Her Sweet Alpha

Chapter Ten

His transformation was seamless. One second, he was a large gray wolf loping over the grass. The next, he’d become the imposing man she knew. His shoulders were incredibly broad and his waist was slim, his body like an inverted triangle. His belly was a series of hard ridges, a yummy V at his sides pointing the way to his thick erection.

Dade’s eyes glowed as he prowled closer. His expression, his focus on her was intense. Halle gulped. Without intending to, she faltered back a step.

Dade’s full lips twisted into a positively sinful smile, displaying his sharp canines. “Gonna run from me, Halle?” He climbed onto the porch. “I’ll catch you. I’m faster than you are.”

She glanced down at his clothes as he stepped over them, following her as she retreated into the house. He closed and locked the door behind them.

Now that the moment was upon her, she was nervous. Would it hurt when he bit her? She’d asked him, but at the moment, she couldn’t recall what he’d said. She wet her lips with her tongue. Dade’s eyes dropped to follow the motion. He wrapped a big hand around his dick and stroked it roughly, ending with a squeeze at the tip.

“I-I like your house,” she whispered.

“Our house, Halle.”

She nodded. “Um, yes.” She’d moved her bags to the bedroom and she’d made a token effort of touring each of the rooms. She hadn’t been able to give it her full attention as she’d been drawn to the front windows again and again as she’d awaited Dade’s return. “Well, I—”

Dade shook his head. “I can’t talk. Can’t think. I need to fuck you.” His deep groan sounded more like a wounded animal than a man. He seemed more on edge than when he’d left. “Seeing you here, knowing you’re mine…I.…”

His hunger for her only made her own desire for him burn brighter. “I’m yours,” she confirmed, instinctively knowing that he needed to hear it.

He growled. “Bedroom. Now.”

She hurried up the stairs with Dade hot on her trail. She didn’t stop until she stood before his king-sized bed. Dade’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against his body. The warmth of him surrounded her. He buried his face in the crook of her neck. Halle shifted her head to the side to give him better access. Groaning, he hugged her tightly, his stiff cock sliding between the cheeks of her bottom. Halle rocked against him.

He gripped the skirt of her dress and began dragging it up her thighs. The material rasped beneath his rough palms as he whipped it over her head and tossed it aside. Instantly, his hands returned, skating over her ribs and climbing to cup her breasts. His ragged breathing rippled across her skin, causing a shiver of arousal shake her frame.

She tried to turn in his arms but he tightened his hold. The fingers of one hand pinched her nipple. He drove his other hand into her panties and cupped her pussy as if he owned it. Halle gasped as he manipulated her clit within her slick folds. The pleasure had her doubling over. She fell onto the mattress moaning his name. Dade showed her no mercy. He kept his hips glued to hers, grinding his thick erection into her ass.

“Clothes off, Halle.”

Lying flat, she reached behind her and undid the clasp on her bra. But she couldn’t remove her panties because of the way he kept her pinned. “Help me,” she asked, expecting him to either pull them down or get off her so that she could push them off. Dade did neither. With a snarl of frustration, he ripped through the white cotton.

Halle had no time to be frightened or shocked. Easily, Dade flipped her onto her back. She could see why he hadn’t wanted her to turn around. His eyes were bright and wild as he held her gaze. The scruff covering his jaw was just short of a full-grown beard. He worked his way between her thighs and shoved her legs over his shoulders. His gaze told her everything he seemed incapable of saying at the moment. She was his and nothing would stop him from claiming her.

Nodding her acceptance of his dominance, Halle stretched her arms over her head and relaxed into the bedding.

Once he realized that she wouldn’t object, his hands tightened over her plush thighs. Holding her gaze, he bit into the skin below her knee. She gasped. His teeth were sharp. Perhaps sharper than she’d ever seen them. But he didn’t break the skin. With nibbles, licks, and growls, he worked his way down to the apex of her thighs. He spread her lips with his fingers and licked her with the flat of his tongue. Finesse seemed to be beyond him now, but he more than made up for it with hungry enthusiasm. He didn’t watch her. His sole focus lay with devouring the prize between her legs.

