Beneath a Spring Moon (Those Sexy Shifters, Book 1) Read online

  Aaron’s cock strained against his zipper, begging for release. But he needed to get Tessa onto the same page before he scared the crap out of her.

  Tessa moaned into his mouth, her hands flittering up to his biceps and gripping him for dear life.

  He needed to go slow, give her time to catch up along the way. She was a virgin.

  When he finally broke their connection to trail tiny kisses across her jaw and behind her ear, she was extremely pliable in his arms. Her head fell to one side to give him access, her long, slender neck making his heart beat wild as he grazed his lips and even his teeth down the column.

  “God, Tessa. You’re scattering my brain,” he mumbled into her ear. “Please stop me if I go too fast.” Lord, give me strength.

  Tessa’s hands wandered down his chest, and she gripped his waist. “I’m… I can’t even describe how I feel. But I need you.”

  When Aaron leaned back to look into her eyes, he saw her glazed look of desire. She bit her lower lip into her mouth and he reached down with his thumb to pluck it free. “You keep biting yourself, I’m going to have a coronary.” His voice sounded gravelly even to himself. “I’m trying so hard to be a gentleman here—move slowly so I don’t scare you.”

  “I’m not really in the mood for slow.” The imp tilted her head to one side and gazed at him with the coyest expression he’d ever seen. She even batted her eyelashes a few times.

  “Well, I am. I’m not going to just lift your skirt like a teenager. I want it to be special. I want to make you come so many times tonight you can’t even get out of bed from exhaustion.”

  Tessa gasped, her eyes growing wide. He smiled at her and then stepped back and lifted her off the bar stool.

  Without losing contact, Aaron managed to pull his mate down the short hall and into his bedroom.

  Chapter 6

  Tessa couldn’t think. She didn’t even want to. It all became so much clearer as the day wore on. Her friends weren’t sluts. And she wasn’t either. This was the way of mates. No wonder everyone she knew seemed to take off at a moment’s notice and fuck like bunnies—practically before they exchanged names.

  She couldn’t imagine it any other way, now that she’d fallen for a mate. In fact, if the man didn’t speed things up soon, she was liable to make a fool of herself by begging him to take her.

  She barely took in her surroundings. She could explore later. All that mattered right then was he did in fact own a bed. Not that she actually saw it. Aaron kissed her silly down the hall and around the corner until her legs collided with something soft and she collapsed against his mattress.

  Tessa gasped at the initial shock and then giggled. She sprawled out across the man’s comforter and watched as he whipped his black T-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. “I’m burning hot,” he stated.

  His chest was a wide expanse of perfection, and she leaned forward hoping to get the opportunity to lay her hands against his skin if he would just come closer.

  Instead, Aaron reached for one of her booted feet and pulled her leg free before doing the same to the other.

  Tessa inched backward on the bed to give him space, assuming he was going to crawl up and join her. Instead, Aaron grasped her ankles and dragged her back to the edge. Her skirt rode up underneath her, leaving her ass against the comforter, only the fabric of her lace panties between her and the bed.

  Aaron ran his hands up her legs from her ankles to her thighs, his breathing heavy, his eyes glazed over when she glanced at his face. “God, you’re so smooth. Your skin is like porcelain.”

  How did he always manage to say something that made her even more aroused than before? Tessa propped herself up on her elbows. When Aaron pushed her legs apart and gazed at the pink lace of her panties, she collapsed. Her legs trembled.

  “I want to see you.” Aaron’s voice was deep, almost unrecognizable. His hands shook as he pulled her to a sitting position and lifted her dress over her head, forcing her arms high in the air to remove both her sweater and her sundress in one motion.

  When Tessa could see again, she focused on Aaron’s expression. What was his first impression of her? Whatever doubts she’d had fled the room. The man gazed at her with a look she’d never in her life forget. When he added his fingertips and grazed one hand down her body, following his line of sight, she watched him.

