A Mate's Submission: (Hot Paranormal Shifter Romance) (Ozark Mountain Shifters Book 4) (6 page)

He was glad she’d tied him up.

She pulled his boxers down his legs and threw them on the floor before crawling back up the bed.

“I wanted to make this last longer,” she murmured, tracing the lines on his stomach. “But I can see the situation is urgent for both of us. It’s been a long time for me. I need to feel you now.”

“Fuck, yes. I’m going crazy here.” His voice was strangled.

Avan gripped his erection and his hips bucked at her touch.

“Be still,” she chided.

Fuck that. A beautiful, complicated woman was touching his cock. Being still wasn’t exactly an option.

But before he could argue, she spun around so her slender back faced him, and lifted her leg over his waist, straddling him backward. She raised up, poised over his hard rod. She was going to do this. And all he could do was lay back and watch.

The heat of her core burned him, and he said a small prayer that he wouldn’t ruin this like an anxious young.

Lexar let out a loud gasp as she took him into her body inch by slow inch. Tears pricked his eyes at the onslaught of emotions.
Shit
. Don’t cry, don’t cry.

Relief mixed with gratitude. Satisfaction mixed with desperation. He didn’t know right from down or left from up. All he knew in that moment was that he would do anything to have this with her, for the rest of his life. Crawl through hot coals, broken glass, swim with sharks, it didn’t matter. As long as she was his for the remainder of his time on earth.

He couldn’t take another breath until she was completely filled. She grew still when she’d taken all of him, but Lexar could feel her slight tremble. He wanted to see her face, gauge her reaction. Needed to know that she felt what he did, this magic. This second chance at happiness for both of them.

“Your face,” he choked. “Let me see your face.”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she braced her hands on his thighs and began a slow, steady rhythm. Mother.
Fuck
. She had an ass that could only have been a gift from the gods. And she was tight, gripping him like a glove. He wouldn’t last like this and with his hands bound, there was no way of slowing things down.

She let out a moan that gave him chills to his toes, and increased her pace. His view… her hips, the way she moved so fluidly…

“Fuck, Avan. Let me loose, baby.”

“I can’t.” Her hands left his thighs and he knew she was touching her breasts. His animal growled, jealous of her hands. It should be him.

“Why not?”

She threw her head back, the tips of her golden hair dancing over his hips as she moved.

“You’ll touch me,” she moaned.

“Would that really be so bad?”

She slowed her rhythm, coming to a stop altogether. Rising up, she slid off and turned to face him. Straddling his waist again, she carefully poised his throbbing erection at her entrance. Lifting his hips, he pushed in slowly, watching her face contort in pleasure.

She was so wet, so hot. He felt the build-up again even though she didn’t move a muscle. When he was all the way in, she opened her eyes, leaning forward to get closer to his face. Her gaze held more vulnerability than he’d ever seen from her. Even when he helped her in the bathroom. Her soul was bare naked to him now.

“I have a feeling,” she choked out, “that it wouldn’t be bad at all. That’s why I can’t.”

Lexar let his head fall back against the bed as she started moving her glorious body on him. Her admission left him reeling. No matter what they felt in this moment, they each still had their secrets, their fears, their issues.

For now though, their bodies were enough.

Lexar locked eyes with Avan. “Faster,” he urged, and she didn’t even hesitate at the command.

Her breasts bounced as he met her thrusts.

“Fuck,” she breathed.

On the verge of falling off a ten year cliff, Lexar gave his restraints a frenzied jerk, and to his surprise, they broke free, the chain linking the cuffs together shattering. Avan’s eyes went wide and she clamped her thighs around his waist. His animal was out of his mind, finally free and wanting to pin her down and make her orgasm, but the ‘oh shit’ look in her eyes somehow broke through the haze of lust.

This moment was crucial. If he fucked up now, he knew it would be over with her. And he never wanted it to be over.

“Don’t stop,” he groaned.

Her eyes grew even bigger, but she continued riding him.

Slowly, carefully, he moved his hands to her thighs, and planted them there. He wouldn’t move them. If it fucking killed him—and it might—he wouldn’t touch her anywhere else.

“You feel so good,” he murmured. His fingers dug into her flesh, in hopes it would anchor his hands. Her whole body was at his fingertips, but he had to refrain, had to prove he was trustworthy.

Her thighs tensed under his hands. Her body arched, squeezing him as he thrust upward over and over again.

Avan cried out as her center convulsed around him. So tight. And then he was a goner, swan diving into a state of bliss.

He never fucking wanted to come up for air.

Avan collapsed on Lexar’s chest, out of breath and reeling from the whole ordeal. He’d broken the cuffs. But not her rules.