Dade explored, teased and then sucked her intimate flesh with a single-minded devotion that had Halle trembling and crying out his name. When she would have closed her thighs around his head, strong hands held them open. Her fingers fisted in his hair. She rolled her hips helplessly against his mouth. Dade thrust his finger deep in her pussy, curving the digit and rubbing against her g-spot. Halle gave a surprised cry, her body arching to be closer to him. Her orgasm rushed through her, stealing her breath for endless moments. She froze as her core rippled. Dade kept the pleasure going, wiggling his finger, holding it deep.

She went limp, her limbs falling boneless onto the bed. Dade rose over her. Running his tongue slowly over his glistening lips, he grasped her hips. He flipped her onto her stomach with ease. It gave her a heady feeling to be with a man so powerful. He drew her up onto her knees and then tapped the inside of her thighs so that she’d spread them wider. He slid the thick head of his cock through her slick folds, circling her clit before centering himself at her opening. “Ready?” he rumbled.

“Yes.” The word had barely left her lips before he was thrusting into her. As he’d warned, he wasn’t gentle. It felt like he’d filled her with half his length. She fisted the comforter as her pussy stretched to accommodate his girth. Dade punched his hips forward again, driving her up the mattress.

He growled and yanked her back. “Are you trying to run from me?”

She shook her head. “No. Never. You just—” She broke off with a scream when he thrust in all the way. Once full seated, he ground his hips into hers, setting off sparks of pleasure so intense that she collapsed into a moaning heap, her torso flat on the mattress. “Oh, God, Dade, that feels so good.”

He groaned. He stroked weathered hands down her spine and around her sides. He squeezed her breasts and teased her nipples before curving his hands around her upper thighs. He used his hold as leverage to lift her into his first thrust and keep her from escaping even an inch of his possession. The head of his cock rubbed consistently over her g-spot until she felt mindless with toe-curling ecstasy.

Halle pushed back against him, meeting each of his lusty movements with one of her own. He grew progressively rougher, slamming his dick deeper and harder until he catapulted her into another orgasm. Even then, he didn’t stop. Her peak seemed to propel him onward. Groaning, he dropped over her, caging her in, continuing to fill her with his cock. Her orgasm slicked the way for him to move more easily within her walls. He took full advantage of that, shuttling in and out of her at an inhuman pace.

Dade twined his fingers with hers. He nosed his way through the curls at the nape of her neck and left a trail of hungry kisses before catching the lobe of her ear gently between his teeth. He flicked it with his tongue and sucked it before nuzzling at the spot where her neck and shoulder met. He licked her before closing his mouth over her flesh. The pressure of his canines was light but enough to make her his captive.

His deep, satisfied groans drowned out the sounds of her own moans, of the mattress protesting beneath them, and of the wet smack of their bodies colliding. Another climax was coiling low in her belly. She had a feeling that this one was going to be the strongest one yet. As if he could sense how close she was, Dade reached under her and circled his finger around her clit.

Halle gave a startled cry as her core rippled and contracted. Waves radiated outward to the top of her head and down to her toes. And then Dade bit her.

First there was the pain of his teeth penetrating her skin. Then she was hit with heat. Electricity flowed through her veins. It was over in seconds and then she was tossed into the maelstrom of her orgasm again. Dade was growling. He went still over her, his cock buried to the hilt in her pussy as it swelled and pulsed, filling her with jet after jet of his cum.

When it was over, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled onto his back. “Mine forever now, Halle.” He ran his tongue over her bite mark. Her wound stung briefly before going numb. “Forever.”

She smiled. She could hear the satisfaction in his voice. She was suddenly so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open. Yawning, she positioned herself at his side, her face cushioned on his chest. “How long will it take before I turn?”

“It varies. It could be as early as the full moon next week or it could take until the full moon in three months. But you will probably notice small differences in your sense of smell and hearing in a day or so.” He tugged on her hair and she looked up at him. “How are you? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. It was…wonderful. Amazing.” Her experiences were limited—thankfully, not limited to Lamar as everyone seemed to think—but she was aware that she was a very lucky woman. She and Lamar had been little more than children experimenting. As far as satisfaction went, it had been one sided. Lamar enjoyed their few encounters. Halle had found them more frustrating than anything. She’d chalked up Lamar’s lack of ability to last beyond a few thrusts to romantic fiction making more out of sex than there really was. People thought she still smarted over Lamar cheating on her. She should be thanking him for saving her from a lifetime of bad sex. Thank God, she’d gone to college.

