Page 22

Chapter 22

Bjorn

W hen Penelope’s ex arrives in the evening a few days later, it doesn’t come as a surprise. My Beast alerts me of his presence in our territory and I brace myself for whatever comes next, protective instincts on high alert. Penelope and I have agreed on how to let this play out, but if Daniel tries anything stupid again, all bets are off.

“He’s here.” I wipe my hands on a kitchen towel and go to her.

The morning after his attack, we discussed the possibilities and decided that our plan was one of denial. After all, what could he prove happened? I insisted on going with her to the lab that morning, unable to let her get too far, but he was long gone and hasn’t shown up since. Nor has there been any talk at the facility about anything unusual.

Penelope looks up from where she’s working at the small table in the living room, her eyes wide. “Okay.”

She lets out a long breath, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my stomach. I run my hands through her hair and tug until her violet eyes meet mine. I push reassurance through the bond, let her see my Beast in my eyes.

“No matter what, I’ll keep you safe.” I brush my lips against hers, tracing the line of her necklace with my fingers as a reminder of my claim.

“I know,” she murmurs between kisses.

The rumble of an engine outside lets me know he’s arrived, followed by the sound of a door slamming and heavy footsteps. An insistent knock sounds at the door.

Penelope gets up and I follow her, my palm resting in the center of her back. She takes a deep breath and opens the door. Her ex-husband looks worse for wear, his clothing stained and rumpled, his eyes sunken and clouded by shadows, and his body bowed with pain. It probably shouldn’t be satisfying, but it is.

He takes me in, a shiver racing down his spine before he collects himself, his arrogance returning. My ink may have distorted his memories, made it so he doesn’t understand what happened, but his body knows that I’m a predator and he’s prey. He can posture all he wants, but this isn’t going to end like he thinks.

“Pen.” He says the shortened version of her name as though it owns her and the sound of it bristles, chafing against my skin.

I hold myself still, assessing.

“Daniel. What are you doing here?” Penelope’s voice sounds surprised, and I squeeze her hip in praise. Nothing about her sounds off, even though her anxiety pulses within the bond.

“You were easy to find. It’s not like you kept the affair secret. The locals pointed me right here.” He takes me in again, this time all false bravado and superiority. “Heard you shacked up with the first man who would have you. A local and the town recluse. Did she mention the part where she was married?”

I can feel Penelope’s anger, and my own grumble sparks in protest. She does not belong to him; she never really did. The urge to hit him is overwhelming, but I force my instincts back, letting this play out as we planned.

“We’re divorced. Which you seem to have forgotten. Why are you here, Daniel?” Penelope’s voice is cold, detached.

“I came all this way. Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Her ex leans against the doorframe, crowding into her space.

“You’re not taking one step inside our house. You got something to say, it can be said right here,” I say, the words low and full of menace.

“Why are you here, Daniel?” Penelope asks again.

“I wanted to see you, make sure you were okay.” He ignores me and my Beast pushes to the surface, eager to teach him some manners. “I talked with Luz and came as soon as I knew you were hurt.”

“As you can see, I’m fine. You, however, look like shit. Worry less about me and take care of yourself, Daniel.”

His eyes narrow and his jaw tics. “Did you locate the artifact?”

“There is no artifact. I already told you that. It was a silly mistake. Go home, Daniel. Whatever you’re looking for, you won’t find it from me.” Penelope moves to shut the door on him, but he steps closer.

That’s it. I tuck Penelope behind me and stomp onto the porch, forcing her ex to back away.

“We’re finished here.” I let my eyes flash with my Beast for the briefest moment. “You threw what you had with her away. I won’t make that mistake. Penelope is mine to care for, and if you return, it will be the last thing you do.”

It’s a warning and Daniel knows it, his body going rigid. He looks confused for a moment, lost in a horrible memory, then he’s stumbling off the porch.

I cross the yard behind him, hovering near my ax where it’s lodged in a stump near the wood pile. I don’t plan to use it, but it’s effective all the same. Daniel runs to his car, eyes wide with fear as he backs away.

Penelope’s small hand touches my back and I pull her against my side.

“Do you think he remembers?” she asks.

“Enough to be afraid but not remember. He won’t return.”

She clings to me, and I hold her tightly, letting the feel of her in my arms lessen the urge to go after him and make sure he can’t haunt her again.

“Either way, when this project is finished, I want to start living and exploring. Let’s build a life far away.”

