He knew their journey would be dangerous. Ella was right to be wary of some of the shifters out there, those like Isabella Wyland, who would try to capture Ella for their own selfish purposes. There were those who would try to exploit the humans for their own greed. That was why they needed to speak out. It was the only way to protect Ella and any other humans who existed somewhere out there in the world.
Ty deepened the kiss, drawing a soft groan of need from them both. His tongue swept inside, dueling with her tongue before he pulled back to caress her upper lip with the tip. His breathing increased when she sucked on his bottom lip before pulling back to stare up at him.
“I want you,” she whispered, raising a trembling hand up to run it along his face. “I love you, Ty Bearclaw. Whatever happens in the future, I want you to know that.”
Ty turned his head enough to press his heated lips against her fingers. “The future will bring us our first child, a new life, a better one.”
His breath caught when Ella smiled and nodded. His hand rose and he wrapped his fingers around her hand and stepped back. Turning, he switched off the lamp next to the couch. In the faint light coming through the windows, they walked through the living room and down the hallway to their bedroom. Once inside, Ty turned Ella and captured her wrists. Pulling her arms up until they were shoulder high, he backed her up against the door and kissed her again.
“What did Ben say about you having sex while you were pregnant?” Ty murmured against her lips, pressing a series of kisses along her jaw. “Did he say it would be a problem?”
“He warned me that I might crave sex more as my hormone levels increase during pregnancy. I told him about the morning sickness among the human women who got pregnant. He said that shifter women don’t get morning sickness. Instead, shifter women become more aroused throughout their pregnancy. He believes because I am pregnant with a shifter child, I will be the same,” Ella softly explained, groaning and rubbing herself against him. “I think he is right.”
Ty’s body hardened when Ella stretched upward and rubbed against him. His eyes briefly closed when he felt her hand sliding down to brush against his cock. In retaliation, he nipped at her throat and was rewarded by the fragrant scent of her arousal. Deep down, he felt his bear moan in delight.
Too long, his bear muttered. You need mate more often.
We’ve been just a little busy, in case you forgot, Ty growled back.
Make more time, his bear snorted. I help.
Oh, no, you don’t! Ty started to respond, but it was too late. He could feel the sudden, primitive need to claim rushing through him like a drug. Damn you!
The sound of his bear’s response echoed through his head. The damn beast in him was determined to make this a very long, very enjoyable night. Something told Ty that it would be a waste of his time and energy to complain, not that he really wanted to anyway.
Well, if you can’t fight your inner beast, you might as well join him, Ty thought.
You welcome, his bear happily sighed.
Pain in the ass, Ty retorted before returning his complete focus on Ella.
Pulling Ella’s hands to his shoulders, he released them and reached down and gripped the bottom of her sweater. It didn’t take long for him to discard it. Once again, he was thankful for her lack of inclination for wearing a bra. His lips captured one taut peak and he sucked hard on it, drawing a cry of desire from Ella.
He could feel her fingers curl into his shirt. He teased her nipple until it was rosy and throbbing before he turned his attention to her left breast. He did the same, sucking, nipping, sucking some more, and teasing it with his tongue until she was writhing against the door.
“Ty!” Ella moaned, cupping the back of his head and holding him against her. She raised her right leg, trying to wrap it around his upper thigh. Her hips moved in an ancient rhythm, demanding relief from the aching need. “Oh, I want you.”
“How much?” Ty demanded, sliding his hands up her torso before he stepped back and began removing his own clothing. His eyes glittered with desire. “How much do you want me, Ella?”
Ella ran her hands down along her side, gripping the top of the black tights she was wearing and peeling them down. She pushed them off and kicked them to the side. She stood in front of him, naked and proud.
“How about I show you?” She whispered, her eyes glittering with challenge.
Ty felt not only his own body jerk in surprise and excitement, but his bear’s sudden attention. Fascinated, he stumbled backwards toward their bed. He watched as she extended her hands and ran them down over his body. His cock jerked up and down in response to her confident hands.
