To the Edge and Back [The Royal Wolves] (Siren Publishing Allure) (15 page)

She lay on him for several long minutes. It was a very, very long time that she lay there until she felt his cock starting to grow smaller. She closed her eyes and felt sleep pulling her under. The heat of him under her and the heat of the blanket on top of her was enough to make her sleepy.

Sometime later Janos rolled to his side, curling into her as he moved his arms under the blankets, holding her closer than before. Resting his cheek to hers, he let sleep pull him fully under and found her in the dreams with a happy smile on her face.

The dreams were different, softer, less clear than before, and he knew that they would eventually fade unless they forced themselves into this state. “Are you all right, my love?” he asked her as he approached her from behind, sliding his hands down her arms before wrapping them around her.

She leaned back against him and smiled. “I am perfect,” she said simply as she looked up at him over her shoulder. “I love you, Janos.” Turning in his arms she whispered, “Will we always be able to share our dreams like this? I want to be able to always have my dreams with you. I love being able to not only be with you when I’m awake, but when I sleep as well.”

“Look to the edges,” he said softly. “Do you see the fuzzy-like quality?” he asked. When she nodded, he continued to explain. “We’re mated now so the dreams begin to fade unless we continually push into them over and over again. We can keep them for all time, but they will need a little work for a time,” he said softly. “As I understand, they are strongest during the time before we mate and then begin to fade after. But if we nurture the dreams, we can keep them solid and for us alone.”

“And what do you want?” she asked him as she leaned into his heat and watched the very edges of their dreams. “Do you want to be able to have these with me, or would you like to once more have them to yourself for peace and quiet?”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “I’m never going to get enough of you, Mina. I want all that I can get, and the dreams give us even more. I want to continue to have the dreams with you, because even here together we can have quiet moments, but we’ll be together, which is important to me.”

“It is to me as well. It was in these dreams that I got to know you, the real you and not the gruff and growly man I first met.” Although she had to admit that she really, really liked the growls that he had given her. “We will have our quiet times here, but it is important to be together, to share each other’s lives, right?” And she wanted all of him, because with him there were no bad dreams. He made everything right.

“Right,” he told her, softly cupping her cheek in his hand. “Tonight though, we should rest as much as possible. I’ll need to go into work tomorrow and do the books. You’re more than welcome to come and, if you want, start looking for a job if that’s what you’d like to do.”

“I would like to come in with you.” She snuggled up and close to him as even in their dreams they lay on his bed as they did in reality. “I would like to come in with you and get to know the area and, yes, find a job.” If only something part time, because as generous as he was, she would still like to be able to have her own money.

“Just make sure you leave me some time, love.” He smiled at her as he hugged her closer to him. “Don’t want you being too overworked or I might get cranky.” He was only partially teasing her on that one.

“I will keep that in mind, Janos.” Her smile played at her lips for several long moments before she admitted to him, “I only want a part-time job. I want more than just ‘some time’ with you, Janos. I want as much time with you as I can get. Will you mind being the one to ‘take care of me’?”

Lifting a brow in confusion, he asked, “Why would I mind, Mina?” he asked her gently. “You’re my mate. It’s my honor to take care of you however you wish me to and as much as you’ll allow. I will try not to step on your independence, love,” he promised her again. “Whatever you would like of me, you just have to ask, and if it’s within my power to give, it’s yours.”

“I would like only to have a part-time job, Janos. I want to be able to work to have a small amount of money that is all mine, but I would like for you to take care of me, if that is all right with you.” She rubbed her cheek on his chest. “I’ve never had to not work before, so it will take some adjustment for me to get used to not having to go to work day in and out, but it is one that I look forward to having to make.”

“You could work at one of the pubs or clubs, love, or if you have a love of books, Ben’s always looking for someone that has his same passion for the written word,” Janos told her quietly.

“Or, if you have an interest in something else, let me know, love. I have several friends that are always looking for someone that’s willing to do some work. A couple cafes, a gal that runs a clothing boutique, and several other places,” he said.

