Puma Pride, page 7
“Hmmm,” he said trying to make himself be satisfied with her kisses.
“Mate with me, be my mate,” she held her breath when his entire body went still. She waited wondered if she said it wrong.
“If I mate with you, we are connected for eternity,” he pulled back. His gold eyes shimmered in the darkening room.
“I don’t think it will be long enough,” she confessed.
He lifted her from his lap and carried her to the bed. He let her slide down until she stood. He reached for his shirt but she pushed his hands away. One by one, she unbuttoned the line of buttons on his shirt. She rubbed her hands up and down his chest, smiling with the feel of his hard muscles. She stripped it off his wide shoulders and hummed her pleasure at touching him.
Her hands on him drove him to the edge of sanity but he let her explore. Her mouth slipped across his nipple and he jerked. Her hands slipped down his chest, traced his abs, and lingered on his pants. “I’m okay with you having past lovers,” she pulled his attention back to her. “But if you take another woman after this night, I’ll leave you and not look back.”
“There will never be anyone after you,” he promised. “Are you planning to… oooohhh.”
She opened his pants and freed his long cock. She trailed her fingers along the length of him and smiled. “Is this for me? All for me?”
“Yes,” he rumbled as she pushed his pants off.
“Take off your shoes,” she demanded. In a heartbeat he did as she asked.
He stood before her fully naked and fully erect. He watched her react to him, saw a slight flush on her cheeks. “Now it’s my turn,” he murmured as he touched the soft material of her gown.
He stared into her honey colored eyes for long moments. Pressing his forehead to hers, he inhaled her scent and knew her to be his mate. His hands bunched the material up and up, dragging it slowly higher until he gripped it tightly. Part of him wanted to tear it from her, tear all her clothes so she stayed naked with him for days and weeks. His mouth demanded from her as he slipped the material higher exposing her soft skin to his fingers and his body. He pressed her closer, trapping his hard erection between them.
“Brady,” she murmured his name.
Her tone grabbed him and slowed his motions to draw out the longing and need he heard. Her nipples hardened as the material brushed across them. Naked. He caressed her round bottom and muscular thighs. He purred as his hands discovered her shape and curves. His hands teased until she murmured and whimpered with every touch. He paused to make sure he didn’t hurt her.
The mottling of green and yellow bruises broke his heart. His mouth covered one nipple making her cling to him. He scooped her up as he used his mouth to wipe her mind of everything but what he did.
He noticed the covers turned down and flipped them back further. Kneeling on the bed he lowered her to lay next to him. He needed to see her, to take in the sight of her wanting him as much as he wanted her.
One by one, he wiped away her reserves and barriers until she lay beneath him open and ready for him. He wanted to go slow, to arouse her repeatedly but his cock throbbed and demanded.
Slowly he moaned as he connected their bodies for the first time. He felt it then, the complete connection he heard about from mated couples. He knew the other women meant nothing. He knew she satisfied the craving he felt, the need to be with someone. The right someone as he hesitated, she pulled him tighter into her.
“More,” she demanded and it broke his careful control.
He mated with her as she asked. He invaded her senses and her body to wipe away the memory of any others she may have considered as worthy of her. He wasn’t but he’d do anything to be worthy of her. Instinct and desire warred as he took but he hoped he gave her what she needed. He gripped her hands and moved his body to satisfy the hunger deep in his soul. He watched her before losing himself in her. Bodies moving, they raced up a high pinnacle as they mated for the first time.
Nothing mattered but the pleasure and completion he gave her. Then the world exploded in his head as he succumbed to the demands of his body. He felt her cling to him and gasp as he took her over the top with him, felt her tense and then relax. Her breath came in short pants and he clung to her as his mind settled.
He lay in the tub with her in his arms. They made love for hours. He realized as he lay buried in her after their first climax, she’d been innocent.
“Jolyn,” he murmured in her hair.
“Hmmmm,” she sounded content and satisfied.
