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.

felt that familiar tug, but it was weak enough to push it

when we used to train together?” Serra asked,

I was finally big

to be a warrior. Or an Alpha’s Mate. Guilt tugged at him. He sensed Serra’s pain even though she fought to hide it from him.

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

my poor balls and twisted so hard I thought

“Your parts seemed to work

the times he and Serra had fucked like animals on this very gym

right before attempting to sweep Tieran’s leg out from under him but Tieran was wise to her style of fighting and

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

soft, Alpha?” she teased, bouncing away before he could

welling on his lip and grinned.

the

sparred for a solid ten minutes before Tieran caught Serra with a surprise kick to the stomach that sent her reeling to the floor, gasping to catch

rebound, he worried he’d actually hurt her and went to help her up, but she caught him with a swift kick to the jaw as she spun around and suddenly he was seeing

core nestled perfectly against his groin. It took a full second to realize

triumphantly, grinding against him and sighing with pleasure as the hard-ridge of his cock rubbed against

sealing her mouth to his. In a flash, everything about Serra’s familiar weight on top of him felt wrong — even repugnant.

her hips 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. “I have bonded with Cassandra. What we had was child’s play compared to what I