Still, Dade was on a whole other level. Just the memory of the way Dade rotated his hips was enough to have her pussy throbbing for more.

Dade inhaled and growled. “Rest. You’re going to need it. Werewolves are a lusty lot. When your changes begin, you won’t be able to keep your hands off of me.”

She laughed. “I’m sure you will endure.”

“I’ll be ready and eagerly waiting for your werewolf hormones to kick in.”

***

Dade woke with Halle nuzzling into his neck. She was a pleasant, warm weight at his side. He’d never spent the entire night with anyone before. He’d never wanted to. He’d never been in a committed relationship. There had been no point when he knew his mate was out there waiting for him to claim her.

Halle had one arm draped over his stomach and the other curled around his left arm. Her nails suddenly dug into his skin. “You smell so good.” Moaning, she moved her thigh over his, pressing on his morning erection. She sniffed him again and whimpered. “Why do you smell so damn good?”

He jerked when she nibbled his neck, teeth clamping around a bit of flesh and tugging. She might as well have wrapped her hand around his dick. Groaning, he lifted his hips into the heat of her thigh. Sliding his fingers into Halle’s hair, he pulled her back so that he could look into her eyes.

He stared into her glowing golden irises in confusion. How could his mark have begun affected her so quickly? Was it possible that his wolf genes were stronger than he thought? “What do I smell like?” he asked curiously.

“Rich like the earth, but refreshing like a cool breeze. And sweet. Delicious,” she ended.

“To me, you smell like orange blossoms and vanilla.” He tilted her head back and sniffed. “But now…I smell me mixed with you.”

She moaned and moved her legs restlessly. “Should…should this be happening so soon? I woke up…so hot. And-and I…I need you.”

“Oh, fuck,” he groaned. The combined scents of her usual delicious smell, her desire, and the new undercurrent of his own branding scent was a potent aphrodisiac. “Roll over,” he ordered gruffly.

With a moan, she obeyed, flipping onto her stomach and rising onto her knees. They were each too desperate, too on edge for foreplay. Dade stroked his cock through her folds before finding her opening. Without hesitation, he plunged in to the hilt, causing them both to groan. She was tight but still slick from their last mating.

He pulled back and thrust in again. Hard. Fast. Maybe in a month or two he’d be able to make love to her properly. Slow with lots of kisses, soft touches, and sweet words. Not this animalistic and ravenous fucking that had him pounding her into the mattress.

Halle fell forward beneath the onslaught of his thrusts. She gripped the sheets in a futile attempt to seek purchase. He dropped over her, his arms caging her in and his weight pinning her beneath him. He used his knees to force her thighs to open wider. He bit her shoulder, not breaking the skin but holding her in place.

He wasn’t gentle. He didn’t hold back. He couldn’t. His hips hammered hers until her knees gave out. Even then, he didn’t stop. Halle didn’t object. She mewled and moaned and shoved herself onto his rampaging dick. She held his wrists, her elongated nails digging into his skin. The tiny sting of pain only drove him to fuck her harder. He ground his cock into her as deep and as hard as his body and the angle would allow until she was screaming his name and her pussy was strangling his member. Growling, he struggled to move through her clenching muscles. In the end, the sensations overwhelmed him. He stiffened as she milked him of his cum.

Dade rested his forehead between her shoulder blades as he gulped air. Halle’s pussy continued to pulse pleasantly around him. “Keep that up and I’ll keep you in bed all day.”

“When is it my turn to bite you?”

He laughed. “When you develop the fangs to do so.” Human teeth weren’t capable of giving him the indelible mating mark of a wolf. Though her eyes had glowed briefly, he doubted she was capable of shifting or even a partial shift—which she would need to be able to do in order to mark him. He levered himself off of her. He patted her rounded bottom fondly. God, he was glad that she had a curvy figure. “And when the wolf half of you submits to me.”

She whipped over to stare at him. “Submit?” she huffed.

He grinned at her irate expression. “I’m the Alpha of our pack. Everyone shows me their submission and pledges their loyalty.” Which could be damned awkward at times. When his father chose to step down as Alpha, he’d had to submit to Dade. It was the same with his brother. He’d grown up with these men. He loved them. But he’d had to make the demand of them as he’d made of every other member of their pack. Their community would be unstable if he didn’t.

And as awkward and uncomfortable as it had been, as Alpha, he needed their submission. His instincts demanded it.

