The Mating Rules

Lauren’s POV

I sink into the firm chest behind me automatically as his scent encompasses me. A pair of lips muzzle my neck right over my marking spot, making me gasp.

Rennie’ Tyler growls softly, ‘my Rennie.” His teeth graze my skin and I almost jump from the sparks that flow through me. He must feel my reaction because the warrior chuckles, his warm breath coating my neck.

Ty’ 1 breath, ‘how …

My best friend laughs quietly, ‘I knew’ he sighs, l always knew, it had to be you. It killed me to watch you with other men, ripped me apart when you told me you slept with one.

You were so damn excited and I was dying inside, watching you l**t after idiots from the Elite team when I was right beside you.’

You slept with someone too’ I reply, a stab of jealousy cutting into my heart at the memory of us sitting by our tree as he told me he’d finally gone all the way with his girlfriend.

Tyler nods, ‘1 started to doubt myself’ he murmurs, his arms tightening slightly as if he’s scared, ‘ll run. Wondered if I was wrong somehow, that you were not meant to me mine.

You never felt it, not once, each time I grabbed your hand or held you against me, I looked for a sign that you could feel it too, our connection, but you never did!

I swallow thickly, eyes straight ahead as I think back over all the times we walked hand in hand, when he’d pick me up to help me into a tree or grab me as we played tag.

‘I felt it’ I whisper, admitting it for the first time not just to my Mate but to myself, ‘I did feel it … I was just scared of it’

Tyler turns me around so I’m facing him, a frown marring his features, ‘why would you be scared?’ he asks.

I smile sadly, ‘because you are my best friend’ I reply, ‘and I needed you, I still need you. If we had crossed the line, been more than friends and it hadn’t worked? I’d have lost you forever. To know what you feel like and then watch you find a Mate that wasn’t me? It would have destroyed me.

Tyler grabs my chin gently, holding my gaze,

, ‘are you upset

that it’s me?’ he asks, pain lacing his words.

1 glance away for a second, my face colouring slightly, ‘I buried every feeling I had for you over the years. Every time I felt a twinge when I saw you with another she wolf, I stuffed it down deep where I wouldn’t have to face it, pretending even to myself that there was nothing between us. The only problem was that after my last birthday, suddenly I couldn’t push it away anymore. I kept thinking about how big you are, I’d find myself checking out your muscles and watching you.’ I look back at him, hating the wariness I find in his eyes as he watches me. ‘1 wanted you to be the one that heard me so badly that I was terrified to come out here tonight. I didn’t want to see you run to someone else, I couldn’t watch you claim another’

A slow smile spreads over Tyler’s face as he presses his forehead to mine, ‘I never belonged to anyone but you baby’ he murmurs, I’ve been yours since the eighth grade, I was just waiting for you to see me.’

His hands cup my cheeks, tilting my face upwards as he presses his lips to mine, his tongue coaxing my lips apart so he can sweep my mouth, a g***n of longing curling up through him. As soon as our lips connect, all the nerve endings in my body flare to life, Tyler taking over my mind and senses, stripping away every barrier that I had placed between us.

‘Cotton candy’ he sighs inte my mouth, ‘my favourite.’

Deftly, his hands slide down my body, under my h**s as he hoists me up into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as my arms circle his neck.

Without breaking our k**s, he strides back into the forest, navigating the way to the other side as I grip him tightly.

‘Congratulations Warrior’ the guards murmur as Tyler breaks through the line, not even sparing a glance at the people around us. Breaking our k**s, I nuzzle my head into the crook of his neck, inhaling a scent that is purely Tyler.

Opening my eyes, I glance up as we close the distance toward the pack house, my gaze finding my father’s car, still parked in the same place, but my dad is now leaning against the hood, arms crossed as he watches Tyler and I head inside.

I just catch him giving me a small wave, a smile lighting up his face that I can just make out from the light shining from the windows of the pack house before I’m carried inside and up the stairs to Tyler’s room.

Kicking open the door, the warrior slams it shut behind us, turning to pin me to the wood as one hand curls into my hair, tugging it gently.

