Carol's Mate (2 page)

“Yes, just stiff,” she assured him. She might be a little sore later. He may only be human, but he hit like one of her kind.

Before he could say anything else, her teammates surrounded her. Once they were assured she was okay, they regaled her with a replay of the touchdown she‟d missed. She congratulated them and, with a glance at her watch, announced she had to leave. “I‟ve got tons of studying to do tonight, and now I‟m behind schedule.” With her departure, the game broke up, with calls for a rematch soon sounding in the air. She grabbed her backpack, tossed it over her shoulder, and headed once more for student parking.

Halfway to her destination, she heard a voice calling out, “Carol, wait.” Oh damn. It was Mr. Luscious Smelling. Not only did he smell good, but he was one fine, attractive brother. As dark as a milk chocolate bar, he was handsome enough to give Blair Underwood a run for his money. In other words, he was trouble, and she was too interested. She tucked in her chin and pretended not to hear him as she subtly picked up the pace.

He came jogging up beside her and held out a familiar-looking navy blue piece of clothing. “You forgot your hoodie.”

She chanced a quick glance at his face as she reached for it. “Thanks. I would have been looking for it later.”

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Zena Wynn

“My name‟s Mark Johnson,” he said as he fell in step with her. She couldn‟t help noticing he was a perfect match for her own five-eleven stature. Where she was slender, he had the body of a shifter—big with lots of muscle.

“Carol Scott,” she automatically replied, then wanted to smack herself. He already knew her name. To cover her embarrassment, she swung her bag around and pulled her keys out of the front pocket.

“Say, you want to get a cup of coffee sometime or maybe see a movie together—

my treat?” he asked.

“No.”

He stopped. “No?”

She kept walking, fighting a smile.

He quickly caught up to her again. “You‟re seeing someone?”

“No.”

“So what‟s the problem?” he asked, as though unable to believe she‟d turned him down.
Hmm, much too cocky for his own good.

Carol finally stopped and looked at him. “I‟m here to get an education, not find a boyfriend or a husband.”

“What about a friend? Can you manage one of those?”

“With you?” Starting at his feet, clad in high-priced if a little beat-up tennis shoes, she worked her gaze up his body: long legs and thick, muscular thighs stuffed in faded denims that were white at the seams; trim waist and flat stomach that revealed a hint of muscle in the tight black T-shirt he wore; massive chest with clearly defined pecs; broad shoulders; corded neck and face that looked better the longer she gazed at it.

Some of the attraction she was feeling must have reflected in her expression, because he straightened and took a small, determined step forward. “No,” she stated firmly, answering both his question and the sexual intent of a prime male on the prowl she could see on his face.

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With that, she pivoted and walked off, but not before she saw the small, sexy smile creeping across his face…

* * *

She came back to the present to see that same sexy smile on her mate‟s face as he watched her. “Merry Christmas, beautiful.”

“Merry Christmas, yourself,” she replied with a grin.

“Where were you? You appeared to be a million miles away.” She rolled to face him, tucking an arm beneath the pillow cushioning her head.

“I was remembering the day we first met.”

Mark groaned even as he grinned. “The day you shot me down in flames? The guys harassed me for weeks over that.”

She laughed. “Serves you right. I didn‟t even know you and could tell you were a player.”

“It was all practice for you, babe,” he said in a voice as smooth as silk.

“See what I mean?” She hit him with her pillow.

He growled playfully and wrestled her for control of it. Finally, after a few moments of tussling, he managed to snatch it from her and toss it to the floor. She tickled him, and he cried out, “This means war!” They grappled, making a mess of the bed and its covers. Carol laughingly surrendered when Mark pinned her to the mattress with her hands over her head.

“I married a crazy woman.”

“A crazy woman who loves you dearly.”

“Not as much as I love you.” His mouth covered hers.

As usual, it was like setting a match to tinder. They both went up in flames. It didn‟t matter that they‟d been together for years and made love countless times.

Each time felt like the first.

