To Have And To Hold

Showered With Love...

Chapter Fifty-Five: Showered With Love...

URSULA

I enjoyed getting to know Soren and Alta better when we returned from Howling Wind and appreciated how much they cared about Kingston. As Zayden, Zayn, Remi, and Jade, who had shown up as promised to help with the shed, assisted in arranging the furniture I brought forth, his Alpha and Luna mentioned several times that Kingston was long overdue for some time off and that his assistant, Gustaff could handle things with their youth group.

While it was obvious that he was very protective of his work and his boys, Kingston did admit that he wouldn’t mind taking a little more time off, pleasing me a great deal.

After Soren and Alta left, Jace appeared at the cottage, asking Kingston if he was still interested in visiting his workshop. With plenty of help to clean out the shed, I urged him to go and while reluctant, he did—with a promise to return soon.

As we were pulling out the rusted remnants of garden tools and junk, Reina and Persephone came forth with Ronan and Artem, enabling us to put a huge dent in the clean-up effort quickly. Kingston soon returned with Jace, who brought forth Beast, Tink, Gavin, and Carson, the enormous amount of muscle present helping to tear down the dilapidated shed.

Jace then sent everything to the landfill as an amused Reina and Persephone chastised their nephew that his growing mastering of magic had rendered them useless, though as I had not been around a hybrid wolf, I was incredibly impressed with his confidence and skills.

Thanking everyone as they left, I went back inside the cottage with Kingston, who would soon be leaving for his poker night, inviting him to return in the morning for breakfast and coffee before he prepared to go back to Howling Wind...

“Jace has offered to help me with your shelves and boxes,” Kingston kindheartedly said, “In fact, he and I set aside the necessary supplies. I thought we might get started after I finished training tomorrow afternoon.”

The thought of his quick return had me excitedly beaming from ear to ear, “Maybe I could make us an early dinner before you get started—a picnic by the lake near Jace’s woodshop.”

“I like that plan,” Kingston grinned, “Sounds like we have a date.”

Slowly lowering his head down to seize my lips with his own, I was suddenly glad that Kingston had purchased the curtains for selfish reasons too as they concealed us from the outside world while he and I enjoyed another precious moment together that instantly became another beloved memory...

***********

ANABELLE

While Spiros was meeting with Nicholas, I decided to keep busy by organizing our closet, unpacking the things he brought from his parents’ house and hanging up our clothes before arranging things in our bathroom, deciding to take a shower afterwards as I had sweat quite a bit between our fun mid-day run and putting everything in order.

With my back towards the shower head, I was enjoying the feel of the intensely hot water running down it, as I had only been able to take lukewarm baths due to my injuries, when suddenly, Spiros’ voice quietly inquired, “Mind if I join you?”

Not expecting his arrival—or his request—I hesitated, having to force air in to fill and expel from my lungs before replying, “No—I don’t mind.”

Pensively staring at the shower door, I watched it slowly open as Spiros cautiously asked, “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

My wolf’s ecstatic howl gave me our answer as I wholeheartedly returned, “More than okay—promise.”

Taking in every inch of his breathtaking, well-defined naked body as Spiros stepped into the shower, I couldn’t stop myself from murmuring out my awed thoughts, “You’re magnificent, Spiros.”

Embarrassed afterwards, I swallowed hard, nervously backtracking, “Sorry. I just never expected a man like you to be my mate—someone so perfect inside and out—who loves someone like me.”

Coming closer, Spiros let out the cutest laugh before gently bringing his arms around my back, “Any pain from this incredibly hot shower you decided to start with?”

“No, none at all,” I amorously replied, smiling at him as my eyes roamed all over every alluring line of his six-pack stomach, “And I couldn’t help it—the hotter, the better, in my opinion.”

Spiros chortled in response, my enamored gaze floating back up to meet with his, “Well, there is a sexy twist I didn’t expect from my Little Love—dirty word play.”

