STORY EXCERPT

“Nikki—” her father began, clearly not getting that she didn’t want to talk to him.

“Excuse us.” A large hand reached between them to take Nikki’s arm. “They’re playing our song.” It was Luke, and Nikki wouldn’t have been more surprised if one of the guests suddenly sprouted wings and flew away. He was asking to dance with her? Was that a smile she saw? Nikki actually looked to the sky for the lightning that was sure to strike at any minute.

Warily, she allowed him to lead her onto the temporary dance floor and wrap his arms around her waist.

He whispered in her ear as he swayed to the slow music, rocking her along with him. “Let’s make it look good.”

Nikki wrapped her arms around his neck, perplexed but hopeful. Maybe he was going to behave decently toward her now that they were officially joined. “Thank you—for rescuing me over there.”

“You looked like you needed to get away. And we do have a common enemy. One thing we can both agree on right now is how much we loathe our fathers for this.”

Nikki shook her head. “Who would have thought it would take mutual anger to bring us together?” She looked up into his gray eyes and the rest of the world just seemed to melt away. She felt every hard line of his body, every muscle, and if she wasn’t mistaken, that was the beginnings of an erection pressing up against her belly. His arms tightened around her and her gaze drifted from his eyes to his full lips and back again, even as her own lips parted in anticipation of his kiss. Maybe the rest of their joining day wouldn’t be so bad, she thought, as he leaned closer, the desire to kiss her clear in his eyes. But then he surprised her by moving toward her ear instead of her lips.

“I did you a favor, getting you away from the old man, but let’s not get carried away.” His lips grazed her ear as he whispered, sending tiny waves of anticipation straight to her core.

“What do you mean?” She pulled back to look up at him and had to remind herself, not for the first time, that it would be a mistake to get lost in his eyes. Unfortunately, his mouth was just as dangerous a focal point. His lips screamed sex, and on the few occasions she’d made the mistake of watching his mouth while he talked, her pussy had immediately gotten wet and she’d managed to miss at least half of what he’d said.

“Look, I know I was a sort of a dick at first…”

“Sort of? That’s the understatement of the century.”

“Fair enough, but the point is, I made it clear I didn’t want a mate, that I wasn’t ready. And I want you to know it’s not about you.”

“Oh great, is this one of those ‘it’s not me, it’s you’ speeches? Because if it is, spare me. I already know it’s you.” She had to work hard to keep her voice even and matter-of-fact.

“You don’t sugarcoat much, do you?” He had the nerve to sound amused.

“Nope, I’m a straight-shooter.”

“Good, so you’ll appreciate what I have to say. You’re a beautiful woman, and being close to you like this has an incredible effect on me. I want you—badly. There’s no question of that, but wanting you doesn’t change how I feel about this joining. I went through with it for the same reasons you did, but I don’t want you to set yourself up for disappointment.”

“Okay…” She wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about, and once again, he was the king of the understatement. She could clearly feel how hard he was for her. Frankly, she wouldn’t be surprised if his erection tore a hole in his pants.

“Look, what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t expect this to be a love match. That…It’s just not in me. I’ll do my duty, but…that’s it. I can’t offer you more than that.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Nikki hated that his words hadn’t dampened her desire any. The last thing she wanted to do after that speech was want him.

“I have a feeling that doesn’t happen very often.”

They danced in silence as one song ended and the band struck up another slow favorite. “Say something,” Luke said.

“What for? You have this all figured out. I’m stuck with a mate who is determined to never love me. What do you expect me to say to that?”

“Well…” He stroked his knuckles over her cheek, then her lips. “We can still enjoy each other.”

Oh, God. Her pussy tightened at his touch. Nikki knew she’d live to regret how excited his words made her feel, but just then, she didn’t care. The call of her mate’s body was just too strong. “So, you want to fuck me, but you plan to keep feelings out of it. Got it.”

His arm tightened around her waist and he trailed a single finger down the side of her neck and over her collarbone, stopping where the tops of her breasts swelled out of her dress. “Tell me you don’t feel the same.” He leaned down and buried his nose in her neck. Damn it, he was smelling her. “You can’t hide how badly you want me.”

Her nipples were hard enough to cut glass and her pussy was so wet she needed to change her panties. “I can’t hide it, so I won’t bother denying it.”

“And you can accept that we won’t have a love match?” He was facing her again, his lips just inches from hers.

“What possible difference does that make? As you pointed out, we’re stuck with each other now.”

