Rocky (Tales of the Were) (13 page)

He didn’t give her a chance to respond as
he lowered his head and locked his lips onto hers. But she didn’t mind. His admission was shocking…and thrilling at the same time. Maybe life did give second chances.

Rocky loved the feel of her in his arms. The warm fire in front of them, the soft glow of the fairy lights on the tree and the hot woman in his arms combined to make him feel almost lightheaded with wonder at the joy that had come out of tragedy. Maggie was in his arms, at last, and that erased all that had come before. At least for the moment.

“I want you so much, Maggie. Say yes. Let me make you mine.” He stopped his headlong rush with effort, knowing he had to give her a choice. He also had to say what was in his heart. She had to know all of it before she made her decision. “I’ve always loved you, Maggie mine. Always.”

“You have?” Her expression was so hopeful it touched him deep inside.

H
e nodded. “I love you, Maggie. I want you to be my mate, my wife. I’ve loved you since I was a teenager, but I never knew how to tell you.”

“God, Rocky,” she whispered. “I love you too.”

She reached over and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Rocky took her down to the soft, braided rug and rolled so that she was underneath him.  She moaned in agreement, never letting go of him. She seemed as hungry for him as he was for her and had no fear of letting him know it. He loved that—and so many other things—about her.

But his Alpha side demanded submission.
Slowly, he levered himself over her and pressed her downward. “Bare your neck to me, Maggie. Show me you’re mine.”

Chapter Eleven

The growl in his voice turned her on like she’d never been turned on before. Maggie looked up at him, reading the need for her in his gaze, the power of him evident in every line of his body. This was the man she’d loved most of her life finally claiming her. And this
was
a claiming…body and soul. She could feel it.

A little hesitantly, she bared her neck, stretching to the side while trying to hold his gaze. She saw him smile and
noticed his teeth were sharper than human teeth were supposed to be. Rocky’s grizzly traits were a little more obvious than Tony’s had been. She jumped a bit, but this was Rocky. She knew in her heart he would never hurt her.

He growled low in his throat. The sound warmed her, sending spirals of warmth roiling through her body. Rocky’s head descended and he
nuzzled her neck, scraping his teeth lightly over her skin. It should probably have hurt, but she felt nothing other than excitement and yearning.

“Rocky
,
please
.” Her whispered plea seemed to energize him.

He lifted her top over her arms and did away with her bra in almost the same motion. She’d almost gotten used to him being around when she nursed the boys, but this was different. He knew what she looked like and how tender she was, but they’d never really crossed the line into all
out passion. They’d flirted with the idea a few times, but they both knew this time he wouldn’t stop.

She wouldn’t stop him and she’d kill him if he tried to call a halt. No, this time they were going to see their mutual attraction through to the end. Rocky’s hands went to her pants, unbuttoning and unzipping her with little fuss. She helped him as he pushed the pants and panties down her legs
and kicked them away.

Then he levered up enough so he could unzip his jeans. She worked on
the buttons of his shirt, not wanting any cloth between them. She had it open only moments before he pushed his jeans down. He took a moment to put on a condom, which touched her deeply. He hadn’t needed to be asked. They hadn’t had to discuss anything. He knew what to do without being asked. The action spoke louder than words about his care for her.

He returned, sheathed, to rest his hard cock against her naked core. She was hot, wet and ready for him, and she wanted this like nothing she’d ever wanted before.

“It’s got to be fast this time, Mags. I’m sorry for that.” He nipped at her earlobe, his teeth sending shivers of delight down her spine. “But I promise I’ll make it up to you for the rest of our lives.”

“Do it now, Rocky. I can’t wait either.” She shivered in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, silently urging him to take her.

Never had she been so ready so fast. But she’d been waiting for Rocky for years. She’d waited long enough.

He hesitated just one more moment more before pushing home, long enough to watch her expression as he moved inside her for the first time. The moment was filled with magic, frozen in time and filling both hearts with the joy of homecoming.

“I love you, Maggie.”

Rocky seemed to lose control then, pounding away at her body as if he would never get enough. He stroked inside her long and deep, fast and powerful, and she wanted it all.

“
Rocky
.” Her pleasure was uttered in a broken whisper as a tumultuous orgasm broke over her senses, but he just rode her through it, bringing her higher still. The second time she peaked, she gasped at the pleasure, sharp, intense and so amazing she didn’t know if she would ever come back to earth. But Rocky pushed her higher yet.

The third time she came, she raked her nails down his back, scratching him as he bit into the tendons where her neck met her shoulder, not breaking the skin, but placing his mark of ownership there for all to see. Maggie didn’t mind the small pain. In fact, it enhanced the experience, drawing a low moan of pleasure from her this time as Rocky came hard and fierce with her.

When the storm eased for them both, he rested his forehead against hers as he rolled them to their sides. His cock stayed semi-hard within her as if he didn’t want to leave now that he’d finally been granted access to her body.

“You’re amazing, Maggie mine, and I love you with all my heart.”

She stroked his slick skin gently, wrung out after the intense love making. “As I love you, Rock.”

They got up a few minutes later to clean up and check on the babies, but the boys were still fast asleep. Rocky joined her in the bedroom and made love to Maggie again, slower this time. He let her ride at first, then switched positions, taking her from behind while she moaned in pleasure. Maggie had never had so many orgasms in so short a time, but she wasn’t complaining. Her
werebear lover was insatiable, and she loved everything about him.

The next day, it was impossible to hide the change in their status from Rocky’s parents. Marissa and Joe were all smiles and knowing winks and Maggie knew she blushed a few times by the heat scorching her fair cheeks. Rocky seemed to take the teasing in stride, though he was also happier than Maggie had ever seen him. He took every opportunity to touch her, stroking her hair as he passed her chair, taking her hand as they sat side by side.

