The Reluctant Mate: (Book 13, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) (13 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Jolene groaned.

“Hush,” came soothing tones.

She felt a hand stroking her cheek.  It felt quite nice but wrong at the same time.  Her wolf yapped at her to wake up.  It took an effort, but her eyes flickered open.

“Reid,” she burbled.

The finger stopped for a moment.  “It’s Beau.”

She frowned as she focused on him.  “What are you doing here, Beau?  What happened to Reid?”

“I was worried about you.  My brother left.”

Jolene struggled to sit up.  He tried to help her, but she batted his hands away.  She realized she was in bed and her nightgown.  She pulled the covers up to her neck.

Beau grinned.  “Sweetheart, that’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“That was a long time ago,” she grouched.  “How did I get into bed?”

“Reid brought you up here, he was a bit wild after what happened and wouldn’t leave until he was sure you were going to be okay.  He was antsy, so Alec ordered him to leave.  A couple of the females cleaned and clothed you.  They arrested Mark.”  Beau snickered.  “He’d almost run all the way to Alexandria when they picked him up.  They arrested his friend, too… what was left of him anyway.  Your wolf has a mean bite on her; I’ll give you that.”

“Is Reid okay?”

“He’s fine.  He was more worried about you than anything else.  You know I think the pup’s always had a bit of a crush on you.”

Jolene blinked at him.

Beau chuckled.  “Hard to believe, right?  I used to taunt him about it when he was a kid.  Looks like he still hasn’t let go.  Can’t say I blame him.  You always were the most beautiful she-wolf I ever saw.”

She sighed.  “Beau,” she warned.

“Just telling the truth.”

“Until you met Tawny.”

He grimaced.  “Can’t we get past that?  It was a long time ago.”

She gave him a critical look.  He hadn’t changed.  He was still handsome, and still the same sweet and selfish Beau.  With Beau, it was just easy.  He wasn’t perfect; that was for sure.  But he was easy to get along with.  She never really had to worry about hurting his feelings or enraging him.  She didn’t worry he’d lash out and hurt her.  Their relationship was easy.  Sure, he had annoyed her when he flirted with other girls and yes, he could be downright thoughtless, but she could have lived with those things.  Ultimately, those things wouldn’t tear her apart in the way that being hurt by a true mate would.

Jolene glanced at the wooden apple on her nightstand.  “You’re right, it was and we can.”

Beau looked at her in surprise.  “Really?”

“Yep.”  She threw back the covers and clambered out the other side of the bed.  His eyes brightened in expectation.

“I completely forgive you for what happened between us.  In fact, thank you.”

Now he seemed worried.  “Uh, you’re welcome.  But thank you for what?”

“For breaking off our engagement.  Because us getting married would have been a huge mistake.”

His brow furrowed.  “You are still mad at me.”

Jolene gave him a manic smile as she dug her feet into the nearest shoes she could find.  “Not at all.”

“Then how can you say…”

“Because if we were married, what I’m about to do would have been incredibly awkward.”

She grabbed a sweater and ran out of the room with Beau’s yells following her.  She had something much more important to do, and something that was long overdue.

*

Reid opened the garage door and stepped outside just in time for the hurtling she-wolf to hit him square in the chest.  He staggered back a couple of paces and automatically clamped his arms around her curvy form.

His beast howled as his senses were overloaded with jasmine and feverish kisses were plastered all over his face.

“I love you,” panted Jolene.  “I love you so much.  I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to see it, but I love you, and I want to mate you.  If you’ll have me.”

She meant it, too.  She tried to carve out a life with Beau and then Mark because it had seemed like an easier option than really following her heart.  No way it could break if she never let go of it.

But she was wrong
.  That had just led to more hurt.  She needed to follow her heart and not her head.  Reid was nothing like her dad, and never would be.  She needed to get over herself before she lost him.  She couldn’t bear
that
.  She needed to be with the person who she’d loved as a friend and now as a lover.  The person she knew she could always depend on because he was as fiercely devoted to her as she was to him.  She couldn’t live another moment without him.

She perhaps should have waited until they were alone.

She slid down his rigid body as pack mates poured out of the garage.  Harry and Alec nodded at her while Cain and Acksel smirked.

Yep, and the fact that she was wearing a ratty old nightie with kittens printed all over it, with a yellow sweater and a pair of combat boots probably just added to the impression that she was a total lunatic.

Jolene tried to cringe and back away, but her beast wouldn’t allow it.  No way was she letting Reid run off for another six years.  No, she stood her ground, staring into his surprised face.  “Well?” she demanded, chest heaving.

He watched her for what felt like forever; even their impromptu audience seemed to be getting agitated from his lack of response.  His eyes never left hers.  He seemed to be searching her for something, until, finally, his lips twitched

Reid gave her his patented awkward, embarrassed but happy half smile.  He cupped her face.  “I love you, too,” he whispered.

He said it softly, embarrassed by saying the sentiment out loud, but he knew the other male wolves undoubtedly heard him.

She loved him even more for it.

She breathed the word ‘mate’ as his lips found hers.

