Chapter 19 - Thea

The party was in full swing, and I watched as everyone laughed, danced, and drank. Astrid had insisted that if Tannen and I were going to stay married, she got to plan a reception to "make up for missing out on being the maid of honor," as she put it. I had to admit, she knew how to throw a great party. And Tannen's house—my house now, too—seemed perfectly suited for the occasion.

As I took a break from the dancing, I leaned against a corner, and Astrid came up to me.

"Thanks for the party," I said.

"Of course. It's the least you could let me do." She winked, then her expression sobered. "It's going to be weird not having you in the house anymore. I won't be able to hover over you every second anymore."

"I can handle myself." I nudged her affectionately. "You taught me well."

Astrid sighed, looking out at the rest of the group. "I'm always going to worry about you. It's part of the job description, I think. But I always knew you'd leave when you found a mate." She groaned, closing her eyes. "God, I sound like a mom, don't I?"

"Nah," I said. "Okay, maybe a little."

She gave a laugh. "Sorry if I've mothered you too much over the years."

I leaned against her. "I wouldn't have had it any other way. You've been an incredible sister, really. And seriously—all the self-defense you had me do really paid off in the end."

"I told you there was a reason I made you keep going to those classes. Anyway." Astrid glanced over to where Rand and Tannen were chatting with Sam and Mark, all laughing. "I'm glad it's Tannen."

My eyebrows shot up. "Really? With his reputation?"

"People change. And he definitely has. I've seen the way he looks at you, and you didn't see what it was like when you went missing that second time. He was beside himself. I know he's going to do everything in his power to protect you."

"Not going to lie, this feels like a complete one-eighty from earlier."

She snorted into her drink. "That's because there was a supposed forced claiming bond," she said. "Neither of you had a choice in the matter. I didn't want you getting hurt if it didn't work out."

"Yeah, but it wasn't real."

"I'm glad. I don't know if you two would have been able to sort out your feelings properly if it had been. Or maybe I'm not giving you two enough credit." She paused, glancing down at the drink clutched in her hand. "Are you two considering it?" she asked. "A real claiming bond?"

I glanced over at Tannen, his brown hair slightly messy and his blue eyes piercing even from this distance. A rush of affection washed over me at the sight.

"We talked about it," I admitted it. "And we might at some point. But for now, I think we're happy with things as they are. And we've got plenty of time if we change our mind."

Tannen chose that moment to walk up. "Thanks for the party, Astrid," he said. "I was hoping I could steal Thea for a bit."

My sister gave him a knowing look, her lips pursed with sisterly protection and amusement at the same time. "Fine by me," she said. "You two have fun."

Astrid made to walk away, then paused, rounding on Tannen. Jabbing a finger in his chest, she said, "I swear to god, Tannen, if you end up hurting her, you'll have me to answer to."

"Trust me. You have nothing to worry about," Tannen said, staring at me instead of Astrid. "There's no way in hell I'll do anything of the sort."

The look he gave me warmed me from my head to my toes. I nuzzled against him, letting his scent blend with mine as his arm slipped around my shoulder and held me tight. Astrid, mollified, nodded and walked away to join up with her own mate.

Tannen came to stand in front of me, his body only inches from mine. His hand ran up and down my arm as he stared at me before leaning down.

"You wanna get out of here for a bit?" he whispered in my ear. "Because I don't think I've gotten to properly show you our new bedroom."

Shivers ran down my neck where his breath had brushed against my skin. My eyes met his, and I knew exactly what he had in mind. Heat blossomed below my stomach, and I nodded.

He guided me by the wrist, weaving us through the throng and up the stairs to his bedroom.

"Are you still doing okay?" he asked. "After everything?"

"Yeah," I said. "Now that things are a bit calmer. It's nice not jumping at shadows."

He growled. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that. If I'd been smarter about the whole thing, none of that would have happened."

"The annoying thing is, I feel like I should thank them," I admitted. "If it weren't for them, I don't think any of this would have happened."

He tilted his head. "I like to think it would have happened regardless."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. One hand snaked around to the small of my back, pressing me against him. A jolt of excitement ran through me as I felt him stiffening. His free hand went to my chin, thumb running along my lips as he glanced down at me, a hungry look in his eyes.

"I'd have figured out eventually how badly I wanted you," he said. "And after that first taste, there's no way in hell I'd ever go back."

His mouth replaced his thumb, pressing against my lips slowly, almost teasingly. The kiss deepened, his grip on me tightening as a fire ignited between my legs. I groaned, leaning toward him.

The sound seemed to ignite something inside him. He growled, a predatory need resonating through him. I could feel his cock stiffening through his pants as he kept his lips locked on mine, his hands holding me captive against him as he pushed me backward.

He pressed me against the wall, his hand roaming up my leg beneath the dress, moving dangerously close to my pussy as his fingers caressed my inner thigh. I sighed, my head pressing against the wall as his fingers continued exploring, sending new shivers of excitement racing through me.

He moved slowly, teasing me. Then his fingers grazed against my bare pussy. He paused, tilting his head as he raised an eyebrow. "No underwear?" he asked.

