Was it possible for her to love him already?
Yes, answered the animal inside of her, but it was too soon for such declarations.
“Are you hungry?” Dean interrupted her thoughts and kissed her on the temple.
Oddly enough she was hungry. In fact, she was starving. Violet nodded and smiled as he brought his head down to nibble at her lips.
Kissing him was like magic, she thought and threw herself fully into it like she never had before. This entire thing was like some fantasy, something she would write about she thought and giggled ending the kiss.
“What? Did I do something funny?” he asked and looked hurt before she realized it was just his way of throwing her off balance.
“No, no tickling,” she laughed and yes, snorted, while his fingers bit into her ribcage, but she got him back.
It seemed, her big strong Tiger was ticklish himself.
“Okay, I give, I give,” he gasped for air and smiled as she pinned him to the bed. “In fact, I’ll give you anything you want if you stay right there,” he growled and nipped her lip.
This time, when they joined, it was a slow, slippery slide of limbs. The urgency of their first coming together sated, now it was more like a symphony of sensation.
She faced him on her side as he lifted one leg up and over his, grinding his pubis into her core, while his magnificent thickness filled her to maximum capacity.
She’d never felt anything like it. Her eyes locked onto his, and she saw his Tiger staring behind the teal-colored glow as they made love, slowly, deliberately, completely while snow fell over them, making the skylight above them completely white by the time they were breathless and gasping with pure elation.
He was her heart’s own desire. The one man in the world she had ever felt this magnetic pull towards. Violet had always been a dreamer. Her hopes and imagination are what caused her to want to be a writer, but with him she felt as if she really could achieve those dreams.
She felt loved and safe for the first time ever. Through the wondrous new power of her matebond with him, she felt emotions she had only ever read about.
He was incredible, sinfully handsome, a natural born leader, powerful and charismatic, and yet she felt truly comfortable with him. Like she could be herself and he would always accept her.
Violet knew it was impossible, a fantasy for sure, but she also knew it was as real as the snow falling outside. Her body hummed with delight as he touched her in places no man ever had.
“Beautiful,” Dean cupped her face between his hands and rolled over on top of her, changing angles his cock sunk deeper inside of her.
Stroking that perfect spot that only he had ever reached and soon she was struggling for breath as he swiveled his hips, rocking his body with such tender care into hers and bringing her more pleasure than she had ever felt.
He swallowed her cries as her orgasm overwhelmed her senses, until he joined her in that sweet oblivion. Eons later, he ended the kiss with dozens of smaller, tender touches of his lips to hers.
Words could hardly express what she was feeling, but one did. One word said it all.
“Mate,” she exhaled and pressed her forehead to his, sucking in the fresh pine scent that was all him and cradled him in her arms.
Pure joy and elation filled her and she realized it was coming from him too. Something inside of her recognized the rare beauty and profound power of their special bond. It was humbling and awesome in ways she had never experienced, but looked forward to, with him.
After she scrounged around for some clothes that would fit her, Violet joined Dean in the surprisingly large kitchen.
“You know this cabin is insane,” she said and laughed as she accepted the glass of white wine he held out to her.
“Really? What do you mean?”
He was cutting some lemons and adding them to a beautiful cut of fish, which had her salivating. That was weird she didn’t usually like fish, but she was almost ready to eat the thing raw.
“What is that?”
“Pacific Cod, I had Alex, the ISP Vice President and Beta of my Pride, arrange for the cabin to be stocked when I arrived and I always have fish on Christmas Eve,” he shrugged.
“Yeah? That is an Italian thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, my mother is Italian. She is going to love you,” he grinned and Violet’s stomach flipped.
It had been a long time since she had any family of her own. The idea warmed her even as it had her nerves standing on edge.
“Hey,” he said and her eyes met his across the marble counter, “I mean it. She and my father retired years ago, but I can call and have the jet fueled up at a moment’s notice. We can visit them in Florida maybe after the holidays. Do you like Florida?”
“Uh, I don’t know. I’ve never been,” she answered and suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in on her.
Here she was in this fancy cabin that to him was nothing more than a blip on his radar. How could she fit into his world? She was just a nail technician.
“Hey, little one. It’s okay, look at me now,” he was suddenly in front of her and his big warm, hands were on her face, tilting it up towards him, “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. If I am moving too fast, it is just because I am so happy. You did that, you know.”
“I did?”
“Yes, you make me happier than I ever thought was possible, but I get it if you don’t want to meet the family right away. My parents can be a bit overbearing,” he frowned.
“No, it’s not that,” she laughed and to her horror a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Hey, no crying, please,” he bent and kissed away all traces of her tears from her cheeks.
“I just, well, it’s been a long time since I belonged to anyone,” she tried explaining and he wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head against his chest.
“I got you now, little one, and you belong right here with me,” he whispered against her hair.
She felt safe and warm, and most of all loved wrapped up in the security of his embrace. Violet released the breath she’d been holding and with it expelled all her frazzled nerves.
“Tell me about the Pride,” she said recalling his mentioning a Beta, which from her writing meant there was probably an Alpha too, “who is in charge?”
“Uh,” he stepped back and wiped his hands on a dishtowel before picking up the broiler pan with the seasoned fish and placing it under the fire to cook, “I am.”
“You’re what?”
“In charge,” he answered and turned to face her, “I am the Neta of the Island Stripe Pride and you, mate, are our Nari, that is what we call our Alpha fem.”
“But I, I don’t know anything about being a Tiger,” she said and he could sense her growing anxiety.
“Let me feed you, little one, then I will teach you everything you need to know.”
Dinner was phenomenal and Violet had to admit she was now a fan of fish. He’d seasoned the flakey perfection lightly with sea salt, crushed red pepper, olive oil, parsley, and lemon slices, and she’d practically purred while digging in.
Paired with some almond tossed string beans, dinner was absolutely divine. She couldn’t wait for dessert and nearly snarled aloud when he told her it was for later, but she remembered herself in time.
“Won’t I be cold?” she asked as Dean took her hand and led her to the snow-covered deck.