All a wolf had to do was lower their eyes or show him their throat to give him deference. It was a small display of respect. But…defy him and it the results could be dire.

“But…you’re so….”

His brows rose. “I’m so…?”

She shrugged. “Quiet. Sweet.”

He chuckled as he recalled her trying to hold him off with a cross. “You didn’t think I was so sweet a few weeks ago.”

“That’s before I got to know you.”

He cupped the back of her neck and tugged her closer for a kiss. “I’m generally a patient guy. I was taught to be kind. And I will never hurt you.” He kissed her again and kept her close so that their lips brushed together as he said, “But I am an Alpha. Make no mistake, baby, I’m dangerous.”

Chapter Eleven

Dade flipped pancakes while Halle set the table and poured them large glasses of milk. He watched her as she moved around for any signs of discomfort—physically or emotionally. Though he’d tried to be gentle and bury the savage that lurked beneath his surface, he hadn’t been entirely successful. As his mate, it was understandable that if any woman should blow apart his control, it would be her.

Was she walking more gingerly than usual? Damn it, he’d been too rough with her. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll bring over the pancakes when they’re done.” He’d already plated the bacon and sausage. He had a large appetite. He hoped that he’d cooked enough.

“I’m fine.” She snatched a slice of bacon off the platter. “But I’m starving.”

He placed the last pancake on the stack of others and turned off the burner. He carried the food to the breakfast table. The table was just off the kitchen. There was also a dining room, but he’d never had occasion to use it. This was where he ate most of his meals. Floor to ceiling windows gave them a view outdoors and let in the bright morning light.

Halle carefully sat in the wood chair. Dade sighed. “Would you like a painkiller?”

“I’m fine.” She began loading her plate. “It’s been a long time is all. And it was never like that.”

He growled. Meaning, she’d never had a man rut her like an animal. “I’m sorry.” He’d held back, keeping the biting to a minimum. But when he was inside her, he’d lost his mind. He’d thought he should have been sainted for only claiming her twice when his libido had been urging him to go all night.

Much as it pained him to even think of it, maybe he should keep his paws to himself until she’d completed her transformation. Abstaining from making love with his wife, his mate, would be hard—literally. But he’d do it for her. He’d do anything for Halle.

She shook her head. “No. I mean….” She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. She wiggled in her seat. “It’s never been so…fantastic.”

His breath froze in his chest. “Yeah?”

Smiling shyly, she nodded. “Yeah.”

The scent of her arousal hit him hard, instantly turning his cock into a steel pipe. His appetite for food was replaced by another type of hunger. He dropped his fork. All his ideas of abstinence fled his mind. “I can put this in the oven and keep it warm while we—” The peal of the doorbell ringing interrupted him. Growling, Dade stood. “Who the fuck?” Who did he know who’d be so dimwitted, so insensitive as to interrupt him and his wife the day after they were mated? It was tradition to leave the new couple alone for the obvious reason.

He snatched open his door and glared down at…his parents. Dade scowled. “Mom? Dad? Why—”

His mother didn’t wait for him to complete his question. She brushed past him. His dad gave him an apologetic smile and a shrug. “Your mother was eager to meet your mate. Don’t worry. I made her promise to keep it brief.”

Dade was pushing the door closed when it suddenly met with an obstacle. “Hey, let us in!” He pulled the door wide again to find his brother and his mate Holly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Mom called.” Dillon punched him in the shoulder. “Congratulations.” He paused to sniff. Then he hummed and rubbed his belly. “We’re just in time for breakfast. Holly, we’re in for a treat. Dade’s a great cook.”

Dade narrowed his eyes at his brother. “You will not eat until my mate has had her fill.” His brother could eat as much as he.

Dillon held up his hands in surrender. “Of course.”

Dade sighed. He might be Alpha, but they would always be his family. Whereas he wouldn’t hesitate to toss out any other member of his pack for dropping by unannounced, he couldn’t do that to his parents or his brother. “Go sit down. I’ll make more.”

***

Beth Stone didn’t bother to introduce herself until after she’d already wrapped Halle up in a surprisingly strong embrace. Halle would have never guessed the other woman was so strong. She was tall but slender. “Let me look at you.” She stepped back. Halle resisted her natural tendency to squirm. She hadn’t been expecting company so she wasn’t wearing makeup and her hair had looked better. “Oh, you’re pretty. I’m Beth. That’s my husband Jim, my son Dillon, and his wife Holly.” Her grinned widened. “Now I have two daughters. Holly and Halle. I couldn’t have planned it better.”