  Barely making contact, he trailed two fingers down her neck, between her breasts, across her belly, and then over the edge of her panties. A shiver shook Tessa’s body.

  “How did I get so lucky?” His voice was breathy. Tessa let her gaze fall to the bulge in his jeans and tried not to concentrate on what would happen when he took the pants off.

  She wanted him like she’d never wanted anything in her life, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t apprehensive.

  “Lie back, love.” The endearment took her by surprise, but Tessa’s shaky arms couldn’t hold her up any longer anyway. “Tessa, I’m trying my damndest to go slow. Please tell me to stop at any time.”

  Fat chance of that. If he went any slower, her heart wouldn’t be able to withstand the suspense.

  “Touch me.” She needed his hands on her, everywhere. His gaze made her feel sexy and wanton, but it wasn’t enough.

  Aaron danced his fingers back up her body until he reached her heaving chest. He grazed his fingertips along the lace edge of her bra and then popped the front clasp. Tessa sucked in a breath and watched as he cupped her breasts with both hands. When he pinched her nipples, she arched her chest and gripped the comforter with both fists.

  “So responsive. God, you’re gorgeous.” She could barely hear him, as though he weren’t speaking for her benefit but his own.

  Aaron trailed his fingers down her body until he reached her panties. He easily slipped underneath them and dragged them off her body.

  Tessa squirmed under his intensity as he flung the lace to the side and gripped her thighs.

  “You’re so wet. I can see the moisture without touching you.” Aaron did touch her though. He dragged one long finger through her slit and spread her arousal up to her clit. When his touch flicked over the demanding nub, she nearly shot off the bed. Only the hold he had on her thigh kept her grounded.

  “Tess… You’re so sexy.” Now the man was shortening her name, and she loved the way it rolled off his tongue, like she was a precious commodity.

  With no warning, Aaron leaned down and ran his tongue through the slit of her pussy. He had to know what that would do to her. That would explain the tight grip he had on her legs to keep her still. He licked his way up to her clit and swirled his tongue in circles until her eyes rolled back into her head.

  Tessa arched herself as much as possible, straining for more contact. A tight coil in her belly threatened to explode. Her legs trembled. She couldn’t get purchase with her feet on the mattress the way Aaron held her open.

  When he surrounded her clit with his lips and sucked, she screamed. Relentlessly, the man continued to torture her, flicking his tongue over the sensitive nub while he sucked.

  “Oh God…” She was so close. Right on the edge of something she’d never experienced before.

  Aaron pulled his mouth back an inch and blew on her. “Come for me, Tess. I want to watch you come, feel your clit pulse inside my mouth.”

  Aaron resumed his sucking, pushing Tessa over the edge she had hovered on for only a few minutes.

  Gasping for air, Tessa rolled her head to one side. Her thighs shook, but Aaron held her tight. When she could focus, she turned toward him. His smile made her flush all over again.

  “So sexy, Tess.” Aaron released one leg and walked his fingers to her center. Without taking his gaze off hers, he pushed one long finger inside her.

  Tessa moaned. She’d been somewhat sated and relaxed. For all of two seconds. Now, her body jumped back to attention. She wanted more. Needed to feel him inside her.

  “So tight, Tess…” Aaron released the hold he had on her gaze and ducked hi
s head to watch his fingers. He added a digit and held them both deep inside her.

  Tessa sucked in a breath. She felt so full, and still she wanted his cock inside her, even knowing how much more intense that pressure would be.

  *

  Aaron gazed at the sexy spread before him. He’d said she was tight, but that had been an understatement. He needed to stretch her before he could possibly press his cock inside.

  Scissoring his fingers, Aaron glanced at his mate’s face for her reaction. She moaned and attempted once again to arch into his hand.

  Aaron still stood beside the bed. He pressed his dick against the side of the mattress and gritted his teeth. If he didn’t open the fly of his jeans soon, the zipper would leave its mark on him.

  “Aaron…” His name on her lips made his cock twitch once again. “Please…” God, she was sexy when she begged. She had no real knowledge of what was going to happen, but she was ready and willing … demanding even.

