The Glass Slipper (Black Valley Shifters Book 1), page 4
I smacked her naked, lush ass cheek.
"I really don't think you should exert yourself. You still need some rest." Her slow grin stole the rest of my heart.
"Gonna keep that smile on your face every day for the rest of my damn life. All I want is to make you happy and keep you safe." I pulled her towards me before placing her face down on the bed.
Her eyes shot up just as I landed another soft swat on her butt cheek. She flinched, eyes still riveted to mine. I couldn't fucking take another moment without her. "To hell with the rest."
I pulled her off the bed and held her at arm's length, just admiring her beauty, every ripe part of her begging for my tongue.
My gaze trailed down her lush body, one calloused hand molding around her tits, tweaking a nipple, twisting until a shudder of pleasure ran through her. She was so sensitive and achy, breathless moans pushed past her lips, and I caught them with my mouth, fucking her with my tongue until she had more to be breathless over.
Pressing my other hand to her tits, I pushed them together, creating a deep line of cleavage and growling as my lips tried to take in both nipples at the same time. Sucking and swirling, kneading the rosebud flesh, and using my teeth to nip and tantalize the hard peaks.
“Could stare at your tits all fucking day, sweet cheeks.” I pulled away, thumbs flicking over the nubs. “A work of art.”
I cupped a hand over her pussy, wetness flooding my palm and making my dick leak with a need for her.
“I want to taste you,” she whispered.
Too turned on, my brain flooded with lust, I bit. “On your knees.”
She dropped to the floor and looked up, eyes large. She pulled down my jogging pants and took in the length of me. She took my pulsing cock in her soft hands and wrapped her perfect lips around my it. I weaved the fingers of my hands into her hair, pulling her tighter towards me. I was coming undone with both lust and love as I looked down at my mate, my woman, my life.
My breath came out in rough pants as she teased the head with her sweet tongue before plunging me deep inside her mouth.
As she took me to the back of her throat, I twitched with pleasure. She had me strung tight, trying to swallow me whole. I breathed through my nose, willing myself not to explode as she bobbed and licked me like a popsicle.
“Christ, baby. So fucking hot,” I grunted as I rocked my hips slowly, a hard grip in her hair. “You like being on your knees? My cock in your mouth? You like it when I fuck your mouth, sweet girl? Show me how much. Fuck that pretty pink pussy with your hand. Show me how wet you are.”
She did as I ordered while still on her knees, opening her legs, wiping a palm between her thighs, swirling her fingertips between her juicy lips, and thrusting her hand in my face for evidence.
"Fucking dripping." I reached for her hand, sucking the wetness from the tips of her fingers.
She moaned, hand slipping between her legs and massaging at her clit.
"Don't touch yourself," I bellowed, her gaze flicking up to mine. "I own all your orgasms tonight." I tightened one fist in her hair and pushed my dick deeper before sliding out of her entirely. "Up."
I planted her against the wall, my dick long and thick and aimed straight for its home. She watched, her eyes vast and beautiful, a sight before me, and I wanted nothing more than for her pretty pert lips to be wrapped around my cock again, bringing me pleasure.
"You want my cock back, beautiful?" I fisted my dick, pumping long and slow, grip firm as I teased her. "Answer me."
"Yes," she murmured, unable to look me in the eye, gaze squarely on my hungry cock. She was bewitched by my dick, and it was a beautiful thing.
"Not yet." I let go, pinning her against the wall and thrusting her thighs open. I held her firm as I got down on my knees before I took one long lick up her juicy slit.
She groaned and threaded one hand in my hair, hips arching as I licked and swirled, pressing into her entrance and eating her like a man starved. I sucked and pulled at her throbbing clit with my teeth until she was completely clean of all the wetness that had been dripping down her thighs and soaking my face. Then I thrust one finger inside.
"Don't come."
I added another finger and sucked on the bundle of nerves, coaxing pleasure from her in waves. She moaned and arched, losing control as I kneaded her tit in one hand.
"Hold it, beautiful. I want you to come with my dick thrusting in and out of this sweet pussy."
"Axel! I can't. Oh God, I can't anymore," she moaned incoherently as I pulled at her nipple. I growled and eased up on the pressure.
I pulled away, wrapping her legs around my waist and holding her up against the wall as I thrust my cock deep, filling her with my hungry cock, pounding until she was screaming, flicking my thumbs over her nipples as we lost ourselves and found each other in pleasure.
"Axel!" An orgasm ripped through her body, the nerves taking flight and firing off from head to toe as she sobbed and whimpered and begged me not to stop.
I continued to pound, grabbing her thighs and pulling her deeper onto my cock, determined to feel every wave she had to give. With her legs wrapped securely around my hips, I carried her to the bed, thrusting every step of the way.
When we reached the bed, I pulled out of her deftly, spinning her around.
"Ass up, gorgeous." I smacked at her cheek and grinned when she squealed, a fresh wave of arousal pooling between her legs. She was fresh off an orgasm, and I was turning her on more than I had the first go-round. I slid a palm up her curved spine, pushing her over the edge of the bed and spreading her wide open for my greedy gaze.
