Protecting His Fox's Sass (Sass And Growl Book 2) Read online

  “I know, baby. That will end in another week or so, I’m sure.”

  “Actually,” Freya cut in, “it can end now. The wounds have already closed shut. Teine just needs to shift a couple of times and she will be good as new.”

  “Really?” Teine whispered, slipping the covers back, and sliding over to the edge of the bed. “I can get up now? Move around?” A tear slid down her cheek as she asked, “Can I hold Athena?”

  A gentle smile slid across Freya’s face and she nodded. “Really. I do need you to shift now for an hour or so if you could. It will help with healing. But after that, you will be well enough to snuggle your daughter all night if you would like.”

  Nolan opened his mouth to say that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted all of his mate’s attention at night. He thought better of it after seeing the huge smile on Teine’s face. He’d been so caught up in spending time with his smart, sexy, beautiful woman, that he hadn’t realized how much she was hurting being kept away from Athena. Taking a deep breath, he agreed, “Anything you want, Teine.”

  He was rewarded with large blue eyes filled with gratitude, and something else he couldn’t decipher, along with a smile that instantly had his dick hardening. He’d been semi-hard all week, but now he was going to have his damn zipper imprinted on his cock.

  Another low growl filled the room, and he glanced over at Teine in surprise. Her gaze wasn’t on the doctor this time, though. It was glued to the straining bulge in his jeans. “Fuck,” he growled, as her tongue snuck out to wet her bottom lip. What would it feel like to have that mouth on him, all over him? He would give just about anything at that moment to find out.

  “I think it’s time for me to leave,” Freya said softly, grabbing her bag and walking quickly to the door. Opening it, she turned back and grinned, “If you were wondering, you are released from any sexual restrictions after you shift, too. Although, currently the restrictions only apply to anything… rough. So, you are free to do whatever it is you want to do, as long as it isn’t… rough.” Her faced darkened a deep red, and she slammed the door shut behind her as she nearly ran out of the room.

  Nolan chuckled, his eyes never leaving his mate as he slowly walked backwards, reaching behind him to lock the door. “A doctor who is embarrassed to talk about sex? That’s new. What kind of shifter do you think she is, anyway? I can’t figure it out.”

  Teine slid off the bed and slowly closed the distance between them, her eyes still on his straining dick. Licking her lips, she growled, “I’m not worried about the doctor right now, Nolan.” Dropping carefully to her knees in front of him, she whispered, “You shouldn’t be either.”

  “Teine, maybe we should wait until after you shift.”

  Ignoring him, Teine unsnapped his jeans, grasping his waistband tightly and shoving his jeans down his legs. His hard cock burst free, begging for her touch. Her tongue. Her mouth. Anything she was willing to give.

  “Teine.”

  Raising her baby blues to meet his gaze, she growled, “Mine!”

  “Shit, baby. If you put those lips on me, all bets are off. I can’t promise you that I will be able to hold back.”

  “You won’t hurt me.”

  He watched as she moved her mouth closer to what she wanted, a shudder running through him. “No, I would never hurt you, Teine. But I will fuck you and claim you. I won’t be able to stop.”

  A slow smile appeared, and she murmured, “Who asked you to?”

  He froze, his eyes ensnaring hers as he growled, “Once I make you mine, I will never give you up, Teine. Think about that before you commit to this.”

  “You weren’t going to give me up anyway,” she replied, leaning forward and running her tongue up the length of his cock, from the base to the tip, and then circling around the head, before sucking the tip of it in her mouth, scraping lightly with her teeth.

  Nolan groaned, pleasure swamping him at the feel of her hot, wet mouth moving over his hard erection. “Fuck, Teine!”

  He felt her grin around his cock, and then lick down one side, and back up, once again circling the tip. She was playing with him, but he wasn’t in the mood to play. He’d waited too damn long to feel that mouth on him. He needed it sucking him down, now. Taking it all.

  “Teine, suck it. All of it!” he ordered, sinking his fingers into her thick, red hair, another shudder running through him when she closed her mouth around the tip of his shaft, teasing the underside of his dick with her tongue.

