THE AWAKENING

Tieran’s hands still tingled from the cream he’d spread on Cassandra and his blood was percolating at a fine clip for restraining himself to the task rather than slaking his pounding lust within her soft and rounded body, making for a fine recipe for a raging temper.

He’d been able to hold his desire in check by the thinnest of threads, reminding himself that she was in a delicate condition, far more important than satisfying his needs.

He detoured to the work-out room, needing to blow off some excess steam. He was pleased when he found the expansive room empty.

Tieran went straight to the punching bag, and without bothering to wrap his knuckles, he began taking his sexual frustration out on the heavy bag.

Cassandra was like a drug in his system and he was desperate for a fix. Her belly was a beautiful, rounded well of life, squirming with his progeny.

Her breasts had plumped even more than before until he could almost taste the honeyed skin against his tongue.

Her dainty pink areolas had darkened with the pregnancy and he could make out their outline from the gauzy, thin material providing some semblance of coverage of her lush body, but did nothing to prevent his imagination from filling in the blanks.

Was it possible she became even more beautiful with the passing of each day? Was this the bonding that happened between mates?

He could still smell her essence in the house, even though they hadn’t had sex since the forest floor, nearly a week ago. He ached to feel his cock sliding into her tight, wet sheath, stretching the slicked walls as he pushed himself deeper until he was seated to the hilt against her womanly flesh.

Good God, this wasn’t helping, he groaned, refocusing on the bag. He landed a vicious punch that would’ve shattered bone then countered with a roundhouse kick that would’ve caved in a chest. He was in misery. Tieran caught the rocking bag and rested his forehead against the beaten leather.

Sweat trickled down his back in rivulets and prayed to the Mother Goddess for strength and wisdom because at the moment, he felt as lost as a newborn pup. He pulled back and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm, ready to begin again, but Serra walked in.

grinned and for a second, he felt that familiar tug, but it was weak enough to push it

together?” Serra asked, going to

bested me nearly every match until I was finally big enough to simply overpower you,”

be a warrior. Or an Alpha’s Mate.

she cut in with a bright, teasing smile, going into a wide-legged stance. “And remember, no

“I only did that once. But if I recall correctly, you grabbed my poor balls

with knowing. “Your parts seemed to work just fine, if I

and Serra had fucked

laughed. “Have it your way,” she said right before attempting to sweep Tieran’s leg out from under him but Tieran was wise to her style of fighting and leapt out of the

at her midsection but she whirled and countered, catching him in the mouth with

Alpha?” she teased, bouncing away before he could rebound. “You used to be

on his lip and grinned. “And you used to hit

the

for a solid ten minutes before Tieran caught Serra with a surprise kick to the stomach

actually hurt her and went to help her up, but she caught him with a swift kick to the jaw as she spun around

It took a full second to realize she’d won the match

forget,” she murmured triumphantly, grinding against him and sighing with pleasure as the hard-ridge of his

between her teeth before sealing her mouth to his. In a flash, everything about Serra’s familiar weight on top of him felt

with both hands and lifted her off him, nearly tossing her free with a glower. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a harsh growl as he climbed to his feet.