Defending His Mate ( Lycan Romance ) Read online

  Mate.

  Cynthia couldn’t control the way her body was reacting to his touch. His hands were burning a path of fire down her legs, even through the fabric of her skirt and when he ran his hands back up her thighs, bringing the fabric with him, his skin against hers, the desire for him swept her fear aside and she was caught up in The Calling of his body to hers.

  With slow deliberate strokes of his tongue over the bare skin of her neck Joshua’s beast was readying his mate for the mark he would press into her skin. She was theirs and he knew that the only way to satiate the beast’s appetite was to allow him to mark her.

  Wait. Not yet.

  Joshua could feel her body responding to his touch, could scent the arousal between her legs for him and hoped that she would forgive his mark if he could make it as painless as possible for her.

  “I need to touch you…” He breathed against her skin and felt her backside press back against his arousal. The ache that touch caused him had his beast growling within him, demanding he take her.

  Joshua worked his fingers under the thin fabric of the barrier between them. He heard the gasped intake of breath from her, felt her body press against the hand that was now cupping her mound as she searched for his touch where she needed it.

  His fingers ran over the moist folds until he found the warmth of her core. Pressing two fingers within the tight channel he heard the moan escape her lips and his thumb sort the little nub…

  Mate.

  His fangs descended from his gums. Joshua had to physically wrench his face away from her neck for fear he would sink his fangs into her soft skin too soon.

  Cynthia’s forehead rubbed into the wall and her fingers curled against the unyielding plaster. He was doing sinfully magical things to her body with his fingers. The deep thrusts within her were perfectly timed with his thumb’s rhythmic ministrations over the sensitive nub. Her body was crying out for his, for release, for anything that would end the frantic needs that had descended over her.

  “Joshua…” His mate pleaded for him and he ached to be within her. But he would not dare take her with his wolf so close to the surface, so eager to Bond with her. He knew he wouldn’t be able to control the beast within him and she wasn’t ready for that.

  “Easy love…” Joshua’s feral tones against her ear only heightened her arousal. He worked her faster, taking her to the edge as he fought to hold onto the demon within him. He felt her tense against him, felt the grip of her inner muscles against his fingers every time he thrust into her and knew that she was close.

  Her breath was hitching with each thrust until she finally caught it and held it. Her muscles convulsed and she felt the waves wash through her body, her inner muscles clenching rhythmically with the beat of her heart.

  Joshua pressed his fangs against her skin and the flesh gave way almost instantly. The taste of her blood pooling around the tips as he drew back slightly, his tongue searching for her very essence and he consigned it to his memory, growling with the pleasure that the mark had brought him.

  Riding through the waves of her orgasm Cynthia had felt the sharp sting from his fangs and somewhere within her mind it registered what had happened.

  Her heart double kicked against her ribs, but there was no rush to panic this time, no fear, just the pleasure of what he had given her and the desire for more.

  Her core ached to be filled by him, her hands longed to touch his body and somewhere within her, she accepted his beast, accepted what he was, who he was and what he meant to her.

  Joshua cursed his beast. He had given it what he could, her blood, his mark against her flesh and now he pushed him away with everything he had within him. He wouldn’t let his beast take her, even though he wanted nothing more himself.

  The taste of her blood on his tongue had set a fire within him that he didn’t think he could dampen. He might be able to push his beast away for now, but his whole body was aching for her. He didn’t even realise that he was still working his fingers within her, still rubbing his thumb over the nub as he rubbed his own arousal against her backside.

  When had he released himself from his clothes? When had he pulled down her panties so he could feel the soft skin of her backside against his shaft?

  He heard his name on her lips and it was if she had called to the ache within his shaft. The thing had a mind of its own as it twitched against her flesh. Damn, it was becoming physically painful not to be within her.

  “I need you…” Her words mirrored his thoughts. His fingers wrapped around the thin band of her panties and he tore them away from her. The gasp from her lips made him still his actions, unsure if she wanted him or not.

  “Do you want me inside you love…?” The growl rolled through his voice. But his tone wasn’t as feral as it had been when his beast was demanding he take her.

  “Yes…” Cynthia pressed her backside to him as if she was emphasising the point and his shaft swelled to the point of bloody painful. He eased his fingers from inside her channel and widened the stance of her legs. He wrapped his fist around his shaft and rubbed over the moist folds between her legs, taking as much as her juices over him as he could, before he positioned himself at the edge of her core and pressed slowly inside her.

  He heard the moan leave his mates lips as he took her to the hilt with one long, slow push within her walls that had her stretched around him like a second skin. She was so tight that he growled with the sheer pleasure of his shaft being squeezed by her inner muscles.

  A dark curse left his lips as he ground his hips against her backside. He could feel the press of her womb against the tip of his shaft, like a lovers lips brushing over him and he wanted more.

  She was gripping around him as he pulled back and it felt so damn good. She didn’t release her muscles as he pressed into her again, excruciatingly slowly, grinding against her womb, over and over until he couldn’t hold that pace any longer.

