“Your fingers.” His tongue felt heavy. The need to bite her was on him. But he could resist the compulsion. “When you unsuccessfully stroked yourself, did you start them here?”
He touched her breasts, running in his fingers in light waves over her mounds. They were more than a handful, and they were all his to play with.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m throbbing inside, Savage. I want you there. Please.”
“In time, Pet.” He grinned. His to teach, to study, to learn. “I want to relieve your need so much I can’t think past the drive. But that means making sure you’re satisfied. I’ll never leave my mate unfulfilled. Ever.” He lowered his head and took her nipple between his teeth.
His cock ached, his balls were rock hard, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever been in a state of such primal need. His mate was seriously hot, her body made for his love. He needed to show her what he’d never be able to say. She would understand, somehow, that she was everything.
His gift, his mate, the only thing he’d never asked for yet received anyway.
Sydney sucked in her breath. “Oh.”
Her pant nearly undid him, and beneath his body she squirmed. He ran his free hand down her length until he found her knee. Pressing her leg down on the bed, he forced her to stay still.
“Savage?” Her question wasn’t unsurprising.
“Don’t move. The longer you resist, the more you will explode. Trust me. Stay still. Close your eyes. Just feel your breasts.”
She gulped. “The heat.”
“We’re going to build it up. Then let it out. It’s like a furnace, I don’t want to let it out in small doses. I want to see how hot I can get you.”
She nodded. “I trust you.”
The best gift she could have ever given him.
Savage stared down at her, the pale curves of her breasts calling out to him. There were fine red marks where his whiskers had scratched her. He should have shaved.
“Am I hurting you?”
“No.” She whispered. She’d promised to tell him if anything pained her, and he smelled no deceit in her open rose-scented aroma. Sydney had no secrets from him. His whiskers must not be a problem.
“When you next touch yourself, I don’t want you to go for gold right away. The buildup is half the fun for you.”
He took her nipple in her mouth and bit down lightly. She sighed but didn’t move.
“Good girl.” He stroked her skin with his tongue. “When you’re not in heat, you might be tempted to quickly place your fingers inside of yourself and rub until you come. That’s fine, whatever you want to do to pleasure yourself is always beautiful. But touching your breasts first will make the final rubs so much more satisfying.”
She opened her eyes, and the blues that stared at him were so innocent. He wished he could keep them so world-worry free forever.
Savage made love to her breasts with his tongue. When she moaned, he gave her more. Beneath him, her body trembled, and before too long she’d gripped the bed. Sydney’s knuckles had turned white.
She was holding on by a small thread. Her heat rode her, and the small touches of pleasure she received weren’t enough to hold it at bay any longer. The time had come to fulfill her needs. When she was more experienced, when she knew what she loved and didn’t, the next time she was in heat, she’d be able to direct him. And he’d gladly do as she instructed.
Tonight he had to introduce her to sex and see to her heat at the same time. A rare gift he would not forget Sydney and the Moon had bestowed on him.
“You can move.” He whispered in her ear and she panted, her knees coming up at the perfect angle for him to see her pussy. Her chest heaved and her eyes were dilated when she looked at him. “I promise to give you sweet relief.”
“By the Moon, I want…I need…I don’t even know.”
Good thing he did. Savage slipped a finger inside her. She was so wet and he gritted his teeth. He wanted his cock inside her warmth immediately. If he did, she’d probably still have a great time. In as much pain as she was, anything to bring her relief she’d be glad for. But not Savage. He knew how much better he could make it. The longer he held off, the more he would satisfy her all-consuming need.
“When you touched yourself, was it here?” He pressed deeper into her warmth. She was tight, and he groaned from his desire. Not about you, Savage, not yet.
Sydney shook her head. “No.”
“No?” He smiled. “Where did you start then? Did you imagine I would touch you here?”
With his thumb, he stroked over her clit and she cried out, her spine arching off the bed.
“Yes. Yes. There. Oh, yes.”
She was a female who liked her clit rubbed.
“When you were imagining me doing this was it one finger? Two? My tongue?”
Sydney raised her head to look at him. “It’s possible to do it with your tongue?”
Getting her off would be one of his favorite pastimes. He could already tell.
“Hmm.” He smiled. “This is one finger.” He pressed over her clit again, increasing the pressure to watch her start to pant. She was such a responsive lover, so unpracticed, every move she made real and it was so damn satisfying to know he triggered it.
“Two fingers.”
She grabbed his arm. “Oh. Oh.”
“You’re close.” He grinned. “We’re going to save my tongue for later. I want this to move the heat for a while. You’re not going to get that if I let you come anywhere but around my cock. Don’t worry, Pet, I’d love to use my tongue on you.”
Savage grabbed the condom and quickly sheathed himself. Nothing would be better than skin-to-skin and the time for total contact would come, when she wasn’t in heat.
Inch-by-inch he pushed into her. His mouth ached and his canines threatened to descend, but he wasn’t ready yet. Not nearly.
Control was the name of the game. Sydney cried out, her muscles stretching to fit him and when he finally didn’t think he could take anymore he was finally all the way inside.
