Mate Not Wanted (22 page)

She nodded. “OK, so we just take it one step at a time? I can agree to that. Do I still get to cuff you to the bed?”

Pierce fell silent. He nibbled on his chicken, had a bit of salad, and then had some potato wedges. Instead of feeling annoyed she found his awkwardness amusing.

“Thought I’d forgotten, huh?” She took a bite of her salad, savoring the flavor of the spices and herbs.

“I didn’t think you’d forgotten. I just want to forget about sex for a bit.”

She snorted.

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t believe me?”

Madison shook her head. “You wanting to steer things away from sex is like a chocaholic not wanting to dive into a chocolate cake.”

Pierce scowled. “I'm not a sex maniac. You just bring out the beast in me.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Ha ha, very funny. Dork.”

Pierce put his plate to the side. “Are you calling me a nerd?”

She sighed. “No, just a goof. And before you say it, I’m not trying to pick a fight.”

“You just don’t want to wait for your surprise, do you? You’re so impatient. Perhaps I need to tie you down again?” He reached over, grabbed both her wrists and drew her toward him until her face was mere millimeters away from his. “Or maybe you want to be spanked?”

She closed the distance between their faces and kissed him, taking her time, exploring every contour. When he parted his lips, she dipped her tongue into his mouth. His taste burst on her tongue, under the spices of the chicken and the beer she could detect that heat and need. His tiger musk filtered through the air between them. She shook her wrists loose from his hold, reached up, and held his face. This time she was in control of the actions and allowed herself to do what she hadn’t been able to last night—use patience to wind him up.

He growled, took hold of her waist, and tried to pull her body toward his to close the distance between them. She resisted his ministrations and held her ground, pulling her body back. The touch of her body should be a reward. He’d done nothing to earn it yet.

He pulled his head back and stared at her. She licked her lips, and his gaze followed the movement of her tongue.

“What are you playing at? What do you want from me?” His voice was ragged.

Her lioness leant her its sharpened senses. Sweat, cologne, and need swirled around them. She could hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest and his struggle to even out his breath. Madison caressed his face and felt the scratch of his stubble and the feverishness of his skin. His pupils were dilated.

Need, frustration, and love flitted across his face. Her heart seemed to expand in her chest at the sight of his emotions. For a moment, her breath caught in her lungs and her stomach dipped. Liquid heat filled her pussy and she shifted, trying to find a way to sit that wouldn’t put pressure on her clit. With a sigh, she tried to rein in her own passions so she could answer him.

“I’m not playing at anything, just going by instinct and my own needs. Am I doing anything wrong?”

He chuckled and shook his head. Pierce rose and held out a hand to her. “No, love. I was trying to have a nice evening and a dinner not complicated by sex, but you won’t be denied, will you? Fine.”

She accepted his proffered hand and stood. He guided her away from the picnic area. In silence, she followed him as he led her through the darkened house and up the stairs to the bedroom.

“I was trying to behave and leave this for after dinner, but you’re an impatient minx and I can’t resist you.” He undressed quickly, got on the bed, and lay down with his hands over his head and legs spread. His cock lay against his stomach, flushed and thick. “I’m at your mercy, love.”

Madison’s tiger lay docile, ready for whatever she wanted to do. The feeling brought tears to her eyes. Pierce was so dominant, a force of nature. He may have said he’d acquiesce to her desires, but part of her hadn’t really believed him. To see that he trusted her, and was willing to lay himself bare before her, opened up a door within her that she hadn’t thought existed. For one night only, he’d be her prisoner. Swallowing down her rising emotions, she savored the sight of him.

“Handcuffs?”

He nodded his head toward the nightstand. “Open the drawer.”

She followed his direction and found four pairs of padded leather manacles. Madison ran a finger over the soft lambswool that would wrap around his wrists. They would hold him as long as she wanted. She made quick work of tying him down.

His laugh caught her off guard, and she looked at his face to see what was so funny.

