Evernight Publishing ®

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2015 Jenika Snow & Sam Crescent

ISBN: 978-1-926950-01-3

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

BREAK HER

Romance on the Go TM

Jenika Snow & Sam Crescent

Copyright © 2015

Prologue

Odessa was of age now, and Garrison wanted her. He stood in the doorway of her father’s home, his alpha, and the man he watched over as his enforcer. Garrison wasn’t an easy or gentle male. He couldn’t be with the life he led. If he failed their alpha could be taken away, and it would be Garrison’s fault.

“Garrison, I’m surprised to see you here.” The alpha of their lion pride, Yosef, nodded to Garrison. The scent of strength came from the older male, and it had Garrison’s lion coming to attention, prepared to lay his life down for him.

He wasn’t going to beat around the bush about this, because Garrison wasn’t that type of male. “I’ve come to ask for your daughter’s hand in a mating, alpha.” Garrison was a large man, stronger than anyone else in the pride. He had to be brutal at all costs. But standing in front of Yosef, asking him for the hand of Yosef’s eighteen-year-old daughter, Odessa, had nerves swamping Garrison. He wasn’t used to this feeling, wasn’t used to being on edge about a female. But this wasn’t just any female. This was Odessa, the only female he’d ever wanted for more than one night. He wanted her to be the mother of his young, to be his mate until they were old and took their last breath.

“You want my daughter as yours?” Yosef asked.

Garrison nodded. “I do, sir. I want her as mine, and only mine.”

Yosef was silent for a moment. “It’s her choice, Garrison. I want Odessa to be able to choose who she is mated with.”

Garrison gritted his teeth, knowing Yosef had every right to make that declaration, but he’d hoped their alpha would just give Odessa to him, as so many of their pride members had done. But he didn’t argue, and instead nodded at his alpha.

“Odessa, come here,” Yosef said, his focus staying on Garrison. “I’ll present her your offer, and although I believe you’d be a very good mate to her, Odessa needs to be able to choose who she wants to spend her life with.”

“I understand,” Garrison said. He was older than Odessa, but being lion shifters they were naturally more mature at younger ages, and ready for mating earlier than humans. But would Odessa want a mate that was an enforcer, and killed people with his bare hands?

She came out of the backroom, her hair damp from a clear shower, and her clothes loose around her curvy body. Instantly his body tightened, and his lion rose. The truth was he loved her, had loved her since he’d first realized he wanted her as his mate. The time had passed from then until now, and his emotions had grown right along with it. It was strange for a brutal male like him to care so deeply for a female that probably hadn’t thought twice about him, and who was probably frightened of how he lived his life. But he’d never been surer of anything than he was of wanting Odessa as his mate.

“Yes,” she said softly, her eyes wide as she looked between her father and him.

“Odessa,” her father said, “You know Garrison?”

She nodded and licked her lips. “I do, of course.”

The space between them became tense, and his nerves grew even more pronounced.

“Odessa,” Garrison said, took a step toward her, but stopped. He looked at their alpha, saw Yosef nod and move back a step, and that was Garrison’s cue to proceed with his offer.

“Yes,” she said softly again.

“I’ve come to offer a mating with you.”

She was silent for a moment, looked at her father, and then turned her focus back to him. “A mating? With you?” Her eyes got impossibly wider.

He clenched his jaw at the shock in her voice. “Yes, a mating with me.”

She still didn’t respond, and after several seconds passed he exhaled.

“I understand your reservations—”

“I’m only eighteen,” she said.

“Yes, I am aware of your age.”

“Isn’t that too young for you?”

Okay, his lion was rising up at the challenge. There was no doubt she was a strong female, and that was one of the reasons he wanted her as his mate. He didn’t want a female that was a shrinking violet. He needed a female just as strong-willed as he was. “You’re eighteen, and in shifter terms plenty old to mate.” Of course she knew this. Every pride member knew this well. “And in regards to our age, I don’t think that should factor into anything.” Yes, he was in his thirties, but he was experienced in life, and strong enough to protect her. “I think I am a worthy male to take your hand in a mating.”

She swallowed, rubbed her hands on her lounge pants, and kept looking between her father and him.

“This is your choice, Odessa. I will not force a mating,” her father said, and Garrison wished Yosef was more traditional and knew that having his daughter with Garrison was the best.

“I’ll protect you and make sure you never want for anything.” He straightened his shoulders. “I’ll be a good mate, Odessa, a strong male.” He felt like he was begging, but the truth was he wanted her like he wanted to breathe. He’d never admit that, of course, because the fear he put in others was what helped keep this pride safe.

“I…” she said, licked her lips, and took a step back. “I can’t do this. I can’t mate with you, Garrison.” And then she turned and left him standing there, feeling like a fucking fool. His lion was pacing beneath the surface, wanting out, wanting to go after her and claim her regardless.

“I’m sorry, Garrison, but it’s her choice,” Yosef said again.

Garrison just nodded, turned, and let himself out. Once outside he scanned the surroundings. He needed to run, needed to let his animal out and get the frustration free. He moved toward the tree line, took a deep breath, and using all his energy slammed his fist into the nearest tree trunk. The bark crunched beneath the force. He looked over his shoulder, saw Odessa staring at him through her bedroom window, and he felt like a bastard. She was too good for him, but he still wanted her, still loved her even though he shouldn’t.

He wouldn’t let her walk away that easily, not even if she ran forever. He’d chase her. Garrison would always go after her.

Chapter One

Two years later

Odessa stared across the council room at her father. As the leader of their pride he was the strongest, the most feared alpha, and because of that she was also revered as someone every lion within their pride needed to respect. After her mother had died in childbirth her father raised Odessa, but Yosef Pryce, her dad, and also her alpha, had been hard around the edges. Maybe she should have been born a male, because her father surely brought her up to not take shit from anyone, to hold her own, and to kick ass if the time came. But she liked the fact she stood up for herself, and wasn’t some shrinking violet that all males could walk over.

“He’s watching you again,” her best friend Sashi, who’d been by her side since Odessa was five years old, said in a low voice.

Odessa already knew Garrison was watching her, but she chose to ignore him. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she slowly let her gaze land on Garrison Black, her father’s enforcer, and a lion shifter who was feared not only by her entire pride, but also by anyone who heard his name.

She stared at him, saw he watched her like he always did, and she hated the way her body tightened, heated, and became aroused. There was something about the much older lion shifter, something dangerous, violent … deadly. She’d seen the thirty-two year old enforcer in action when a threat had come into their little shifter town years ago. Garrison had killed the man who’d tried to kill her father, assassinate their alpha, the man she loved more than life itself.

Garrison had been brutal, unforgiving, and she, both her lion and human parts, grew wet as she watched him slice the other male’s neck, clenched her hands as she saw him roar out in pleasure as blood covered the ground, and wanted to desperately go up to him and rub her body against his much bigger, harder one.

She shook her head, felt her entire body become alight with desire, and saw several residents in their town turn her way and give her strange looks. Of course they sensed her arousal and probably thought she was some kind of deviant for even feeling this way during a council meeting.

Garrison didn’t smile, didn’t even move, but he did watch her still. Odessa had no doubts he saw the effect he had on her, and the way his pupils dilated told her the lion was enjoying this, even if he was hard as stone.

After the meeting ended Odessa walked out with Sashi. “I’m going to go for a run, get all this energy out, and the fact Garrison is getting under my skin.” She hadn’t meant to say the last bit out loud, but she had, and now the look Sashi gave her had her groaning out loud. “Forget I said anything.”

“He’s been after you since you came of age and he could claim you,” Sashi said, but her focus was on the group of young lions who were congregated near the trees.

“Why don’t you go over there and make yourself known? Maybe one of them can chase you.” Odessa teased, but she really did need to run, to get out in the woods and just be with nature.

She parted ways with Sashi, watching as her friend did go over to the group of lions and start flirting. Sashi was an open book, very outgoing, and the opposite of Odessa. She turned way, moved toward the tree line, and once she couldn’t see anyone she ran. She didn’t shift, didn’t bother getting naked and allowing her lioness free. She just let her human side eat up the distance, let herself run over fallen logs, past the trees, and into the opening where a small brook was, and then she finally slowed and breathed in and out.

