“I sense I am somehow bound to you?” he whispered softly around her breast.
“Yes,” she gasped. “It was the only way to save you.”
“Thank you,” he replied. “But now we must do things properly. We must do this as we should have.”
“Yes,” she gasped again, thrusting her hips up toward him.
“Eager, aren’t you?”
“Yes!” she said with much more force this time.
Lifting his head, he quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t know your name?”
“Sheba.”
“Sheba.” It rolled off his tongue like a caress. “My Queen.”
The childhood taunt stung, and she pushed at his shoulders roughly. “Don’t call me that!”
“What?”
“I don’t like it. Queen of Sheba!” She used the sing song voice that had haunted her for so many years. “Anyone that calls me that faces my anger. No matter who it is.”
“I didn’t call you that,” he replied calmly, his head dipping to take her nipple inside his mouth again briefly. “I called you, My Queen, and My Queen, you are. You forget I am a Lion and we do not have Alphas. We have a King and a Queen. You, Sheba are My Queen, and when we are alone you will always be My Queen.”
Her anger left her. Not only left her but she now felt embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware of that. I don’t . . .”
“Shh.” He nibbled on her taut bud.
“Wait,” she managed to say. “What’s your name?”
He bit down briefly before mumbling something she couldn’t hear. “What?” she asked.
Looking up, he frowned. “No jokes. Okay?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
“My name is Fox.”
She bit her lip. She had to! “Fox. Really? That’s your name?”
“Yes. My mother said I was so dang cute when I was born that the name just fit. And like you, I’ve had my share of problems because of it. Luckily for me, I’m a big ass Lion and can take care of anyone who has a problem with it.”
“Well, I love it.” Sheba grinned. “I really do. Fox. It’s cool and now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, could you possibly get back to doing what you were a moment ago? Because I have to say you have a gift for that!”
“Anything to please you, My Queen.” Fox chuckled, dipping his head to take her nipple back into his mouth and lavish it once more.
“Oh, wait, one more question.” Sheba sighed as he released her breast again. “We mark our mates by biting them here.” She placed a hand on his neck. “What do Lions do?”
He placed his hand on her hip. “We use our claws and mark here, but it’s more than that. When we do it we share our pheromones with our mate. It means there’s no mistaking that we’re mated. Our scents will mingle and everyone will know that you are mine.”
“I see.” Sheba shrugged. “That sounds okay. Will it leave a permanent mark?”
“Yes, it scars. It does fade in time but there is always a mark. Does that bother you?”
“No. Our marks are permanent too so that’s not a problem for me.”
“Good, now, can we get back to what we were doing because my balls are going to turn blue if we don’t.”
Sheba gave him a smile, her eyes full of her desire. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Good, because I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you. You’re the most beautiful creature the Goddess has created, My Queen.”
His hand reached down, his fingers dancing around her slick folds eliciting a soft moan from her lips. “I’m going to worship you as only a Queen should be worshipped, from this day for eternity.”
“Hmm, that sounds like a plan,” Sheba gasped as he moved down, his lips caressing her where a moment before his hand had been. Lordy! She was in heaven.
She gripped the sheets tightly as he went to work, his strong hands opening her thighs, spreading her wide as pleasure rippled through her. He worked her slowly, long licks from her ass to her clit, then dipping inside as he lapped at her juices. A rumble in his chest as he did so brought her head up to watch him and his eyes sought hers as another growl sounded from him. He leaned away, licking his lips. “You taste superb. I could eat you all day long but I need to be inside you, Sheba. My beast craves to claim you as ours. I cannot wait any longer.”
Sheba reached down, snagging her fingers in his hair and tugging him up. “I want that too, Fox. My Wolf is howling so loudly I can barely think.”
Fox’s body towered over her, his forearms at either side of her head and his hands cupping her face as his eyes locked with hers. “I take thee as My Queen, for now and forever, in this world and the next. We will run here and in the hunting grounds, side by side for eternity, Sheba. If you will have me?”
Sheba’s body reacted to his pledge and plea. Her heart swelling and her throat closing with emotion, tears welling in her eyes with unadulterated happiness. “I will have you, Fox. I take you, for now and forever. I claim you as my mate. To stand by my side. To protect you and shelter you, in this world and the next. I will love you for eternity, my gift from the Goddess, my one, my only, my soul-mate.”
Fox raised an eyebrow. “Protect?”
“I am Alpha,” she replied. “I will always protect you, it’s part of the deal.”
“I don’t need protecting, Sheba.” He scowled. “I can fight my own battles.”
“I’m well aware of that.” She smiled. “I saw that with my own eyes, but I am still Alpha and I protect every last member of my Pack . . . including you, especially you.”
Fox’s scowl deepened. “All I ask is that you don’t interfere if there are any incidents. I can stand on my own two feet. Or paws. Whatever the