  He let her play a little longer until he couldn’t stand it anymore, and then he took over. Holding her still, he looked down into her beautiful face, her eyes full of lust and excitement. When she tried to move, he growled, tightening his hold on the thick strands of her hair. “You had your turn, baby. It’s mine, now.”

  Teine moaned, her eyes begging him for more, even as he slowly began to feed her his dick, inch by inch. When he was about halfway in, he pulled back, then slowly pushed in again just a little more than the last time. He shook with the need to shove all of the way in, making her take all of him, but he knew he was big and he didn’t want to hurt her.

  Teine reached up and slid her hands over his thighs and around, cupping his ass. As he moved in and out, sinking deeper and deeper into her hot mouth, she dug her fingernails into his ass, encouraging him to give her more. After a few moments, he realized he wasn’t the one in control anymore. She was controlling him with the low, deep moans coming from her throat. The nails biting into his skin. The way her large eyes stared up at him, full of a dark passion he found so fucking hot.

  “Teine!” He was close already, his dick so hard, pre-cum spurting from the tip. He stared into her dark, blue eyes, his hands clutching all of that sexy red hair tightly and couldn’t stop his hips from thrusting hard and fast. “Teine, the things you do to me. My dick feels like it’s on fire!”

  Her eyes darkened with pleasure, and she slid one hand around to grasp his balls, rolling them around in her hand and tugging on them gently. “Wait, baby, I’m going to come.” He tried to warn her, but her hand went back to his ass, and her nails dug in hard, urging him to go faster. There was nothing that could hold him back. She was sucking him hard and deep as he erupted into her mouth, moaning as she swallowed every last drop.

  Slowly, she pulled back, smiling up at him. He could tell she thought they were done, but they weren’t even close. Leaning down, he gathered her into his arms and took her to the bed, sitting her on the end of it.

  “What?”

  “Shhh,” he whispered, gently cupping her face in his hand, before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on her lips. She was so beautiful, her hair wild, all over the place from his hands. Her face was flushed, her lips full, pouty from taking his cock. Just the thought of those lips wrapped around his dick had him hard again.

  “Nolan.” His name was a moan on her lips, and he groaned, leaning in to kiss her gently, before slipping his hands under the tee-shirt she wore. His shirt. She was so damn sexy in it. It was huge, going to her knees, but in his eyes it branded her as his.

  His hands met soft, silky skin, and another low groan slipped free. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, except a small pair of panties. He knew, because he’d helped her change those panties, every single day. His cock so hard he could pound nails.

  “Nolan, please. I need you.”

  The words were whispered quietly, but he heard them loud and clear. His mate wanted him. All he could do was oblige her. Slipping the shirt up her body and over her head, he threw it across the room, not caring where it landed. His gaze immediately went to the large, dark bruises covering her chest, fury racing through him again at the thought of anyone hurting his woman.

  “It’s okay,” Teine murmured, reaching out to gently trace her hands over his chest. Only then did he realize that his fangs had dropped and his claws emerged. “I’m fine, Nolan.”

  “No, you are not fine,” he snarled, wanting to tear apart the bastard who had hurt her again. “No on
e will ever lay a hand on you again, Teine. I promise you that.”

  Teine leaned forward, cupping his face in the palms of her hands. “I know.” Two words. That was all it took for him to regain control of himself. His mate had faith in him. She trusted him. He would not let her down.

  “You mean everything to me, Teine,” he admitted quietly. “You are my world now.”

  “I’m scared,” she admitted softly.

  “Of what?”

  “There are things you don’t know about me, Nolan. Things I should have told you by now, but I haven’t because…”

  “Because you didn’t trust me, yet,” he finished for her.

  Her eyes filled with tears and she lowered her head, nodding. “What a way to kill the mood.”

  Laughter burst from him, and he pulled her closer. “Trust me, little fox, I still want you. Nothing will ever stop that.”