“Wildcat, this life is ours. We can make it whatever we want.”

“Good.” She goes to her tippy-toes, brushing a kiss against my cheek.

I pick her up and claim her mouth, walking through the yard and back into the house. The kiss is hot, all panting breath and clumsy, desperate mouths. I pin her to the wall, flushed and trembling. Clothes hit the floor in hurried movements. Hands and mouths find skin, kissing and sucking.

When I stroke her center, she’s wet for me. Back and forth, my fingers rub her pussy until she’s squirming and bucking. My tongue fucks into her mouth, then I fill her, sinking in two deep to the knuckle. She gushes around me, sucking me tight with her greedy pussy as I swallow her moans.

“I love how eager you are for me, Wildcat. So fucking sexy the way you show me how turned on you get.” My cock twitches and my tentacles sprout along my chin, eager to taste and tease her.

“It feels so good.” She squeezes her breasts together, plucking at her nipples.

For a moment, I watch her play with her tits, mesmerized. They’re more than a handful, spilling from her grasp. The sway of her movements highlights the blush rising on her skin and I can’t help but bury myself in them, sucking and nipping at her stiff nipples. My feelers join in, binding her breasts tightly for me to tease and suck. Everything about her body makes me want to worship her, bury my cock and tentacles inside her until I’m swallowed by her soft curves and the two of us are one.

Penelope gets restless, turning into my Wildcat and grinding down on my fingers. I groan, sliding back into her slowly and pushing her harder against the wall with my hips. My cock is leaking pre-cum, hard and aching for her, but I don’t want to stop the sight of her bound breasts in my tentacles while she rides my fingers, mouth open in ecstasy. It’s the picture of eroticism, so fucking sexy and full of life. This beautiful, wanton woman is mine, and I don’t know that I’ll ever tire of watching her come alive for me.

My voice is low, barely hanging on when I say, “Be a good girl and come all over my hand. Let me use it to slick my cock.”

She opens her eyes, and I hold her gaze. Inside those violet eyes is everything. Penelope’s pussy clamps around me the moment my feelers suck her clit, but her eyes never leave mine. Her climax explodes in the bond between us. We both moan into it, my forehead falling to hers when the last of her tremors subsides.

“You’re so fucking beautiful when you let go for me. Such a sexy mate.” I breathe near her ear, my hand easing away from her pussy and digging into her fleshy ass.

“Take me,” she pleads.

I pull myself out and slick my shaft with her release. The head of my cock notches into her soaking pussy, and I angle my hips, filling her in one deep glide. She gasps, and I swallow the sound, kneading the flesh of her ass and pumping my cock into her tight channel. I’m desperate for her, swimming in the scent of her arousal and the feel of her softness all around me. Giving into my need, I let rut take over. I fuck her in fast strokes, more Beast than man.

“Yes,” she cries. “Harder.”

Her nails dig into my shoulders, her mouth sucks along my neck, and her pussy squeezes my shaft. A tentacle wraps around her throat and her mouth opens, letting loose a keening, needy noise that goes straight to my dick.

I pick up the pace, holding her to me while I take her in deep, fast strokes until I’m grinding my knot against her entrance. My cock erupts, ropes of cum filling her pussy and causing her to gush around me. Her sweet pussy squeezes out every last drop, making my cum spill down her thighs. I scoop it up and nudge it back in before thrusting one last time to lock her on my knot. She spasms around me, sending little bolts of pleasure to my spine.

“Fuck,” she whines, her legs trembling and her arms clinging to me.

“For the rest of our lives,” I assure her, giving a solid swat to her ass.

She yelps, but her pussy twitches.

“You’re mine.” My perfectly naughty little mate loves being reminded who her body belongs to, and I love reminding her.

I take a moment to catch my breath before taking her to the couch by the fire. My body feels relaxed, and I bask in the hazy cloud of bliss created by having her scent around me and her weight in my arms.

We stay locked together until dusk gives way to night. I finish dinner while she works on her research, then we eat by the fire. Penelope reads to me until we get lost in the story, falling into bed hours later with whispered words and slow kisses.

It’s a quiet intimacy. The start of a life full of color and adventure, but mostly peace. The knowledge that we get to do it all again tomorrow, that we have lifetimes to love one another, settles into my soul and I send a prayer of thanks to the gods and the sea. They sent me salvation in the form of a curious human who isn’t afraid to love a beast, and I’m going to make sure she never regrets the chance she gave me.