EnemyMine (25 page)

“Of course not,” Ava huffed in indignation. “I’m saving that
bit of information for the right time. Besides, I’d hate to guess early on and
change my mind down the road. So keep that between us.”

“Okay,” Mary said softly, studying Ava, seeing her in an
entirely different way. While they were different, many aspects of their lives
were the same. If she moved forward with Emory and accepted the bloodbond, she
could be the next one starting a family.

A home. A husband. Children.

Emory wanted children. The hurt in his eyes when Mary had
said she wanted to wait was something she’d never forget. She was the only
woman who could give him that. And more importantly, with Ava’s help, she
wouldn’t have to do anything alone. For the first time in her life, she could
have an actual friend. She’d never been close to anyone at her uncle’s farm.

“You really want me to be her godmother?” Why did it hurt so
much to ask? And why did Mary feel close to tears?

“Yes, I do.” Ava placed her hand on top of Mary’s.

“Are you sure?” She swallowed back the burn in her throat,
forcing her watery eyes not to spill over.

“I am,” Ava confirmed with a smile. “I know you’re a good
person. I knew it the first time we met.”

Mary laughed. It was easy to guess how Ava had come to that
conclusion. “Because you read my mind?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Someone who has been through as much as you have but
continues to care about others has a generous heart.”

The observation made her uncomfortable. Was she that easy to
read? “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Well I am,” Ava countered. For such a tiny woman, she
certainly was opinionated and determined. “So will you?”

“Will I?”

“Be the godmother of my child.”

What Ava was asking for was an enormous undertaking—caring
for a child, protecting an innocent. But this wouldn’t be a normal child. Ava’s
baby would be the son or daughter of one of the most powerful shifters Mary had
ever encountered, a man who scared the hell out of her even when he tried to
put her at ease. Regardless of that fact, a yearning to accept Ava’s offer
swept through her. If she was going to be a part of Emory’s life—a part of his
world—she had to start thinking of those who were most important to him.

She tried to think of the right words to show Ava how
touched she was by the gesture of faith. “I’d be honored.”

“Then I have one small favor to ask.”

Mary used her free hand to swipe at her face. Was that
normally how it worked? Did a godmother have to earn her status? “What’s that?”

“When Emory and Doc get here, I want you to kick Doc out of
the room and take care of your shoulder yourself.”

“That’s your condition?” Mary was amazed to discover the
prospect of the final stage of the bloodbond didn’t frighten her. “You want me
to finish the bloodbond with Emory to prove myself or something?”

Ava smiled and tilted her head to the side. “Or something.”

Mary couldn’t prevent the blush that stained her cheeks.
“What about the pack? Everyone is upstairs. They’ll hear us. They’ll know what
we’re doing.”

“Do you really care?” Ava asked, staring at her pointedly.
“At the end of the day does it matter if people know that you’re affectionate
with the man you’re meant to be with?”

Did she care? Did it matter if everyone knew that Emory had
made her his in every way? She’d said she was staying. She’d made her
intentions clear to the pack. They had to know she and Emory were involved in a
sexual relationship. Based on what Ava had said, shifters didn’t have
inhibitions or a whole lot of modesty. Emory was a hot-blooded man with a sex
appeal women couldn’t deny.

Jealousy struck, hitting her hard and fast. The pack
consisted of women too. Any of them would be thrilled to be in her position.
None of them would care if Emory fucked them in a bathroom against the door
while a line to use the restroom formed. The entire scenario made her angry,
the ugly green monster making its presence known. She definitely wanted
unattached shifters to realize her man was off the market.

Emory was hers. Her place was at his side. She wasn’t
letting him go.

The pack can kiss my ass.

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t.”

“I’m glad to hear it, because it’s time to put your money
where your mouth is.”

As soon as Ava stood, Mary heard Emory and Doc approaching,
their low whispers easy to identify. Mary rose from the bed as Ava strode to
the door, opened it wide and waited for Emory and Doc. Then she saw the men
with their heads bent, talking softly to each other as they approached.

Just looking at Emory created tightness in her chest. He was
so strong and dangerous. If he wanted to, he could kill someone with his bare
hands. Yet when it came to her he was incredibly gentle, so careful. From the
first time they’d met, she’d instinctually known he would keep her safe. There
was something about him that got under her skin, making him a part of her
before she’d even realized it.

