Chapter 19

NINETEEN

E llie raised her head and slowly started peeling out of her pajamas.

"What are you doing?" Zy's voice was rough with lust.

"What I need," she answered simply.

"That's a dangerous thing to do, Ellie."

She shook her head and removed her pants, leaving her bare. Zy took all of her in, and he stepped forward almost as if he were fighting his instincts.

"Zy," she said. "You're a good man. I trust you, you know that, right? But I have been hurt bad. My ego, self-esteem, and heart took a big hit. So I've been alone for a long time. I have been wary of other people since my game was stolen from me and my marriage turned out to be a joke. But you? I trust you."

"I've been fighting my need for you since the moment I laid eyes on you." He closed the distance between them, pushed her head back to give him the right angle to her mouth, and fused their lips together in a passionate kiss.

He reached around to cup her bare ass, his hands gripping her cheeks to crush her body into his. He growled into the kiss, deepening it with his tongue. He explored her mouth, and it was only when the sound of ripping material echoed in the room that she realized he had ripped her underwear off. The scrap of material fell to the plush carpet, and she moaned, melting into his arms. "Zy!"

He chuckled. "Yes, love."

"Is this going to be a thing?" She giggled.

He smiled at her. "Maybe. You're way too delicious for me to resist."

"If you say so." She laughed.

Zy continued to kiss her as they stripped him out of his sweats. He wasn't wearing boxers, but Ellie wasn't shocked by this. He'd been stark naked when he carried her into his car.

"I'm gonna be so damn annoying, but I need to ask again. Are you sure that you want to do this?" Zy seemed to be holding his breath as he waited for her to answer, but there was no way Ellie was backing out now. She wanted her tiger about as much as he wanted her.

"I want this, Zy. I want you. You're not like other men, and I trust you."

"You said I was hunky, too, remember?" he nuzzled her neck, kissing and nibbling his way along.

"So hunky," she replied.

He groaned when she cupped his balls.

"Oh, my beautiful mate, I love that mouth." He pressed his lips to hers, his hands gently stroking up and down. When Zy began to kiss his way down her body, Ellie moaned in anticipation, her skin burning in need.

"You're so sexy, my love. So fucking hot I can't keep my hands away from you." He skipped over her sex to kiss her thighs, and Ellie huffed out a breath. Noticing, Zy chuckled. "Is this what you want?" he kissed her mound.

"You're getting warmer," she teased.

"It's about to get a hell of a lot hotter in here."

True to his word … as he always seemed to be … Zy spread her legs wide and increased the temperature in the room significantly. Or maybe it was simply the feel of his tongue on her sex that made her skin burn. Zy used his tongue, lips, and fingers to toy with her. He teased her clit with his finger before pulling it into his mouth and dragging his tongue against it in slow licks. He knew where to touch, where to press, where to kiss, and where to lick.

All too soon, Ellie's pleasure was overwhelming her senses. She arched into his waiting mouth, taking all the pleasure Zy could give her. Her fingers dug into his hair as her body tightened and finally snapped in perfect abandon. She cried out his name, holding on to him until her breathing settled. Zy kissed his way back up, his eyes burning for her.

He dragged the head of his cock against her entrance, teasing her in slow circles. Ellie's breath caught as the sensation burned down to her core. The touch was delicious, but it wasn't enough. She wanted him. Badly. Deeply.

"Zy," she moaned. "Please."

"Shh, love. Let me enjoy this moment. I've been wanting to do this since I saw you at the convention watching me give my demonstration."

"What?" she gasped.

He leaned over her, his body covering hers. "The second I laid eyes on you, I wanted you. Do you not know how beautiful you are, Ellie?"

Her face flushed. "Uh…Thanks," she whispered.

Zy continued exploring her sex with his girth until he was finally poised at her entrance. "We can stop, Ellie. This doesn't have to happen tonight."

She shook her head, and her sex-crazed brain made her say, "I want you so much right now."

The smile on his face was hot enough to scorch her. "Good, love. I want you too. So much." He sank deep inside of her, his groan mixing with her moan. It was damn delicious to hear this big strong man lose himself inside her.

Ellie clung to his back, meeting him thrust for thrust. A fire began in her core and spread, igniting every inch of her. Zy moved his hips in perfect rhythm, striking all of her senses. He brushed a kiss to her lips before closing his mouth around one breast, twirling his tongue on the nipple. She arched up, taking him deeper. Her nails dug into his back as she held fast.

Her body was completely overheated, and her senses were just about to float away on her release. Ellie felt his heart beating, his breath, his hair brushing against her skin. He wasn't fucking her. He was making love to her.

"Ellie, god, you feel so good. So good," he repeated with pants.

And that was all it took to send her over the edge. She came hard, her sex gripping his.

"Zy," she cried out as pleasure took over her.

He was quick to follow her over the edge. Their eyes met, and she gave a small nod of consent. He pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply while his claws scratched above her hipbone just as he emptied himself inside her.

The mating took hold of her release and took her even higher. Zy continued to move inside of her as he softened, and his hands and mouth caressed every inch of her body. He further surprised Ellie by kissing her shoulder, her neck, and her cheek.

"You're stunning, love. I mean that." He kissed her once more before taking her into his arms.

She squeaked in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to my massive and amazing bathtub." He set her on the edge of the tub, turned on the hot water, and when there was a decent amount of water, he helped her in. "Take your time and relax."

The hot water was nice, but it wasn't what she wanted. She wanted the heat to come from Zy's body.

He left, closing the door behind him. Ellie looked down at the small marking on her hip. The little nick was all of the protection she needed because of the man who had just rocked her world.

"Zy?" she called out before she could think better of it. It didn't stop her voice from shaking, though. She waited a little bit, waiting to hear him shuffle to the door, but there was no sound. "Zy…"

The door opened, and Zy averted his eyes, keeping them off of her. Oh god. Did he regret it?

"Are you all right?"

"Fine, yeah. I just …" She pursed her lips. "Zy, look at me."

His jaw ticked, and his eyes met hers. "It's not easy for me to see you naked, Ellie. It's very tempting to hop in there with you and continue to explore every inch of you. I don't want you to be sorer than you already are."

If there had been any doubts in Ellie's head that Zy wasn't attracted to her, they disappeared as she watched his joggers tent with an erection.

"Shifters," she laughed softly.

"Shifters with beautiful mates," he amended.

"Then come over here," she blurted before her courage left her.

Zy's brows lifted. "What?"

She laughed again and waved him forward. "I'm not sore. Let's make sure the mating took."

"Oh," he said, his voice rough. "It took." He rushed forward and hopped into the bath with her.

"Let's make sure anyway."

"Whatever you want, love."