Luke smiled again, and this time she could swear it was genuine. Leaning in further, he claimed her mouth in the first real kiss they’d ever shared. His lips were the perfect combination of smooth and sensual, and firm and demanding, and Nikki couldn’t help but lean into his kiss, into him.

When he finally released her mouth, she was breathless. He looked down at her and she could swear his eyes were darker than normal.

“Good,” he said. “Because I, for one, am tired of waiting for the fun part to begin.”

ADULT EXCERPT

Groaning, Mason set Nikki on her feet. He wanted that dress off. It was a gorgeous piece of material that left her shoulders and back bare but at that moment, it was the enemy. He was impatient to see her body again, and this time, get to enjoy it, as was his right as her mate. Mason could understand why his brother had ripped her nightgown off the night before. He had the same impulse, but he took a deep breath and steeled himself to unwrap her like the gift she was.

The moment Mason set Nikki on her feet, she was reaching for the top of the gown to shed it herself. “No, let me,” he said, leaning down to kiss her neck.

A shudder coursed through Nikki’s body at his words. She smelled faintly of vanilla and clover, but under that, the scent of her arousal was strong. It threatened his ability to take care with her delicate dress. Forcing himself to put his intense need aside, he eased the silky cloth over her breasts and down to her hips, leaving it to Luke to take it the rest of the way. Mason hoped Luke would keep himself in check. He’d throttle him if he ruined their first night together.

Standing back to watch, Mason took in the full swell of her breasts and hardened, rosy nipples. He swallowed hard as his gaze traveled over the flat belly that would one day round with his pups if he had anything to say about it. She had full hips, breeding hips, and smooth thighs that made him growl with anticipation. His hands flexed, itching to squeeze them as he plunged into her. Nikki’s calves were shapely as well, screaming to wrap themselves around him, and they were finally bare, thanks to his brother’s efforts. The only thing she still wore was a pair of strappy, high-heeled shoes, which, thankfully, Luke hadn’t removed. In some things, he and his brother thought alike.

Mason lifted Nikki against him, bending to take her nipple in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue while palming the other breast. His touch was gentle at first, but grew rougher when he discovered that a firmer touch pulled deeper moans from his mate’s throat. He gave the other nipple the same treatment before easing down to trail hot kisses across her belly. Nikki was so smooth and soft everywhere, he could almost fear breaking her, but her touch was firm and almost fierce in its need. She wrapped her hands in his hair and urged him lower, even as her belly trembled under his kisses.

Kneeling, Mason stroked his lips over Nikki’s smooth mound and heard her breath catch. He looked up and found her staring back at him, biting her bottom lip. He didn’t hesitate to give her what she wanted. He licked from the top of her mound to her entrance before focusing his attention on lapping her slit. Nikki’s breath came faster as she ran her fingers through his hair, holding on as his tongue parted her pussy lips and flicked her clit. That provoked a tiny growl from her, so he pressed his tongue hard against the bud, first applying pressure and then letting up to circle and suck it, and finally stiffening his tongue to apply the same pressure as before.

When he pulled back to look up at her, Nikki’s head was thrown back, her mouth wide open. “Oh, God. Please. Please, don’t stop.”

He smiled at her unguarded response before going back to taste her again. This time, he licked and nibbled at the inflamed bud before ducking lower to press his tongue into the sweet cream coming from her pussy. He was sure he’d never get enough of it as he lapped there, trying his damnedest to lick her dry even as her juices kept coming. Holding her steady with one arm, he stiffened his tongue and plunged it inside her, reaching up with the other hand to rub and pinch her clit.

“Oh, God. Mason…” Nikki squeezed her hands in his hair and arched toward him, grinding her pussy against him.

* * * *

Watching Mason with Nikki had Luke unspeakably horny, not that he hadn’t been in a constant state of horniness since he’d met her. It was the reason he’d acted like a caveman and ripped her gown on the night of their joining. He’d ceased to think like a man and had given in to the inner animal that only wanted to fuck her senseless. This time, he would stay in control.

With a groan, Luke approached Nikki from behind. The sight of her full, round ass nearly drove him insane. He’d thought he would just let his brother handle most of the foreplay, but watching her and smelling her arousal from across the room, he couldn’t wait any longer. Her low growl drew him to her like she’d reached out and grabbed him.

Still clothed, Luke wrapped his arms around her slender waist and bent his knees to press his already-rock-hard cock against the two round globes he’d been admiring. She sighed and leaned back against him, and Luke ground his cock hard against her ass as he stroked up her body to cup her breasts.