Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Mia
I was happy Tucker insisted on walking me home when I told him I was ready to head back to my cabin for the night. After the “excitement” of the evening, I suddenly felt so drained, and all the people still congregating and partying was continuously sucking the energy from me.
So when Tucker said—demanded—he’d walk me home, that he didn’t want me to be alone, I smiled and thanked him and kept the fact that my pussy tingled to myself.
So here we were, walking side by side on the stone pathway, the village quiet where we were, because everyone was still enjoying the festivities.
I let him lead the way, and when he veered off the path that would take us to my cabin, I didn’t question him. I wanted to break away from the clatter and confusion I currently felt. I wanted to feel something else, and I wanted to feel that with Tucker.
He looked at me continuously, maybe thinking I’d dart, change my mind, or agree with how my father originally felt. I wouldn’t. Not on any of those points.
“I meant what I said.” My voice was soft, barely carrying in the breeze. Although he heard every word I’d uttered at the longhouse, I felt the need to reiterate again.
“I know. I scented your determination and the truth.” He took a step closer. “It turned me on like nothing before.” His voice was this raspy tenor that had a shiver working its way through me.
I licked my lips and nodded, the chemistry between us never dimming during this entire situation. Not even when tensions were high did my desire for my mate lessen. In fact, it grew .
The very idea that he would have fought for me—for the right to claim me, even going up against the Alpha—had me so ready to be with Tucker that it was hard to breathe.
I was very aware of Tucker’s big body, of how good he smelled, like wild spice and potent male. I was hypersensitive to his very presence, that he was all male, and I was his female.
I didn’t know how long we walked, but he held my hand the whole time, his thumb stroking over my skin, the touch so gentle, yet it was electrifying to me. I was embarrassingly wet between my thighs, my panties soaked and sticking to my intimate lips. And I knew he could smell my arousal, but he didn’t point it out, thank God. He controlled himself enough that although I was very aware of my reaction to him, he didn’t blatantly call me out on the lack of control.
Before I knew it, we were standing in a clearing, one that I knew some of the younger wolves in the village frequented to drink beers because they thought nobody knew or would find out. But no harm, no foul—just some adolescent shifters letting off steam because there was nothing else to do in the pack village.
But here we were, just the two of us, all alone with the trees creating this natural yet almost artificial circle. And within that ring, the grass was tall and almost wispy, the dandelions thick and casting spots of yellow throughout the green and brown. The moon shone above through the large break in the branches, the silvery glow that made everything a little fantastical, as if I were living in a fantasy.
But this wasn’t a book or a movie. This was my life. It was reality. I was standing in front of my mate, all my senses rapidly firing back and forth, and a little voice in my head repeating the same thing.
Just give yourself over. Ease the ache between your thighs. Let your mate claim you, and you’ll know what pleasure really feels like.
And it was so easy just to give in to that voice, to my emotions and desires. But I was afraid, nervous, and inexperienced, and I had no idea what to do or where to start. I was a virgin, the same as he was, my libido dormant—nonexistent—this entire time. Just like every unmated shifter.
Tucker lifted his hand and cupped my face, and instantly I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes when he moved his thumb across my cheek, his touch so soft… yet so very sexual at the same time. If anything, this gentleness and sweetness from Tucker turned me on even more, because I knew I got the masculine and possessive side of Tucker, but also this tender mate part that had me melting in the best of ways.
He kept stroking my cheek, moving his hand to my temples and brushing his fingers along my hairline. He snagged a lock of my hair and rubbed it between his fingers. It had a calming sensation moving through me, and I could’ve stayed in this moment forever, with the soft touches of my mate and the worries left back at the longhouse.
But I knew things had to progress. There was already this aggressive arousal that refused to be ignored or tamed. And at this point, I didn’t want to either. I wanted it to just explode forth, grabbing me so tightly that there was no way I could ever escape. And I knew Tucker was the only male who could ease this intensity inside me.
Maybe it would’ve been smarter to go slow, to take our time.
Maybe we should’ve gotten to know each other better.
But we had forever to learn all the little things that made us who we were.
So why wait?
“Do you want to see it?”
Everything in me froze at his words. A massive wave of heat and need slammed into me at his question. I felt my eyes widen, because immediately my mind was in the gutter.
