Chapter 19
***RYAN***
It was getting harder and harder to think the lower Paula’s hands sank and when she started tugging on his belt, he knew that he wasn’t far from the point of no return.
His body was throbbing with need, his dragon was demanding that he claim his mate in the most ancient of ways, and he knew he couldn’t fight the urges much longer.
But the voice of caution in his head was still talking to him, and he didn’t want to screw up by going too fast. There were things Paula didn’t know.
When she slid his belt free and threw it to the floor, he took a step back.
“Paula, we should really talk, I didn’t think…
” he tried, but the look in her eyes was making it difficult to form words.
“This bond thing isn’t something to mess with, and if we take this next step, there won’t be any going back. ”
She stepped back from him, and a wave of disappointment washed over him, even though he knew it was for the best, but then she reached behind her and unzipped her dress.
With a shrug of her shoulders, it fell to the floor, revealing a lacy bra and panties, and then a pair of long legs encased in silky black hose held up by a garter and shiny clips.
His fingers itched to touch her, but he couldn’t move for several long seconds as the war continued inside him.
“We can talk all you want later,” she said, closing the distance between them again. “Right now, there are other things I want to do.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his, she pulled his head down and kissed him, invading his mouth with her tongue, then nipping at his lips until all of the warning bells in his head disappeared.
With a growl that came from deep in his chest, he wrapped his arms around her, reveling in the feel of her soft skin against his, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed.
He laid her down gently, then stepped back to feast on the sight of her body again before stripping off the last of his clothes.
Paula gasped and reached for him when she saw his swollen manhood, but he stepped back out of the way, then slowly began to unfasten the clips on her garter.
After slowly peeling the stockings off her legs, he hooked his fingers into the lacy panties and slid them down her legs.
The bra quickly followed and he spent several agonizing moments letting his eyes roam over her naked body.
Paula was trembling with need when he finally joined her in the bed.
Her hands seemed to be everywhere at once, making it difficult to take things slow.
He finally captured them and held them over her head while he kissed her, then, holding them there, slowly worked his way down her body until he could suck one hard nipple into his mouth.
She gasped, and he let go of her wrists, then used one hand to massage the other breast, then trailed it down her stomach and gently pushed her legs open.
When his finger slipped between her folds, Paula gasped again and grabbed his shoulders, her nails digging in when he began to stroke her swollen nib.
He captured her mouth again, kissing her as she moaned into his mouth, then began to whimper as he took her higher and higher.
When she finally tumbled over the edge, crying out his name, her entire body trembling with the force of her pleasure, his body went crazy, the dragon inside him became impossible to ignore, and he slipped between her legs.
He paused, giving her time to recover, and she opened her pleasure-filled eyes to look up at him, then spread her legs wider, an invitation he couldn’t resist.
“I need you, Ryan,” she said, wiggling her hips. “Take me now, make me yours forever.”
The dragon inside him responded to her words, his magic rose to the surface, crackling in the air around them, and nothing could have stopped him from claiming her right then.
With one powerful thrust of his hips, he filled her completely, connecting them fully for the first time, and the bond between them began to grow warm as it became stronger.
Eyes locked on hers, he drove himself into Paula’s welcoming body over and over, feeling the tension growing as the passion between them grew to a raging inferno.
Overwhelmed by the sensations thundering through him, he gave himself up to the pleasure, completely aware of the miracle happening between them.
When he finally emptied himself inside her, Paula followed him into oblivion, calling out his name, her muscles clenching around him, making his pleasure that much more intense.
He collapsed on top of her, unable to move for several minutes, then rolled over onto his back and pulled her up against him, still fighting to catch his breath. “That was incredible,” he said, when he could finally talk. “I never imagined it could be like that.”
“Me either,” Paula said, grinning up at him, a blush on her cheeks. “I’m sure glad we didn’t wait. When can we do it again?”
He laughed, “You might have to give me a few minutes,” he said, shaking his head. “We’ve got a whole lifetime for this.”
“I didn’t think…I mean…that soon…” she stammered, her cheeks even redder. “I was thinking later tonight or in the morning or something…”
“We can do it then, too,” he said, grinning at her. “The thing about shifters is they’re stronger than regular men. I probably should have warned you.”
“You mean…” Her words trailed off.
“As much as you want,” he said, then laughed at the look on her face. “I’m here to please, princess.”
“Well, then let’s put that to the test,” she said, sliding her hand down his stomach and wrapping her hand around his already swollen manhood. “I think you’re already passing.”
He laughed and rolled over on top of her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said, then lowered his lips to hers and they didn’t speak for a long time.
***Paula***
It wasn’t until they were leaving the hotel two days later that Paula realized it was Christmas.
She found herself blushing when she thought about how they’d spent the last couple of days.
They’d talked for hours, lived on room service, and made love more times than she could count.
She understood so much more about shifters and what being married to one would mean for her life.
Looking over at Ryan, she realized that she wouldn’t have changed a thing, and someday they would have a wonderful story to tell their children.
