Page 13 of Bone Collector’s Mate

Chapter Ten

Rook

“I left my clothes at home,” I said.

“Did you want to go get them?” Noir, my mate with that wonderful name, asked. “Should we go now?”

“We should go, but I don’t necessarily want to put on any clothes.” I still had time before Orly would expect me to get back to pick up Benji. “Is that all right?”

“Let’s go.” He released me and stepped back only to pick up my hand and link our fingers. “But Benji?”

“With a friend in town.” I shrugged. “Really, I am careful with him. Yesterday was the first time he’d ever been outside playing without me right there. I thought the yard…he was supposed to stay nearby, but after he lost his glasses, he got confused. I’ve never been so terrified.” And this male, who I had just met, had already showed more concern for my son than his actual other father had in his whole life. “And thank you for caring. He thinks you are very nice.”

“I feel the same about you both.” He started walking, giving my hand a little tug. “We’d better get you home before you catch a chill. Would you like my shirt?”

“I’ll be okay. I don’t feel very cold right now.” Vulnerable? Aroused? But not cold. “But I would love another kiss.”

“My pleasure.” He pressed his lips to mine, grabbing for my other hand and holding both while he kissed me under the trees. And kissed me some more, and then we were sinking onto the forest floor. Autumn’s bed of leaves in every color of the sunset cushioned me while my mate undressed, tossing his clothes carelessly aside. He’d have lots of things to shake out of them, but I’d be glad to help.

Later.

He was self-conscious about his skull head, but the one he’d shifted to was as handsome as any male’s I’d ever seen. And the skull? It was him. As a wolf shifter, I understood what it was like to have a form that was not ordinary human, and while wolves were beautiful, they were also frightening to many people. Probably for different reasons, but although I did not yet understand everything about his skull-head side, I thought it was magnificent. As a good person, and both his care of Benji and kindness with me showed me that, his other side would not be something evil.

The longer I remained in Whisper Grove, the more my small-child memories returned. It was a haven for the unusual, the frightening, and those who just wanted to be free not to be judged. My mate met all those qualifications, and yet I held my arms out and welcomed him into my embrace. I wanted more kisses, more touching, more everything that was him. Fate had given us to one another and after a lifetime without him, I wanted our bond fixed now.

“I want you so badly,” I groaned, bucking my hips and urging him closer. “I can’t wait.”

He peppered my face with kisses, smiling at the same time, somehow. “I wish I could make you wait, keep you on the edge for hours, but I’m desperate for you, and we’re outside in the forest, not exactly a comfortable, soft bed, so you win. But warning you that next time…”

I shuddered as he reached down and slid two fingers past my taint and into my slick. “Next time.” There would be a next time because he was my mate. I wasn’t sure how all that would translate life-wise, but I had to have faith that it would. “But this time…”

“Yes, mate of mine. This time”—he withdrew his fingers and replaced it with his cock then stopped.

“What are you doing?” Panic surged through my veins. “Please don’t.”

“Shh.” He pressed a finger to my lips, the scent of my slick permeating my senses. “Lift your hips.” When I complied, still confused, he reached a few feet away and grabbed his T-shirt. “Don’t want any leaves getting anywhere they shouldn’t.” With it tucked under my bottom, he returned to where he’d been before. His hard cock prodding my slick hole. I closed my eyes in ecstasy as he plunged inside then opened them again because I wanted to see every expression cross his face.

He was big, but I was very ready for him, and as he filled me again and again, I wondered why I’d ever thought it was a good idea not to wait for my fated. Every inch of my body came alive, and with each drive, my own cock rubbed between us, bringing me closer and closer. It didn’t help that he spoke in a soft, breathy voice the whole time, or maybe it did help because his description of how tight I was, how my muscles flexed around him, and how near he was to coming, had me getting there first. Spurting cum all over our lower bodies.

And then he roared and came as well, rigid and vibrating inside me, knot swelling, and his lips coming down to suck the side of my neck. Then his teeth pierced the skin and I blacked out. When I came back to myself, I returned the favor because I never wanted anyone to doubt that my mate was taken.