Mercy (Tails Book 2) Read online

  “I do. It’s fast but it feels right.”

  He smiled. “Just know that I’d give up everything to have you in my arms. Whatever comes after we’re mated, I’ll deal with it. I feel like I can handle anything with you by my side.”

  “Oh, Barron,” she said, her eyes glittering. “You say the sweetest things.”

  “Just for you, Mercy.”

  She kissed him. “Take me to bed and make me yours. I want to know what you sound like when you come.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her, then rose to his feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist and linked her ankles.

  “Sweetheart, I’ve been wondering what you sound like when you come ever since I saw you. Be warned, though. I might roar.”

  “I might think that’s pretty damn awesome.”

  Chapter Four

  Mercy loved the way Barron carried her so easily, holding her curves against the hard planes of his body. She pointed to the hall and said, “Our bedroom is the first door on the right.”

  “Ours?” he asked, his voice slipping into a purr at the end of the word.

  “Oh yeah, definitely.”

  He smiled and she caught a glimmer of his fangs, thrilling at the sight. He was going to bite her at some point. She’d never thought being bitten was something she’d find sexy, but she was absolutely on board with it.

  He walked into the bedroom and set her on the bed. He leaned over her, cupping her face with one hand and curling his fingers into the waistband of her skirt. “I don’t have a condom, sweetheart. I should have stopped at a drugstore on the way here, but my cat was roaring so loudly in my head that I couldn’t think of anything but just getting here.”

  “I’m on the birth control shot,” she said.

  He slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her to his lips. “I’m glad, baby. I’d haul ass out of here right now if you wanted me to.”

  “No need,” she said, sighing happily as she tilted her head and he kissed down her throat. He grazed her skin with his fangs, and she shivered. “Are you going to bite me now?”

  “Hell no,” he said, kissing her neck and lowering her head to the bed. “It would hurt too much. I’ll wait until you’re mindless with pleasure.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “I thought you might.” He gave her a rakish grin and turned his fingers upward from her waistband, lifting her tank top as he skimmed along her stomach. She helped him free her of the tank, tossing it behind her and reaching for the clasp to her pretty pink bra. He watched with hooded eyes as she pulled the bra off and then he lowered his head and kissed both nipples in turn.

  They tightened immediately into hard points, and she sucked in a breath as he opened his lips and licked a slow circle around one and then the other. He moved back and forth between them, sucking and licking, nibbling and tugging, until her body was throbbing and her breathing accelerated. Smoothing her hands down his back, she curled her fingers into his shirt and tugged, and he let go of her nipple with a wet popping sound and jerked his shirt over his head. It was the first time she got a good look at his upper body, his muscles bunching and flexing as he lifted himself up above her and looked down, meeting her gaze. He stripped fully, giving her a glimpse of his thick, long cock as he jerked off his clothes and dropped them to the floor.

  “I want to do a hundred things to you,” he said, pressing a hand against her abdomen with light pressure.

  “Yes, please.”

  He kissed down the center of her chest, nuzzling her breasts before going further. He unfastened her skirt and curled his fingers inside, catching her panties with the waistband and drawing both down her legs and off. Her heels came off as well, leaving her utterly bare to his gaze. He looked like he could devour her, and she’d love every second.

  Her stomach clenched as he laid his hands on her knees and pushed her legs apart. He settled between her bent knees, kissing down her thigh. He paused at the apex of her thighs and she rose onto her elbows and watched as his eyes turned gold and he inhaled deeply, a soft snarl spilling from his lips. She wanted to ask him about his eyes, but then he stroked his tongue up her folds and curled it around her clit. Her head fell back, and she let out a groan as he planted one hand on her thigh and pushed it open farther, then pumped a finger inside her.

  He licked her clit, flicking his tongue over it as he probed inside her, his finger curling and rubbing along her walls as her body spiraled toward pleasure. She fell back on the bed, her toes curling when he found a place within that made her hips flex and her stomach flip.

  Reaching for him with one hand, she closed her eyes and fisted his hair, pulling him harder against her pussy. He let out a possessive, sexy snarl against her folds and sucked her clit into his mouth at the same moment he added a second finger to that amazing spot. She felt herself spiral into pleasure and shouted his name as she came.

  He was over her in a heartbeat, sliding into the cradle of her hips and fitting the fat head of his cock against her entrance. He stretched her slowly, their bodies coming together until they were tightly joined. His breathing was shallow and fast, and he clenched his teeth before he gazed down at her with eyes a beautiful shade of deep gold.

  She cupped his face and brought him to her lips, reveling in how close they were. “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.

  “You won’t. I want you. I want all of you.”

  “Your trust means everything to me.”

  He growled and pulled from her body, rolling her to her side and coming up behind her. He caught her leg and lifted it, lining himself with her and shoving inside. Her teeth clicked together with the force of their joining. His arm came up under her and he spread his fingers over her throat and jaw, turning her to kiss him before he began to fuck her. He slid his hand from her knee to her hip and then to her clit, rubbing her in time to his thrusts, making her pussy clench around him.

  He tilted her head and kissed her neck. Her heart pounded and she closed her eyes.

