Ever After (7 page)

Since she’d first met him, she’d known that he was damn attractive and way too perfect for her wolf.

It had taken awhile for her to realize he was perfect for the human part of her too.

“We need to talk about what happened, Les,” he whispered as he rocked from one foot to another. He looked as uncomfortable as she’d felt before she realized that she’d only been kidding herself.

For far too long.

Gods, she hurt him. She’d forced him to change who he was—even for a little bit—because she was so afraid.

“I’m sorry.”

His chin rose so fast she was afraid he’d have neck damage. “What? What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I held back because I was afraid.”

He sat next to her on the couch and pulled her in his arms, his scent wrapping around her like a worn blanket.

“You had reasons to hold back, baby.”

“Did I?” She shook her head. “No, I was an idiot. I held back not because I wanted to get to know you, well, okay, I
did
want to know you better before we bonded, but that wasn’t the whole reason. I knew you were a warrior from what Hunter had told me about you and just by looking at you that first night.”

Fawkes nodded. “And that scared you.”

“Yes. I hate that it did. I pushed you away, or at least I
stayed
away from you at first because I hadn’t been sure I could take it. I wasn’t afraid you’d hurt me, not really.”

He kissed her temple, a shudder running through his body. “I’d never hurt you, Les.”

“I know. I
know
. It was more of what would happen if I let my wolf out.”

She wanted to kiss the frown right off his face. “What do you mean?”

“Dorian and I share the same blood, Fawkes.” She held up her hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “No, let me finish my crazy thoughts. I thought that if I gave into the violence that’s inherent into the Pack, I’d become him. I know it makes no sense, but I didn’t want to be that wolf.”

Fawkes cupped her face, his eyes so full of sympathy and…love that she just wanted to wrap herself around him and never let go.

Soon.

“You could never become that, Leslie. You fought today to protect someone you care about. You stood by and watched me kill a man today to protect you. Don’t you see? You’re stronger than you thought.”

She smiled at him then kissed his jaw, loving the way the bristles on his chin felt against her lips. “I know that now. I’m a wolf. I need to get over my fears and I will. At least I will with your help.”

Fawkes nodded. “I will. You know I will. Leslie, you mean everything to me. I came out of hell not knowing what I would do, what choice I would make, but there really wasn’t a choice for me. I don’t want to live my life without the other half of my soul. I want to be with you until the end of the earth. I want to grow with you, watch you grow round with our children, and watch you become the wolf you’ve always wanted to be.”

Love and warmth filled her chest and she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Fawkes.”

He kissed the side of her neck, sending delicious shivers down her body. “I love you too, my Leslie. Gods, I love you so much.”

“I want to bond, Fawkes. I don’t want to wait.”

He pulled back and cupped her face. “Are you sure? Right now? I want to make sure when we bond that you know it’s because I want you and you want me, not so you can save me from my demonic self.”

She shook her head, then kissed the center of his palm. “I want you to not have to worry about that, yes, but I want to feel you in here.” She placed her own palm over her heart. “I want that bond more than anything, Fawkes.”

He smiled, his face growing even more handsome than when he brooded.  “Anything, love. Anything.”

He cupped her face then lowered his lips. Gods, he tasted amazing, like hell’s heat just cooled down for her mixed with mint. She breathed into him, letting him take control. He ran his hands through her hair, tugging slightly, sending an unknown thrill down her spine.

He pulled back, his black eyes dancing with red flecks. “You liked that, didn’t you?”

She licked her lips, loving the way his gaze followed the wet trail. “I like anything you do.”

He grinned, this time not in humor, but in a feral need that almost made her come on the spot. “Good.”

Whereas before his kisses were soft, tentative, these new ones where hard, demanding.

She loved it.

His lips nibbled along her jaw. He tugged her hair to the side, forcing her to arch her neck so he could lick and bite. She pussy clenched at that feeling of his teeth scraping along the juncture where her neck met her shoulder and she wiggled in his hold, needing to find release.

