Jared (River Pack Wolves 3) - New Adult Paranormal Romance (23 page)

Rise, my love.
His heart was overflowing with the magic of their bond… and this was only the submission. His mouth watered for the mating bond to come.

She leaped up from the submission pose and pranced a little, her tiny paws dancing on the floor—the submission bond was working its magic on her as well.

He shifted back to human. “Shift for me, Grace.” He was panting with need for her.

The second she shifted, he grabbed her, turned her around and bent her over the edge of the bed. His hands were rough and demanding—because he knew it spiked her pleasure and because he couldn’t hold himself back. He needed to be inside her, now, in every way.

With one hand holding her shoulder pinned to the bed and the other gripping her hip, he slammed into her. She gasped and moaned as he pounded her again, fast and hard, not holding back, giving everything he had. Possessing her body like he had wanted to from the start.

Her small cries of pleasure, the hard squeeze of her tight body around him, all of it was ramping him up so damn fast. He leaned over her, still thrusting, lifting his hand from her shoulder to swipe that long, gorgeous hair from her skin, clearing the way. His fangs came out, his mouth watered, and he bent to taste the sweet flesh of her neck, swiping his tongue across her to mark the spot where he would mark her. He could tell she was close again, her sweet flesh quivering around his cock as it drove into her. He hovered his fangs over her neck.

“You are
mine,
Grace,” he whispered against her skin. “Forever mine.”

Her sob of pleasure was too much for him.

He sunk his cock deep inside her at the same time his fangs pierced her skin. She cried out, convulsing under him, coming undone all around him. He clamped hard onto her neck, riding the waves with her, flushing his magic into her. His cock stiffened, and his own orgasm swept through him, shooting inside her and filling her with his seed. He held tight to her, pumping her full of himself, giving everything he had to her, claiming her forever. It lasted long, blissful, mind-blowing seconds.

When they both were finally coming down, he released her, then scooped her trembling body into his arms and carried her the rest of the way onto the bed. He held her like that, curled up in his lap, still shivering from her orgasm. He knew his magic was just beginning to course through her body—he could feel the bond tightening, pulling her closer to him, in a way only magic could. He touched her everywhere—with his hands and his lips and his soft words of love. She just shook and let out small moans as his magic permeated every cell of her body.

She was forever bound to him now. And him to her.

“Was it as good as you hoped?” he asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it from her sweet lips.

“Holy fuck, Jared.”
She was still breathless.

He chuckled, and it shook the bed. He tightened his hold on her. “As fucks go, I think it’s as close to holy as you can get.”

“Please tell me we can do that more than once,” she panted into the air, her head tipped back as he explored her neck.

“Again and again,” he said with a grin against her skin. “Each bite just makes the bond stronger.”

“I have never been so happy to be a wolf,” she breathed.

He laughed, hard, and he could see the days stretching out in front of them. This amazing woman would give him more than he could possibly ever return.

But he was sure as hell going to try.

“Me too,” he said, two short words from the depths of his soul.

Then kissed her again, like it was the very first time... and he hoped there would never be a last.

It was wedding day, and Jared was concerned his mother might actually die from happiness overload. Not that he could blame her. All three of her sons were getting married. It was insane and awesome and, in his wildest dreams, he never thought something like this could happen. Especially for him.

Mama River was running around, ostensibly fine-tuning all the details, but she had done nothing for the last two weeks but set up things for this day. He didn’t know what could possibly be left to do.

The wedding was at the River family estate, of course. The reception would be in the main house, which was already overloaded with white decor of every kind, from some kind of wispy fabric thing that traced a line throughout the house, to the twinkling white lights hanging everywhere, to the heaping bouquets of white flowers perfuming the air. It was like a fairyland florist shop in there.

His mother seemed to think that
going overboard
wasn’t possible when three sons were marrying at once.

The ceremony itself would take place out back, near the cabins that each of the brothers had remodeled for their new mates. All three of them had apartments in the city, but those seemed to be forgotten, at least for the moment. Jared heard Olivia had some kind of rat-trap apartment that Jaxson wouldn’t even allow her to return to, except to gather up her things. Jace and Piper both had apartments in the city, but neither seemed in a hurry to leave the estate. There was lots of talk of nieces and nephews, and Jace had already outfitted their cabin with a small nursery tucked in the corner. Apparently, babies were on the agenda, and they were getting right on it. Which made Jared bust out with a smile. They might have little pups running around the family estate soon.

So much life. So much joy. His heart felt like it was bursting all the time now.

And for him and Grace, well, there was no going back to her father’s house, of course. Jared could move her into his tiny apartment in the city, but that didn’t feel like home. And she’d never been around wolves or a pack, and there was so much he still wanted to show her, even outside the bedroom. The family estate just seemed like the right place to be.

Besides, Grace was so busy with the campaign—and would be for some time—that he was treasuring every second they had in their blissful little haven. Soon enough, she would be Washington’s newest Representative to the House, and then she would be traveling all the time. His heart clenched, but he figured she would need a full-time bodyguard now, and there was no one else he would allow to have the job.

Jared strolled past the stables, heading toward the ceremony, and even here, Mama River had decked the place out. White papier-mâché wedding bells hung from the stable entrances, and bouquets of tiny white flowers were randomly tucked everywhere you might imagine. And some places you wouldn’t. He passed the horses and the rows of cabins, finally arriving at the staging area where everyone had started to gather for the outdoor ceremony. There had to be over a hundred wolves in attendance, even though they were trying to keep it small. Nearly half that number actually lived at the estate right now—mostly the Wildings and the other wolves they had rescued. They were still hanging out, even though Agent Smith was dead, the Senator was shut down, and as far as they knew, his secret government program had been destroyed along with the hard drives. Or at least the parts of them that could be used for research. Grace had insisted that they preserve everything that showed what had happened—for history and for leverage against her father, in case he decided to cause problems for her. Or shifters in general. The Senator had slunk off after announcing he wasn’t running for reelection, and as far as Jared knew, the man was hiding out in his Senate office in Washington DC, avoiding the press.