She was a good few miles from the center of town. Odessa sat on one of the fallen logs, stared up at the sky, and after a few seconds breathed out slowly as her heart resumed a normal pace. Her thoughts went to Garrison.

The truth was she did want Garrison, wanted him to be the alpha she’d witnessed so many times, wanted to be his mate even. She’d wanted him from the moment she knew what lust was and saw him beating a man who had abused one of their pride females. The guy had been drunk and slapped the female around, and when Garrison had found out he’d beaten the man to the point people had to carry his unconscious body out. Odessa had been hiding in the woods, witnessed the whole thing, and had felt her animal rise up, wanting him to take her right then and there. She’d only been seventeen, hadn’t even known what real lust was, but seeing Garrison had opened up so many wicked things in her.

Garrison didn’t hold anything back, didn’t care what anyone said. And when he’d come knocking on her father’s door when she’d turned eighteen, she knew, just knew that giving herself to a male like him would be her downfall, and so when he’d offered her a mating two years ago she’d turned him down.

She’d been brought up to be strong, to not let anyone tell her any different. She’d kicked the asses of her fair share of boys who had teased her. But Garrison was different, and he wanted her, still did all these years later. Garrison frightened her, made her aware of how very feminine she was. She’d denied him that mating, thinking he’d move on, even if she’d hated that idea. But being mated to a male like Garrison meant he’d surely control her, make her a submissive female, and that was not something she could accept. Odessa wanted an alpha showing her how a real male claimed a female, but Garrison was a breed all of his own. Despite her need to hold her dominance, something her father taught her while growing up, a darker part of her wanted to let go to a point. She’d been in control her whole life, and giving herself to Garrison fully did have its temptations.

He wasn’t the cookie cutter type of male who was part of the pride. He was quiet, calculating, deadly, and was exactly how she’d want her mate to be.

She just knew, though, giving herself to Garrison would mean he’d be the one in control. She didn’t know if that was something she could do to herself.

Closing her eyes, she pictured him, unable to stop herself. His dark hair was the color of coal, cut short to his head, and slightly disheveled. His eyes were dark green, the same color of the moss growing around the lake in their town. And his body, God, his body had her hot and needy. She was ashamed to admit all of that, but only to herself, that she’d touched herself while thinking of him naked. Even though she’d turned him down, he was determined to have her.

Over the years she’d felt her resolve to stay away and keep him back crumble because she did want him desperately. He’d never backed off from her, never found another mate. It was becoming harder to stay away, because the truth was she was afraid of wanting to be with him as much as she did.

“Just give yourself to him. What’s the worst that could happen?” she said to herself, soft, low, and already answering her own question in her head.

Because he isn’t a male who will let you be free, let you be yourself. He’s a male who will control you, not only in the bedroom, but will control every aspect of your life, and that’s not what you want.

And then she heard the sound of a twig snap. Odessa stood and turned, searching the tree line, but didn’t pick anything up, not even with her lion senses. And then, coming out from behind one of the trees, all stealthy, just like the enforcer he was, came Garrison. He was dressed in all black, his dark t-shirt and dark cargo pants making him seem like he should be hiding in the darkness, waiting to attack. And that was his job, to protect everyone in the pride, especially her father, at any cost.

“Garrison,” she said without surprise in her voice, but all breathy, like she’d been anticipating this meeting.

“Odessa,” he said in that deep, slightly serrated voice of his. He took a step forward.

“Why are you following me?” She swallowed as he moved closer. He didn’t speak right away, didn’t even blink. His body was corded with muscles, and he was so tall, so much taller than any of the other males in the pride.

“You ran from me, Odessa, two years ago, and I let you, because I wanted you to have time to realize you want me, too.” He moved closer still. “I’ve tried to stay away, gone on missions to ensure that, to give you time to come to understand that you are mine, no matter what.”

“You have to stop, Garrison. I told you I didn’t want this. It’s been two years, yet you refuse to mate with anyone else.” Yes, it had been years since she’d said she didn’t want a mating, but a part of her felt differently now. Of course she didn’t tell him that, couldn’t find the words. He still watched her, still followed her. She took a step back, feeling her heart pound fast and hard in her chest.

“And you think a male like me will stop when I want a female, when I want something as much as I want you?” he said with a growl in his voice. “I’ve never wanted a female as a mate, Odessa, not until you. You denying me hasn’t changed that.”

“Garrison, you’ve just watched me, and haven’t said anything since then.” She swallowed. “This can’t be healthy.” The tree stopped her retreat. He still moved forward, and when only a foot separated them and she scented his masculinity, she shivered.

“I took missions that were far away from the pride, Odessa. It was the only way I could have control, the only way I could stop myself from going after you and making you see that we are made for each other.”

She gripped the bark of the tree until pain lanced up her hands and through her arms.

“You run from me, yet I can scent your arousal, even now.” He inhaled deeply, placed a hand on the tree by her head, and she held her breath. “You can keep running from me, but for how long, Odessa?” He lowered his gaze to her lips. “Even those two years ago I scented your arousal, knew you wanted me. I let you deny me, let you run.”

She breathed in and out fast. “You should find a female who actually wants you, who wants the kind of control you want to lay down.” Of course a part of her was lying, because they both knew she was wet between her thighs, and aroused for this male. Back then she might have relied on her self-control and been stubborn about it, but over the last two years she’d grown needier for Garrison.

He smirked, the first form of amusement she’d ever seen on him, but then again it wasn’t humorous at all, but dark, slightly sadistic, and she felt the tendrils of arousal grow even more.

“I want you, Odessa, and I’ve made no secret of that.” He lowered his gaze to her lips. “I haven’t been with a female since coming to your father’s house and asking you to mate with me. I haven’t even wanted one for the last two years, baby.”

A small sound left her at that admission.

“And although you say you don’t want this, I know you do, and I’ll have you.” He smoothed a finger over her bottom lip, his other hand still by her head. “You know about me, know I won’t stop until I have what I want, and what I want is you, Odessa.” He leaned in another inch until she smelled his breath. It was warm, slightly spicy, like he’d eaten something with cinnamon in it. “You have no idea how much I want you, how hard it’s been to stay away.”

She shivered at his words.

“It’s been fucking hard, so hard that I’ve wanted nothing more than to just break down your door and throw you over my shoulder, making you mine.”

“Garrison,” she breathed out, her voice shaking.

“Right now your pussy is wet, your nipples hard, and your animal craving my touch.” He breathed out slowly, then inhaled deeply, as if trying to take in her scent. “I’m a bad male, but the darkness inside of me keeps this pride safe, keeps your father and you safe.” He looked at her lips. “And I’ll have you, in every way imaginable, Odessa, and you’ll give yourself to me, won’t you?” He looked at her face again, stared right in her eyes. “You’re tired of fighting this attraction, this mating, aren’t you, baby?”

She wanted to just give in to him, but the stubborn part of her made her stand still.

“How much longer are you going to run from me, run from this mating?” His gaze was unwavering. “How much longer do you think I’ll let you run, mate?”

Chapter Two

Garrison hoped she’d run even though a part of him wished that she’d stay. Whenever it came to Odessa he was always conflicted. There would never be another woman for him. Odessa was going to be mated to him, and because of that, he couldn’t bring himself to let her go. Even though he loved it when she turned her back on him, as he got to see her lovely ass, and Odessa never failed him in that department, just once he’d love to see what would happen if she just stayed. For the last two years when she’d tried to make herself less attractive to him, ignored him, and made it seem like she wasn’t interested in mating, she’d only served to enthrall him more. No other female held his interest. He lived, breathed, and dreamed about Odessa, and had done for the last two years. He needed her, wanted her, and was going to have her. The scent coming from her was making him hard as fucking rock. Her scent was one of the reasons why he didn’t stop chasing her. She wanted him even though she denied him. In fact, whenever he saw Odessa, scented her, he was hard for her. His dick didn’t know when to stop, and he never put up a fight.

“I’m not your mate,” she said, biting out the words between gritted teeth. They didn’t have fated mates, but when a lion found that one female who was theirs, who would be theirs, then nothing stopped them from having her.

