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“Fuck yeah. You move like a constipated moose.”
Now that was an insult. As Zeb shifted his weight to a better fighting posture, Shay considered tackling him. But the ground was muddy and pounding on someone took effort.
When Shay didn’t move, Zeb relaxed and leaned a hip on the decrepit porch railing. “What’s up?”
“Nothing bad. The Arizona fishermen offered me a big fee to guide them to Eight Lake Valley. We’re leaving in an hour, but even if I trawsfur to return, I won’t get back before dawn.”
“Bree know?”
“Aye.” Shay hesitated. “She’s had nightmares since Nora died.”
“Want me to take the fishermen?”
“Hell no. They were barely brave enough to ask me. Just keep an eye on her.”
“Done.”
Shay didn’t move. How was he going to explain his sudden change of heart?
Zeb’s eyes narrowed. “More?”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“There’s a surprise.”
Not getting any response from Zeb, the pixie edged out farther on her branch and threw another twig. With a quick snatch, Zeb caught the missile and tossed it back. Giving a squeak of surprise, the sprite dodged, then chittered angrily.
“Never seen you play with one before,” Shay commented.
A flash of a grin, then Zeb said, “They remind me of Bree when she’s startled. Same little squeak.”
Shay snorted a laugh, recognizing the sound.
But that introduced the topic he wanted to discuss. “Speaking of Breanne…” He’d decided to voice his hopes to Zeb very slowly. He would ease around to the goal as warily as he’d stalk a badger.
His mouth took over and ruined his careful strategy. “I want to win her. For our mate.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Bree stepped closer to the sliding glass door, trying to see through the darkness. Big. Four legs. Coming straight toward the apartment. Glass shattered. A horrible smell. She couldn’t move and—
“Wake up, little female.” A deep rough voice. Strong hands pulled her upright and shook her lightly.
She gasped. The foul stench was dispelled by the fresh scents of soap and pine. She opened her eyes. “Zeb.”
“Right the first time.”
“I had a nightmare.”
He briskly rubbed her arms, keeping her in the present. “I heard.”
“I made that much noise?” Had she scared every beast in the forest?
“I was awake.” He lifted the covers and slid in.
His legs touched hers. Bare legs. Bare chest. “You’re not wearing any clothes.”
“You’re wearing too many.” Before she could react, he yanked her T-shirt over her head. “Better.”
“Zeb…” No clothes. Big man. Fear slid up her spine. Don’t panic.
He lay back. After a second, he took her hand and patted it on his chest. “Your head goes here.”
They’d just snuggle? She still had her panties on, she realized, and the ripples of fear eased slightly. He wasn’t going to jump on her. And she really, really wanted him here. Sweat still chilled her skin from the nightmare. No hellhound would get past Zeb.
“Okay.” With a small sigh, she let him tug her down and nudge her head onto his shoulder. He was heavenly warm, all solid muscle and smooth skin.
He drew her closer until her breasts pressed his side. “You fit against me well.” With her ear pressed on his chest, his voice sounded even rumblier. “Put your leg over mine.”
She hesitated.
He nipped her fingers.
“Okay, fine.” She slid her leg over his. When her mound pressed against his hip, she stiffened, but he didn’t attack her.
His chest rose and fell in a slow, even rhythm. The coarse hair on his lower legs teased her foot, and she wiggled her toes, earning a grunt of exasperation. “Go to sleep, little female.”
She felt tugs on her scalp, and realized he was playing with her long hair. It was as soothing as being petted, and muscle by muscle, she relaxed and dropped off to sleep.
* * *
She was dreaming, she knew, and didn’t care as she ran out into the meadow. The wind from the mountains ruffled her fur, and the sun warmed her. Tall grass swished against her legs. She lay down and rolled, and somehow Zeb was there. His hard hands ran over her.
Warmth pooled in her belly as she wakened to reality and a callused palm stroking up and down her back.
“You are awake, little female. I deserve a kiss for my patience.”