She was passed around for hugs until Dade intervened. “I need Halle’s help in the kitchen.”

“I’ll help, too,” Beth volunteered.

Dade opened his mouth then seemed to think better of it. “Sure. More hands will make the work go faster.” He picked up the previously prepared food and their plates. Halle and Beth helped him carry it back to the kitchen. Dade turned on the oven and put the food inside.

Halle frowned as Dade pulled out two more packages each of bacon and sausage. Before she could ask him about it, Beth said, “Tell me all about yourself. Dade told me that he met you in a restaurant.”

“Yes, I was a waitress,” she said, hoping that Beth wouldn’t be disappointed or think that she’d agreed to mate Dade simply to improve her lot in life.

The other woman nodded. “That’s hard work.” She was clearly familiar with Dade’s kitchen. She took out more flatware and glasses.

“I’ve been working at Millie’s since forever. My parents are deceased.”

“I’m sorry.”

Halle shrugged. “Thank you, but they’ve been gone for a while.” She tried to think of what else to say about herself. Her poor life choices haunted her. “Um, I majored in art history in college.”

“Really?” Beth glanced at Dade who was creating an impressive mountain of pancakes while also tending to the sausage and bacon. Yeah, they weren’t helping out so much as gabbing. Dade was doing all the real work. “Dade, have you considered offering Halle a job? I bet she’d be great with design.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the two of them. “If—”

“So…how much longer?” Dillon interrupted. “My stomach’s rumbling.”

Dade rolled his eyes. “Be patient. You’re so small. I don’t know why you’re always hungry.”

Halle choked. Dillon was by no means “small.” Halle judged him to be over six feet, but Dade had him by several inches. Dade hadn’t been lying when he said that he’d outgrown his brother. Dade was also taller than his father. She was becoming accustomed to his size. Seeing him with other men, reminded her of how large he was. His height and his broad shoulders dwarfed his brother and father. Despite their different sizes, anyone could tell they were related. They had similar features and the same brown hair, though Jim’s was sprinkled with gray. Halle thought Dade was the most handsome, but she supposed she was biased.

“I’m small because after you were born, there was never enough to eat.”

Beth shook her head at Dillon and made shooing motions with her hands. “Dillon, if you’re hungry, then you need to wait patiently. In here, you’re only impeding progress.” She sighed when he was gone. “You’d never know he was thirty-five. They become children when they’re together for more than a few minutes.”

Dade cleared his throat and straightened his spine, his stance dignified. “He started it.”

Halle blinked. “And you sound real mature saying that.”

Beth laughed. Dade point the spatula at them. “Why don’t you two set the table instead of distracting the chef?”

Halle would have argued with him labeling himself a chef, but so far, all of his cooking that she’d sampled had been delicious. She picked up the stack of plates. As she passed him, Dade wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a quick kiss. “Sorry about my family dropping in on us like this unannounced. My mom’s been dying to meet you since I told her I’d found my mate.”

“It’s fine.”

“I was hoping for more alone time with you before the pack started infringing upon our privacy.”

“Later,” she said before catching up with his mother.

“I was serious about the job,” Beth said as they began setting the table. “The construction company is a family business. I worked there briefly as Jim’s assistant. Holly works in accounting. With your background in art, you’d be able to work with the customers. As a waitress, I know you have customer service skills.”

Jim pulled Beth into his lap. “Beth, leave the girl be.”

“But Jim—”

“They just mated. They need some time to bond. Work can wait.” Jim glanced at her. “But, of course, you’re welcome, Halle. I’m sure you’d be a valuable asset to the company. No pressure. Take as much time as you need to think it over.”

“I could use some help with these platters,” Dade called from the kitchen. It was no surprise that Dillon was the first to volunteer to carry the food.

Beth sighed. “You’d think I didn’t feed him as a boy.”

Jim laughed. “We all have healthy appetites. Most of us just aren’t so obvious about it.”