  He searched for her nub with one hand and the other burned a path over her skin until he found the edge of her bra and flipped it over her breast, trapping the firm globe and pushing her nipple out for his touch.

  She moaned with the onslaught of feeling he was creating through her body, every jolt of pleasure was felt deep within her womb as he pushed her body to the edge of the precipice.

  His name was on her lips over and again, until he thrust her over the edge into a release that tore through her with the power of a tsunami, sweeping every other thought and feeling away.

  Cynthia’s legs became weak beneath her and he pulled out of her. Turning her within his arms and he lifted her against him as he entered her again. Pressing her back against the wall as her head rested against his chest.

  “I have you…” He growled against her ear before he spun her away from the wall and carried her to his bed.

  He lay down with her before rolling onto his back, letting her recover against his chest. He was unwilling to release her completely so he stayed buried within her. He wasn’t finished with her yet, his desire for her hadn’t even begun to be sated and his sack ached to be emptied within her. But he wanted her to know every stroke he made inside her and he waited for her to come back to him.

  He was surprised when she moved against him, rocked her hips forwards before taking him deep within her again. He growled out his pleasure as his hands found her hips.

  Cynthia used her hands on his chest to push her body up. Steadying herself as she started to work over him. Undulating in the most erotic dance he had ever witnessed. The sheer pleasure of being buried deep within her driving him almost insane with his need for her.

  Joshua’s hips moved of their own accord. He pushed deep inside her with every downward motion she made over him. Her inner muscles were squeezing him to the point where he could no longer control his desire for release.

  In an instant he had her on her back. The deep growl of his claim on her rolled through his chest and he snagged her wrists, pushing her hands down to the mattress before he ea
sed her hands above her head and held them with one large hand.

  His other hand ran down her body to lift her hips from the bed, as he increased the power and speed with each stroke into her, until he was thrusting with the need that drove him on.

  Her body kept reaching up for his thrust. Her muscles tightened within her channel of their accord. She was searching for her own release and he wouldn’t unleash his before she was sated. When she cried out beneath him, he felt the resistance of her inner muscles against his thrusts and it only heightened his pleasure.

  The sensation ripped up his spine and he thrust deep into her. Exploding against her womb, he roared with the basal claim he had on his mate and the pleasure that throbbed through him.

  Pulling back to thrust deep again, over and over, spilling his seed within her until he was sated. His muscles trembled and he dropped over her body, holding himself up on his elbows as he fought to recover his senses.

  Joshua gathered her to him and rolled with her in the bed. She laid over him like a rag doll. The only movement from her was the ragged breaths that she pulled into her lungs. He stroked down over the satin of her hair and the softness of her back, soothing her back to him.

  “You- marked me.” She breathed out against his chest and Joshua winced. In that moment he wanted to curse and disown the beast within him.

  “I’m sorry, it was the only way to push the beast away…” Joshua reached out to her with his mind, but they weren’t bonded. He could only get the sense of her emotions from her voice and the way that she held her body. But right now, that was a redundant sense. She was still recovering. Her body still trembled against his as the aftershocks rolled through her. He couldn’t discern anything from her right now.

  “It didn’t hurt…” Cynthia dragged her head over his chest so she could look up at him. His eyes were still dark as he stared down at her. His fingertips brushed the stray strands of hair that clung against her damp skin away as she gazed up at him.

  There was no accusation in her tone. No fear within her eyes. He didn’t know what to say to her, what she wanted him to say. But he desperately wanted her to forgive him.

  “I shouldn’t…” He started to explain himself. Explain his beast’s behaviour, but the light in her eyes, the slight upturn to the edges of her lips stopped him. She looked glorious, breathtaking. Fresh from their lovemaking, with the flush of her orgasm still on her cheeks and the smile on her lips, she took his breath away.

  “I’m glad you did. The way you did it…” She blushed and his heart sang. He had just made love to her, been intimate, and she still blushed with the thought of them together.

  Joshua reached for her and eased her up his chest. Brining her lips above his, he brushed her falling hair away from her face and claimed her lips. It was a slow, deliberate act of showing her how much she meant to him. She responded to him in kind, igniting a desire within them both, until he rolled her onto her back and eased within her again.

  Vampire be damned. This was where he wanted to be.

  Cynthia eased herself into the passenger seat of the pickup and shot a look towards Isabel. The small smirk on Isabel’s lips said she understood Cynthia’s plight. Both women had spent the remainder of the night in bed with their mates and sitting down was something of an issue this morning.

  “You look how I feel…” Cynthia snorted and Isabel rolled her eyes. Even that seemed to be an effort today.

  “I bet I feel how you feel as well…” Isabel giggled as she started the engine. Both women looked to their respective mates, standing side by side in front of the house. The enormous grins on their faces and the puffed up chests of their proud, insatiable Lycan’s, told them that they had been overheard.

  “Put the car in gear before he decides he’s horny again…” Cynthia chuckled, and then chuckled harder when Isabel did just that and stomped on the accelerator pedal, chewing up the gravel under the tyres.

  “God, don’t give them ideas.”

