“Yes, it does. I’m just annoyed it wasn’t me that dealt with him.”
Her mom arrived then, her face white and pinched as she stuck her head in the door. “Sheba! Are you all right? I’ve called Tilly but she’s in town picking up some supplies. She said she’ll call in when she gets back.”
“I’m fine but I’m hungry. May I have something to eat?”
“Yes, of course. Tilly said you’d be ravenous so I’m prepared, honey. I’ll be right back.”
“Prepared is putting it mildly.” Ari giggled. “She’s had a ton of food ready every day and night. When you didn’t wake she gave it away and started over.”
“Heck, I feel bad now.” Sheba plumped up her pillows, sneaking glances at the still sleeping body next to her. “What’s Tilly saying about him?”
“His wounds have healed and she says he’ll wake when he’s good and ready, just like she said about you. Not the wounds part, the waking part.”
“I see,” Sheba said quietly, her hand reaching over to hold one of his.
“Girl, he is one hot potato!”
“You should see his Lion, Ari. It’s so regal and majestic. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s freaking huge! It makes Ray’s Wolf look like a puppy dog.”
“What? No . . . really?” Ari gasped, sitting forward again with eyes wide as saucers.
“Yeah, his claws are like kitchen knives and even with a bear trap on his leg, he’d fought off a load of Wolves. I think I counted eight dead when I got there and he was still ready to fight more, even with all his wounds. It was surreal, Ari, fucking amazing.”
“No! How could he do that? He must be superhuman . . . oh wait. Shit, you know what I mean. And he’s not too shabby to look at either!” Ari laughed again, her cheeks blushing.
“Yeah, I know, and yes, he is something else. I can’t wait to get to know him properly.”
“Me too,” he said, his eyes opening with a sparkle and a smile on his face.
Sheba flushed, her hand hitting his chest playfully. “How long have you been listening in?”
“Long enough,” he replied, pushing himself up into a sitting position. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.”
Ari gave him a wave. “Hi!”
He looked over briefly. “Hi,” he said before his eyes found Sheba’s again. “My mate.”
“Yes.” Sheba’s mouth dried up, nerves and excitement taking over.
“And my savior. The white Wolf who swooped in and saved my ass, along with that huge black beast.”
“Ray, my Beta. He was with me when we came looking for you.”
He frowned, cocking his head to the side, his black hair falling over his forehead. “Looking for me? How did you know where to find me, or to even look for me for that matter?”
Sheba’s face blushed completely scarlet this time, her eyes dropping, but his hand reached over, lifting her face so their eyes locked. “Tell me.”
“I’d been a little . . . off color, so Ray made me see our Healer and she told me I had something called the Hunger . . .”
“Holy shit,” he interrupted. “You had the Hunger? Damn.”
“I assume you’ve heard of it?”
“Yes, indeed I have. It’s rare, but it’s been talked of by our Elders. So your Healer explained you had to go find your mate?”
“Yes, and I’d already had glimpses of a Lion and then when I allowed my Wolf free rein she just took off like a rocket and well, she led me right to you. I’m sorry we were a little late, if I’d listened earlier, we would’ve gotten there sooner, and . . .”
His eyes sparkled brighter, leaning in closer until their foreheads touched. “You got there right when you were meant to. You saved my life.”
And then his lips covered hers in a kiss that was one filled with desire, love, passion, and completely full of a mate staking their claim.
Sheba faintly heard Ari usher her mother from the room. “Hmm, maybe now’s not the time. I think they’re a little busy. Just leave the tray by the door.”
Sheba’s body was aflame with passion, desire, and pure unadulterated lust. His hands were playing her body like a master playing a violin and she was loving every damn second. Her breath caught in her throat as he dipped a finger inside her, coating it with her juices then sliding it up and around her oh so sensitive nub.
Damn, that felt so good, she was going to come right then and there if he didn’t stop. His tongue darted inside her mouth, tangling with hers before his teeth nibbled on her bottom lip. He moved his head back and she actually groaned aloud as he broke contact, a smile tugging his lips up as he gazed down at her. “I want to watch you while I make you come for the first time, baby.”
His free hand reached up behind her head, tangling in her hair to hold her in place, his hand at her mound working sheer magic. My god! How many fingers did the man have? It seemed like far too many. One was on her clit, doing miraculous things, while others were inside stroking her in ways she’d never been caressed before. All in all, she knew she was going to fall apart into a thousand pieces before she could take another breath.
“Come for me.” He smiled down at her, a smile that told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her, and that was all it took to send her spiraling into a chasm of pleasure so intense her body shook from head to toe as her heart almost exploded in her chest.
His tongue ran across her throat, down her chest to take a nipple into
