My Mate's Embrace (20 page)

“Go on, off with the two of you, before Anton gets any more strung out,” Dmitry said, smiling. “The cottage is ready for you, and you’ll have plenty of privacy.”

Anton didn’t wait. He knew he was being barbaric, but it was time. He threw Laurel over his shoulder, being careful not to hurt her stomach as she fell over his back.

“Anton,” she squeaked.

Anton patted her rump and took off running. His family’s laughter faded away as he headed into the forest.

Finally reaching the cottage, he stopped at the front door and let Laurel slide down the front of him. She couldn’t help but feel his arousal. He leaned down to kiss her before dropping to one knee.

“Anton?”

“Laurel Marie Harris, love of my life, would you marry me?” Anton asked, pulling from his pocket the velvet box his mother passed to him earlier in the evening. He opened the box to show a one-carat, emerald-cut blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. “The ring was my grandmother’s on my mother’s side. If you don’t like it, we can buy another one, but Mother would like you to have it either way.”

“Anton, it’s beautiful. I would be honored to have it,” Laurel said, tears streaming down her face.

“Is that a yes,
lyubov moya?
Because you are killing me with those tears.”

Laughing and wiping at her face, Laurel leaned down and kissed him. “Yes, Anton, I would love to be your wife.”

Anton stood and caught Laurel close to his chest. Then, he twirled her around.

“Yes. Finally. You are mine, Laurel, now and always, this world and the next.”
Anton swept Laurel into his arms and carried her across the threshold, down the hall and into the bedroom, before returning her to her feet.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to close the front door and fetch us some food. You didn’t eat much tonight,” he said before he turned and ran back down the hall. He locked the front door, only because he didn’t want to be interrupted. Then, he fetched the food basket sitting on the table in the kitchen.

Laurel stood in the bedroom of the little cottage. The bed was turned down, and someone had spread rose petals over the sheets. Candles sat around the room, and a packet of matches lay on the nightstand. Laurel moved to the side of the bed and slipped off her shoes, before putting the pack history book on the chair. Then, she picked up the matches and started lighting the candles. It was dark outside, but she didn’t have a problem seeing. Was this one of the gifts from Asena?

Just as she finished lighting the last candle, Anton walked into the room with a basket of food on his arm.

“You look lovely in candlelight, Laurel. What would you like to eat? There are rolls and cheese and meat. There is some fruit.”

Laurel groaned. “Not fruit. I’ve had my fill of fruit and herbal tea.”

“Alright, I’ll make us some sandwiches then.”

Laurel decided that it was time to start her seduction. Anton needed to stop taking care of her stomach and take care of other things. She carefully removed the basket from the bed and placed it on the floor.

“We’ll eat, later,” she said as she reached for the buttons on Anton’s shirt.

Laurel made sure to brush her fingers against the skin of his chest as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders. When she looked up into his eyes, his pupils were dilated, and she could see lust sparking in them. She ran her hands down his chest to the waist of his dress pants. Leaning forward, she took his nipple into her mouth and sucked it, while at the same time unfastening the hook and zipper of his slacks.

“God, Laurel. Are you sure you’re ready? You’re killing me here.”

Stepping back, she pushed his pants down his hips and smiled when she noticed he didn’t have any briefs on. His member jutted out, and unable to resist, she ran her fingers lightly up and down its length.

“Don’t you want me?” Laurel asked with a pout. She knew without a doubt that he wanted her, and it filled her with power. She was pushing him, and she knew it.

Growling, Anton grabbed her close and kissed her. “You know I do.”

Before he could kiss her again, she held up her hand. “Get on the bed, Anton. I’m not finished seducing you.”

“
Detka
, Baby, you seduce me anymore, and I’m not going to last.”

Laurel smiled as she pushed him back on the bed. He didn’t resist, and she again felt the power she held over him. But even while reveling in her power, she wanted to please him.

She reached up and untied the laces on her dress before slipping it off over her head. She heard Anton’s hiss of breath as he saw the lace bra and panties she wore underneath.

