Epilogue

Ranger

"You wanted to be punished." I tapped the riding crop against Aspen's clit, loving her little moans. Her ankles and wrists were tied with black silk rope to the rings I'd built into the archway entering the basement loft. It was one of my favorite positions to put her, making my mate a beautiful, submissive X.

"That's subjective." She panted, testing her weight against the ropes while she arched her back, trying to chase the riding crop as I pulled it away. "Is it really punishment if I think it's a reward?"

I rolled back my head to stare up at the mirrored ceiling. Always with the comebacks. Always keeping me on my toes.

But I wouldn't be an Alpha if I didn't appreciate a good challenge.

The cold metal pressed against her asshole and she stood ramrod straight as I opened the cap on a bottle of lube.

"Breathe for me," I whispered the command in her ear as I applied pressure from the metal anal plug with the diamond studded base end.

Nothing but the prettiest for my brat.

"Ranger. I…" She closed her eyes and leaned against the restraints.

"Do you need your safe word?" I stroked my hand down her spine, watching her shiver at my touch. We'd been together every day for almost a year and she still was so responsive.

I couldn't wait until the next heat.

Me either. My wolf growled as I traced my fingers across Aspen's soft belly and reached down to massage her clit.

I had plans for my mate. Part of which involved this very plug and a few more a couple sizes larger.

"Pancakes," Aspen whispered.

I added more lube to the plug. "Wrong breakfast food."

"Is it?" She bit down on her lip to stop from laughing. "Guess you'll have to punish me."

It never stops.

Growling, I pinched her clit between my fingers and pressed the plug past the barrier. "That's it, beautiful. Take it deep."

Her legs shook as the anal plug seated itself inside. The dim red lights of the basement reflected off the diamond studs resting against the base of her ass. She'd wanted to experience more of the club scene so I built what I could here.

I wasn't ready to share her with the world yet.

Maybe someday.

But not today.

She was still shaking as I loosened the binds and scooped her up, carrying her to the massive bed that lined the back wall.

"Such a good girl taking the next size plug." I kissed her forehead as I laid her down, brushing sweaty hair from her face. "You're training that ass so well for me."

"It feels so full." She whimpered as I placed her face down on the bed. I propped her hips up over the bedframe, positioning her on the spot she liked so well. The one where the smooth wood carved edge would rub just right against her clit.

I gave the diamond a little tug. My cock twitched as she cried out my name.

"This is nothing," I teased as I spread her legs wider with my knee. "How full do you want to be?"

I knew her answer by the way she moaned, rubbing herself against the bedframe and pushing her ass higher in the air.

But her voice was too sexy and I couldn't miss the chance to return the frustration she gave me.

"Words, Aspen. Tell me what you want." I rubbed the diamond stud.

"Fuuuuuuccc…." She moaned.

"What kind of teaching degree do you have?" I teased, reaching forward to wrap my hand around her neck as my cock lined up with her soaking wet sex. "That didn't sound like a word."

Her body clenched as she rocked back against me. "Words suck. Why? Just…"

"I'm waiting." I held her steady, catching her wrists as she went to touch her own clit. "Oh no. You don't come until I say so."

"Fine," she cried. "I want you to fuck me in every hole. Please, fill me up."

"That's my girl." I kissed the mate mark on her neck before pushing her face back down to the bed again as I drove my cock home.

Her pussy fluttered around my length, adjusting as I slowly dragged my cock out to the tip. The weight of the anal plug pressed down against me through her upper walls as I slammed back in.

"Oh. Oh…" Incoherent noises were so hot.

I angled her hips so her legs were spread wider and her clit rubbed the bedframe. Then I slid home again, feeling her spasm as she started to scream.

"You've got it, baby. Take all my cock while your little ass gets stuffed." I grunted as I tugged the diamond softly while slamming into her soaking wet heat. I picked up the pace as she fisted the blankets, crying out my name.

I slowed to a stop. "Did I say you can come?"

"Ranger, no!" Aspen cried. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean it. I'll be good. I'll do whatever you want. Please, just please let me come."

Goddess, I loved it when she begged.

She gasped as I lifted her up.

My hand slid forward again to stroke her clit and I dragged my other hand along her side, teasing each nipple on the way up, before sliding two fingers into her mouth.

She sucked them down deep as her core clenched around my shaft, moaning as her orgasm built again. I fucked her slow. Nice and deep. Making sure she could feel me everywhere. I wanted to mark another notch on her soul.

My knot was already building, anticipating the release I was driving us both toward with Aspen filled entirely by me. Her heart. Her mind. Her body.

Another long stroke. She clung to my arm, choking on my fingers as she sucked harder.

Such a beautiful fucking mate.

I pulled her close to whisper in her ear. "Be a good girl and come for me."

*

"But you said we could watch it." Aspen pouted. She was fresh out of the shower and braiding her hair back with the glossy-eyed look that spelled trouble.

"I'm not saying we won't watch it." I pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants. "I'm only saying that it might be a good idea to save it for later."

Something's burning.

Both Aspen and I turned to look at the ceiling as our wolves picked up on the scent. The sound of a coyote shifter cursing followed shortly thereafter.

"Your stupid rich people microwave killed the popcorn," Clara shouted down the stairs.

