I never thought this night would come out of my whole two hundred and twenty-four years of existence. It’s the full moon. Xavier decided to stay in California for a while, so Evangeline has been with him, leaving me alone with my nervous stomach. I know she wanted to stay away to give Chase and me some privacy.
While Chase worked at the winery, I spent the entire day at the house, rearranging furniture and doing everything I could to stay busy. I called Brooke and caught up on everything going on at Channon Vineyards. She’s going to meet me in New York at the wine competition. Do I have a chance to win? I hope so, but I’ll still be happy if Chase takes the gold ribbon.
The afternoon slowly gives away to darkness, and I can feel the magic of the full moon begin to rise. My wolf wants to break free and bask in the moonlight with her mate. Soon.
Chase made Valentine’s Day night special, so it was my turn to spice things up a bit. It’d been a long time since I cooked for someone other than myself. Chase enjoyed the baked lemon garlic chicken with roasted potatoes and asparagus. I tried to eat as much as I could, but it was hard with everything going on tonight.
In just a few short hours, I’ll be mated. I’ve waited two centuries to belong to someone. Once dinner is over, Chase says he has to step out for a minute. I have no clue what he’s doing, especially since he’s shielding his mind from me. Luckily, it gives me the extra time I need to get ready.
I rush upstairs to our bedroom and change into a lacy, see-through, black ensemble along with a pair of black heels. The magnetism of the full moon pulls me toward the window, beckoning me outside as it does with all shifters. Looking out the window, I peer up at the sky. The stars aren’t as bright as they usually are because the brilliant moon is outshining them. Nevertheless, the Great Luna wants to be seen.
It makes me wonder how many other true mates are going to complete their bond tonight. Chase’s pack is the only one where his people are finding their mates at an exceptional rate. Maybe it’s the Great Luna’s way of rewarding him for being a phenomenal alpha. I’ve never met someone as selfless, loyal, and loving as him. In my eyes, he’s perfect. I wouldn’t be here right now without him.
The back door opens downstairs, and Chase’s footsteps bound up the steps toward our room. I don’t even have time to take in a calming breath before he opens the door and sets his gaze on me.
His eyes double in size, and his need crashes into me. “I could take you right here and now.”
Just feeling his desire for me makes my insides tremble. “Why don’t you?”
He slides his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body. “Because I have other plans. Come on.”
Taking my hand, he leads me downstairs and out the back door. “I’m wearing see-through lingerie, Chase. What if someone sees me?”
Chase chuckles. “No one will, I promise. It’ll just be us.”
The second we get outside, the moon casts its glow on us as we stroll through the vineyards and into the woods. The magic grows stronger between us, our bond pulling me closer to him. I want to feel him inside of me, claiming me.
“Damn, it’s so hard to resist you right now,” Chase growls, pulling me faster through the trees.
His words bring a smile to my face, and I send him a mental picture of my mouth around his cock, tasting every inch of him.
Chase growls again and pulls me into his arms, his lips hard and demanding as he kisses me. “Now, why are you going to do that to me?”
A giggle escapes me. “Because I can.”
He nips my bottom lip. “It’s a good thing I have some self-restraint. We’re almost there.”
We walk a little more until the trees open to a small clearing by a creek. It’s what’s in the small meadow that makes me gasp. “Chase,” I breathe, soaking it all in. There are four wooden beams with sheer curtains, and twinkling lights draped along the top, the fabric billowing in the wind. But in the center of it all is a bed, all soft and white like clouds.
“What is this?” I ask him as we stand in the woods under the moon with the breeze gently blowing the sheer fabric I’m wearing.
“I want tonight to be special,” he tells me, his voice doing more to pebble my nipples than the wind. “I figure being under the moon would add to the magic.”
I giggle. Who knew Chase could be this sweet? I sure didn’t. I tighten my hand in his, squeezing so that we don’t lose what little connection we have as I turn to face him. “You’re such a romantic.”
He shrugs. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.” Chase leads me over to the bed and looks up at the sky, taking in the bright, full moon. He runs his hands down my arms, filling me with so much excitement that I can’t believe I’m not coming out of my skin. “It’s time.”
I’ve waited so long for this. To belong to him. To find my mate. And now that it’s here and happening, it’s a struggle not to run away. Not because I want to. No. This is exactly where I want to be, but because this is me getting everything that I wanted and I’m not sure I can take it.
Chase takes my hand and leads me over to the bed. We stand there looking into each other’s eyes and it’s like I can feel the power between us. The pull is strong, and my wolf wants this bond to be formed. But I want to take my time. This will only happen once.
“Are you ready?” he murmurs.
Peering up at him, I nibble on my bottom lip, then let go of his hand so that I can slowly push my thumbs into the thin straps of my lingerie and slide them off my shoulders. The sheer fabric runs down my body, tickling my skin until it pools at my feet.
To his credit, Chase doesn’t break eye contact to peruse my naked body. Not at first anyway.
When he does, it’s like I can feel his gaze reaching out to touch me as it slides down my body. I stand there and let him look until he growls, wraps a hand around my waist, and crashes his mouth into mine all at the same time.
This kiss is different. Possessive and demanding and everything I could want it to be.
I thread my fingers into his hair as his hands drift down to cup my ass, but far too soon, Chase pulls back and leans his forehead on mine.
“Up on the bed.” If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s breathless. This is a big moment for him, too.
I know he loves how turned on I get when he touches me, but I enjoy it as well. Since this will complete our bond, I know he’s going to move slow even if our desire demands that we seal our fate as quickly as possible. I want him inside of me as much as he wants to be there, but we’ll never get this moment back. It’s good we take the time to savor this.
Shaking my head, I refuse to get on the bed. I move my hands up his chest, then pull his shirt over his head. His eyes heat with raw intensity as they watch me, which, in turn, burns my skin in the best possible way. After a calming breath, I pop the buttons on his jeans and push them down, taking his boxers with them.
Chase’s erection pops from his boxers eagerly. He’s hard and beautiful and my mouth begins to water. I want to make him feel as good as he’s made me.
First, I lick from the base to the head, which causes him to groan and fist his hands in my hair. His tug on the strands stings but also shoots a ripple of pleasure straight through me.