Chapter 12
Slade put the dice on the table and pulled Sheri into his arms, ready to ask her the question that if she agreed to it would change their lives forever. “I want to mate you. Now. I don’t want to hold off any longer. If your dad hadn’t insisted that I wait, I would have asked you a lot sooner. I’ve always had so much fun with you that I knew we had what it took to be mated wolves. But he had his heart in the right place.”
“I thought you preferred being a bachelor male wolf for longer. But I had planned to ask you to mate me when you returned from this trip with Hans. I’d even wanted to mate you last night when we were making love.”
Slade kissed her. “Hell, I was going to do the same with you for that dinner following this trip, and I felt the same about making love all the way last night. So I don’t want to wait, do you?”
“No way.”
“Do you want me to ask your dad for permission?” Slade would do anything to make it right between Sheri and her father.
“Absolutely not.” She glanced down at her properties on the Monopoly board, and she smiled. “I won. Let’s go to bed.”
He laughed. “I think I won.”
She glanced back at the board.
“By getting you for my mate.” Slade lifted her into his arms. “You make me a winner.”
She rested her head next to his chest. “We both won.”
After climbing the stairs to the bedroom, he set her down and they began to kiss each other again. “I’m so glad we’re doing this,” Slade said, loving her like he had never loved a she-wolf before. “I love you. I love how you are so flexible about cancellations, and even though I know you’ve been disappointed a couple of times because you really wanted to spend the time with me, you’ve always been so supportive. Not all she-wolves would be. You always care about others’ feelings. You enjoy playing with the kids and cuddling the newborns. I love watching you with them. No matter who needs help, you’re there to offer it, even if you’re busy with something else. You make everything more special, and all I can think of is when we’ll be able to get together again the next time and the next, and the next. I have to say that when you said you would go with me on the camping trip because no one else could, I was thrilled. I was pumping my fist in the air, and unless you hadn’t been ready for this, I really was hoping it would come to this on the trip.”
She wrapped her arms around his body and crushed him in a hot embrace. “I love you, Slade. I love your generosity, your protectiveness, your helpfulness, your kindness. You’re strong, but sensitive too. And man, most of all I love how sexy you are and fun to be with. When you make a decision, you do it. Though I was feeling the same way about you.”
They were actually going to do this, and Slade was over the moon.
***
Slade cupped Sheri’s face and began to kiss her slowly, luxuriously, hotly. He was so hot and sexy whether he was bundled up in wool socks and a sweater, cargo pants, and long johns, or naked, bearing all those beautiful hard-earned muscles. He knew just how to use them to make her feel like she was the only one for him.
Wanting to feel his silky skin against hers, she pulled his red sweater over his head, mussing up his dark hair that always looked like he’d been making love to her all day and night. She kissed his chin, but before she could start removing his cargo pants, he lifted her so that she could wrap her legs around his and pressed her against the bed, his body captured between her thighs, claiming each other in a seductive wolf shifter’s way. She kept him snug against her body, making her hot with desire.
She kissed his sensual mouth, and he kissed her back with even more passion, pressing for an opening, licking the seam, taking charge. She loved it when he did and started to explore his mouth, probing, tasting, enjoying the moment, knowing that this time they made love, it would make them mated wolves forever. She felt heady with the idea, a partner in everything, yet an individual able to make her own decision. She was thrilled to be able to do both.
She stroked his tongue with hers, teasing and touching and tantalizing him. Their hearts were pounding, their pheromones zipping around them, shouting to the world they were the ones for each other, and to go for it.
He nuzzled her cheek with his, stubble grazing against her soft skin. She loved feeling it like the brush of his wolf face when he nuzzled hers. Then he was gently rubbing her throat with his mouth, kissing here there. He began to pull up her sweater. Like him, she was wearing a thermal shirt underneath it, though hers was pine green and his was black. He slipped off her sweater and ran his hands up underneath her thermal shirt, then began peeling it off too. She started to work on his, and they alternately tugged them off each other.
Then he pulled down her red-and-white polka dot bra to release her breasts and pushed them together, molding his large hands over them and kissing each reverently. She ran her hands through his tousled hair, loving the silky feel of it.
He took her other nipple in his mouth and tugged gently on it with his teeth. Sheri moaned as the sensual feeling washed over her and she was lost to his touch. So intense, so perfect, so sexy. Then he was tonguing her other nipple, the sensitive tip begging for more.
He slipped his hands behind her back and struggled to unfasten her bra. She was going to do it herself, but he wasn’t letting her. It was his task, his fun to strip her naked, just like she wanted to do with him.
