Chapter 23
Toby
“It’s our last night here,” I said. “Are you sure you’re ready to go back?”
Liza laughed. “We have to, don’t we?”
We’d been on vacation for a week. But the day after tomorrow, Liza started her first shift on the maternity ward with the new doctor.
Dr. Abby had gotten so angry when she was put on probation and told to take a sexual harassment course that she’d quit on the spot.
We’d come to Gatlinburg and had spent a few days alone before my parents and cousin Wes had joined us. They were staying on another week when we went back home.
It had been wonderful. My mother and Liza got along so well, and she thought my dad was a hoot. Now we were going out to a nice dinner, then back home for our last night in the mountains.
It was idyllic here. So peaceful, and the mountain air smelled like… I didn’t even know what. Clean. It was a bit muggy, but it only seemed to bother Liza. The rest of us, as dragons, didn’t really feel heat.
We met my parents at the restaurant, and we’d been sitting down about two minutes when my mother blurted out, “So, what do you two think about children?”
Oh, damn. I’d been in the middle of a long drink of iced tea.
“Children?” Liza squeaked as I sputtered. We hadn’t even discussed them.
I glared at my mother, then turned to Liza. “Don’t answer her. She’s too nosy for her own good.”
“Well, it’s okay. I’ve always wanted children.
” Damn. This woman was perfect for me, truly.
I wanted to leave the number of children I had open-ended.
And we’d never even talked about it but came to the same conclusion.
“I’m not totally sure how many,” she continued.
“I guess it depends on what my life is like, but I’m not set on any certain number.
” It seemed likely I’d be having me with Liza.
I couldn’t see myself leaving her under any circumstances.
My mother clasped her hands together. “Oh, I hope you have many.”
When I glanced at Dad, he looked gruff, but pleased, all the same.
I didn’t say any more, but I couldn’t stop staring at Liza.
“What do you do for a living, Wes?” Liza asked.
He cleared his throat. “I do renovations and construction.”
“Oh, how nice. You know, my friend Livvie is about to need someone. She’s renovating. You’ll have to talk to her. Would you travel for your job?” She beamed at him.
He studied her face, and must’ve found her sincere, because he nodded. “I suppose I would. And I liked Bluewater.”
“That settles it,” she said as the server started setting plates in front of us. “I’ll get you her email.”
After dinner, when we parted ways and headed back to our cabins, I opened Liza’s door and scooped her into my arms, carrying her over the threshold, through the cabin and into the bedroom. “We should get started on practicing for all those babies,” I whispered.
She giggled as I set her on the floor and drew her farther into the bedroom then held both of her hands, looking down into her face. “Thank you. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me.”
She smiled, and no word of a lie, it was like looking into the face of an angel or some romantic shit like that. She’d worked magic on me, weaving her spell all around me until I felt nothing but lucky to be hers. She was mine, and she’d proved that to me in front of my family.
She was mine.
I could hardly believe it.
I laughed. I finally knew what being a lucky bastard felt like.
Liza laughed too. Then she stopped and a small crease formed between her eyebrows. “Wait. What are we laughing for?”
“Happiness.” I laughed again.
“Happiness?”
“Yes.” I picked her up and whirled her around before I deposited us both on the bed and cradled her face between my palms. “You make me happy.”
“I’m glad.” Her smile widened, and I traced her lower lip with the pad of my thumb.
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
She might have nodded. She might even have been about to say something, but my mouth was on hers before she could do anything at all, and her lips were pliant and soft beneath mine.
Welcoming.
But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I touched her lips with my tongue, and she parted them immediately, allowing me all the access I wanted. The inside of her mouth was soft and warm, and my cock twitched as I pushed my tongue forward with soft thrusts, taking her, possessing her.
I wanted her. Fuck, how I wanted her.
I tugged at the hem of her sweater, impatience guiding me more than finesse. When I couldn’t move it high enough, I gave up and smoothed my palms over her stomach and ribs until my fingertips pressed against the swell of her breasts and the fabric of her bra.
I groaned. “You’re overdressed,” I murmured.
“Maybe we both are.”
I nodded my head, conceding her point. “Maybe so.” I rolled away and whipped my T-shirt over my head then flicked open the button on my pants and zipper before pushing them down and all but shimmying out of them.
She lifted herself on her elbows and laughed. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t get close enough to you with all of these clothes on.” It was like a raw need. I wanted access to her skin, I wanted her to touch mine.
I kicked my socks off, and rolled back toward her, keeping my underwear on for now.
She played her fingers in my hair. “I love you,” she murmured. “Such a beautiful face.”
