He kept stroking my cheek, moving his hand to my temples and brushing his fingers along my hairline. He snagged a lock of my hair and rubbed it between his fingers. It had a calming sensation moving through me, and I could’ve stayed in this moment forever, with the soft touches of my mate and the worries left back at the longhouse.
But I knew things had to progress. There was already this aggressive arousal that refused to be ignored or tamed. And at this point, I didn’t want to either. I wanted it to just explode forth, grabbing me so tightly that there was no way I could ever escape. And I knew Tucker was the only male who could ease this intensity inside me.
Maybe it would’ve been smarter to go slow, to take our time.
Maybe we should’ve gotten to know each other better.
But we had forever to learn all the little things that made us who we were.
So why wait?
“Do you want to see it?”
Everything in me froze at his words. A massive wave of heat and need slammed into me at his question. I felt my eyes widen, because immediately my mind was in the gutter.
His nostrils flared as he no doubt scented the rush of arousal that spilled from between my legs at his question. This low, deep hum left him, a very wolfish sound that had a soft whimper leaving me.
“See it?” My voice was scratchy, barely audible.
He growled low and said, “My wolf, Mia. Do you want to see my wolf?” He took a step closer, and I wanted to move one step back, but my body had other thoughts as I stayed rooted in place, needing to feel his heat slam into me. His focus was on my mouth, his eyes hooded. I scented his pheromones, a drugging sensation sliding through me and causing my nipples to tingle and my inner pussy muscles to clench. I wanted something big and thick and long to be shoved deep in me. I wanted Tucker to give that to me.
I tried to rearrange my thoughts so I wasn’t this lust-crazed female who only thought about one thing—dick.
“Yes. I want to see your… wolf.” And I did, once my mind cleared and I realized this was a very important step in our relationship. His wolf was a part of him, a powerful extension to who and what he was, even if I’d seen plenty of the pack males shift into their animals.
Tucker stood there for a moment, not speaking, not moving, his pheromones still so potent as his eyes were locked on my lips. And then he started undressing, his gaze never leaving mine. I wanted to look at every inch of his body, but I kept my focus on his face.
When he was totally naked, and after a long second, he inhaled deeply, blinked back his clear desire, and took a step away. We stared at each other, and I felt the air start to change, becoming more electrically charged. The hairs on my arms stood on end, and this force moved through me as I watched Tucker start to change.
I smelled his wolf, this feral presence that was powerful and dangerous but would never frighten me. His shifter essence surrounded me, pulling me closer until I actually took a step closer.
And with a flash of movement, the sound of bones breaking and realigning, and the smell of Tucker fully changing to his wild animal, it was over. And then my mate stood before me in his huge wolf form, his coat black as midnight, his eyes glowing gold as he focused on me.
Tucker was massive, his animal double the size of his human form, an intimidating presence that I knew put fear into humans and shifters alike. But I felt no fear toward him. He’d never hurt me. I knew his purpose in life now that he was mated was to provide for me, to protect and… love me.
And the longer I stood there staring at the majestic beauty of my wolf mate, I knew in my heart and soul that this was exactly how things were supposed to happen.
Tucker slowly moved—stalked—toward me, his muscles rippling under his thick, glossy fur, his eyes still locked on me. When he was a foot from me, I let out a fast breath at the feeling of his heat pouring off his huge body.
My mate.
I could practically hear his deep voice in my head, and when he gently butted his large nose against my arm, I closed my eyes and breathed out, my body leaning against his massive shoulder.
He nudged me again, and I lifted my hand and ran it through his fur, my fingers sinking into the thickness, the strands like coarse silk between the digits. I opened my eyes and ran my palm over his side, his tail whipping back and forth as I touched him. I knew he enjoyed this, that it pleasured him. I made my way around to the other side of him, still running my fingers through his fur, and stopped when I got to the front, his head triple the size of mine, his eyes so intelligent and knowing as we stared at each other.