“Savage.” Her voice had lowered. “You’re inside of me.”
The sheer joy in her voice nearly undid him. “I am. How does it feel?”
“Like what it must be like in heaven.”
He found her lips and kissed her slowly, forcing his hips to stay still, to not move. Not yet.
“More.” She demanded when he pulled away.
As she wanted, always. He surged from her body, nearly coming all the way out of her pussy and then pressed in. She cried out, her hips rising to accommodate him. Shit, he was in so much trouble. He’d never been so close to the edge so soon. Ever, that he could remember.
“More.” This time she panted her demand.
Savage gave up trying. Moving as gently as he could at first, he pushed in and out of her, hoping beyond hope she’d have no regrets when it was over. She cried out with his every thrust, her fingers digging deeper and deeper into his arms until he knew he’d wear scars of their lovemaking for a while. Her pants became louder until she shouted with every thrust.
His ears rang and his teeth descended and she wasn’t done. Savage reached between them, finding her clit. She had loved two-finger pressure, so that was what he gave her. Sydney cried out, his name, the moon, all sorts of nonsensical words, and then finally she shattered around him. He waited, drew her out as long as he could before he spent.
On his next thrust, he bit her neck. Hard. Savage couldn’t have held off if he wanted to. The need to mark her drove him as the heat held onto her. She cried out only not in pain, her muscles clenched around him, milking his cock some more while she came again and again.
Finally, he could pull off, his wolf teeth returning where they belonged. Droplets of blood remained where he marked her, and he bent down to lick them away. His saliva might heal it a bit. Although whenever it started to fade, he’d be compelled to mark her again.
She looked beautiful. Staring up at him under hooded eyes with his cock sti
ll inside her, she was the loveliest sight he’d ever beheld.
“You okay?” He had to ask. Had he pleasured her enough? Was there anything else he could do? “What do you need?”
“Your arms. Around me.”
Best answer ever. As gently as he could manage, he pulled out of her, and, after quickly disposing of the condom into the garbage, he tucked her up against him. She rolled over, placing her head on his chest with her arm slung over him.
Her skin was cool, and his own body confirmed she was satisfied. The heat had left, for the moment. That was the best they were going to get until it let up for the cycle. Not that he’d complain. Lots of time to show her everything before he took out the Garto.
The thought made him wince. He still had some questions. What usually happened? Did the female go meet the Garto or would the thing come to her bedroom?
He hated to spoil the mood although he really wanted to know. There was planning to do. “Hey, love.” Savage looked down at Sydney when she didn’t answer him.
Her mouth hung open, and her eyes were closed. She breathed silently against him. His heart turned over. Savage had never held anyone when they slept before, never imagined wanting to. His mate tucked against him in the middle of the afternoon was so luxurious.
Savage never napped. He hardly slept, rarely more than four hours at most and never during the day. His eyes closed.
Sometime later, she stirred next to him, thrashing. Savage opened his lids surprised he had been asleep. The light from the afternoon was gone. Nighttime had fallen.
“Sydney.” Her skin was hot again. Nothing to do but ride it out. “Sydney, love.”
She came awake with a jerk. “It’s back.”
“I know. Spread your legs.” He pushed her knees apart. “Remember how I told you I’m good with my tongue?”
This time Savage showed her.
With his mate knocked out again, he made his way downstairs. His pack was gathered in the living room, a lot of them with their earbuds in, reading or clicking on their phones. They all stood when he came down.
“Hi.” He walked toward the kitchen. “Thanks for the ear covers, guys. My mate seemed to prefer privacy.”
“Is there anything you need, my Alpha?” Max spoke for the group.
“All of you as ready as you’ve ever been to kill a possibly mythical monster and keep my mate safe.”
Max nodded. “We’ll train as hard as we can.”
“All I can ask.”
“Hey.” Hayden called from the front door as he entered. “Loverboy. Grab some food and come out here. I need to talk to you.”
Savage groaned. Little brothers were always little brothers, even when they were mated Alphas.
****
Sydney wandered through a forest. She really had no idea where she was, but she wasn’t afraid. Somehow she was sure she’d been there before. Her feet were bare.
“Come back.” She turned at the sound of Savage’s call. “It’s not safe.”
Her mate grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “The monster is loose.”
Sydney sat up with a jolt. The heat wasn’t pulsating, and her body felt languid, easier than she’d ever felt ever. She rolled over. Savage wasn’t there, which wasn’t surprising. The moon was high in the sky. She couldn’t expect him to loll around constantly with her. Although she wouldn’t mind if he did.
Yawning, she got out of the bed and padded into the bathroom, collecting her clothes as she went. Hunger panged her stomach. She would eat and then find Savage. The living room full of strangers who all stood when she walked in made her stop abruptly.
Fortunately, she’d put on her clothes. Although her skirt was torn right around the side. “Um. Hello.”
“Hello,” a tall man walked toward her. “I’m Max. I am one of the dominants of the San Francisco pack, owing my life to your mate.”
Mate. It was so weird to hear the word used toward her. She rubbed her neck, her marking aching a bit. For as long as it hurt, she would remember what they’d been doing when he gave it to her.