Pulling me tight against him, Spiros peered deep into my eyes, huskily pressing, “I hope one day you can always see yourself like I see you, Anabelle. You’re so beautiful—just as perfect inside and out—in fact, to me, no one compares to your incredible beauty and perfection—no one.”

“The way you say it makes me believe that—a little,” I sheepishly replied, tracing the lines of his broad shoulders with my fingertips.

“Then maybe showing you will finally convince you thoroughly,” Spiros lustfully exhaled out before his lips fiercely connected with mine, the streams of steamy water above us paling in comparison to the fiery heat that instantly rose between us. Drops of moisture rapidly rolled down our faces as we kissed, bouncing off our bodies like we were standing in a piping hot rainstorm. Deep-seeded desire seared throughout my mind and body as Spiros lifted me up into his arms, my hands flying up to run through his soaked brown ringlets as our embrace intensified.

As Spiros caressed my breast, his large erection pressed against my pelvis. Reaching behind me to turn off the water, Spiros broke our kiss, hastily instructing in a half-breath, “Wrap your legs around me, Anabelle.”

Harshly throwing the shower door open, Spiros left a heavy trail of water on the floor as he carried me towards our bed. Grabbing a towel from the rack, Spiros spread it out beneath my lower body before gently lowering me down, softly murmuring, “We need to take this slow to make sure I don’t cause you too much pain, okay?”

I silently nodded, my nervousness returning when Spiros placed several kisses on my neck and jawline before recapturing my lips in an ardent connection full of reciprocated desire. As our tongues slowly slid against one another, Spiros delicately pushed his hardened member in, taking such care in every movement as he inched his way forward. My walls instinctively tightened around him, until I felt the slight pain he was talking about, which thankfully only lasted a few seconds. Spiros must have felt me jerk slightly though, worriedly exhaling out, “Talk to me, Anabelle. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine—please don’t stop,” I pleaded in a building frenzied state, reconnecting our mouths to run my tongue along his again as Spiros pulled out of me before slowly pushing his hips forward again.

Pulling away from our kiss, he dipped down to whisper against my ear, repeating the arousing maneuver, “You are so beautiful, Little Love. Say it—tell me you know how beautiful you are.”

“When I’m with you, I feel beautiful, Spiros,” I softly moaned as I felt his next thrust, which was the hardest and most pleasurable one yet, “Being with you like this—I need more—you make me feel so happy and whole, Spiros.”

There was no more discomfort, only euphoria as Spiros sexily growled in response, increasing our pace. My body eagerly kept up with his rhythm as my perfectly sculpted warrior trailed his tongue and lips down my upper chest until they reached my breasts. Cupping my left while tenderly claiming the right, Spiros flicked his tongue across my n****e, a delightful tease that sent out a humored gasp in the room before my fingers again ran through the thick ringlets of hair that I loved. Harshly pressing down on the back of his head, I encouraged Spiros to take more aggressive action as my desire for him rose by leaps and bounds. I wanted my mate to take full claim of me—I needed it more than I needed the hastened air I was taking in to breathe.

The intensely hot air from his chuckle hit my hardened nub, setting me ablaze, yearning for Spiros to make a further exploration of my body, which he did—tenderly making his way down my stomach with tantalizing pecks against my skin as he pulled out, leaving me desperate for his return...

Taking hold of my hips, my love caused another gasp to escape—this one filled with surprise as Spiros flipped me over, his hands and lips gliding up from my butt to trail along my scars, seductively murmuring against them, “There is nothing about you that isn’t beautiful to me—nothing I don’t love.”

He entered me again from behind—and no words could describe how glorious it felt—but the deep, satisfied moans we both gave in response said it all as Spiros’ desire was heightened, pounding into me several times as the hardened kisses that were laid upon my shoulder and neck reflected an increasing passion and desire.

His words coming out in a low growl, Spiros’ fervent thrusts were starting to make me quake all around his shaft, “You’re mine, my Little Love, and I want—I need to make you ALL mine—I need to mark you, Anabelle—please!”

