Chapter 26

Terrence

But I didn’t get to see her the next day. Reports came in of the rogue wolves being sighted near the camp where they’d taken Yvette. While I wasn’t working on the case myself, operatives had to be reassigned to cover for the teams who left. Eight-hour shifts turned into twelve-hour shifts.

I texted Yvette, not wanting to disturb her at class.

— Awww, she texted back. Tomorrow?

I grinned like an idiot. But it wasn’t until a week later that I was able to carve out some time for her.

After going inside to say hello to her parents, I bundled Yvette into my car and took her out to dinner. I didn’t get the fish, as I would have normally, when she mentioned she still had a little bit of nausea. But the chicken on rice was delicious too, and I coaxed her to try the cheesecake.

She told me about her classes, and I told her the little bit about my work that I could share. Sitting across the table from her, my belly full and my bear drowsy, I wished every day could end like that. No, I amended, my senses full of her sweet musk, I wished every day could end with my fucking her.

When, dinner over, she asked to go to my apartment, I had no objection. None at all. I managed to stop at every red light instead of sailing through the intersection, and didn’t grit my teeth in impatience either.

I was just a little bit nervous when I opened my door and ushered her in. It had been a while since I dusted, and I’d missed my weekly vacuuming. At least I’d washed the dishes.

She took a few steps in, just past the couch, and she turned to survey the whole room. I didn’t usually have people over, and it felt a little intense having her inspect my personal space with such open curiosity.

She ran a hand over the striped woolen blanket draped over the back of the couch. Sometimes the leather got cold. The TV was just a normal flat screen hanging on the wall. She looked past it to the painting opposite it, a forest scene with the treetops just breaking out of mist. At the bottom, near a stream, were vague shapes in the mist.

Eyes bright, she looked back at me. “Shifters.”

“Could be,” I agreed.

Warmth spread through my chest. My bear was a puddle of happy goo.

I followed her into the kitchen. Turning, she stopped with her hand on the patio door. “May I?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice thick. She could go anywhere she wanted, have anything she wanted.

The bird feeder was low again. I got out the bucket of seed and scooped more in the feeder.

“They’re greedy things,” I told Yvette.

“What kind of birds?” Her voice held genuine interest.

“Goldfinches mostly. There’s a pair of chickadees too. In the mornings and late afternoons is when they feed.”

“I’d like to see them.” She hid a shiver.

It was cold outside. I put my arm around her and drew her back indoors. She snuggled into my chest. I shouldn’t let her any closer to me, but it was already too late. When she left me, the void would be unbearable.

Yvette

Terrence’s apartment wasn’t what I expected. He liked bright colors and little pieces of art here and there. On his patio, pots in vivid reds and yellows were arranged in varying heights. His apartment felt warm and homelike, not at all like the cool personality he projected.

“How many bedrooms do you have?”

“Just one. We’ll have to move after the cub arrives.” He spoke with utter confidence, but his eyes looked bleak.

If only I knew how to make the bleakness go away.

An archway in the living room led directly to the bathroom and the bedroom. After the other rooms, the bedroom looked bland, nothing on the walls and the only decoration the bedspread, which was tangled at the foot of the giant bed. I went to peek out the window. It faced onto a walkway and beyond that someone else’s fenced patio.

Terrence stood in the doorway, expectant and reserved both.

I started back toward him. “Your apartment’s cute.” A scrap of pink peeping out from under his pillow caught my eye. It was rude of me, I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I pulled it out anyway.

A pair of women’s panties. I dropped them instantly, horrified. Gut-punched.

“Yvette.” Terrence held my hands trapped in his. I couldn’t have moved even if my legs weren’t frozen in place. “They’re yours.”

“Mine?” I questioned in disbelief.

“From the day you were kidnapped. I took them from your sister’s apartment.”

“What!” I looked at the panties again, and recognized them. “Terrence…” Relief rose in me, and exploded in a giggle. “What on earth are you doing with my panties?”

His face was scarlet with embarrassment. “Nothing.” Not meeting my eyes, he added, “They smell like you.”

I giggled again. “After all this time they’ve got to be pretty ripe.”

Still not looking at me, he let go my hands.

I wound my arms around his neck. He was stiff with resistance.

“Terrence?”

Now he looked at me.

“I’m not laughing at you. Really, Ter, I’m not. It’s sweet of you,” I babbled. “I’ll give you a new pair every week, if you want. You can have the pair I’m wearing now.”

I stepped out of my shoes and pulled down my jeans.

“You don’t have to do that, Yvette. I—” He shrugged awkwardly, but his pants were bulging.

“I want you to be happy. If it takes my panties—”

“I don’t want your panties! I want you!”

“Then take me!”

Just like that, he scooped me up and dumped me on the bed. “You know what I’ve been wanting to do? You want to know what I think about when I smell your panties?”

He pulled my jeans the rest of the way off and jerked my panties off too.

Lying on his bed, my pussy exposed to him, I quivered with anticipation. Somehow it felt deliciously naughty to have just my bottom half showing.

He lowered himself to the bed, his face even with my pussy. “I’ve been wanting to taste you ever since that dance at the wedding. I want to slip my tongue inside you and taste your sweet honey.”

“I’d—I’d like that,” I said breathlessly. My pussy was hot and wet and waiting.

He nibbled behind one knee and slowly, excruciatingly slowly, kissed his way up my inner thigh.

My heart hammered with excitement. I couldn’t stop my breath escaping in fast pants. His lips and tongue sent spasms of desire shooting along my nerves.

Finally he reached the top of my thigh. Gently, lovingly, he separated my pussy hair.

“You’re so beautiful,” he muttered, his voice thick.

He ran his tongue along my slit, lapping up my juices, and then slid his tongue inside me. I moaned. His tongue dipping in and out, he stroked his hands up my thighs and grabbed my cheeks. He squeezed and licked in unison.

I thought I would die from the pleasure. “Terrence, Ter, my Ter.” The nonsense words streamed from my mouth.

Oh my god. He sucked my clit. Then, taking one hand from my cheek, he slipped his fingers inside my pussy.

He pumped my pussy and sucked my clit, and I shrieked. And I moaned, and he kept doing it, and it felt so good, unbearable, unbearably good. I shrieked again, and it was like a dam breaking. Pleasure washed all over me, leaving me shaking, even my insides quivering, pulsing.

I gasped for breath, and Terrence went still on me, stopping before the pleasure turned to pain.

“Terrence.” His name felt like a blessing. “I love you.”

Terrence

Now, my bear roared, now, and I was in complete agreement. She was mine, all mine.

I flipped her over and dragged her down the bed until her luscious brown ass was hanging over the edge. I pulled out my cock and thrust it inside her hot cunt.

Her moan sent fire through my veins. Her flesh wrapped around my cock, welcoming me. My mate.

I fucked her relentlessly. She’d never think of anyone else again, never.

She moaned my name. “Ter, Ter, Ter.”

“My mate,” I grunted. “My cub.”

Grabbing her shirt, I ripped it away from her shoulder. I sank my teeth into her bare skin, and I shot my seed inside her. I tasted her flesh and blood, and I gave her my essence.

Mated.

To a human.