He smiled. “Fight me, little lion.” He moved his hand from the trunk of the tree to place it on her shoulder. Compared to a lot of pride females, Odessa was curvy even after all the training she’d undergone. Garrison loved her fuller curves, loved the bumps and dips that made her all woman. When he did finally take her, she’d fight just enough so he’d have to use force, but within moments, she’d be screaming out her pleasure. This wouldn’t be when he claimed her virginity. No, he’d take his time and love her body the way she deserved. He could wait. Until that moment, he was going to give her a little taste of what it meant to be owned by him.

“You’re fucking sick, Garrison, obsessed, and to the point of being a stalker.”

He didn’t respond, because it was the truth. He was obsessed with her, wanted to posses her, own her … claim every part of her. He brought his hand down over her full tit. Her nipple poked against his palm letting him know she was just as affected by him as he was her.

Pressing his cock against her stomach, he made her aware, without shame, how hard he was. Garrison wanted to show to her how beautiful she was, what her body alone did to him. “You think I’m sick? I’m not the one who has been turned on by the sight of blood. The destruction I can cause with my bare hands.” To prove his point he rested his palm around her neck, pressing slightly cutting off a little of her air. She didn’t look frightened. The scent of her arousal intensified. “I could hurt you, and no one would ever know it was me, wouldn’t even question it. I’m a bad male, a dangerous, violent lion who has to be this way in order to protect what I hold dear. But I don’t want to hurt you, Odessa. I never want to hurt you.” He inhaled deeply, loved she was growing even more aroused. The truth was, he’d never hurt her. He loved her with all of his heart and soul.

He released her neck. Odessa didn’t take a deep breath. She simply inhaled.

“What do you want?”

Oh, she knew what he wanted. She always knew what he wanted. He could tell by the way she watched him.

Garrison smiled, placing his hand between her thighs, and touching her heat he felt even through the fabric of her jeans. “I want to fuck you, to claim you. I want to make you mine, Odessa. I’m not going to fuck you though, not even when I know this virgin cunt is begging for some hot cock, for my big cock.”

She went to hit him, and he caught her wrist, trapping it against the trunk of the tree. The bark had to be biting into her wrist. “You’re fucking insane.”

Laughing without any amusement, only dark intent, he shoved his hand right down inside her jeans, cupping her naked pussy. If at any time he believed she didn’t want him, he’d have stopped. Garrison was many things, but a rapist wasn’t one of them.

“Someone didn’t wear panties.” He slid his finger against her pussy, watching her eyes go wide as he stroked his finger over her clit. She hissed as he pinched her nub, and he watched her shake in need. Odessa was fighting herself as much as she was fighting him. “You can fight me all you want. You and I both know you want me. If your mother hadn’t died, you wouldn’t be the alpha’s only child. You’d have grown up expecting to be mated, trained to submit to me. I have to say, I’m pleased you’re not a submissive, Odessa, even though I bet part of you wants to be.”

“Fuck off.”

He slammed his lips against hers, biting down on her bottom lip. Garrison nipped just a little too hard causing blood to spill and bathe his tongue. He swallowed the taste of her, knowing her blood wouldn’t be in anyway comparable to the sweetness of her pussy.

“I like you fighting me, Odessa. In fact, I fucking love it. I don’t want a submissive in my bed. I want a fighter. A woman who’ll stand up to me yet wants my touch.”

“I’m never going to be yours.” She tried to fight him, but he had both of her hands locked above her head, his hand holding both of her wrists together. There was no chance of her getting free. Another reason he loved Odessa, she still tried to fight. When she went to slam her head against his, he released her pussy, slid his hand up her throat, and captured her chin. Sliding his fingers slick with her cream into her mouth, he watched her fight him for a split second more before giving in, sucking the cream from his fingers as her pupils dilated.

He took the fingers out of her mouth and sucked them clean, licking away her pussy juices and her saliva. “That’s how you taste, Odessa. Warm, wet, and oh so fucking sweet. Don’t try and fight me and I’ll give you an orgasm of a lifetime.”

“Let me go.” Her fight was half-assed now. She didn’t want him to let her go.

He captured her lips with his, pressing her head against the trunk of the tree. With his hand free once again, he slid his palm down her jeans, and started to stroke her swollen clit. She was wet, and he couldn’t wait to get her naked so he could relish each curve of her body along with the taste of her cunt.

She moaned, and he saw her eyes roll back in her head. Breaking the kiss, he didn’t leave enough distance for her to do any damage to him. “Garrison?” She moaned his name, calling out for him.

Her body just suddenly stopped fighting him. She began pressing toward him, begging him with her body and with little moans that drove him crazy. He refused to let her go.

“That’s it, baby, give yourself to me.” He started to whisper against her ear as he slid his fingers over her pretty pussy again. She began to thrust onto his fingers, panting his name. “You can fight me, Odessa. Fight me, curse me, but you will love me. You will be my mate and give yourself to me fully.” He stared into her eyes, pinching and stroking her clit. For once he wanted her to give in. She’d been good and fought him to start with, so now she could give in. She shook in his arms, and if it wasn’t for him holding her up, she’d have fallen.

Again, she spoke his name, begging and pleading with him, slowly giving in to his touch.

“You don’t need to fight these feelings. I know you’re strong. Give in. I know you want me as much as I want you. Our lions are ready for each other.” He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. They both moaned, holding onto each other, begging and gasping for each other.

Their lions wanted the mating more than either of them. His lion saw his mate and respected her strength along with her beauty. She was the most gorgeous woman in the pride, hell, in the whole fucking world, and she was his.

“Ride my fingers, baby.”

She did so, finding her peak, and he threw her over the edge into bliss. She came, and his fingers went from wet to soaked with her cream. He released her hands, quickly wrapping his arm around her waist, holding her up. She was shaking, completely sated, and growing weak from her own need.

Pulling his hands from her pussy, he took each digit into his mouth, licking her clean.

“You taste so damned good,” he said.

“I can’t mate with you,” she said, sighing, sounding defeated. Odessa was giving in. She didn’t want to mate with him, yet she knew it would be only a matter of time. After two years he’d finally get the woman he’d been craving.

He took them both down to the forest floor. Garrison lay at her back, holding her close. The lion inside him wanted to tear her clothes off and ravish here. Instead, he held back, knowing he couldn’t do that just yet, not until she was fully giving herself to him.

Garrison wanted Odessa to fight but only because she wanted him more than she could even begin to understand her own body.

“You’re breaking me down. When will you quit?” she asked, once several minutes had passed.

Garrison rested his face against her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. His cock was rock hard and throbbing but he wasn’t going to fuck her, not yet. She needed to beg him before he finally took what he wanted from her. Odessa needed to be ready.

“I’m not quitting.”

She glanced toward him. “It has been two years.”

“And I’m not going anywhere. You and I both know you want me. You’re just fighting.”

“Like you said, I’m my father’s only child. You’re the enforcer and know how things are—”

He caught her face in his hand and forced her to look at him. “You’re not going to get the pride when your father steps down. He’ll never pass it on to a female, even if it’s his own daughter.”

She jerked in his arms. Odessa had obviously never once thought that her father wouldn’t give her the pride. Garrison wondered what she was thinking. She looked like he’d struck her. The only time he’d spank her was when his palm met her delicious ass and pleasure followed. He looked forward to giving her a little pain to make the pleasure even more intense.

“Why did you say that?” She sat up, tucking some hair behind her ear.

“It’s the truth. You and I both know it.”

“What will happen to the pride?”

“He’ll give it to your mate, if he’s worthy, or he’ll find another male to lead.”

“But you want to mate me, and my father knows it.”

Garrison reached out, taking her hands within his. They were so small, so delicate. They hadn’t killed a man for sins against the pride. He’d killed men and women to ensure the safety of the pride. There were times he didn’t want to touch Odessa because of the horrible, dark things he’d done with his hands to protect her and her father. He’d take the whole truth of the cruelty he’d inflicted on others to his grave.

“He knows you’re stubborn.”

“Does he want you to be my mate?” she asked.

He’d spoken long and hard with her father. They’d talked about what her future would mean in the pride as his mate. “He wants what’s best for you, but he wants you to be able to decide what you want.”