Licking my lips, I met his request with my own desirous rasp—my incisors beginning to extend in anticipation, “Yes, I need it too—I need to mark you, Spiros—to make you mine forever!”

Spiros purposefully flipped me back over before I finished my reply, barely removing himself from my folds before powerfully re-entering me—an even higher splendorous bliss vocalized just before his lips crashed down on mine, “OH, SPIROS! YES!”

There was no hiding my unrelenting need to claim him or the broad grin that extended across Spiros’ face as his tongue diverted away from mine to playfully run across the jagged edge of my extended incisor before he titillatingly exhaled out in a hoarse whisper, “I love you, Anabelle.”

I wanted to reply—I really did—but before I could, I felt Spiros’ mouth on my neck, sucking on his spot as I felt his elongating teeth graze across my skin, instinctively reacting by placing my hand on the back of his neck, seizing my spot as I reached the climax of exhilarating love and devotion, quickly followed by the man who was a once in a lifetime love...

The moment we sealed our connection is one I will never forget—both experiencing the release of rapture while also fully claiming the destiny that was ours to share—together.

As we heftily pierced one another’s skin, each fervently growling out our lifelong claim to the other while leaving the permanent mark that symbolized that unending intimate devotion, I physically felt my heart and soul intertwine with Spiros’—and it was the most intoxicating moment I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t want it to end—ever. There would never be a time I wouldn’t want to be with Spiros like this.

After my teeth retracted—my firm hold on neck relenting—I emphatically gasped out, “I love you, Spiros—more than I will ever be able to express. Not a day will pass that I won’t be thankful you are mine—all mine—and that I am forever your Little Love!”

*************

JACE

Constance, Charlotte, and Lorelei were preparing dinner when we returned from Ursula’s, my Goddess suggesting that we take ours to Horacio’s room to try and coax Mother to eat a little. It was the little things like this—all sitting around the kitchen talking amongst one another that meant the world to me now. Not that the guys and I didn’t enjoy each other’s company before the girls reappeared in our lives, but having them with us now was truly everything to me...

As our trio was finishing up on dinner, the rest of us decided to get cleaned up after spending the afternoon helping Ursula. Turning on the shower, I stepped in, steam billowing out as I allowed the hot water to flow on top of my head, running my hands down my face and mustached goatee as I heard the shower door open.

I reactively turned to find my Goddess standing before me—in one of my white t-shirts—leading me to humorously greet, “It’s been a while since you’ve joined me in the shower like that.”

“I know,” Goddess seductively replied, reaching out to teasingly run her long, slender fingers down my chest, “I’ve found myself missing you and this today, Smooth Talker.”

I immediately grabbed hold of Goddess, crashing my lips against her luscious mouth in a lustful, sultry kiss. Her arms wove around my neck, causing the t-shirt to become dampened by our closeness—Constance’s n*****s hardening against my own as our tongues frantically searched the other out until they blissfully connected.

“Have I mentioned how perfect you are, Goddess?” I purred out moments later, running my hands down her side until I reached the bottom of her butt, lifting her up as Constance wrapped her legs around my waist while I took two steps forward, pressing her back against the far wall of the shower, “And how much I love worshipping you in every way?”

Grinning in response, Goddess delightedly hummed, “Mmmmhmmm, many times, my highly desirable warrior, and I love worshipping you too—very much.” Recapturing my lips, she proved her point—expelling a soft, heated moan into my mouth, adding additional vigor to my hands, which quickly removed the barrier shirt between us, tossing it onto the shower floor.

Entering her in one powerful thrust, Goddess let out a stronger moan that reverberated against the inside of my cheeks as I pulled back before aggressively shoving my stiffened shaft against her tightened inner walls again, the friction of it feeling so good, it led me to swiftly do it twice more—my desire for my Goddess rising to a fervent peak.