She knew without a doubt that he’d do anything in his power
to make her happy. Their children, if they had them, would be surrounded by
love and affection. Yes there would be danger. But wasn’t that how things
worked? Nothing was promised. People held on tight to the things they loved and
cherished, enjoying the ride for as long as it lasted. There were no guarantees
in life, only possibilities.

“Doc?” Mary said, her pulse racing, her mouth going dry. She
could do this. To hell with what Doc and the pack thought. If she was going to
reclaim her life, now was the time to start.

“Yes?” Doc stopped in the doorway, a puzzled expression on
his face.

Mary walked to Emory and grasped his shirt. He frowned but
followed, stepping into the room. Once he was safely inside she let Emory go
and shooed Ava and Doc away with a firm wave of her hand, until they were
outside the room. Ava was grinning like the Cheshire Cat while the doctor
looked utterly confused.

“Thanks for coming,” she said with a smile, “but we don’t
need you.”

Before anyone could question her, she took a deep breath for
courage and closed the door.

Chapter Nineteen

Emory was about to ask Mary what she was up to when she
reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled the garment over her head. Since
she’d been forced to remove her bra to allow Doc to tend her wounded shoulder,
there was nothing to keep her breasts from view. The mounds were full and pale,
her hard nipples a soft pink. He knew if he gave the rounded swells his
undivided attention, he could take the color to a darker shade.

The thought made him hard as a rock.

“What are you doing?” His throat felt as constricted,
becoming almost as tight as the jeans that encased his cock. It was difficult
to think clearly when all he wanted to do was to take his mate to the floor and
fuck her long, deep and hard.

Mary grasped the ties of the sweatpants. “What does it look
like?”

The instant she dropped the clothing from around her waist
and the cotton pooled at her feet, he knew his mate was turned-on. She didn’t
have on underwear and her scent rushed to him, stirring his wolf, flicking a
switch inside him. He bit the fleshy part of his cheek, trying to do the right
thing, to think with his head and not his dick.

“Your shoulder—”

She kicked the sweats from her feet and walked to him.
“Doesn’t matter.”

He wanted to argue, he really did. Or at least that’s what
he told himself when Mary closed the distance, carefully wrapped her arms
around his neck and went to her tiptoes to kiss him. She felt so soft compared
to him, so tiny. His arms wrapped around her waist of their own accord, urging
her closer. She came to him willingly, pressing her body to his, her breasts
flush against his chest.

“You’re killing me,” he whispered against her lips, meeting
her eyes. Her pupils were enlarged, the heavy fall of her lashes fluttering as
her lids lowered. “I want you so much I ache with it.”

She clutched his shoulders, dragging her nails along his
shirt. “There’s no need to ache. I’m here. I want you too.”

This close he could smell the metallic scent of her blood.
Through their flourishing connection he could also feel her discomfort. Their
emotions bled into each other’s now, the wolf residing within each of them.
Where he was worried for her welfare, she was excited to be in his arms, her
desire at full throttle. There was no anxiousness on her part, no doubt.

“You’re hurt.”

When he attempted to pull away she refused to let go. “Then
make me better.” She didn’t look away, her brown eyes determined, the hidden
meaning in her words crystal clear. “Take the hurt away and replace it with
something better. I know you can.”

Her words rushed straight to his head, making him dizzy. “If
you’re saying what I think you are, make sure you mean it.”

“I want you to finish what you started. Make love to me.
Take the final step.” She brushed her lips against his and moved away. “I need
to know nothing will come between us, that you won’t ever let me go.”

“Never,” he vowed, shaking with pure emotion. He’d never let
her go. Even if she wanted him to. He couldn’t exist without her. “You’re mine.
You were mine the moment we met.”

Memories of the past assailed him, of Mary at the café,
young, sweet and full of life. Back then she was nervously aware of him, taking
sly glances in his direction when she thought he wasn’t looking. Now she was
more secure in herself, more confident. She didn’t look away, meeting his gaze,
her eyes brimming with passion and certainty. The atrocities she’d suffered had
only strengthened her, bringing them to this point in their lives.

He closed the distance, placing his lips against hers. The
kiss he intended to be sweet and soothing became harsh and unyielding, his
tongue winding into her mouth when she opened to him. The truth struck him—a
slicing blow to his heart. He could have lost her. If her uncle had succeeded
in his plan, this moment would never have come.