Then she felt her bra release, felt the band loosen, felt relief, and he smiled, looking perfectly satisfied to have completed that part of his mission. He pulled the straps off her shoulders and tossed the bra aside. She had gotten it for herself for Christmas and was glad she had worn it for this special occasion. He moved off her and lifted her foot to remove one sock and then the other, caressing her feet with a gentle massage. Then she tugged his socks off, massaging his in kind.
He looked at her for a moment and smiled. He had such a wolfish predatory gaze—like he had caught his prey and she was all his now. She arched a brow and started tugging off his cargo pants, admiring his beautiful bare chest. She leaned down and kissed his chest. He pressed kisses on top of her head.
Then he finished removing her pants and kissed her breasts at the same time. She tilted her head up, licked one of his nipples, then the other, and they peaked to perfection. She loved how easily she could arouse him. Even now his erection was pressing for release in his boxer briefs, and she reached down and cupped him, rubbing her thumb over his arousal, making it jump eagerly to her touch.
They rubbed their bodies against each other, the friction escalating the desire to mate. His hands were on her shoulders, massaging; hers were on his back, caressing. She slid her hands down his boxer briefs in back and squeezed his buttocks. She loved how firm they were. He slipped his hands down her bikini panties that matched her bra and squeezed her cheeks.
“You feel so good,” he said.
“Oh, I love how hard you are.” She squeezed his butt again.
He smiled. “And you’re perfect.”
They nearly bumped heads pulling each other’s underwear off and then they were on the bed, him between her legs again, only they were totally naked now.
She kissed his mouth, their kisses lingering, soul-searching as they rubbed their bodies together, increasing the friction, the intimacy, making the connection. The physical affection between them was the most wondrous experience. Then he was stroking her between her thighs, and it was amazing. She didn’t know why she hadn’t told him months ago he was hers whether he was ready for it or not. He made her feel loved and so special.
But right now, he was caressing her sweet spot and sending her to the moon. She arched against his finger, begging for climax. And then she was coming in a big way and cried out his name with such fervor that he smiled.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
It was important for wolves to make sure that this final commitment between them was what they truly wanted because for them, it was a lifetime pledge.
“Oh yeah, I sure am. I have been for a long time.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He pushed his erection into her, and she felt like he was right where he belonged. Just like she was. He felt incredible. She felt incredible. He thrust into her deeper, and this was it. She loved him more than anything in the world. His thrusts were more frantic now as he tasted her full, soft mouth, and she tongued his. He skimmed hot kisses over her collarbone, slowing his pace, and then he began deepening his thrusts, racing for climax, and came in a guttural growl.
She howled for the moon. He followed suit, howling along with her. They were mated wolves and she couldn’t have been happier.
They showered and ended up making love again there. They couldn’t help themselves now that they were mated.
“We’ll have to tell the others that we mated,” Sheri said, kissing his wet chest as he turned off the shower.
“Yeah, absolutely. Though I suspect they’ll guess what we’ve been up to while we’ve stayed here alone.” He handed her a towel and then grabbed one for himself.
“You’re probably right. I’m glad we didn’t wait any longer,” Sheri said.
“Me too. We make a great team in the kitchen, for one thing.”
“Rescue missions?”
He dried her off and she dried him too. “We do a superb job.”
He took their towels and hung them up, but before she could walk back into the bedroom, he grabbed her up and carried her in there and set her on the bed, then joined her.
“Relaxing and having fun?” She cuddled with him on the bed.
“Yeah. I look forward to enjoying doing things with you once we have our own home too. We can run when we want when we’re off from work, unlike while we are living at our apartments and have to drive over to the lake to run with the others. Speaking of the apartments…” he said.
“Well, I’m not living alone any longer.” Sheri squeezed his hand. “So I don’t care where we’re going to be, but I want us to be together.”
“Yeah, same here. I’m thinking we’ll give notice on one of them and move in together. It’ll take about nine months to build our new home. I’m fine with staying at either place. It’s your choice, but you have a few more pieces of your own furniture at your place—and the room for them. My place is smaller, so it would probably be better to stay at your apartment.”
Sheri tucked a blond curl behind her ear. “That’s what I was thinking, but I didn’t want you to feel you had to give up your place.”
“Nope, I’m happy with that. Your place is definitely homier until we can have our home built.”
“Okay. That sounds good.”
“As soon as we get home, I’ll give notice.”
“All right, and we can start moving your things over right away.”
“Absolutely.”
Sheri said, “Are you ready to tell our families we mated? Then the rest of our pack?”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t have done anything differently, but I hope your dad isn’t angry with me.”