“Slow down, love. We have all night. I’m not going to change my mind. Even if I do need some relief.” He gave his groin a pointed look and she didn’t miss that the crown and shaft had become a darker shade of red.

She smiled and wiped her hands on her jeans. “Sorry, nervous,” she confessed.

Despite his words, Madison took off her shirt, kicked off her shoes, and shucked her jeans and socks in record time. She went back to the nightstand, took out a condom, and climbed onto the bed.

The wound on her shoulder throbbed and ribbons of heat wrapped around her body and threaded through her veins. She ripped open the foiled packet and rolled the prophylactic onto his thickened penis, all without saying a word.

“Talk to me, love.” His tone was pleasant, conversational, as if he weren’t naked, spread-eagle and tied to his bedposts. “It’ll help. I promise.”

She bit her bottom lip before she decided to say what was on her mind. “It’s a bit overwhelming being in charge. I just want to get things done before I lose my nerve or you change your mind.”

Pierce shook his head. “No chance of that. Take your time.”

She gave a pointed look to his cock, and he sighed before he spoke. “There is that, but this is about you and what you want. Enjoy it. We can always do it again.”

Madison stared at him. Again?
He’d submit to her again. Awe filled her. Even her lion was taken by surprise. She grinned at him.

“Getting to like the bottom, huh, McKinney?” she teased. “I’m going to make you like it even more.”

Pierce met her grin with one of his. His expression was filled with a naughty edge that made vaginal walls ripple and moisture slip down her inner thighs. “Do your damnedest, love.”

With that challenge thrown down, how could she resist?

She threw her leg over his hip and settled her damp slit over his groin. She lowered herself down until the thick shaft rested against her pussy lips and she could work herself against it. She bent down and gave his lips for another kiss as she began to work her hips against his in slow gyrations. She lifted up and parted her labia and settled down again so his penis rested against her clit, then went back to work. He responded to her ministrations by moving his hips in short thrusts.

Sparks of electricity went off in her belly with each glide. Her lungs burned with the need for air. She pulled her head back and peppered kisses along his jaw and down his neck and across his shoulder. With reluctance, she broke the kiss. Then she scooted down and continued her kisses across his chest. She wrapped her fingers around his cock and with slow pulls of her hand she worked his shaft from root to tip. Even through the thin barrier of the condom, she could feel the heat. Madison didn’t neglect his heavy balls, fondling them with care, allowing his grunts and moans to guide her as she explored what gave him pleasure.

For a moment, she regretted having sheathed him so soon, but she knew that she’d wanted him ready when the time came. Her desire whirled within her as she explored the expanse of his chest. She outlined the tracery of old injuries and scars, flicked and teased the tightened tips of his nipples, and then took one distended nub into her mouth. She sucked at it while she tugged and massaged his testicles, first one and then the other.

Pierce thrashed against his bonds and writhed on the bed. Grunts, curses, and growls filled the bedroom as she transferred her attention back to his cock and his other nipple. She lapped up the thin sheen of sweat that coated his abdomen as she moved her attention downward.

“Madison, please. Fuck me. Gods, please.”

She responded by swirling her tongue in the indentation of his navel before taking her torture back up his body, to his neck and returned to his lips as she repositioned herself over his groin. She placed the crown of his cock against her entrance and pushed down, taking him inside of her in slow increments. Her vaginal muscles stretched and burned from the intrusion. She moved her face and bit her lips as she rose and sank down on him, taking more of him in. Up. Down. Repeat. Madison clenched her vaginal muscles around his cock. The pressure built within her gut and began to expand.

To increase her pleasure, she planted one hand on his chest and used the other to tug and pinch first one nipple and then the other. Pierce used shallow pushes of his hips and murmured words of praise and desire for her, increasing her confidence and desire for him in turn.

She increased her pace. With each downward stroke, with every pull and squeeze on her nipples, she could feel the wave come closer. Soon she would be in its thrall and it would tow her under. Her own gasps and cries joined the sound of their wet flesh slapping together. The tide was too strong.

