AnnaRose (Tails Book 4) Read online

  “You have to go to work.”

  “Don’t want to,” he said gruffly.

  She chuckled. “Me either. But you should go. We’ve got Friday to look forward to.”

  His brow rose and he said nothing for a moment, wondering if she was planning for something bigger than a date. He certainly hoped so.

  “Did I tell you how beautiful you are today?” he asked.

  “You might have mentioned it a few times,” she said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled. “I’m pretty lucky to be with such a sexy, amazing guy.”

  “I’m the lucky one, Annie, trust me.”

  He gave her another kiss and forced himself to leave the apartment. It was going to be a long night.

  * * *

  No one had seen hide or hair of Roy since he’d tried to get into Demi’s house. Hemi was thankful for that, but also wary. Maybe the male had been scared off when he’d been tackled by Vale, but Hemi wasn’t sure. He thought perhaps Roy might be lurking and planning, and it made Hemi nuts that he couldn’t figure out the male’s next move. He hoped that Roy might just move on since his access to Annie had been virtually cut off with their security measures, but something tickling at the back of his mind told him that they weren’t finished with him yet.

  Turning his attention back to the mirror, he finished shaving and rinsed off. He’d be picking Annie up from school in a half hour, so he didn’t have much time to spare. He dressed casually in jeans and a button-down shirt, then set the two gifts he’d picked up for her on the coffee table—a small velvet box containing a necklace with a lion charm and a vase of yellow roses, because her favorite color was yellow.

  She’d asked him to do the grocery shopping for their date, and aside from occasionally running into the store to grab a few things, he’d never shopped for a whole meal before. He’d enjoyed having a little list of things, and he’d even picked up a small cake for dessert. He was feeling downright domestic, and he liked it.

  When he showed up to the school ten minutes later, he was happy to see Annie waiting at the door for him. He jogged up to meet her, then gave her a kiss.

  He led her back to his truck and opened the door for her. “How was your day?”

  “Good. Yours?”

  “Better now,” he said with a wink. He shut the door and got in behind the wheel.

  She settled her head on his shoulder and said, “I agree.”

  They drove to the bar and walked inside through the employee entrance. They passed Titus and Reign behind the bar.

  “Heard all’s been quiet for you two,” Reign said as he filled a drink order. “That’s good news.”

  “So far so good,” Hemi said. “We’re not relaxing our safety measures though.”

  “Hell no, not until he’s gone for good. Have a good night, you two.”

  “Thanks,” Annie said.

  Hemi unlocked the security door and then the door into the apartment.

  “Oh!” she said when she spied the flowers. “I love yellow roses.”

  “I know,” he said. “I pay attention.”

  “You sure do,” she said. “Should I open this other cute little box or wait a bit?”

  “How about we wait until after dinner?”

  She bent and smelled the roses. “Lovely. I don’t want you to help me in the kitchen, but would you sit in there and talk to me?”

  “You bet.”

  He settled at the kitchen table, smiling when she poured him a glass of sweet tea. She busied herself at the stove and told him about her day. She’d dealt with a sick child that they had to quarantine in the nurse’s office until his mom came back to pick him up and a glitter-slime mess all over the floor.

  “You have the most interesting stories,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Never know what the kids will get up to. Miranda is a lifesaver during those times, because she’s got a sixth sense when the kids are up to no good. She caught Kenny before he dumped all the containers out and made an even bigger mess.”

  “She’s your best friend?”

  “Yep. She’s worried I’m going to leave her.”

  “To work at the pride school?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it.”

  “You don’t have to,” Hemi said. “You can stay where you are.”

  “I know. I was talking to Demi yesterday about it, though, and she said the pride school director wanted to meet with me when I had some free time next week. Just to chat. It would be easier if I worked at the pride school.”

  “That’s not what should matter, sweetheart. You can’t let Roy dictate what you’re going to do with your life. The question is whether you really want to leave where you are and start over with the lions or if you’d like to stay put. I support you either way.”

  She dumped a pot of boiling water and pasta into a colander, set the pot on the stove, and turned to face him. “I’d like to hear what the director has to say. But more than that, I know I can’t let Roy force me to make changes to my life that I don’t want or am not ready for. But it’s not about that.”

  “Oh?”

  She closed the distance between them and cupped his face. She was quiet for a long moment and then said, “I want to be closer to you. To the pride. I want to live in the territory with you permanently and I want to be yours in truth. It’s got nothing to do with that coyote, but everything to do with what’s happening between you and me. If you’re ready for me, I’m ready for you.”

  Hemi settled his hands on her waist and nuzzled her hand. “Annie, I’ve been ready for you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I want you to be mine and I want to be yours.” He paused and then said, “It’s like marriage, you know. If we mate in truth, there’s no going back for me. You’ll be it for me forever. Matings are binding.”

  “I know,” she whispered, feathering her lips across his. “I want that. I want you.”

  “You’ve got me,” he promised.