He pulled away to tell her how he felt, so she knew it
before things went any further. “I love you, you know.”

“I know.” She presented him with the smile he adored, her
cheeks flushing. “I love you too.”

He’d waited for those words for so fucking long, but he had
to be certain they came from her and not their connection. As much as he hated
to do it, he blocked her bond with the wolf, shutting that portion of himself
down, although it was difficult to suppress. He didn’t want any influence over
her or her feelings. He had to know what she said came from her own heart and
wasn’t a reflection of his own emotions.

“Tell me again.”

What started as a startled frown on her face changed into a
look of dawning comprehension. He knew he’d left himself vulnerable to this
woman. She could accept him or reject him. The choice was entirely hers to
make.

Tell me again
, he thought to himself, the seconds
ticking by like hours.
Tell me that you love me. Show me that you want this
.

Moving closer, she whispered, “I love you.” Then she brushed
her lips against his cheek. “I love you.” His skin tingled as she exhaled
softly against his skin, making a path to his ear to repeat, “I love you.”

“I’m glad to hear it. More than you can possibly know.” His
voice cracked but he didn’t give a shit. He could be weak around Mary. He
didn’t have to pretend that she didn’t affect him, that she didn’t have the
power to bring him to his knees. “Hold on.”

He brought his hands to her hips, holding her against him,
feeling the intricate structure of the bones beneath his fingers. Mindful of
how fragile she was, he lowered those hands until they cupped her ass. The
fleshy globes fit his palms perfectly, allowing him to lift her with ease. She
groaned when his cock made contact with her pussy and wrapped her legs around
his waist, snaking her arms around his neck.

Mindful of her shoulder, he carried her to the bed and
placed her on top of the crumpled sheets. Coming down over her, he nipped at
her full bottom lip. She groaned and pushed her pelvis against his, the heat of
her cunt evident even through his jeans. He let his control go, allowing the
wolf to come to life. The connection between them flared, her lust slamming
into his.

“More,” she pleaded and arched her back, rubbing her nipples
against his chest.

When he tried to pull away to remove his shirt, she
whimpered and held on tight. He growled low in his throat, forcing her hands
away from his neck and over her head. Then he looked down at her. Up until this
point he’d been tender and cautious. If she started pushing his buttons she’d
find out precisely what he was capable of.

“Careful, sweetheart,” he warned, chest heaving, his balls
tight and ready to burst. “You don’t want to push me.”

Something dangerous flared in her eyes. “Actually, I do.”

Even with her hands trapped above her, she was able to lift
her head. He hissed when she bit him on the chest, just an inch or so above his
nipple. She wasn’t gentle, her teeth digging into his skin despite his shirt.
He threw his head back, silencing a victorious howl of approval.

As quickly as she’d bitten him, she let go. “Stop hiding. I
know you’re holding back.”

It was true. He’d been holding back. But for a damn good
reason. “I don’t want to frighten you.” And he didn’t. Not when things were
going so well. One wrong move and she might turn from him. He wasn’t willing to
take the risk.

“You don’t see me pushing you away, do you?” she asked in a
mocking tone. “You’re the one who’s frightened, not me.”

His wolf immediately rose to the challenge. His blood ran
hot and the chill in the room felt like winter air on his skin. Was she telling
the truth? Was she really prepared to know him body and soul? There was only
one way to know for certain, and that was the final stage of the bloodbond. He
owed it to both of them to find out.

He let go of his mate and tore his shirt from his body, the
loud ripping sounds echoing inside the room. Mary didn’t flinch, remaining
where he’d left her, watching his movements as he tossed the shredded material
aside.

“You want me?” he asked, his cock throbbing as his heart
raced.

Their gazes locked and she didn’t look away. “Yes.”

Take her. Show her how good it will be between you.

He wasn’t gentle when he severed eye contact to take one of
her nipples into his mouth, allowing his teeth to graze her skin as he suckled.
She mewled at the contact and he felt her fingers in his hair, tugging at the
strands. Encouraged, he released her nipple and moved to the other, using the
same forcefulness.

“Yes,” she moaned, rocking her hips, her legs still twined
around his waist. “All of you, Emory. I want all of you. Don’t hold back.”

Her scent called to him, the slick heat between his legs
beckoning. He wanted to lap at her honey, taste her arousal and feel her
essence coating his tongue. She unwound her legs as he made his way to the
triangle of blonde curls below. He left little bites here and there along the
way. Each nip was hard enough to leave a circular pink mark but not break the
skin. By the time he arrived at his destination, all he could smell was Mary.
The heady fragrance of her cunt surrounded him, filling his nose and senses.