“Oh, baby, I can‟t get enough of your pussy,” Mark told her as he drove into her. “It was made just for me. Tell me you feel the same.” 8

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“I do.” She moaned. “I can‟t get enough of your big, thick cock.” He rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. The sudden movement dislodged him. “Ride me. I want to watch your tits bounce as you take your pleasure.” Carol spread her knees on either side of him for leverage and, taking hold of his penis, guided him to her opening. She impaled herself on him, inch by marvelous inch, back arched, one hand braced on her thigh for balance.

“You are so sexy. Take all of me.”

Carol took her sweet time about it, loving the stretch and clasp of her sheath as he filled her completely. Once their pubic hairs meshed, she commanded, “Move with me.”

“Whatever you say, baby. Tell me what you need.”

“Deep and hard, but not too fast,” she instructed.

She reached behind her to rest her hands on his thighs, knowing the position thrust her breasts out at him prominently. He groaned his appreciation, gaze glued on her nipples, which were tight and puckered as though begging for his mouth. As she ground down on his cock in a circular motion, he pumped his hips up. Their position allowed him to ram deep with little effort.

Soon she was moaning, claws extended and fangs showing. Mark growled, his eyes glowing gold in the muted light of the room. They were both close. He scraped her clit with the tip of his claw, and she came, screaming.

Clamping his hands on her hips and using the mattress as a springboard, he bounced her up and down on his cock until he howled his release. She fell forward, shuddering, on top of him. Their hearts pounded in rhythm together.

As their breathing slowed, Mark drawled, “A very merry Christmas to me already. After this, anything else will be icing on the cake.”

“If I‟d have known you were this easy, I‟d have saved my money.” True Mates: Carol’s Mate

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In retaliation for her sass, he slapped her on the ass. She tickled him to get even, and the loving started all over again. Today was shaping up to be a very merry Christmas indeed, she thought.

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Zena Wynn

Chapter Two

Mark watched his wife dress. There were days when he still couldn‟t believe this sexy, beautiful, smart, and talented woman belonged to him. She was more than he‟d ever hoped for. More than he deserved.

Carol was right. Back in the day, he‟d been a major player. He looked good, and he knew it. Always a nice dresser, he carried himself in a manner that drew women to him. The military had only increased his appeal to the opposite sex.

Women loved a man in uniform.

Then
she’d
come along and ruined him for any other. He wouldn‟t trade her for the world. She‟d thought he was joking earlier, but all the others were only practice for her. Because of them, he‟d learned how to satisfy a woman, so that when the real deal came along—Carol—he‟d known exactly how to please her and keep her satisfied. No way was she looking elsewhere. He‟d make sure to always give his woman everything she needed and more.

Mark remembered the first time he‟d seen Carol. He‟d been playing football with a group of guys, and she‟d joined the opposing team. After four years of active duty in the army‟s GI program and an additional four years serving in the reserves, he‟d had no problems with females playing what most guys considered to be a strictly male sport. Long and lithe, even in the baggy sweat suit she had been wearing, he‟d had no doubt she could handle herself.

Ignoring his fellow teammates' heckling as they‟d tried to intimidate her from joining the game, he‟d settled down to play the sport he loved. He had been doing a good job of treating her like one of the guys until she took off the hooded jacket. The sweet curves that were revealed had done a number on him.

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Her breasts were high and firm, and it hadn‟t looked like she was wearing a bra under the fitted, dark blue T-shirt. If she was, it hadn‟t done much to hide her peaked nipples. And when she bent over, the curve of her ass had made him want to take a bite out of it. She had a sistah booty. Not too big but high, tight, and definitely prominent enough to make a man sit up and take notice.

He‟d had a hard time keeping his head in the game after that. He was too caught up in watching her move. They‟d already realized she was quick on her feet, but she was also graceful like a gazelle, with the ability to slip through their fingers like water. A pure pleasure to watch. Her pecan brown complexion, coupled with dark brown eyes with a hint of gold, had drawn his gaze again and again. Long microplaits of what looked to be her real hair and not weave had fallen in a wave down her back, making him want to tangle his fingers in it as he drew her to him for a kiss.

