Cherished: True Mates Book 5 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) (16 page)

Hands tugged at my hair, urging me up. Sliding up her body I claimed her mouth in a long kiss of tongues and teeth.

Pushing me back she stared at me with heavily lidded eyes, her skin flushed and dewy with climax. “Take them off,” she murmured, flicking a finger at my jeans, then tracing a nail down the outline of my straining cock, “and make love to me.”

I didn’t need asking twice.

***

Ana

The man had a gift!
What he could do with his tongue…

The sound of buttons popping caught my attention.

I pushed up onto my elbows, my body languid and sated. But there was no way I was going to miss a second of—

My mouth dropped open, around the same time he dropped his jeans. His cock bobbed and swayed as he dragged the offending denim off his feet, the thick length jutting out from a trim patch of blond curls.

I closed my mouth with a snap, before I started doing something silly, like drooling.

That place inside my belly—deep down, just above my pussy—tightened, twinging with an urgency I didn’t understand.

He stalked toward me, every muscle flexing and rippling, his abs bunching with each slow step. Lust glowed in his eyes, a reflection of the urgency I could feel growing inside.

A fluttering inside my pussy startled me, my inner muscles clenching. I wanted him to fill me, to feel that thick length slide deep inside and claim me.

Blanketing me, he hovered above me, obviously waiting for something.

Waiting for what?
I nearly screamed it out loud, desperation riding me.

Then he lowered his head, kissing me in the sweetest kiss I had ever known, his lips reverent and gentle. “Are you sure?” he whispered, his breath hot on my lips, anguish in his eyes.

He was giving me a chance to back out, an escape card. And it was killing him.

“I’m sure,” I murmured, pulling his head back down. Pouring my lust into my kiss, I devoured his mouth, my tongue spearing and licking, his stubble rough against my chin.

He held out for about a second. With a deep groan that vibrated through me, he succumbed, and I felt the blunt head of his cock pressing between my legs, sliding through my wet curls to press deeper.

Tilting my hips I opened myself up to him, his cock sliding deeper in shallow thrusts of his hips, every inch stretching and filling me.

He paused, his eyes questioning, and I grabbed his hips, digging my blunt nails in, urging him on.
I wanted it all.
Every single inch.

With a growl, he thrust one final time, seating himself to the hilt, our hips touching, his balls slapping against my thighs.

“I love you,” he groaned on a shudder, his hips tilting to withdraw, then plunging back in, the movement dragging a moan from my lips.

Pulling back, he thrust again, this time a little harder, building a delicious friction inside of me, his cock dragging then sliding back home. The sound of skin slapping against skin, breathy sighs and groans filled the night sky. Our hips danced in unison, our skin slick with sweat, hands grasping and molding, nails digging and clutching as shockwave after shockwave rolled over me, driving me higher.

Every thrust of his cock filled me to nearly overwhelming, every drag of his retreat rubbed against nerves raw with need. It was like there was a fire burning inside of me, scorching in its intensity, the flames licking at me, racing through me, pulling me higher.

Oliver growled, his eyes glazed with passion, his arms trembling as he swiveled his hips. Rearing back, he dragged a finger through my curls, connecting directly with my clit, rubbing the swollen nub without mercy, his other hand digging into my hip as he continued to thrust, his pace relentless.

The flames roared through me, my legs spasming and hips thrusting wildly as I came, screaming my climax into the silent forest, my pussy clenching around him.

“I take you, Ana Arlington, to be my true mate. I will run with you, live with you, and love you. I swear by the Mother of All.” The words drifted to me as though in a dream, stirring something deep inside of me. Lips brushed against my collarbone, directly on top of my mess of ravaged skin.

I froze, the old fear rearing up inside of me.

Teeth pierced my skin in a touch so delicate I didn’t notice at first. The tangle of fear in my gut unraveled.
He would never hurt me.

“Your turn,” he murmured, his tongue laving my neck, “that’s if you’ll have me?” His words were guttural, layered with longing.

I made a mental note to point out to him later just how silly a question it was, the words coming to me on a swell of emotion. “And I take you, Oliver Colstone, to be my true mate. I will run with you, live with you, and love you. I swear by the Mother of All. And God,” I added, wanting to make sure both of our deities recognized this binding of souls. I kissed his neck in symbolism. I was human, after all. There was no way I was getting all bitey.

Emotions crashed into me, hurtling through me. I could feel Oliver’s longing, his wants, his needs. His love for me, shining like a beacon, bright and pure.

Wonder cascaded through me as the bond swelled between us, our hearts beating together, our souls joining.

With the same look of wonder on his sinfully handsome face, he grasped my hands, his hips starting to move again, thrusting in and out in exquisite rhythmic torture.

Gasping, pleasure thrummed through me, mine and his combined, building and merging, pulling me with him as he bucked on top of me, jaw clenched, chasing oblivion.

With a roar he stuttered, his thrusts wild and jagged, then throwing his head back, he came, pulsing inside of me.

With a snap I hurtled with him over the edge, my back bowing off the floor, fingers curling, clenching around him as my third orgasm rolled through me.

His weight dropped on top of me, heavy and reassuring. Wrapping my arms around him I hugged him tight, not wanting to let go, not just yet. Seconds passed, maybe minutes, as I stared up at the night sky, tears stinging my eyes with his heart beating next to mine.

“Ana? What’s wrong?” He pushed himself up, then rolled to the side, gathering me into his arms to nestle me against his chest. “Tell me. Did I hurt you?” Anxious furrows creased his brow as he peered at me.

I wiped at the tears, exasperated with myself for being so stupid, for spoiling such a perfect moment. “No! I’m just...I’ve never been so happy!” I half said, half sobbed. It had been so beautiful and so hot and so amazing that I was crying like a goddamn baby.