She was still curled against Zeb, and all her fears had evaporated during her sleep. “Um.”
He didn’t wait for permission. His fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head back, and he took possession of her mouth, going from sweet to outright carnal within a breath.
He growled and a second later, she was flat on her back with him straddling her hips.
“Zeb!”
He paused, and the intensity of his gaze was like the sun. After a long moment, his cheek creased. “You’re not afraid.” Bending, he nibbled on her lips, then her jawline. He kissed down her neck and licked under her ear to make her shiver. His straight hair fell like a curtain around them, tickling her skin. He bit the muscle at the top of her shoulder and sent heat sliding after it. No, she wasn’t afraid.
With one arm under her back, he effortlessly raised her shoulders so he could pull her nipple into his hot mouth. He suckled, teasing with his tongue and rolling the point against his teeth.
Need surged like fire through her body. “Zeb.”
He left her breast to take her mouth deeply. As her pussy started to waken, her hips rose involuntarily.
Giving her a light kiss, he said, “I will find my way there, little female. But I have certain other needs to fulfill first.”
She looked at him blankly. Other needs?
“To taste your skin.” He kissed her neck, then reached under her panties, touching her so intimately that a whimper escaped. Removing his hand, he licked the wetness off his fingers. “To taste you.”
No, wait.Her legs slid closed, and he shook his head chidingly. With a quick movement, he grabbed her ankle…fondled her foot…kissed her toes.
She tried to pull her leg away, but he held it with an unyielding grip and worked his way upward—calf, knee, tender inner thigh—using teeth and lips and tongue. Each inch made her skin more sensitive and increased the throbbing in her core.
She was so still, he would have worried except for the scent of her arousal. Nervous, yes. Unsure, yes. The knowledge deepened his need for her, his desire to bring her satisfaction.
He moved up so he could slide his hands over her lush breasts, fondling her gently. By the Mother, she had lovely, large breasts. And sensitive.
He nuzzled between them, inhaling the light scent of vanilla, then pressed them together so he could lick one nipple and the other, teasing them to hard points.
The thudding of her heart skipped when he nipped a peak. She gasped and fisted the bed sheets.
He didn’t take females between Gatherings—without the full moon heat to drive them, females were afraid of him. Too scarred, too big, too rough. He hadn’t realized how the lack of a female’s urgency would let him slow down and savor everything.
He intended to enjoy all of her. Many times.
Her hand touched his head tentatively, and, when her fingers tangled in his hair, the warmth that filled him wasn’t lust. Had he ever met a female so sweet?
Moving down her body, he kissed the curve of her waist, the roundness over her stomach, her small bellybutton. When his lips grazed over the top of her thigh, her leg quivered. He smiled against the warm skin and ran his tongue up the silken crease, then did the same on the other side. Her breathing quickened, but she didn’t move.
By now, a female in heat would order him to mount her. Damned if he didn’t like this better.
He stripped the tiny underpants from her, ignoring her murmured protest. The
crescent moon of new beginnings had set around midnight, and early dawn light shone through the window, glowing faintly on her skin. Her pale pink nipples matched her lips. Shielded by golden-white curls, her female parts glistened with arousal. He’d never seen anything so pretty.
With her pussy uncovered, her scent drew him like a magnet. He breathed in the fragrance of her musk and blew out gently to ruffle the curly hair at the juncture of her thighs.
Her hips tilted up, then she closed her legs as if embarrassed by her response. Fuck, humans were strange. He’d not permit her to shield herself from his gaze, his fingers, or his mouth.
He moved her knees apart and nipped her inner thigh in admonishment. Her muscles quivered under his teeth. Kneeling between her legs, he grabbed the heavy cushions from the chair beside the bed. Setting his hand under her ass, he pushed both tall cushions under her hips. Better. Her pussy was not only tilted up so he could enjoy the sight and use his hands, but the position put her cunt even with his cock. He inhaled her heady fragrance and ran one finger through her swollen folds. Her sharp breath was like a fist on his shaft.