She bit her lip, and he saw the tears well up in her eyes. He hated to see her cry. Garrison was a hardened man, a lion enforcer. He wasn’t affected by anything, and yet the sight of Odessa’s tears made him want to kill the person responsible.

“He’s hoping I pick you.”

“I’m not speaking for my alpha, Odessa.” He wanted Odessa to pick him because she possessed feelings for him, something deeper than simply liking him.

“But he wants me to be taken care of, and if I can’t run the pride, then he wants someone who is capable. It’s you, not me.” She pulled away, going to her feet. He watched her brush off some leaves and a few twigs.

“Calm down, baby.”

“I can’t do this. Not right now. I’m attracted to you, but I don’t want to be. You don’t love me, and I can’t live without love. I don’t even know if you’re capable of love, Garrison.” She stared at him. “My mother and father loved each other.  But now he is alone, and I know he finds comfort in the willing females of our pride. He doesn’t take another female as his mate, though. My father loved my mother, and that’s what I want.” She inhaled sharply, glaring at him. “I don’t want to just be your mate, but your one and only female, Garrison.”

The walls he’d broken down with her orgasm, were now back up in place. He’d have to fight once again to get her to melt against him. It would be so easy to tell her he loved her, yet in that moment, he held the words back. She wasn’t ready to hear them as she wouldn’t believe him.

For the time being Garrison would have to love her from afar and wait to have her screaming out his name when she came with his cock deep within her pussy.

****

Garrison waited outside of Odessa’s house so that he could tell her something. He was leaving the pride for a few days, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave until he talked to her. Pacing up and down, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that if anyone in the pride was to see him, they’d take the piss out of him.

Glancing back up at the house, he saw her light was on, and he moved up to the door about to knock then stopped himself, walking back down the steps. Two years she’d rejected him, and he’d not once shown her how it hurt. He could take days and weeks of being tortured, yet it was getting harder for him to handle Odessa constantly pushing him away.

“What are you doing on my front porch?” Yosef asked.

“I wanted to see Odessa before I left.”

Yosef looked up toward Odessa’s window. “You’re still determined to have her as your mate.”

“Yes.”

“Is this about the pack, Garrison? You want the pack?”

“No. I don’t want the pack. I want her as my woman before I want anything else. I love her. The pack, it doesn’t mean shit to me without her. I love the pack, but if Odessa asked me to leave with her, I would.”

Yosef raised his brow. “Okay, at least I know where I stand, but I know my daughter. She’ll never make you leave the pack. This is her family, her life, and her love.”

“I want to be the one she loves.” Garrison hated how petty he sounded. Only pussies allowed themselves to be in this position.

“I like you, Garrison. I hoped Odessa would pick you as her mate. I promised her at a young age that I wouldn’t force her into anything she didn’t want, and I stick by my decision.” Yosef once again glanced back at the house. “Odessa is a lot like her mother. She’s stubborn and believes submitting to a man will make her weak. Prove to Odessa it won’t.”

“You fought with Odessa’s mom?”

“That woman was my heart and soul. Why do you think I’ve never re-mated? She was my everything.” Yosef slapped him on the shoulder. “Give her time and she’ll come around.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Then you show her exactly what kind of man you are, the good and the bad?”

Yosef walked back into the house, leaving him to stare up at Odessa’s window. He could wait. He’d waited two years. He could wait a little longer.

Chapter Three

Garrison had been gone for a week now, pissed the entire time, aching inside because Odessa was still so confused about them being together. Garrison couldn’t blame her, though. This had to be difficult for her to understand. He’d gone on a mission to survey their land, making sure precautions to protect the pride were intact, but his mind had been on her the entire time. He didn’t know how to prove to her that she was it for him, the only female he’d ever want.

He’d shifted into his lion, and was running through the woods, and trying to get his aggression and arousal out of him. He ran harder, felt his mane move around his face as the wind whipped by him. His paws dug into the soft earth with every step he took, his nails curling into the ground for stability. He weaved in and out of the trees, heard every little thing that surrounded him: The chirp of a bird, the smells all around him, even the sound of a squirrel in the near distance running up a tree. He tried to focus on those things, tried to not let his need for his woman override who and what he was. She made him a softer male, made him want things that he’d never thought he’d be able to have. He actually thought of children with her, of being able to hold her and let his defenses down. She was the only shifter and human alike that he knew he could truly be himself with. The thing was he just needed to show her that even more.

God, he wanted her, still smelled her in the air from when she’d clearly run through the woods this morning. He’d find her tonight and show her that he could be a good man, but only for her.

****

It had been a week since Garrison had gotten Odessa off in the forest, and all she could think about was him. He was due back this evening, but she was going out with Sashi tonight, getting away from him, their pride, and, she hoped, the arousal that beat like a heavy drum inside of her.

She grabbed her purse and headed out. Her father had gone with Garrison and a few of the other enforcers in their pride. Maybe Garrison would want to see her when he got back, but the truth was she felt off balanced by what had happened back in the woods with him.

Being with Garrison meant she had to submit a part of herself, give herself over to a man, a lion shifter who was so powerful, so in control with every aspect of his life he frightened a part of her. It wasn’t being afraid of him hurting her, because she knew he’d never do that. It was a fear this male would change her world, rock her very existence. She didn’t know if she would ever be the same.

But a part of you wants him, wants to let him have dark control over you.

Yes, a part of her did want that, a big part of her, and that frightened Odessa, too.

She got in her car and made the half-hour drive to meet Sashi. Her friend was already in town because she’d worked this afternoon. They were both ready to get good and drunk, and had one of their lion shifting friends from town on standby to take them home. But it was all in good fun, and Odessa desperately needed to let loose.

Thirty minutes later and Odessa was pulling into the parking lot of the only, but pretty decent sized, bar in town. Hemingsworth was a mountain town that had a good population of shifters and humans, but the shifters, lions especially, outnumbered the humans three to one.

She went into the bar, spotted Sashi right away getting a drink, and smiled at the clear flirtation going on.

Sashi turned around, maybe scenting Odessa even though the stench of beer and male arousal filled the room. Odessa wasn’t interested in the dicks surrounding them, though. She was interested in having some drinks and, she hoped, letting her own problems vanish for the time being. She could deal with them later.

Once they were back at the table and had finished their first drink, Odessa was ready for her next. The waitress brought them over a pitcher of beer, and although she didn’t care for beer, right now she would drink just about anything. The alcohol was starting to move through her veins, and instead of her problems fading, like she’d hoped, it seemed her thoughts were even more centered on Garrison.

“You’re thinking about him,” Sashi said, her focus on Odessa, and a smile on her face.

“I’m not,” she lied.

Sashi rolled her eyes, snorted once, and brought her cup to her mouth to take a long drink of her beer. “If you want to lie to yourself about how you feel for him, that’s cool. But I’m a lion, girl, and can scent you’re not being truthful,” Sashi said and lifted a brow, challenge in her expression. “Listen,” Sashi leaned in closer. “I know Garrison is frightening. He makes all the males in the pride…” She paused a moment. “Hell, he makes any male that sees him afraid. I swear they tuck tail and haul ass in the other direction, and rightly so.”

Odessa snorted, the buzz from her drinking starting to come on stronger as she worked on her second beer. “I do want him, and I kind of hate myself over it.” And she’d admitted it, even though Sashi already knew.

“I know, but you shouldn’t.” Sashi drank a few sips from her beer. “He’s a powerful male, not just physically, but within the pride as well. He’d take care of you like no other. I don’t think you really see how Garrison watches you, looks at you, Odessa.” Sashi leaned back. Oh, Odessa knew. She was just scared of the intensity with which she cared for him, of the strength that this man held over her. “He already loves you, and after two years of chasing you he still wants your stubborn ass.”

Odessa smiled at Sashi’s brashness.

Sashi was right. Odessa had sensed his affection for her, his love. It was one of the good things about her species … the ability to tell what another person was feeling. But Garrison was such a hard ass, such a determined male when it came to getting what he wanted that she knew he kind of forgot to stop and realize she was a woman and might enjoy the softer side of him. How could it hurt to see how things worked out between them? She didn’t have to commit right away, could go with the flow and see how it was to submit to him. Having sex with Garrison didn’t mean she had to let her emotions override everything … right?

She wanted him, without a doubt, but mating him still scared her.

