My Perfect Mate Read online

  “Where else would she go? Shouldn’t you introduce me to our guests?” the woman asked.

  “Right, this is Susan and Jean-Paul. JP is going to help us with whatever our uncle found in the ice. This is my sister, Malina,” Ujarak said, turning to JP and Susan.

  “Hello,” Susan replied.

  “Come in. Mother and Father are anxious to meet you.” Malina turned, leading the way into the warm house. Susan fumbled with the zipper of the snowsuit. She wanted out of all the layers of clothes. JP tugged off his jacket and Malina took their things down a hallway.

  “I’m sure everyone is gathered in the kitchen,” Ujarak suggested and motioned to a doorway toward the back of the house. Susan grabbed JP’s hand. Meeting new people made her uncomfortable.

  “This is my father, Taliriktug, and my mother, Nicole.” Susan nodded to the older couple sitting at the table. “And this is Anaaya, my uncle’s wife.” Ujarak stood awkwardly by the door.

  “Soon to be ex-wife. Hi, I’m the middle brother, Kumaglak,” said a handsome man standing by the sink. He walked over to Anaaya and placed a cup of tea in front of her and then squeezed her shoulder.

  “Nice to meet you,” Susan muttered as JP greeted everyone. So many people with strange names. The brothers looked very much alike. Were they as bossy as their older brother, Mathis?

  “Don’t just stand there, Ujarak. Invite our guests to sit,” his father said.

  “Please, sit down. Can I get you something to eat or drink?” Nicole asked.

  “That would be wonderful, if it’s not too much trouble,” JP said. “I know Susan and I haven’t eaten much today, with everything.” Jean-Paul pulled out an empty chair for Susan and then sat beside her.

  She wrung her hands in her lap, her wolf nervous surrounded by so many polar bears, and Susan didn’t want to open her mouth and say the wrong thing, which always happened when she was nervous. JP laid his palm over hers. She grabbed it with both hands. He smiled and squeezed.

  “Mathis mentioned that you help care for his children,” Nicole took items out of the refrigerator.

  “Yes. I love children… and dogs.”

  “You’ll have to excuse my mate. She can be shy when she doesn’t know someone,” JP interjected smoothly.

  “Would you mind telling me how my daughter Cybille is doing?” Nicole asked. Her hand shook as she moved a bowl of soup to the counter. Was she nervous, being a lycan who lived in the polar bear village?

  Susan took a deep breath. No one in the room smelled threatening. “All of the children are adjusting well. Margot and Mathis dote on the kids, making sure they have one on one time with each child. Cybille is starting to come out of her shell, though she can still be clinging, wanting Margot if she is upset.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad the children are doing so well,” Nicole said stiffly and then turned her back to the group.

  Susan glanced at JP. Did she say something wrong? He squeezed her hands again.

  “It was very hard on my wife to send Cybille to live with Mathis,” Taliriktug said.

  Susan nodded. “That would be hard.” Susan started to ask Nicole why she didn’t fight to keep her children. A warning look from JP stopped her question.

  “You will go after my brother?” asked Taliriktug.

  “Yes. I believe he found a magic item that was lost in the ice. Unfortunately the item heats with strong emotion and if not stopped, could melt the polar ice cap. We need to get it back as soon as possible.”

  “What will you do with it?” Anaaya asked.

  “Send it someplace where it isn’t a danger. Is there anyway, your husband would give up the ring voluntarily?”

  Susan’s nose tingled with the biting smell of aggression rising. She followed the scent to the middle brother, Kumaglak, and a little bit from Ujarak. Did they not like the question, or that JP asked it. She shuddered. Jean-Paul glanced at her and frowned before taking his arm and wrapping it around her.

  “I don’t think so,” Anaaya said sadly. “My husband is a violent, bitter man.” She began to cry and Kumaglak picked her up and carried her from the room. Ujarak started to rise from his chair, then sank down, a look of defeat on his face.

  Susan couldn’t figure out what went on here. Both brothers were acting strangely over their uncle’s wife. She opened her mouth to ask, when JP caught her eye and shook his head. Susan sighed and pursed her lips. These polar bears were crazy. Thank goodness she hadn’t been turned into one of them.

