CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

A month later

Half-propped up against the headboard, Deke watched as his mate swallowed his cock again and again. It was a beautiful sight—her lips stretched around him, her face flushed, her sleek back arched, her delectable ass up in the air.

He’d woken to the feel of her tongue licking at his shaft from base to tip, which had to be the best alarm in existence. She’d gone easy at first, lapping and playing. But the moment she’d taken his dick into her mouth, she’d gotten right down to business.

She sucked hard and fast, taking him deep with each pass, doing wicked things with her tongue. And now he had his fingers buried in her hair, so close to snatching the control and fucking her throat raw.

She was good at making his composure erode. It was how she’d ended up with a claiming mark on her neck before the imprinting process was complete.

It was exactly two weeks ago when he’d been riding her hard that his control had vanished, his possessiveness had taken over, and his teeth were then buried deep in her flesh before he knew it. Bailey hadn’t freaked on him for leaving a claiming mark so soon, no, she’d returned the favor.

It had been right then that the imprinting bond appeared. Up to that point, the process had dragged its heels. It was as if both he and Bailey had needed the other to back up their words with actions before they could truly trust the claiming would really happen.

That was Deke’s theory, anyway.

After all, Bailey didn’t find it easy to believe that people would want to keep her around, and she’d worried a part of him would prefer to find his true mate.

As for Deke … After Dayna had kept him dangling on a carrot with fake promises for so long, he’d needed more than verbal assurances to feel sure of Bailey’s intentions. More, he’d needed to be certain his cat wouldn’t have a relapse and suddenly withdraw from everyone—including her.

All of that could have interfered with the progression of the imprinting process, so their claiming each other would have been exactly what was needed to complete it.

Whatever the case, they were now officially mated. Something that neither he nor his cat could be more pleased about. They’d had the mating ceremony mere days later, and the after-party had been a blast. It was—

He groaned as she suddenly began bobbing her head faster, her lips tightening around him. “Jesus, baby.” He ground his teeth as the head of his cock bumped the back of her throat. “Take me deeper. Fuck, yeah.”

Unable to help himself, he began jutting up his hips to meet her mouth. She didn’t pull back. She took it. Sucked even harder, as if determined to suck the come right out of his balls. Knowing he’d blow his load if he didn’t put an end to it now, he used his hold on her hair to snatch up her head. “Get over here and ride me.”

She pouted, her lips red and swollen. “Always so bossy in the mornings.”

Yeah, well, he didn’t really have the patience to do anything but rut on her when he woke hard as a rock. “You gonna make me wait?”

Straddling him, she positioned the broad tip of his dick at her entrance. “No. I want to come.” She dropped down on him.

He hissed as her pussy swallowed every inch of his dick, so gorgeously hot and slick he could live there. Heaven.

She planted her hands on his chest and began impaling herself on him over and over.

“That’s it, use my dick to get yourself off.” He reached out and palmed her breasts, wanting to feel them bounce in his hands as she rode him. His release would hit him soon. So would hers—he could sense through their bond how close she was to exploding.

Being so connected to her had taken some getting used to, but he liked it. Especially at moments such as these, where he could feel her rising pleasure; it amplified his own by a thousand, and vice versa.

A growl crawled up his throat as she briefly and deliberately tightened her inner muscles around his shaft. “Do that again.”

She did, smiling wickedly.

Feeling his balls tighten, he released one of her breasts and dove right for her clit. He rubbed it, rolled it, flicked it, plucked it.

Her glazed eyes turned glassier. Her face flushed deeper. Her downwards thrusts became frantic.

Then it happened. She threw her head back, choking on a scream as her pussy clenched and rippled around him.

As an echo of her orgasm danced down their bond, he grabbed her hips and started slamming her down on his cock, thrusting upward each time. His mind blanked as his release hit, making jets of come burst out of his cock and fill her.

Breathing hard, she let herself fall forward and sprawl over him. “I don’t know who I love more,” she slurred. “You, or your cock. You’re both so wonderful.”

He felt his lips kick up. “Me. You love me more.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She began idly stroking his chest, petting and relaxing him in that way she sometimes did after sex—his cat looked forward to it. Her lips curved against his skin. “You’re purring. Such a pretty kitty.”

He bit her shoulder.

Her head shot up, and she glared at him. “Ow, that hurt.”

Using his fingertip to trace the claiming mark on her neck, he said, “It’s not nice to tease your mate.”

