Chapter 9
Ansel
I wake up with my cock still hard and buried to the hilt in my mate. My bear rumbles happily inside me, rolling around on his back as I grip Mira’s hip and rock her gently on my length.
I think we wore her out, I tell my bear as our mate’s eyes slowly open.
“Morning,” I say happily, kissing Mira’s cheek, her nose, her eyes.
“Morning,” she mumbles sleepily. “What time is it?”
I turn, glancing at the alarm clock. “Uh, just after noon.”
“I’ve never slept this late in my life,” she whispers.
I smile. “Me neither.”
I’m not surprised that we slept so late.
We spent hours last night exploring each other and making love.
We were both ravenous, and I lost count of the number of times I made my Angel come.
The last time was early this morning, and she promptly passed out on my chest. I must have fallen asleep too, which explains why I’m still buried in her slick heat.
“Are you sore?” I ask, nipping her ear.
“A little.”
I stop moving, and Mira whines in disapproval.
“Let me run you a bath,” I tell her.
“Later.”
“You’re sore,” I remind her.
“I need you,” she whispers against my lips.
“Let me lick your sweet pussy. I’ll get you off that way.”
“No,” she says, pushing on my shoulders until I roll onto my back.
She braces her hands on my chest, and I grip her hips, groaning as she rides me. Her pussy is so tight, so hot and wet. Each stroke is utter perfection, and even though it’s only been a minute, I’m already close to coming.
Do it. Breed her, my bear orders me.
We probably already have.
My cock swells at the image of my fated mate pregnant, her stomach swollen with our cub.
“God, Angel. You’re so damn sexy.”
“You feel so good,” she moans, her hips rocking faster.
She slams down onto my length, her nails digging into my chest as she loses herself in her pleasure.
I tighten my grip on her hips, helping her lift and lower on my cock. Her silky walls cinch tighter around my dick, and I grit my teeth, trying to hold on. I need my mate to come before I bust.
Mira’s full tits jiggle and sway in front of my face, and I growl as I lean forward, sucking one sweet bud into my mouth.
“Ah!” she cries out, her head tipping back.
Mira rides me with abandon, her pace becoming jerky and frenzied as I tease her nipples and thrust my hips to meet her descent.
“Yes! Oh, there! There, right there!” she cries.
Her pussy clamps down around my cock. I roar, my fingers bruising her hips as I hold her in place and come with her.
Mira collapses against my chest. I snarl into her hair, gripping her waist and moving her back and forth, trying to prolong both our orgasms.
“Hmph,” Mira mumbles against my skin.
I laugh breathlessly. “What was that?”
“Dunno. Too tired to talk.”
I stroke her hair, smiling as I hear her breathing even out. “Rest, Angel.”
I can’t seem to stop touching her as she sleeps. Running my hands over her hair and down her back, I mold her curves in my palms, trying to memorize every inch of her. I want her scent all over me. I want mine all over her.
Eventually, she stirs again, propping her chin on my chest as she smiles up at me with sleepy eyes. “Now what time is it?”
“Almost five.”
“Are we going to spend all day in bed?”
I grin. “I wish, but there’s something I want to do today.”
“What’s that?”
“Get dressed, and I’ll show you.”
I pull out of her gently, taking care not to hurt her. I know she must be sore, so I gather a change of clothes for her and set them on the bed next to her before getting my own clothes.
We get dressed slowly, both of us worn out after last night’s and today’s activities.
I look at Mira, smiling as I see all the love bites and marks on her body.
When I see her run her fingers over the bite mark I left on her neck, my cock stiffens, and I debate postponing what I planned for tonight and taking her back to bed.
No, claim her fully. Then take her back to bed, my bear protests.
I ignore him.
“Come on,” I say once we’re both dressed, grabbing Mira’s hand and tugging her down the stairs after me. My heart races as I think about my plan.
“Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something. It’s a bit of a hike. Want me to carry you?”
She pauses at the front door. “You love that, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Carrying me around.”
“Of course. I have my mate in my arms and her scent all over me. What could be better?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Not hurting your back?”
I shake my head. “Angel, you’re light as a feather. I could carry you for the rest of our days and feel no discomfort, only happiness.”
“You’re kind of perfect, you know that?” she whispers, leaning into my chest.
“You’re perfect,” I murmur, dipping my head to press my lips against hers.
Mira moans, and my control snaps. In an instant, I’ve got her pinned against the door, caging her in with my arms and body as I maul her.