  “We need to talk, but I’m not ready just yet, Nolan.”

  Hiding the disappointment he felt, wishing that she was able to share what she was running from with him, Nolan rubbed his cheek over the top of her head. “I’ll be here when you are.”

  Nolan froze when he felt Teine’s tongue lick his neck. Slowly, it moved over, and then over more, until it was close to where she’d left her mating bite. “This started the bond, didn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” he told her gruffly, titling his head to the side to give her better access.

  Teine swirled her tongue over the mark, sucking on it gently. “Nolan?”

  “Yeah?” He moved closer to her, grasping her hips and pulling her to the edge of the bed where he knelt in front of her.

  Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and she scraped her teeth over the mate mark. “Make me yours.”

  No sooner had the words left her lips than her teeth sunk deep, binding him to her, strengthening the bond that had already started to grow from the last time her teeth had pierced his skin. He let out a roar, an orgasm rushing through his cock and exploding out of him. He didn’t hesitate, sinking his long fangs into her shoulder. Carefully laying her back on the bed, he hovered over her, his jaw locked on her shoulder, and reached down with a claw to tear her underwear from her. Grasping her hips, careful not to jar her chest too much, he slowly began to push his way inside her hot, wet sheath.

  Small, low growls filled the air as Teine removed her teeth from his shoulder, lapping at the spot to heal the area. Dropping back to the bed, she slid her fingers into his hair, holding him to her. “Move,” she demanded, arching into him. “I won’t fucking break, Nolan. Please, move. I need you!”

  Nolan growled around her shoulder, holding her still as he pushed himself all the way inside until his entire cock was covered by her heat. “Mine,” he snarled, pulling out and slamming back in, careful to hold her hips still. “Mine!”

  “Yes,” Teine rasped, raking her nails down his back. “Hell, yes!”

  She was so tight, fitting him like a glove. He couldn’t have stopped even if he wanted to. Which, he didn’t. Sucking on her shoulder, he moved his hips, sliding his cock in and out of her slick heat. It felt so good, like nothing he’d ever felt before.

  “Nolan, please!”

  Removing his fangs, he licked his mate bite, sucking gently on it, before lifting his head to look down at his woman. She stared at him through dark, glowing eyes, head flung back, mouth open. He was afraid he was being too rough with her, but he caught no scent of pain, only passion. His gaze went to the dark bruising on her chest and his thrusts slowed.

  “Don’t you dare fucking stop, Nolan Channing! I need you, now!”

  His eyes flew to hers, and he saw the truth in them; smelled it in the air. She wanted him, wanted to complete the mate bond. Sweat beaded up on his forehead, a light sheen covering his shoulders, but he kept moving. It was what his mate wanted, needed, and so did he.

  The tingling started low in his spine, moving into his dick, and he knew he was close. “Come with me, baby,” he rasped, reaching down to rub his thumb over her clit. The second he touched her, she exploded, a loud scream filling the air. He followed her over, his entire body shaking with his release.

  Teine panted softly, tracing her finger over his forehead, down his cheek, and over his lips. “You are stuck with me forever now.”

  Ignoring the small shadow that clouded her eyes, he captured her lips with his, before whispering, “Good.” Before she could reply, he slid out of bed with her in his arms.

  “Where are we going?”

  “First, we are taking a shower. Then, you are going to listen to the doctor’s orders and shift.”

  “But, Nolan, I want to see Athena,” Teine pouted, looking up at him with those big blue eyes.

  Kissing her gently on the nose, he smiled, “I know, baby, and you will soon, I promise. But you need to shift once first. After what happened last time, I’m afraid she might accidentally hurt you again. My heart couldn’t handle that.”

  Nolan could tell she wasn’t happy with him, but she didn’t argue. After a quick shower, they were back in bed. He watched as his gorgeous mate stretched languidly, and then shifted into a beautiful fox, sighing when she curled up beside him on the bed, her eyes drifting shut. He ran his hand gently over her soft fur for a moment, and then settled down next to her. “Let’s take a nap, little fox. Then, we’ll go see our cub.”

