“Da Pard has a new member,” Caine said when the roars died down. “You’ll have to stay for da celebration; I doubt Remy will want to leave just now when it’s his brother’s mate who just gave birth.”
“Not a problem. Knowing Lily, she’ll want to stay anyway.”
Caine chuckled. “Dat she will. Drink, enjoy yourself, it’s goin’ to be a long night.” That said, he made his way to Gage and Mia’s to congratulate them.
“I’ll do that.” Declan watched Caine walk away before he turned his attention to where the Pard was setting up the alcohol. He spotted Lily downing a shot of Jack and cocked a brow. Damn, every time he thought he couldn’t get anymore turned on by her, she did something to prove him wrong. He fucking loved a woman who could shoot whiskey. He hadn’t met many of them, so the fact she was doing that made him ache for her even more. “Good choice,” he growled next to her ear as he reached around her for the bottle to get himself some as well.
Lily was startled by his voice. “Jack, Jim, and Johnny are three of my favorite men.” She finished the shot she had and poured herself a larger glass and drank a bit slower.
“Woman after my own heart.” Deep laughter erupted from him at her words. He liked this playful side of her. Maybe he needed to get her drinking more often to get her to loosen up.
Music filled the air and Lily found herself swaying to it while she studied Declan. “So what did you and Caine talk about?”
“Nothing I feel like sharing tonight, doll. Tonight is about celebrating new life.” His eyes trailed down her body as she moved to the music, and a soft growl escaped him. “Fuck, you’re killing me here, Lily. Do you have any idea just how gorgeous you are?” His voice was rough with need.
Lily tilted her head at him. “Gorgeous? That’s sweet of you to say, Declan. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m pretty, but gorgeous? Not hardly.”
Declan’s eyes narrowed at her. “Bullshit you’re not.” He pulled her close without thinking. “Woman, I have seen women of all shapes, sizes, and colors over the years so believe me, I know what the fuck I’m talking about. You’re gorgeous, Lily.”
She squeaked when he pulled her close but shook her head. “I’ve got too much meat on me to be gorgeous. I won’t ever be a size four and I’m okay with that, but I know being too curvy isn’t exactly the most alluring thing in the world.”
“Baby, you’re not too curvy; you’ve got just the right amount of curves in all the right places.” Before he could talk himself out of it, he crushed his mouth to hers. She hadn’t tried to pull away when he’d tugged her close, and he was taking full advantage of that.
A moan escaped Lily and it made him tighten his hold on her. Declan wanted nothing more than to drag her away from the celebration. He needed to be alone with her. He needed to feel her skin beneath his hands. He kept kissing her even as he backed them away from the party, away from the lights that were burning to keep the darkness at bay.
Lily
Lily found herself swooning when his lips met hers. The fire that was burning low in her ignited into a raging inferno, and she pressed closer to him. Vaguely, she realized she shouldn’t have been drinking whiskey, but for the moment, logic had no part in what was happening. She couldn’t think; all she could do was feel. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he ravished her mouth, and a moan escaped her.
She wasn’t sure when they’d slipped away from the others, but the sudden darkness pulled her from the kiss. She gazed up at him, her breathing ragged, and she started to speak but he silenced her with another kiss.
“No talking, no thinking, just feel.”
Lily could have argued with him, should have argued with him, but his lips on hers felt so good, and she gave in to the way he made her feel. Never before had she been kissed with such passion, such need, that she could feel it in her bones. Was this what it was like between mates? This overwhelming, burning need for each other?
Declan growled against her lips before he slipped his hands beneath her shirt and up to cup her breasts. His thumbs skimmed her nipples and he smirked when they hardened beneath his touch. He pinched one between his finger and thumb and was rewarded by her gasp. He trailed his lips down her throat before he nudged her shirt up enough to expose her ample breasts to his heated gaze. He locked eyes with her and took one of her nipples in his mouth, suckling it through the lace of her bra.
The look in Declan’s eyes thrilled her, and when he took her nipple into his mouth, her knees felt weak. Liquid heat burned through her and she knew her panties were soaked. “Declan…” She wasn’t sure what she was going to say; was she going to ask him to stop or beg him for more? Before she could say anything more than his name, he gently bit down on her nipple, and all thought fled her mind.
“Tell me you want this, Lily.” His voice was a muffled growl against her skin. His free hand slid down and tugged her skirt up so he could skim his fingers over the crotch of her panties. “Fuck, baby, you’re so wet.”
A small voice in her head was screaming at her to stop now. She wasn’t single—there was someone who would be hurt if she continued on the path she was on, but her wolf pushed that voice down. Instinct was taking over and Lily was unable to take back control . “I want this.” Her whispered voice was husky with need.
That was all Declan needed to hear. He ripped her panties from her and buried a finger inside her wet heat. He worked his finger hard and fast, and watched her face, wanting to give her release before he took her. “Come for me, doll.” Declan stroked his thumb over her clit to push her over the edge.
When he slipped a second finger inside her, Lily threw her head back and gave herself over to the aching need burning through her. Her hips thrust into his hand, and at his command, she could do nothing but obey. She cried out with her release and stood there shaking in his arms.
“That’s my girl.” He shifted a little and picked her up. “Wrap your legs around me, and don’t let go.” He got himself free of his jeans, managed to get a condom out of his wallet and on, then in one swift motion he buried himself inside her. He pushed her up against a nearby tree and stayed there, buried to the hilt, for a moment, as her wet heat gripped him.
“Declan…please…” Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew come morning she would be ashamed of herself, but right now it felt too right to tell him to stop. She needed this. They needed this. Just this once. She told herself it wouldn’t happen again.
Declan
Maybe it was selfish of him—hell, no maybe about it—it was selfish, but she was his mate. For fuck’s sake, he wanted her in a way he’d never wanted another woman in his life, and he knew she felt the same way. It was her sense of obligation and loyalty to that damn human that kept getting in the way. The moment she said she wanted it, he wanted to howl his joy to the moon.
Declan’s control snapped at her pleading tone and he thrust into her hard and fast. He knew he wasn’t going to last long, despite the fact male shifters generally had amazing stamina. He’d wanted her for too fucking long to be able to hold off his release for any length of time. The way she was keening and clawing at his back through his shirt though, Declan doubted she was going to last long either. Next time they could take their time and build the tension before finally letting go. He slid a hand between them and caressed her already sensitive clit as he pounded into her.
Lily was hovering on the edge of orgasm when Declan’s thumb caressed her clit. That single touch was enough to send her crashing over the edge, and she muffled her scream against his shoulder. Her nails dug into his back, and her inner walls clenched around him, dragging him over with her.
