated from her chest as she came closer to his face.
“Well, I promised I would tell you like it is, and we said no more secrets. So…”
She cocked her head.
“Your breath is killing it right now. Like seriously funky. If you don’t feel like shifting back and brushing, could you at least go munch on some doggy dentine or something?” Yeah, always the idiot. Never knowing quite when to stop, but… This is how they originally hit it off, right? Stupid humor? “I’d try to think of a good movie quote about bad breath, but all that’s coming to me is ‘Nice beaver,’ and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t talking about halitosis.”
That did it. The wolf shook so hard, he thought she was going into conniptions. Then a naked—human—Izzy was sprawled on his chest, giggling so hard tears were running down her face. “Did you...did you seriously tell me I stink?”
“No! Just your morning breath. You know. It’s actually not bad, and I’m pretty sure mine is worse. But hey, that’s what mouthwash and brushes are for. We, uh, can go de-stinkify our morning breath together. Or not. Whatever you want. Is that too intimate?”
She laughed even harder before finally sobering and sitting up to pin him with a loving but firm stare. “Thank you for being…honest. I accept your apology, forgive you in return, and am glad to hear I help calm you. As for leaving me to go find those assholes…” She frowned again.
“I figured that was the part that pissed you off. Sorry.”
“What pisses me off is you assuming I wouldn’t want to go with you. These shifters need help, and my special abilities would come in handy. I can be a huge asset to this team, and I know what they are going through because I went through it.”
He moved to sit up, but she pinned him back down, holding his shoulders in place as her eyes flashed and a low growl came from her. He could have picked her up easily, but this was his mate. And she wanted all of his attention. He’d give it to her. Then he’d pick her up.
“I choose to be wherever you are, you big lug. Here, out on the road fighting bad guys, doing intelligence work behind the scenes while eating gas-station snacks and small-diner food until we finally decide to settle down and have pups or cubs or both… I’m open to it all. The only nonnegotiable thing is you leaving me behind for even a week. It won’t happen because I will scent you, follow your ass, and pummel you so hard, your great-grandfathers will feel it. Get me?” She growled again, and a flash of canines appeared.
“I have a warrior princess as a mate. All right, sweet, Princess, I get you, and I’m sorry. But I do have one thing to address myself.”
She sat up and straddled him.
“I’m in charge of this new team. You must defer to my authority, even if you don’t agree. I’ll take into account your wisdom and experience,” he added as her frown increased. “And I will ask your opinion for big choices. But…” He pulled her in and kissed her. “You will not put yourself in any danger, you will follow my orders when I give them, and you’ll let me know when you’re ready to settle down and have young.”
“Anything, as long as we’re together.”
“All right. Anything else?”
Biting her lip, she mused for a moment. “Do we have time to make a quick pit stop in New York? I have a few things to say to my ex-best friend. And my mother said my father is sick. They’re coming to do some healing sessions with Ida in a few weeks, but I’d like to see them before we go. I forgive them.” Her gaze warmed. “And I want them to meet my mate.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
She giggled, and his body heated at the sound his beautiful mate made when at peace.
He’d make her do a lot more than laugh. “Now that that’s settled.” He pulled her over his shoulder and stood as she shrieked in surprise. Carrying her easily and very caveman’ishly, he strode into the bathroom then set her down and grinned at her. “Let’s get cleaned up so I can do dirty things to you.”
As they clung to each other under the hot steaming water, Caleb saw his future in the gaze of his beautiful mate. They had each been running for far too long. He, from the pain and guilt of his past. His mate—from her own fears and pain. Yes, he’d rescued her from a prison, but she had done more for him. Isabella Werner—now Alexander—had rescued his heart, his soul, his mind, his bear.
They’d rescued each other.
From bearly rescued to fully mated...
And their life together was just beginning.
The End