The wolves gathered for the wedding were milling around the seats—they were set up in rows on a giant white tarp his mother had acquired from somewhere. At the front was a white wooden arch decked out with more of that filmy white fabric, as well as dozens of white roses. The mountains rose in the background, and Seattle had decided to give them a perfectly clear blue-sky day in celebration. The soon-to-be brides were nowhere to be seen, but his brothers were gathered at the front, along with Owen, Jace’s best man. Owen was Jace’s br
other-in-arms from Afghanistan and had been imprisoned by Agent Smith for over a year. Jared couldn’t think of a better pick in that regard, either—Owen had been through hell and back, worse than any of them, and still came out of it with a smile on his face.

Jared hurried up to join them.

Jaxson and Jared were their own best men for the ceremony—Jaxson was his alpha, so that was obvious, and Jared had been the first to approve of Jaxson taking Olivia, a half-witch, for a mate. Anyone with eyes could see she was perfect for his brother… not to mention that she literally saved him. It was obvious to Jared that they belonged together, but it seemed important to Jaxson that Jared had been the first to state it out loud. His brother was alpha and anyone would have been honored to stand up for him. Jared thought maybe Olivia had a hand in Jaxson picking him.

He was happy he could do it with a whole heart.

“Are you ready to tie the knot?” Jared asked Jace, giving him a light punch on the shoulder.

Jace gave an incredulous look to Jaxson, who was standing next to him. Owen was on the other side.

“I am seriously not used to that,” Jace said with a smirk.
“Jared
with a smile on his face… it’s really kind of freaking me out.”

“Thanks a lot, bro.” But Jared didn’t take any offense. He knew the dark place he had come from, and that Grace had only barely saved him from it. There was nothing that could make him feel that way again, least of all a ribbing from his brother.

Jaxson grinned. “Judging by the sounds coming from Cabin Twelve, he’s got a lot to smile about.”

“Hey, now!” Jared complained. “Who had to listen to the both of you having fun with your new mates while I had none of my own?” He pointed to himself. “This guy. So you can all just deal with it.”

Jace chuckled. “I don’t know. You’re setting a high bar over there. Piper wants more every time she hears Grace having too much fun.”

“Sounds like a terrible problem for ya’ll.” Owen shook his head with mock sadness, his Texas twang coming out. “I’m just glad I’m staying in the main house. There’s too much lovin’ going on around here that’s not in my bed.”

Jace put his hand on Owen’s shoulder. “Half the female shifters here would line up for you, Owen, my friend.”

“Only half?” Owen cocked an eyebrow. “I’m feeling an insult here.”

Jace snorted. “Half should keep you busy enough. Why don’t you take them up on it?”

“Cuz I respect your Mama, that’s why.” Owen gave him a horrified look that Jared wasn’t quite sure was real.

Mama River was shuffling people into their seats, so Jared figured they must be getting started. He took up his position where his mother had instructed during the rehearsal and got an approving nod from her as she bustled about.

“Seriously, man,” Jaxson said from his spot next to Jared. “I couldn’t be happier for you and Grace. You’ve got a hell of a woman there, with what she’s doing. And I think she’s going to win.”

“I don’t doubt it for a second,” Jared replied.

Jaxson nodded. “I like having you guys here at the estate, too. When she’s ready, I’d like for her to join the pack. If that’s what you both want.” Jaxson gave him a questioning look, but he needn’t worry. The last thing Jared wanted was to go off by himself, anywhere, again. Not if he could help it.

“I’ll ask her,” Jared said. “After the wedding. Maybe after a few more… honeymoons.”

Jaxson just chuckled. Then a hush fell over the crowd, and their eyes were drawn forward, down the center row, to where the three brides were gliding in a slow and beautiful procession. Olivia, Jaxson’s mate, wore a sweeping white gown that showed off her curves to maximum effect. Piper, Jace’s mate, had a short snazzy number that was both outrageous and stunningly gorgeous. Jared smirked as his brother’s eyes traced every curve. He didn’t have to shift to know what Jace was thinking. Then, last in line, but first in Jared’s heart, came his beautiful Grace. Her long, thin arms were bare, exposing the thin, crisscrossed scars she gained during her time with Agent Smith. His heart still clenched whenever he saw them, but he had stopped saying anything about them, especially to her. She wore them with pride—they were her initiation into the shifter world and her raison d'etre for running for office. If she could survive that, he had no doubt his lovely mate could do anything.

He tore his eyes away from her arms and focused on the rest of her. Grace’s gown was simple—a pure white satin that hugged her slim curves and barely covered her perky little breasts straining underneath. Her long brown hair fell to her waist, and Jared couldn’t help picturing her as Lady Godiva one more time. But that only made him want her naked and riding on top of him instead of a white horse.

The ceremony and the vows were simple—after all, they had already mated, already entwined their magic forever. The three brothers slipped rings on their new wives, making visible the human bond between them, but it could never be as strong as the magic that already bound them together. A justice of the peace Mama River had brought in from Seattle served to make it legal. When the short, scrawny man said, “You may kiss the brides!” the crowd let out a roar, the kind only wolves could make—half growl and half celebratory yowl.