She wanted to reward him. She wanted to worship him. She wanted to spend the entire night fucking his brains out, and yes, letting him fuck her too. For the first time since she was young, she
wanted
to give someone else control. She hadn’t thought it was possible for her to feel that way.

What the hell was he doing to her?

Avan sighed.

He was spent, but the grip on her thighs hadn’t loosened. Maybe it was muscle memory thing and his hands were frozen in place. But then his thumb swept side to side, a gentle stroke. He was still trying not to touch her. God, he was trying so hard.

“I have to fight in a few minutes.” She placed a kiss on his chest and lifted her head to meet his stormy gaze. “Will you be there?”

“You couldn’t fucking keep me from it.”

She sucked in her lower lip. “You keep saying things like that, and I’ll expect you to stick around.” Her tone was teasing but she was dead serious. There was more to this interlude than she cared to admit.

“I’m not going anywhere.” His narrowed gaze was so intense she wanted to squirm. He set her on edge. Challenged her. But in a way that she could accept.

He was perfect for her. She just wasn’t perfect for him. As much as she liked to deny it, she…
belonged
to someone else, and it didn’t matter that she and Cael weren’t mated. They were intended. That meant she wasn’t intended for Lexar. It meant there was someone else out in the world for him. And he deserved to be happily mated.

Her stomach turned and flipped at the idea of him with another wolf.
Shit
. If she wasn’t careful she was going to break her own rules. Then where would they be?

Avan stood and swiped the keys from the bedside table, tossing them to Lexar.

“I’m going to shower.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that an invitation?”

She couldn’t help the small grin that curved her lips. “Not this time, Captain. I need to smell neutral for the challenge. Right now…” She inhaled deeply. Their mixed scents were intoxicating. She wanted to drown in them. “Right now, I smell—”

“Fucking delicious,” he snapped, frowning.

He didn’t like the idea of her washing it off. Her stomach clenched. He might as well have just said ‘I love you’.

Her smile widened. “
So
fucking delicious.”

In the bathroom, she made quick work of the shower. It felt good to function again. The pain was minimal. Almost non-existent. Her internal injuries were still a tad tender but nothing she couldn’t handle. Now she just had to stay that way. Otherwise, Cael would have to help again. And that wouldn’t bode well for any of them.

In the bedroom, she found Lexar dressed and waiting with a tray of food. A few light items. Perfect for pre-fight fuel.

“I went to find food, but your mama already had this ready.”

Knowing Mama, she’d probably been nervous-cooking for hours. There would be food for days.

Avan ate quickly, and then dressed in lightweight pants and a form fitting tank. Lexar watched her every move but it didn’t rile her. It was actually sort of calming. His presence helped her focus.

The first contender was much weaker than the wolf, Raden. It was never a sure thing, but she felt confident she could beat him. She’d never admit it out loud but these things made her nervous. The idea of fighting to the death made her sick. In the beginning she’d tried to convince challengers to leave before it came to that. But they’d mistaken her mercy for weakness. With the shifters, there was no other way. If a wolf wanted to take your pack, you had to prove you were worthy of keeping it. Killing was the only option.

“I’m ready,” she murmured.

Lexar pushed off from the wall, strolling over to her. “You’ve got this.”

His faith in her abilities meant more than he could ever know, more than it should.

Avan smirked. “It’ll be cake. Then only three more to go.”

She pushed past him for the door, but he grabbed her arm, bringing her back around. His arms went around her, backing her into the nearby wall, and she let him. There was no threat, and after what they’d shared…

“You took something from me earlier, now I’m going to take it back.” He held her gently, but his weight pressed against her. “And there will be no more asking between the two of us. If I want to kiss you, I will. And if you want to tie me up… you will. We good?”

She stared into his pale eyes, part of her not willing to agree. If they did this, she’d lose the upper hand. Things could unwind faster than she could fix.

Lexar ran his nose softly along her cheek. “Say yes,” he whispered. “I’ll beg if that’s what you really want.”

But then again, if he could make her feel like the ground had fallen out from under her feet with a simple touch… who
really
had the upper hand?

“Yes,” she breathed.

His lips connected with hers in the next breath. Soft and exploring, yet demanding at the same time. His hands came up to cradle the sides of her face, anchoring her in place for his mouth. His tongue delved in, laying claim to the space, taking over every inch. He tasted rich and hot. Like steam from the hot springs on a January morning. Sultry. Decadent.

Dear god.

He pulled away and she was left gasping for air. No one had ever kissed her like that. Like they needed her oxygen and they intended to kiss it out of her body. Damn it, how did he get to her so fast? How did he get to her at all?

He straightened, leaving her lounging against the wall. “You’re going to be late, Alpha.”