“Oh, do that again, Jace—please,” Goddess breathlessly pleaded, grinding her hips against mine.

Always wanting to grant my Goddess’ every wish, I began pounding into her hard at a furious pace, lowering my mouth onto her dripping wet n****e to suck on it, twirling my tongue around as Goddess arch her back, which in turn, had my hands gripping her hips firmly as she took me in hard and whole.

“Dammit, Goddess—you feel so good—I’m not going to be able to hold back much longer,” I growled out, continuing the pleasure-filled rhythm.

“Neither am I—oh, Jace—oh I love the way you feel inside me—I can never get enough of this,” Goddess brokenly panted out, her silky hand slowly coming up my neck to graze against the skin of my bald head as I moved my attention to her right breast, pressing it down harder as my mouth claimed her other soaked hard nub.

Her words had me slamming in and out of her moist, swollen folds, our bodies both making the climb to edge of ecstasy in perfect sync, my mouth moving up to her mark, sucking on it hard as I felt Goddess’ climax begin. She reciprocated the move, nibbling on my mark, knowing how much I relished the feel, sending me over the edge as we shared the overwhelming splendor of our combined passions. Our chests heaving from the sharp intakes of air, tenderness replaced lust as we shared a prolonged kiss reflecting the eternal love between us.

“I love you, Goddess,” I rasped out, “You and your love are the greatest gifts I will ever receive.”

“I love you too, Jace,” Goddess satisfyingly grinned, “And I’m grateful you are mine—forever and always.”

************

ARUNA

It didn’t come as a surprise when Anabelle and Spiros came into the kitchen with their marks of eternal connection, but it still affected me—leading me down a path of reflection, which in turn, led me to take a walk to visit with my eternal connection—the usual tears brimming my eyes as I sat down on the bench Nicholas had placed for me in front of Aldric’s granite headstone, our one-sided conversation still heartbreaking as his loss would always weigh heavily on my heart...

My hand coming up to my now wrinkled eternal mark, I warmly smiled, “I still remember that day, you know. Oh, you were the most strikingly majestic and brilliant man I had ever known—and still are. I couldn’t wait for you to claim me as your own, though as you well remember, Father thought differently.”

Laughing softly, I reminisced out loud, “I can still see the death glare he gave us, especially you. But as always, you handled it with dignity, grace—and compassion. Father ended up appreciating that and you afterwards.”

Wiping a tear from my eye, I dreamily told him, “They remind me of you and I—Spiros and Anabelle—not that Nicholas and Madeline don’t in many ways. I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because of the closeness I felt for Anabelle the moment I met her—”

My throat thickening, I paused for a moment before curiously asking, “I still can’t help but wonder if you had a hand in helping fate lead her here, Aldric. Knowing how badly I wanted to have another child—the only thing you ever refused me.”

While I knew I wouldn’t receive an answer, I still waited for one for a long moment before I felt compelled to assure him, “I never resented you for that—not once, my love. I hated it, but I understood your refusal was out of protectiveness and love for me.”

Deciding it was best to change the subject, I began talking with my beloved mate about the upcoming wedding, including Nicholas’ surprise, enthusing, “It means so much to me that Madeline will be wearing some of the lace from our wedding. Another beautiful day I will never forget and couldn’t wait for. And as he is the mirror image of you, when Nicholas looks at Madeline, I have no doubt I will see you and momentarily be taken back in time—but don’t worry, I won’t remain there for long, just enough to feel enveloped in your love again.”

I laughed once more, allowing for that moment now, “You kissed and held me for so long, Soren had to lean forward to remind you to let go, which was good, because I had no intention of saying anything. I was perfectly willing to stand there in your arms for as long as you wished—forever if that’s what you truly wanted.”

Diverting my thoughts again, I then discussed Tati’s current plight, my tone filling with despair as I lamented over what occurred and my concern for them. Sighing heavily, I tearfully requested, “If there is any assistance you can give our Tati to bring Horacio back, I would greatly appreciate it, Aldric. She needs him and I can’t imagine suffering this kind of pain twice—once is hard enough. I still struggle every day without you but know that I’m lucky. Our family and the children bring me such joy and always shower me with love.”