He swallowed when he felt his legs hit the side of the bed, and he fell backwards. His gaze followed her hands as she ran them down his chest and over his flat stomach, following his hairline down to his throbbing cock and heavy sack. She reached out with her left hand and wrapped it around his shaft, holding it straight up. He could feel his Adam’s apple move up and down his throat when her right hand suddenly moved to his thigh. It didn’t stay there for long. Every nerve ending in his body ignited with fire as she slowly inched her way up to his balls. A shudder ran through his body and he groaned loudly when she cupped first one, then the other in her hand, gently massaging them with her fingers.
“So, you want to tease me, huh?” She whispered, stepping between his spread thighs.
“I… Goddess, Ella!” Ty exclaimed hoarsely.
Pleasure exploded through Ty and he swore his brain, not to mention his body, was about to self-combust from the heat building up inside him. Ella was using more than her hands on him. Her tongue ran over his left ball and she gently sucked on him like he had on her breasts just minutes earlier. Her right hand continued to move up and down, stopping along the base of his cock to caress it before moving to the tip to spread his hot pre-cum over the sensitive head.
She was working him into a hard, throbbing mass of need. He hissed when he felt her nip the inside of his thigh. The woman was playing with fire, she just didn’t realize it was hot enough to challenge the sun at the moment. Her lips moved up the length of his shaft. She as she stroked him. Ty rose up onto his elbows so he could watch her.
He focused on her face, watching her expression as she rose up high enough to slide her mouth over the head of his cock. With each delicious stroke, he felt a wave of intense pleasure cut through him, leaving a trail of fire. The muscles in his arms bulged as he gripped the sheets to keep from stopping her. It felt so damn good, it hurt.
Her mouth slid further over him before she pulled back. He wanted to wrap his hands in her hair to prevent her from letting him go, but he didn’t. Instead, he imagined his hands tangled in the silky strands as he pressed her mouth down further over his cock until she swallowed the entire length.
She continued to stroke him with her tongue, sucking on him and taking more and more of his throbbing flesh into her mouth. A shudder went through him and he knew if she didn’t stop, he would cum down her throat.
Reaching out with shaking hands, he touched her face. It was her turn for pleasure. He wanted to show her how much he loved her. He needed to show her how much he cherished her strength, her intelligence, and the natural beauty of her spirit.
He sat up and pulled her to her feet. Ty captured her lips. He tenderly lifted her and twisted on the bed. Gently lowering her back against the turned down sheets, he slid his hands up along her body until he could cup her breasts. He reluctantly released her swollen lips to stare down at her.
“Will you marry me?” Ty asked in a husky voice. “Tomorrow. Please, Ella, say you will be my wife.”
Ella stared up at him in stunned disbelief before she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that said more than any words could. Ty groaned when he felt her response. There was no hesitation in her kiss.
“Yes,” she finally replied, breathless as she stared up at him. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”
&n
bsp; Ty grinned. “I’ll take that as an acceptance,” he laughed in joy before the smile died. “Forever, Ella. You are mine forever, just as I am yours.”
“Just as you are mine,” Ella repeated.
Ty wouldn’t have believed it possible for the fire in him to burn any hotter than it had already, but it did. Pushing Ella’s legs apart, he gripped her hips and held her steady as he aligned his cock with her. A shudder ran through him when the bulbous head of his cock, almost blue with need and ultra sensitive from her lips, connected with her heated channel.
“Oh, Ella,” Ty groaned as he pressed forward.
Ella pressed her lips against his collarbone. He felt the tip of her tongue making a swirling motion against his skin. It felt like each movement was connected to his nerve endings. His cock pulsed, pressing up against her slick channel. He could feel it swell as he imagined her mouth around him once again.
“I’m not going to last long if you keep gripping me like this,” he muttered in a desperate voice.
“We have all night,” Ella reminded him.