“He loves you, Odessa, he really does. It’s obvious. You need to give both of you a chance to see if it’ll be what you want, Odessa.”

She stared at her friend, and then finally nodded. She knew she had to give him a chance, but also give herself a chance to see if her fear was even warranted. “You’re right about it all, like always.”

Sashi chuckled. “You’ll learn one day.”

Odessa smiled and finished off her beer. After a good hour of them drinking and talking about things other than Garrison, they decided to dance. She was feeling overheated, her lion wanting out and running free. Her arousal for Garrison was a burning hum inside of her.

They swayed to the music, their laughter filling the space around them, and the scent of their animals rising stronger. Sashi turned around and started dancing with a man, both of them now gyrating together. Both breathed hard, and the human male was drunk, his arousal clear. This was Odessa’s cue to sit down, but before she could move a male came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He spun her around, pulled her close to his body, and she felt his erection.

“Not now, buddy,” she said on a laugh, and tried to push him away. He was drunk as well. Hell, everyone in this place was.

“Come on, baby. I like what I see. I like that you’re so damn thick and have hips that go on for miles. It makes my dick hard.”

Okay, now she was getting pissed. She shoved him back harder, but he tightened his hold on her arms. “Get the fuck off or you’ll regret it.”

He grinned.

“Hey, asshole, she said back off,” Sashi said, her friend coming to her rescue in the face of this asshole coming on to her.

“Back off, girl,” the human said.

“Man, you better back the hell off before we go all shifter on your ass.”

The guy chuckled, but it wasn’t a wary one, not one that showed he was smart enough to know when he was outmatched.

A low growl left Sashi, but Odessa shook her head at her friend, telling her nonverbally she’d handle this.

Odessa felt her animal rise up, and flashed her lion across her face, letting him see she would tear him apart if he didn’t back the fuck up. But it wasn’t the fear of her animal taking him that seemed to make him realize what was happening, but the fact people on the dance floor were now watching them. He moved backward, held his hands in the air, and shook his head. He started muttering, and he moved away from the dance floor and toward the exit.

Breathing out, she turned and faced the front door and watched him leave, knowing that if it came to it she would have taken him out without any problem. She may be a female, but she was a shifter, dammit, and could take care of herself in the face of a drunken prick.

****

Garrison had left the inside of the bar after watching the exchange between Odessa, Sashi, and this motherfucker he was following. He was quiet as he followed the bastard around to the back of the building, thankful they would have privacy for what was about to go down. The human male was pretty trashed, weaving as he walked, muttering to himself, and hiccupping, but Garrison didn’t find any empathy toward the asshole. He’d touched Odessa, thinking the fact she danced alone was an invitation. Odessa was his mate, and because of that he’d teach the fucker a lesson.

Once they were behind the building Garrison curled his nails into his palms and breathed out, feeling his lion rise up, wanting to shift. But Garrison held strong to his human side. “You made a mistake in there.” Garrison said in a low voice, seething with anger and ready to shift and kill this asshole.

The human slowly turned around, blinked a few times, then curled his lip. He was clearly drunk, but Garrison didn’t care. And here, alone, this asshole wasn’t showing the fear he should, especially in the face of a shifter.

“What, man?” The human asked, squinted his eyes, then straightened.

“You put your hands on my mate, and thought you could touch her like some kind of dog in heat.”

“Dog in heat? What the fuck are you talking about? She was alone, shaking her ass in front of everyone, and I took her up on her silent offer. You would have done the same,” he slurred out, and turned his head to spit.

“You’d do best to watch your mouth, or I’ll kill you instead of beat you into unconsciousness.” Garrison had seen the exchange, knew this fucker had been groping his woman like he had a claim to her. Fuck. No.

He took a step closer, and the human shook his head, the scent of beer and stale sweat coming through clearly.

“Just back off, douche.”

Oh, this fucker was dead. He clearly didn’t know who Garrison was, or what he was, or he didn’t give a shit. But he would. Garrison charged forward and slammed his body into the asshole. Garrison used force and moved with it so it was on the human now. The other male stumbled back, but came forward swinging. His actions were slow and sloppy, a result of him drinking and his anger.

The lights behind the building were muted yellow, showing the brick wall across from them, the dirty dumpsters all in one row, and the fact they were in a dirty fucking area. But that was good because this fight was about to get fucking filthy.

Garrison brought his fist up, clipping the human under the chin. He stumbled back, blood immediately spilling from his mouth. Garrison wanted to rip his throat out, bathe in his blood, but this was a human, weak in comparison. He was pumped with adrenaline and endorphins, and his lion wanted out. It snapped and growled, clawing to be released. The fight was half the fun, half the rush. Garrison sensed a few people close by, but he didn’t pay them any attention. The shadows claimed most of the back of the building, but his superior sight made seeing in the dark easy.

Something dark and deadly rose up in Garrison. His lion pushed forward even more, demanding the blood of this male covering him. He wrapped his hand around the human’s neck and growled, hoping to have the little asshole piss himself. “You fucked with my mate, my female. You dared to lay a hand on her and think you could take something from her that isn’t yours. And because of that you’ll pay for it with your blood.” He slammed his fist harder and faster into the male’s face.

“You fucker.”

He slammed his knuckles into the human’s face, heard bone break, and felt the blood spray on his neck. “If not for my control right now you’d be dead.” He tossed him across the cement. The human groaned, tried to rise, but he was bloody, had broken bones, and his strength was gone. Garrison felt no sympathy for the man who thought touching his female without her consent was okay. Garrison walked over to him, and said in a low voice only he could hear, “If you even think about my female again, I’ll hunt you down and kill you without even thinking. I have your scent in my brain, engrained in my senses, and I can find you anywhere.” He kicked the fucker hard enough his body skidded across the pavement.

Garrison turned and only thought about Odessa. He was done waiting, done giving her the time she needed to realize she did love him, did want him as her mate. He headed back to where he’d left his woman, about to claim her tonight, because she would be his, and she’d wear his mark to prove it.

Chapter Four

Odessa hit his back, trying to get him to leave her alone. Garrison had stormed back into the club, picked her up in the fireman’s lift, and carried her out. Her friend, Sashi, didn’t even try to help her. Her traitorous friend cheered for Garrison. She was so pissed off yet excited. He’d stormed inside looking every part the lion enforcer, and come to take her. She loved it, and she loved him. Odessa finally realized she loved him, and it scared her. Garrison was such a hard man. Could he ever learn to show love?

They entered his home, and he slapped her ass twice as she beat his back. “Let me the fuck down.” She didn’t give up on her hits even though her fists were in pain from his rock hard body. Even his ass was well defined and hard as rock. Not one part of him was bad, and it only served to piss her off because she couldn’t find fault with him.

Her ass was on fire from his blows¸ and he didn’t stop, walking straight up to his room.

“Put me down.”

“You let another man touch you.”

“I didn’t. I told him to back off, and when he got the message he did back off. What you’re doing now is pissing me off.”

“You’re going to stand there and argue and fight with me when your pussy is fucking drenched?” He slapped her ass once again.

Screaming in rage, she decided to bite his ass cheek instead. He grunted yet didn’t stop his walk toward his room. The moment she entered his room all bets were going to be off in her being able to reject him. Every time he cornered her they’d not been anywhere private enough for him to do anything more than touch. He was a lion, and when they claimed a female for the first time as a mate¸ they needed privacy. It was strange. Once men mated all bets were off. They’d mate wherever they wanted to, outside, inside, up against a tree.

Damn, now she had images of Garrison taking her up against a tree, and what was worse, she really wanted him to as well.

Gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes but took another bite out of his ass.

Suddenly, she was dropped onto a soft bed, but there was no chance to escape. Garrison covered her body, grabbing her hands, and trapping them above the bed. “Stop fighting me, little lion. You’re my woman, my mate, and you’re going to start fucking acting like it. I almost killed a fucking human today. I’d have disposed of the body, but it would have caused a shitload of problems.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.” She snapped back at him, wondering what he’d do if she bit his nose and didn’t let go.

“When are you going to realize that I fucking love you?”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

He growled, his teeth going to her neck, right over her pulse. Garrison nipped hard enough to have her tensing. She wasn’t afraid as a flood of arousal swamped her pussy, melting her right to the core.

