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.

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

we used to train together?” Serra asked, going

I was finally big

Or an Alpha’s Mate. Guilt tugged at him.

to best me,” she cut in with a bright, teasing smile, going

But if I recall correctly, you grabbed my poor balls and twisted so hard I thought you’d neutered me. That was punishment enough for taking

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

had fucked like animals on this very gym floor.

Tieran’s leg out from under him but Tieran was wise to her style

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

bouncing away before he could rebound. “You used to be

blood welling on his lip

returned the grin.

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

him with a swift kick to the jaw as she spun around and

wasted no time in straddling him, the heat of her core nestled perfectly against his groin. It took a full second to realize she’d won the match but his body reacted like an eager boy with his first conquest, hardening beneath her ready heat.

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

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

a harsh growl as he climbed to his feet. “I have bonded with Cassandra. What we had was child’s play compared to what