  “It’s not that I don’t appreciate all of the sex. I do…” Cynthia muttered just in case she could still be overheard. Even though Isabel was driving like a bat out of hell now and tearing up the road.

  “Oh sure, if anyone does you do.” Isabel caught the double take that Cynthia gave her and sniggered.

  “What does that mean?” Cynthia huffed and Isabel shrugged her shoulders, trying to come up with an answer that wouldn’t totally alienate Cynthia.

  “Well there’s been a dry spell…” Isabel offered and Cynthia gasped in disbelief.

  “Dry spell? Says the woman who’s practically a Nun…”

  “Nun? Hardly…”Isabel snorted back as the pickup bounced over the uneven ground of the track with neither occupant really noticing.

  “We’re not counting hand held devices that need batteries Isa…”

  “Oh, this from the woman who practically keeps the sex toy industry in business…” Isabel levied back at her and Cynthia’s mouth dropped open before she started to chuckle.

  “Not anymore.” Cynthia shot back and Isabel snorted a laugh.

  “He’s just so…” Her eyes were practically bulging from her head as if to make her point, and Cynthia buried her face in her hands as she blushed crimson and moaned long and hard at the thought of Joshua’s size.

  “It’s like being impaled on a marrow…” She chuckled, and then raised her head with a shocked look on her face. “Not that I have, before you start. And not that I’m complaining… I mean it’s just so…”

  “Huge…” Isabel nodded her appreciation.

  “Enormous.”

  “Immense.”

  “Gigantic.” Cynthia got a faraway look in her eye and Isabel grinned to herself.

  “Filling.” Isabel giggled again and Cynthia joined her.

  “Stretching.”

  “Touches the parts you didn’t even know you had…” Isabel offered and Cynthia snorted.

  “But are oh so glad you do.” She agreed as they both spluttered laughter into the cab. The glee that came from each of them making the other laugh harder.

  “I don’t think my knees could brush together if they needed too.” Cynthia admitted and Isabel shrugged.

  “I don’t think they are going to need to for quite a while. Not if Joshua gets his way.” Isabel didn’t slow down when she hit one of the pot holes at the end of the road and turned out onto the main road without even looking.

  “Could you at least pretend you were looking for other traffic?” Cynthia winced and Isabel shrugged again.

  “We both know it would be a lie.”

  Joshua and Elijah were keeping time with the progress of their mates as they travelled off of pack land. Elijah had thought it would be a pretty sedate speed that she would be travelling, he had been wrong.

  ‘Your mate drives like a lunatic.’ Joshua threw out into the collective and heard the growl come back from Elijah, immediately knowing why. He had forgotten that Elijah and Isabel had already mated and she was now part of the collective. Although he doubted that she would have picked up on what he had said as she probably wasn’t as attuned to listening in as a Lycan would be.

  Elijah had to admit, even if only to himself, that he had thought the very same thing the instant his mate had put her foot down on the accelerator. And he had vowed in his own mind to give her a few driving lessons to make sure she became a safer driver.

  When she hit the main road without even slowing down or appearing to look for other traffic, he decided that safer would mean not letting her behind the wheel ever again.

  They followed the path of the pickup along the boundary line. Only losing it for a less than a minute as it turned left to come back right and continue up the south side of the boundary between the packs land and the outer edges of Morag’s land. But both Elijah and Joshua followed their progress by hearing alone.

  Elijah had agreed to the mate’s going to Morag’s on their own. But he’d had no intention of not being close by in case something went wro
ng. He just didn’t believe that it was information he needed to share with her. For want of not having to hear how she could take care of herself again.

  He knew she was powerful. But none of them had any real idea what was going on at the moment and he wasn’t going to take the chance that something unexpected might go wrong.

  If the circle was involved in some kind of nefarious goings on against the pack, then maybe they would be able to mute her powers too, if they saw fit and he wouldn’t leave her defenceless, ever.

  Cynthia eyed Morag’s large red brick farm house as they gained on it. She would be glad to be out of the car, and not just because Isabel’s driving was so damn bad. But because the woman had managed to hit every pot hole in the road between their mate’s house and Morag’s, and she was feeling a tad bit sore to continually bounce up and down in the hard seat of the cab.

  The moment Isabel cut the engine she saw Morag come out of her front door. The witch eyed them with suspicion until they climbed out of the pickup and the old woman saw exactly who it was that had come to see her.

  “Hello sisters. Blessings.” She put a smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her eyes, as they gained ground across the driveway.

  Isabel felt uneasy. Something didn’t feel right here today. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

  “Blessings Morag, we come bearing chocolate.” Cynthia called and the old woman did her customary little jig of joy.

  “Anyone carrying chocolate is always welcome at my door. Come on in sisters and I will put the kettle on.” Morag seemed to hesitate in her step for only a moment, but Isabel caught that hesitation and wondered at it.

  “How goes it with you Morag, anything new?” Isabel asked as she walked closer to Cynthia and reached for her wrist. Wrapping her fingers around it, she tugged her friend to her side and then moved her in behind her.