Reiver

Chapter 9

To her he seemed experienced

in mind matters, in wolf matters...

he made her soul dance, her breathless heart never stood a chance.

N.R. Hart.

Saturday went by in a blur, by the time Annie had marked the remaining assignments and done some housework it was almost four in the afternoon. Her phone buzzed and when she checked the screen there was a message from Hugh.

Free for coffee?

Annie thought for a moment about inviting him to her house. She didn’t usually invite people to her home, she guarded her privacy resolutely and it was what had kept her wolf hidden all these years, her home was her safe haven and the only place where she could truly be herself. It entered her mind that she only needed to be guarded with her human friends, but she could be herself with Hugh so perhaps she could afford to drop her guard a little. It was becoming obvious to Annie that she and Hugh were growing closer, and it was only a matter of time before they completed the mate bond, the pull to him was now so strong she wasn’t sure how much her willpower to resist him was left. She had been careful around him, careful not to touch him so she could still think clearly and even with all that, she still wanted him. She was scared though, if she gave herself to this man, would she still be the same person after, would she still find all the things she held dear as important as she did now? She was leaping into the unknown with him and there was a risk of getting hurt again. Sabine was falling in love with Hugh and perhaps it was time for Annie to trust her wolf. She bit down on her bottom lip and in a fit of bravery and with much encouragement from Sabine, she typed a message back.

I’ll put the kettle on.

Hesitating for a moment, she shut her eyes and hit send. Well, she couldn’t change her mind now and anyway, he was invading her every waking and sleeping moment whether he was in her house or not. Annie had come to accept that the feelings she had developed for Hugh were not going to go away, but her issue with letting him into her heart and being his mate was that she was that she absolutely did not want to leave her job or her life, but she didn’t expect Hugh to leave his either. Annie had no idea what the answer to this dilemma was, but they were going to have to find some sort of compromise if this relationship was going to stand a chance. Taking a deep breath, Annie filled the kettle and after switching it on to boil she went upstairs to collect her laundry. The doorbell rang as she was on her way back downstairs with her laundry basket, so after dumping it by the washing machine she went to open the door.

Hugh greeted her with a huge smile, Annie smiled back and stepped back holding the door open for him allowing him to enter. As he stepped past her, he paused and placed a chase kiss on her cheek. The emotions this simple act evoked took Annie completely by surprise, she felt like a volcano had gone off inside her, there was a burning in her core and she felt tingling, a bit like electricity coursing through her body. She had heard about the feelings a wolf had when touching their mate of course, but never having spent more than five minutes in the company of her mates, she had never experienced it firsthand.

“Wow.” Sabine was staring at Hugh like a love sick puppy, Annie was pretty sure she was wagging her tail too. Pulling herself together, she cleared her throat and led Hugh through to the kitchen and motioned him to have a seat at the dining table as she busied herself making coffee while she gathered her thoughts, not trusting her voice at that moment.

As Hugh sat at the table watching her work, Knox was whining, wanting more of that kiss. Hugh calmed his breathing and organised his scattered thoughts as Annie placed a steaming cup on the table. Clearing her throat she managed to speak.

“You got here quickly.” commented Annie as she put a coffee in front of him.

“We were outside, we can’t be away from you.” said a gruff voice that came from Hugh’s mouth but it didn’t sound like Hugh. Annie realised it was Hugh’s wolf. Hugh looked embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, he’s getting harder and harder to control when it comes to you.” Hugh blushed and pushed Knox to the back of his mind. Annie also flushed bright red and she turned away suddenly, desperately feeling the need to be busy.

He tried to grab her hand as she turned away but she was too quick for him and she busied herself putting her laundry in the washing machine. She needed to control herself and she especially needed to keep Sabine in check. If she wasn’t careful and he touched her again, Annie was certain they would end up f*****g over the dining table and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for that. If he marked her, which she thought was likely if his beast had anything to do with it and they completed the mate bond, it would be even harder for them to be apart than it was now. Sabine was pushing Annie to have more physical contact with Hugh, she was craving his touch especially now she had experienced a taste of it. Annie couldn’t blame her, it was her nature to gravitate towards her mate of course but everything was moving a little too quickly. Despite a rocky start, she was falling hard and fast for this man and it was taking her breath away. She was used to being in charge of her life with all her feelings ordered and in their place, it was how she’d had to be to survive. If she was honest with herself, her feelings for Hugh were becoming overwhelming and it felt like she was in free fall. Calming herself, she put the detergent in the machine and switched it on, grabbing her coffee she turned back to where Hugh had been sitting.