Madison gave a silent cry as her vaginal walls fluttered and clamped down around his cock. Her body shook as she tried to keep the momentum going and fuck him through her orgasm. She felt him expand and jerk inside of her as he met his own fulfillment.

Madison lay down, unable to move as she gasped for air. For a moment, all she could do was rest her head on his chest and listen to the rampant pounding of his heartbeat. Once she was able to get a coherent thought past the swathe of cotton around her brain, she rose and pulled off of him.

She undid the cuffs and massaged his wrists, like he’d done for her when she’d been tied to the spanking bench. He murmured his thanks and sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and went to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and clean up. He returned with two face cloths, one dry and one damp, and motioned for her to lie back. He wiped down her pussy and inner thighs with the damp one and the patted her clean with the dry cloth. She rested against the mountain of pillows on his bed and waited for him to join her.

He returned with a new blanket. She scrambled off the bed and let him change the coverlet, and then got under the covers. In silence, she watched as he joined her, wrapped his arms around shoulders, and pulled her close to him. Her heart hammered out of control as she waited for his verdict. Would he do this again?

When a few minutes passed without him saying a word, she had to ask. “Pierce?”

“Yes, love?”

“Did you like it? Do you want to do it again?” She cursed herself for sound so small and weak.

“Do I want to do it again? Hmm.” He stroked his chin.

She didn’t miss the spark of humor in his eyes. Madison slapped his chest. “Stop joking around. Did I do it right? Did I hurt you?” With her free hand, she toyed with the edge of the bed.

He slipped his fingers under her chin and turned her face to look at him. His face took on a serious expression that scared her.

“Madison, I loved every minute. It was glorious, sexy as hell, and I would repeat all of this in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, even though I am a shifter, I do need some recovery time, and I’m not as young as I used to be, so give an old man a break, will you?”

She stared at him. “Old man?” She reached down and grasped his semi-erection. “This doesn’t say old man to me. Maybe I’m just too much woman for you.”

He pushed her shoulder down onto the bed. She let out a shriek and laughed. “Oh, I’ll show you who’s too much for whom.” He proceeded to kiss her until she was breathless and her thoughts were scattered. “But first we rest and then we go another round. I still have some toys I haven’t tried out on you.”

He pulled her against his chest once more and she closed her eyes.

“OK, maybe just a few minutes,” she said.

Madison closed her eyes but couldn’t stop a huge grin from appearing on her face.

That night, he showed her just how much he’d enjoyed being tied down, allowing her to try it again with the silver metal cuffs and even with some scarves. At one point he was blindfolded, at another she rushed down to the kitchen and invaded Jess’s domain to get some whipped cream.

By the time the sun rose in the sky, they were both exhausted. Her body ached in places that she couldn’t even name, but she was very, very happy and satisfied.

Chapter Sixteen

Two Weeks Later

Pierce stood on the pitch. He closed his eyes and savored the cool breeze that flowed against his face. After tonight’s match he had a date with Madison. For the last two weeks they’d been in mating bliss. Now that her lioness’s heat had died down, they could go on dates and the only sexual tension was of the natural, human variety.

They’d spent almost every day together. With Ryan in and out of town, they’d had his place mostly to themselves. The only kink in their plans was the current demolition project going on in the kitchen. Pierce had managed to convince Jess not to destroy everything completely, but they were taking out an unused closet and expanding the pantry, putting in a brand new meat freezer, and adding a few more appliances. Madison and Jess had bonded over their love of baking and Jess was trying out a few gluten-free recipes that Madison had given her.

They had also been busy with house hunting. Despite wanting Madison with him at his home, Pierce understood her need for space. Once she decided to move in with him, she could rent out her home and bring in extra income. He’d convinced her to accept a loan and payment plan from her parents so she wouldn’t have to feel as if they were giving her something for free.

Madison had made Pierce a part of all her decisions, consulting him every step of the way. It warmed his heart that she was open to his suggestions. Their relationship was growing by leaps and bounds, but still they kept things slow.