The Mating (13 page)

She traced his features with her eyes, taking in his straight nose and strong jaw. A strand of dark hair fell across his forehead; she had to clench her fists to keep from reaching up and brushing it back into place. Forcing herself to look away, she stared at the fire. Flames danced in the darkness, causing shadows to flicker across the ground and waves of heat to shimmer in the air. Occasionally a log would shift, sending sparks into the night sky.

The other couples could barely be seen as darkness descended. Encased in their own little pool of light, it was as if she and Kane were alone in the night. His scent drifted around her, invading her senses and clouding her mind. She felt herself leaning towards him. With a start, she pulled herself back and sought a means of distraction.

Reaching for a marshmallow and stabbing it onto a stick, she nonchalantly worked herself away from him. The slight distance made her feel better, more in control, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Concentrating on toasting her marshmallow to perfection, she withdrew it at just the right moment—the skin a warm toasted brown with the promise of a sweet, melted interior. She felt her mouth watering in anticipation and sat back, blowing gently to cool the treat in preparation for consuming it. Just when it was ready, a large hand reached around and pulled the stick from her grasp.

Indignantly, she turned around in time to see her marshmallow disappearing into Kane’s mouth.

“Hey! I toasted that!”

Kane grinned at her. “I know, and I thank you for preparing it just the way I like it.”

Elise opened her mouth to protest, but Kane swooped forward and covered her mouth with his. She could taste traces of the sweet confection on his lips and hummed in appreciation. Slowly, they withdrew and Elise found herself staring into Kane’s face, his amber eyes seeming to search hers for the answer to some unspoken question. Something tugged within her, as if she was being pulled into him and she struggled to read his enigmatic expression, wondering if he too felt that sense of connectedness.

Whatever Kane was looking for, he must have found it, for he smiled and lifted her up so she was cradled between his knees, her rear end firmly in contact with him. He pulled her back so that she was leaning against his chest, similar to Carrie and John. Reaching around her, he put another marshmallow on a stick and prepared it, while his chin rested on her head. At first, Elise felt a bit self-conscious, but soon realised that no one was paying them any attention. Slowly, she relaxed within the warm circle of his arms and Kane, obviously sensing the change in her, growled his approval.

Over the next half hour, they fed each other marshmallows, each one accompanied by a kiss, to clean the sticky sweet off their lips. Elise felt her breathing growing increasingly ragged, and Kane wrapped an arm around her waist, gently rocked his hips against her. A heavy, aching warmth was growing within her and she pushed back against Kane in response. He muttered something indecipherable, and then threw the marshmallow sticks into the fire.

In one swift motion, he scooped her up into his arms and stood. “We’re turning in now.” He announced to the others, striding towards the house.

Elise hid her face in his shoulder, embarrassed. “Kane! What will they think?” She whispered against his neck.

“That we’re newly bonded and I can’t keep my hands off of my lovely mate.” And sure enough, the good natured calls that accompanied them across the yard, left her in no doubt that the others were thinking exactly that.

*****

Upstairs, Kane placed her gently on the bed and stood over her, slowly removing his shirt. He hadn’t turned on the lights, but the illumination from the moon was streaming in, playing over the skin that he was revealing to her. If she hadn’t already been aroused from their kisses by the fire, the sight of her mate’s body would certainly have done the trick. Elise drank in the sight of his powerful arms and chest, his taut stomach, the scar running down his side… She couldn’t imagine how much such a wound would have hurt and was filled with the need to comfort him, even though the pain was long gone.

Rising to her knees, she reached out and traced the faint pink line with her fingertips. At her touch, Kane’s hands stilled on the waistband of his pants and she looked up at him. His eyes were hooded and burning with desire. Daringly, she brushed his hands away and undid his button and zipper so that his pants hung loosely on his hips. Then she leaned forwards and ran her lips along the length of the scar from his ribs to where it disappeared underneath his clothing. Nudging the material aside, she worked her way down to the end of the scar, which was just below his hipbone, then slid around to his stomach, teasing his navel with her tongue. Kane shuddered and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her up and kissing her hot and hard. With one hand on the back of her head, he slid the other one up her shirt, caressing her skin, and unclasping her bra.