He bit down harder but didn’t break the skin.

“I’ll mark you tonight, baby, but not until we’re both panting with so much need we’ll combust.”

Was it wrong she was about to combust right there?

He slowly slid his hands down her sides then up her shirt. The heat of his skin shocking against hers.

Though he’d let his demon side and horns show during the fight, he’d hid them again in the shower. For some reason she missed them.

“Didn’t I hear something about demon horns being…sensitive?” she asked then bit her lip.

Fawkes sucked in a breath and nodded. “Next time. If you touch my horns I’ll blow right now and then we’ll miss out on me sinking into that pussy of yours.”

Okay, so apparently she
was
able to almost come by just his words.

Good to know.

He slowly slid up her shirt, leaving her in her bra and jeans. His eyes darkened, though the red specks seemed to glow.

“Gods, you’re beautiful.”

“Hurry, Fawkes. I’m burning up.” She blushed at the admission and her demon licked her shoulders then cupped her breasts through her bra. Her nipples tightened to sharp points against his palms and she rocked against him.

“When you blush, you blush all over. It’s sexy as hell.”

“Fawkes…”

He didn’t let her finish her moan, though she wasn’t quite sure what she would have said short of begging.

He rolled her nipples between his fingers and pinched down through her bra. Hard.

She arched her back, pressing her breasts into his palms more. He quickly undid the front clasp of her bra, letting her breasts fall in his palms.

Heavy.

Ready.

He lowered his head, pulling her nipple between his teeth. She gasped as he flicked her tongue, causing her stomach to tighten, her pussy doing the same.

When she was wiggling in his hold, he lavished her other breast, forcing her to rock against him, begging for release.

He chuckled against her skin, the rasp another form of torture.

Finally, he moved so he knelt on the floor in front of the couch and moved so he was between her legs.

She swallowed hard, silent but her heavy pants as he undid her jeans and slid them, along with her panties down her legs. He threw them to the side and she found herself naked on the couch while he knelt fully clothed between her legs.

“What are you doing?” she asked, hoping he was about to do what she thought he was. She might have been a submissive wolf, but she wanted his mouth on her.

Now.

“I’m going to taste this sweet cunt of yours then fuck you with my fingers until you come around me. Then I’m going to take you to the bedroom and fuck you with my cock until both of us are boneless, marked, mated, and whole.”

She blinked, holding herself back from coming from his words alone.

“Okay.”

He grinned again then lowered his face to her mound. He kissed the short hair she’d trimmed there then licked along her nether lips. He took this thumb and forefinger to spread her then sat back on his haunches and stared.

She would have been embarrassed if not for the hungry look on his face.

Before she could beg for his touch he licked her clit, then sucked. She rocked her face against him, holding the couch so she didn’t force him even closer. He sucked, licked, and nibbled along her clit and pussy until she was radiating with need. A storm of heat and need tumbled within her and she felt the orgasm spark until it rolled over her, her body thrashing as she called his name. She threw back her head, closed her eyes, and rode the wave of pleasure her mate provided.

He continued to go down on her as she came off her high, her body drugged with pleasure. Then he licked up her body, until his lips found her own. She could taste herself on him and just thought it was about the hottest thing ever.

She felt his hands on her ass and suddenly she was in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, her wet heat against the thick line of his erection within the confines of his jeans.

“Bedroom?” he moaned.

She nodded and leaned to kiss up his neck as he walked them to his bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed and she leaned back on her arms as he pulled off his shirt and pants.

“You weren’t wearing underwear?” she asked, her stomach tightening again as she watched him.

He was gorgeous. Long and lean muscles covered his body. The ridges of his abdomen begged for her tongue and she couldn’t wait to taste him.

Speaking of tasting…

She gulped as she studied his cock. Thick, long, and curved so it bounced on his stomach as he leaned over to kick the rest of his clothes out of the way.

“If you keep staring at me like that, things are going to end a bit quicker than I’d planned.”

She smiled then stood quickly, pushing him on his back on the bed before he had a chance to understand what she planned.