“Your brother Ben runs a bookstore?” She wanted to clarify to make sure that she had recalled correctly. She loved books. She always had loved books, and was thankful for the local library because she was a voracious reader. It was how she escaped and how she had learned things. “I would love to be able to work part-time in a bookstore. He wouldn’t mind, would he?”

“He owns several, one that’s actually only about four blocks from Full Moon,” Janos said. “And I’m sure he’d love to have any and all help. When we head in later today we can swing by and you can meet him and have a chat with him if you’d like while I go and do the books. That way you won’t be bored while I’m pulling out my hair and calling people nasty names.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Only you would make something like that seem like it would be enough to kill people. It won’t be, of course, but still. I would like that, if for no other reason than just to meet your family. I want to meet everyone.” She felt better today, with all the sleep and food he had plied on her and then the most amazing lovemaking she could ever have dreamed of for her first time.

“You’ll meet everyone, love, I promise.” He smiled at her as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. “And they will love and adore you almost as much as I do. Ben is the soft-spoken one of the family, so you’ll get along with him most smashingly.”

“Well, that is a good thing, because I love books, adore them, and would be in heaven to work in a bookstore.” She smiled at him and hugged him close. “You have given me everything, Janos, absolutely everything. How can I ever come close to giving you back only a small part of what you have given me?”

“Honey, you’ve given me so much more than I think you realize,” he told her, moving back and pulling her to sit in his lap as he sat on the bed.

Rubbing her back, he looked at her. “You have given me hope, a new life, someone to love and care for and about, and the possibility to have a family of my own one day. That, to me, is priceless, and anything I can give you in return is miniscule by comparison.”

She smiled and felt tears watering her eyes. “I like that, Janos. I like that I can give that to you, that we can give that to each other.” Because to her he gave her hope, he gave her love, and he gave her a new life. He was amazing and terrific. She loved him and he was special in her mind, forever.

Smiling, he touched her cheek, wiping away the tear. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, love,” he said apologetically. “But it’s the truth, so there’s no need for tears. You are my life and I really hope I’m yours. It’s the way it should be with mates.”

“They’re not bad tears. These are good tears, darling.” She touched his cheek and nodded. “We are each other’s hearts and souls, and it’s just not something I had ever thought I would have, something I have always wanted but never thought to have, and that makes me happy, Janos, more than you can know.”

“Good,” he said with a smile, kissing her cheek softly before wrapping his arms around her tightly. “Why don’t we lie down and sleep?” he asked softly. “Come morning you’ll likely be a little sore, so the better sleep you get now the less grumpy you’ll be with me.”

“Why would I be sore?” she asked, but she liked the idea so she snuggled up closer to him. “Although I have to admit you make me want to sleep. You make me feel safe and comfortable and happy inside, so it’s something I like a lot and want to keep forever. Whatever job I get, we need to make sure they know that I will want to have time with you, so I think working for your brother, if he will have me, will be best.”

“He’ll have you, love,” he said softly as he lay down and pulled the blankets over them, cradling her close. “You’ll be sore because it was your first time and because I also marked you. You may be a little cranky about both of those facts, but a good hot shower or bath will at least help with the aches.”

“I think I can live with that,” she whispered as she pet him while beginning to fall asleep. “I’m glad on both counts, that we made love and that you marked me.” Her fingers were working down his arm and back up again, the stroking motion soothing to her as much as him. Her eyes closed and she was soon sound asleep in his arms.

Waking a couple hours after dawn, Janos gave a stretch and then smiled as he curled back into his mate. That word was everything. It made her his and he hers. Stroking her hair gently, he leaned in and inhaled, his whole being feeling at peace when he breathed her in, her scent clearly mixed with his, proclaiming her his for all of time. “Mine,” he murmured against her neck and smiled. “Now and forever mine.”

It was his beloved growl that woke her and made her smile. “Good morning to you” she whispered into the still of the room as her hand found his and threaded her fingers with his. “This is how I want to wake every morning. I never want to hear another alarm clock, just feel the rumble of your chest as you growl and nuzzle me.”

