My Mate (The Alpha Shifter Collection #23)

Chapter Six

Six months moved into seven months, and seven months moved into eight. By the ninth month, Dex no longer went for a run. When he did so, it was when Casey was busy, but he joined her at her special patch in the forest. He carried the blanket, along with a small picnic basket.

Casey tried to pretend it didn’t bother her, but he knew differently. With every month that passed, she became even more despondent. It was why he began to spend as much time with her as possible. He didn’t want her to feel alone, which is what he knew happened.

Her parents were worried. Everyone was worried, even his own parents.

When they were together, he was able to take her fear away.

“It’s cold,” Casey said.

They were heading into December. Their parents had already put up the Christmas decorations.

“Which is why I bought you not one but three blankets.”

Casey laughed. “Three. Do you think that is going to be enough?” she asked.

“With the warmth of my body, it is going to be more than enough. I also have a sweater for you.”

He stopped at their spot and reached into his rucksack that he’d brought along with him. “There, it is going to make you feel very nice and very warm.”

Sliding one of his sweaters over her head, it completely swamped her, as it was so large.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I think you should wear my clothes more often. You make them look sexy.”

“I don’t think that is possible. There is no way I make these look sexier than you.”

He laughed. “Now, Miss Scott, I might start thinking you’re trying to seduce me.”

She gasped. “What if I might be?”

“Well, then I would have to say it is going to be an amazing night.” They hadn’t had sex yet. There were a lot of make-out sessions. He had stayed at her place, and she had stayed at his place.

Her parents were happy with her, even her father was happy with him. Dex had already proven himself to her father by taking care of her. He had respect for him, because he’d been more than willing to stand up for her. When it came to Casey, she was his top priority.

“You promise?” Casey asked, running a hand down his body.

He stared at her, and he didn’t know why, but he felt a change within her. “Yes.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “First, I get to feed you and warm you up.”

“You’re the perfect mate. Always thinking of everything.” She sat down as he rolled out the blanket.

Dex joined her and reached back into his rucksack for the thermos of hot soup his mother had prepared for him.

“I always come prepared.”

She laughed.

He poured them both some tomato soup and handed her a mug of the hot liquid.

“That is good,” Casey said. “That is really good. Your mom is an amazing cook.”

“According to my dad, she wasn’t always a great cook, but that has come with time,” Dex said.

He handed his mug of soup to Casey and reached for a blanket, wrapping it around her before taking his soup back.

“You don’t have to panic. I won’t steal your soup.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Dex said, teasing her.

“It’s a lovely night,” Casey said.

He was not going to ask her if she felt any change or a difference. He knew the answer was going to be no. She never felt any differences, and the last time he asked her, she’d gotten so upset.

“It’s always a lovely night.”

She released a breath, and a puff of smoke filled the air. “And cold.”

With one hand holding the soup, he wrapped his other arm around her. “And now I will warm you up.”

For several seconds, there was no need to talk. It felt good. He felt free while also connected with Casey.

“Dex, what do you think the future is going to be like?” she asked.

“You mean with floating cars and stuff?”

She chuckled. “No, I mean with us.”

“One day, we’re going to be mated and married. Then we’ll move into a house together, have a couple of kids. I’m thinking ten.”

Casey snorted. “A couple is not ten kids!”

“Come on, don’t you want to have a big family?”

“Yeah, I do. Do you wish you had a brother or sister, or both?” Casey asked.

“I guess, but it is not going to happen.”

“How come?”

Dex sighed. He wondered if he should tell her about the price his father had paid. No one else knew. Casey was his mate, and she needed to know there was going to be a price for anything she asked of Lucinda. He still understood the witch’s vague warning, and he didn’t like it.

He told her everything his father had told him, not leaving anything out.

“Wow,” Casey said, by the time he was finished.

“Yeah, wow.”

“Your parents, I can’t believe they did that for the love of the pack, for everyone.”

“No one knows,” Dex said. “They felt they were lucky they got me. I could have been the price they had to pay.”

“I see what you mean, but wow. It makes you wonder why anyone ever does any kind of magic.”

She laughed.

“You’re not tempted?” he asked.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a slight bit of temptation. Yeah, I’m tempted, especially on nights like this. I mean, think about it, Dex. Fifty, sixty, a hundred years, and we might not ever get the chance to run again.”

Dex reached out and cupped her cheek. “Stop it,” he said. “Even if we don’t get a chance to run together as wolves I’d run side by side with you as a human, every single day.”

Casey smiled. “You would?”

“Yeah, but I’m thinking I need to make some terms and conditions.”

This made her laugh. “What kind of terms?”

“No matter what, you have to be completely naked when we do this.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Yeah, and afterward, I get to make love to you, no matter what,” he said. “What do you think?”

“I think I like these terms and conditions. Deal.”

She held her hand out, which he took, but he also pulled her in close and took possession of her lips. He loved her lips, and he’d also come to realize he loved kissing her, and he didn’t want to ever stop.

She moaned his name, and he swallowed it down.

Casey broke the kiss first, and he watched as she put her mug of soup to the side, and then took his from out of his hand.

“Why don’t we start that tradition today?” she asked, grabbing the edge of his sweater and pulling it up over her head and tossing it to the side.

“It’s freezing.”

“I don’t care. I just know I’d love to run with you. To be with you.” She stopped trying to undress herself and cupped his face. “We’re together. We’re going to be mates. I don’t see a reason for us to fight it anymore.”