  “Be mine,” he said, his voice low and deep. “Be my mate, Mercy. Please.”

  “Yes, Barron, yes!”

  He pressed his finger tight to her clit and rubbed her swiftly, plunging her body into pleasure. He sank his fangs into her neck and then followed her into bliss, lifting from her throat and letting out a deep roar that made the walls shake. She felt him thicken within her pussy, the heat of his climax filling her and claiming her from the inside out.

  He kissed her shoulder and the juncture of her neck, and then tenderly licked the mark he’d left behind. She hissed at the sensation, pleasurable but a bit painful, and he murmured an apology.

  “I didn’t deafen you?” he asked with a twinge of humor in his tone.

  “Nope. I think my bones melted from all that pleasure.”

  He eased away from her, leaving her feeling chilled and empty. He pulled gently on her shoulder and she rolled over to face him. He curled her into him and held her tight. She’d never been so thoroughly claimed, her heart still soaring.

  “I want to tell you something,” she whispered, kissing his chest.

  “You can tell me anything, sweetheart. We’re heart-matched mates. You’re mine and I’m yours.”

  She lifted her head. “I feel so close to you. It’s never been like this for me before.”

  He purred and hugged her a little tighter, kissing her forehead. “Me either. I’m so glad you came into the bar tonight, Mercy. It’s only been a few hours, but I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. You’re well and truly stuck with me.”

  “Good.” He chuckled and laid his head on the pillow. “You’re stuck with me, too.”

  She stifled a yawn as she settled her cheek on his biceps. Her life had changed drastically in just a few short hours. She’d gone looking for a good time and had found her heart.

  Chapter Five

  Barron woke s
lowly, loving the way Mercy felt in his arms. She fit perfectly against him as if they were made for each other, and he supposed that was how it was meant to be. He wondered how many lions had chosen to be mate-matched instead of waiting for their heart-match, and how he might have missed out on Mercy’s sweet perfection if he’d tried to go the arranged-mating route.

  It also crossed his mind that there were probably lions who’d felt drawn to a human or another supernatural creature and had ignored the drive to mate with them because they didn’t want to be exiled from their pride. It hadn’t even crossed his mind to put Mercy aside. And after their explosive mating, when he’d felt joined to her all the way to the center of his being, he knew he’d made the right choice. Pride or not, Mercy was everything to him, and their family would be a pride all on their own.

  His cat was suddenly alert. Someone was walking up the stairs between Mercy and Ree’s apartments. He let his cat out a little more to enhance his hearing, wondering if Duke was with Ree. As the key unlocked the door with a click, he heard the unmistakable sound of crying, even after the door was shut.

  He glanced at the clock, finding it just after dawn. He knew that Mercy and Ree were close, and she’d want to know what was going on. Nudging her gently, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and murmured, “Sweetheart, your sister is crying.”

  It took a few more nudges and soft touches before his deeply sleeping beauty opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Hey.”

  “I heard Ree come up the stairs outside a few minutes ago and she was crying.”

  Mercy’s eyes widened and she sat up on her elbows. “You’re sure?”

  He nodded.

  “Damn, I wonder what happened?” She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. “Thank you for waking me. Do you want to come with me so I can check on her, make sure she’s okay?”

  “Of course.”

  They dressed quickly and he followed her out of the apartment.

  “Ree?” Mercy called through the door, knocking twice. “Are you okay? Barron said he heard crying.”

  “I’m fine,” came the muffled reply.

  “You don’t sound fine.”

  “Are you going to leave me alone?”

  “Not until you open the door.”

  Barron folded his arms and pondered why Duke wasn’t with the human.

  As if on cue, his phone rang and Barron pulled it from his pocket and saw Duke’s name on the screen. He sent the call to voicemail and then texted Ree’s apartment address to him. He tucked his phone back into his pocket without Mercy noticing.

  The door unlocked and swung open, and despite the tracks of tears down her cheeks, Ree tried to look as if she was fine.

  Mercy didn’t wait a nanosecond before hugging her sister. “Aw, babe, what happened?”

  “It’s just that I’m an idiot,” Ree said.

  “What about? Where’s Duke? Why are you home so early?” Mercy leaned away from Ree.

  Ree slipped from her sister’s grasp and walked into the apartment. Mercy looked at Barron with raised brows and he shrugged. They followed, and he closed the door behind them, leaning against it and giving the two time to talk. Even if he could hear everything they said, at least they had the illusion of privacy.

  He scented the air, wondering why Duke wasn’t with the female even though she smelled as if they were fully mated.

  Then Ree shared the tale of her night, when Duke promised he wanted to be her mate but had left her alone in his apartment, apparently with no intent on coming back.

  Mercy called for Barron and he walked into the kitchen, sliding his arms around her and tucking her against him. “Yes, love?”

  “I thought you said that Duke had picked Ree as his heart-match?”

  “He did. She’s wearing his mating mark.” The puncture wound on the side of her throat was mostly healed and very visible.

  “Then why did a lioness from another pride show up and claim to be his mate?” Ree asked, lifting her bloodshot gaze to Barron.