“I think that’s my line.” I nuzzled her neck, the scent of her intoxicating.
Her blood thrummed beneath her skin, her elevated pulse pushing it through her blood vessels.
I breathed deeply, my need to claim her beating like a second heart inside me.
“Your clothes need to go.” I tugged her sweater again. “Please.”
Her laugh was low. Knowing. “Well, seeing as you asked so nicely…”
I would have begged her again. Used all my manners.
As soon as she lifted her top, I put my hands back on her skin.
Then I bent and put my lips on her too. She arched toward me; the sideways movement sinuous.
I kissed over her ribs and up the cup of her bra, locating her right nipple as it hardened beneath the silky fabric.
For a moment, I just rubbed my cheek over it.
Then I pressed my tongue to her nipple, and she moaned before moving her hands behind her back.
The bra loosened, and I slipped my hands beneath it, holding her breasts in my palms. She rocked her hips, and I unfastened her pants before removing them and leaving only a scrap of lace behind.
Barely enough to cover her, but enough to drive me wild.
My pulse ratcheted another level and a grumble rolled through my chest.
“I want you, Liza,” I told her. I needed there to be no mistake. Tonight, she would be mine.
“I want you, too.” Her voice was strained, breathy.
“Mine, forever?” I waited while she answered, but I didn’t need to wait long.
“Forever,” she replied, and I bent to take her nipple into my mouth, toying gently with it with my tongue.
Her breaths cam in staccato bursts and her hips moved again like she was seeking something, like there wasn’t enough friction. Her legs parted and I stroked my fingers along the damp fabric of her panties.
“Wet for me.” I breathed the words against her ear as I found my own friction against her thigh.
“Always. Hard for me?”
I groaned. “Fuck. Always.”
Her hand fumbled between us, and she took hold of my cock, wrapping her hands around the length of me before she pushed at the waistband. I eased my underwear down, and my cock bobbed heavily against my stomach. She touched me again and I pushed into her hand.
“I want to be inside you.” Inside her, over her, claiming her.
I wanted this woman. Mine. Forever.
“Yes, Toby.” She moved her hips toward me, and I slipped her panties aside to stroke from her entrance to her clit, and she gasped.
“Fuck, Liza. So, so wet.” And it was all for me. “I can’t wait.” I shook my head.
“Don’t wait,” she whispered. “Don’t wait. I want you.”
I hesitated and she turned my face toward her, her palm on my cheek.
“Don’t wait.”
I stroked her again and she whimpered as I rolled her clit under my fingertip.
“You drive me crazy. I didn’t know.” She stopped talking and bit her lip and she arched her back, lifting her hips so I could draw off her panties.
I moved over her, positioning myself between her thighs. Her breasts pressed against my chest, and her skin was cool because I was warm. Hot. My excitement ran hot, and I nuzzled her neck again as I shifted my hips forward, making space for myself between her thighs.
She turned her head and pressed kisses to my cheek until I met her lips and kissed her slowly. Infinite care like I had all the time in the world as my tongue slid against hers and I lapped at her soft skin, gently dipping inside her mouth, breathing her into my body.
She gasped as my cock nudged at her entrance, and I held still, savoring the moment before I entered her. She’d stretch for me, accommodating me, like she’d been made for me because we fit.
Because we were mates.
I pushed slowly inside her, and she pressed back, taking more of me than I expected, allowing me to slide inside like I was sliding home. I exhaled a shaky breath, and she drew one in as she moved, urging me to set a rhythm.
My pace started steady but grew faster as I changed my angle, moving my cock over her where she needed it most. She gasped at my every movement until I could barely tell if she was breathing out at all. It was just a constant series of inhales.
She grew closer to the point of no return and I pressed my face back against her neck. “Ready?” I whispered.
“Yes, Toby. Oh, God, yes.” She gripped my shoulders and her heels dug into my ass as she lay completely at my mercy.
As her body tightened around me, I claimed her, biting the soft skin of her neck and she cried out at the sensations I drew through her as she pulsed, squeezing my cock in an erratic rhythm.
Ecstasy. I was whole now. Complete.
As my mouth clamped onto her neck, I came, and I could barely ride it out without shouting my pleasure against her.
I’d claimed my mate.
I licked her neck, soothing the bite I’d made there, knowing I’d marked her as mine, and she’d never belong to anyone else now.
I was still hard inside her, still ready and able to pleasure her, and I started again with gentle kisses even as her eyes fluttered closed for a moment and she smiled sleepily.
“Insatiable,” she murmured.
“Only for you.” I nibbled her lip.
The night was young.