“Leslie? Oh shit.”

She cupped his balls and sucked the head of his cock into her mouth. She ran her tongue around the tip then along the little slit, loving the way his musky taste settled on his tongue.

“Leslie, if you do this, I’ll come in your mouth when I really want to come in your pussy.”

She pulled back, releasing his cock with a pop. “You’re a demon. You can go again,” she teased.

He groaned and tangled his hand in her hair, directing her where he wanted. She stroked up and down his length with one hand while rolling his balls in the palm of her other hand. She licked and sucked the sides of his cock then finally let him down her throat. The tip brushed the back of her throat and she relaxed, letting him sit there for a minute before hollowing her cheeks and moving her head back. She bobbed up and down, sucking in time with the movement of her hands.

He gripped her hair and forced her to stay still. She loved that he took control. Loved. It. She raised her eyes and sought his gaze as he fucked her mouth. His cock slid in and out of her lips and she loved the taste.

Finally she felt the first spurt of his seed on her tongue and she quickly swallowed as he came in her mouth. She let each drop roll down her throat then pulled away to lick his cock clean.

“Fuck, Leslie, you’re amazing.”

She gave him a naughty grin then he moved quicker than she could blink. Suddenly she found herself on her back and his cock deep in her pussy as he thrust within her in one stroke.

“Gods,” she moaned.

Fawkes froze above her. The strain of waiting clear on his face fixed with worry. “Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No, please please. I need you.”

He nodded the rolled his hips back then forward. Her pussy tightened around him every time he tried to leave her and he groaned. He fucked her hard and fast, everything she needed as he leaned over her. He pulled back slightly and gripped her thighs pushing them up to her chest so he could get a bigger angle.

“Touch yourself,” he ordered.

She nodded, then let her hand travel down her stomach to her clit. She rubbed circles on her clit and felt herself let go.

“Come. Come, my Leslie.”

She did as she was told and came harder than she had in the living room. Fawkes shifted so he was still in her, but she was on top.

“Ride me, baby.”

She nodded then rode him hard, letting her hips do move of the movement. He ran his hands up her body then cupped her breasts.

“Fawkes, I can’t wait anymore. Please,” she begged. It was so much. So many emotions, feelings, touches. “I need your mark. Please.”

He moved again, This time sitting so she sat on his lap. He never stopped thrusting, showing her how strong he really was. He moved his neck to the side and she went on instinct.

She let her fangs pierce his flesh and she felt the bond snap in place as he came with her.

He held her close and then she moved back so he could mark her as well. Wolves were the ones who needed to mark, to claim, but she wanted his mark just as much.

Soon she found herself lying beside her mate, their bodies slick with sweat and exhaustion.

“That…that was amazing,” he panted.

“That was a mating,” she corrected.

“Fuck yeah.” He turned and pushed her hair away from her face. “Wanna do it again?”

She laughed and buried herself into his side. “Always.”

“I’m never letting you go, my Leslie. This is it for me. You’re my choice. That bond you feel? That’s perfection. I love you so much.”

Tears filled her eyes and she kissed his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her lips. “You’re my choice, Fawkes. No matter what happens, you’ll always be my choice.”

Fate might have given them to each other, but they’d chosen their own path.

Together.

Coming Next in the Dante’s Circle World, Tangled Innocence, in 2014

By Marie Harte

Chapter One

“Well, well, look what the cats dragged in.” Eira smirked at the pair of huge, stone-faced guards standing off to the side in the main foyer of Folkvang—her goddess Freya’s grand palace. There were marbled tiles, gilded moldings, and halls aplenty for drinking, whoring, and fighting. Because anyone who didn’t fight didn’t belong in the godlands.

Life with the goddess in Asgard—the immortal realm—had its perks. Perfect weather, a divine landscape filled with sweet-smelling flowers, rolling hills, and enough practice ground to keep the warriors in residence in berserker paradise. Not to mention the muscled eye-candy staring back at her.