Chapter Twenty

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Beau so quiet,” said Jolene as Reid helped her out of her coat.

Reid smirked.  “Yeah, makes a nice change.”

Family dinner had been a slightly odd affair.  Norma had been her usual bubbly, bossy self, thrilled to have her two sons home and thrilled to have Jolene joining the family –
even if it wasn’t via the route she expected.

They had expected more fireworks when they sat her down and informed her.  Well, Reid barked out the fact that Jolene was his and that was that.  Jolene had blushed and Norma, after a few moments of uncharacteristic silence, squealed and crushed them both with hugs and started making noises about grandpups, and insisted that Jolene call her mom, and that she wanted them to have mother-daughter spa days…  Norma was a lot of things –
exhausting being one of them
- but she did have a big heart.  Jolene couldn’t deny that.  She couldn’t forget that Norma had adopted Reid and treated him as her own.

Harry was quiet unless yelling at the TV as usual, but he gave Jolene a rare smile and nodded at her.

Beau, usually so loud, teasing and boisterous, had been sullen and quiet, shooting accusing looks at his brother all night.  Seriously – Reid and Jolene had been together for a month, and he was still sore about it.

Reid had ignored his brother completely, too focused on lavishing his quiet, devoted attention on Jolene.  Beau seemed to be suggesting Reid had stolen Jolene away – something that was completely untrue but not something Reid was inclined to argue with, in fact, he seemed just a little smug about it.

Reid collapsed onto the couch and dragged Jolene onto his lap.

Jolene patted his chest.  “Hopefully, he and Tawny will make up, for their kids sakes.”

“Yeah, then he can leave town again,” rumbled Reid, just a little too quickly.

Jolene raised her eyebrow.  “Not because you’re jealous, right?”

Reid grunted.

She maneuvered, so she was straddling him and took both his hands in hers.  “Because you know I’m yours.”

“Mine,” he growled.  His eyes strayed to her shoulder – her as yet unmarked shoulder, and he tried not to look disappointed.

They were officially together.  There was no doubt about that.  Reid had moved into her house, set up his workshop in the garage, and the Alpha had blessed their mating.  But the final frontier – the bonding mark, the mate bond – that was another matter, and one she had been avoiding for the past month.  Not all mated couples bonded, but Reid was eager for them to bond.  Jolene had been reticent about it.  He hadn’t pressured her, but she knew how important it was to him.

Jolene brought his hands to her mouth and kissed his knuckles.  “Always.  I love you.”

He blushed slightly.  “I love you, too.”

“And I think we should bond.”  Her voice barely even quivered at all.  “Right now.”

Reid did a double take.  “What?”

“If you want to, that is,” she added slightly uncertainly.

“Jolene!” he roared in happiness before covering her mouth with his.  He pulled back and eyed her doubtfully.  “If you’re sure.”

She pushed away from him, jumping to her feet and wiggling her rear.  “Very.”

Jolene ran through the house, her wolf panting excitedly, listening to the crashing and cursing of the huge male pursuing her.  She made it through the bedroom door and with lightning speed, found herself pinned to the bed by huge, naked wolf shifter.

“How did you get naked so quickly?” she gasped as his mouth laved attention over her neck.

He turned a lascivious smile on her.  “I was highly motivated.  You, however, are still wearing far too many clothes.”

Reid shoved her t-shirt and bra out the way and lavished kisses over her chest.  He cupped her breasts in his huge hands and toyed with her nipples.

“Stop teasing me,” she groaned.  “I want to bond.”

“So impatient,” he crooned.  He abandoned her breasts and kneeled between her thighs, vexingly slowly pulling off her shoes, socks, jeans, and panties.  “What’s the hurry?”

“You are.”

Reid raised an eyebrow.

Jolene raised herself on her elbows.  “My mom called today.”  He growled, and she shook her head.  “She asked me for money…”

“You didn’t give her any?” he barked.

She smiled mildly.  “Of course not.  Besides, we don’t have any.”  No, they were broke.  What little money Reid had was spent trying to lessen her crushing debt.  She’d considered trying to sue Mark for the money, but what would be the point?  He was looking at jail time for breaking into her house and aiding the attack.  Getting money from him would be like getting blood from a stone.

“She nagged me again about bonding with you.  She said now that I’d caught you I better not let you get away before you find someone better than me.”

Reid snorted.  “Are you sure you weren’t adopted?”

“I’ve looked into it many times and sadly, no.”

He gave her a look of confusion.  “So, are you saying you want to bond because your mother told you to?”

“No.  I want to bond with you because I want to be with you.  As she whined at me down the phone, I realized that not bonding with you because of her, because of my dad, was idiotic.  I was letting them come between us, and I don’t want anyone ever to come between us again.  I love you, Reid.”  Her wolf almost swooned at the grin that spread across his handsome face.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” he said gruffly.

“And now I’m yours.”  She lay back on the bed, spreading her arms out, opening herself completely to him.  “Take me, stud.”

He gave her a predatory roar before descending on her body.  His mouth hungrily ravished hers as his swollen member pressed against her opening.

