A Twist of Luck (Shifter City Fated Mates #2)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

EMME

K ellan Jackson was a delicious menace with his mouth. Hunter liked to devour as well, but the difference with Kellan was that he had no restraint. Hunter remained controlled and deliberate in his actions, and I loved that because when he actually lost control, it had so much impact.

My golden boy ate my pussy with the same ferocity that he approached all of life: with abandon and zero fucks given about what anyone else thought. Except me . He was all in to please me, and the focus he showed was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

Kellan was the literal definition of a good boy, and he deserved all the praise.

I’d already come twice, and he was winding me up for a third, the pressure building from the base of my spine, until it burst through me in a wave. Kellan growled and buried his face harder against me, lapping up my orgasm like it was a melting ice-cream he refused to let drip on the ground. He was going to kill me. But what a way to go.

“Alpha,” I begged, base instinct rearing up as I lost control of myself.

In the back of my mind, a small part of me was freaking out that we’d bonded, tingles of his emotions mingling in the deepest recesses of my own energy. A true joining of shifter essences.

So, yep. Fully bonded. I’d initiated an action I swore would never happen, but even freaking out, there were no regrets. If the alternative to bonding was Kellan dying, well… I’d bond all day every day. We’d just have to figure out the rest later.

Kellan lifted his face, lips shiny and full as he smiled. “I’m not actually sure I didn’t die, Shortcake. Can you confirm this isn’t eternal paradise?”

My throat grew almost too tight to reply. “It’s too soon to joke about that, Golden. Way too soon.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever purge the memory of his life fading out of him as fire and magic wreaked havoc on his body.

His lopsided grin reminded me of everything right in the world as he crawled up my body and pressed his lips to mine. I tasted myself on his lips and beard. He didn’t usually have facial hair, but he hadn’t bothered to shave in the shower, and I was into this rapscallion look he had going on.

When he settled his big body between my thighs, the sensation of his weight pressing me into the bed had my head spinning. He was large and muscled everywhere.

“Let me apologize in advance for this first time,” he whispered against my mouth. “I'm just too desperate to wait.” Before I could respond, he lifted himself, and as soon as the head of his cock stretched my entrance, he thrust hard and I cried out. It took a few more thrusts to seat his length fully, and I was fairly sure that he was almost as big as Hunter, who was a monster.

As our eyes met, his were vibrant purple, and the bite on my throat pulsed, sending another shot of pure pleasure to my core. Was I feeling his arousal as well as my own? “Fuck,” I choked out, unable to remain still as I moved my hips higher. “You feel so good.”

Kellan rumbled. “I’m going to explode like a teen, baby. Don’t judge me for this, because I can back it up.”

“No judgement from m—” I cried out as he thrust again, the force almost sending me up the bed. Kellan’s strong arms caught me as he wrapped them under my head, bringing us closer. He kissed down my throat, slamming relentlessly into me.

Despite my trio of orgasms already, another was building fast, this one deeper and more intense. “Oh my goddess,” I mumbled, half delirious. “I can’t—too much—so fucking good.”

Kellan rumbled, and lifted his head to lock me in a stare of such intensity that my heart joined in with the sensation of detonation. “Look at me when you come, baby,” he commanded, and I obeyed, meeting his blazing eyes. “I love you,” he whispered, his movements slower but just as forceful. “I adore you. I cherish, treasure, and prize you. I claim you forever.”

I screamed into my orgasm, the force tearing me from the fabric of this reality. My head spun, and my lungs choked over a lack of air.

Kellan shouted my name, and my pleasure increased as his cock swelled and he came, the scent of caramel and cinnamon stronger than ever as it blended with chocolate and honey, until we were one bundle of sweetness.

Just when I thought he was finished, he pulled out of me and jerked his cock hard to release final spurts of cum across my pussy and stomach, marking me in another claim.

“Shit, you are a good boy,” I said between ragged breaths. “Always keeping your promise.”

His hand stilled, massive chest heaving as he stared down at me. He remained like that, hard cock in hand, observing me like I was a fairy-tale that had burst to life right before his eyes. His nostrils flared as he shifted forward in his kneeling position, leaned down, and swiped his cock over my stomach and through the mess he’d made. “You’d be running if you knew what I wanted to do to you, pretty girl,” he murmured, and I realized he was drawing his name on me in his release.

Fuck, I loved this alpha.

“Mine,” he growled, and it reminded me of Hunter’s tattoos. These alphas and their claiming were perks of this pack I hadn’t expected. It was pure perfection.

“Yours,” I confirmed breathlessly.

He shifted his weight back again, and as I reached out, not ready to be apart, he palmed his hands under my ass and lifted me up off the bed. He was so strong that I didn’t have to do a thing other than let myself be handled, and fuck me dead, he knew how to handle his mate.

Bringing me with him, he settled on his ass, and I ended up straddling him, his cum a sticky, delicious mess between. He thrust up against me, and I responded by shifting my hips slightly until I was able to slide down his length. The pulse of pleasure across my already sensitive walls was instantaneous, and when I was seated, with him buried so deeply it felt a tiny bit like my insides were being rearranged, I gulped in air to catch my breath. I ended up breathless more than was probably normal around these alphas, but who could blame me.