He loves me?

Garrison groaned. “Are you really going to deny me when your pussy is making it plain for the pair of us you want to be fucked?”

“You’re crude.”

“And you’re a real bitch, but I’m still coming back for more.” He slid her thighs open with ease, pressing his pelvis to hers. His cock was rock hard, and she was shocked with how he kept it in his pants. From the size and feel of it, she imagined him tearing the fabric of his jeans to get to her.

Stop fighting, Odessa. Give in to what you want.

He loved her, and for once she really wanted to be his, no more fighting.

“Wanting me doesn’t make you weak, Odessa. It makes you strong. Weak women deny what they want and live with regrets. Strong women take what they want, and bask in having everything.” He licked the bite he’d just created. “I’ll always take care of you, love you. I’m not going to change, but I promise you, you’ll always be the woman I care about.”

Odessa stared up at him as if she was seeing him for the first time. “I’m afraid.”

“I’ll be here to catch you. I’ve always been here for you, and even if we don’t mate, I’ll stay here to catch you when you fall.”

His words hit her hard. She stopped fighting and simply relaxed.

“Make love to me, Garrison. I’ve been a fool with you.” For two years she’d been fighting the wrong thing. She’d been fighting Garrison because she believed it would make her weak to be with a mate. The feelings he inspired within her terrified her, and she didn’t want any man to have that kind of control of her. She wanted him, and he’d waited two years, and from the sound of it, he’d wait a lifetime.

“I’m going to make love to you, and make your first time memorable. There won’t be any other man, Odessa, and I want to tell you something.”

“What?” she asked, staring into his beautiful dark eyes. They were filled with a wealth of knowledge and possession. Not for the first time she wanted to reach out and touch him, fuck him, be with him. She finally allowed herself to release every yearning she’d kept locked up inside of herself. He loved her, and she loved him. Odessa no longer wanted to deny herself. The need to roll around the bed with him, screwing him back, and basking in his scent was strong. Garrison was her mate, and she’d waited two years for him to be hers. She wasn’t going to wait another moment.

“There hasn’t been any other woman for me. I’ve wanted you for you, not for your position or who your father is. I love you.” He reached out, stroking her cheek.

His admission took her completely by surprise. Out of everything he could have said to her, words of fidelity were the last thing she anticipated.

“You’ve only wanted me?”

“Heart, body, soul, every fucking part of me. I can’t stand to be away from you. I can’t stand to watch another male put his hands on you even in friendship. You’re mine, Odessa, always fucking have been. No woman would ever be you. Mate with me.”

“You’re asking my permission?”

“I won’t take what you’re not willing to give. I’ve waited two years for you to be in my arms like this. I can wait a lifetime. I can’t promise you I won’t make it hard for you.” He gave her a wicked smile, and Odessa gave him one back.

“I love you,” she said, speaking the words she’d kept back two years ago. When he’d first come to her, asking to mate with her, she’d wanted to jump for joy. Garrison, the strongest male in the pride, wanted her. Then her father’s training had taken over, his training for her to become part of the pack, to take over from him, and it had stopped her from jumping for joy. Only, she wouldn’t be taking over from her father. She’d held back, but there was no need to hold back. “It would be an honor to be your mate. You’re my heart.”

She didn’t get a chance to say anything else as his lips were on hers, devouring her mouth. He released her wrists, and she took advantage, sinking her fingers into his hair. She gave into desire, holding him close. Odessa wasn’t gentle as she tugged on the strands of his hair, holding him in place.

“Fuck, yes, baby,” he said, breaking the kiss long enough to speak. His lips were back on her skin, licking and sucking on her body. He didn’t allow her to stay clothed for long. Garrison tore at her clothes until she lay beneath him naked. From the glaring desire coming from his eyes, she didn’t even try to cover her body. “You’re the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen.”

“You know how to say the nicest things.”

He chuckled. “I’m not being nice. I want you, baby.”

She watched him pull away from the bed and tear off his clothes. His cock was rock hard, pressing up against his stomach. Reaching out, she wrapped her fingers around his cock, shocked at how big and thick he was.

“I’ve not been with anyone.”

“I know. You may have said no two years ago, but I was going to make sure no one claimed your pussy but me.”

Odessa licked her lips, liking how he talked. He was so damned dirty and hot. “You may have stopped men, but you didn’t stop the internet.” Kneeling at his feet, she opened her mouth and took him in deep.

“Fuck me.”

She smiled even with her mouth full of cock. He tasted so damned good. Moaning, she sucked him in, taking him as deep as she could. When he hit the back of her throat, she pulled away, gasping. She’d not even gone halfway down his cock before he hit her throat.

“Lion men are always bigger, baby.”

She smiled, sucking him off and loving the taste of his cock.

“No, I’m not going to spend our first night coming in your mouth.” He pulled out of her mouth, grabbing her arms, and picking her up. In the next second she was thrown back to the bed.

She opened her thighs, not needing any further encouragement. Garrison growled, but instead of fucking her, ramming his dick home, he didn’t. His face hovered over her pussy.

Odessa screamed as with quick movements, he had the lips of her pussy open and he was sucking on her flesh. The pleasure was instant, shocking, but so fucking perfect.

Sinking her fingers into his hair, she rode his face, loving every second of his tongue on her body.

“I’m going to fuck you with my cock. Your virginity is going to be all fucking mine.”

He bit on her clit causing just enough pain, but he soothed out the sting with a kiss.

Already aroused from his dominant display, Odessa splintered apart, coming on his face.

“I can’t wait another moment.”

Through the hazy vision of arousal, she watched him grip his cock, align the tip to her pussy, and shock her to the core as his entire person changed. He entered her slowly, taking his time.  When he was at the thin skin of her hymen, he paused, waiting.

“Please, I want you, Garrison.” She pressed a firm kiss to his lips.

He thrust inside her, claiming her as his. The pain combined with the pleasure had Odessa scoring his back with her nails. He paused within her, and only when she begged him to move, did he. She screamed out her pleasure as his rock hard cock made its presence known inside her. He pulsed and twitched, making her gasp for more.

“You feel so fucking perfect and so hot. All mine.”

“Yes, I’m yours.”

No fighting anymore. She was pissed she’d caused herself to miss this for the last two years. Odessa held on tight to him as he started to move within her, going deeper than ever before.

She loved the burn, the fullness of his dick as he filled her. Biting her lip, she whimpered as the pleasure increased taking her to new heights of arousal. Garrison leaned back, and she watched as his cock slowly filled her. Crying out, she gripped his shoulders but was unable to look away. His cock was slick with her cream and looked so damned hard that he took her breath away. Any pain that had been caused by the claiming of her virginity had disappeared. In its place was pure need.

“Fuck, baby. Such a pretty pussy and it’s all mine. No other man is going to know how fucking perfect you are. All mine and I don’t share.”

Odessa didn’t once consider him sharing. He couldn’t even handle a guy trying to dance with her.

“Please, Garrison, take me.” She thrust up to meet his cock, needing him to take control. He grabbed her hands, trapping them on the bed, which helped to ease him up on his hands. She took the weight of him on her wrists, loving the pain from being underneath him.

“I’m not going to stop now. I’m going to fuck you until the only thing you remember is to scream my name.”

He didn’t disappoint.

Garrison fucked her hard and raw throughout the night. The only sounds in the room that could be heard were those of his body hitting hers. Odessa couldn’t find the breath to scream. She didn’t want to waste any valuable sound while she basked in the fucking he was giving her.

“Yes, fuck me, please, fuck me.” She bit her lip, begging him to take her, to fuck her.

He released one of her hands, and she started to stroke her clit, bringing herself to the peak and going over the edge. Garrison pumped inside her twice more, growling out his release and biting her neck.

The mating heat surrounded them, connecting them together as two souls. She didn’t fight, and loved the glow of his love that surrounded her.

When it was over, he licked the blood away from her neck before sucking the cream from her fingers.

“I love you, Odessa, with all my heart. I’m not a good man, but I will make you a good husband, and a good mate.”

Staring into his eyes, she couldn’t say another word. He’d already taken over every part of her. Garrison was good at everything, and she didn’t doubt his ability to make her happy, crazy, and angry.

