Chapter 51
Serenity
After a few more days of feeding Seb, I stopped noticing painful pinches in my wound, and I didn’t get winded from simple tasks. That didn’t stop Hunter from carrying me around, despite Bryce’s doctor clearing me for work.
I let the pampering go on a little longer because I couldn’t resist the way his eyes softened when he held me.
He placed me carefully on his bed and pulled the cool sheet up to my chest. “Goodnight, Little Dancer. I promise I’ll be quiet when I come back in later.”
I reached out and took hold of his arm. “Stay. I’m not tired yet.”
Smiling, he stroked my hair and propped himself on the edge of the mattress. “You need rest.”
I raised the sheet. “I’ll rest better with you.”
“I’ll stay for just a minute.”
“Stay longer.” I pressed against his chest as he slipped in beside me. My hands slid under his shirt, travelling the hard ridges of his abs, an ache stirring low in my belly.
“You don’t have to sleep in your clothes, you know,” I murmured and kissed his jaw. I met his eyes and swallowed hard, wrapping a leg around his hips. “Or sleep at all.”
His brows raised, and his hand glided along my waist. “You mean…?”
“Yes,” I whispered, a deep craving rasping through my voice as I took a handful of his shirt. “Please.”
He kissed me hard, and a feral sound rumbled through my throat. He pulled back a centimeter, his breathing rough. “Are you sure you’re… strong enough?”
I tasted his mouth again before saying, “The only thing I’m not strong enough for is going another night without you inside me.”
His jaguar rumbled its desire through his throat, making his brown eyes flash yellow.
“Dammit. We can’t resist you.” His finger stroked my cheek. “I’ve finally made peace with the beast, thanks to you. You bring us together.”
“Good. I want both of you. All of your thoughtfulness and calm, solid presence, and all his wild energy too.”
He growled, his fingers working at the buttons on my pajama top, and I started rolling his shirt up toward his head. We were both frantic, needing nothing between us.
He slipped out of his shirt then ripped the fabric of my top off my shoulders. The second my breasts were free he dove face between them with a hungry growl. I tipped back my head in a soft moan, my hands fisting his hair.
His lips didn’t leave my breast as he kicked out of his shorts, and I reached behind me with one hand to toss back the sheet. I couldn’t wait. I wriggled out of my pajama pants still not letting go of his hair and his hot mouth pulling at my breasts.
He stood back for a moment, his glowing yellow eyes running down my body as I took him in.
Faint scars from the Glasshouse ambush made patterns across his muscled torso, his wounds had healed within a few days, but I hated to imagine the pain he’d felt, slashed on every side by Conrad’s men while in jaguar form.
Protecting me. He did all of that for me.
My breath and heart rate raced, and my mouth watered as my gaze dropped to his cock.
I wanted it. Wanted all of him.
This was Hunter, the man who’d pushed back the shadows I’d sensed lurking around every corner in New Nebraska since the night I was dumped on the streets.
Sitting on my knees in the bed, I reached up and I traced my fingers over his scars. “I can’t believe everything that’s brought us to here.”
He brushed my hair behind my ear. “All good things are worth fighting for, right?”
“No more fighting anything. I need this connection to be complete between us.” I placed a hand on his heart. “We’ve both been waiting way too long.”
I pushed up so I could kiss his smiling lips. “You know, you were the first man I found attractive, after everything I went through.”
“Oh yeah?” He rubbed his nose against mine.
“Mmm-hmm. The first man that made me burn. I think you’d be surprised by how fast I started having dirty thoughts.” My hand trailed around, as I ran my nails down his back then gripped his toned ass.
His grin grew, and he tugged me flush against him, fingers brushing along the side of my breast.
“Well, you probably aren’t as surprised to know I wanted you from the moment we met. Especially after that dance.” The smile faded a fraction, and his eyes were glistening as he ran his fingers over my back.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerning pinching my brow as I rubbed his shoulder.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, then he licked his lips and cupped my jaw so I was looking deep into his yellow eyes seeing the concern shine through both Hunter, and his jaguar.
“I’ve almost lost you three times since I met you. I just don’t know what—” He shook his head, looking away.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I turned his face to meet me again. “It’s just me here, tough guy. You can open up to me, as much as you need. Whenever you need. What’s wrong?”