“I’m not sure it’s safe having a cock this large this deep inside me,” I said with a choked laugh. “But whoa, it’s too much fun not to take the risk.”

The heavy-lidded arousal in his expression lightened as he tipped his head back and laughed, shaking me like a puppet attached to… well, an unlikely appendage.

“Ready for more fun, then?” he finally said, a twinkle in his eye and mischievous grin.

“Yes,” I said, sure I’d never been as ready for anything in my life as I was for this.

He settled his hands on my hips, moving us together in a slow rhythm. He didn’t thrust all the way in and out like before. He kept us completely connected, buried all the way to the hilt as we rocked together. With each rotation of my body, my clit was stimulated, helped along by Kellan as he slid his hand between us and stroked me as well.

Losing any grace in my movements, my hips rotated faster as I chased my release.

“That’s it, baby.” Kellan’s deliciously husky growl trailed down my spine, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Use me. Make yourself come. Fuck me as hard as you can. I’m not breakable.”

He had his own version of praise and command, and it tightened everything in my lower half as I cried out. He thrust up roughly and we came together this time, our breaths mingling in kisses and sobs and praise until we were both spent and exhausted.

Only a few hours ago Kellan and I had both been on the edge of death, mine from sharing my energy and his from magic. Which just made this moment so much more poignant. We collapsed on the bed, sated, mated, and covered in sweat. Along with joy. A purity of joy that I had been unaware was possible to achieve.

And I had no regrets.

As promised, Kellan was near insatiable, taking me every which way. We went from hard doggystyle fucking, where I held on to his headboard and he slammed into me from behind with enough force that his equally as impressive balls slapped my ass and I felt like I was getting spanked and fucked at the same time, to devouring me and edging me for an hour until I exploded with an orgasm so intense that we had to change the sheets after.

By the time he finally dozed off, wrapped around me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to walk again. Could you dehydrate from losing fluids via the vagina? Or did the overload of his release inside of me balance it out somehow. Thank the goddess I wasn’t in my fertile period any longer, because there was no way I wouldn’t be pregnant by now. Probably have a damn litter at the rate he liked to fuck.

Not that I was complaining. Nope . My good boy knew exactly what he was doing.

After a few hours nap, restless energy had me slipping out from under Kellan’s hold to head for the bathroom. My skin was a gunky, dried-out mess from our hours of sealing the mate bond, and while that should have felt gross, it didn’t bother me. I enjoyed smelling Kellan all over me, and if it wasn’t literally in my eyebrows, I wouldn’t have even showered.

When I was finished, I dried myself and threw on one of his hoodies, before kissing both his cheeks and thanking the goddess once more that she brought him back to us.

Kellan slept deeply, no magic tainting his scent now, and I almost crawled back into bed, until my stomach growled harshly, reminding me I needed to eat after hours of sharing energy and being fucked into oblivion.

I wasn’t sure yet if the energy I’d shared would return fully to my essence, but I felt fine and so did my wolf, so I figured it was regenerating. Judging from Mom and the years with her pack, it took more than one moment of sharing to make a permanent mark.

The test now was how Kellan dealt with that power, and if it corrupted him into wanting more. During sex would have been a prime opportunity to ask, or attempt to exchange, but he hadn’t even mentioned it. I expected the others would have some questions though.

Mate , my wolf howled, strong and satisfied. She wasn’t exactly present during the sex, remaining deeper in my subconscious, but she was happy with the deepening of the bond.

Of the connection that we felt in the bite we’d wear permanently now.

When I reached the first floor, I’d just turned toward the kitchen when I heard a curse and shout from the opposite side of the house. Worried it was a call for help, I changed directions and hurried toward the disturbance. When another crash rang out, I realized it was coming from the garage.

Even though I was only dressed in a hoodie, with no underwear or shoes, I didn’t hesitate to race down the stairs. At the base of the staircase the heavy door was closed, and when I pushed on it, it took a bit of extra effort to open. Not only had I shared my essence, but I’d been horribly neglecting my food intake lately, which was never good for shifters. Now that Kellan was safe, I could focus on building my muscles up again.

The door eventually opened, and I stepped into my favorite area of the house. Another clank rang out as I moved into the dark room, and with a quick—sad—glance at the bikes, I headed toward the back of the garage, where the older cars and trucks were parked.

The smooth, stone flooring was cool under my feet as I padded along. It was climate-controlled here to protect the babies, but there was no underfloor heating. When I passed Finley’s TRX, I wondered if he was home. Like the others, he had more than one car, but I hadn’t bothered to learn which were his. Okay, not totally true, but I didn’t know all of them.

The next clank and curse were louder, and I froze at the familiar deep rasp.