She kissed him hard and then pulled away, getting to her feet. He watched as he removed her clothes with speed, and then she stood before him completely naked. He’d not seen her like this before. Her full tits looked heavy, with tight, hard nipples pointing out. He wanted her. His cock sprang into action, the fullness pressing against the front of his jeans.

“Come on, Dex, why don’t you catch me?” she said, and with that she took off.

Dex got to his feet, and he didn’t quite know how he removed his clothes, only that within seconds they were on the floor, and he was completely naked and ready to chase.

****

Casey spent a lot of time crying.

Dex wasn’t always aware of how much time she spent sobbing. Her parents had an idea, but she also tried to hide it from them. There were moments, both morning and night, that she accepted what had happened. She was not going to be a wolf, and she just got on with her life. Then, she’d be with Dex and it would suddenly hit her, especially when they saw other wolves together, other mates. There was going to be a lot of things she couldn’t do for him, and that sucked. She wanted to be his everything, just as he was her everything.

Pushing that bullshit negativity aside, she focused on the now, and sensing Dex starting his chase, she ran through the forest. Part of her was a little angry at herself for even suggesting this, as it was freaking December. She was freezing cold, and the ground beneath her feet wasn’t exactly soft and warm from the summer’s sun. No, it was cold, hard, almost punishing as she ran.

Casey heard Dex start to gain on her, and what surprised her was the flood of excitement that rushed through her at the thought of him catching her. It felt amazing and freeing to be out in the forest, running, feeling Dex close by.

Could this mean her wolf was close?

She ignored it and instead just relished the moment. Each second felt even better than the last.

Casey ran between each tree, jumping over a fallen one, and then as she was about to make a run for the clearing that would take her right back to where they started, Dex caught her. He wrapped his arms around her and cushioned her fall as he took her to the ground.

He’d also gotten naked.

The way they fell, his cock was pressed right against her core, and she let out a little moan. Staring up at him, she didn’t feel fear, just anticipation, as it took her a second to gain back her breath.

“You got me,” she said.

“When are you going to realize that it doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, I am always going to catch you?”

She gasped as he suddenly took possession of her lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she couldn’t resist holding onto his body, as she circled her hips around his waist, holding onto him, not wanting to let him go.

“Casey, when we do this, there is no turning back. You will be my mate in everything.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “Good.” She pulled him down. “Now kiss me.”

She was more than ready.

Dex growled, and this time his kiss was almost bruising, but it didn’t hurt. It felt good.

His hands started at either side of her head, but then he broke the kiss, lifting up.

“What are you doing?” she asked, wanting him as close as possible.

“I’m going to make sure you enjoy this.” And with that, he kissed her neck.

Casey didn’t know what he intended to do, but then his lips started to trail down her neck, sucking at her pulse, before stroking down. She moaned his name as he pushed her tits together, and she didn’t even need to ask, as he took each nipple in turn.

They were both virgins, but she knew what she wanted, knew what she wanted from him. This was not a guessing game, just natural.

Dex licked and sucked at each nipple, before moving down her body. She cried out as he spread her thighs open. He didn’t tease her or make her wait but slid his tongue between her slit. She moaned his name as he took her clit between his teeth, using just the right amount of pressure to make it almost too good and yet, on that knife edge of pain. It felt amazing.

Casey felt herself drawing closer toward orgasm, only to stop, and then Dex teased her some more. She didn’t know how much more she would be able to take, when he finally pushed her over that edge, and she screamed his name. She just couldn’t help it. It felt so good, so amazing, and she didn’t want it to stop.

“Please,” she said, begging him, not ashamed to be that close.

“Come for me, baby,” he said.

She came hard and fast, like her body belonged to his. She was at his command, and she would do everything he said.

Her orgasm felt amazing, so perfect, and before she had even finished, Dex moved up between her spread thighs. He kissed her hard, and she tasted herself on his lips and didn’t care.

He stared into her eyes, and she felt the tip of his cock slide between her slit, moving down, going toward her entrance. The moment he thrust hard and deep within her, she cried out. The pain was fleeting, and Dex stopped, even before he’d filled her.

“Shit, fuck, are you okay?”

Casey hadn’t even realized that she’d screamed. “Yeah.”

“I hurt you.”

“No, the pain is gone. It was there and then it left. I’m fine.” She reached for his ass, because she didn’t want this to end. “Make love to me, Dex.”

He reached for her hands and locked their fingers together, pressing them either side of her head, keeping her in place.

“There is only so much control I have,” he said.

This made her smile. “Was I driving you a little crazy?”

“Just a little,” he said, and then he took possession of her lips and she felt him begin to rock inside her.

Inch by inch, slowly at first. She needed more. Thrusting her pelvis up to meet his, she growled, and he chuckled.

“All in good time.”

And then she realized why.

He was a virgin.

She was a virgin.

This was their first time together.

Dex let go of her hands and cupped her face. “I want to take it slow.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him at that moment that she loved him, but she didn’t. She looked into his eyes, seeing the glimmer of his wolf shining back at her, and she knew. She loved him more than anything else in the world, and she had loved him for a very long time. Longer than she thought possible. She had started to love him since the moment they had first met, and those feelings had only gotten stronger.

There was no need for words.

She didn’t thrust up or try to take over. She was with him every step of the way.

Nothing was ever going to come between them. Nothing.