  Ujarak’s mom placed a bowl of hot soup in front of her and Susan gladly ate. At least she couldn’t get in trouble with food in her mouth.

  §

  “The house is pretty full, so you guys can have my room,” Ujarak said. “Sorry it only has a twin bed. I’ll be on the couch if you need anything.”

  All JP wanted was to take Susan to bed. If he didn’t cement the mating bond into place now, it would have to wait until they got back from their excursion. Susan seemed to be edgy with all the bears around and JP appreciated the offered privacy.

  “You don’t have to give up your room, Ujarak. We can take the couch,” Susan said.

  Oh, no way was JP taking the couch. He would’ve ported Susan back to his home, but with his family there, he wouldn’t get any more privacy than here. “Your friend is trying to be generous while protecting you and the other shifters at the same time. We’ll need a little privacy to cement the mating bond into place,” JP explained.

  “Oh.” Susan blushed a pretty pink.

  A door opened and Kumaglak stepped into the hall a frown on his face. “Ujarak, Anaaya is sleeping. I don’t want her disturbed. She needs rest after her ordeal.”

  “Are you going to claim her then,” Ujarak asked through gritted teeth.

  “When she is no longer considered married. Isn’t that what we talked about before you became enamored of this she-wolf?”

  “Wait a minute. This she-wolf is standing right here! And if you want to let Anaaya rest you might take this discussion outside.” Susan put her hands on her hips. Her gaze switched back and forth between the two brothers. JP’s lips twitched. His Destined One was a puzzle, outspoken one minute and shy the next.

  “Our guest is correct,” Kumaglak said with a nod toward her. “We should go outside and talk, little brother.”

  “Thank you for the use of your room, Ujarak,” JP quickly interjected. “Susan and I will see you in the morning.” JP opened the door and pushed Susan through, and then closed it behind him. The room was meant for a child and hardly had enough room to walk around the twin size bed. One lone chair sat in the corner.

  “Hey, what was that for? I wanted to know what was going on with those two.” Susan looked up at him, her eyes bright.

  “Honey, sometimes it’s best to let brothers figure things out on their own. They’re family, they’ll work it out.”

  “How do you know? You have a sister.” Susan plunked on the bed before leaning down to untie her boots.

  “Yes, half-sister. I love her very much.” At least Susan got undressed without him asking.

  JP began to unbutton his shirt. He frowned when Susan didn’t pause to watch or show any sign of interest. Didn’t she want to cement the bond in place? Marguerite told him his chest was swoon worthy. Did she exaggerate?

  Susan stood and slipped off her sweater. Underneath she wore white silk thermal underwear. JP undid the buckle of his belt and still Susan didn’t pause, but started removing her jeans. Jean-Paul swore under his breath as she sat and pulled her jeans off, before folding them, and placing them on the chair next to the bed.

  Jean-Paul stepped out of his underwear and stood before her, naked and wanting her. Susan finally stopped messing with her clothes and looked him up and down. Her eyes widened and she licked her lips. Yes, that was the kind of reaction he hoped for.

  “Aren’t you going to take off your hat? You know I can’t remember a time you didn’t have a hat on. Is your hair weird or something? Do you have a bald spot?�
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  “No, I don’t have a bald spot. I wear the hat to cover my ears because it’s cold.”

  “You don’t have some kind of hat fetish do you? Are you going to sleep like that?”

  JP sighed. “Susan aren’t you going to take off the long underwear?” This was not what he pictured for the first time he took his Destined One to bed. He’d thought of something a little more palatial, after all, he was a Fae Lord. Not that Susan realized that, though he was sure she could see through his glamour spell.

  Still, he had worn a hat to hide his ears while around her and there wasn’t another Fae for thousands of miles. The witch-kind couldn’t see through his spell, so they probably never mentioned his ears. Susan didn’t even know about lycans until six months ago, so Fae were probably not even on her radar. He looked closely at her face and noticed the blush on her cheeks. She looked everywhere but at him. Was she nervous?

  “Honey, what’s wrong? You do want to cement the bond in place don’t you? It would be better to have this done with before we head out onto the ice.” Her jaw clenched. Whoops, wrong choice of words. “I meant, we’d both be more comfortable with each other.” She stiffened. Great Goddess, he messed this up! She stood and pulled the covers back and then climbed into the small bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Okay, this was not good.