“Look at me. I want you to watch while I give you this.”

She trembled as she lifted onto her elbows but did as he
asked, her brown eyes darker than usual. When he was sure she wouldn’t look
away, he examined his prize.

“You’re so wet, Mary,” he murmured and used his shoulders to
part her thighs, revealing her glistening folds. Her clit was swollen and
protruded from its hood, the lips of her pussy puffy and pink. He stroked her
inner thighs, building the anticipation, knowing they were both on the edge.

“For you,” she said and gasped when he blew a stream of air
against her clit.

Instead of taking his time and drawing things out, he
lowered his head and parted her labia with his tongue. Then he licked upward,
tasting her as he went, gliding along her vaginal folds until he reached her
clit. Glancing up, he saw that she continued watching him. The red tint to her
cheeks indicated she was embarrassed, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him.
She’d said she wanted all of him and that was what she was going to get.

This was exactly what he wanted.

He took the rounded pearl into his mouth and sucked, looking
at her all the while, rubbing his tongue along the sensitive tissue as he
brought his hand to the mouth of her pussy. She bit her lip, straining as she
continued balancing herself with her arms. Tight ripples greeted his fingers as
he slid two inside her heat, the flexing walls of her cunt squeezing him tight.

Now, sweetheart.

He didn’t have to vocalize what he wanted, using his touch
to send her over. As he worked her sheath with his fingers, he continued
flicking his tongue over her clit and waggled his head. A hot rush of liquid coated
his fingers and paved his way. She threw her head back as she cried out. Her
pussy pulled at the fingers inside of her, holding them in a velvety soft grip
as she came. Her thighs trembled on either side of his shoulders, the muscles
straining. He didn’t stop feeding her orgasm until she sank back against the
pillows, her chest rising and falling as she panted.

He moved from the bed and tugged at his jeans to free his
straining cock as he toed off his boots. The animal in him wanted to feel those
same ripples of fire dancing along his dick, to watch as she came with him
buried inside of her. Mary lifted her head just as he kicked his jeans and
socks away. He wasn’t prepared for what came next, to see her roll forward and
come for him on her hands and knees.

“Your turn,” she purred and wrapped her fingers around the
base of his cock, squeezing as she brought her fingers upward to the crown.
Pre-cum escaped the narrow slit in the head, forming a shimmering bead. There
was no fucking way he was going to argue, not when this wet dream of a female
looked ready to devour him whole.

He waited to see what she’d do next.

At first she stroked him, learning his body. With each
return to the top, she increased the pressure, the width of his cock too much
for her fingers to wrap completely around. Slowly she lowered her head and
licked the slit, taking the shining pearl of semen at the top into her mouth.
He thought he’d come on the spot when she closed her eyes as though she was
savoring his taste.

Fuck.

Before he could tell her to take him between her
heart-shaped lips and suck, she did. Her mouth was blistering hot and wet, so
fucking good he couldn’t help but pump his hips. She started at the head, using
her tongue to caress the underside, timing it so that her hand mirrored the
movements of her mouth.

He groaned, twining his fingers in her hair. “That’s so
fucking good, sweetheart. Suck me harder. Take me deep.”

Mary’s corresponding moan traveled down his cock, her head
bobbing as she tried to take him deeper as she increased the suction of her
mouth. He gritted his teeth, determined to hold back instead of fucking her
mouth as he longed to. This was his mate’s time for discovery, to learn what
she liked. If it killed him, he’d let her tackle her growing sexuality at her
own pace.

She continued licking and sucking and he lifted her hair
away from her face to watch. A few of the blonde strands escaped, cascading
around her cheeks and drifting to her bare shoulders. Glancing down the length
of her back, he focused on the indentions above her buttocks. One day he
planned to have her ass up in the air as he fucked her from behind. He’d trace
the curves with his thumbs, paying attention to the tiny dimples.

By the time Mary pulled away, a fine sheen of sweat coated
his skin. It had taken all of his willpower not to spend himself inside her hot
little mouth, to give her what he was certain she wanted to receive. She placed
her hands on his thighs and moved upward, using his body for balance as she
rose to her knees. When he met her eyes, he saw doubt and worry.