She blinked, finding her legs and making them move her toward the door. Yeah, she’d make it through this first contender. For her pack. But also for him. Because he was going to kiss her like that again. And she was going to let him.

***

Three days had passed. Three challengers were dead. Avan took a good beating with each one, but she wouldn’t let Lexar call Cael back. At Lexar’s request, he and Besh had stayed in the nearby town of Mountainburg in case there was an emergency. It was a good hour’s drive through the mountain, but staying at the camp was out of the question since, in many of the wolves’ eyes, Besh was still their First Mate. Some felt she’d betrayed them.

Truth was, the Ozarka wolves didn’t know who to blame for their undoing. The alpha they’d obeyed at every turn. Themselves, for not having the backbone to stand up to him. The elders, for not governing the pack better. Ravendale, simply because they’d been enemies for so long.

Oh, he’d seen the hostile looks some people gave him. But Avan’s trust in him went a long way with a lot of the wolves.

Lexar glanced at her as they made their way back to the cabin. She was bloody and naked from the battle, but hardly even walked with a limp. She couldn’t let them see her weakness, he got that. But what bothered him was how contained she’d become since that first fight.

Since the night she’d broken him open and showed him the possibility of a future he’d always wanted but thought impossible.

He’d stayed with her every night, lying beside her in bed while she healed, and she hadn’t said a word to stop him. But she also wasn’t opening up to him anymore.

Lexar yearned for that. She’d said no strings, but he couldn’t accept it. He needed more of her. He wanted to know everything about her. Wanted her secrets and fears. He wanted… damn it all, he wanted the intimacy. And someone who would be there for him, like he was there for her.

She opened the door and he followed her inside, expecting her to collapse onto the sofa and catch her breath. Raden had issued his challenge. It was to take place in five days, as long as no other challengers arrived, in order to give her time to heal. She’d need all the rest she could get.

Avan turned as soon as the door was shut. “I asked Seleka to prepare a cabin for you.”

Lexar’s mouth went dry. Fuck.

“I think it’s best if you didn’t stay here anymore.”

His head spun at her sudden change of heart. Whether she’d opened up to him or not, she’d still spent every night in his arms.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.” She avoided his gaze. “I have five days to prepare for the next challenge, and I need my space. I need to focus on what really matters. Raden won’t be an easy win. I don’t have time for distractions.”

Fucking hell. His chest hurt. Is that what she thought of him? That he was a distraction. A nuisance.

“Bullshit,” he snapped. “I’m not leaving. Go take your shower.”

She sighed, exhausted. “Don’t make me kick your ass out. I’m too tired for that shit.”

Lexar threw his hands behind his head and cocked his jaw. She had some nerve.

“No strings, right? Is that what this is?”

She stared at him. “I just… don’t need you anymore, Lex. I can take care of myself, and soon, this will all be over. You’ll return to Ravendale, and both our packs will live happily ever after.”

Lexar swallowed the ache in his throat.
Don’t need you anymore, Lex
. Shit. Hadn’t she felt something special too? He’d seen it in her eyes that first time. What changed? Was he just another notch to her?

“I’m not having this conversation with you when you’re bloody and beaten. Go shower.”

“You need to be gone by the time I get out.” She turned, as if to dismiss him.

“I told you,” he ground out, “I’m not going anywhere.”

She could kick him out of her bed, but he wasn’t leaving the camp. He wasn’t leaving her to straighten out this mess of a pack all on her own. Even the strongest alpha needed a support system. She had her mama, her sister, and a guard who was off dealing with his own family problems. Whether she knew it or not, she
did
need him. Maybe not in a physical or emotional way—the way he needed her—but in a practical way.

Surviving these alpha challenges was only the first step in fixing the shit Jax had broken. There was an Elder problem to deal with as well. That was a shitstorm of a different color, and he wasn’t going to leave her alone when she needed him most.

Maybe he hadn’t found the woman who would be there for him through thick and thin like he’d hoped, but it didn’t matter. Because he was the man who would be that for her. He didn’t have a choice. He was done for. Animal and man, damaged and scorned, had found the one who made them feel again.

Walking away would cripple him.

Avan turned slowly, her glare scalding him. “You
will
leave, or I’ll have the guards haul you out of camp faster than you can say—“

“What guards?” he snapped. “I could take any of them.”

Her eyes widened. “Then I’ll do it myself.”

Lexar stalked forward, falling to his knees at her feet. The words rushed out before he could consider the consequences. “I renounce my position as a Ravendale guard and pledge my allegiance to you, Avan, alpha of the Ozarka wolves, effective immediately.” He looked up, into eyes peeled wide with shock. “I’m not fucking going anywhere.”