The Contrary Mate

62 Aura Mature

I'd figured that this was bound to happen eventually since I spent so much time in my sanctuary, so I was prepared. I grabbed protection from my hiding place and Jack was back on me in a second, his hands everywhere. I loved that werewolf speed. I pushed him back into the chair—he obviously let me because I didn't have the strength to move him without his cooperation—and arranged his arms on the armrests. He had an intrigued expression and stayed the way I put him.

I straddled him and heard his groan of appreciation, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as I started kissing him again. He was more than willing and his tongue was in my mouth like he owned it, and maybe he did. He was my mate, after all.

But, I owned him, too, so I ran my hands over his chest. I rocked against him teasingly while I did so and revelled in his frustrated groan. He responded by running his lips along my neck and over the spot he had marked me, sending tingles down throughout me. There was something about those lips that were irresistible, wherever they went on me, they melted my spine.

And I didn't mind. Who needed a spine when not having one felt like the best thing ever? But before I completely lost my control, I wanted to tease him and make him just a bit crazy. I kissed his neck in return, and ran my hands down his stomach slowly, dragging out the movement to increase anticipation of my direction, Finally, I moved one between us to find him and squeeze. He groaned again, and I smiled wickedly. I loved the reaction. He seemed about ready to bust out of his pants already.

Apparently he was done with just seeing what I would do without his interference, because his arms left the armrests and his hands started wandering my body, lightly over my dress before pulling the whole thing over my head, leaving me in just my underwear. I felt quite exposed since we were in the conservatory, even though there was no way that anyone could spot what we were doing. And I didn't really mind, especially when I couldn't miss that gleam of appreciation as his eyes raked over me, admiring the curves of my body. Then I couldn't even think about it when his hands and mouth followed.

I'd had nothing to complain about the first time we were together, and he only got better with practice. Jack was nothing if not a fast learner, a trait he was rapidly teaching me to adore. I pulled his mouth back to mine and kissed him, our mouths working together.

He moved me off his lap long enough to get rid of the rest of our clothing, before pulling me back. I slipped down onto him and I enjoyed his groan almost as much as I enjoyed the feel of him inside me. "You're too good to me," he whispered against my ear as I started moving on top of him.

"Maybe I'm exactly what you deserve." My voice was strained as I tried to find the perfect rhythm for us both. Although he seemed happy with anything I did to him. He nibbled over the mark on my neck and I shivered, and my release quickly followed. He grabbed my hips and helped me move harder than I could on my own, and he followed with a final few satisfyingly hard thrusts.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, chests together, and rested my head on his shoulder, listening to the sounds of our breathing intermingling in the quiet of the conservatory.

"I wasn't expecting this," he said, and even without looking I could sense his smile.

—————

That evening we had supper at my parents' house. My mother had made my favourite veggie lasagna, and the time there was nice, and sort of strange. I hadn't spent much time there since marrying Jack, and even though so much had happened nothing—and everything—had changed in my childhood home.

We gathered around the table. My parents sat at either end, and I sat beside Jack, with my brother, Aunt Fern, and Lark across from us. My dad started dishing up and everyone copied him. Jack didn't complain about the absence of meat, but I did know he would be raiding the kitchen for something when we got home.

We chatted about how everyone was doing. I was still helping Aunt Fern every second day, but she'd hired a talented young fae to cover for my absences. "It would be nice though if the hunters would give up already."

"They still poking around?" Jack asked.

My mom scowled but didn't say anything. She hated talking about heavy things during meals.

Lark nodded sagely. "They spent hours looking around our home before they cleared."

"I don't know what they're looking for," my aunt said. "They came here, too. Very disruptive."

Ash had been fairly quiet around me on the odd occasion I had seen him, but he spoke up. "The senate and the hunters have reached a deal, since the incident was such a huge violation of the accords. We cooperate with their investigations, and all the agreements stay intact."

"I don't know Salix hoped to accomplish. We were safer when everyone just dismissed us."

Jack shrugged. "If they had succeeded, it would have been a huge blow against all the major kinds, both human and supernatural. There aren't many werewolf packs who live without modern conveniences anymore. We're just lucky that they had such a flair for drama that they chose to enact their plan where we could find them. Imagine if they'd started their attack in the wilds somewhere."

"Well, as interesting as this is, I'm pretty sure Lark's too young to hear all the ugliness," my mom said in voice that told everyone she found the conversation anything but interesting.

Lark scoffed. "Seriously, Auntie Clara, there were hunters in my bedroom yesterday. It was the most interesting thing that's happened since the last time Aura was angry at Jack."

"Lark," I said, shooting her a look.

"Don't you owe me ice cream?" she asked.

"Already told you I wasn't letting you blackmail me."

"Ice cream has too much sugar," Aunt Fern said, and my mom nodded. It was one thing they could agree on.

Lark rolled her eyes and sulked.

"Anyway," my mom said. "How's your new boss, Ash?"

Ash started telling my mother about the newly appointed senator, and Jack and my father started talking about their jobs, and I just sat back and enjoyed my supper.