“You will move in here tomorrow’ he growls, his lips finding my neck again, ‘first light, I want all your things in this room. I want your sappy romance books on your bookshelf by my window, in alphabetical order because the way you did it has been driving me ruts.’

I giggle at his words as he continues to attack my neck, ‘l want your clothes in my closet and those sexy thongs you wear in my drawers. I want all your ridiculously overpriced lotions and potions scattered all over my bathroom so l can’t take a shower without knocking something over.

‘I don’t have that many bottles’ I gasp as his teeth nip my flesh, ‘and you get what you pay for, they are very important products.’

Tyler growls, running his tongue along the line of my dress, tracing across the swell of my breasts that you can just see peeking out from my cleavage. You don’t need any of that sh*t baby’ he mutters, you are stunning just as you are, no bottle of cream is going to be able to make you more beautiful, you can’t improve on perfection.’

I whimper as he releases my hair, trailing his fingers down the side of my neck and hooking the strap of my dress, pulling it down my arm to reveal my breast.

A g***n rushes to Tyler’s lips as he realises I’m not wearing a bra, his mouth latching onto my n****e and biting gently.

Tarch my back, forcing my breast further into the warrior’s mouth, whining in need as he rolls the hard nub around his tongue. I shift against him, desperate to get closer, a gasp of pleasure leaving me as his hard length rubs against my panties.

I grip his shoulders, my head falling back against the closed door as I m**n loudly.

‘To many clothes’ Tyler growls, tugging at the other strap until my dress pools at my waist.

I wriggle my arms out of the straps before attacking the warrior’s shirt, trying to undo the buttons with trembling fingers one at a time before I snarl in frustration and grab the fabric, ripping it apart, sending buttons flying everywhere.

My fingers run down his firm chest, my nails lightly scraping the skin as he swaps to my other n****e, giving it the same attention as the first.

I slide a hand down between us, cupping his impressive Tength as he rocks into my palm

‘I need you’ I whimper, rubbing him through his jeans, wanting him as desperate as I feel.

With a growl, Tyler pulls away from the door, taking me with him and striding the few steps to the bed where he lays me down with surprising gentleness.

Standing over me, his gaze rakes over my exposed breasts, a hunger in his gaze as I stare up at him.

‘So perfect’ he murmurs, picking up one of my feet and torturously slowly, pulls at the lace, undoing my sneaker before pulling it off my foot and dropping it to the floor.

Placing a k**s to my ankle, he switches to the other foot, repeating the process as I watch him.

Next, he grips my dress, dragging it down my legs and tossing it aside, his eyes hooded as he studies my body, naked except for the then scrap of material that covers my p***y.

I think he’s going to keep going, but instead, the warrior steps back, sliding his shirt down his arms, his muscles flexing as he drops the ruined clothing to the floor. His hands go to the buckle of his belt, his hand stilling as he watches my reaction, a smirk crawling across his face as l g***n, my fingers fisting the bed either side of me to stop myself from climbing up and stripping him myself.

‘See something you like, Mate?’ he rumbles, piercing me with a gaze that promises dark and delicious things

I nod, swallowing hard, as the word Mate sends a shiver down my spine.

He c***s his head to the side, ‘want to see more?’ he teases, playing with the buckle but not actually undoing it.

“Yes’ I reply, my voice breathy and needy but I’m too consumed with desire to care.

Tyler’s grin grows, ‘good’ he murmurs, pulling the buckle apart and sliding the belt from around his waist, dropping it on top of his shirt. *

His thumb flicks the button of his jeans, popping it open before he inches down the zipper, and Goddess, he’s commando. His thick e******n pokes out from the opening, a bead of precum glistening at fhe head making me lick my lips, wanting to taste him. *

His eyes darken as they follow the trail of my tongue across my lower l*p, pushing down his jeans and stepping out so he’s standing before me completely naked.

I can’t help it, I push up off the bed, crawling to the edge and sliding off, falling to my knees in front of the man as l circle his c**k with my fingers, lowering my head as I take him deeply into my mouth. I let out a m**n of pleasure, running my tongue along the length as Tyler’s hand finds the back of my head, fisting my hair as he guides me.