Chapter Five

One year later

Odessa walked at a steady pace, kept her senses alert, and knew anyone or anything could come out at any moment and she might not know, especially if they were a highly trained shifter. She scanned the woods surrounding their town, and made sure everything was right where it should be.

For the last year she’d been working right alongside Garrison, learning how to protect her pride and their alpha, her father. She’d realized being mated to a male so powerful and controlling didn’t mean she also had to be locked away and let his control surround her. He loved her, and she loved him, and she’d fought the mating long enough. Once she’d embraced it everything flowed where it should, felt right and good, though she knew being mated to a dark, dangerous male such as Garrison would always have its ups and downs.

For one thing he was overly protective, so protective they’d gotten into fights over it. She couldn’t be trapped, wouldn’t allow a mate to do that to her, not even the male she loved more than anything else. So, after they’d struggled with his control, after she’d explained once again she wouldn’t be the little housemate who stayed home, cooked his meals, and did what he said, he backed off … slightly. He was still so protective of her, so territorial, but she liked it, loved that although she needed her space she also needed his dominance. And she also loved that Garrison respected that about her.

The sound of a twig snapping had her turning around, her lion pushing forward, and her senses becoming even more acute. And then Garrison came out from behind a large tree, his powerful body moving fluidly, almost stealthily over the foliage.

“You broke that twig on purpose,” she said and smirked.

“I’ve been following you for the last twenty minutes and you didn’t even scent me, mate.” He was close enough to her now he used his big body to press her up against a tree. He smirked, looked at her lips, and leaned down to kiss her. “I was making sure you were safe, baby,” he murmured against her mouth.

She kissed him back, and let herself mold into the hardness of his body. “It’s just a training session, Garrison. I think I would have been safe regardless.” For the last year she’d been training with the enforcers, becoming stronger, learning how to protect her kind. This was just another training module where she was to scan the perimeter. There was nothing dangerous about it, but then again Garrison didn’t even like her stepping out of their home unless he was there to watch her back. She knew he’d never be the type of male not to care what she did. He’d always be her protector, and she loved him even more because of it.

He placed a hand on her belly, and she felt their little lion kick. She was due to have their first child in four months, and although he much preferred for her to stay in the safety of their home, especially when she was pregnant, Odessa could still stay in shape and keep her senses acute without harming their baby. She was a lion shifter, her body made to be worked out and stay in shape, shift, bones breaking and muscles tearing. Her child would grow to be just as strong, if not stronger because his or her father was Garrison Black.

“I know you’re a strong female, my strong female, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I wouldn’t mind seeing you home, barefoot and carrying my child.”

She slapped him on the arm playfully and smiled at his teasing.

“No, I actually love you’re so stubborn and strong-willed, love the fight you give me, Odessa.” He leaned down again and kissed her. “My woman, my child, my mate.” He moved his nose to the side of her neck, inhaled deeply, and growled low in his throat. “Mine, all fucking mine.”

And that’s what she wanted, what she loved.

“And you’re mine,” she whispered, speared her hands in his hair, and lifted his head so they could kiss.

“You better fucking believe it, mate,” he groaned.

“I love you so much,” she whispered against his mouth.

“And I love you, Odessa.”

This was her mate, her male, and she was not going to give him up for anything, no matter how growly and alpha he could be.

****

It had been two years since she’d given birth to their son, Malakai, and Odessa was due to have their second, a little girl, any day now. She sat on the couch and stared out the window as Garrison and Malakai ran around the property. Garrison chased their son, a smile on his face, and even though they were outside and she was inside, she felt the happiness come from him. He looked so happy, so at peace when he was with them. But when he was in enforcer mode he was still the hard ass, tough as steel lion shifter he always was.

Placing a hand on her belly she felt their little girl kick. She was strong, just as strong as Malakai had been while she was pregnant with him. They’d decided to find out what they were having this time around because the truth was the suspense had been killing her. She’d have been happy with a boy or a girl, as long as it was healthy, but she’d secretly hoped to have one of each.

Another strong kick from the baby and she winced. Odessa looked down at her body, seeing her ankles swollen to the point it was like her calves and feet melded into one. Her legs were swollen, too, the summer weather not helping in that regard. Another hard jab right under her ribs had her crying out briefly.

And then it happened … her water broke.

“Oh God,” she said to herself, stood, and walked toward the front door. Opening it, she saw Garrison scoop up Malakai, who squealed in excitement. “Garrison,” she said low, trying to speak through the pain. He looked at her instantly, able to hear her clearly even though distance separated them. “It’s time.”

****

Garrison paced outside of her room. Yosef was with him, and he was finding it hard not to go rushing into the room to see Odessa. He heard her scream out as she began to give birth, and Yosef held him back.

“Your lion cannot handle this, Garrison. You’ll only stress her more,” Yosef said.

“She’s mine. I should be in there.”

“I know, but this is the way it has to be.”

Nodding his head, he continued his pacing until he heard the unmistakable cry of a baby.

Rushing into the room, he was just in time to see Odessa cradling their daughter to her chest.

“We have a little girl, Garrison,” she said, offering him a secret smile. She was exhausted, and yet she still graced him with a sweet smile.

“I love you, baby. You own my heart,” he said, moving to her side. He didn’t give a shit that Yosef heard him. All he cared about was Odessa knowing how he felt about her. She was his life, his love, his very reason for breathing.

“I love you, too.”

Malakai, their son, came to the door. “Come and meet your sister,” Garrison said. His son rushed to his side. He held his son in his arms, and he claimed Odessa’s lips. This was his family, his future. Odessa smiled up at him. “Even though I just had her, I can’t wait to have our family grow even more, Garrison.”

His woman had him wrapped around her little finger. There would be more young in the future, even though it scared him during the birth. There wouldn’t be anything Odessa asked for that he wouldn’t grant her.

Chapter Six

Six weeks later

“Come here, mate.” Garrison’s voice was low, hoarse, and there was a touch of dominance in his words. There had always been a part of him that commanded people without having to do much more than give them a look, but then again he had to be that way because he was an enforcer. But right now all Odessa could focus on was the way his mouth moved as he said those three words, and how her entire body wanted to submit to this male.

She licked her lips and moved that last bit of space it took to almost have their chests brushing together. It would have been easy enough for him to move toward her, but she knew this wasn’t about who could surrender the most. Odessa would always want him, would always feel this burning desire to have Garrison with her, because he was her mate, and she did love him so much.

Even all this time later, after the birth of their two children, she wanted him like she wanted to take her next breath.

He reached out and cupped her waist with one hand, curled his fingers into her flesh, and pulled her forward until not even a slip of paper could move between them. With his other hand he covered one side of her face, and brushed the pads of his fingers along her flesh, sending goosebumps skating along her body.

Back and forth he stroked her skin, staring into her eyes and making her feel like she was the only female for him, but then again she knew this was the case. She knew Garrison would always be there for her and their children. Not only did he tell her that, but he showed her all the time. God, his eyes were so intense, so clear. Odessa felt herself leaning forward, felt his warm and sweet smelling breath brush along her lips.

But he didn’t kiss her, and instead moved the hand that held her face to the back of her head. He tunneled his fingers into her hair, and tightened his hold on the strands until the pain mixed with her already climbing pleasure.

“You have no idea how much I want you, how much I love you, Odessa.” His lips were so close to hers that if he just leaned forward that last couple of inches that separated them he’d kiss her. “No one will ever compare to you. No one ever has.”

She closed her eyes and breathed out. Her heart was thundering, and she swore her wetness was soaking clean through her panties. Arousal was always an everlasting feeling inside of her when it concerned Garrison. Odessa lifted her hands and tunneled her fingers through his hair now. “I love you.”

He was so big, so masculine and muscular that she felt feminine even though she was a curvy female. He was a whole foot taller than she was, and she loved that with him she felt like this petite, tiny thing. The feeling of his hardness pressed against her softness had this desire filling her to the point she’d suffocate from it. She also felt the hardness of his erection pressing against her belly.

“God, baby, I want you so bad.” His voice was so harsh. “It’s felt like it’s been forever since I’ve had you.”

Yes, it did feel like it had been so long, torturously long. Malakai and the baby were asleep, and this was their time now, their moment to be together.