“We should be just in time for breakfast,” Ryan said, opening her door for her. “I can’t wait for Hattie’s waffles. She only makes the special ones on Christmas morning, and she won’t share the recipe.”
“Oh, that sounds good, I’m starving,” she said. “I bet my mom will make her blueberry muffins. We always have them, and you’ve never tasted anything better, especially with a big slab of butter melting everywhere.”
He laughed, but the smile faded a few minutes later.
“Paula, I know it’s Christmas and your parents came to spend it with you, but I think we should leave tonight,” he said.
“The sooner we appear before the council, the better. We need their blessing before you get their full protection, and I don’t trust Alex.
He’s still out there lurking somewhere.”
“Ryan, what’s going to happen when we go? I mean, they can’t make us get unmarried, can they?” she asked, suddenly nervous. “I’m not used to a bunch of men I don’t know having this much power over my life.”
He reached over and took her hand. “It’s going to be fine. The council won’t oppose our marriage, this is all just a formality,” he said. “I wish we didn’t have to do it at all, but it won’t be that bad, I promise.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes, you know that,” she said, then shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just nervous, I guess. These people are important to you; I want them to accept me.”
“We’re bonded, Paula. They don’t really have a choice,” he said, squeezing her hand. “Now stop worrying; you’re going to do great. We're going to have a beautiful life together. Let's go enjoy Christmas with our friends and family.
She pushed the worry aside as soon as they walked in.
It was easy with the celebration going on, and it felt good to be surrounded by people she loved.
After breakfast, they opened presents, then split into groups to play games, watch movies, or just talk until it was time to put together the big meal of the day.
Helping in the kitchen came naturally to her, and she jumped in to help along with everyone else, and they soon had a feast ready.
They were just about to sit down at the table when the kitchen door burst open and a woman came rushing in, leaving the door open behind her.
“Ryan, there you are, I’ve been so worried,” the woman said, running across the room and throwing her arms around him.
“You haven’t been answering your phone, and it’s Christmas. I was sure that something was wrong.”
“Erin, I told you I was staying here for the holidays,” Ryan said, extracting himself from her arms. “You should have stayed home and waited for me to call you.”
“But I wanted to spend the holidays with my fiancé,” Erin whined. “Everyone expected you to be there, it was so embarrassing.”
“Erin, we’re not engaged, we never were,” he said, backing away from her. “That was all my mother’s idea, it wasn’t mine, I never wanted to…”
“What you want doesn’t matter, young man, you’ll do what’s best for the family,” his mother said, sweeping in through the back door.
“You’re coming back with us right now, there’s still time to make the big party at the country club, you can propose there.
Hurry up and get your things, the car is outside waiting. ”
“Mother, I’m not going with you,” Ryan said, walking over and putting his arm around his bride. “I’m staying here with Paula and my friends, where I belong.”
“Oh my God, she’s wearing a ring,” Erin screeched from the other side of the room. “She’s wearing my engagement ring. What’s going on here?”
“Well, it makes sense that my wife would be wearing it, doesn’t it?
” Ryan said, giving Erin a big smile. “We were married three days ago. I would have told you if you’d waited for me to call.
I didn’t mean for you to find out this way Erin, and I’m truly sorry for that.
Deep down, you must have realized that my mother was responsible for our arrangement.
Don’t you think you deserve to be with someone who truly loves you?
I know this must seem unfair to you, but in the end, you will thank me. ”
“You’re lying, you wouldn’t dare go against me,” his mother cried, rushing over to them and grabbing Paula’s hand. “Take that off this instant, that doesn’t belong to you.”
“We’re married, Mother, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” he said. “I’m going to spend my life with Paula and if you don’t like it, well, that’s just too bad. Now I think you and Erin should be going. Erin is humiliated enough. You don’t want to miss your party.”
His mother stood staring at them for several seconds, her mouth opening and closing.
Then she took a deep breath, and he found himself cringing.
“If you stay with her, I’ll cut you off; you won’t get a penny,” she finally growled.
“You’ll be dead to me. I’ll disown you. Then what will you do?
I bet she was just after your money anyway. ”
He opened his mouth, but Paula elbowed him and stepped in front of him.
“I don’t care about your money, in fact, I don’t want anything to do with your nasty money,” she said, glaring at his mother.
“Maybe it’s time you learned that money can buy you a lot of things, but it can’t buy happiness or love.
Ryan and I already have both of those, so take your money and get out of here. ”
“Are you going to let her talk to me that way?” Ryan’s mother screeched. “I’m your mother, I gave birth to you. You wouldn’t be here without me.”
“Yeah, thanks for that,” he said, then shrugged his shoulders. “But that’s not enough to make me give Paula up. Face it, Mother, you lost.”
“This isn’t over, the council is going to hear about this,” Ryan’s mother said, then turned and stomped back out of the house, Erin following along behind her, sobbing loudly. “You promised me he’d marry me and we’d get your money! Now what am I going to do?”