  He was already half asleep, and didn’t notice how Teine’s eyes snapped open when he called Athena their cub. Or the one lone tear that slipped out and over her nose as she moved closer to him, burrowing into his side with a sigh of contentment.

  Thirteen

  The sound of Athena’s loud squeals of laughter woke Teine, immediately filling her heart with joy. She moved to snuggle closer to the warmth of Nolan’s body, stiffening when she realized he wasn’t next to her. He’d been by her side for the past week, leaving only to shower and get them food, and she found that she didn’t like him not being there.

  Rising, she shook out her thick, rust-colored fur before leaping lightly to the floor and shifting quickly. Her hand went to her chest where there was still a slight discomfort, but a smile crossed her lips. She would go through it all again in a heartbeat. She had been about to run, leaving behind one of the best things that had ever happened to her. Instead, she was here, in his home, surrounded by people who cared for both her and her niece as if they were a part of their family. Which, they were now. She supposed she had Garrick and his idiot brother to thank for that.

  Teine’s hand went to her bare shoulder where Nolan’s mate bite was for all to see. He was hers now, as she was his. Their souls bound together until death. A frown covered her features and she sighed. She hoped she hadn’t brought his death to him much quicker than it originally would have been. If Garrick and Terry had found her, she had no doubt there were more of her enemies on their way.

  Shaking off her worries, Teine quickly dressed in a pair of jeans and tee-shirt she found from the bag someone had thoughtfully brought from her car. She hesitated when she saw her weapons laid out on a dresser on the far side of the room. And then, for the first time that she could remember in a very long time, she left the room in search of her mate without strapping any of them to her body.

  Pausing in the hallway, she breathed in deeply, inhaling all of the scents in the home. There were several she recognized, and flashes of that day at her cabin teased her senses. They had all been there — Nolan’s entire family. They’d been there for Miracle, but she knew now that they had been there for her, too. They considered her family, too.

  Making her way down a set of stairs, Teine followed the voices and laughter through the home to a large kitchen. Her eyes went directly to Nolan, where he was seated at the table with little Athena cradled in his arms. She was staring up at him with her large brown eyes, giggling as he made faces at her. Tears filled Teine’s eyes as she thought about what could have happened if Nolan and his wonderful family hadn’t been there for her the week before. There was every
possibility that she would be dead, along with her niece.

  “Hey,” Miracle whispered, suddenly there and placing an arm around her waist. “Should you be out of bed?”

  Teine smiled through her tears, her gaze held tightly by Nolan’s as he raised his head to look at her. “I’m fine, little sister,” she whispered, squeezing Miracle’s arm gently before crossing the room to her mate, missing the happiness that filled Miracle’s eyes at the endearment.

  Nolan immediately slid his chair back and reached out to slip an arm around her, bringing her in close.

  “Mamamamama,” Athena cried, lunging toward her.

  “Hold on, cub,” Nolan said, laughing as he held her close to his chest. “We don’t want to hurt your mama.”

  Teine quickly swiped at the tears tracking down her cheeks, a wide grin on her lips, before holding her arms out to the little girl. “Come here, sweet girl. Aunt Teine is just fine.”

  “Aunt Teine?” a man who was leaning back against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand, asked. “She calls you mama?”

  Teine’s smile wobbled as she pulled Athena into her arms, more tears escaping. “She’s really my niece,” she admitted softly, breathing in the little girl’s scent deeply. “She’s my world. All that I have left.”

  “No, Teine,” Knox broke in gruffly, from where he sat across the table, his arms wrapped tightly around Emery, hers around his neck as she laid her head on his chest and looked at Teine. “You are not alone anymore. You have us now.”

  “That’s right,” Miracle agreed eagerly, coming forward to sit beside Nolan. “You and Athena are family now. Channings.”

  Teine’s gaze slowly swept around the room, watching as each person nodded their agreement, smiling at her.

  “Like I told you before, Teine, no one will harm you again. We Channings protect our own.”