  He opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Is he really next in line for alpha?” Ree asked.

  “His father is the current alpha.”

  “He probably can’t be alpha with a human for a mate, right?”

  “It’s against our pride laws. But if he mated you last night, then he’s stepped down from taking over the pride for you. Why the females showed up this morning, and where Duke is... I couldn’t say. Would you like me to call him?” He debated telling her he’d already given Duke her location, deciding the male could tell him herself if and when he showed up.

  “No.” Ree shook her head emphatically. “If he really meant everything, he wouldn’t have left me like he did.”

  “Maybe he had to,” Mercy said.

  “Why didn’t he leave a note? Or send me a text or call? I just want to forget everything. I made a mistake, but I won’t make it again.”

  Ree’s gaze drifted to Mercy’s neck. Mercy shared what had happened between them. His cat purred when his heart-match called him ‘irresistible,’ and he pulled her close, nuzzling her neck.

  “Ree!” Duke’s bellowing voice was loud enough to make Barron wince. Duke pounded on the door. “Open the door.”

  Ree shook her head. “I don’t want to see him.”

  “What if he came to apologize?” Mercy asked.

  “I don’t have that kind of luck. Make him go away, please.” Ree left, heading down the hall and shutting and locking a door.

  “There isn’t anything for you here,” Mercy called to Duke through the closed door.

  “I need to explain.”

  “Those women in your apartment explained things really well to my sister. You broke her heart. Go away or I’ll call the cops.”

  Barron was impressed with her brave words. Her shoulders were square, her jaw set, and when he turned her to face him, he could see the fierce protectiveness in her blue eyes. “Love, we shouldn’t interfere.”

  “I’m not. I’m telling him to go to hell the fastest possible route and disappear forever.”

  He snorted. “He came for her, Mercy. We can’t stand in the way of them making amends. It’s not our business.”

  “She’s my sister.”

  “And you’re my mate. You don’t know a ton about shifters, but Duke is clearly frantic to get to Ree and it would be a shame for him to break down the door when you could just unlock it.”

  She tilted her head and gave him a long, quiet look. “Do you think they’re mates?”

  “She’s wearing his mark, so yes, but it doesn’t matter what I think, only what they decide. I do know that he’s honorable. He wouldn’t have come for her if he really didn’t want to be with her.”

  “You promise?”

  “I do.”

  She rose onto her toes and kissed him. “You’re honorable.”

  A smile curled the corner of his mouth. “I want to get you into bed so bad right now.”

  She giggled and leaned away from him to unlock the door and pull it open. Her sweet smile disappeared. Barron was sure if she had fangs that she would have bared them at Duke. “Barron said it wasn’t right for us to interfere with whatever’s going on between you and my sister. I don’t really agree, because she’s my best friend and I hate you a lot right now. But I trust my mate, and he trusts you, and that’s good enough for me.”

  “Thank you.” Duke’s shoulders slumped in relief.

  “Thank Barron. If it were up to me, you’d be standing out there all day.” She took Barron’s hand and stomped across the hall to her apartment. When they entered and the door was shut, she spun on him and jumped into his arms. “I heard you wanna take me to bed.”

  “All damn day.”

  “I’m yours.”

  Their lips met in a heated kiss that stole his breath. He didn’t even need to open his eyes to navigate to the bedroom – he simply carried her straight there, stripped them both and took them on a trip to the he
avens. He’d never get enough of his gorgeous mate. His cat was content. His heart was full. And there were no more lonely nights in his future.

  Chapter Six

  Mercy’s mind was still reeling from everything she’d witnessed in the past few hours. She and Barron had accompanied Duke and Ree to the lion’s territory. Duke had expected to be exiled from the pride for not only breaking an arranged mating he had contracted with another lioness but choosing Ree as his heart-match. But Duke’s father had no intention of allowing his son to walk away from the pride or for the other pride to bring a war to their doorstep. He substituted Duke’s cousin Stef in the mating contract, and the lioness apparently only cared that she would be alpha female someday and didn’t care who the male she mated was.

  Which Mercy thought was crazy on a hundred different levels.

  Once the visiting pride was gone and the threat of lions battling each other was over, Duke’s father announced a change to the laws and stated that lions could mate who they wanted and still be in the pride, whether they were lion, another type of shifter, a supernatural creature, or even a human.

  Mercy was speechless and also thrilled. She’d been grateful Barron was willing to walk away for her, but she’d been sad that he needed to make the choice.

  She and Ree had been invited to spend time with Duke’s mother Davina while the pride went for a celebratory hunt on Ree and Duke’s behalf.

  Her favorite part had been watching Barron shift. He’d led her away from the group, explaining his lion didn’t want her to see any naked males except him, and then he’d stripped and shifted. She’d had only moments to appreciate his sexy body before he changed into a lion. His fur was tawny gold and his mane was dark chocolate. She’d stroked him and rested her ear on his massive chest to hear him purr.

  She’d known all along that he was a shifter, but she hadn’t really been prepared for what it would be like to see it in person. He’d been human one moment, and then he was a lion. It was mesmerizing.