Sheri kissed Slade on his nose. “He won’t be.”
They called her parents first at Slade’s insistence. He was so sweet. He really was afraid her father would give him a hard time about mating her without his approval.
“Hey, Dad, can you call Mom to the phone too?” Sheri asked.
“Yes, I’ll get her. Georgia! Sheri’s on the phone.”
“What’s wrong?” Georgia asked, sounding out of breath. “You’re not having any other problems with more storms, are you?”
“Nope. We have some solutions. We’re combining households,” Sheri said.
Slade smiled at her.
“So…you’re moving in together?” her father asked, sounding astounded. “For a trial period?”
“It better not be. We need to talk to you about building a house for us.”
“A…”
“We’re mated, Dad, Mom,” Sheri said.
“Oh, that’s terrific. We wondered when you would get around to it, and we thought this cabin retreat might be the time for it,” her mom said.
“You told Slade to hold off on a mating, Dad?” Sheri asked.
“Uh, yeah. After the business with Bentley—”
“Slade isn’t anything like Bentley.”
“Yeah, I realized that as the weeks went on. I shouldn’t have told Slade that. It wasn’t my place.” Her dad sounded regretful.
“I appreciate that you talked to him from the heart, worried I might be pushed into a mating I wouldn’t be ready for, but Slade is a dream, not anything like my former boyfriend. Anyway, we’re so happy we mated, and we can’t wait to celebrate it with the family and friends.”
“Oh, honey, we’re so glad that the two of you love each other. I didn’t know Fred had said anything to Slade or I would have had a little talk with him,” Georgia said.
“Man, am I in the doghouse, and for a wolf, that’s pretty bad,” Fred said.
They all laughed.
“We love you, Dad,” Sheri said.
“Yeah, I’m glad you talked to me,” Slade said, “but we know that this is the best place for us.”
“Find the home design you want, get your land, and we’ll get it built,” her dad said.
“What about the wedding?” Georgia asked.
“Oh, we’ll plan all of that. We want to go on our mating honeymoon at the ski resort in Silver Town once we’ve had Christmas with the family here,” Sheri said. “But then we’ll go on another one after the wedding.”
“We could have the wedding there on the lake,” Slade said.
They talked more about that, and Fred said he would talk to them more about the house plans as soon as they were done with this trip so he could get started on building once they had their permits and the land sorted out.
Sheri’s parents congratulated them for mating, and they finally ended the call so Sheri and Slade could call his parents next.
“Hey, Mom, can you get Dad on the phone?” Slade asked.
“No more trouble in the woods, right?” Henry asked.
“No, it’s all good. We got mated,” Slade said.
Henry and Lolita whooped and hollered. “Have you told Amelia yet?” Henry asked.
“Not yet. We’re telling our parents, then our brother and sister,” Slade said.
“Well, we’re so proud of both of you and are excited about having another daughter in the family,” Lolita said.
“Well, I’m thrilled to be part of your family too,” Sheri said.
“We figured when Slade wanted to have us all together at Sheri’s house for Christmas Eve dinner, this was where this was headed. Well, even before that. Once Sheri took Hans’s place to be with you, Slade, we couldn’t imagine you being with her all that time and not ending up mating,” Lolita said.
“Yeah, I felt the same way,” Henry said. “We’re so happy for you both.”
“Her dad is going to build the house for us on the lake as soon as we buy the property,” Slade said.
“Good. If there’s anything you need us to do, just ask. We’ll be there for you,” Henry said.
Sheri was thrilled his parents were as happy they were together as her parents were. After that, they called up Amelia, who was with her mate, Gavin, and shared the good news. They were ecstatic and they were excited about helping plan the wedding and the house too.
Last, they called Sheri’s brother and let him in on the news.
Hans just laughed. “I couldn’t have gotten sick with the flu at a better time.”
Slade and Sheri laughed. “Yeah, Bro, I wouldn’t have wished it on you, but I’m glad it worked out for Sheri and me.”
“I’m so glad you ended up with Slade, Sheri. Sorry I was pushing you to mate Bentley. I was wrong and I have no excuse for it,” Hans said.
“It’s okay. Living in Yellowknife with the old pack made us all a little dysfunctional.”
“For sure. I’ll help you with the house too. I’m so glad for the both of you and I’m glad you ignored me about mating Bentley, Sheri. About me staying with you at the end of the week—”
“We want you to come,” Sheri said. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m feeling much better. I really want to stay with you, but with you being newly mated, this is like a honeymoon for you,” Hans said.
