Howl My Name (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Grayslake Book 5) (18 page)

He was all that and so much more. “I’m fine, Evie.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re not. And I know something—everything—is eating at you.” She placed her hand over his heart and he covered hers with his own. “Tell me what’s going on. How can I help you?”

“Evelyn,” he sighed.

“Evie,” she corrected him and he grinned. She liked the nickname as much as he did.

“Evie, it’s nothing.”

She shook her head again. “If it was nothing, you wouldn’t be out here alone.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not.”

Did she have to argue with him? “Baby…”

She ignored him and grasped his hand, yanking him behind her and he didn’t have the strength to deny her. He followed like a docile lamb and if that wasn’t out of character, he didn’t know what was. He never followed. He led. He argued. He took control. He… Screw it. He let Evie take him wherever she wanted.

They skirted the clearing, traveling deeper into the forest, following her imaginary trail until he realized they were headed up a gradual slope. He didn’t stop her, didn’t nudge her or ask her where they were going. It was obvious his mate had a destination in mind and he allowed himself to enjoy their time together.

Minutes ticked past. An hour? Hour and a half? He wasn’t sure. He just knew his wolf was aware of everything around them, conscious of their surroundings even as Reid’s human side focused on Evie’s ass.

He couldn’t help it. It was a very nice ass. One he wanted to nibble and bite and…

A smaller clearing came into view, a break in the trees that opened to expose one of the most beautiful views he’d ever experienced. Sure, Grayslake was pretty. His hometown of Redby just as gorgeous. But this… Brookfield spread out before them in swaths of green. Rolling hills and the town settled snug in a basin. Pride and possessiveness surged inside him, his wolf telling him to man up and hold onto the town with both hands.

It was his.

His
.

Just like Evie.

“Evie?”

She released him and padded to a large boulder that rested near the edge of the downward slope. She crawled atop the rock, drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around her shins. She remained silent and he merely watched her, the way the wind picked up her hair and made it dance in the air, the way her head tilted when she met his gaze, and the line of her neck as she turned her attention back to the town below. “I came here expecting to hate it, you know. Every inch. Every second I was in town. But my grandmother willed it and I didn’t have anyone else. It was what she wanted and the Itan told me I had to follow clan law. So I made plans and uprooted my life. Deciding I’d figure something out with medical school once I settled.”

Reid edged closer, not stopping until he too leaned against the rock, arm around her shoulders. He couldn’t
not
touch her. “And?”

“And I hated it when I got here. When I saw my father. When I saw what they did. It made me sick. It made me want to cry because their blood is in my veins.”

“Then?”

“It made me angry. I couldn’t stop them with my claws, but I could make a call. I could reach out.”

“So you did.”

“I did. And Terrence sent the answer to my prayers.”

He shook his head and rested his cheek atop hers. “No, Evie, he didn’t.”

“Yes, no matter what you say, you are the perfect person for this town, for this clan.”

“He nearly won.”

“Nearly isn’t actually.”

And because she was his mate, his other half, he let his fears out. He wouldn’t tell Clary, but Evie? He’d tell Evie. “It was close. What kind of Itan boasts about killing everything and then nearly dies? I’m a wolf. It’ll take one determined bear…”

To take the clan from me. To take them all from me.

“It’s a risk, Reid. Wolf or bear, things happen. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but no matter what, you would have won if Katherine hadn’t interfered.”

“You give me more credit than I deserve.”

Evie nuzzled him and he pulled her closer. “I give you what you’ve earned.”

“I got cocky.”

“True enough, but I think everything you’ve done warrants it.”

“I’m weak.”

“Never. I don’t think you know how.” Evie tilted her head back and he eased his attention from the town to her.

“I—”

“I think you’re a different person now than when you met my father.”

“I’m the same as I always was.”

“No,” her hand once again found its way to his chest. “You didn’t have anything to fight for before Brookfield, before me. Now you do. It changed you. How you fight. How you think. How you feel. You’re no less dangerous, Reid, you just might be a little more careful. You have something to live for now. Me. This town. This clan. Having feelings doesn’t make you less.”