Ty gritted his teeth. He wouldn’t cum until she did. Moving his hips, he began stroking her until he could feel her slick desire coating the inside of her thighs. With a grunt, he pulled out and rolled onto his back.
“Get on top of me,” he demanded in a thick voice.
Ella rolled and straddled him. She braced her hands on his chest as she rose up high enough to position him before impaling herself on his engorged cock. Ty hissed when she came down hard on him. She didn’t do it slowly like she had in the past. This time, she took him as wildly as he wanted to take her.
Reaching up, he cupped her breasts as she began riding him. When he pinched her nipples hard between his finger and his thumb, she went wild on him. He lifted his hips at the same time as she descended. Their bodies collided, locking them together as they both came at the same time. Her head fell back as her body shook with her orgasm. His body pressed upward, filling her with his seed and rejoicing in the connection between them.
“You’re mine, Ella, forever,” Ty whispered, pulling her down and wrapping his arms around her when her body melted against his. “Forever.”
*.*.*
Later that night, Ella rolled onto her side. She was tucked up against Ty’s side. She stared out of the window. Through a crack in the blinds, she could see a glimpse of the night sky. The faint glow of lights from all the cars and vans appeared to have been turned off. She imagined that they were too tired and cold to stand around and take pictures of the house only. Tomorrow would be a completely different beast to deal with, though.
“What’s wrong?” Ty murmured, turning his head to stare down at her.
“Nothing,” Ella replied with a contented sigh. “I was just thinking that all your news people must be tired, cold, and bored right now.”
A chuckle escaped Ty. “I imagine you’re right,” he said, turning to stare at the same spot between the curtains.
“Do you really think everything will be alright, Ty?” Ella asked as she curled her fingers against his bare chest. “I’m worried about what kind of life our child will have and what will happen to my people.”
“Whatever happens, we’ll face it together,” Ty answered in a husky voice. “This really intelligent woman I know once told me that none of us can change the past, but we can change the future.”
“Your mom,” Ella said, looking up at him. “She told me the same thing.”
“Believe her, Ella, and believe in us. As long as we are together, we can accomplish anything we want or give it a hell of a good try,” Ty murmured. “We can create a new world where humans and shifters once again live side by side in peace.”
“My father once said that day would come,” Ella admitted with a sigh and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “It won’t be easy.”
“The good things never are,” Ty said, slowly rolling until he was lying over her again. “Now, I believe I heard this other really beautiful, intelligent woman inform me that we had all night long. It’s still dark out,” he observed.
“You are so bad,” Ella laughed when he began nuzzling her neck. “You also need to shave. I am going to have red marks all over my neck.”
“I seem to remember warning you that once I had you alone that I was going to love you so thoroughly that you’d think I was pretty amazing.”
“You always were, Ty, from the moment you jumped into the pit,” Ella whispered, framing his face. “You are my wonderful, amazing beast.”
Ella captured his lips. Tomorrow would come soon enough. For now, it was their time to be alone. She would face the future with her head held high and Ty by her side.
Chapter 28
“I just wanted to wish you and Ella much happiness,” Michaela said early the next morning in a video call.
“Thank you, Michaela,” Ty replied, fighting to straighten his tie before he released a curse and tossed it to the side.
“How is Ella doing? Better than you, I hope,” Michaela chuckled.
Ty glanced over his shoulder before returning his gaze to the computer screen. “I’m not sure,” he admitted with a rueful grin. “Tracy, Rhyanna, and my mom have had her locked in the guest bedroom all morning.”
“I think this is a smart move, Ty. It will bind her to you legally,” Michaela replied in a somber tone. “I have to say her presence has caused quite a commotion here at the capitol.”
“She is mine, Auntie. I won’t let anyone take her away from me. She carries our cub,” Ty said, sliding into his desk chair.
“I know. I received the briefing,” Michaela replied. “Congratulations on that as well.”