His nostrils flared as he no doubt scented the rush of arousal that spilled from between my legs at his question. This low, deep hum left him, a very wolfish sound that had a soft whimper leaving me.
“See it?” My voice was scratchy, barely audible.
He growled low and said, “My wolf, Mia. Do you want to see my wolf?” He took a step closer, and I wanted to move one step back, but my body had other thoughts as I stayed rooted in place, needing to feel his heat slam into me. His focus was on my mouth, his eyes hooded. I scented his pheromones, a drugging sensation sliding through me and causing my nipples to tingle and my inner pussy muscles to clench. I wanted something big and thick and long to be shoved deep in me. I wanted Tucker to give that to me.
I tried to rearrange my thoughts so I wasn’t this lust-crazed female who only thought about one thing—dick.
“Yes. I want to see your… wolf.” And I did, once my mind cleared and I realized this was a very important step in our relationship. His wolf was a part of him, a powerful extension to who and what he was, even if I’d seen plenty of the pack males shift into their animals.
Tucker stood there for a moment, not speaking, not moving, his pheromones still so potent as his eyes were locked on my lips. And then he started undressing, his gaze never leaving mine. I wanted to look at every inch of his body, but I kept my focus on his face.
When he was totally naked, and after a long second, he inhaled deeply, blinked back his clear desire, and took a step away. We stared at each other, and I felt the air start to change, becoming more electrically charged. The hairs on my arms stood on end, and this force moved through me as I watched Tucker start to change.
I smelled his wolf, this feral presence that was powerful and dangerous but would never frighten me. His shifter essence surrounded me, pulling me closer until I actually took a step closer.
And with a flash of movement, the sound of bones breaking and realigning, and the smell of Tucker fully changing to his wild animal, it was over. And then my mate stood before me in his huge wolf form, his coat black as midnight, his eyes glowing gold as he focused on me.
Tucker was massive, his animal double the size of his human form, an intimidating presence that I knew put fear into humans and shifters alike. But I felt no fear toward him. He’d never hurt me. I knew his purpose in life now that he was mated was to provide for me, to protect and… love me.
And the longer I stood there staring at the majestic beauty of my wolf mate, I knew in my heart and soul that this was exactly how things were supposed to happen.
Tucker slowly moved—stalked—toward me, his muscles rippling under his thick, glossy fur, his eyes still locked on me. When he was a foot from me, I let out a fast breath at the feeling of his heat pouring off his huge body.
My mate.
I could practically hear his deep voice in my head, and when he gently butted his large nose against my arm, I closed my eyes and breathed out, my body leaning against his massive shoulder.
He nudged me again, and I lifted my hand and ran it through his fur, my fingers sinking into the thickness, the strands like coarse silk between the digits. I opened my eyes and ran my palm over his side, his tail whipping back and forth as I touched him. I knew he enjoyed this, that it pleasured him. I made my way around to the other side of him, still running my fingers through his fur, and stopped when I got to the front, his head triple the size of mine, his eyes so intelligent and knowing as we stared at each other.
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered, and he butted his nose against me again. I let myself sink against him, my arms going around his neck. I felt safe and protected and knew this male would never let anything come between us.
I’d never let anything come between us. I’d fight for our relationship as fiercely as I knew Tucker would for me. And as I thought about that, I felt that wonderful need consume me once more until I forced myself to step back, panting, my body achy and sore in the best of ways.
Tucker sniffed the air, a low growl leaving him. My mate knew what I needed. He wouldn’t deny me. He tipped his head back and howled loud and deep, long and wild-sounding. The sound echoed off the trees, so powerful, so attractive.
I breathed fast and hard, wanting to be with Tucker right here, right now.
“Tucker,” I moaned, and he snapped his big head back at me, a low growl coming from his barrel-sized chest. And before I could moan his name again, Tucker was shifting back to his human form—his body still gloriously naked—and was in front of me a second later. He curled a hand behind my neck, leaned down, and kissed me so powerfully that I curled my toes.
He broke away only long enough to throw his clothes back on, and without me having to say anything—beg him—he had me in his arms and was hauling ass out of the woods.
Good, because I was ready to have my mate claim me in every—any—way he saw fit.