“You were innocent,” he murmured with his arms around her, cupping her breasts.
She tensed, “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me,” he asked hoping he hadn’t hurt her too much.
“I didn’t want it to be an issue,” she admitted. He hadn’t told her he loved her and part of her wanted the words but she wouldn’t ask for them.
“You should have. I could have been gentler,” he murmured.
“You were wonderful,” she assured him.
“But,” he growled sensing something on her mind.
“Do I satisfy you,” she whispered stopping his hand from caressing her breasts.
“Yes,” he breathed it reverently, almost like a prayer.
“But you’re still…” she closed her eyes, felt heat in her face.
“I will be hard for some time,” he whispered. “Your scent, the touch of you. It takes so little to push me from satisfied to needy.”
She turned in his arms, stroked his long cock. “So, you’re hard because of desire, not because I suck at sex.”
“Making love,” he cupped her face. “We made love. I love you.”
“Oh,” she felt tears sting her eyes and joy fill her heart. “I love you too.”
Her lips crushed his, held against his as she shifted her body to connect with his. As she slid down his hard shaft, she threw her head back and moaned sending shivers of need to his cock.
“Yes, my Jo. Don’t stop moving,” he growled as his mouth raked down her throat. He squeezed her round bottom, slipped his hands up and down her body, shifted to make her more comfortable.
“Brady,” she gasped his name as she took control of their lovemaking. Gripping his shoulders, she shifted faster and faster.
He slipped his finger across her making her tremble and move faster. He repeated it as she rushed them hard towards another climax. “Jo,” he growled her name over and over.
“Brady, mine, be mine,” she gasped out as she pushed them to completion. Her eyes bore into his as she cupped his face. “My mate.”
“AAAAhhhhhhh,” he cried out gripping her bottom and holding her to him. “Yes!”
Legs wrapped around him, she hid her face in his neck and clung to him. He held her tight against him not wanting to move or separate from her ever. His cat purred and hummed his satisfaction.
“You’re purring again,” she murmured.
“You’ve satisfied my panther,” he whispered against her ear.
“Just your cat,” she asked.
“Gods in heaven, no,” he growled. “Jolyn, I swear I’ll never doubt you again.”
Hours later he lay behind her, arms wrapped around her. He let her sleep even as he felt his need for her surge again. They whispered to each other in between making love. He never thought he needed a woman but with her, he didn’t want to ever leave her. How would he let her go into a dangerous situation without him?
“You’re thinking very loudly,” Jolyn turned in his arms to gaze up at him. “What has you upset?”
“How do you know I’m upset,” he frowned.
“Your arms tightened around me and your cat went from purring to snarling.” Jolyn admitted.
“I don’t want you to go,” Brady admitted. “Every time I think of you out there without me to protect you, I see red.”
Jolyn closed her eyes and curled into him. She wanted to give in to him but part of her revolted against the idea. “Have you ever been around pups?” She murmured into his chest.
“No,” he frowned uncertain where she was headed with the question.
“Do you know the mother stays in her animal form while she’s pregnant,” she asked. “When they’re born, they’re born as an animal. With the Pack, I learned a lot about how they followed their traditions. I think the Pack had forty two pups. Being around them, being allowed in the room with them was a privilege. But more than that it was a joy.”
“But,” Brady interrupted but she covered his mouth with her hand. She raised her honey colored eyes to meet his yellow ones.
“Once in the room, there was such a joy and innocence to them. They loved everyone. Human, animal, shifter… it didn’t matter. They scrambled to experience each new thing. The only thing which made them pause was when one of the mothers growled.”
He kissed her hand, “It’s the same with ours but some are born as human and some as shifter. It depends on many factors.”
“When I found them,” her voice hitched but she swallowed before continuing. “In the nursery, the puppies tried to scramble away and get out. Their bodies, or what was left of them, were piled around the exits. There was blood, and parts and…” She tried to hold back her tears, tried to blink them away but failed.