“I’m not sure I can go slow,” he panted.  “My wolf’s too excited.  I can’t hold back.”

Jolene flourished kisses on his cheek and nibbled his earlobe.  “Don’t.”

Reid snarled and plunged inside her.  She moaned at his sudden entrance, at the feel of his huge size pushing into her body, touching and caressing every nerve ending.  He groaned as she accepted him, filling her completely, perfectly.  Before she could catch her breath, he withdrew and thrust inside her.  She cried out in ecstasy as he roughly, and forcefully started taking her.  Her hands roamed over his back, clutching at his body as he collided with her again and again.

Her wolf howled, desperate for completion.  Desperate to be joined with her mate.  It was what her beast had wanted since the moment Jolene realized he was her mate.  But it wasn’t until today that she understood how foolish she’d been.  Pushing him away because of her parents was ridiculous.  They were nothing like her parents.  Reid had been nothing but wonderful.  He wasn’t perfect, but then neither was she thought her wolf with a snicker.  But he was as close to perfect as he could be.  He’d never hurt her in the way her father hurt her mother.  Sure, they’d argue, they’d get angry.  He’d say something stupid, she’d be stubborn and immovable.  But then they’d make up.  They’d never stop loving one another.

Jolene rocked and rolled her hips against his, hooking her legs around him.  The sweet drag as he scraped her inner walls was becoming too much.  Tension crackled through her body as she held back her release as long as she could.

“Reid,” she breathed.

He grunted and gave her a powerful thrust.

“Bite me, bond with me!” she cried as her body bowed, stilled and then her orgasm whipped through her.

Reid roared she tightened around him; the pressure broke and he came inside her.  As she clamped her fangs into his shoulder, he did the same to her.  Their bodies pulsed with pleasure as they clung to one another, anchored by their bond.  Love, satisfaction, relief powered through them.  Their wolves howled in happiness.

Finally, coming down from the aftershocks, they sealed one another’s wound and lay side by side, relaxing and gently petting one another.

Reid ran a finger along the bite mark he had left on Jolene.  “That’s going to make a big scar.  No one will miss
that
thing.”

Jolene raised an eyebrow, and he hastily added.  “I mean, it’ll show that you’re mated… not that it’s good that you’re scarred.  Not that it matters either, you’re still beautiful.”

“Stop floundering.  I know what you mean.  I like seeing my bite on you, too.”  She traced his smaller, neater, but just as severe bite mark.  “Have I told you before that I love you?”

“I never get tired of hearing it.”

“And you love me, too.”  It wasn’t a question; just a statement.

Reid took her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips.  “I knew I loved you, from the moment I first kissed you.”

“Mmm, after that
gawdawful
party at Marley’s.”

“Ah…”  His eyes darted around the room shiftily.  “Yeah, that’s right.”

“Reid?”

“Hmmm?”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He gave her a look of innocence that wasn’t fooling anyone, much less his mate who could now probe his emotions through a bond they shared.  Taking him by surprise, she flipped him onto his back and straddled his stomach.

“Spill it.”

Reid cocked an eyebrow.  “Or?”

“Or…”  She hadn’t exactly thought this through.  She considered trying to inflict some kind of sexual punishment, but if the last month had taught her anything, it was that Reid had a lot more control than she did where that aspect was concerned.  Besides, that would just be punishing herself – and she definitely didn’t deserve that.  She was only just beginning to appreciate a healthy sex life; she wasn’t giving it up now. 
No way.  No how
.

She did, however, want to wipe that self-satisfied look off his face.

Aha!
  Inspiration struck.  “Or I tell your mom not to make you any more cobbler for… two months.”

His eyes flickered with doubt.  “You wouldn’t be so cruel.”

“Try me.”  She rocked her hips against him, snickering as she felt his dick swelling against her buttocks.

“Fine!” he growled.  “That wasn’t our first kiss.  Just the first one you were conscious for.”

“What?”

His cheeks turned pink as he coughed.  “Yeah, it was at Beau’s engagement party.  You passed out and I might have sort of, maybe, kind of kissed you.”

He tensed, waiting for her outraged response.  No fists came flying at him, so he relaxed again.  “Are you pissed?”

Jolene pressed her fingers to her lips.  “I thought it was just a dream.”

Abruptly, Reid sat up, his eyes searching her face with longing.  “You dreamed of me?”

“Once or twice,” she mumbled.  It was her turn to be embarrassed.

“Were they naughty dreams?” he teased, running his hands up and down her back.

“Well, they didn’t start naughty…” 
But they soon became x-rated
.

“What was I doing to you?”  He waggled his eyebrows up and down.

Jolene giggled.  “Nothing you haven’t already done to me while I was awake.”

Reid ran a hand through her hair.  “I like it that you dream of me.”

“I like it, too.”

“Do I live up to the dreams?”

“And then some.”

He smiled as he hugged her.  “My beautiful, reluctant mate.”

Jolene nuzzled his neck as her wolf sighed in happiness.  “Yes, yours.”

The end