The Wolf's Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika (19 page)

He felt his fangs elongate and claws break from the tips of his fingers as he came, and he jerked his hands away from her body and gripped the bed instead, howling his pleasure as his cock spasmed inside her.  His nails dug into the comforter, tearing the fabric, as he let out a panting growl, his whole body shivering as the last of his come bathed her womb.

His fangs and claws receded quickly as his heartbeat slowed.  He pulled out of the tight, wet heaven of her body and scooped her up into his arms and carried her onto the bed.  He stretched out on his side and curled her into him.  She snuggled close and hummed in her throat.

She lifted her head and blinked bright, happy eyes at him.  “I love you.”

He grinned.  “I love you, too.”

Dropping her head with a yawn, she cuddled closer and whispered, “Even if you are jealous.”

“I heard that.”

* * * * *

Bo hadn’t ever given much though to Valentine’s Day as anything other than a clever marketing ploy by greeting card companies and chocolatiers to hock their wares on unsuspecting idiots who didn’t know any better.  Now, of course, he could count himself among the idiots because he was going
all
out for Reika this year, starting with a reservation at Lonestar’s for Karly’s special, reservation-only, Valentine’s Dinner.  Doors opened at eight, and a four-course meal would be served.

Jason had asked Bo to double-date, and Bo had cleared it with Reika.  He was pleased she was excited to get to know his best friend and Cades better.

As he showered after work that night, he mentally went over everything he had prepared.  He had planned to just do the special dinner, but she told him that she’d never had a valentine before, which prompted him to do all the sappy, romantic stuff he had at one time teased his friends about.

Card?  Check.

Flowers?  Check.

Chocolate?  Check.

He heard the front door shut and knew that Reika was home from her afternoon spent at the community center.  She was working a few days a week and really enjoying herself.  He was glad to see her coming out of her shell and embracing his pack.

“Bo?” she called, coming into the bedroom.  He shut off the shower and reached for his towel.

“In here, baby.”

The door opened, and she stuck her head in.  “Did you have a nice day?”

“I did.  You?”

“You bet.  Now get out of the shower so I can clean up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He shaved while she showered, and when he rinsed his face off, she turned off the shower and dried off.  He walked to the closet to get his freshly dry-cleaned slacks and dress shirt.  When he heard the hair dryer click on, he rushed to finish getting dressed so he could get her gifts ready.

Thirty minutes later, when he was leaning against the counter and playing a game of poker on his cell, he heard the click of heels on the kitchen tile and lifted his head.  His breath caught in his throat as she neared him and he took in her stunning beauty.

Her long black hair was swept to the right side of her neck in a long ponytail, which left his marks exposed on her neck and filled him with pride.  She wore a glittering black jacket over a dark red dress that fell to her ankles and split up one leg to her knee.  Her blue eyes looked darker and more luminous, a trick of makeup perhaps, or maybe she was just that happy.

“You look gorgeous, baby,” he promised, closing the distance between them and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you.”  She brushed her fingers along his smooth jaw and said, “You clean up really well, but I like the stubble, too.”

“Do you?”  He arched a brow at her.

She hummed in her throat.  “When you go down on me, the stubble rubs on my thighs and I can … feel you … for hours afterwards.  It’s pretty cool.”

And sexy, too.

“I’ll remember that.”

She tugged on his tie with a sweet smile.  He turned and walked into the kitchen and brought out the vase of flowers he had purchased for her.  Her eyes widened as he set it down on the counter.  The crystal vase overflowed with two dozen red and dark pink roses mixed with pink and white lilies.

He handed her the simple card he had picked out at the florist.  She opened it and read the words out loud: 
To my Reika, I love you more than I ever believed possible.  Forever, Bo

After closing the card, she laid it on the counter next to the flowers and slipped her arms around him.  Tipping her head back so she could look at him, she smiled, “That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me, Bo Elliot.”

He tried not to grin like an idiot, but in his head he was yelling, “Fuck yeah!” and throwing his fists in the air.

“It’s all true, Reika.”

She nuzzled under his jaw and kissed his throat.  “I’m so glad you’re mine.”

After a long kiss, which required her to touch-up her lipstick and wipe some streaks from his skin as well, he gave her the box of chocolates in a red satin heart-shaped box and an adorable fuzzy stuffed wolf.

Peering at him with a curious smile, she said, “Wolf?”

“You didn’t think I’d give you a bear, did you?”

“I guess not.”  She laughed, and he grabbed her jacket as headlights flashed in the front window and a horn beeped twice.

He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and walked her down to Jason’s SUV and opened the back door for Reika.  When Jason’s daughter Lyric was born last summer, he had ditched his pickup truck in favor of a more family-friendly vehicle.  Bo relished the opportunity to upgrade his own truck, too.

Candles and soft music greeted them as they walked into the restaurant.  He was glad to see that they’d been able to replace the front doors so quickly and repair the damage.  He had worried that it would set back the special opening, but the whole pack came together to make sure it would happen.

Luka, one of the wolves living with Reika’s brother, Ben, ushered them to a table near the center of the room.  Bo held out Reika’s chair and Jason held out Cades’, and when they were all seated, Luka handed Jason and Bo the wine lists and waited patiently for their orders.