Despite Jim’s warning, Halle was sure that there would be leftovers for days, but as serving dishes were placed on the table Dillon began to load up his plate. He didn’t slow until Dade, who had settled at the head of the table, growled at him. The sound was low and full of admonishment. It was so different from the growls he emitted when they were alone though if anyone had asked, she would be unable to describe the exact difference.

Dillon yanked his hands back and bowed his head. Halle was a bit shocked but no one else seemed to think it was out of the ordinary.

Dade nudged her shoulder. “Eat,” he urged gently.

Halle looked around. Everyone, with the exception of Dade, seemed to be waiting for her. Surely, they didn’t follow the rule of allowing the Alpha to eat first? But that was the way it appeared. So that everyone could eat, she picked up her fork and dug into her pancakes.

Silence reigned for several minutes as everyone began to eat.

“When do you plan to officially introduce Halle to the pack?” Jim asked.

Dade shrugged. “Maybe during next month’s full moon.”

“Oh, that’s much too late,” Beth said. “I think next Friday sounds good. We could have it here. That way we could eat and have a run afterward.”

“Mom, next Friday is way too soon. Halle might not be ready for a run. And I couldn’t organize—”

“Don’t worry about it. We won’t run in deference to Halle, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a gathering. I’ll handle everything.” She rubbed her hands together. “I do love a party.”

“We know, dear,” Jim said with an indulgent grin.

Halle found Dade’s family easy to like. It was obvious that they were a close-knit and loving family. His parents watched on fondly as Dade and Dillon teased each other mercilessly. Though she’d found Dade to be a bit sensitive about his size, he accepted Dillon’s taunts without rancor. In fact, he gave as good as he got.

After everyone was finished eating, Beth ordered the men into the kitchen for cleaning duty. She declared that she had done enough waiting on them through the years. It was their turn to return the favor. While the men cleaned up, Holly showed her pictures of her children, Daniel, Peyton, and baby Amelia. Holly’s parents were babysitting her kids this morning. As Holly, put away her cell phone, Beth leaned forward, her long dark hair falling over her shoulders. Halle couldn’t begin to guess her Beth’s age. Her skin was smooth. Her eyes crinkled only a little at the corners when she grinned. Other than a few gray hairs front and center of her forehead, Beth’s hair was the same dark brown as her sons. And then, there was her youthful enthusiasm. “So, when do you and Dade plan on having pups?”

Halle’s mouth dropped open. “Um….” Her eyes flashed to Dade where he was busy washing dishes. She was immediately distracted by the movement of his wide shoulders beneath his gray t-shirt. His body was amazing.

Beth cleared her throat. She was smiling as she met Halle’s gaze. “Jim, honey,” she called to her husband, “We’ve stayed long enough.” She stood. “Come on, Holly.” Beth rounded the table and pulled Halle into a hug. “We’re so happy that he finally found you.”

“Thank you,” Halle said, hoping that she wasn’t blushing. And if she was, that it wasn’t visible. She walked with them to the door.

Jim hugged her. “Welcome to the family.”

Dillon embraced her enthusiastically. “Sorry you got the ugly brother.”

Dade punched him in the shoulder. “Get out, Tiny.”

“Mom, he called me Tiny,” Dillon yelled to their mother. Beth, who was prepared to climb into her SUV, paused only long enough to shake her head.

Holly sighed. “I live with four children.” She grabbed Dillon by the ear. “Stop trying to stir up trouble.” She led him to their car with him complaining all the way.

“He’s an idiot,” Dade grumbled, closing the door. “You’d think I was the older one.”

Halle covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed. I think your mother left so that we could have sex.”

Dade’s brows rose. “And well she should. They shouldn’t have come over in the first place,” he said, indignant.

Shock forced a laugh out of her. “You should have invited them to the wedding or the reception.”

He shrugged. “Those are human customs. But I am beginning to see the appeal of a honeymoon.”

“Your mother was asking about us having…pups.” She didn’t know when she’d ever get used to using that word.

He placed a large palm over her belly. “She’s eager for more grandchildren.” His eyes met and held hers. “I’ve made no secret that I want that as well.”

She nodded. It might have seemed like she rushed into this, but she hadn’t done it without a lot of soul searching. Committing to Dade had been the easiest part—even if it meant becoming a werewolf. Joining her life with a gorgeous man who wanted only her and was steadfast in his devotion was a no brainer. Their conversations convinced her that Dade was a good man. He was patient and kind when he needed to be and firm when the situation called for it. He had all the makings of a leader. And a good father.