Hugh watched her filling the machine, he had never wanted a woman like he wanted this little she-wolf in an age, the urge to take her in his arms was overpowering. He had restrained himself and Knox well so far, he didn’t want to rush her and ruin everything. Did she feel this pull too, she must surely? Hugh found his indecision annoying, he had always been in control, had always known what to do in any given situation but with Annie he was hesitant, not wanting to damage the fragile friendship they had developed. Considering how he had treated her when they met, he was hyper aware that he was lucky she had agreed to talk to him at all. He had promised himself that he would be patient and let her move things on at her own pace, but as she stood up he felt his willpower crumble. She had picked her coffee up and was turning back to him when Knox pushed him forward, he stood and moved towards her, silently planting his lips on hers in a gentle kiss, one hand sliding around her waist and the other sliding into her soft luscious hair. His tongue stroked her bottom lip, asking for permission to enter and she granted that permission, opening her mouth and accepting his tongue. The mate bond rush was explosive, spreading from his lips, down his torso and travelling all the way down to his crotch making all the fine hairs on his body stand on end. Knox growled with arousal against her mouth.

Annie reached backwards placing her coffee cup back on the worktop, her entire body was on fire and his beast’s growl had awakened part of her she thought was gone forever, she could feel a dampness spreading between her legs as her body awoke. With the coffee gone, she ran her hands through his hair pulling his face into hers, she knew he could probably already smell her arousal so she threw caution to the wind and pressed her body into his.

Hugh swept down without breaking the kiss and hooking an arm behind her knees, picked Annie up and headed for the stairs. He broke their kiss as he reached the top and she directed him to the master bedroom before pulling his lips to hers again. He laid her down on the bed and climbed on top of her, pressing their bodies together. Her hands roughly pulled his shirt out from his jeans so she could slide her hands over the taut muscles of his torso, Hugh undid the top buttons and pulled the shirt over his head throwing it on to the floor as Annie marvelled at his sculpted arms and chest, tracing each muscle and sinew with her fingertips. He buried his head in her neck, kissing and biting causing Annie to gasp with pleasure as Hugh lifted her T shirt up. She quickly helped him remove it, throwing it to one side leaving her in just a black lace bra and jeans. He kissed his way down in-between her breasts, tracing his tongue down her stomach making her squirm until he was level with her waist where he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs. There was something incredibly erotic about watching this man undress her, Annie was breathless, a sheen of sweat already starting to coat her skin. He discarded her jeans along with his own, dumping them anywhere as he pressed his body back into Annie’s, a breathy sigh escaping her lips as she felt his huge erection pressing into her groin. The tingling sensation was intensified tenfold with so much skin touching that they both gave an audible moan. Hugh couldn’t keep his hands off her body, he stroked her skin in long sweeps leaving no part untouched. Annie explored the plains of his chest and stomach, hungrily tracing the muscles of his back, and sliding her hands inside his shorts she pushed them down until he could wriggle out of them. Returning to her, he found her lips again while she caressed his bottom which was muscled and toned, pressing her groin against his hardened length even more firmly.

Hugh rolled off Annie slightly so he could sweep his hand down her stomach and ripping her underwear off in one movement, he slid a finger between her already parted legs. Annie gasped and arched her back as Hugh groaned into her neck when he felt how wet she was for him. He started with slow gentle strokes and Annie matched him by grinding her hips against him desperate for friction, desperate for him to be inside her. Inserting a finger inside her slowly, he sucked the part of her neck where her mark would be making her groan out loud.

“I want you so badly.” he whispered in her ear making her shiver. Annie knew she couldn’t hold on much longer so taking the lead, she rolled them both over so she was straddled over him. He watched her undo her bra and after sliding the straps seductively off her shoulders she threw it aside revealing her small but firm breasts, her pink n*****s rigid and inviting. She looked so beautiful, her tousled hair falling softly over her shoulders partially covering her. Hugh sat up and pushed her hair back over her shoulders, he wanted her bare, nothing hidden from him as he stroked his hands along her shoulders, down her arms and finally to her breasts, feeling her erect n*****s in his palms. He stooped to take one in his mouth, rolling the cluster of nerves around on his tongue causing Annie to throw her head back in ecstasy while running her hands through his hair as she ground on his erection, spreading her wetness down his length. Neither of them had any patience left. Hugh reached down and inserted himself inside her, he nearly exploded as she pressed down, impaling herself on him crying out with pleasure as she did so. She gave herself a second to feel herself full with him before slowly moving her hips, Hugh grabbed her thighs in an effort to control her speed as he was getting close and he didn’t want this to be over too soon. He was so deep inside her, his pelvic bone pressing on her most sensitive area which triggered the build up to her climax almost immediately. Hugh wrapped his arms around her, burying his head in the crook of her neck, his canines elongating as Knox came forward to mark his beautiful, seductive mate. She was squeezing his c**k with each thrust and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold on, especially as she increased her speed, her breathy moans fuelling his desire to claim her as his own.

