STORY EXCERPT

His cell went off again. He sighed as he reached for it. He didn’t need to check the caller before he answered.

“I’m getting dressed as we speak,” Drew said as he glanced at the tuxedo hanging on the back of the door.

“Good morning to you too,” the voice on the other end of the phone joked.

Drew rolled his eyes. “The limo isn’t due for an hour.”

“Yeah, I know this, but your mother has been calling Jess because you aren’t answering,” his cousin Hawk told him.

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Ignore her like I am.”

“That’s what I told Jess, but she is the Ma…” Hawk trailed off as Drew interrupted him.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he answered, running a hand through his damp hair. “I’ll call her.”

“Thanks, cous.”

“Sure,” he said before hanging up. He sighed as he hit the number for his mother.

Hours later Drew stood in the shadows of the room sipping on his glass of champagne. He smiled at his sister and Daniel as he twirled her around the dance floor. His mom was happy having royalty in the family. He shook his head. For his mother being a bear, she was a snob. He had made the call to listen to her ranting and raving before the ceremony. He had calmed her down somewhat. Thank God she didn’t mention his lack of a mate during her tirade.

Drew’s loss was too close to the surface to have his mother hammer him about choosing a mate. His eyes drifted toward his cousin and his mate, Jess. Drew was glad Hawk had come to his senses and mated her. His cousin had made some enemies when he worked special ops. Probably the same enemies he and the men who worked for him made. But that wouldn’t stop any one of them from claiming their mates. After he got out, Hawk opened his security company. He and his men still did certain jobs for the military, using their shifter abilities to get the job done.

But the threat to Jess was closer to home. His lips pursed when he thought how Mandy, Hawk’s ex, sent that dumbass, Harrison, after his mate. The shifters who worked at Hawk’s security firm took care of Harrison and Hawk took care of Mandy. If it wasn’t for Jess, his cousin would have killed the bitch.

If he was in his cousin’s place, he would kill anyone who threatened his mate. Just like any bear would. Both Mandy and Harrison were locked in a prison especially designed for shifters. Those two wouldn’t be free for a very long time, if ever.

Alex walked over to him with a grin on his face. “So, little brother. How’s it going?”

Drew rolled his eyes at him. “Don’t even think it,” he told him. Alex had been teasing him about how he would get to order him around now that he was the older brother. Drew gave him the finger most of the time.

Alex laughed, clapped him on the shoulder then stood beside him. His gaze went to the dance floor, viewing the couples on the floor. Drew huffed, taking a swallow of his champagne. Alex looked at him and shook his head.

“Whohadthunkit.”

“Not me, that’s for sure,” Drew answered him. “Your brother mated to my sister.”

“Yeah, didn’t see that coming,” Alex said with a chuckle then groan.

Drew’s brows wrinkled, wondering why the groan until he smelled the cheap perfume coming closer toward them.

“Someone you know?” he asked.

Alex pursed his lips. “Someone who won’t take the hint.”

“Care for a dance?” the female voice asked.

Drew’s brow quirked up before he turned around to look at the human female. She looked familiar but he couldn’t remember her name until Alex answered her.

“Sorry, Callie, but I promised this dance to someone else,” Alex told her and walked away, going toward Hazel, their cousin. She gave him a smile, taking the hand he held out to her.

Callie was the name of the manicurist his sister went to in town. Emily must have given her an invitation to the reception. He didn’t see her or the woman with her at the wedding. It was more humans here than at the ceremony.

The perfumes worn by the human women were agitating his senses. Drew had to tune out his smell when he came into the reception venue. His beast grumbled in annoyance. The different scents were frustrating to his bear. Human males wouldn’t notice but shifter senses were acute even in human form.

Callie crossed her arms over her chest, mumbling as she turned with a sneer on her face as she stared after Alex.

Drew cleared his throat to suppress a laugh at the episode. Hazel had become Alex’s go-to excuse when he didn’t want to deal with a mate hungry shifter and human women in town. He would be quite a catch for any one of them. He was the eldest son and would have the title of Marquis when his father retired.

“What about you?” the woman with Callie asked him.

“Sorry, but it’s my turn to dance with the bride,” Drew said as he walked to the dance floor toward his sister. He tapped Daniel on the shoulder.

“Brother privileges,” Drew said as he swept his sister into his arms.

“Who are you trying to get away from?” Emily asked, giggling, putting her arms over his shoulders.

Drew pulled back, gazing down at her radiant face. He poked his bottom lip out at her. “Are you accusing me of using you as a shield?”

