Page 28

Elissa

Woke up this morning with my husband’s face between my thighs and I’m not gonna lie, it’s my favorite way to wake up.

His hunger for me has only grown after twelve years of marriage and five cubs. Sometimes, the intensity of our feelings for one another is so great, I need a moment to just absorb it all.

“Mom! Look what Melly did!” Celia, the youngest of our oldest set of twins comes shouting into the living room that is the center of the Pride House.

“What did I tell you about inside voices, baby girl?” I tell her, my face frowning in a mock glare.

It’s about all I can rile up, happy as I am.

Hunter is apprising the members of his Honor Guard on today’s events and our most special guest, and I am seeing to all the food.

This Valentine’s Day luncheon is a special celebration of one of the most awesome holidays ever.

I mean, who doesn’t love love ?

“Sorry, Mom, but Melly put pink glitter all over my valentine for Uncle Uzzi and I wanted blue!” She pouts adorable, her teal-colored eyes so like her father’s.

Melly is the bold one, with Celia being the decidedly more bashful of our oldest set of twins. But whatever she lacks in brashness, she sure doesn’t lack for sass.

“I see, and that was wrong of her to be careless with the glitter. I’ll talk to her, but do you think Uncle Uzzi will mind either way?”

“No. He’s the best,” she replies and sighs.

The sounds of the other children, my own and some of the Pride cubs, wreaking havoc in the arts and crafts room reaches our ears and Celia frowns.

“I better see what’s going on. The boys have been teasing the girls all morning,” she says with the same inflection in her tone every boy mama has used on the daily.

“Thank you, Celia. I love you,” I tell her and smile when she comes in for a quick snuggle before rushing off to help the younger ones.

Crisis averted.

“Was that my Celia? Something happen?” A deep, husky growl fills the air, and

I sigh as my mate comes to nuzzle me from behind, paying close attention to that special place on my neck that he marked as his all those years ago.

“Nothing she can’t handle. You know, I think she’s going to be a great leader someday,” I say and Hunter hums deep in his chest before turning me around to face him.

“We have time before our guest of honor arrives, mate. Want to go upstairs with me?”

“Yes,” I say before he even finishes, and I giggle as he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder before jogging up the stairs to our private suite of rooms.

He’s still strong as a Tiger. My handsome lover with his shaved head and bulging muscles. My body has changed. I’ve gained some weight after the cubs, but Hunter doesn’t seem to mind.

I love the way I look through his eyes. Now that I am a Shifter time has been kind. But still, all my added softness doesn’t seem to alter his love for me or dampen his need.

“I need you all the time, mate,” he whispers, and his large hands rest on my waist.

I giggle as he starts to untie the simple wrap dress I have on, and I wait for him to notice the new teddy I am wearing thanks to Kisses by Kylie’s lingerie for plus-size women.

Having a best friend who designed pretty panties for big girls is one of the bonuses of being Nari of the Maverick Pride. I have more friends than I can count, and the Pride House is filled with love and happiness.

Sure, we have our share of problems, but it’s nothing we can’t solve together. The Pride is a great big family, and I am honored to be a part of it.

But having Hunter as my mate is the single most important thing in my life. Without him I wouldn’t be the Nari. I wouldn’t be a mother.

As he drops to his knees and kisses my center with his big arms wrapped around my waist, I sigh and lean back, knowing he has me.

“Hunter,” I whimper as he licks into my pussy, spreading my slick folds with his purrfectly rough tongue.

I want more than his mouth. I want that fantastic cock I know he has waiting behind his thick jeans.

“Please,” I beg, proud of my need for him, and not afraid to voice it.

“Come for me, mate. Come and I’ll fill you good,” he promises, curving his fingers and stroking my G-spot just right.

And I do. I come.

Then he’s lifting me against the wall, bracing the back of my head, and I hear his zipper sliding down right before he fills me.

“Fuck. You feel perfect, mate. Always so goddamn perfect,” he growls, then he moves, and neither of us can speak.

Hunter is so big and thick, his cock feels perfect as he fucks me hard and with serious intent. It doesn’t take long. That’s how well he knows my body.

He whispers praises, tells me how much he loves me, and I shatter.

My pussy convulses, tightening around his dick, and with a mighty roar my mate comes inside me.

“Love you, my Nari.”

“I love you, too.”

I smile as he fixes my dress, cleaning me with a soft cloth before tucking himself back inside his jeans.

We embrace one more time before the doorbell rings and I grin.

We have a party to get to.