Elise pulled away, gasping for breath and Kane took the opportunity to shuck his pants and briefs before reaching for the edge of her T-shirt and tugging it over her head. Pushing her back on the bed, he made quick work of removing her pants and underwear, then crawled on top of her and resumed their kiss. His tongue battled with hers, while he used his hands to tweak her nipples and stroke her belly. Gently raking her nails over his scalp, Elise moaned in approval when he moved lower and suckled at her breast. Each tug of his mouth was met with a corresponding one inside of her and she guided his head from one breast to the other, closing her eyes to concentrate on sensation alone.

A whimper escaped her lips when he left off his ministrations to move lower, but was soon replaced by sighs of delight as he invaded her core with his mouth and fingers. Knowing the exquisite feelings he could create, she willingly spread her legs allowing him access to her most intimate parts. Kane nuzzled the juncture of her thigh, inhaling her scent. A rumble of approval rose from deep in his chest as he sensed her growing arousal. She knew she was being unbelievably wanton, but despite the fact, she watched him pleasure her and found that it was one of the most erotic things she had ever seen. In no time at all, her body reached its peak and she shuddered as the orgasm washed over her, leaving her breathless.

“That,” she panted, “was great.”

“Worth leaving the marshmallows and the bonfire for?” He teased as he slid up to lay beside her. Gently, he brushed her hair from her forehead, and then ran calming hands over her body.

“Oh, yeah.” Her heart was still pounding and she was having difficulty getting her words out between her rapid breaths. “But you didn’t…?”

“Not yet.” He moved his hips slightly and Elise felt his hot erection pressing against her hip. “But never fear, that was only round one.”

She rolled her head to the side and stared at him in surprise. “You mean I get to do that again?”

“Uh-huh, that’s my plan.” He nuzzled her ear and then sucked her lobe into his mouth. A shiver ran through her. “Unless, of course, you didn’t enjoy yourself…” Kane’s voice trailed off and he looked at her quizzically.

“Oh, I think I can force myself to suffer through it one more time, just for you. It wouldn’t be fair to leave you in such an uncomfortable state” She teased him back and he smiled at her in delighted surprise. Leaning over her, he began the task of arousing her once again.

*****

At some time during the night, Elise awoke to the sound of faint ringing. Beside her, Kane grumbled and kissed her cheek apologetically before rolling out of bed. Fumbling around on the floor, he searched of his pants and the cell phone that he’d left in his pocket. Through her bleary eyes, she watched him check the number, then pad into the sitting room and partially close the door.

Elise wondered who would be calling in the middle of the night and hoped it wasn’t another pack emergency like last night. Straining her ears, she listened to Kane’s deep voice as he answered the phone.

“Marla? No, no, of course you’re not interrupting anything … Shh … Don’t cry. What’s wrong? … No, don’t hang up! … You could never be a bother. You know you can call me anytime …” The door to the sitting room clicked shut, effectively blocking out the rest of the conversation.

Chewing on her lip, Elise wondered what could be so important, that Marla had to call in the middle of the night. And Kane hadn’t sounded at all put out. Hmm… What exactly was Kane’s relationship with the woman? Zoe and Phoebe had said that Marla had been chasing after Kane. Was she still trying to catch him, even though he was now bonded to another? And did Kane have any interest in her? He certainly didn’t sound upset by the fact that she was bothering him right in the middle of— Well, no. That wasn’t true. They weren’t in the middle of anything right now. Just sleeping. But it had been a companionable sleep with Kane’s arms holding her tight, her head cushioned on his chest…

Elise tried to stay awake until Kane returned to bed, but the hands on the clock kept moving and moving without him reappearing. Soon the ticking of the clock and the indistinct murmur of his voice began to lull her to sleep. Pulling the bed sheets up around her neck, she curled into a ball and closed her eyes, wondering when her mate would return to her.

The next morning, Elise woke to the feel of Kane sliding his hands up and down her stomach. For a few moments, she pretended to still be sleeping. Memories of the previous night drifted through her mind, and she couldn’t keep a smile from appearing on her lips. Never had she imagined that her body was capable of such feelings. Mating with Kane was definitely a special experience. She stretched and sighed happily, then snuggled in closer to him, inhaling the male scent of him.