“It’s not nice to abruptly shove a finger up their butt during sex,” she shot back, “but you’ve done that to me more times than I can count.”

His mouth curving again, he skated a hand down her back to palm the aforementioned butt. “How can I resist when you have such a beautiful ass?” He doodled circles on the smooth globe, disappointed to find that the indentation of his teeth were gone. He’d bitten her last night, though not hard, so it was unsurprising that the mark had already healed. “And don’t act like you don’t like having my finger up there.”

“A little warning would go a long way, though.”

“But there’d be no fun in warning you.”

“So it’s revenge for how often I torment you?”

He pursed his lips. “Pretty much, yeah.”

“I can respect that. Revenge is good.”

Snickering, he loosely gathered her hair in his hands, loving how luxuriously soft it was. “You would say that.”

Humming, she pressed a kiss to his mouth. “I gotta go clean up. In fact, we both do.” She rose from the bed and stretched. “We need to eat, dress, and shower … though not in that order. We have a party to attend.”

Rising, he followed her into the bathroom. “I’m surprised Bree got Alex to agree to throw one. I mean, I know it’s to celebrate the birth of their daughter, but he’s not a guy who likes parties.” The wolverine was far too antisocial to enjoy them.

Nodding, she edged into the shower stall. “There isn’t much he wouldn’t do for Bree, though. He’s gone for her. Like you are me.”

Deke flicked up a brow as he joined her in the stall. “Gone, huh?”

“Yup.” She squealed as he switched on the shower, making cold water pour down on her. “You’re such an asshole!”

He chuckled. “A gone asshole, apparently.”

She juddered even as he heated the water. “That was cruel.”

He rolled his eyes. “Stop whining. You’re alive, aren’t you?”

“I get closer to death every day—we all do—so it’s more like a slow journey toward death than ‘life.’”

Deke could only shrug. “If you say so.”

When they exited their apartment a couple of hours later, Bailey smiled as they walked straight into a party. Rather than have the entire pride celebrate at the Tavern as usual, Bree and Alex had chosen to break tradition and throw an apartment-block party—possibly so he could close himself inside his bedroom when he’d hit his socializing limit. As such, people were everywhere.

Clusters of them stood in the hallway. Others gathered inside apartments or stood in the open doorways. Those who weren’t dancing to the music blasting were talking with others while drinking and nibbling on finger foods.

The whole pride was thrilled by the birth of Aurora Velentia Devereaux. Only a few weeks old, the baby wolverine—yes, Alex had been right in his prediction of what breed of shifter she’d be—was spoiled rotten already. Her arrival had sure brightened what had been an otherwise dull time for the pride, thanks to the Gerard and Therese extravaganza.

No extremists had turned up to collect Bailey, so she could only think they’d first attempted to contact Therese and then gotten suspicious when she hadn’t answered or returned their call. Lucky for them, or they’d have been eradicated by the pride.

Before being kicked out of the pride, Gerard had been appropriately punished. Bailey hadn’t had any part in that, since she hadn’t trusted that her snake wouldn’t rise and kill him, but she was pretty sure Deke had had some “quality time” with him.

Without a goodbye to anyone, Dayna had returned to Australia literally days after Therese attempted to kill her. Bailey couldn’t lie, she’d totally fist pumped. It was best for the woman’s health that she’d accepted the simple fact that she’d never have Deke. If she’d pushed the matter, Bailey would have dealt with her in a manner that made Therese’s attack on Dayna seem like a tickle-fest.

Right then, Bailey looked up at him. “Where’s the buffet?”

“Mom said it would be in Valentina and James’ apartment,” he replied.

“Then that’s where we’re going, I’m peckish.” She said her hellos as they began shrugging through the crowds. Deke took the lead, ensuring people edged out of the way so she wouldn’t get jostled, which her snake found sweet.

They didn’t get far before they came across Shay, who beamed at them. Bailey grinned right back. But Deke? No.

“What’s that frown for?” Shay asked him, his brows sliding together.

Deke’s nostrils flared. “My cat is growling. The sight of you still irritates him.”

A mischievous glint in his eyes, Shay smiled. “You mean because I know what your mate—”

“Shay.” She poked his shoulder hard. “Don’t play with him. Only I get to drive him and his cat insane. No one else has that right.”

Shay’s brows lifted. “That’s fair.”