  Jean-Paul turned off the light. Like a wild wolf, Susan’s eyes reflected the light from outside and glowed. He walked around to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers.

  Susan rolled away from him until she was on the very edge of the bed. Sighing, JP wrapped an arm around her and dragged her back into his body. He lay spooning her, his nose buried in her neck. He waited, holding her until she began to relax. She was tired, but she wasn’t sleeping until he let her.

  “I love the way you smell like ripe peaches. My mouth waters to take a bite out of you.” He nibbled at her ear and neck. She squirmed, but didn’t pull away. He took her earlobe into his mouth and sucked on it. She leaned back into him, a sweet little sound coming from her throat. His lycan mate played hard to get, but she was interested.

  His hand pushed underneath her shirt and found her nipple behind the lace of her bra. He pinched lightly, letting the roughness of the lace tantalize her skin. She sighed. He pushed the shirt higher, baring her other breast before caressing her again. He scooted backwards and rolled Susan toward him onto her back. “Lift up,” he insisted, as he pulled the shirt from her body.

  He caressed her milky white skin. Finding the front clasp, he freed her breasts with a quick flick of his wrist. As the bra fell open, he leaned over to kiss her collarbone and then slowly licked her skin, moving lower until he reached her nipple.

  She pressed up, begging him for attention. He only licked around the nubbin and then blew across it, watching as it tightened even more. He lay partially over her and her hands went to his head. Finding his stocking cap, she pulled it off and flung it to the floor. Her fingers quickly entangled in his hair. He leaned across to her other breast and licked at the nub. She tugged on his hair. Giving her what she wanted, he sucked the nipple into his mouth. His tongue lapped at her flesh before his teeth pressed down. She whimpered and squirmed. He loved how responsive she was.

  He ran his fingers gently across her abdomen and then lightly scratched her skin. The differing sensations sent shivers up her spine His hand traveled lower to the waistband of her pants. He slipped a finger under the elastic and lightly ran it around to her hip and back. She squirmed. Her breath coming faster.

  Pushing his hand under the thermal pants he stroked her skin, playing at the edge of her silken panties, caressing her hip bones and upper thigh. While his mouth continued to pleasure her breasts, first one and then the other, Susan moaned and ran her fingers down his back, her nail lightly scoring his skin.

  He released her breast. She reluctantly let go of his hair as he moved to kneel between her thighs. He reached for the waistband of her pants and slowly worked them down. Susan lifted her hips and he slipped off the last of her clothing. The garments lay forgotten on the floor as he gazed at her.

  She was beautiful, her nipples red and extended from his kisses, her legs spread to accommodate him. Little blond curls glistened with moisture between her thighs. What a treasure the Goddess gifted him. He leaned down and pressed kisses to her legs and slowly worked his way up, licking and nibbling until he reached the wet curls waiting for him.

  He blew lightly across her and she shivered. Suddenly needing a taste, he swiped up her crease with his tongue. She gasped. He went back for more, pushing his tongue deep. She tasted as lovely as she smelled. He would never get enough. He pushed in again, licking, searching for the wonderful cream.

  “Oh my god, Jean-Paul, you’re driving me crazy.” Susan’s voice came out breathy and hoarse. JP went down again, pushing a finger into her core. He sucked on the little bundle of nerves that added to her pleasure. He began to feel her emotions. When he sucked her, he could feel her pleasure. Was this the mating bond?

  Mathis said it would connect them telepathically. JP didn’t realize it would connect them empathically. He used his teeth to lightly press on the nerves. Susan gasped as her body bucked. Ecstasy flooded his mind. He floated with her in the ether.

  Jean-Paul shook his head, trying to separate his desire from her pleasure. He moved up her body, needing to connect them, feeling her need to be filled. He poised above her, his member nudging at her core.

  “Susan, look at me. I want to see your eyes as I take you.” Her eyelids fluttered and then she locked onto his gaze. Jean-Paul pushed in deeply.

  §

  Susan stared into Jean-Paul’s eyes. She could feel his desire coming through the mating bond, his need to connect them. She relished the feeling. Yes, she needed this, needed him to want her. All thought of fear fled her mind. There was only her and her mate.