“I know you’re awake.” Kane’s voice was gravelly, revealing that he hadn’t been awake that long either.

“No, I’m not.” She kept her eyes closed, wanting to prolong this companionable moment.

“I beg to differ.”

“Well, you’re wrong. I’m sleeping and I’m in the middle of a very pleasant dream, so don’t bother me.”

“I could make reality even more pleasant.” He allowed his hand drifted upward and cupped her breast, gently kneading the soft flesh.

“Mmm… Maybe I am awake.” Elise opened her eyes, her lashes brushing against Kane’s cheek as he nuzzled her neck.

“Good morning.” His breath feathered over her ear and she giggled in response.

“That tickles.”

“Really? How about this?” He ran his fingers lightly up and down her sides and she bubbled with laughter, squirming away from him.

“Hey! I’m just waking up. No fair!”

“Who said I play fair?” He reached out and pulled her closer, tickling her one more time.

“You’re the Alpha; you’re supposed to set a good example.” Elise pressed her hands to his chest, involuntarily caressing the muscled surface as she tried to move away, but he was too strong for her.

“True, but no one’s here to see, except you.”

“And I don’t count?” She tried to look affronted.

“You…” he leaned in to kiss her forehead, “count very much.” He kissed the tip of her nose, then pulled her close and tucked her under his chin. “You’re my mate.”

Elise smiled at the possessive way he said that. It was strange, but even after such a short time together, she found herself inexplicably comfortable with the idea of belonging to him. Maybe it was some ancient, instinctual thing that made her feel connected to the male who first mated her. She supposed in the olden days such a bond would have been nature’s way of ensuring that two wolves stayed together to raise their young… Oh well, analysing it wouldn’t affect how she felt, and at this moment she was happy to be with Kane, in his bed, knowing that he was happy with her.

Somehow, when they were snuggled in bed, she felt more at ease with him, than she did during the rest of the day. Possibly it was because at least here, she knew what to expect. In the bedroom, they had a physical relationship and that was it. The rest of the time, however, she wasn’t so sure. She was his mate, but exactly what did that mean? What was she supposed to be doing? How should she be acting? Whether it was true or not, she had a feeling that the others were watching and judging how she interacted with Kane. Was she being too bold or too submissive? Too affectionate? Too distant? She really wasn’t sure of her role in Kane’s life, or within the pack for that matter.

Suddenly a recollection from last night popped into her head. “Kane, in the middle of the night, the phone rang, didn’t it?”

“Did that wake you? Sorry. I tried to be quiet.”

For some reason that she didn’t even understand herself, she didn’t want him to know that she’d overheard him talking. She wanted him to tell her himself. “Was it an emergency?”

He sighed. “Kind of. It was Marla.” Elise inwardly smiled. He had told her the truth. That must mean he wasn’t harbouring any secret feelings for the woman.

“Oh. I met her yesterday—twice in fact.”

Kane shifted beside her and his voice subtly changed from one of teasing indulgence to a quieter, sterner Alpha tone. “Well, that’s one of the things she called about. Apparently, you were rather rude to her yesterday morning.”

“What?” Elise sat up and stared down at Kane, incredulous. “
I
was rude to
her
?”

“Marla said that you took whatever she said, right out of context and were very aggressive towards her. Now—” He raised his eyebrows when Elise opened her mouth to protest and she subsided. “I realise that yesterday was your first full day, and you might have been stressed, wondering where you fit in, but asserting your authority as my mate in that manner, won’t win you many friends.”

Totally flabbergasted, Elise just stared at him. What exactly had Marla said to him?

Kane continued before she had a chance to enquire. “Then at the mall, when she tried to approach you, you wouldn’t even talk to her, but just fell in with Zoe, who—before you say anything—I will be speaking to her as well.”

“I didn’t say anything inappropriate to Marla!” Else finally got her wits about her and started to protest.

“Possibly not. She was bit unclear about that part, but you were aggressive towards her, weren’t you?”