“I think so.”

Deke sighed. “Get out of our way, asshole.”

Shay moved aside with a chuckle. “Cranky bastard.”

She and Deke once more advanced through the throngs of people. When they finally stepped into the elevator, it was to find a makeshift bar there. Manning it, Finley arched a brow. “Hey, guys. What are you having?”

After he pressed the correct button on the panel, he and Bailey both grabbed a beer as the elevator began its descent. No sooner had they opened their bottles than the shiny metal doors glided open. They filed out and, again, found themselves surrounded by people.

Deke once more shouldered his way through pride members, ensuring Bailey could squeeze by without problem. As she caught sight of Cassandra across the hall, she gave her a quick wave. The blonde returned it, looking somewhat stiff and uncomfortable.

Bailey didn’t fail to notice that not many people stood close to her. Cassandra had been getting the cold shoulder ever since Sam went to stay with his relatives in another pride for a short time. Most people blamed her, which Bailey didn’t think was fair.

Apparently, neither did one of the enforcers, JP—he’d started dating her recently, and things seemed to be going well with them. He stood beside her right then, his body language daring anyone to give her attitude.

Hearing Deke bid someone a hey, Bailey looked to see James and his mother, Ingrid. Both were fussing over the baby girl he held.

Smiling, Bailey gently skimmed a finger over her super-soft cheek. “She is far too adorable.” Her snake flicked out her tongue, liking the new-baby scent.

“She is,” agreed James, his mouth curved.

“You look proud as punch,” Deke said to him.

“I am.” James gazed down at her, rocking her gently. “I don’t often get to hold her. If my mate isn’t hogging her, it’s Alex or Elle or Damian or my mother. Even Bree struggles to get some time with our Aurora.”

“Don’t whine,” Ingrid told him. “It’s unattractive on a grown man.”

Three males materialized, none of whom were pride members. Or cats. Or sane.

Alex’s uncles.

“Deke,” boomed Isaak in greeting. “You look well,” he said in his thick Russian accent, patting Deke’s back.

“You claimed mamba, I hear,” said Dimitri, briefly cutting his gaze to Bailey before refocusing on Deke. “You have my admiration and respect.”

Deke frowned. “Uh … thanks, I guess.”

Sergei melted at the sight of the baby James was still cradling. “Ah, if it isn’t our beautiful Galina.”

James sighed, his eyelid twitching. “That’s not her name.”

Sergei adjusted his collar. “It is fitting one for Ivanov wolverine.”

“First of all, she’s a Devereaux,” James reminded him. “Second of all, the name Aurora is—”

“Not suitable,” Sergei finished.

“Not Russian, you mean.”

Isaak cut in, “Same thing.”

James frowned. “No. No, it isn’t.”

Dimitri leaned into Isaak and said, “Poor babe deserves pity, having psychopathic cat for step-grandfather.”

James looked honestly close to punching one of the brothers—maybe all three. “I’m not a ‘step’ anything. Like it or not, I’m the father of your niece and nephew. Accept it.”

Ignoring that, Isaak patted Dimitri’s shoulder in reassurance. “Little Galina will have us. We will be there for her. She will learn ways of wolverines from us.”

“Mama will help,” Sergei threw in.

James gave them a pointed look. “That dysfunctional mother of yours won’t be around Aurora without supervision—I can tell you that now.”

And just like that, the chests of all three male wolverines puffed up in affront.

“Dysfunctional?” Isaak echoed in a tone that dared James to repeat himself.

The pallas cat lifted a brow. “Would you prefer I called her the embodiment of all evil?”

Isaak ground his teeth. “If it is really death you seek, dumb cat, I will—”

“Please do not tell me you are arguing again,” interrupted Valentina, appearing out of nowhere.

Dimitri frowned at her. “He called Mama dysfunctional. Can you believe that?”

Well, Deke could. From what he’d seen of Olga, the woman had a dozen screws loose. And she had no issue drugging her mate to make him stop talking. She made Bailey seem sound of mind.

Sergei sneered at James. “You disgust me, feline. How can you show no respect for person who birthed woman you tricked into thinking she is your mate?”

“There were no tricks,” James upheld, looking bored. “Valentina is my true mate. Let it go already.”

“Lies,” Isaak declared. “Nothing but lies.”

James slid him an exasperated look. “I’d ask you to be normal, but I don’t think you know what that is.”