It’d been harder to leave her home, her job, her family, and her friends. She wasn’t so far away that she couldn’t visit her grandmother or her cousin Missy or her friends from work anytime she wanted. As for work…. Well, she wouldn’t miss her job, but she couldn’t sit around all day and do nothing. She’d be bored out of her mind. She was too young to retire. But she had no plans of what else she might like to do aside from being a waitress.

She could go back to school. There was enough money in her wish fund to support her through a year and a half of classes. But she didn’t have any idea of what she might like to study. She didn’t want to waste money on a second degree if it would be of no use to her.

And then there was the option that Dade liked best. She could be a stay-at-home wife and mother. It’d mean honing her cooking skills. It wasn’t that she couldn’t cook. She just hadn’t dedicated any effort to the task in years.

For some reason, the last choice appealed to her the most. Yet it wasn’t something she’d ever dreamed of before. Maybe it was because it never occurred to her that it could be possible. She didn’t think it would be easy. But it would be rewarding and fulfilling in a way that nothing she’d ever done had been.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t still work with Dade at some point. She would mull the idea over. She didn’t know if she had any skill decorating skills. After her parents died, she’d changed the family home a little, but she never had the money to do much more than paint.

But no matter what she chose to do, she knew Dade would support her. And she loved knowing that about him. It was something she’d never had before. Lamar hadn’t supported her decision to go to college because he wouldn’t be with her. He’d claimed to be worried that she’d find someone else. Little did she know at the time that he’d already found someone else.

Halle covered Dade’s hand with hers. “I want that, too.” As far as she knew, she could already be carrying his baby. They’d done nothing to prevent pregnancy. She wasn’t on birth control and Dade hadn’t used a condom. “I want to have your baby.”

With a growl, Dade lifted her. “I hope you’re not too sore because I’m about to pound your pussy until I pass out.”

Moaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her core pulsed in anticipation. She was sore. Her husband was a large man—everywhere. But she’d be damned if she called a halt to this. She buried her face in his neck and inhaled deeply of his scent. His masculine smell hit her like a jolt. She bit his earlobe. “Dade, hurry,” she pleaded as he took the stairs two at a time.

Seconds later, he was tossing her onto the bed. She bounced when she landed.

“Take off anything you don’t want me to rip off.”

She glanced down at her old, faded t-shirt and worn capris. All she could think is that it would be totally hot for him to tear her clothes off. “Do it.”

His eyes glowed. A wolfish grin curled his lips. His incisors lengthened and his beard thickened. She should have been frightened. Instead, her nipples tightened and her pussy clenched. “Oh, my God,” she moaned. “What’s happening to me? Why is that so sexy?”

He whipped his shirt over his head. “Because you’re my mate. Because the wolf stirring to life inside you responds to strength.”

“Oh, yeah? That’s so…primitive.”

He chuckled and unfastened his pants. “Yeah, well, nature doesn’t mess with perfection.” He leaned over her, gripped her collar, and tore her shirt from top to bottom. She gasped, but Dade wasn’t done. He swiped at her bra and the cotton parted obediently to reveal her breasts. Groaning, he cupped her full breasts and squeezed her nipples until she was pressing her thighs together. When he bent his head and took a nipple into his mouth, she dug her nails into his shoulders.

Dade hissed. He lifted his head. “Keep that up, baby, and I won’t be responsible for my reaction.”

Halle bit her lip. He’d told her about werewolf sex. Biting and scratching were a turn-on for him. And why wouldn’t it be? As a werewolf, he had advanced healing powers. She’d examined the bite he’d given her and then soothed with a lick. It was barely visible. She never healed that swiftly and her scars faded slowly.

She didn’t know if it was due to Dade’s saliva or if it was due to his bite transforming her. Because the bite was definitely affecting her. She felt wild and free and confident in her own strength. It was like she’d been sleeping through life. Now she felt like there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish if she set her mind to it.

And that included taking anything that Dade could dish out. Holding his gaze, she dragged her nails over his shoulders and down his spine.

Growling, he manacled her wrists above her head. “You’re like a pup testing out its new claws.” He captured her bottom lip between his teeth, drawing it into his mouth, nipping it and sucking it. His tongue flicked over hers until she caught it. He groaned as she sucked. He drew back, his eyes aglow with an almost feral passion. “I hope you can handle what you’re begging for, baby.”