Shay had warned that she was still learning about mating. Teaching this little female about her own needs would be a pleasure.
With one hand, he pulled her folds apart, exposing her fully. Glistening and slick. His cock hardened to the point of pain. With a gentle finger, he slid her clit hood upward to display her pretty pink pearl. Still trying to hide from him. How far could he get it to swell?
Heat rolled over Bree in a wave of embarrassment and arousal. With huge cushions under her bottom, and her legs splayed to the sides, her private parts were totally on display. Her shoulders were lower than her hips, and blood rushed to her head.
Zeb’s ruthless fingers held her labia apart as he ran a finger around her entrance, then spread the slickness over her clit. Slowly. She shuddered helplessly as his finger explored, rubbing and tugging her folds, sliding around her clit, circling her entrance.
Again. And again. Wetness trickled between her buttocks. Her clit swelled, throbbing as he kept her open. She caught the gleam of his eyes and realized that as he touched her, he was watching her face as intently as any predator. “Zeb…”
“Shhh.” His finger tapped a reprimand just above her clit, and her whole body jolted.
Another slow circle. Her thighs quivered as the pressure inside her began to tighten.
He bent and his tongue licked her—so hot and soft and very different from his finger. She heard herself whimper when he circled, never quite…there. Her insides coiled with impatience, and her hips pushed up uncontrollably.
I’m ready. Want something inside. She stroked his leg with one foot, urging him to her.
“Uh-uh. This is my trail.” With a movement too fast to follow, he snatched her ankle and bit the arch of her foot.
“Ah!” Her whole leg jerked at the feel of his sharp teeth, and the light pain sent heat surging upward.
He set his big hand on her stomach, holding her down as he returned to her pussy. A slow slide up one side of her clit, flickering over the top, slowly down the other. Over and over, until the nub felt swollen and tight, like it might burst. Her lower half ached with need.
He was teasing her. She’d never been tormented like this. A whine escaped her. “Zeb, please.”
His laugh, dark and low, was one she’d never heard before. “Little female, you taste too good to stop now.” He licked around her entrance and buried his tongue inside her.
“Aaah!” She squirmed as he thrust.
His hand pinned her in place. “You will hold still while I enjoy myself.”
As her clit throbbed, demanding more, he replaced his tongue with a finger, sliding into her slowly. The nerves inside her flared into life at the ruthless advance. In and out, then two fingers. Jeez. Everything contracted around the penetration, and her pussy flamed with sensation.
Without warning, he thrust hard, pumping his fingers, and her legs quivered on the cushion. Her hips tried to buck; he prevented it. The feeling of being held open, held down, not having any control over what he was doing should have scared her—only it seemed to make her hotter. She felt her insides drawing closer around his fingers as her whole focus turned to only one thing. One spot.
He lowered his head, and his mouth closed completely over her clit, enveloping it in moist heat.
Oh God. Her body tried to arch, and he pressed her flat even as his tongue rubbed insistently over the nub of nerves. One stroke, another, she was so close, almost, almost there… Everything in her tightened. Her breathing stopped.
Then his lips pressed together, flattening her clit, and he sucked as his tongue savaged the top.
“Oooh, nooo.” Pleasure fountained upward, exploding through her body in long, hard waves of sensation as she spasmed around Zeb’s fingers. Waves of pleasure rippled outward, and her fingers tingled like Fourth of July sparklers.
His laugh held an open delight she’d never heard before. Even as her shockwaves started to ease, he straightened. On his knees, he set one hand on her thigh.
And then she felt his erection at her entrance, teasingly sliding up and down her inner lips, wetting the head. He pressed harder inexorably, working in, stretching her. He was big and thick and much, much longer than his fingers.
Shocked at the intrusion, she whimpered. With her hips positioned high on the cushion, he filled her—too deep, too tight. She tried to pull away as her insides throbbed painfully.