  He rose to his feet and lifted her into his arms. She giggled and kissed him. “What about dinner?”

  “I’m hungry for something else entirely, sweetheart.”

  She placed her hand on his face and smiled. “Oh?”

  “You.”

  “Me too, Hemi. Take me to bed and make me yours.”

  “Whatever my sweetheart wants.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Annie’s heart pounded as Hemi carried her to the bedroom. She’d been thinking about him all day, and how she wanted tonight to be special. They’d only been together for a few days, but she couldn’t deny how wonderful it felt to be with him. She always wanted more when they snuggled, and tonight felt like the perfect night to become mates. There was still a lot to learn about being a lion’s mate, but she knew her feelings for him were true and growing stronger every day. They were heart-matches, and there wasn’t any reason to wait another day to make things official.

  He set her on the bed and kissed her. Their tongues glided together; the kiss edged with urgency as they started to strip each other. They’d never seen each other naked, and she didn’t want to miss a second of baring his sexy body. She pulled from the kiss as her fingers flew down the front of his shirt. Pushing the material off his broad shoulders, Annie grinned at the muscles stacked with muscles that greeted her gaze.

  He jerked the shirt off and then reached for the bottom of hers and tugged it up and over her head. She’d put on her sexiest matching bra and undies and was so glad she had when he growled at seeing her breasts covered in pale yellow satin.

  “Sexy female,” he said gruffly.

  His finger caught the center of the bra and tugged lightly, and she grinned. She tilted her face up to his for another kiss while she explored his upper body. He unhooked her bra and pulled it free, then pushed her gently back against the mattress. She stretched out, moaning as he kissed and licked her nipples, switching between them until she was writhing under his touch. He kissed down the center of her body, licking a slow circle around her navel as he hooked his
fingers into her leggings and panties. He sat up and drew them down her legs, stopping to pull off her shoes and socks, then stripped her completely.

  He removed his jeans and shoes and then climbed between her legs, kissing up her legs. He smiled at her as he reached the apex of her thighs and she wanted to tell him that he was the sexiest guy she’d ever known, and she was so happy to cement their relationship. But then he swiped his tongue up her folds and it felt so good that all thought fled.

  He spread her apart with his finger and thumb and licked circles around her clit before delving down to her entrance and tonguing her. Each pass over her clit drove her wild, her stomach clenching and her legs shaking as he drew her close to orgasm. He pushed a finger into her, curving it to rub against her walls until he hit something deep within that made her eyes cross.

  She reached for him, digging her nails into his arm that was banded across her stomach. “Hemi!”

  He laid his tongue against her clit and purred, making it like a vibrator that made everything within her light up. As her climax struck, her toes curled and her skin prickled. She shouted his name again and reached for him. He kissed his way up her body and plunged inside her, his thick cock stretching her deliciously and making her want more. He paused, his muscles tense and a growl in his throat, and then he pulled from her slowly.

  Her head kicked back as he thrust into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles, curling her hands around his shoulders and tilting her hips to meet his thrusts. He moved slowly at first, then increased the pace as they moved together, finding a rhythm that drove her wild.

  He reached between them and touched her clit, rubbing her swiftly in time with his thrusts. Their bodies grew slick with sweat, her stomach clenching as he played with her, driving her closer to the edge of pleasure.

  Groaning, he kissed her pulse and said harshly, “I’m going to bite you when we come together. It’ll only hurt for a second, I promise.”

  She buried her hands in his hair and tilted his head so she could kiss him. “Then I’m yours?”

  “And I’m yours.”

  His eyes were amber, and she could see his fangs peeking from his parted lips. She’d never seen anything sexier.

  She tilted her hips a little more and dropped one leg to the side, changing the angle of his thrusts. Her body heated further, turning to molten lava as he snarled and rubbed her clit faster.

  “Hemi, I’m coming!”

  She let herself go. He followed with a roar of possession as his cock emptied inside her. She felt his lips on her neck and then he struck, his fangs sinking into her skin and making her gasp. She smelled blood and then he tenderly licked across the wound on her neck and kissed her cheek and then her lips.

  “I cut my tongue with my fang,” he said, his voice hoarse, “and put some of my blood on the wound. It binds us as mates and makes sure that the wound will scar permanently.”

  “You’re mine,” she said.

  He slipped from her body and they both groaned at the feeling.

  “And you’re mine.”

  He held her close as they drifted down from the heavens. She’d never been loved so thoroughly or treated so preciously.

  * * *

  The cheese tortellini had glued itself together as it sat in the colander while they made love, so she started all over again, but this time Hemi helped. They sat at the kitchen table and ate and talked about their future. He was going to keep working at the bar, and she was going to meet with the pride school’s director. Hemi was adamant that she could make whatever choice she wanted about her career and he’d support her, but she couldn’t deny that the more time she spent with Hemi, the more she wanted to be all-in with the pride.