I gave a wicked grin. "Let's just say if you hadn't initiated this, I would have."

A snarl of longing escaped his mouth before his lips found mine again. Even as his tongue explored my mouth, his fingers ran along my slit as he toyed with me. I moaned, hips shifting, grinding against him in need as the fire burned hot. I needed him inside me, not taunting me like this.

As if reading my mind, his fingers thrust inside me. I cried out, not caring if anyone heard, though his lips slammed against mine, muffling the noise as he claimed my mouth. He had me pinned against the wall, completely at his mercy as he continued pleasuring me.

After a moment, his fingers slipped out of me. My eyes fluttered open, frowning.

"You know, there's something wrong here," he growled.

"What's that?" I could barely think. All I wanted was for him to continue what he'd been doing. My hips bucked of their own accord, the yearning swelling inside me.

"There are too many clothes."

Spinning me around, he unzipped my dress with surprising gentleness, letting the fabric pool at my feet. He unclasped my bra, throwing it to the side as he yanked it off me almost frantically. His eyes were consumed with lust as he drank me in.

Before I could even move, he had stripped. His cock sprang out at full attention, and I licked my lips, unaware that I was even doing it in the moment. Tannen noticed, however, and gave a knowing grin.

Reaching out, I wrapped my hand around the shaft, pumping slowly. I grinned as he groaned and his eyes closed. He pulled me toward him, pressing his mouth against mine as I continued pumping.

When he finally broke the kiss, his mouth trailed downward, lips caressing my neck, then my collarbone. I sighed, trying not to break rhythm as he continued to drive me and my wolf wild. She howled with need, wanting more of him as his fingers slipped between my legs, sliding along the slit before pumping into me. Each thrust sent new cravings running through me, making me ache with lust and need, driving me into a frenzy.

He took my nipple in his mouth, biting gently and sending ripples of pleasure through me. The need was practically unbearable now. I needed him inside me. His fingers weren't enough anymore.

"God, fuck me, please," I breathed.

He grinned around my nipple but didn't stop as the waves of pleasure and need built, growing nearly unbearable as his thumb teased my clit.

"Please," I begged.

He ignored me, still giving me a lazy smile as his fingers continued to work their magic, the pressure building inside me. My breathing went ragged as my strokes along his cock grew faster, fueled by a need that only Tannen would ever be able to fully satisfy. My hips bucked, grinding against him with a nearly insatiable craving, my pussy aching as he resumed his assault.

Just as I was about to succumb, as if he could read my mind, he grabbed me by the hips, hauling me into the air before impaling me on his cock. I cried out, hips pressing against him as my legs locked around his waist. I bounced up and down, grinding against his dick, relishing the sensation and the growing ache between my legs. I knew I wouldn't be able to last much longer.

He slowed his thrusts, just enough for me to catch my breath and for that overwhelming yearning to subside a hair, edging me in a way that only fueled the fire. I moaned in need, shooting him a scowl that only made him laugh as his mouth pressed against mine. He started pumping again, this time even more intently. His lips didn't leave mine. My gasps grew higher-pitched, toes curling as I neared the precipice once again, so close to that wave of pleasure and release—

I shattered, screaming as relief slammed into me, the craving subsiding as I rode the wave of ecstasy. I glided up and down his cock as my muscles spasmed, nails digging into his shoulders as I threw my head back, moaning as the sensation rendered my mind blank. All that mattered was this moment, me and Tannen. That was all.

Tannen's groan joined mine, his grip on me tightening, and a heartbeat later, his cock throbbed as he filled me with his cum.

He lifted me off him, giving me a gentle kiss as he did. "God, you have no idea how badly I needed that," he growled. "I've been thinking about that all day."

"Glad I could help." I glanced at the door. "We should probably get back soon."

He tilted his head back and forth. "We don't have to," he argued. "We've got some more time before anyone misses us." He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "In fact, I think we've got enough time for another round."

I rolled my eyes. "Slow down there." I pulled him to me, giving him a deep kiss. "It's not like we're in a rush. We've got all the time in the world."

He grinned, then gave a groan. "What's the purpose of buying you if you're going to—" he broke into a laugh as I swatted at him. "Sorry, sorry. I guess you're right. We've got plenty of time in the future."

"Exactly," I said, my own smirk spreading across my face. "After all, we're married."

*****

THE END

Hi! I hope you liked reading "Auctioned Wolf Bride". The next part in my Silver Wolves Black Ops series is "Bullied Wolf Mate".

Bullied Wolf Mate

I was an outcast, the witch he used to bully incessantly.

It broke my heart and made me hate him.

Now the past comes back to haunt me when he rescues me from a rival coven.

But when I refuse his commands, he kidnaps me and locks me in his house.

It infuriates me how he used to torment me like I was nothing.

It infuriates me even more how gorgeous he's become.

When I demand to be let go, he simply refuses.

And when I try to escape him, he easily catches me and drags me back.

He's got me tied up and helpless, and the tension is rising fast.

His cruelty shows in the way he drives my desperate body insane.

His harshness shows in the way he makes me beg for things I'm ashamed of.

But when my belly grows big with his baby, will he claim me as his?

Or will he reject me for good?