He sighed and pressed his forehead to mine. “I just don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. You’re my whole life.” He held my head softly in both hands, and warm butterflies flitted through my stomach. “My whole life.”
“And you’re mine,” I said through a tight throat.
His smoky, dry woods scent enveloped me even as he pulled back to let his dark eyes search my face. “Do you still want to leave New Nebraska?”
I blinked, startled by the question. “I… I don’t know anymore. I mean, this is your home. All of your homes. You’re safe to be yourselves here.” I caressed his cheek. “I still want to see the world, but… I want my home base to be wherever you guys are.”
His thumb stroked my cheek. “We’ll find a way to go on all the trips you want, I promise. And I’ve been thinking… the city isn’t where I’d want to…” Crinkles branched from his eyes as he seemed to hold back.
“Want to what?”
“Not where I’d want to raise a family. Whatever that looks like for us,” he was quick to add, but I still felt a twinge in my heart.
My hand ran over my stomach, like maybe I could feel what was broken in there, whatever had given the doctor his prognosis.
But I focused on the positive, knowing Hunter had meant it as a declaration of love, a glimpse toward a future that involved no other woman but me. “You want to move to the country and raise a family with me? Even if it’s just us five and a whole lot of cats?”
He laughed. “And dogs and horses and whatever else you want.”
“That sounds amazing. But right now?” I beckoned him with a curling finger. “Tonight? I just want it to be about you and me.” I leaned back and ran my fingertips along my collarbone, then tracing a line down to my hardened nipples. “And whatever you want to do to me.”
Leaning forward, he pressed his mouth against my ear and growled, “I want to take what’s mine.”
As my hands came up to cup his face, he took both my wrists in one fist and pinned them up behind my head, holding me there with massive power and zero effort as he pulled down my panties.
With my panties tossed aside I was completely bare to him and his free fingers began dancing along my thigh, then dipped between my legs.
I gasped, feet gliding along the sheets, toes of my right foot trailing up his calf.
“I like being at your mercy,” I moaned.
With a wolfish grin, he ducked his head toward my breasts and firmly sucked one, then the other, his lips soft and scruff rough.
My back arched, pressing my body against his as our legs tangled together.
He released my wrists to massage my right breast as his tongue moved to my left nipple, spreading the pleasure. My fingers slid into his hair as he began painting tender kisses along my abs, then along my newest scar as if to balm it.
“I need you inside me,” I groaned.
He gave a low sound of desire and his strong hands grasped my thighs. He planted a final kiss on my belly button and then tugged my thighs apart with a suddenness that made me gasp. He peered up at me through thick lashes. “Tell me if I’m being too rough, cause I’m damn hungry.”
I ran my fingers through the short spikes of his hair. “Good.”
He moved his mouth right above me, his warm breath caressing my delicate skin. He held there teasing me as just the hint of his breath on my most sensitive skin sent shivers through me.
My mouth flared open as his tongue took his first taste. “Mmm…
He ate me like a man starving, spreading my lips with his fingers.
The moment his tongue pressed onto my clit, I moaned deep in my throat and squirmed as the pressure built.
He eased his tongue inside me before returning to circling my clit.
I could feel the nerves crackling, the heavenly pressure beginning to build.
“I can’t wait anymore,” I murmured, meeting his eyes as they fluttered up to meet mine. He didn’t stop.
I felt more than I saw the grin on his lips as he pushed his tongue inside me, then refocused on my clit. My thighs were trembling and my heart racing but I needed more.
“Please, Hunter,” I cried. “I need you.”
He crawled up my body, eyes flashing yellow again. He hovered above me, then nipped at my neck.
I spread my legs wide, welcoming him.
Caressing my neck, he slipped his tongue into my mouth for a blissful kiss that tasted of me mixed with him. It left me panting when he withdrew and gazed into my eyes. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, handsome,” I murmured, studying his every breath as my heart swelled.
With another tender kiss, he gently nudged the tip of himself inside me, lacing the fingers of one hand through mine in a tender but firm grip. Then he pushed forward, filling me slowly. My eyes fluttered closed, ready for him to go balls deep and loving the thrill it sent through body.
“Rub your clit,” he rumbled.
My free hand slid down my body and I drew tight little circles over my clit, the pleasure pushing away any hint of pain.