There was a little discussion about what to drink, and in the end, they all forewent the wine and chose sweet tea.  Jason offered to remain sober while the rest drank, but Bo happened to want to be entirely sober himself.  In fact, since Reika had come into his life, he hadn’t had a drop of beer or any kind of alcohol.  Before, he had used it to numb himself to his pain and misery.  But Reika had changed all of that for him, without him even realizing it.  He certainly didn’t miss the hangovers, that was for sure.

Reika was his drug of choice now.  He was completely addicted to her smile, the mischievous glint in her eyes when she was teasing him, the seductive way she walked when she was turned on.

Their drinks and the first course arrived, a small plate of scallops done three ways.

Cades and Reika began to talk about the February full moon and the get together that their pack always enjoyed before the hunt.  When Cades explained how a group of she-wolves always followed her back to the house after she stood with Jason as his mate and female alpha, Reika glanced at him, her brow drawn in confusion.

Jason stepped in.  “Only unmated females guard Cades, although my mother does from time to time as well.  You and Bo are mates.  You need to hunt together and share this unique aspect of your lives together.”

“How do I get into the ranking system?” Reika asked.

Cades answered, “Normally, new females fight in wolf form.  But Jas and I actually discussed this at length, along with the elders and the other highly ranked wolves, including your mate.”  Cades’ shifted a side glance to Bo who just smiled.  She continued, “We would like to offer you the position of
lykar
, which means ‘healer.’  Like Teller, who is our pack tracker, your position is still under me and Jason as your alphas, and you are required to defend those under you if the need arises, but you are not up for rank fights and are considered a treasured, highly ranked pack member.  How do you feel about that?”

Bo looked at Reika’s wide eyes and partially opened mouth and grinned.  She was actually speechless.

After a few seconds, she cleared her throat and said, “It would be my honor.”

Jason nodded and slipped his arm around Cades.  “When you and Bo declare each other as mates and we induct you into the pack, we’ll specify your title and rank as well.  Bo said his aunt would like to work with you from time to time.  I’ll be sure to let our pack know they can see you through her, if they have a problem.”

She nodded and laced her fingers through Bo’s hand and squeezed.  “If it’s an emergency, they can call me now that I have a new cell.”

Bo squeezed her hand back.  “Just remember our deal.”

“Right.”  She chuckled and said, “No licking without you there.”

“You make it sound so dirty,” he laughed, releasing her hand to pull her close and kiss her temple.

The rest of the meal passed quickly.  The next course was a frilly salad with roasted pears.  And then an amazing, thick filet mignon with a mile-high pile of mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus.  For dessert, each couple shared a delicious chocolate soufflé.

Glancing around the restaurant as he settled back in his chair with Reika leaning against him, he smiled at the people he considered family.  Mated pairs of all ages from their pack filled the restaurant and shared not only the holiday, but they also celebrated the opening of the restaurant that as far as he was concerned, was an unqualified success.

Karly stopped by after the dessert dishes were cleared and they were sharing a cup of coffee before heading home, and Reika’s brother joined her.  Ben beamed with pride when everyone complimented the food, and Karly heaped praise on her new sous chef.

That night, when he and Reika were alone in his house and passion swirled between them, he dropped down to one knee and pulled a ring box from his pocket.  He’d hidden it inside his coat pocket, and snagged it from the depths when he hung it up.

“Reika,” he looked up into her eyes, “I love you from the very bottom of my heart.  Whatever heartaches we both shared before, we’re together now, and the road we traveled to bring us together was worth the pain and misery to have each other in the end.  I will spend the rest of my life making you happy if you’ll let me.  Marry me, Reika.”

“Of course I will!”  She smiled as tears spilled over her cheeks.  He slipped the solitaire on her finger and stood, catching her in his arms and devouring her in a kiss.

She was so perfect for him.  Strong, loving, and fiercely protective of those she cared for.  He felt honored to have her in his life.

Picking her up, he carried her into the bedroom where they made love, chasing the darkness from the sky and welcoming the sun with cries of pleasure before they passed out, tangled together.

Chapter 14

Reika shouted as she climaxed for the third time, her body whipped into a frenzy by Bo’s talented fingers on her clit as his cock pistoned in and out of her pussy.

“Oh, fuck, yes,” Bo groaned, squeezing her hips just shy of painfully hard as his cock spasmed inside her.  He caught his weight on his arms as he stretched out over her, nuzzling her neck and licking along the fresh bite marks.  Her whole body felt like one throbbing bruise since she’d woken up that morning to her very horny fiancé.

She could recall previous full moons, when the urge to find a hot cock and play with it after a good hunt would course through her body and her mind, but she got tired of the wolves in her home pack only being interested in her for that
one
night and refusing to get attached in any other way.  She’d missed out on a lot of dating things because of the blood-debt, but she was getting a new life that was full to the brim with love and passion that she hadn’t ever known existed.

She felt Bo’s teeth scrape along her collarbone, and she shivered and then smacked his shoulder lightly.  “Stop biting me!”

Chuckling, he lifted his head and stared at her with wolf-amber eyes.  “I can’t help that you taste so good.  My wolf is really excited to finally have a mate this full moon.”