“Enough of this foolishness,” Valentina interjected, slashing a hand through the air. “I am—” She cut off as Havana and Aspen barged out of the stairwell door squealing like little girls. The answer of why quickly became apparent when Blair chased after them like a crab, several of her limbs all disjointed—including her neck.

Bailey scrambled up Deke’s back so fast it was impressive—particularly since she didn’t even spill her beer. Looping one arm and both legs around him, she shuddered. “Creepy.”

Deke snorted, his lips quirking. Spotting Isaiah leaving a nearby apartment, Deke cupped his mate’s calf as he crossed to the enforcer.

A chicken wing in hand, Isaiah frowned at Bailey, though his eyes were lit with amusement. “There a reason you’re all the way up there?”

Clinging to Deke like a monkey, she replied, “Of course.” But she didn’t expand.

Deke took a swig of his beer. “Any progress with FindYourMatch.com?”

“Ooh, yeah, what’s going on with that?” Bailey asked the enforcer, who’d recently made the entire pride aware of his plans to enter an arranged mating.

“I was sent the names of three possible matches,” said Isaiah. “Each has what you’d call a basic profile and a photograph on the website, so I checked them out.”

“And?” prodded Bailey.

“One stood out for me.” Isaiah bit some meat off his chicken wing. “I had River do a little digging, but he couldn’t find more info on her than I already know.”

“What kind of shifter is she?” Deke asked.

Isaiah’s mouth hitched up. “A breed that will never fear pallas cats, so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry that she’d care what I am. I contacted her. We exchanged a few messages. She’s agreed to meet with me.”

So far so good, in that case. “When?”

“Soon. Tate will come along, as will her Alpha male. We’ll probably—”

“Dear God, will you never stop?” bellowed Damian, his face red as he glared at his sister further down the hall.

“Until the world accepts that I’m right about you and brands you the monster you are, no,” Elle yelled right back. “No, Beelzebub, I will never stop.”

Damian threw up his arms. “I can’t with you.”

Feeling his lips curl, Deke peered up at his mate, expecting to see her laughing. She wasn’t. Her eyes were glazed over as she stared into space. He squeezed her calf to get her attention. “Are you in a mental world of your own again?”

She hummed. “I’m just wondering if colors look the same to everyone else as they do to me.”

Deke felt his brows draw together. “What?”

“Well … we can’t know for sure that we all see the exact same thing when we look at a color, can we?” she asked. “My version of yellow could be different from yours, and we’d have no clue. And before you go thinking that our eyes can be trusted to see things exactly as they are, just note that leaves are not really green.”

Honestly, he had no clue why her brain latched onto crap like this, and he’d given up trying to figure it out. “I’d tell you to look it up, but you don’t like reading about anything that involves science.”

“Because scientists lie.” She slid off his back and moved to stand before him. “They shape our view of the world with bullshit from when we’re young so we’ll miss the truth even when older.”

“I really don’t think that’s the case.”

“Because they’ve successfully brainwashed you.” She gently patted his cheek. “It’s so sad.”

Ignoring Isaiah’s chuckle, Deke fisted her sweater. “No one has brainwashed me, least of all scientists. They deal in logic—something I’m aware you fail to grasp.”

“Preaching logic is another way to shape and control you. Do what’s rational, follow the rules, blend with the flock.” She cupped his chin. “Don’t let them trap and rule you.”

Jesus Christ. “There is no trap.”

“You have so much to learn, young grasshopper. Stick with me, kid. You’ll be fine. I’ll open your eyes to reality in time.”

“My eyes are wide open.”

“And seeing only what scientists tell you to see. Hello, brainwashed.”

He released her sweater and threw up a hand. “Okay, this conversation is just plain over.”

“It’s a good sign that my questions make you uncomfortable. It means you’re starting to believe I might be right but you’re not ready to face it yet. I can work with that.”

“There’s nothing to—” Deke stopped speaking and dragged in a breath. “You know, I don’t know why I bother appealing to you with rationality. It’s not like I’m unaware it won’t work, or that you’ve ever pretended to care for logic. I signed up for crazy, and it’s exactly what I’m getting.”

She smiled. “But you love me anyway.”

He felt his expression soften. Gripping her hip, he pulled her closer. “More than I thought I could love anyone, even if you are fucking certifiable.”

“Hmm, prove it and kiss me.”

“That I can do.”