He wasn’t all the way in when his eyes were turned to the ceiling, the veins in his neck straining with control, his breathing heavy. “You okay, baby?”
I squeezed my fingers where he held my hand as I tighten my core around his cock, making him bite out a curse “Perfect. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Little Dancer.”
He slid in and out so sweetly, slowly making me moan his name. Encouraged, he moved a little faster, picking up a rocking rhythm that left me gasping. “Don’t stop, Hunter.”
Peppering kisses along my collarbone and neck, he strengthened his strokes. But he kept his eyes focused on me, reading my face every time he pushed inward. I bit my lip as my limbs started to tremble.
I locked my ankles under his ass and lift my hips to take more of him, deeper and faster. We both sped up, and he leaned his mouth down inches from mine as we breathed each other in.
“Hunter,” I gasped. “I’m going to–”
“Come for me, Little Dancer, come on my cock.”
We both came at the same time, our bodies in perfect unity, gasps intermingling as he rasped, “Oh fuck. Of fuck, baby.”
Through half lids with my chest heaving and head tipping back, I saw his eyes flare yellow, and he lunged forward toward my neck, stopping inches from the skin. “My jaguar wants to mark you as ours.”
“Yes. I’m yours. You’re mine too.” I tilted my chin so he could have more of me.
He nuzzled my skin, his warm breath washing across it. “You’re sure? There’s no going back. We’ll be bonded forever.”
“Are you sure?” I gripped his shoulders and gazed deep into his gold-flecked irises. “I want nothing more, but I still worry. I’m a package deal…
“That package is my family. They’re all my family now.” His smile grew as the rest of the yellow drained out of his rich brown eyes. “But we’ll wait until you’re strong again. I think this was always meant to—”
Both of us looked down, lips parting in shock. Oh. Wow. What the hell? I could feel his dick growing inside me, changing. It grew to something wide that lodged itself deep.
“Erm, Hunter, is that supposed to happen?”
He sucked air in fast and snapped his widening eyes to mine. “Shit. I don’t believe it.”
“What?” I gripped his shoulders harder.
“It’s nothing bad. I-it’s good. I—I just never… Wow, it’s a knot.”
“A knot? That sounds like a problem.” My core tightened around it, I didn’t know why or how but it felt… right.
“No, it’s the opposite. Let me get us on our side, I’ll explain.”
“Are you coming out?” I asked, pulse quickening as we carefully maneuvered so we were lying side by side, facing one another, his arm tucked under my head.
“I can’t for the next little while, but don’t panic,” he said, noting my fast breathing. “It’s a shifter thing. Well, only certain shifters. With their mates. His gaze caressed my face, and his features softened into a look of such deep love it made my heart stutter.
“I’m flattered,” I chuckled, and some of my concern dissipated. “But why lock us up like this?”
“The knot keeps my sperm inside you to… increase the chance of pregnancy.”
My next exhale came out a trembling cry somewhere between a surprised warble and a happy sob.
“Oh, wow.” I looked down, throat tightening with oncoming tears. “You think it could really help me have…”
He stroked my hair. “Couldn’t hurt. You went to a human doctor?”
“Well no. He was an elemental, but he was a human specialist. But he did ask me about paranormal relationships, and I said that wasn’t a possibility.” I let out a sheepish laugh. That sounded so stupid now. “That would be incredible, if this helps.”
He drew me tight into his chest, enveloping me in warm, hard muscle. “Either way, I’m so glad this happened with you.”
“It never happened before?” I asked.
“No. Not with anyone else.” He kissed me, then pulled back. “It’s because you’re my one true mate. The knot is another way my jaguar chooses you. The way he claims you as his forever partner.”
I tried not to let my hopes fly too high, but little Hunters and Daggers were already running around my mind.
“Thanks, my jaguar,” I choked out around a giddy half-laugh.
He dabbed my wet eyes with a tissue from the bedside and kissed me, brushing a palm over my crown. “You’re welcome. From both of us. Just glad you’re not upset about it”
I snuggled into him, my head resting on his bicep. “So, how long does this knot thing last?”
Shrugging, he grinned. “Two or three hours? So I’ve read anyway.”
I pecked a kiss on his lips “Then let’s sleep.” I nuzzled in close and brushed my nose against his. “You tuckered me out.”.