  He served them slices of decadent chocolate cake for dessert, which they ate on the couch. Once their meal was entirely finished, he handed her the jewelry box and she opened it to find a beautiful necklace with a golden lion charm. He put it on her, and she grinned at him.

  “I love it. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

  They started to watch TV, but their light kissing got heavier and hotter, and they made their way back to the bedroom once more. This time, however, she said the words that were in her heart as they lay together, basking in each other’s warmth.

  It turned out they both had the same idea, their words crossing over each other.

  “I love you, Hemi,” she said at the same time as he said, “I love you, Annie.”

  They laughed and kissed and said the words again. The three sweetest words in the world.

  “You’ve made me so happy,” she said.

  “Me too. Everyone says I’m not as gruff and grumpy as I used to be, and it’s because I found my heart-match.”

  “I never thought you were grumpy.”

  “You didn’t see me at work.”

  She chuckled and kissed him. “How long will we stay here?” she asked.

  “I’m finishing up the security installations at the house, so just another few days. I wanted to ask you something.” He rose onto one elbow and looked down at her.

  “Ask away.”

  “Would you move in with me? Officially?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Good. And I’d like us to get married too, so you can have my last name.”

  “Annie Bennett. I like the sound of that.”

  “I’ll ask you properly, of course, and talk to your dad. But first things first, we need to move you out of your place.”

  “I can’t wait,” she said.

  “Me too.”

  She ran her fingers lightly over his chest, and then said, “Do you think us being officially mated means Roy will leave me alone for good?”

  “I would think so, but the male is clearly unhinged.”

  She grimaced. “I’d think that when he sees I’m mated that he’d realize he has no chance with me and would take the hint, but you’re probably right. He wouldn’t listen to me tell him that I didn’t want to be with him, so he may not care I’m mated.”

  He tipped her chin until she was looking at him. “We can hope that he’ll stay away from now on, but if he doesn’t, we’ll be ready. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

  “I know you will.”

  They cuddled and talked and eventually drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.

  It was the perfect end to a perfect night.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hemi woke Saturday morning feeling the most contented he’d ever felt in his life, and it was all because of the beautiful, amazing female in his arms. He’d known she was his mate on sight, but he’d never expected the wave of emotion that had risen in him when he’d marked her. He loved her and she loved him, and he couldn’t be happier.

  It was funny what finding the one person meant for you could do for your attitude.

  He hadn’t realized he’d fallen back asleep until he felt Annie get up. Opening his eyes, he watched her rise to her feet and stretch, her lovely body on display.

  She turned and smiled at him. “Morning.”

  “Morning, love,” he said, stretching.

  She disappeared into the bathroom and he grabbed his phone. They had plans to have breakfast with her parents and pack up her apartment. The idea of being with her parents made a pang of guilt spear through him. He hadn’t told his parents about Annie. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of having a human heart-match—far from that—but he didn’t want to expose her to their prejudice. It would be better if he called them and then let them stew on the information until they were ready to meet her, but he couldn’t bring himself to face their disappointment right then. And he knew they’d be disappointed. Even though he’d told them he was going to wait for his heart-match, he was certain they were hoping his heart-match would be a lion, or, at the very least, a shifter. He wasn’t sure how they’d react, but he suspected they’d double-down on their efforts to force Demi to mate Benecio.

  Would they disown
him? He didn’t think so, but then again, he wouldn’t have guessed they’d be so obstinate about Demi’s future either. He decided to call them after breakfast to share the news, and however they responded to him was how the cards would fall. Their approval or disapproval wouldn’t change the fact that he and Annie were mates.

  Annie returned to the room and sat on the bed. She took out her phone. “My mom texted me already. She wants to know if you like French toast.”

  He sat up and pecked her cheek. Climbing out of bed, he said, “Sure.”

  “I love her French toast. She always made it for me on the first day of school.”

  “That’s sweet. Join me in the shower?”

  Her brows rose and she smiled at him, all sexy, tempting female. “I’d love to.”

  Once they’d cleaned up, gotten dirty, and cleaned up again, he left her to dry her hair and got dressed. A half hour later, Titus had joined him in the family room to discuss changes to his work schedule while Annie finished getting ready.

  “Oh, hi Titus,” Annie said as she walked into the family room.

  “Morning, Annie.”

  “We were chatting about my schedule,” Hemi said.

  Annie sat next to him on the couch and tied her tennis shoes. “What about it?”

  “Alternating the late nights. For a long time, Hemi was doing most of the closings, and now he’s got a reason to want some different hours.”

  “Right, so during the week I’ll be opening a few nights, from five until midnight, and then I’ll start later on Friday nights and work until close and have off Saturday.”

  “That sounds good. I’ll miss you when you’re not in bed with me.”

  “I’ll miss that too, but at least this way I’ll be able to be home with you before I have to leave for work, and then I won’t be dragging home at three multiple nights.”

  “Good point.”

  And, if she decided to switch over to the pride school, she’d be finished working at three, which would give them time to hang out and eat dinner on the nights he had earlier shifts.