“It almost got me killed.” It was an agreement without agreement.

“Not knowing how to manage those emotions resulted in you struggling. You had so much rage—”

“It’s always there.”

“—but now it’s tempered by love and you need to learn how to fight with that in your heart.”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t refute her statement. There was no way to deny the truth.

“So instead of fighting without caring about whether you live or die, you learn how to fight while you make sure you live.”

“You make it sound easy.” He gave her a rueful grin.

“It is.”

Reid moved until they faced one another, Evie still resting on the rock while he slowly eased her legs down until her thighs were spread. He stepped between them, making room for himself. “Loving you, Evie… that’s easy.”

“Then live for me. Stay for me. Fight for me. I’ll go wherever you go, but you know this is home. You feel it.”

He did.

He also felt something else. Felt his heart piecing itself back together, felt his ragged soul gradually gathering the tattered pieces of itself. And he realized it wasn’t Clary that he needed in his life.

It was Evie.

Beautiful Evie. Gorgeous Evie. Unmated Evie.

“I’ll do anything for you, Evelyn.”

“Evie.”

“Evelyn. Evelyn Bennett.”

“We’re not mated.”

He grinned, heart feeling lighter by the second. “We can be in under five minutes.”

She rolled her eyes, lips parting into a half smile. “At least I’m not mating a one minute man.”

Evelyn couldn’t tear her eyes from Reid, from the intensity in his eyes or the cocky curve of his lips. He was
hers
. From head to toe.
Hers
.

“Definitely more than one minute.” His gaze raked her from top to bottom, heat filling his expression and he licked his lips as if he couldn’t wait to taste her. And she couldn’t wait to be tasted, to feel his mouth on her skin and his fangs in her flesh. “Is this what you want?” He reached for her legs, teasing her outer thighs from knee and the farther north. “You want me to claim you? Make you mine?”

Her pussy heated, warming more and more the closer he got to where she desired him most. “Yes.”

She had no other answer. She could give no other answer.

“Here? Now?” His fingers teased the edge of her shorts, dipping beneath the frayed hem and tickling her skin.

“Yes.” It made sense. This was a quiet, special place she’d discovered not long after arriving. She’d made it hers. Now they’d make it
theirs
. Their spot to get away from the stress of ruling the clan. Somewhere they could retreat and simply
be
. “Here. Now.”

No hesitation. Why would she? She
wanted
to belong to Reid. The strongest male she’d ever met, wolf and all.

His digits reached higher, hand delving beneath her shorts and gripping her legs. “I want you too badly to be gentle, Evie. The wolf craves you.” A growl filled his voice, Reid’s inner-wolf reasserting the statement. “He wants to mount you, cover you… bite you.”

A shudder worked through her body and her pussy clenched. The idea of being taken, truly claimed, sent a wave of arousal crashing through her. Need snaked along her nerves, nipples pebbling in anticipation of his mouth, pussy clenching and aching to be filled. She pulsed with desire, his nearness and words spurring her impending ecstasy.

He would take her. Claim her.

She couldn’t wait.

The hint of doubt filling his features had to be addressed. She knew his words were meant to scare her, but they did anything but. “I want that, Reid. I want your wolf. I’m not mating a human. I’m mating a
male
. Show me your wolf. Show me what being yours will be like.”

She taunted the wolf and based on the amber now filling his eyes, the animal was taking the bait. Those teasing fingers squeezed her thighs, his nails pricking her skin and sending a jolt of pain up her spine. It didn’t take away from the pleasure of his touch, but added to it, making it
more
.

“Evie…” he rumbled.

“Show me, Reid.” She leaned into him, bringing their faces close and then darted forward to nip his lower lip. “Show me.”

The low rumble turned into a snarl and growl. He snatched his hands from her legs and gripped her hips. In one whip fast move, he had her facing the boulder and bent at the waist. She caught herself, placing her elbows on the hard stone.