  Tessa’s eyes, hazy with arousal, met his. “I need you inside me, Aaron.”

  Aaron pulled his wet fingers from her core and brought them to his mouth. Without pausing, he sucked them clean, reminding himself of her sweet tangy taste and moaning around them as he popped them from between his lips.

  Tessa held her breath. Her legs trembled against the bed.

  Languidly, Aaron removed his jeans until he stood before her naked.

  To his surprise, Tessa sat up and leaned forward. She took his cock in her palm and let her hand slide from the base to the tip. Precum dripped from the end and his sexy mate dipped her finger into the moisture and brought it to her mouth. She mimicked his move, sucking the digit between her lips and releasing it with a pop.

  “Please,” she mumbled again. Pushing her heels into the mattress, Tessa backed up the bed to make room for Aaron.

  He climbed between her legs and let his body cover hers from top to bottom. His cock rested against the mattress between her sweet thighs. The warmth of her sex burned into his stomach where he pressed into her.

  When his chest brushed against hers, she let her head fall back and moaned again. Her nipples grazed his, pebbling to hard peaks once again. Aaron couldn’t resist the temptation and leaned his head down for a taste. He made a light circle of her nipple with his tongue and sucked the tip into his mouth.

  Tessa gripped his head with both hands, her fingers tangling in his hair. He graced the second nipple to a similar treatment and then raised his head to take her mouth.

  She opened to him quickly, her lips parted and eager for his kiss. Luxuriating in the sweet taste of her, he drew out the kiss until she began to squirm again with need.

  Aaron lifted from her lips and stared into her eyes while he reached one hand between their bodies and lined his cock up with her entrance.

  She bit her lower lip, making him grit his teeth once more against the erotic vision. “Are you ready?”

  “God, Aaron. Now… Stop teasing me.”

  Aaron settled his cock at her entrance, took both her hands in his own, lifted them over her head, and held her wrists in his grip. “It’s gonna be tight.” He pressed into her a little at a time, inching into her warm depth.

  Holy mother of God. The woman was like a glove. It would take all his concentration not to come before she even had a chance to adjust to him.

  Gazing into her eyes, Aaron pushed into her as deep as possible and held still.

  Tessa sucked in a breath, stiffened, and held herself rigid for several seconds. Finally, she breathed out—long and slow and relaxed—a smile forming on her lips. “Move.”

  That one little word pushed him into action. He gradually pulled out, and then started a lazy rhythm, pumping into her as leisurely as he could. Tessa gripped him like she had no intention of ever releasing him.

  When her breathing hitched, he increased the pace. It took only a few passes before he couldn’t hold back another moment. “Come with me, love. Come with me…”

  As he released himself into her depth, Tessa groaned. She bucked against him one last time and her sex gripped him in a rhythm that matched the pulsing of his cock.

  Heaven. It was the most powerful release Aaron had ever experienced. He couldn’t catch his breath as the throbbing of his dick subsided. Still her pussy fluttered around him, stirring him already and keeping him from losing the hard-on he’d sported for so many hours.

  “You are so beautiful, Tess.” He brushed a lock of curls out of her face.

  They were mated now.

  Aaron flinched when he read her next thought. He’d forgotten about the mental connection that would accompany the claiming.

  He smiled down at her. “Again? Don’t you want to rest first?”

  “You’re in my head.” She gasped. A blush ran across her face until her cheeks were red.

  “It would seem.” He grinned at her. “Flip over.” Aaron lifted off her, released her wrists, and let his cock slip from her center reluctantly. He was still as hard as he’d been when they started. If his sexy mate wanted a repeat performance, he was up to the task.

  Tessa looked him in the eye. “Flip over?” She seemed confused.

  “Yeah, onto your front.” He tugged one arm and helped her turn.

  With her arms still above her head, her face turned to one side, Aaron gazed down at his good fortune. Her curves were perfect. The dip in her lower back begged him to lick into the hollow. Later… Right now he wanted to take her from behind, finish off his claiming in the way of lupines.