“Wait,” Anton said when Laurel reached up to unfasten the bra. “Come here,
Detka
. I want to take it off. I want to unwrap you like the gift you are.” He held his hand out, and Laurel put her hand in his, letting him draw her forward and onto the bed.

Laurel was driving him crazy with her seduction, and he loved every minute of it. She was so self-assured and comfortable with her body that it only made him harder as he watched her. His wolf was clamoring for its mate. He was fighting to keep control of the passion that threatened to overwhelm him.

He pulled her slowly onto the bed and leaned up to kiss her. He coaxed and teased as he licked at her lips before plunging his tongue into her mouth to find her taste. She didn’t hold back, and soon their tongues were tangling in a duel as old as time. Grabbing her around the waist, he guided her down by his side, his mouth never leaving her lips. Then leaning over her, he continued his efforts. Licking and nipping at her lips, he let his mouth wander down her cheek to her neck and shoulder.

Laurel groaned in approval as he licked at her neck where it met her shoulder. He felt his canines pulse with the need to bite, to mark her as his mate. But not yet, first she must be carried away with pleasure. Anton reached for the mating bond and pulled the link tight, merging his mind with Laurel’s, sharing each moment of desire he was feeling. Moving farther down, he nuzzled her breast, pushing the material off her nipple so he could taste her there. Licking her skin, he circled the little nub. Laurel moaned and pushed up, begging him to take it in his mouth. Unable to deny her, he sucked it deep. Pulling on it, he set a rhythm that he could feel echoing down in her womb. He lifted her up into his mouth as he undid the fastening of her bra and pulled it off her arms.

The shared pleasure only heightened her response. Anton didn’t know whether he or Laurel was experiencing more enjoyment, as he licked his way to her other breast and sucked it. Laurel moaned and ran her fingers through his hair, releasing it from the leather thong. She pulled him closer, demanding that he take her deeper in his mouth. He pulled hard on her nipple, and she arched her back trying to get closer. He released her with a pop.

“Are you wet for me,
lyubov moya?
” he asked, his fingers finding their way beneath her panties to her warm heat.

He swirled his fingers in her juices and then brought them up to show her, before sucking the moisture off. “Sweet, Laurel, you taste so sweet.”

Anton looked at the dazed look of pleasure in Laurel’s eyes, her kiss-swollen lips, and lower to her nipples, standing erect and begging for his kisses.

“More, Anton, I want more,” Laurel said.

“What is it that you want,
Detka?”

“All of it, all of you.”

Anton felt himself grow larger and harder. He couldn’t wait much longer to take her. But Laurel was a virgin, and he wanted to do right by her. He reached down and grabbed her panties, yanking the material and pulling them from her body. He enjoyed seeing the moisture glistening on her auburn curls, covering the treasure that belonged to him alone. He scooted down between her legs, sliding his arms under her thighs he lifted her higher.

You are so wet for me,
he sent, switching to the more intimate form of communication.

He needed to taste her again. Lowering his head, he swiped his tongue through the moisture. Laurel gasped, her fists clenching the sheets.

Easy, Baby, let me give you pleasure
, he sent, moving his arm across her thighs and dipping his tongue in for more. He swirled his tongue around her clit and pushed a finger into her channel. She was so hot and tight, her juices running down his finger and into his hand.

Afraid of hurting her, he pushed his finger in deeper and then pulled it out. Laurel moaned and tried to push her hips up. But Anton held her still as his tongue continued to plunder her depths. He added a second finger to the first and licked at her clit as he scissored his fingers inside her. She tasted so good, so hot and sweet. He continued to work his fingers inside her, stretching her and preparing her for his entry.

Hurry, Anton, take me please. It burns. I’m on fire,
Laurel sent into his thoughts, feeding her need and desire through the link. She didn’t think she could take any more. The pleasure was consuming her. She was so hot. Her body began to tremble and more liquid gushed from her core. Laurel knew from their shared dreams that she was on the edge, just one little push and she would come.

Anton sucked her clit into his mouth and a wave of pleasure crashed over her. Her muscles clenched and then she was flying apart, the only steady thing to hold onto was Anton.

I’ve got you, Detka, I’ve always got you,
Anton whispered in her thoughts as he moved up her body and kissed her lips.

