Simon & Rose Read online

  “I want you so badly it hurts,” she whispered over his lips.

  Just hearing the words made his cock jerk. “I want you just as badly,” he whispered back.

  He leaned back to see her eyes and waggled his eyebrows playfully. “Just tell me where you want me and then commence with making me your personal playground.”

  Sharon giggled and shook her head. “You sure are something. I think the best way to do this so we can reach each other’s necks is if you either lie or sit on the bed with me on top. Which do you prefer?”

  He turned to look at the bed and consider his options. “Sitting against the headboard sounds like my kind of fun.” Using his arms and pushing with his good leg he quickly slid to the pillows and tossed them to the floor.

  Lifting and levering with his arms he positioned himself in the center of the bed with his back flat against the padded headboard. Then he placed the sheet of paper on the bed where he could reach it. Satisfied, he crooked a finger at Sharon. “Come here, woman.”

  With a heated look that could melt chocolate in Siberia, she joined him on the bed.

  The instant she was close enough, he pulled her across his lap.

  Laughing, she swung a leg over his hips and eagerly straddled him. Her damp heated core, still covered by the red lace, pressed down on his straining erection. The exquisite pressure elicited a loud groan from his chest.

  “I need to taste you again.” His mouth claimed hers, tongues gliding and tangling.

  Sharon kissed him with equal abandon as his hands trailed down her body to grip her hips. When her heated core ground against him, he moaned and rocked his pelvis. Once he was able to form a thought, he lowered the straps on her bra, and nibbled her lower lip before trailing kisses to her breasts.

  Rivers of heat flowed in her veins. Scorching lava replaced her blood. Sharon’s temperature ratcheted up a few degrees with each curl of Mark’s tongue around her nipple. The bra, which he’d undone at her back without taking his lips off her chest, had somehow found its way to the floor. Each lick and swirl, sent a wave of heat and need through her body.

  First he took one into his mouth, ran his tongue over the sensitive tip, and grazed it with his teeth. Then he repeated the delicious torture on the other. Her feminine core throbbed and clenched. He wound her tighter and tighter. She needed him soon, or she would shatter like fine crystal on the floor.

  Goddess, the man had amazing hands and his mouth should be inducted into a hall of fame. Sharon’s fingers kneaded his shoulders. Not only did she need to touch him, she also needed an anchor or she would topple off the bed. Mark had turned her body to the consistency of floppy rubber like a Gumby doll.

  But this she wolf could give as well as she got. Slowly, she traced one fingertip from the nape of his neck to his jawline. Then in a sensual motion, she skimmed his throat, like a snake side to side. Barely touching the skin to leave a trail of goose bumps in her wake. At his collarbone, she leaned forward and gave him a lick before tracing across the dampened flesh to wet her finger and continue lower. With a light breath, she blew on the moistened skin following her fingers lead. Mark began to shiver under her gentle assault. And with every breath on his skin, his reaction grew.

  She circled his right nipple, once, twice, then leaned in for a taste. Circling once more, she dampened her fingertip again and proceeded south. Sharon wanted to touch and taste every inch of her mate. She followed his ribs one by one using her tongue and fingers. When she dipped into his belly button, Mark sucked in a breath.

  Her wolf rumbled its pleasure louder. Both she and her wolf enjoyed pleasing their mate. With torturous slowness, she worked her way to his pelvis. Inspecting every line and curve.

  Wedged between his legs, she paused and gazed into his eyes. Mark’s eyes blazed at her and he gasped as she blew a warm wet breath across his erection. Before he could catch his breath, she took him in her mouth. His eyes rolled and his head fell back. Yes, this she wolf could give as good as she got.

  “S h a r o n…” He drew out her name like a plea that ended in a shaky indrawn breath. But was he asking her to stop? No, he definitely didn’t want her to stop. Just as she felt his balls begin to tighten, she released him with a POP.

  Going to her knees, she knelt between his thighs and stroked his injured leg. “Are you ready to say goodbye to this chapter of your past and hello to our future?”