As she arched her back, Annie felt so powerful. Something about this man washed away all her inhibitions and any trace of her usual self-consciousness melted away. She rode him faster and harder as her climax approached, all the electric sparks now flowing to her c******s until her centre exploded and she came with a cry all over his length. Hugh’s orgasm was trigged by her cry and with one last thrust he spilled all he had inside her, his spasms increasing until he threw his head back and roared as his seed pulsed into her relentlessly. With a passionate moan he sunk his teeth in her neck, heightening her orgasm and making her shudder on his c**k leaving them both a breathless mess. They held each other for a long time riding out the after- shocks until finally their bodies and their breathing stilled. Hugh tentatively licked his mark clean, gently kissing it before pulling back and kissing her smiling lips.

“You didn’t mark me, why is that?” asked Hugh, disappointment evident in his eyes.

“I didn’t know whether to or not to be honest, and anyway, I was busy.” she smiled, blushing.

He stroked her cheek, “I would really like you to mark me, I want to be yours as you are mine.” he simply stated, making Annie’s heart do a flip.

Sabine came forward so fast it made Annie jump, her wolf was smitten, wanting this bond more than anything.

“You’ve changed your tune.” said Annie inwardly grinning.

“He is our mate.” gushed Annie’s love-struck beast.

“Someone’s eager.” smiled Hugh as he saw Annie’s eyes change from blue to black in a heartbeat. He moved his head to the side giving her free access to the place where she would place her mark.

Annie blushed again as she extended her canines and kissed down Hugh’s’ neck until she found the perfect place, letting her teeth sink into the soft skin between his neck and shoulder until she felt him shiver and wrap his arms tightly around her. Retracting her teeth, she lovingly licked the wound clean wondering what her mark would look like when it was healed.

Annie climbed off Hugh’s lap and lay down on the bed as Hugh lay facing her, both of them comfortable in their nakedness. Annie had no idea that being with her mate would feel this wonderful, she had heard that s*x with a mate was like nothing else but she hadn’t particularly believed it. She had loved and been loved, but this thing, this bond was something else entirely. He cupped her face with his hand and looked at her like she was the only woman for him, and to her, Hugh looked mouth-wateringly handsome with his hair tousled falling over his forehead. Annie wondered if they would be able to mind link now they had marked each other or would she have to perform the blood bonding, be part of his pack to do that? She found that while she couldn’t hear Hugh’s thoughts exactly, now they were marked and mated, she could feel his emotions. Again, this was something she had heard about but she didn’t realise it would be so profound. She could feel how sincere he was about his feelings for her, they were tinged with a little worry however, and she knew what that worry was as she felt it too, Annie sighed,

“How are we going to work this out?” she asked, placing her hand over his.

“I don’t know, but we will think of something.” he answered, losing himself in her eyes. “I’m not going to try to force you to move in with me, you were right about one thing, I don’t think you will be happy there and I just want you to be happy. We’ll find a way.” he promised. “I can tell you what we are going to do right now though.” he grinned. “We are going to go and have dinner, what time did you book that table for?”

“Eight thirty, there’s time for a shower if you want one.” replied Annie, rolling out of bed, pulling Hugh with her.

After a quick shower, Annie was sorting through her wardrobe looking for something to wear. Hugh reached over her shoulder, picking up the hanger holding the dark blue dress she had worn to the wedding.

“Would you wear this?” he asked, kissing her on the top of her head. “I didn’t give myself time to appreciate you in it the last time you wore it.”

After dropping Hugh’s car at his hotel, Annie and Hugh walked to the restaurant hand in hand. Over dinner, they only had eyes for each other as they made plans for the next day. Hugh asked if Annie would take him to the circle where she had gone to get her beast back. Annie agreed but warned him he would need hiking boots as the ground was hard going. He assured her he had brought some as he had always planned on asking her to take him as he found the whole thing fascinating and wanted to see it for himself. Annie asked Hugh if he thought they would be able to mind link without the blood bonding ceremony, he was convinced they would be able to, even without being in the same pack. Hugh found he could talk to her through the mind link easily which he tested by telling her exactly what he was going to do to her when he got her out of that dress later. He knew it had worked when Annie turned bright red much to his amusement, but when Annie tried to link him back, her voice was only very faint in his head and she had to concentrate hard just to do that. Annie admitted she hadn’t mind linked with anyone for years, so he felt that she just needed to practice to make that part of her brain strong again.

“Stay with me tonight?” he asked as they left the restaurant.

“I don’t think my wolf will let me stay away.” said Annie blushing.

“Well, that’s good because mine is a stubborn beast, I don’t think he will let you go.” said Hugh, smiling at Annie’s reddened cheeks. “After everything we did before and you’re still blushing.” laughed Hugh as he wrapped an arm around Annie’s shoulders as they walked along the riverside back to The Stag.