He‟d never been so enthralled by a woman.

Then came the last play of the day when he‟d unexpectedly tackled her hard.

He‟d fully expected her to dodge him as she‟d done any of the other guys who‟d gotten in range, so he hadn‟t held back. He didn‟t know who was more surprised when they‟d bounced off the ground before settling in a tangle of arms and legs—her or him. Immediately he‟d become concerned he‟d hurt her.

He should have known better. Despite her delicate looks, she was tough. When she‟d left the game soon after, he‟d followed and asked her out, unable to help himself. She‟d shot him down. At first he‟d been shocked.

At twenty-eight, he was older than most full-time college students. His time in the military had given him an air of competency and maturity that a lot of other college guys lacked, as well as a buff, muscular physique he‟d kept up even after his discharge. He didn‟t have a problem gaining female companionship, and he was attractive enough that women sought
him
out. But this one, she‟d said no. No explanations, no qualifications, just no.

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He‟d pushed until she gave him some lame excuse about focusing on her education, but the look she‟d given him… She‟d wanted him, and the feeling had been mutual. He determined then and there he‟d have her.

It turned out to be easier said than done. She‟d avoided him at every turn.

Refused every invitation. Wouldn‟t tell him where she lived or give him her phone number. If he showed up at some place where she was, she‟d leave soon after.

Carol hadn‟t been playing hard to get. She really wasn‟t interested in a relationship with him or any other guy. Mark knew because he‟d asked around. She hadn‟t dated anyone in the three, almost four years she‟d been on campus. He should have left it alone. Left
her
alone, but he couldn‟t. It was as though he was being driven to pursue and possess her. He couldn‟t understand—not then—why he‟d wanted her in a way he‟d never wanted another female. Now he knew it had been the mating fever at work.

It had made him crazy. He‟d had a hard time concentrating on his studies.

Finally he‟d cornered her…

* * *

“Look, I don‟t understand what it is about you that has me acting like a crazed stalker. I‟ll make you a deal. Have a cup of coffee with me in the student lounge.

Just one. Spend a few minutes getting to know me, and if, at the end of that time, you still aren‟t interested, I‟ll leave you alone.” Her gaze was uncertain. “You promise?”

By this point, he was beyond ego. It had been a little over six weeks since their first meeting, and his attraction to her was getting worse, not better. Maybe if he could convince himself she wasn‟t feeling it too, he could have left it alone. But every time he caught her off guard, when she didn‟t think he was looking, he could see a matching hunger in her eyes. “Yes, I promise.” God help him to keep it because he was at the point where he didn‟t think even a restraining order could make him leave her alone.

“Okay.” Though she agreed, she still sounded hesitant.

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Before she could change her mind, he grabbed her arm and towed her with him to the nearest student lounge. He purchased two cups of coffee and guided Carol to a corner table in the back, where they‟d have a bit of privacy.

“So what are you studying?” he asked.

“Right now I‟m in the nursing program to be an RN. I‟m considering whether I want to continue my studies and become a nurse-practitioner.”

“What‟s the difference?”

“An NP can do more. What about you?”

“I‟m in pharmacy school with a minor in business management. Eventually I‟d like to own my own pharmacy.”

“Really? How‟d you get involved with that?”

“I‟ve always liked medicine and studying sicknesses and diseases but didn‟t want to be a doctor. This was the next best thing. What about you?”

“My pa—town is small and always in need of trained medical staff. I wanted to help out, and fortunately for me, I‟ve always had a fascination with medicine and a desire to help people,” she explained.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“A small town a few hours from here, up in the mountains. I doubt you‟ve heard of it. What about you?”

He took a sip of coffee before responding. “Originally from Philly. My last duty station was here in North Carolina, and I stayed to attend school.”

“You were in the military?” she asked.

“Army. Eight years altogether.”

Carol played with the empty sugar packets on the table. “You didn‟t want to go back and be with your family?”

“Nah. With the gangs and stuff, Mom was glad to see me go, make something of myself. She was scared if I returned I‟d fall back in with the same do-nothing 14