  “Hell, yes.” He gripped her arms and gently drew her up his body.

  “If I understand the ritual, I need to hold off until the end. You, Sharon Lejeune, are a naughty vixen.” As punishment or reward she wasn’t sure, he clasped the back of her head, pulled her mouth to his, and kissed the breath from her lungs.

  Chapter 11

  Sharon pressed her palm to his chest and applied gentle pressure. Mark stroked her tongue one last time before he relented and let her sit up. Slowly, she rose, burning a trail of kisses across his stubbled jaw and down his neck, stopping to give special attention to the spot, which would bear her bite.

  Marks chest heaved. “Baby, you’re so damn sexy. How did I get so lucky?”

  “You were a very good boy today, now you get your reward, “ she teased, her eyes dancing. She traced a fingertip around one hard male nipple as she rose to straddle his hips. Then she stroked his shaft back and forth through her slickness.

  Sharon splayed both hands on his chest, and took a moment to admire her mate. She skimmed her hands up to his strong shoulders, then ran them down his body, enjoying every defined dip and rise.

  She particularly liked the soft line of hair that started below his navel and disappeared under her aching core. Supporting her weight on one hand she ran a single finger down that little trail to his engorged erection peeking out between her legs.

  The pads of her fingers skimmed the bulbous crown, and she felt the hard length of him jump as he sucked in a breath. With every circle around the rim, his dick twitched and bounced under her seeking fingers.

  He reached up and ran one palm from her neck to her heated core while maintaining a grip on her with the other.

  She gasped, arching her back when he stroked her clit. With each swipe she rocked her hips and felt him grow thicker and harder beneath her. Her wolf rumbled long and low in her chest in total ecstasy and bliss.

  She flexed her thigh muscles to create a gap between them. Using her finger, she traced the length of him from base to tip before gently wrapping one small, warm palm around his length. Her juices coating him provided natural lubrication to slip her fist up and down his shaft.

  Mark’s hips jerked. His eyes rolled back. He tried to form words, but all that emerged were guttural moans. He clutched the sheets in a death grip, barely holding his shit together. On the verge of ripping the sheet to shreds, he tried to force the words from his lips to warn Sharon he was too close and about to ruin the night.

  “Sweet… heart. You… need… to… stop.”

  “Are you ready to do the ritual?”

  “Absolutely,” he growled through gritted his teeth, as she stood him up and impaled herself on his length, never breaking eye contact.

  He latched onto her hips like she was his lifeline. The woman was going to be the death of him. Sharon kissed her way up his heaving chest, each touch fraying his control a tiny bit more. He felt her warm breath on his neck and his entire body shuddered. Finally, she laid claim to his lips.

  Sharon’s rumbles of pleasure were music to his ears, but he wanted her as crazed as he was and screaming his name. He thrust his hips and ground against her clit with his pelvic bone.

  She stopped kissing him and sucked in a surprised breath.

  “Let go for me, cher. I want you to scream for me.”

  Her head fell back, and her body arched, as she sat up and took him deeper. Her breasts jutted toward him like an offering, begging for his attention. He sucked a nipple into his mouth and pushed her climax higher and higher with a stroke of his thumb on her swollen nub.

  Ma
rk felt her tighten on him and knew she was close; her hips bucking wildly as she tried to find release.

  “I need to start the ritual,” she panted. Taking a deep breath, she stated her request. “Will you give yourself, body and soul, to complete this woman and her wolf?

  “Will you unite your life with mine, bond your future with mine, and merge your half of our soul to mine, and in doing so complete the mating ritual?”

  Smiling, he answered. “I will give myself, body and soul, to complete you as a woman and her wolf.

  “I will unite my life with yours, bond my future to yours, and merge my half of our soul with yours. I will complete the mating ritual with you.”

  Mark thrust his hips to match each of her rocking motions. Their breath grew heavy, and she knew they needed to complete this now.

  “I claim you as my mate.” The magic began to swirl around them.

  “I belong to you as you belong to me.