“No, you planned to be here all along, and we plan to take a ski trip for our mated honeymoon.”
“Okay, I’ll be there Friday. And congratulations again.”
“Thanks,” Sheri and Slade said.
Then they called Cameron and Faith so they could tell the rest of the pack that they were mated.
“What about your living arrangements?” Faith asked.
“We’re moving my stuff to Sheri’s apartment,” Slade said.
“We’ll help and have a pizza party afterward at the office?” Faith asked.
“Yeah, that would be fun,” Sheri said.
“We want to buy the property next to your cabin, if that works for you,” Slade said.
“Yes, that’s why we bought all that land for more of our pack members to enjoy living on it. We’ll go over the lot boundaries when you return home, and I imagine Sheri’s dad will build your home for you?”
“Absolutely. He does beautiful work.”
“Yeah, he does, and we love that we have a wolf in the pack who can build our wolves homes that are so nice. When you both return home, we’ll go over it with you and get the deed to the property in your name.”
“Thanks, Cameron and Faith. We can’t wait to get started,” Slade said.
After they finished the call, it wasn’t long before Candice called. “I’m so glad you mated each other. Congrats! Are you sure you want Owen and me to join you at the cabin at the end of your stay?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Sheri said, not wanting to renege on the arrangement. Besides it would be fun having them there because they were another couple, and Sheri and Slade were now too. Even though Hans would be the odd man out, she wanted him there to enjoy what he should have before she took his place.
“Okay, but if you change your mind, just let us know.”
“We won’t. We have plenty of room and we’ll have a great time. Hans is joining us too. He says he’s feeling much better now,” Sheri said.
Once they ended the call, she said, “Are you ready to go on a mated wolf run?”
“You bet.”
She shifted and raced down the stairs and he got the door. Then he went outside with her, closed the door, and shifted. Then they leaped into the snow and ran off. Once they were far enough from the cabin, they left the trail and played with each other, nipping and biting, frolicking in the snow in the woods. They startled a fox, and it skittered off in a hurry.
They howled at the same time as if their mating had made them one. As soon as they did, other wolves off in the distance howled. She loved hearing wolves howl whether they were their own kind or wild wolves.
Sheri licked Slade’s face and he nipped her back. They were mated, taking their mated run. They couldn’t have had more fun running as wolves than this!
She loved him as they pounced on each other, then ran off and chased one another, nipping at each other’s tails. He showed her just how much he loved her back. Best of all, they were going to be sharing a home together and making lots more good memories as a mated couple.
They woofed and they chased each other back to the cabin, having a ball.
It was time to return and make s’mores. As soon as they arrived at the cabin, they dressed warmly and he brought out the ingredients while she gathered blankets. Then he started the fire in the firepit. They were soon sitting next to each other on a bench, bundled up in the cold, and roasting their marshmallows.
“We need to roast hot dogs too,” Sheri said.
“Yeah, I saw Hans had bought hot dogs and buns. Besides having some of the fish while Hans, Candice, and Owen are here, we can roast hot dogs and s’mores.”
“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” Sheri’s marshmallow got a little too close to the fire and started flaming. She hurried to blow out the fire.
He laughed, until the same thing happened to him. Then it was her turn to laugh.
Once they’d made their first s’mores treat, they ate it and smiled at the marshmallow and chocolate remaining on their mouths. They took care of that in a hurry, not with napkins, but licking each other’s lips and cleaning them off. Then they were ready to make their next s’more. What made it even more special was that the northern lights began to sweep across the dark sky.
“Oh, this is beautiful. This couldn’t have been more fun, having s’mores and a gorgeous colorful display across the sky as if we had a symphony of lights choreographed just for us,” Sheri said.
“I agree. It’s the perfect ending to a beautiful day.”
“The rest of the night is still to come.”
He smiled at her. “Absolutely.”
Once they were done with their s’mores, he pulled her onto his lap, and they just enjoyed cuddling in front of the fire and continued to watch the light display. Finally, when they were both ready to go in and warm up, they put out the fire and went inside and locked up. Then they pulled off their gloves, hats, parkas, snow pants, and boots. He chased her up the stairs to the bedroom. By the time she reached the landing, he lifted her into his arms and took her to the bed.
“Time for the final activity tonight,” he said, and sat her on the bed, then began removing her clothes.
She was so glad they were mated and going all the way from now on, no more holding back. She couldn’t wait to make love to her wolf mate again.
“Merry Christmas, early, my beautiful wolf,” he said.
“Merry Christmas, my sexy wolf,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me either.”