“Is there anything we can do for you?”
“Um…no. But thanks.” She walked toward the kitchen, and Max followed. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Max’s brows furrowed. “For me? No, of course not.”
The lights were on in her parents’ house. It was late; everyone should be long asleep. Bed time was a ritual, and it was never veered from. Was everyone okay?
She grabbed an apple off the counter and headed for the door. She’d all but made it there when he was stopped at the door by Max, who placed himself in front of her. She stared at him, he at her, and neither of them moved.
“I want to go out the door.” She pointed at the exit as though he didn’t know what it was because, if he did, wouldn’t he get out of her way?
“Sure.” Max nodded. “Where would you like to go?”
This conversation moved nowhere fast since he still hadn’t gotten out of her way. “To my house.”
“Absolutely. George, you’re with me.” Max moved out of her way, and she stepped through only to find Max and George on both sides of her when she stepped outside. Both males were tall, but not as big as Savage. George’s hair was dyed blue, and Max had a ring in his eyebrow. She stopped moving and so did they.
“Um. Are you coming with me?”
“Anywhere you go, ma’am, we go.” George answered this time. “You’re the Alpha’s mate.”
“You’re my guards?”
“Yes.” They answered together.
Max leaned forward. “If it means anything, two of us are following the Alpha and his brother. It’s what we do. We’re pack.”
She had to figure out what pack meant. Having never had one, the idea seemed appealing. Wherever Savage was she wanted to be a part of it. Only she wasn’t at all used to being followed around.
“Am I in some kind of danger?”
The two men exchanged a look. Finally, Max answered. “There is a Garto-Wolf who wants to kill you.”
“Yes. That’s true. But not tonight. We have a few days. No one is going to hurt me here.”
They both nodded, but they didn’t return to the guest house. Okay, she supposed their actions meant they were coming with her. She made her way across the small dirt path with her two guards trailing after her. When she got to the house, they followed her inside.
Her family was all gathered in the living room on their knees. The babies looked half asleep, but they were all praying.
The chant her father pulled out when he was really convinced the world was going to hell. She’d never really understood what it meant. Her mother called it the sadness prayer.
“The many will rise up against the fallen. The many will rise up against the fallen. Hear us, oh moon, the many will rise up against the fallen and we will all be free from the darkness.”
Over and over again.
Sydney wished she hadn’t come in the house. This prayer always made her sad. Who were the many? Who had fallen? Her father didn’t know. He once explained the men in his family had said it over and over again when he was a child and had done so for generations.
She turned to the guards. One night with Savage, and she already felt out of place. Max and George both stared at the scene, and for a second George rolled his eyes before he steadied his face again.
Was he…making fun of her family’s prayer?
Sydney didn’t want to get on her knees with them, but how dare this stranger she didn’t even know come into their home and roll his eyes? Her parents hadn’t acknowledged her and being ignored was perfectly fine.
With anger fueling her steps, she walked almost all the way to the guest house before she stopped. Whirling around, she poked George right in the chest with her index finger.
“You know what? My parents aren’t perfect. They’re far from it. They would never, however, come into your home and make fun of how you prayed. They wouldn’t roll their eyes. I’m sure there
are plenty of things about me that are going to make everyone in San Francisco roll their eyes at me. I’ll never do that to you.”
Max growled at George. “Did you roll your eyes at the Alpha’s mate’s family?”
“I….” George stuttered for a second. “I did. You have my apology.”
The other man stood straight, his spine not relaxed at all.
“Why would you do that, wolf?” Max snarled. “Do you know what the Alpha will do to you for such disrespect?”
“I do. I couldn’t help it. I had a momentary slip. It was too close. I wasn’t rolling my eyes at the Alpha’s mate’s family. It was the memory. I am so sorry.” He looked down and Max stopped snarling.
“Shit.” Max muttered and then his eyes got huge. “I am so sorry, ma’am. I should not have sworn.
She waved off his words. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard someone swear, shocking though it might seem to him.
Waves of sadness and panic warred in George’s scent. Sydney should be angry; he’d confessed to the eye rolling and it was downright rude. And yet….
She placed her hand on his arm. “Memories?”
“I…” He shook his head. “I grew up in a place like this one. Very similar actually. I was the fifth son. They had nine when I left. They threw me out. Told me I was…wrong. Perverse. The things I wanted meant the Moon didn’t love me. I was cursed. All kinds of things. Dad beat me almost to death one night and then threw me out.”
Max touched George’s arm. “Man….”
“Ma’am. I really am sorry. I’d be dead without Savage. He heard about me, I’m still not sure how. Gave me a place. A pack. A chance. Explained some things. That’s how a lot of us are here. I’d kill for him, die for the pack. Put myself in front of traffic for you. I knew I would the second I met you. I am so sorry.” He looked down. “Savage says the Moon doesn’t hate me.”
Sydney squeezed his arm tighter. “Of course the Moon doesn’t hate you.”
Her words choked out as she said them. She’d seen similar things—cousins who had been run out for being different. Her community had little room for differences. Those who didn’t fit left. She worried about her younger brothers and sisters.