“I need you, Odessa,” he groaned. “I need you, or I’ll fucking burst.” They hadn’t been together sexually since the baby was born, and it had felt like forever. “Christ, I need you so fucking badly. My lion needs you.” And then he had his mouth on hers and his tongue speared between her lips. Garrison slid his hands down her shoulders, over her arms, and gripped her waist with both hands now. And then he was walking them backward, right into their room, and he shut the door behind them. She felt the cold, hard bedroom wall greet her.

“Yes, Garrison,” she said softly, not wanting to wake the children. The deep rumbles that left him had her inner muscles clenching almost painfully. He opened his mouth wider and deepened the kiss, and then moved his hands to the edge of her shirt and started to slowly lift it up.

“That’s it, mate. Be with me, and let me have every part of you. Let me ravish you, drown in you.” He sounded frantic with his need. He was grinding his erection into her belly, and a gasp left her as she let her head fall back against the wall. The bed was so close, but up against the wall fucking was so much better.

He took a step back, his head downcast and his gaze trained right on her. He was breathing so hard. For several seconds they stood there. In one fluid motion she pulled her shirt up and over her head, and he moved his gaze up and down her body. She didn’t feel embarrassed that she was bigger now that she’d had two kids, and that she’d just had the baby a month and a half ago. She also didn’t care that she now had more stretch marks, that her belly was fuller, that she had rolls on her stomach and hips. Garrison loved her no matter what, and she loved herself. She didn’t care because the way her mate stared at her told Garrison he liked what he saw.

“Damn, baby.” He ran a hand over his face, stared at her breasts that weren’t restrained by anything, and bigger now that she was breastfeeding the baby. “I want to fucking eat you alive.” And then he was right in front of her again, kissing her, licking her lips and sucking her tongue into his mouth as he ground his erection into her bare belly now.

They deepened the kiss, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. But the thought of a bed, of Garrison above her, dominating her, sent a thrill through her. She broke away from him, and he took a step to the side. He must have known what she wanted because he smiled.

“A bed would be nice, baby, but I just can’t help myself with you, and need you now, right here,” he said against her mouth, a growl in his words.

Her panties were most definitely wet, and her clit throbbed. It felt so good. He felt so good pressed against her. He broke the kiss and started dragging his lips up and down her throat, sucking at the base of her neck, running his elongated canines over her pulse point.

She whispered his name, not able to speak louder than that through her pleasure.

“Tell me what you want, Odessa,” Garrison said and pressed his erection into her belly again, harder this time. A gasp left her at the contact and intensity.

“I want you inside of me.” She swore she felt his cock jerk. In the next few seconds he was stepping back and all but tearing his clothes off.

When he was naked she stared at him. His body was so toned, so ripped and defined. Since the baby had been born they had abstained from sex for the recommended timeframe, and to say it had been hell was an understatement. Their lion genetics made them highly sexual individuals, and staying away from him, having to sleep next to him, smell him, but not being able to touch him, was torture.

His short hair was disheveled, and his green eyes were still half-lidded. But it was his body that had her transfixed. And all she could do was stare at the hard outlines of his muscles, at the way his shoulders were so broad, and how his pecs were defined. Everything about him called to her in a very primitive, female way.

He took a step closer to her, and she lowered her gaze to his erection.

“I need you like I need to breathe.” He lowered his gaze to her breasts. He was close enough that when he reached out and gripped the back of her neck, pulling her closer, he didn’t have to lean in to kiss her. But that soft, slow kiss started to become frantic, hard, and almost violent in nature.

He slid his hands down her sides, moved one of them to cup her ass, and had the other one right over her pussy. A gasp left her when he speared his fingers through her soaked folds, and the gruff sound he made had her heart beating faster.

“Fuck, you’re so wet for me,” he murmured against her throat as he continued to move his fingers up and down her pussy. She didn’t know if he was aware of the low grunts he made against her flesh, or the fact he was pushing his dick into her, back and forth, harder with every passing second.

Garrison rubbed her clit, teasing her hole on every down stroke. He left her so thoroughly on edge she was ready to beg him to fuck her like a madman. He brought his fingers up to his mouth, the digits glossy from her arousal.

“You see how wet you get for me, baby?” He then sucked his fingers clean, licked all the cream from her pussy off of his fingers right in front of her. And before she could even blink Garrison was kissing her. He made her taste herself on him.

He broke the kiss and started sucking on her breast. The hard and hot pants of his breath bathed her flesh. Her nipple tightened painfully, but that led to pleasure.

“God, Garrison. Oh. God.”

He groaned deeply and then latched his mouth onto one of her breasts. The way he sucked her nipple had her clit throbbing. He was pressed fully against her once more, gripped the cheeks of her ass, and lifted her with a strength that made her feel petite and small instead of plus sized.

She felt his length slip through her slit, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her breasts against the hardness of his muscles, and was now the one kissing him brutally. Never breaking the kiss, he grabbed his cock, placed the tip at her entrance, and with her back still to the bedroom wall pressed his dick all the way into her pussy in one fluid move. His balls slapped against her ass, and she groaned at the feeling of the root of his cock rubbing her clit. Big, long, and thick were all perfect words to describe his cock.

“Christ, baby.” He never stopped pumping in and out of her. “Suck my cock with that tight, wet pussy of yours.”  Their flesh was already becoming slick with their combined perspiration, and she held onto his shoulders tighter as he became frantic in his motions. He ran his teeth along her neck, and a shiver worked its way through her whole body before taking root in her clit. “I want to fill you with my cum, make you soaked in it.”

She cried out as the first ripple of her orgasm traveled through her. He took control of her mouth with his, but this time it was a sloppy, heated, and an almost angry kiss. Neither of them could control themselves.

God, they were having sex right up against the wall.

With her legs on either side of his hips now, she started riding him like she hadn’t fucked him in years instead of weeks. Up and down, faster and harder until her breasts were bouncing right in front of his face.

He moved his hands lower, around her back, and cupped her ass. “You’re mine.”

“Garrison … I’m yours.” she breathed out. And she was, Lord, she was his irrevocably.

****

Garrison was going to come really fucking hard. He stared at his woman’s breasts as they bounced up and down. He was trying so damn hard not to get off right now.

Six weeks was a long fucking time to wait to be with his mate. Her inner muscles clenched rhythmically around his dick, and he had to grit his teeth so he didn’t come right then and there. He wanted her to get off again, wanted to see the expression of euphoria cover her face just once more before he gave into his own pleasure. He leaned back as much as he could and looked down where their bodies connected.

“Fuck, Odessa.” Those words left him on a strangled growl as he saw the way her pussy stretched around his cock. She was stretched so wide around his dick. He placed his thumb right on her clit and rubbed the little bud. She arched her back, thrust her big breasts out, and closed her eyes. Garrison finally let himself go as he watched her come undone again.

Without thinking, because all he wanted to do was kiss her, he leaned forward and captured her lips as they both came. It was intense, erotic, so fucking good.

His lion came out, pushing forward, demanding to be free. He felt his nails lengthen into claws, felt his body become bigger with the need to shift, and knew it was sheer control and willpower alone that had his lion staying inside. But the pleasure was too good, so fucking intense he wanted to be free of his human self and be with his mate in the most primal, animalistic of ways.

He roared out, needing to stay right here with her, in his human body, and claiming his mate exactly the way they both needed right now.

With his cock softening inside of her, he let a contented sigh leave him. “God, Odessa.”

She nodded and licked her lips. “Garrison.” She said his name softly, breathlessly. He loved when his female sounded content and satisfied. Leaning forward and kissing her once more, he pulled out of her with a grunt of disappointment. He set her on the floor gently, but held her close.

“I love you so much, Garrison,” she said against his chest.

He smiled. “I’m the one that loves you, baby.” He lifted her easily into his arms, and carried her to the bed. After laying her on the bed, he climbed on the mattress, curled his body around hers, and just held her.

He held his female tighter, closer, and breathed out. He’d never felt this kind of love before, and knew he never would with anyone else. Odessa and his children were his world. Who knew a hard ass enforcer like him could have something so damn wonderful?

The End

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Other Books by Jenika Snow:

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Other Books by Sam Crescent:

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six