And he was smiling a lot. More than he’d ever smiled before. Each and every smile touched her heart, knowing she was responsible—at least in part—for putting that joyful expression on his face.

Come to think of it, she was smiling a lot too.

“Why don’t you two take a walk?” Marissa said after lunch. “I’ll look after the cubs
, and Rocco can show you a little more of the mountain. You must be tired of being cooped up in this house all day.”

“Great idea,
Mom,” Rocky grinned, kissing the top of his mother’s hair as he passed her. “Want to do a little sightseeing, Mags? We’ll stick close to the house, within the security perimeter.”

Maggie liked the idea of being alone with him. She hadn’t been away from the babies since they were born, but she knew Marissa would keep them safe.

“I guess it would be all right. And I’d like to see more of the area around the house. I haven’t gotten to see much except the driveway and what I can view out the windows.”

“Great.” Rocky took her hand and led her toward the hall closet. “Allie gave me a parka for you since she didn’t think you have much cold
weather gear when you got here. She also sent along gloves and a scarf, I think.”

Rocky kitted her out in short order and they left, heading for the woods. Rocky led the way, showing her paths she hadn’t really realized were there. They weren’t marked, but once she knew what to look for the pathways were a little easier to spot. The one he took her on first led from his house out a ways and down the side of the mountain a little.

“That’s the Lords’ house. Allie, Tim and Rafe live there,” Rocky pointed to a lovely building set in the woods farther down the trail.

A smaller trail branched off from the main one they were on, leading down into the Lords’ front yard, but Rocky didn’t take it. Instead, he led her onward toward a destination only he knew.

He stopped a few times to point out neighboring homes, but he stayed on the main trail that led around the side of the mountain and slightly downward. Finally, he took one of the smaller trails that branched off from the main and they entered a stunning forest glade. One minute they were in the cold sun, the next they were in a warm, shaded, almost magical spot that was filled with all the colors of green, from light to dark. Growing things defied the winter outside, prospering in this small, protected glade.

“Betina’s house is through there
.” Rocky pointed to a small trail marked with bursts of color. On closer examination, Maggie realized they were red berries on holly bushes growing on either side of the trail.

“But what I wanted to show you is right through here.” Rocky lifted a trailing vine so Maggie could step under.

She stopped short. Beyond the sheltering vines, there was a pool of water fed by a trickling waterfall that sent cold water into what must have been a hot spring beneath. Steam rose from the pool, causing a mist to cover the ground. The warmth seemed to be held in by the surrounding greenery, which was much more lush than the winter world outside.

T
he warm steam that drifted out of the grotto made this protected spot comfortably warm in an otherwise cold, wintery world. For the moment, they’d left winter behind and found a pleasant space between seasons, beyond time. A space where they could be together in a stolen moment, away from their cares and worries.

“It’s like a little oasis of summer in the middle of a cold world,” Maggie whispered, feeling as if this place
was sacred somehow.

“That’s a good description.” A new voice caused her to turn sharply. Rocky was right behind her, but the new man spoke from off to her left somewhere.

“Stop skulking, Slade. Come out and meet Maggie.” Rocky’s tone was friendly, even teasing, so she took her cue from him and relaxed a bit.

The man who stepped out of the leafy cover to their left was one of the most exotic beings she’d ever met. He was as tall as Rocky and just as muscular, though built on the leaner side. He looked sleeker somehow. And more deadly.

“Honey, this is Slade. He’s in charge of security on the mountain.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Slade nodded and smiled slightly, but it didn’t help him look any less dangerous.

His black hair shone with health and vitality. His blue eyes seemed to dance in amusement when he realized she was struck speechless by his abrupt appearance.

“Don’t let him scare you, Mags. He’s on our side, thank the Goddess.”

“Oo-rah,” Slade commented quietly, and both men chuckled. “If there’s anything you need, you know where to find me, Rock.”

“Thanks, buddy. For now, I’m just giving Maggie the nickel tour. Tim and Rafe filled you in?”

“You know it,” was his cryptic answer. “We’re as ready as we can be.”

“Good. Thanks for helping with this.”

“It’s my honor.” The expression on Slade’s face went from humor to seriousness in the blink of an eye. He stepped forward and lifted Maggie’s hand. She’d apparently been struck dumb by the man’s presence. Why couldn’t she think of anything to say?

“Your cubs will be safe here, ma’am, if I have anything to say about it. They’re the future. Thank you for bringing them here.” Slade bowed over her hand and sniffed once, then kissed her knuckles lightly.

It was an odd gesture, but she figured it had to mean something among shifters. Maybe he was learning her scent for some reason? Maybe that would help him protect her babies? The idea intrigued her and she knew she’d have a bunch of questions for Rocky when they were alone again.

She nodded, still not speaking to the strange man. He confused her senses and made it hard to think of anything to say that wouldn’t sound rude. So she kept silent. He seemed amused again as he let go of her hand and turned to leave. Between one blink and the next
, he was gone.

What in the world was he?

Rocky was chuckling when she turned to look at him. She hit his shoulder.

“Stop laughing.”

He laughed even harder. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speechless before.”

“Well…” She didn’t know what to say to that. He was right. “There’s something odd about that guy.”

“You could say that.” Rocky’s chuckles subsided but the smile didn’t leave his face as he drew her into his arms. “Slade’s a tricky one. Ex-military, like a lot of our best warriors, but there’s something about him even spookier than most of the Special Ops guys.”