He clawed at her shorts, sharpened nails scraping the fabric and fighting with the button and zipper until warm air bathed her skin. He’d been nearly gentle in his treatment of her shorts, not fully destroying them, but her panties were a different story. Those were shredded with a few claws and one yank.

And she wasn’t scared by his need, by his rough treatment. It was a testament to his desire and she reveled in his responses.

She yanked at her shirt and bra, tossing them aside so they wouldn’t suffer the same fate as her panties.

“Beautiful,” he rasped and she glanced over her shoulder, watching the changes in his expression when she shook her ass. Reid licked his lips, tongue darting out to wet them. His look turned hungry, desperate for a taste of her.

“Reid?”

“Mine,” he snarled.

“Always yours.” Her pussy clenched, reacting to his declaration. “Always.”

He grunted and his hands returned to her shorts, pulling them farther down her legs. He tugged on one shoe, pulling it off and then helping her step out of her clothing enough so she wasn’t hindered. Then he nudged her thighs apart even more until she was fully bared to his gaze.

“All mine.”

“Make me yours.” She taunted him, his wolf, and was prepared for the consequences. The wonderful, mind blowing consequences.

His cock was hard beneath his jeans, the bulge straining against the denim, and he palmed his dick through the fabric. He squeezed it hard, making the outline even starker. She couldn’t help but remember his taste, the feel of him against her tongue. She wanted that again, wanted him filling her mouth as she cradled him and gave him pleasure.

She let her attention drift, rising higher until their eyes collided.

“Next time,” he murmured. She wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Not until he dropped to his knees behind her and his talented tongue lapped at her slit.

Next time she could taste him. For now, she was along for the ride.

He licked her, from clit to center he tormented her. He slipped up, circling her opening, before sliding back down to tap her clit.

“S’good,” he rumbled against her flesh. “Fucking good.”

Evelyn dropped her head forward, relaxing and focusing on the sensations Reid gifted her. Concentrated on the sweep of his tongue and the way he tormented her clit. On the random pattern and the way it spurred her pleasure. Her pussy clenched, tightening and milking, silently begging to be filled.

By Reid. By her mate.

But not yet. Not when he sucked on that bundle of nerves. Not when he scraped his tooth gently over that small nubbin.

Her legs shook with the bliss he caused, the feel of all that ecstasy racing over her nerves nearly making her fall with the overwhelming feelings. But she remained still, locking her knees and thanking nature for putting the boulder in this exact spot.

He licked her. Again and again, his growls slowly coming to mingle and dance with her moans and pleas. The sensations were dizzying, stealing her focus until she thought of nothing but Reid between her thighs.

Reid making her sigh.

Reid making her moan.

Reid making her groan.

Reid making her beg.

“
Please
…”

He growled low, the vibrations making her gasp and then sob, shoving and pushing her toward the edge of release. It was there, almost in her grasp, and Reid continued urging her on with every nip, lick, and suck.

Her legs trembled, body shaking as she was overcome with need. With a burning pleasure that threatened to overtake her in a frenzied explosion.

His hands gripped her hips, pulling her backward and harder against his mouth, his actions rough and seeming as desperate as she felt.

“Reid,” she whimpered. “So close.”

His next sound was a growl, low and deep, threatening and pleading at once. He wanted her to come and dammit, she wanted that too.

Then he captured her clit between his teeth.

Then he sucked.

Then he flicked.

Then…
“Reid!”

Her shout echoed through the clearing, voice going on and on as the pleasure of her orgasm rocked through her body. It filled every inch of her, stretching to her toes, consuming her muscles and bones and saturating her blood.

Overwhelming spasms joined the molten sensations or her orgasm, her passion cresting and snatching any hint of control. She welcomed the shattering release and drew the ecstasy forward and then…

Then it got so much better. Between one heartbeat and the next Reid was there, his cock poised at her entrance.

And in one, fluid thrust, he filled her until she was stretched tightly around his dick and it was better than she’d ever imagined.

* * *

It was better than Reid had ever imagined. Being inside her, possessing her, was more pleasurable than his wildest dream or strongest hope.