  “I give you my heart and my body.

  “I will protect you even with my life.

  “I give you all I am.

  “I share my half of our soul to complete you.

  “I share my magic with you.”

  Sharon leaned forward and kissed Mark deeply before brushing her lips down his neck. She lapped where his shoulder and neck met, once, twice, a third time, and then bit, piercing the flesh with her canines.

  Mark moaned, the sensation was much more than he expected. His hips jerked, slamming his raging cock deep as Sharon licked the wound clean.

  He floated on euphoria when he heard her begin again. “I beseech the great Luna Goddess to bless you and your wolf guardian.

  “You are my mate to cherish today and for all time.

  “I claim you as my mate.”

  He felt something enter his body. It wasn’t solid and yet he felt filled. Funny, he’d never felt empty, at least not that he’d noticed.

  He shook off his thoughts, glanced at his instructions, and then looked directly into her eyes. “I claim you as my mate.

  “I belong to you as you belong to me.

  “I give you my heart and my body.

  “I will protect you even with my life.

  “I give you all I am.

  “I share my half of our soul to complete you.”

  Mark’s eyes widened. Something fluttered in his body like chopsticks sawing quickly back and forth. “What is that?”

  “Our souls are knitting together to close the gap between the two halves.”

  “It feels strange.” He reviewed his instructions and then began again. “I share my magic with you.”

  Sharon leaned into him and tilted her head aside. He copied what she’d done, lapping. Once, twice, a third time. Suddenly, canines erupted. Sharp teeth filled his mouth. Stunned, he faltered for a moment before instinct took over, and he bit down.

  Sharon moaned, rocking as best she could, pressed against his chest.

  He licked the bite clean and said, “I beseech the great Luna Goddess to bless you and your wolf guardian.

  “You are my mate to cherish today and for all time.

  “I claim you as my mate.”

  “Thank Goddess.” With the ritual words completed, she rode her new mate like there was no tomorrow.

  Mark gripped her hips and held on for the ride. The woman was a sight to behold.

  “I can’t believe you’re mine, really mine. Goddess! You feel so good,” she growled.

  Suddenly she exploded in ecstasy. Her channel clamped down on him as she came hard, screaming his name.

  Mark followed her with his own release, yelling her name just as loud.

  Laughing, she collapsed against his chest, snuggling into his embrace. He held her like that for long minutes.

  Breathing out a contented sigh, Sharon lifted her head from his chest. Unhappy to leave his arms, but resigned. “I have to get Lois in here.”

  She smiled as she felt his lips brush her forehead. Comfort and love washed over her as Mark used their bond to kiss her.

  She rose from the bed and snagged his boxer shorts from the floor. This was it. There was no going back. Silently she prayed, Goddess, please assist him through the conversion. She would die if he suffered. Taking a deep breath she put a cheerful expression on her face, waggled her eyebrows, and tossed them to him. “You might want to cover yourself before we have company.”

  Mark grinned back as he caught them one handed. “Are you afraid she’ll like what she sees?”

  She looked over her shoulder at him as she stepped into the hall. “Of course, she’ll think you’re hot. I just don’t want to torture her with something she can’t have.”

  He watched her walk out the door and suddenly felt very alone. His chest tightened, and he had a hard time getting air into his lungs. The realization of what was about to happen hit home. Imagining mind-numbing pain the conversion would involve brought forward excruciating, bloody visions of the attack.

  The darkness of a moonless night was welcomed. The black of night wouldn’t stop a bullet, but it offered a modicum of concealment. The smell of diesel fuel and sweaty Marines filled his nostrils. His men were on high alert, silently scanning the area. Glancing to his left, he watched Simon tilt his head as if listening to things no one else could hear. An expression Mark had never seen on his friends face made his heart pound in alarm. He fiercely squashed the emotion down. He couldn’t afford a moment of hesitation when the lives of his men were on the line. And fear made a person hesitate.