"Mmm, love this pussy." I ran a finger through her slick flesh before pounding back into her. Holding her hips in both hands, I worked in and out harder than before. I was diving so deep into her. I was ready to lose myself in her abyss. Let her swallow me whole, I'd been a fucking shell of a man without this woman to love.
"Mine," I growled as the orgasm took hold of me, and I exploded into her. "Mine. My mate. My love. Mine."
A primal growl vibrated from my chest and straight through the tip of my cock. I was so fucking pleased.
"You're fuckin' incredible. I'm a lucky man," I said into her ear as I pulled her towards me.
"You're not so bad yourself." She giggled, a sound that made my heart swell with so much fucking happiness. I never thought I would be this content in my life, but lying here with Daniella in my arms, I felt nothing but bliss.
"Marry me," I said, not really willing to ask, because the truth was we were now two pieces of a whole. Without her, I wouldn't be able to breathe.
"Yes." She nodded. "Once we get everything sorted here, we can plan a wedding."
"Why wait? Because you're technically already mine, and I want to make it official."
"That's kind of sweet in a crazy way," Daniella said, kissing me on the tip of my nose.
"Shifters aren't exactly sane when it comes to our mates. I need to claim you in every single way."
"Well, I'm already yours. So whenever you want. I love you."
I flipped us over and covered her body with my own. "I love you too, more than my own life."
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Daniella
"I can't wait to see you. Love you too," I said before hanging up.
"That Garett?" Ax asked as he put his arms around me, making me jump.
"Can you stop doing that?" I asked, slapping him. "You keep sneaking up on me, and it makes me jump out of my skin.
"Baby, how do you not know after all these years that the only person who would dare ever sneak up on you is me?" He kissed me on my neck. "I'd fuckin' kill ’em."
"Where's Abby?" I asked before our four-year-old daughter ran straight to us, pushing Ax aside and latching on to my legs.
"Daddy, move. I want Mommy," she demanded, pushing him aside.
"You and your brother are the only two beings on earth who can do that,” Axel said before kissing her on the forehead. "So what did Garett want?"
"He's coming to Black Valley this weekend. He says he misses the kids." Garett had decided to take over Michael's old pack. He wanted to fix what that monster had ruined, to recreate the pack that our father would have run. So that left Ax and me free to move back to Black Valley. The pack had been doing really well with Garett taking over. People were happy, and Garett seemed to be a good, fair, and strong Alpha, one they were all proud of and glad to have.
"It'll be good to see him."
"Yes, it will."
"Mommy," Tristan, our two-year-old, hollered, making Abby wince.
"Why does he always have to be yelling?" she asked, wrinkling her adorable little nose.
"Because he's still small and doesn't know how to use his indoor voice yet. Want to come up with me?"
She nodded and took my hand.
"Before you go," Ax said, pulling me to him, "I just want you to know I love you."
I smiled at my big, strong mate. "You know not a day has gone by in the last five years where you haven't said those words to me."
"When you have the best, you need to make sure you appreciate it," he said, kissing me.
"I love you too. I love our life. I love everything you've given me. I'm a lucky girl."
"No, sweetheart, I’m the lucky one."
The End
Also by Mila Crawford
Calliope
"You don't have to leave. We'll figure it out," my father said, his withered hands clasping mine. I couldn't help but notice how much those hands that were once strong now looked frail to me.
"Daddy, we need the money," I said, smiling at my father while I continued to pack. It was just the two of us, had been for our whole lives. I sometimes wish the mating bond weren’t for eternity. Losing his mate to childbirth hadn’t been easy for my dad.
"Moving to Badlands is bad enough, but that man is a monster. You've heard the stories, Calli. What kind of father sends his child to live with that thing?"
"I'm sure it's all exaggerated. The Bare Mountain pack would never have let him go if he were that feral."
"He may not have been then, but a lot can change; that man has been living in isolation for over ten years. That can turn a sane person into a monster, let alone someone who already had those tendencies."
"Daddy," I said, my hands on my hips and a scowl on my face, "you don't know if he was sane or not. He could have just needed to be alone. There are such things as lone wolves."
My father looked down. I could hear the beat of his heart; it was a soft and heavy sound building up and down in an erratic symphony. I hated knowing that I was adding to his stress.
"Daddy, come sit with me." I grabbed his hand, and we both sat on the bed. I smiled, remembering all the nights that I had made up every excuse in the book to prolong bedtime just for five more minutes. "You know that it's fine. I am strong, just like you taught me to be. We need the money, and the medical expenses are just piling up. We might lose the house. The rabbit fluffe is doing everything they can to help, but we aren't as well off as the pack, clan, and pride. We need to do what we can to survive." I bumped my shoulder to his gently. "I believe you taught me that." I smiled at him, hoping to reassure him that everything would be all right, even though I wasn't sure if I believed that myself.