Shit . I backed up a step, already huffing in the faint whiff of vanilla and cherries. It was too late though, as Finley rounded the back of an old Chevy, his glare prepped and ready. “Is Kellan okay?” he asked, his gaze dragging briefly down the length of my exposed legs, before he returned his focus to my face.

I nodded, feeling stupidly tongue-tied around the bear. His reaction to my presence was unpredictable, and I wasn’t really in the mood to destroy my post-fucking-glow with sharp, mean jabs. I might have softened slightly toward him over the past few days as I watched his love for Kellan, but it wasn’t enough to erase everything that happened before .

“He’s fine,” I replied, relieved to sound somewhat normal. “I just heard banging and cursing and came to check that no one was in trouble.”

Shadows flashed in his eyes, which looked darker than usual. “And what if it had been another pack breaking in, or a threat? You’d think you’d have learned by now not to wander around alone, unless you’re trying to get another one of us almost killed to protect you.” His glare deepened, and weirdly he kind of looked concerned.

“It briefly crossed my mind,” I admitted, “but what are the odds anyone could get in here without Slade or one of you knowing? I calculated the risk and decided that it was worth it to make sure none of you were hurt.”

That momentarily stopped him, before he shook his head. “Maybe you wanted one of us to be hurt. Do you need to be forced into the claiming, Ice Queen? Can’t admit you actually want us?”

My hand shot up to rest against Kellan’s bite, and instead of following that movement, Finley’s gaze dropped to where the hoodie had lifted enough to flash my vagina to the world.

Whoops.

Releasing my shoulder, I cleared my throat. “No, I don’t want any of you to ever step between me and danger again. Almost losing Kellan is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, including my mom’s death. And not that I owe you any explanation, but the fact that I would bond with Kellan when every part of me fears the consequences should reassure you that I’m not here to hurt any of you. I never wanted to hurt you. It was pure self-preservation.”

Finley watched me in a way I wasn’t sure he ever had before, a consuming, drowning sort of stare that tightened my center. It was odd being down here without all the big industrial lighting to light up the place. Almost eerie. “What changed?” he finally asked, in a low, confused tone. “Why did you give up on putting yourself first?”

That was the easiest question to answer. “I didn’t want to live if Kellan didn’t. I guess… there was nothing more important than making sure he survived.”

The conversation was getting too heavy between me and a bear shifter I did not trust with my darkest secrets, so I searched for a distraction. Finley wore grease-smeared jeans and a red and white checkered flannel; there were a few spots of black on his cheeks too. Add in a backwards baseball cap holding his glorious hair off his face, and it was easy to forget he hated me. Or at least to wish that he didn’t. “What are you working on?” I asked, genuinely interested in this new topic. “I didn’t know you tinkered with cars.”

His expression didn’t soften. “An old Ford. I’m sure you’re not interested.”

Well, well, Grouchy Bear, you prickly bastard, you could not be more wrong.

“What year?”

The twist of his smile twisted my insides as well, for no good reason. “Why don’t you tell me? I mean, if you have a genuine interest in cars, you should have an idea.”

Oh great. It was a test. “Sure, lead the way.”

I waved my hand like I was a queen and he was my minion, but for once he didn’t call me out on my bratty, Ice Queen behavior. His boots clanked on the floor as we passed a few rows of modern trucks and American muscle cars, leading me toward a section that was clearly designed for mechanic work. I noted the hoists and walls of tools, along with a bunch of computer equipment I wasn’t familiar with. A lot of the gear in here was more modern and expensive than the old garage I’d spent years in, but the feel and scent remained timeless.

Oil, fuel, leather, metal, and cleaning fluids.

Finley led me toward a huge, faded red truck with the hood up. “Oh, shittt,” I said, rushing forward to run my hands just above the bumper. “Ford F-100, right? And the year has got to be…” There were a few years with this shape, so I took a guess. “1956?”

There was no response, and when I turned to meet Finley’s gaze, he stared at me like he’d never seen me before. “Fifty-four,” he murmured. “How in the fuck…?”

It felt nice to surprise him, and not in the way I usually did. “Does it have the 317 in it?”

He nodded slowly, eyes wider than usual as he fiddled with his hat. “Yep, the 317, and she’s giving me some grief. I’ve been trying to keep her original, but the parts aren’t the easiest to come by.”

Unable to help myself, I stepped closer, peering into the engine bay. “I’m here to help if you ever need anything. I’m no expert, but I know my way around basic tools, and can assist.”

The moment the offer left my mouth, I regretted it. Had I lost my mind along with my omega energy when I bonded to Kellan? This was Finley, and he hated me.

I’d hazard a guess that he enjoyed fixing cars in a similar way to how he enjoyed hockey. A cathartic release from his darker thoughts and memories. I recognized the signs because I’d had them myself, though mine came from baking, riding my bike, and sneaking audio books when I could afford them.

No doubt my presence in his space would have the opposite effect of the escape he’d been searching for.

Before he could reply with his usual mean rejection, I spluttered, “Sorry. That was stupid of me. Good luck with the engine.”

I spun on my bare foot and raced back through the cars and up the stairs.