My mouth slants over hers, my teeth nipping at her bottom lip until she gasps, opening for me. I waste no time in thrusting my tongue past her lips to tangle with hers.
Her fingers curl into my shirt, dragging me closer when there’s nowhere left for me to go. A growl rumbles deep in my chest, and she shivers against me, the sweet scent of her desire wrapping around my senses.
My bear surges forward, greedy for our mate, but I hold him back. Barely.
I kiss her deeper, savoring the soft stroke of her tongue against mine. Every breathless sound she makes feeds the fire burning beneath my skin. My hands find her waist, spanning her soft curves before sliding around to pull her flush against me.
She fits against my body like she was made for me.
“Ansel,” she sighs into my mouth.
Hearing my name on her lips nearly brings me to my knees.
I trail kisses along her jaw, then down the graceful curve of her throat. Her head falls back against the door, giving me better access, and satisfaction rolls through me. I brush my lips over the mark at the base of her neck, feeling her pulse race beneath my mouth.
“Mine,” I growl.
“Yours,” she breathes, burying her fingers in my hair.
My control frays another dangerous inch.
I graze the mark with my teeth, and Mira gasps, arching into me.
The movement presses every lush inch of her against my body, and for one wild moment, I forget where we’re supposed to be going.
I forget the trail, the clearing, and the ring tucked securely in my pocket.
There’s only my mate in my arms and the way she kisses me when I lift my head to claim her mouth again.
This kiss is slower but no less consuming. I pour everything I can’t seem to say into it—every possessive instinct, every impossible hope, every promise of the life I want to build with her. Mira softens against me, trusting me to hold her, and my heart tightens painfully.
I love this woman.
I love her strength and her softness. Her laugh. Her stubbornness. The way she looks at me as if I’m something precious when she’s the greatest gift I’ll ever receive.
She brushes her thumb along my cheek and pulls away, her gray eyes meeting mine. “What was that for?”
“Do I need a reason to kiss my mate?”
Her lips curve into a teasing smile. “Apparently not.”
“Good.”
I steal one last kiss because I can, swallowing her laughter until it turns into another soft moan.
We break apart, both of us breathing hard, and I force myself to take a step back. We need to go before I throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to bed.
That sounds like a good plan, my bear says.
There’s something that we have to do first, I tell him.
“Come on,” I rasp, grabbing Mira and lifting her into my arms.
We head out into the backyard, and I take a moment to admire the sunset as I walk toward the partially covered trail that leads through the trees and up the mountain toward my favorite spot in town.
“I used to come here every day when I was younger,” I tell Mira as I walk.
“It’s pretty,” she muses, looking around.
The sunlight filters through the trees as I hike up the path.
“My parents brought Russo and me up here when we were cubs. It’s where I learned how to shift, and where Russo and I used to spar. I used to do my homework here,” I tell her as I stop at the edge of the clearing.
A stream runs along the western border. Wildflowers bloom, swaying gently in the breeze. My bear and I relax.
I set Mira down on a fallen tree and watch her as she looks around.
“It’s beautiful, Ansel. So peaceful. I can see why you love it here.”
“It’s my favorite place in town,” I tell her. “All my important moments happened here. So it seemed only fitting that this is where I do this.”
“Do what?” she asks, glancing at me.
Her pale gray eyes widen as I sink onto one knee in front of her.
“Ansel,” she chokes out, tears already forming in her eyes.
“Mira, I love you, mate. I know you’re already wearing my mark, so for shifters, we’re committed, but I want it all with you. I want to marry you. I want you to wear my ring, my mark. I want you to have my last name. I want you. All of you. Forever.”
She gives a watery laugh as I open the ring box to reveal the diamond ring nestled inside.
“Mira, will you marry me?” I ask, my heart lodged in my throat.
“Yes!” she gasps, throwing herself into my arms. “Yes, of course.”
She clings to me, and I wrap my arms around her, crushing her curves to my chest. I hold her tight, both of us remaining locked around the other like we never want this moment to end.
“I love you too,” she whispers against my ear.
I kiss her neck, nuzzling my mark at the base of her throat. “Mine,” I murmur against her skin.
“Forever.”
We pull back, and she cradles my face in her hands, beaming down at me.
“This belongs on your finger,” I tell her, pulling the ring out and sliding it on.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Just like you,” I whisper, my lips claiming hers again.
My bear roars in approval as she kisses me back.
I’ve never been happier in my life.
And this is just the beginning.