"You're just like your mother," he whispered under his breath, but a smile started to form on his face. "Brave, smart, and beautiful."
"I'm all packed up. You want to walk me outside?"
I closed the suitcase, pulling it off the bed. Dad got up, and he grabbed my hand, walking us out of the room.
"You'll finish school," he said, his head hanging down, his shoulder slumped. Those words seemed to be more to him than directed at me. I hated to see my strong daddy so defeated, but that seemed to be what was happening.
"Hey," I said, turning to him. "I thought you said I was like my mother?"
"You are."
"Then you know I never quit." I kissed him on his cheek.
"You have your phone?"
"Yes, Daddy," I said, smiling and rolling my eyes at the same time. "Daddy, please don't worry."
"I love you, Calli," he said, his eyes misting with tears.
"I love you too. Okay, I'm going to get in the car before you have me blubbering right here."
I started the car and watched my father the whole time in the rearview mirror.
I hated that I had to be away from him, during a time that he was so sick and actually needed me around. I couldn't help thinking about my dad, wondering if he would be okay. The fluffe had said they would watch over them. One good thing about bunnies was we liked to be around each other. We needed the interaction. I knew the fluffe would take care of Dad in my absence, but I was still worried.
The drive to Badlands was long but overflowing with beauty. The forests surrounding the mountains were filled with luscious pines and other trees' vibrant colors changing from the autumn air's cool crispness. The mountains were capped with snowy peaks, as a river ran through the scenic valley, creating the most beautiful scenic picture. It was spectacularly breathtaking. I couldn't help thinking how much it reminded me of Bare Mountain. I liked the reminder of home. A sense of calm washed over me. My hands on the steering wheel loosened, making me realize how tense I’d been until that moment.
Before heading deep into the mountains, I stopped at a little diner called Pete's. A cute place with a large blue-and-pink neon sign. The building had blue siding and was shaped like a small house. As I walked in, my nose picked up the scent of various shifters—bears, wolves, lynx, lion. I couldn't help smiling, thinking that maybe this place wouldn't be that bad. Already it felt like home. Bare Mountain had the same kind of appeal, many groups living together in harmony. I slid into a fifties-style booth. There were two menus with Pete's written on a plain white page. It was uncomplicated and straightforward. My nose wrinkled when I opened up the menu and stared at the options: meat, meat, and more meat. Pete’s was not used to catering to bunnies.
A plump older waitress with the name tag that read Mabel approached me wearing an apron with Pete's scribbled on it.
"What can I get you, hon?"
Human. I wondered if she knew what shifters surrounded her. I’d learned that many humans mated to shifters and were the kindest people you would ever meet, but not all of them felt the warm and fuzzies.
"Do you have anything vegetarian?" I asked, cringing while waiting for her answer.
"You don't want any meat?"
"No, I'm a vegetarian."
"We've got a garden and Caesar salad."
"Great, I'll take both."
"So what kind of shifter are you?" she asked, smiling sweetly, her sunspot-covered hands grabbing the menu and tucking it in at her side.
"You know about us?" I was a little shocked at her question and then figured maybe Badlands was the type of place where humans lived in harmony with shifters. There were a few spots in the States, but I hadn't realized this was one of them.
"Of course, honey. I've lived in Badlands my entire life—my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents before me." She straightened up her shoulders, pushing them back, as if ready to salute. "It's a beautiful place."
"I'm a rabbit shifter."
"You just passin' through town? We've got no bunnies in these parts."
"No, I'm starting a job here."
"Oh, where?" she asked, pushing her way into the seat across from me, altogether abandoning her job and wanting to gossip.
"With Arkin Rivers." As soon as the Beast's name left my lips, every eye in the diner turned to look at us.
"Oh, dear," she whispered. Her hand automatically came up and covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. But dear, you know about the Beast?"
"All I know is that he is a recluse, left his pack ten years ago, and now lives in the mountain of Badlands."
"He's called the Beast honey for a reason. The man is so ferocious that the biggest, baddest shifters around these parts are terrified of him. A few years back, some bear shifters dared to walk on his land, and he tore them apart."
"I thought that was just a rumor."
"No, ma'am. Trevor Mister witnessed the whole thing. He was up there hunting, and he got in his car so fast that it'd have your head spin. He came straight down and told us the whole story. That thing up there is a monster."
My heart started beating wildly. Maybe I hadn't thought this through. What if the Beast wanted someone to torture? I had no idea what I was walking into, but I also knew that the wolves of Bare Mountain wouldn't let someone feral leave and cause havoc somewhere else. That would draw too much attention to shifters.
The conversation with Mabel and the shifters' reaction in the diner turned my stomach. Unable to eat, I looked at Mabel, smiled, and got out of the booth.
"Thank you. I'm going to just get something later," I uttered before I stumbled my way out of there and into my car.
Driving through the trees, I began to settle my nerves and my erratically beating heart until my car started sputtering. The next thing I knew, it stalled and smoke was coming out of it.
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Mila Crawford, The Glass Slipper (Black Valley Shifters Book 1)