Laurel could still taste herself on Anton’s lips as he kissed her. Then he dipped back down to her breasts, pulling the nipple into his mouth and sucking it deep. Her body continued to tremble. She wasn’t finished. Anton was raising the level of pleasure, pushing her to continue the climb.

He rubbed his staff through her juices, teasing her as he nudged it between her legs. Laurel wanted him inside her. She wanted their bodies to become one. Reaching down, she guided him into her depths. But he refused to plunge into her. Laurel tried to raise her hips, but Anton wouldn’t allow it. He continued to tease her, entering her, an inch or two and then pulling out.

I don’t want to hurt you.

Dammit, Anton. Take me now.

Laurel wanted to scream in frustration. She wanted this, wanted him inside her. He pushed a little deeper until he reached her hymen.

This might hurt, Detka,
his voice whispered in her thoughts.

Anton could feel Laurel’s frustration and didn’t know any other way to finish it without hurting her. He hated that he was about to cause her pain. He pulled almost totally out of her and then lifted her hips, so she could take him deep. He swirled his fingers around her clit and pinched at it, driving her pleasure back up. Then he plunged through her barrier.

Laurel cried out, and Anton froze inside her. Tears leaked from her eyes. He could feel her pain as if it was his own. He accepted it and tried to shelter her thoughts. When he felt her body growing more comfortable with the invasion, he moved out just a little, before sliding back in. She was so hot and tight, his member gripped in a fist. The feeling was amazing, and he fed his desire to Laurel.

Her muscles relaxed even more as the craving built, and with each pull Anton retreated a little more, before sliding all the way in. His wolf rose to the surface, wanting to go faster, to drive himself so deep inside Laurel that he would never be apart from her.

She moaned and pushed up into his next thrust, encouraging him to go deeper. He felt his excitement rising. This was his mate. She belonged to him. The pleasure built, bouncing back and forth between them, building until it was a tidal wave of need.

The wolf fed the flames of passion, and Anton lost his control. He pounded into Laurel’s sweet embrace, feeding her the pleasure of each stroke as his need became hers and grew brighter. Anton felt Laurel’s body tighten and her muscles clench down on his staff as she cried out his name. His balls drew up, and then with a final push, he was flying to heaven with his release, Laurel connected to him, sharing his thoughts.

Anton felt the throbbing in his canines and leaned down to the soft flesh where Laurel’s neck and shoulder met. He bit down, breaking the skin, and then licked at the wound to remove the sting. She was his. The mating bond was finally cemented into place.

“I take everything you are into my keeping and give everything I am into yours.”

Laurel dreamed of wolves. As she watched them run and play and chase through the moonlit trees, she wanted to join in the fun. They ran and pounced, then ran again.

“Wait for me,” she called. “Let me come with you.”

She called the change to her. Wanting to be one with the wolves, she felt like running and playing with them. Sparks of light coalesced around her figure, and Laurel felt her bones start to transform as hair burst from the surface of her skin and ran down her body.

Then, she stood on all fours, a female wolf. Strong and svelte, she admired her coat and held up her big paw. She looked around her, but the other wolves disappeared.

Feeling sad and alone, she began to whine. Why did they leave her?

Anton heard whining and blinked his eyes open. He reached for Laurel and buried his hands in her thick pelt. Her pelt? Sitting up, Anton turned to see his mate. She was a gorgeous auburn-and-white wolf. She opened her eyes and looked at her paws. Then barking, she sat up. Anton could see panic in her blue eyes. How was this possible?

Laurel?
he sent into her thoughts, their minds merging.
Detka, don’t panic. When Asena said you would have all the gifts of her own, I didn’t realize she meant you would shift.

Anton, what should I do? How do I change back?

I’ll show you. It’s going to be okay. But before you change back, let me show you what it’s like to run as a wolf. You’ll have fun, I promise.
This was going to be great. Laurel would be able to run with the pack. She would have the superior strength and speed of the lycans.

Anton rose from the bed and walked down the hall to the front door of the cottage. Then, he unlocked the door and swung it open. Laurel padded down the hall after him, her ears lifted and tail wagging.