Aspen laughed as she kissed my cheek and hurried to check out the damage.

My life was so domesticated now. Scented candles and bubble baths and sweet wine in the fridge. Yoga pants were the Goddess's gift to earth and I shamelessly followed my mate's ass up the stairs as she showed off her favorite pair.

"I'll make another bag," Aspen said as she pushed open the door to the kitchen.

The pink wine glugged as Clara poured three oversized glasses of it. "I don't know how you work that contraption. Why can't you get a regular microwave?"

"Why don't you just use a popcorn machine like a normal person? We aren't in the 2000s anymore." Jesse grabbed a glass of wine and bolted to the living room before Clara could swipe at him.

"Remind me again what the cat is doing here." I massaged my forehead.

"I told you I invited him." Aspen stood on her tiptoes to reach the popcorn on the top shelf of the pantry. The coyote must have scaled the shelves to get the first bag.

I reached over her and pulled it down. "Why do we need to watch this right now?"

"I wasn't going to pay for it before." Aspen took the popcorn and put it in the microwave. "It's finally on streaming channels because season eight is starting so we all made a date to watch it."

I caught her by the waist as she ducked down to grab another bowl. "Trust me. We don't have to watch this now. I can send everyone home."

"Don't even think about it." She growled at me as her papa came walking into the kitchen.

"The ice cream is melting." He put the tub on the counter, eyeing me in a way that showed his suspicion of what we'd been doing earlier downstairs.

I refused to hide.

Aspen spun away, grabbing some bowls from the cabinet. "I'll get it served up. You go relax."

We both watched him walk to the living room on two solid legs. The doctors worked some kind of magic. Or maybe they were witches.

Aspen grabbed spoons from the drawer. I stared after the gruff old man as he took my leather recliner which he'd claimed as his seat in my house despite us having his own log cabin built on the back side of our property.

He had his own recliner there.

"Goddess, this place is jumping tonight." Clara came back into the kitchen as the timer on the microwave dinged for the popcorn, the doorbell chimed, and my phone buzzed on the counter.

"I'll get it," Aspen and Clara said at the same time. The coyote ran to the front door. Aspen entered the passcode on my phone.

I reached into the fridge for a beer.

"Are we all still watching tonight?" Fallon's voice filled the kitchen from my phone speaker.

"Is John okay with that?" Aspen eyed me cautiously, handing over a bottle opener from the utensil drawer as she dug for the ice cream scoop.

"He thinks this is stupid," John called from somewhere in the background.

I gave him a mental fist bump as I tipped back my beer.

Don't forget to ask about the fishing trip.

Later. I watched as Aspen stared at the ice cream scoop for a few seconds too long before figuring out how it worked. One day, she might listen to me. But she loved doing things the hard way.

"We'll be watching it with you," Fallon said.

John grunted as if someone elbowed him. "Can't wait."

"We can text through it." Aspen yawned as she finished filling two bowls of ice cream. She stood looking at the counter, wondering what to do next as she swayed a little on her feet.

I popped the spoons into the bowls and grabbed the popcorn from the microwave. "Let's go sit down."

*

"Does everyone have drinks?" Aspen stood from the couch after I'd finally gotten her to sit.

"If they don't, they can get it themselves," I growled, putting her back onto the couch and covering her with the knitted blanket she kept draped over the back.

"What's taking Clara so long?" Aspen poked her head out from under my arm.

I sniffed the air, wondering why…

"This is Ivan and he's watching with us." Clara came storming into the living room, towing the big brute behind her.

Ivan's cheeks were flushed as he nodded his respect. "Alpha. Luna."

"Don't say anything." Aspen gripped my hand, hard. "I have a good feeling about this."

"Take a seat, Ivan." I leaned back against the couch, watching as Aspen and her papa took a bite out of their ice cream bowls at the exact same time without even looking at each other. They chewed. They swallowed. They dragged their spoons down for another scoop.

It was so perfectly in sync; it should've been choreographed. Seriously. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

"Welcome to the official start of the seventh annual Mating Season, " Jay Renfro's voice filled the living room. Everyone quieted down. Aspen took her last bite of ice cream and handed me the empty bowl as she yawned again.

"They said it's not too bad in the beginning," Aspen whispered, pulling the blanket up to her chin and snuggling beside me. "I guess at the end, they turned us into the bad guys though. I'm interested to see what I look like in my villain era."

I laughed as I kissed the top of her head, feeling her body go lax against mine. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather wait to watch this?"

"Season eight tomorrow. Want to see Opal. You're so warm."

And the mumbling begins.

I laid my head back against the couch as Jay Renfro continued to recite the opening credits. At least she'd waited until it was on streaming to get invested in watching our season, even if I had no interest in how the producers portrayed us after their loss in the settlement.

But Aspen could watch it tomorrow.

Maybe I'd even take the day off work and spend more time with her. The pack would be okay.

I glanced at the digital display on the microwave as Aspen let out a little snore.

Nine PM.

Like clockwork.

My mate fell asleep by my side. I lay next to her, resting my eyes, as the world around us who hadn't already seen the premiere of the 7 th annual Mating Season fell in love with watching our love story play out on TV.

*