With that, he was gone, moving swifter than a man of his size should have been capable. He grabbed her ankles, flipped her onto her stomach, and yanked her to the edge of the bed. Halle yelped and then laughed in surprise. Dade made quick work of her pants, slicing through the material with sharp, supernatural nails. “On your knees,” he ordered.

Sighing, she did as he asked. Her feet hung over the edge of the mattress as she rose to her knees. “Okay, I know that this is your favorite position but—” She inhaled as he ran his fingers through her creamy slit, tweaking her clit before penetrating her with two thick digits. He gave a grunt of satisfaction before bending and biting one ass cheek. He wasn’t done there. His teeth sank into the skin at her waist. His tongue skated its way up her spine. He placed a kiss on her shoulder. At the nape of her neck, he held her in place with teeth as though she were prey that might attempt to flee his grasp. His hot breath fanned over the sensitive skin of her neck, down over the turgid peaks of her nipples, and down her sweat dampened spine. She shivered.

Dade pressed the thick head of his erection to her opening. He slowly pushed inside and her mouth fell open at the pressure and the pleasure as he stretched her. He rotated his hips, pushing deeper. His forehead dropped to her back. “You feel fucking amazing,” he groaned. “Spread your legs wider.” She quickly scrambled to obey. Without separating their bodies, he levered himself off her to stand beside the bed. “More.”

She spread her thighs as far as she could. Her muscles burned with the effort.

“Good girl,” he said before pulling her over the edge of the mattress. Her hands closed over the sheets to stop her downward trajectory.

She needn’t have worried. Dade caught her with an up thrust of his hips, his cock tunneling deeper than ever before. “Oh, my God,” she gasped. She glanced back at him. His arms rested at his sides. He supported her weight with his hips alone, gravity keeping her skewered on his cock. His lips curled up in a slow smile.

And then she could only moan as he began to fuck her hard and fast. Harder and faster than ever before. It was a blur of sensation. The thrusts weren’t long. It was more of a grind, but she felt full every second. The bulbous head of his cock rubbed over her g-spot constantly.

She felt like she was falling. She didn’t know if it was the impending orgasm or if she was really about to hit the floor. She scrambled to hold onto the sheets but they kept bunching in her hands and giving her no purchase.

“Let go,” Dade said. “I’ve got you.” As if to prove it, he gripped her beneath her knees and lifted her off his cock and slammed her back down.

“Oh!” Halle wrapped her arms around his neck. He seemed to take that as permission to carry her wherever he wished because the next thing she knew, he had her in front of the bureau, the mirror on top reflecting their activities. As she watched, he slowly pulled her off his erection until only the tip remained inside her. Then she moaned as he gradually lowered her onto the thick stalk of flesh. She bit her lip. He so big. It was amazing the way her body stretched to accommodate him.

Dade kept his movements slow for several more thrusts before he began to meet her on the downward slide. She had no control at all. She could only hold onto his neck and let him set the pace. He seemed content with frustrating her. His glowing eyes were locked on the place where they were connected.

When she could take no more, she scraped her nails through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Dade, faster.”

He growled. He lowered her feet to the floor and placed her hands on the dresser in front of them. Once he had her bent to his satisfaction, he ran his hands up her waist. The rough texture of his palms made her tremble. He teased her nipples, placing his hands just beneath her breasts as he began to plunge into her again. Her breasts swung, the hard nipples dragging across his skin. “Oh, my God,” she moaned, pushing back into his thrusts and spreading her thighs wider.

Dade’s fingers closed over her nipples, pinching lightly, gravity causing him to tug as they bounced. Halle’s legs began to shake. She called his name as her pussy began to contract over his rapidly swelling cock. Groaning, he buried his face in her neck and bit down as he filled her with his hot cum. Halle’s legs gave out as another orgasm ripped through her at the feel of his teeth and the sensation of his dick expanding and twitching against her g-spot. Dade caught her up in his arms and carried her back to the bed.

He folded her in his embrace, her face pressed into his neck. “What was that you were saying about position?”

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Don’t sound so smug.” She yawned. “We’ll discuss it later. I need a nap.” The orgasms had her drowsy and mellow. Within minutes, she was in dreamland, running through streams, chasing deer. How strange….