But he’d work on the other parts of that later. Right now he was going to make love to his mate, and remember every single second. In minute detail.
Shaun stepped around her slowly, savouring the ability to run his hands over her body. The soft caress of her dark skin. The way his hand contrasted with hers. But more than the difference in their colouring, it was the ripple of goose bumps that rose behind his touch that drew his attention.
“Cold?” he pressed his lips against her upper arm.
“Hot. Crazy hot. Like I’m on fire and you’re pouring on gasoline—oh…”
He licked her. A small, intimate touch as he held her in place. Another lick, this time lower. On the back of her arm. The next higher, at the ticklish spot where her arm met her body.
He tugged her bra strap to the side, letting the elastic fall away. More kisses followed, his actions repeated on the other side. Then he nuzzled her neck as he undid her bra and removed it completely.
She shivered.
Shaun pressed his naked chest to her back, the heat from both their bodies burning hotter than a blowtorch. Over her shoulder he admired her, the firm swells of her breasts, the slender curve of her waist. He teased her skin with tiny circles, starting at her hipbones, drawing his hands higher and higher. Dusting along her ribcage, skimming the underside of her breasts, caressing her collarbone.
Not one part of her upper body was neglected. Not one part was ignored, but nowhere received more than a brief caress before he moved on.
He was memorizing her. He’d forgotten their first lovemaking? This time would be etched into his memory forever.
Gem moaned as he cupped her breasts. “Feels so good.”
“More?”
She nodded, leaning her weight on him. Her ass brushed his jeans, and the tight control he’d maintained nearly snapped. He ached.
Licking her nape was the only thing that calmed his wolf enough he could get the snap on her pants undone. “I like these, by the way.”
She laughed. “Wearing pants feels as if I’m in a disguise.”
He eased the zipper down, peeled the material off her hips. “No disguise, just being smart. These are what you’ll need in the backcountry.”
“So I’m not insane?”
“Right.” He froze, only relaxing when she wiggled with laughter.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
Neither could he. Shaun dropped to his knees behind her and nipped her butt cheek.
“Oh, what—?”
“Love the pants, love what’s in them even more.”
She smiled at him, and he was ready to do anything for her.
It took a long, long time to strip her. Every article of clothing he removed required him to lick and taste all the new exposed skin. By the time she was completely naked, he’d brought her close to orgasm with his fingers, his tongue, always stopping just before she gained release.
When he picked her up and laid her on the bed, her wolf was rumbling in pleasure.
Shaun paused to strip the rest of his clothing off, then crawled next to her, careful to push her hair aside. He looked her in the eye and let his fingers drop to her sex. Felt the wetness there. Used it to rub and caress until she shook. All the while he watched her. Saw her pupils change, her breathing hitch. She closed her eyes and her sheath squeezed around him, and he smiled.
It was only the beginning.
This time as he stroked, her breasts received attention. Laving and circling the tight peaks with his tongue, he waited until there was the tiniest of fluttering around his fingers, buried deep inside her. That’s when he drew the entire tip into his mouth and sucked.
Gem screamed out in pleasure, thrashing on the bed as he refused to stop, pulling her up again and again until she quivered under his hands.
He finally covered her with his body. Nestled between her thighs. Rocked his hips a few times and enjoyed the way her cream coated him. Then he slipped the head of his cock into her heat, and they connected.
Wonderful, welcoming. Shaun fought to keep every memory fresh and new, but mostly what his brain told him was holy fuck this feels incredible. His mate fit him like no wolf ever had before. Like no one would in the future.
He rose on extended arms, and the only point they physically connected was at the hips. He wanted more, wanted it all.
Gem drew up one leg and he slid a little deeper. “Sweet mercy.”
“Shaun? You okay?”
Did he have to answer that? “I’m so okay, you can’t imagine.”
She shifted position again, and did this squeezy thing that made his eyes cross with pleasure. “Good. Then, can you move? Maybe?”
Shaun laughed. “Move how? Like this?”
A slow withdrawal was followed by an equally deliberate press forward. Every inch of her was incredible, wonderful and addictive.
“I like that.” Gem arched her back as he brought their hips together, making the contact a little tighter, a little more intense.
He was going to lose his ever-loving mind at this rate.
A dozen measured strokes later he was praying for a miracle. If he didn’t do something now—stop, recite the times table—something, he was about to go up in smoke.
Gem wrapped her legs around him and pulled violently, increasing his pace, and he was lost. They were making a memory, but now it was a heated and sweaty one, full of off-the-wall and borderline out-of-control energy.
When she cried out he nearly collapsed with happiness, not only because it was his name she called, but because he could finally allow himself to cross the line. He made one final thrust, stopping buried in her body, then let go.
The waves went on forever. Just freaking forever. It was nearly painful how good he felt, and his mind went blank.
Oh, damn it, no. Gem. Her name was Gem. They were mates…
Shaun rolled them both, draping her limp body over his. Panic faded as the details of their lovemaking remained strong, in spite of the lack of brainpower he currently possessed.
The usual lassitude of postcoital pleasure pooled in his limbs, along with an intriguing something extra. Making love with his mate? Far bigger, brighter and more everything than the physical rush of previous encounters. He stroked her back and sighed happily.
Chapter Nine
Three days later and the sighing wasn’t so happy anymore.
Gem sipped her tea as they waited for the breakfast bill. “Will we be leaving today or not yet?”
He shook his head. “Reports are that the herd is moving, but there’s no use in heading anywhere this early.”
She glanced out the window, her slim fingers tapping for a moment against her cup. “Okay, not much we can do about that.”
Shaun was about ready to scream in frustration. Three days of cooling their heels. He’d taken her on a bus tour. They’d gone through all the museums—twice. They’d done everything he could think of that didn’t require her getting dirty, muddy or dusty. Life had alternated between incredible and stinky, based on whether he’d remembered to shut the hell up and let her have some control, or if he’d flipped back into his usual do as he pleased mode.
It was a lot more difficult than he had thought it would be, to make a radical change in his life and attitude. At times it seemed he had made progress. Others? He was scared there was no freaking way this relationship would work. It was like tossing his wolf into the kitchen and demanding the beast make a gourmet meal. The result wouldn’t look pretty even if he tried his damnedest.
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed for a moment. “Do you mind if I go write a few emails? Check my notes. Things like that.”
A reprieve from planning another non-action fun-filled day? Shaun snatched at the opportunity. “Want me to walk you upstairs?”