My adoring smile returned as I lovingly stated, “I’m grateful for that and truthfully, would be completely lost without them, especially Nicholas, Gavin, and our trio of boys we helped raise—our Brotherhood of Five as you always called them, each imprinting on our hearts the day they were born. You would be so proud of them, my love, and as I’m sure you are aware, they are my greatest protectors—something else I’m sure you had a hand in.”

“While Father did remind us often that our Luna should always be well loved and protected,” Nicholas’ voice softly rang out, “It was something we already knew, Mother, because we have all loved and adored you our whole lives.”

Swiftly turning towards him, my eyes completely glazed over as I saw all my boys coming towards me, each of them doing what they always did—showering me with heartfelt gazes and expressions of their treasured love...

“What are all of you doing here?” I astonishingly asked, before knowingly answering my own question, “Tati sent you, didn’t she?”

Sitting down beside me on the bench, Nicholas gently placed one of his strong, muscular arms supportively behind my back while bringing his other forward to lay his hand on top of mine, “Auntie may have linked stating that you appeared to be missing Father terribly. She was concerned about the downhearted state you appeared to be in.”

“Yes, I’m afraid Mother’s visions betrayed you, my beautiful Luna,” Jace affectionately said, “When it comes you, we are all always fiercely protective.”

Beast walked up, cleaning out the leaves around Aldric’s marker before laying a small bouquet of white lilies down, leading me to quietly murmur, “Aldric’s favorite flower. Thank you, my dear, sweet Beast.”

Leaning forward to kiss my cheek, Beast smiled as I reverently told them, “My bouquet was mostly white lilies with sprigs of lavender mixed in for color. Everyone told me there was too much white, but I knew how much my Aldric loved him. And every year on our anniversary, he would have that bouquet recreated, gifting it to me first thing in the morning before we would embark on a ‘walk down memory lane’ by the lake where he would have a breakfast picnic waiting for me.”

“I remember—and I also remember the year Alpha Aldric agreed to let us make the breakfast. We were eleven,” Carson heartily laughed out, “Man, he regretted that decision. It got ugly—real ugly. Gave a whole new meaning to blackened—on everything.”

“Fortunately, Father was able to perform a quick rescue of that charred disaster,” Gavin chuckled, “Or rather Zahlia was able to—I believe he called it—”

“Sweets for my sweet,” I exhaled out in wonder, “I remember that year—I’ve never seen so many different fruit breads, muffins, and scones. I thought it was so odd because he knew I didn’t eat a lot of sweets and that was basically all we had, except for a delicious vegetable frittata. He seemed so nervous, I didn’t have the heart to ask him about it, but it never happened again. Though afterwards, he made sure that we had the frittata every year.”

“That would be because we were all banned from helping him after that,” Nicholas chuckled, “Well, all but one of us.”

I heard Beast laughing under his breath as Carson narrowed his eyes at him, inexpressively chastising, “Leave it to Beastie-boy to would always be my eternal love... make a perfect frittata. Even then he was a show-off. I was on toast that day and couldn’t figure out why there wasn’t a perfect ten on the toaster, so I went with the highest number, seven. Still can’t figure out why they have a break your teeth on a brick level on those things. The toast completely crumbled in my hand when I pulled it out and left black marks on one of my favorite shirts where I wiped them off—come to think of it, I don’t those marks ever came out.”

Chuckling afterwards, he flashed his crooked grin, “I was charred for life, Luna—and banned from the toaster for almost two years.”

I let out a soft fit of laughter at my handsome and always comical blue-eyed, sandy-haired boy as the others joined in on the humor. Peering back down at Aldric’s headstone, I lovingly nodded at my forever love, who had always been my greatest protector and would always be my eternal love...