  He focused on Simon and watched him like a hawk. Was that confusion creasing Simon’s brow? Le Beau was always confident and sure of himself and the intel he gave. Something was very different about this patrol and he could tell Simon didn’t like it.

  He waited patiently for Simon’s information. The building they were sweeping was extremely dangerous. Several reports indicated a cell used it as a base of sorts. It wasn’t a matter of if a firefight would take place, it was when. Without Simon’s guidance, they were blind.

  When his nerves were stretched to their limit, Simon looked him in the eye, concern deepening the lines of his face.

  “Sir, I sense something, but it’s extremely erratic. I can’t pinpoint if it’s a threat or not. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

  The little hope he’d held onto, leached away like water into the sand at his feet. Squaring his shoulders he took a breath. “We’ll have to investigate the old-fashioned way.” Mark signaled the unit into recon formation and put them through the drill they knew so well.

  In slow motion, he watched the men on point enter the building. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Thump thump. Thump thump. Gunfire erupted, and chaos reigned. The blasts and flashes of automatic weapons both deafened and blinded him. No matter, his men were under attack by an unknown number of insurgents, he had to get in there.

  He signaled the rest of them to take up positions and then entered the building. The last thing he remembered was stepping across the threshold and a massive blast throwing him against a stone wall. Days later he awoke in a hospital bed with two thirds of his leg missing.

  Simon was asleep in a chair next to his bed. He looked haggard and ten years older. He tried to stay quiet and not wake him, but Simon must have sensed he was conscious.

  “Mark! Thank Goddess. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault, I should have known what we were walking into.”

  “It’s not your fault. We followed orders and did our job. That’s the way most Marines face the enemy every single day. Not everyone has a Simon to forewarn them.”

  “Yeah, well, you didn’t have a Simon this time either.”

  Mark shook his head. “Not your fault, man. You didn’t…” He paused and frowned. “What the hell happen to me anyway?” He was about to say Simon hadn’t pulled the trigger, but based on his leg it must have been more than that.

  “Grenade. You walked in as the asshole lobbed it.”

  “Any other casualties?”

  “A scratc
h or two. The enemy was high on a street drug. Mostly it was wild fire in our general direction. The rest of the men were able to find cover. The entire thing was over in about two minutes.”

  Mark rested his eyes and nodded. “Good.”

  Rizzo’s nudging his arm and whining pulled him back to the present. He had been so lost in his traumatic past he hadn’t heard Sharon return. He sucked in a shaky breath and glanced up. She and a woman who must be Lois were watching him anxiously. The worry in their eyes tightened the vice gripping his chest all over again.

  He appreciated the effort Emma and Sharon were making, but truthfully wasn’t sure it would be enough. But he didn’t have to let Sharon know that. He prayed he was wrong. It would kill her to cause him pain.

  Simon walked in with Lois’s equipment before he had the chance to pull himself together. “Are you all right, Mark? Did you have a flashback?”

  He knew Simon was all too familiar with flashbacks and recognized one when he saw it. “Yeah, but I’m good now.”

  Simon gave him a nod and dropped the subject. Then he turned to Lois. “Would you like help setting up?”

  Mark watched her shake her head, busy attaching plastic tubing and hanging a saline bag to the IV rack. “Thank you, but no. I have it under control. Once I run the line, Mark will be under in a matter of seconds.”

  “If you’re sure, I’ll take Rizzo out of the room and leave you to it.” Then Simon clapped Mark on the shoulder and gripped him tightly. “Good luck, man. I’ll see you on the other side.”

  “Thanks, Simon.”

  The bedroom door quietly clicked shut as Mark watched Lois sanitize the back of his hand and inserted the IV needle. “I’m going to use this to modify the dose I give since we don’t know how much ketamine you will need to keep you under. With the IV drip I can administer doses as we go.”

  “Good idea,” Sharon said as she sat next to him on the other side of the bed and gripped his free hand. Her clammy, quivering palm exposed her anxiety.

  He gazed into her eyes. “I’ll be fine, sweetheart. How about you stay right here next to me and give me a kiss before Lois puts my lights out.”