She gave him the look only a sister would give to a brother. He let out a chuckle, hugging her back into him as the song played on. As the DJ switched into another ballad Daniel came and took his mate back into his arms. Drew gave his new brother-in-law a grin as he swirled Emily away.

He stopped on the edge of the floor when the scent he only smelled once before wafted through the air. Drew stumbled slightly as he moved in the direction of the fragrance. His bear beat against his control, wanting to be released, to go claim her. His head turned to the left when someone called his name. He froze, his body rigid as he stared at the woman he thought to never see again.

Sierra. His mate.

ADULT EXCERPT

Sierra quivered, her body tingling as his hand rubbed her drenched panties. Her hips moved against him, her body wanting relief from the cravings of release. His hands grabbed her hips, stroking her pussy against his cock. Sierra gasped, her hands going to his shoulders for support.

She regarded him from under lowered lashes, she writhed under his intense stare. He captured a nipple between his teeth, bathing it with his tongue. Sierra cried out, shuddered as flames bathed her body as his burning mouth sucked, his tongue swirled around her stiff bud. She continued to rub against his cock as her need for him grew.

Her mind in a haze of desire, she didn’t realize she was flat on her back. Drew loomed over her, devouring her breasts, the nips from his teeth in contrast with the licks of his tongue to ease the sting. She thrust her hands into his auburn hair. Her back arched, thrusting out her breast for more. A fever overtook her as her pussy stroked against the leg he positioned between hers, Sierra’s blazing core needing to find relief from the throbs that coursed through her becoming an intense flame of demand.

Drew abruptly rose to his knees, a sexy smirk on his face as he bent down to kiss her navel. She panted at the mass of flutters spiraling in her stomach at his touch. She licked her arid lips. His cock pressed into her abdomen as he nipped her neck from her collarbone to her ear. Her body quavered with each lick of his burning tongue. Drew’s hands roamed her body as his mouth trailed kisses down her body. The caresses varied from playful, light nibbles to his tongue swirling on her heated skin.

His lips stroked each leg, giving precise attention to the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. When she was a quivering bundle of hunger Drew turned Sierra on her stomach. He began teasing caresses, drifting from the base of her spine to her neck. While his mouth taunted the sensitive skin of her shoulders, his hands stroked her hips and buttocks.

Drew turned to the side, her back to his front, allowing him access to her entire body. One hand massaged her breast. His thumb and forefinger played with the stiff nipple while the other dipped down to her pussy, separated her lips. Her cream drenched his fingers.

Sierra whimpered as her hips arched, pressing against his hand. He seized her earlobe in his mouth and gently sucked. Drew lightly passed his thumb over her clit, her body jerked as a groan of desire escaped her. She was close to release when he slid a finger inside of her. Drew squeezed her nipple as he began to move his finger in and out of her. Sierra sobbed with need as her hips thrust in pace with his fingers. His thumb caressed her clit, moments later her muscles clamped around his fingers. Sierra erupted, her mind in an erotic haze as the sensual blaze of release poured through her.

* * * *

Drew invaded her mouth with searing licks and heated strokes when her lips parted as she panted. The taste of her intoxicated him, engulfed his senses, fed his lust. He took the kiss deeper, swallowed her moan. His bear roared in triumph.

He held Sierra in his arms as she came moments, mere seconds later. Her body arched, vibrated with every ripple. After the final tremor, her body became lax in his arms. His burning gaze roamed over her. The feel of her tight, wet pussy clenching around his fingers made his cock hard enough to pound stones. He knew his eyes had changed. His beast wanted to be free to claim his mate. His bear growled at his human restraint. Drew barely held on to his control.

No. Not yet. Not until she is in our den, he told his other half. His bear rumbled his complaint but soon subsided. Drew sighed in relief as his beast retreated.

He traced her parted lips, soft and plump from his kisses. Drew lowered his head, brushed his mouth where his finger had been. He pulled away with a frustrated groan, wanting to continue. Wanting to ease the throb of his cock but knowing this wasn’t the time or place to claim her as his own. He wanted to sink into her tight wet core in his bed. His domain where he could indulge in all the things he wanted to do to her and with her.

He leaned his forehead against her as he tugged in gulps of air. He moved away from her as she looked at him from under lowered lashes.

“We need to stop,” Drew rasped out in a husky tone. His fingers caressing her cheek.

“Why?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

His hand cupped her jaw. He peered into her eyes. His gaze was unwavering from her. “When I claim you as mine, sink my cock into your wet hot pussy and you scream my name, we will be in our bed. Not in a room at my sister’s reception.”

Her breath hitched at his stark comment. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, tilted her head up as his lips brushed against her ear.