Kissing the tip of my nose, he wiped my cheeks with his thumb. “That’s okay then.” Closing his eyes, he appeared to concentrate for a second, then his lips curled up in a shit-eating grin that spread over his whole face. “Just checking on the bond,” he explained. “It’s beautiful to see.”

“I wish I could see it,” I murmured, feeling a little put out.

“Maybe you can? My dad could, though Mom said it took him a little bit of practice.”

I glanced up at him in surprise. He didn’t sound angry anymore at the memory of his family.

Catching my look he chuckled. “I’ve let go of all the past, like we said. What’s done is done, it can’t hurt me anymore. Anyway, I’m mated to a human now, it’s not like I can go around hating humans anymore.”

“You used to
hate
us?”

He winced at the incredulity in my voice. “Bad choice of words. I thought you were…inferior? Not better, huh? Um, weak?”

I jabbed a finger in his chest. “Better to just stop there, buster. You never know, we might have a human baby.” The words died on my lips, heartache rearing up inside of me, something that I had accepted would never leave me, and I didn’t want it to. I wanted to remember my baby.

“And I would love him or her, just the same as I love you and Josh. Just as I will grow to love Sebastian through your memories.” Kissing me, he stroked my hair back.

Sweet heartache was rapidly replaced with panic. “What are we going to tell Josh?”

“I’m pretty sure he already knows.”

“How?”

“The bond has reached through you to him. We’re linked now as a family,” he explained.

“Can you tell how he feels about it?” I would definitely have to practice with this bond. It sounded like it could come in quite handy on getting a read on my son. Especially handy for when he hit his teen years.

“Surprised, a little unsure and sad, but mostly hopeful.”

I sagged back in relief as his words sank in. It would take a little time and a lot of love but Josh would be fine. We’d all be fine—better than fine.

We were going to be happy.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Oliver

Three months later…

I tugged at the too-tight collar, sliding my finger between the starched white fabric and my throat, the feeling not dissimilar to what I would imagine a collar felt like. Not that you’d ever catch me wearing a collar as a wolf. Nope, not even for the kids of the pack, the little group of terrors that had barreled into our lives and stolen the hearts of every packmember.

They had thrived once out from under Bert’s reign of terror, their moms barely able to keep up with their antics as they explored their newfound freedom. Josh could be found over there at Smithrock most days, hanging around and adding to the mischief. He was still particularly attached to the little girl I had seen him with that first night, Lottie with the big blue eyes and pigtails that bounced as she ran circles around him. And his sister, Lizzie, of course.

The music started and I glanced to my right, meeting James’ grin. “Remind me again why I’m doing this?” I muttered, his grin widening as he smothered a laugh.

“Because you love her.”

“I know that.” Okay, maybe this
had
been my idea, but I’d had no clue how much these penguin suits were going to feel like a straitjacket, or how out of place I was going to feel on display in front of all these people.

I glanced around, taking in the large crowd. Everyone was here. Sean and Lisa, Macey and Jason, Amanda and Tarq, Greg, Cole, Kara, all the women we had rescued, and what looked to be hundreds of children. Okay, slight exaggeration maybe. Then there were the rest of the Colstone Pack, and the Smithrock Pack.

I glanced at the other side of the room where the shifters had overflowed and filled up the seats. There was Ana’s family, her mom sitting proud and clutching the hand of Ana’s brother, Kurt. To say they had been ecstatic to find out Ana was still alive was a big understatement, and they had accepted Josh and me with open arms and hearts.

The music started, shattering the silence and everyone rose to their feet, turning as one to face the door.

I gave the damn collar one last tug then turned around.

Ana stood, framed in the doorway, her dress a simple off-white creation of lace and satin. She was breathtaking, the dress clinging to her curves in a way that made me want to march up there and rip the thing off. And I might have, had she not been clinging to her dad’s arm. And everyone was watching. Including Josh, who was standing just behind her, peeking around and giving me the thumbs up.

Quashing the urge and filing it away for later, I watched her walk toward me.

I had wanted to give her a proper wedding, for us to be joined in the way of humans so that she could see that I not only accepted her for who and what she was, I wouldn’t have her any other way. Any doubts about whether it had been the right decision flew straight out of the window when she beamed at me, her face glowing with happiness. Her gaze raked over me, lust darkening her eyes as one eyebrow arched in obvious approval.

Maybe this penguin suit wasn’t so bad after all.

As she reached me, I took her hand, my other hand smoothing over her slightly rounded stomach. I couldn’t help it; I took every chance I had to sneak a quick feel at the child growing within. Our child. The one we had conceived that night in the forest at our mating.

Given that my lust for my mate was apparently insatiable, I could already see a lot of children in our future.

Something she had informed me was quite all right, in between moaning and gasping my name.

The ceremony flew by, the exact words a buzzing noise in my ears. All I could hear and see was her.

Josh darted forward, proudly presenting the rings.

Slipping the delicate gold band onto her finger, I said, “I take thee, Ana Arlington, to be my wife because I couldn’t imagine life without you. And I don’t want a life without you. You are my everything, my soulmate, my heart, and my best friend. I love you.”

Her eyes glistened suspiciously as she chewed her bottom lip, her eyes glued to the ring on her hand.

I bit back a groan. I was going to need to have another talk with her later about her chewing her lip and what it did to me. Hey, I couldn’t be held accountable for my reaction. It was her little white teeth and the thought of what she could do with them.

Taking my hand, she slipped a thicker gold band onto my finger. Something we had already agreed I would have to take off and wear on a chain around my neck, next to my heart. “I take thee, Oliver Colstone, to be my husband. Since the second I met you I knew you were going to be trouble. You crashed into my life, knocking me off my feet, and my life hasn’t been the same since. Or my heart. I love you and I always will.”