  Aaron sat back, straddling her legs with his thighs, and rubbed his mate’s sexy back and ass with his palms until she relaxed. He was careful to keep his thoughts blocked. He didn’t want her to hear his thoughts and tense under his perusal or worry about what he was going to do next.

  Gradually Aaron inched backward until he could reach between her thighs and run his fingers through Tessa’s wetness. If she was sore, she gave no indication. She moaned and lifted her ass into his touch.

  Encouraged, Aaron lifted her onto all fours, spread her legs, and positioned himself between them.

  Tessa’s firm, sexy ass wiggled against him.

  His dick bobbed, bumping into his mate’s thighs and butt cheeks. Aaron pushed her legs wider and reached between to line himself up with her pussy. This time he entered her in one thrust. Hard, fast, deep.

  Tessa held firm, her body only rocking forward the barest amount under the pressure.

  Aaron gripped her hips and held himself deep inside her, praying a silent prayer to whatever higher being would listen to let this last longer than currently seemed predictable.

  “Oh, God, Aaron. That’s so good.”

  “So deep…” He completed her thought.

  Tessa set her forehead down on the bed and left her ass up high. Aaron set a pace that had just the right balance of speed and pressure to keep from coming too fast. His mate was tight, but the friction was perfect.

  When Tessa rocked harder, Aaron pushed back deep and long until they both came again. Aaron stiffened, tipped his head back, and groaned as his mate’s body came undone, taking him with her.

  When the pulsing subsided, Aaron’s legs were shaking. He wrapped an arm around Tessa’s waist and collapsed onto the bed, curling her up against his chest.

  She moaned. Her chest heaved. “I didn’t know…”

  Aaron wiped her hair from her face once again and kissed her temple, smiling. “Rest.” He spoke the word into her mind. “I’ll be right back.” Aaron untangled himself from Tessa and headed for the bathroom. He cleaned himself off and returned with a warm washcloth. Tessa hadn’t moved. As gently as possible, Aaron wiped his mate’s skin and pulled the comforter out from under her.

  She sighed when he climbed back up behind her and wrapped his body around her warmth, snuggling the two of them under the blanket.

  “What happens now?” she muttered. “I can’t go home.”

  “Nope. You’re not going home. I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”
He rubbed small circles on her skin with his fingers, grazing under the swell of her breasts. “We’re mates now. We’ll figure out what we want to do, but we’ll always be together.”

  “What will my family think when I don’t come back?”

  “Tess … no one is expecting you.”

  Tessa turned her head slightly to face him. “It happened so fast. I didn’t…”

  “I know, love. You didn’t plan it. That’s just how it happens. I didn’t plan it either. But I’m not sorry.”

  “Me neither.” It was a tough admission for her. He could sense she was struggling with what happened between them. Warring with herself over preconceived notions about other people’s claimings. As her walls began to fall, she relaxed against him. “So tired.”

  “Sleep, Tess.”

  “You’re … hard against my leg again,” she muttered.

  Aaron smiled. “True. I’ll try to control myself for a while so you can nap.”

  “Is this … normal? Should I be this aroused still?”

  “Yes. That’s what happens when wolves mate, love. You’ll be exhausted by the end of the week when we come up for air. We both will. In a good way.”

  “I think I’m falling in love with you.” Her words fluttered around in his mind, comforting him and exciting him at the same time.

  “Thank God, ’cause I know I am…”

  Epilogue

  “Right over there… No, on the left … I think.” Tessa pushed her hair out of her face and glanced around the room.

  “Tess… I’m running out of patience.” Justin dropped his end of the couch in the middle of the room and glared at her.

  Tessa bit her lip. She was overwhelmed. What had started out as the perfect gift had snowballed. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. “Tess … love…” Warm lips landed on her neck and melted her. Her stiff body relaxed, as it always did, whenever Aaron touched her … or entered the room … or entered her mind…