In the background, the sound of loud voices could be heard. Ty grimaced. The media had decided to make a coordinated attack on the house this morning. Every once in a while, one of the mangy shifters actually made it through the private, local, and federal officers protecting the house.
“Things will calm down in a few weeks,” Michaela informed him with a sigh. “Sooner if some other new media sensation pops up.”
“I know. I just worry about Ella,” Ty replied, glancing out the window.
“Ty! Did you see those beasts? They were like the man that attacked you and they were chasing this little skinny one,” Ella said in excitement, hurrying into the room.
“Ella! He isn’t supposed to see you yet!” Tracy exclaimed in amusement as she, Rhyanna, and his mom hurried in after his excited mate.
“Yes, I saw… Holy Goddess of Grizzlies!” Ty said hoarsely, staring at Ella.
His gaze ran over her flushed, rosy cheeks. His mom was trying to pin one last miniature red carnation in the braid that circled Ella’s head. Shimmering droplets of white pearls hung from her ears. The wedding dress she was wearing had belonged to his mother. He remembered seeing it in one of the portraits of his parents that hung in the downstairs library.
The strapless dress was red with a shimmering swirl of white running through it. Thousands of tiny pearls and glittering crystals adorned the dress; capturing the light and making Ella appear to glow. Around her neck, she wore a necklace of a double strand of pearls with tiny diamonds hanging like teardrops from it.
The dress hugged Ella’s figure, showing off the creamy mounds of her breasts and cinching at the waist before flaring outward to trail behind her. A smile curved his lips when he noticed her brightly painted red toenails peeking out from under it as she held up one side and looked out the window. She was barefoot.
“Ty, close your eyes!” Rhyanna snapped in a playful tone. “Ella, you forgot your shoes.”
“My… Oh, thank you,” Ella replied, distracted as she turned to get her first good look at Ty. “You look….”
“Beautiful…”
“So handsome…”
They both whispered at the same time. Ty mumbled something to Michaela, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember what it was. All he knew was that his aunt was no longer on the computer monitor. He swallowed, una
ble to tear away his gaze from Ella, even when Van and Peterson walked into the room.
“It’s time,” Van announced before he released a whistle when he saw Ella.
“Wow!” Peterson agreed, staring at Ella in stunned surprise. “I mean, you were always kind of cute in a human way, but… Wow!”
“Shut up, Peterson,” Tracy retorted with a roll of her eyes. “Get Ty out of here and downstairs. Oh, and tell Dad that we’re ready for him as well.”
“He’s already waiting at the bottom of the stairs,” Van muttered, walking over and grabbing Ty by the arm when his friend didn’t move. “Come on, man. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can get her out of that dress.”
“Geez! Don’t you guys think of anything else?” Tracy muttered.
“No,” all three men replied before turning slightly red when Lena raised an eyebrow at them.
“Uh, right,” Peterson said, grabbing Ty’s other arm. “Let’s go.”
Ty shook off both men’s hands and walked over to where Ella was standing. He raised a trembling hand and ran it tenderly down her cheek. A soft smile curved his lips.
“You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me, Ella,” Ty murmured in a quiet voice. “I’m one lucky shifter.”
“That’s what your mother, sister, and Rhyanna said, too,” she replied, looking up at him with a glowing smile.
Laughter filled the room. Ty chuckled and bent to brush a swift, passionate kiss against her lips. He pulled back, and his eyes twinkled with delight when she rose up for more.
“I’ll see you downstairs, Mrs. Bearclaw,” he whispered. He stepped back and turned to the others in the room “Let’s go make this official.”
“About damn time,” Van muttered good-naturedly.
Peterson slapped him on the shoulder. “I never thought I’d see this day, Ty. Congratulations.”
Ty nodded, glancing over his shoulder one last time before he drew in a deep breath and strode out of their living quarters. He vaguely listened as Van and Peterson teased him, but he honestly couldn’t have repeated a damned thing they said.