“Shhh, little female. Don’t move.” His hands gripped her hips, holding her to him.
As she gasped for breath, he leaned forward onto one hand, and she whined as the movement drove him farther in.
Taking her left hand, he kissed and nibbled her fingers, before placing her arm around his neck. He did the same with her right. As he nuzzled her neck and sucked on her earlobe, she felt her body relax around him. His dark forest scent soothed her. Excited her.
He lifted his head, trapping her gaze with his black eyes. His hand closed over her breast, fondling. Then he pinched the nipple, and, as the bite of pleasure zinged through her, her vagina clenched around his cock.
Heated amusement filled his eyes. He switched to her other breast, slowly stroking, and then his rough fingers found the nipple. When he rolled it between his fingertips, it sent a stream of sheer heat straight to her clit, to her pussy, and everything tightened again.
Involuntarily, her fingers tangled in his hair, so silky and long, and her hips tilted up.
He gave a growl of satisfaction, and he pulled out, startling a cry from her, then another when he re-sheathed himself. He continued, increasing the pace until her breath sobbed from her. He was so deep within her, so hard. One of his arms rubbed against her shoulder, like an iron post holding him up. His other hand fondled her breasts, squeezing, gently pulling on her nipples with each thrust until she could no longer keep track of the individual sensations. All of her burned.
But she couldn’t quite… She needed to come. “Zeb,” she whispered.
He brushed a kiss across her lips. “Tell me.”
“Please. I can’t…” Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she surrendered, giving him the last remaining trace of control.
He rubbed his cheek against her. “Cariad, I’ll take care of you.”
He pushed upright, weight on his knees, his cock still deep inside her. His hands stroked down her stomach until they reached her sex. With her hips on the cushions, he could thrust into her from his kneeling position…and play with her pussy at the same time. Oh heavens.
His fingers found her slick, engorged clit and circled it feather light. Every nerve in her body jumped and sizzled, until the slide of his cock and touch of his finger merged into one exquisite unendurable sensation.
But before she could come, he rolled them over on the bed. She was on top and blinked in surprise at the unaccustomed position.
Patiently, he arranged her legs so her knees were beside his hips and she
straddled him. Still fully inside her, in this position, he seemed even longer. Every movement sent shocks of heat through her.
Denied an orgasm, her clit burned painfully, and she tilted to rub it against his pelvis. Oh yes, that was good. As she leaned forward, he took her breasts in his demanding hands. His gaze was on her face, watching her reactions.
Each time he plucked her nipples, she contracted around him, and he growled in dark pleasure. Her breasts felt tight and hot, her clit matching, and she wiggled with ferocious urgency.
“Now, you will move.” His hands gripped her hips firmly to lift her off his cock and pull her back down. He was so big inside her that each time she lowered herself on him, she gasped. He directed her movements until she settled into a good rhythm.
With one hand, he returned to fondling her breast, but his other hand slid down to her clit, stoking her hard nub each time she lowered.
More. She moved faster. Faster. Panting with urgency. Her thighs quivered, destroying her balance, and she gripped his hard shoulders, digging her fingernails in. “Oh God, oh God.”
“Look at me, little female.”
Her gaze lifted to his smoldering eyes. He pinched her clit, as hard as he’d pinched her nipples, and everything inside her boiled over, spilling through her nerves and veins in hot pleasure. Her back arched as more waves hit.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmured.
She blinked in surprise. Before she could speak, he gripped her hips, moving her up and down, taking his own pleasure. Her nerves shimmered with his hard thrusts. And then, he growled, low and deep, as he filled her with his liquid heat.
She held herself upright for a long moment, too satisfied to move, before her muscles gave way. As she flattened on top of him, she felt his heart thudding against her breasts.
He wrapped her hair around his hand and used it to tilt her face up so he could kiss her, long and slow and sweet.
The minute he released her, she lay her head on his shoulder, snuggled closer, and fell asleep, wrapped in the safety of his powerful arms.