He gathered her close. “Sssshhhhh.”
“When I saw boys beating on Minnie, I knew it might cost me my life. I could have walked by and left her there but all I saw was those puppies,” Jolyn confessed. “I… I had to help.”
“I know,” Brady realized how much she risked and how much it hurt her to see Minnie hurt.
“I love you. I don’t want to go… I don’t want to take the risk but if I don’t and it costs the life of even one of your kits….” She shook her head and burrowed close to him. “I couldn’t live with myself. I’d rather be dead than be the cause of more harm to innocents.”
He held her close, felt her tears even as she tried not to cry. His cat grumbled and wanted to lick her face to stop her tears. He rolled her under him and kissed her face, her eyes wiping the tears away. “You’ll go,” he muttered reluctantly. “I’ll stay with the bears and Bryan.”
“Oh Brady,” she felt him capitulate completely to her needs.
“Until then, you will spend a lot of time in my arms,” Brady growled.
“Just in your arms,” she asked pulling his face to her.
“God no,” he murmured as he sunk into her.
“It’s too early,” she tied her shoes even as she complained about going down for breakfast.
“It’s a normal time for breakfast,” Brady rubbed his hand down her back. “We’ll have breakfast with the Pride and then we’ll meet with Willie.”
“I… You go,” she suggested as she straightened. “I’ll meet you in the library.”
“Why,” he turned her towards him and noted her pale face and trembling hands.
“I don’t want to upset everyone,” she closed her eyes.
“We’ll face this together,” Brady rubbed her back and sat next to her. “If you don’t want to stay with the Pride, we’ll go. Is that what you want?”
“You have to stay with the Pride,” Jolyn leaned on him. “They hate me.”
“The only way to change their opinion is to face them and let them see the real you,” Brady reminded her. “I’ll be by your side.”
With a sigh, she agreed, “Let’s get it over with.”
He kept his arm around her as they walked down to the communal dining room. The chatter of voices met them as they turned down the hall. She squared her shoulders and clenched her jaw as they stepped through the door.
Stepping through, she saw fifteen different family groups. Parents, aunts, uncles, kits gathering around tables to share a meal but also share with other family groups. Jolyn put her hands behind her back as Brady closed the doors. The chatter turned to whispers and sneers. She faced them and took their displeasure.
“Jolyn,” Minnie raced to her and hugged her.
Jolyn smiled and squatted to hug her. “Good morning,” she ignored the reaction from the others.
“Mom said you should eat with us this morning,” Minnie tugged on Jolyn’s arm.
It meant walking from the back of the room to the front where Bryan and Mia sat at a table. Jolyn closed her eyes but stood to let Minnie tug her along. She heard the hisses of the shifter cats as she walked by. She swallowed suddenly afraid and unnerved by all the shifters around her. A teen showed fangs as their whiskers lengthened. He was not in control of his emotions. The tension in the room was palpable as she tried not to fear the shifters.
Brady put his arm around her waist. “Hey munchkin,” he greeted his niece. He paid attention to Jolyn and not everyone else. He felt her tension and fear but knew she had to cope with it.
“Come on,” Minnie said. “We’re having waffles!”
“Waffles are my favorite,” Jolyn pushed her fear back. She didn’t want to cause strife but she knew she needed to stand her ground.
“Mine too,” Minnie grinned and tugged harder.
"Be gentle, " Brady reminded Minnie about Jolyn's injuries.
"I thought you were all better,” Minnie turned to stand in front of Jolyn.
"I'm mostly better,” Jolyn tugged her close and hugged her before walking forward with her hand on her Minnie's shoulder.
"Waffles will help, " Minnie grinned.
“I’m certain you’re right.” Jolyn agreed trying to act normal with Minnie but she was acutely aware everyone listened intently.
“Are you staying,” Minnie asked.
Jolyn looked up at Brady. Unconsciously, she stepped nearer to him. He kissed her nose. “For as long as Brady wants me to.”