  He pushed in again and Susan lifted to meet him. The sound of flesh hitting flesh fed her excitement. Again and again. Her wolf close to the surface fed her desire, needed to mate. Susan panted. She wrapped her arms around JP, pulling him closer, needing him deeper.

  He kissed her, mimicking their joining. She sucked his tongue into her mouth, holding him inside like she wanted his body. He moaned in her mouth. She released him and nipped at his lip. Then ran her nails down his back. He leaned down and sucked her nipple into his mouth, then nipped.

  Susan clenched; everything seemed so hot. She was on fire. No, she was fire, burning brightly. She suddenly burst apart, her climax shattering her mind. Jean-Paul swore and came inside her. Heat engulfed them both. JP was in her mind, his thoughts mixing with hers, his body filling her with his seed. He collapsed on top of her.

  “Ughh,” Susan said a few minutes later. “Jean-Paul, could you lift up, you’re squishing me. I’m not complaining mind you. I think you just blew my mind. That was the best sex ever, but I can’t breathe. JP…Honey?” Susan shook him.

  He didn’t respond, his head rolled to the side. “Oh my god, I killed him.” Susan pushed with all her might. JP’s dead weight rolled off her and fell to the floor. She got up and leaned over him. Okay, he breathed. The golden heartmate bond glowed brightly between them as big around as a rope.

  She pushed into his mind and flashes of an unfamiliar place moved across her eyes. It was almost too beautiful to look at, and she felt tears roll down her cheek. She blinked. Why would Jean-Paul leave a place like that to come here? As if her question directed his thoughts, she suddenly saw Marguerite and an older couple, and then she saw herself. Her heart began to pound. The way he saw her was so lovely. Did she really look like that?

  “Jean-Paul, please wake up, you’re scaring me.” She shook him again. He lay there, unconscious.

  Susan jumped from the bed. Grabbing the sheet off the floor, she hurried to the door. “Help, someone. Ujarak? Come help us.” She ran out the door and into a hairy chest, arms came down around her and held her tight.

  “What is
it, Suzy-Q? What’s wrong?”

  “It’s JP. I think I broke him! He won’t wake up.”

  “Okay, let’s see.” Ujarak walked into the bedroom. “Uh, maybe you should cover him up or something.” Susan hurried over and flung a blanket over Jean-Paul. “So, he passed out?”

  “Well, yeah, I guess so. We cemented the bond into place and our minds came pouring into each other. It was wonderful. Then he collapsed. Do you think I hurt him? Should we call Mathis or Jared?”

  “Let’s talk to Mom and Dad. She’s a lycan, she might have an idea what happened. JP’s breathing okay, so we’ll let him rest for now. Come on.” Ujarak took Susan’s hand and led her down the hall to his parents’ room.

  He knocked gently on the door and soon rustling heralded his father opening the door.

  “What’s the matter, son?”

  “Uhm, Susan is worried. JP is unconscious after cementing the mating bond into place. I thought you and Mom might be able to help.” Ujarak shrugged his shoulder.

  His father glanced back over his shoulder and then opened the door. Nicole stood in a bathrobe by the bed. “Come in. You’re going to wake the whole house.”

  “Sorry, Dad,” Ujarak mumbled.

  “Please,” Susan said her voice wavering. “Did I hurt my mate?” She looked at Nicole, who smiled and walked over to give her a hug.

  “Not at all. If I had to guess, I would say JP isn’t used to sharing space in his head. He’s probably feeling a little overwhelmed from the joining. Taliriktug found it a little unsettling at first.”

  “I didn’t faint,” the large man said with a grunt and chuckle.

  “Try closing down the link and see if he comes to. You might have to open the bond in small increments so JP can adjust.” Nicole patted Susan’s shoulder. “It will be all right. Give him time.”

  Susan nodded numbly. She looked at the mating bond as it pulsed a beautiful golden color and slowly thought about closing it down.

  “Don’t close it all the way, leave it at the circumference of a pencil,” Nicole suggested as Susan slowly diminished the link. “Good. Now, see if he wakes. You two should probably talk about it.”