"You're his mate. He won't ever want you to leave.” Minnie sat next to Bryan.
“Didn’t think we’d be seeing you,” Bryan teased.
"We need food before we meet," Brady pulled out Jolyn's chair. She glanced at the shifters in the room, took a breath, and sat with her back to them. She hoped it indicated she trusted them and not that she was an easy mark. Brady rubbed his hand up her leg. She turned to him, her face tipped up, and leaned towards him. He leaned down to capture her lips and she held him there longer than she meant to.
Snickers and snorts broke through her haze of need. Heat turned her cheeks a pretty pink.
"We’ll be discussing options today.” Bryan said delighted to see his brother's Tom cat behavior curtailed.
"Will we need to tie you up.” Mia asked.
"Jo needs me to stay here with the kits," Brady kissed Jolyn's hand.
"It's breakfast time," a short woman with a mass of ginger curls set a plate of waffles on the table. She smacked Brady on the back of his head. "She's not on the menu. Give the girl some food. She's too skinny.”
"Hi, Starry,” Jolyn greeted the Pride's main chef. When she made her own food, Starry caught her more than once.
"Now Miss Jolyn, I’ve made good waffles, I expect you to eat a good number of them.”
"You know I can't resist your waffles," Jolyn confessed.
"There’s whipped cream," Starry smiled at the compliment. "You take an extra dollop.”
"Yes, ma’am, " Jolyn grinned at the shock on Mia's and Bryan's face.
"You hurt this one, you won't get anything but dry cat food from my kitchen,” Starry stared at Brady.
"I’d rather cut out my heart than hurt her,” Brady admitted.
“Good. See to it she eats a good breakfast,” Starry ordered him. “If she’s properly fed, you can have some.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Brady grinned at her approval as Starry strode back to her kitchen.
“How did you get on… her good side,” Bryan glanced at the door to make sure Starry was on the other side of the door.
“I made my own food,” Jolyn admitted quietly hoping no one else heard her. “She likes to talk cooking. I like cooking. We chatted while I took care of my own meals. She’s nice.”
Mia choked on her food. “Starry is many things but nice is not how she’s described. Ever.”
“She’s stern,” Minnie said. “But I like her cooking.”
Jolyn took a waffle and added butter, strawberries, and whipped cream. “Have you made cookies with her?”
“No. Will she make some today,” Minnie asked as she ate a bite of waffles dripping with syrup and whipped cream.
“You should ask her,” Jolyn leaned down and wiped syrup off Minnie’s chin. “Maybe if you offer to help, she will.”
“Can I,” Minnie begged.
“After morning lessons,” Mia shook her head as she picked up her cup of coffee. Conversation in the room started at a low volume as they ate and talked over breakfast.
“I thought you and I should have lunch tomorrow,” Mia suggested.
“Me too,” Minnie butted in. “I want to come.”
“We aren’t playing at tea,” Mia reminded Minnie.
“I know,” Minnie said. “I like Jolyn. Now you’re getting along, I want to spend time with her, too.”
“I’d like to have lunch with you,” Jolyn interrupted Minnie. “I also understand if you want to protect your daughter. You’ve been through a lot lately.”
“As have you,” Mia appreciated the consideration. “Minnie will have to be on her best behavior over the next day to have lunch with us.”
“We’re meeting to discuss security,” Bryan sent Brady a look.
“While the women have lunch,” Brady suggested.
“Since you have to tear yourself away from Jolyn for an hour or two,” Bryan teased.
“I recall there were days when you first mated with Mia, when you didn’t leave your rooms,” Brady reminded. “Anyone interrupting was more likely to receive claws than civil conversation.”
“Why,” Minnie asked.
“Because they were newly mated,” Jolyn leaned down. “Brady and I want to spend time together getting to know each other better.”
“It’s not the sex,” Minnie reached over for a strawberry and didn’t notice the look of recrimination between Mia and Bryan.