“I think I can do that, love.” He grinned against her skin. “Quite easily actually,” he added, nipping at her skin lightly. “How are you feeling?” he asked, concern taking over suddenly and quickly. She really hadn’t moved yet, so he wasn’t sure if she even realized if she was sore or not.

“I feel wonderful, Janos, all warm and snuggly here in bed with the man I love, and I am not in the least…” She had moved as she spoke and winced. “Sore.” She looked up at him with wide eyes and licked her lips. “How did you know it would hurt today?”

“Like I mentioned, love, it was your first time, and it was a mating,” he said softly. “Since I also marked you, I knew that you’d likely feel one or both of them.” Janos sighed with an apologetic look. “What hurts, Mina?” he asked, not moving until she told him what was causing the aches.

Her blush spreading red and dark over her cheeks told him, but she whispered, “Between my legs, it hurts a lot more than it did last night.” Biting her lip, she looked up at him with a frown. “Why does it hurt more now than when we made love last night?”

“Because we stretched out muscles that you’ve never used before, sweet,” he told her, softly stroking her hair back gently. Running the backs of his fingers down her cheek lightly he whispered, “They’ve seized up slightly, so you’re stiff. It’s just like doing aerobics for the first time. You work out the muscles and they are always a little painful the following day, right? A good hot soak, maybe a massage if you’ll let me near you again, and you’ll be just fine.”

“Of course I will let you near me again.”
Silly man
. She shook her head and moved slightly. “That good hot soak sounds so very good though, Janos. Will you come and soak in that too-big tub with me?” she asked, partially because she did think the tub was too big, but mostly because she wanted him near her. As much as she could get, she wanted him near her.

“Course I will, love,” he told her with a smile. “Why don’t you lie here and stay warm while I go and fill it. It’s massive, so it’ll take a few minutes, and I don’t want you getting a chill if we can help it.” Stroking her cheek again with the backs of his fingers, he leaned close to kiss her. “I love you, Mina.”

With his lips a breath from hers, she whispered back, “I love you, too, Janos.” She closed the small gap and kissed him with the same need and desire he seemed to have for her. When she pulled back, she nodded. “Go on, get us our bath run and I will join you soon.”

Licking his lips slowly, he sighed. “I’ll give you a holler when I’ve got the tub almost filled.” Touching her cheek, he slid from the bed. Tucking her back in, Janos padded to the bathroom and started the water flowing into the tub as he pulled out candles and lit them.

Ten minutes later, he stuck his head out of the door. “Come on, love. It’s almost ready and it even has bubbles.”

She stood and shivered with the cool air hitting her body, but grabbing up his flannel shirt, she made her way to him and laughed. “Bubbles, really?” When she opened the door, sure enough he was there on the edge of the full tub, with bubbles sparkling under the lights. “I love you, Janos, and this is even more reason to love you.”

Snorting at that, he shook his head. “Come on, honey, into the nice, hot, and lightly scented water.” Giving her a hand as she shyly dropped his shirt, he helped her into the water before he turned off the overhead lights and moved the candles closer. Joining her a moment later, he sat at her back. “Feel good?” he asked as he leaned back and got himself comfortable.

She turned slightly and curled her legs around and over his one hip. Lying sideways in his lap with her head on his shoulder and her eyes closed, she breathed in a sigh of pleasure. “Yes, this feels wonderful, Janos, but why did you have bubbles that smell so good?”

“Why not?” he asked with a grin, “a guy has every right to have bubbles in his bathroom, same as any woman would. Besides, it’s just something else that helps kill the smell of beer off of my skin.” Rubbing her arm slightly, he leaned his head to the side and moved her hair aside. “This doesn’t look too bad,” he commented, softly running a light finger over his bite mark.

She shivered and grinned. “I really like that you marked me, Janos. I can’t wait to pull my hair up and let everyone see it because this”—she laid her hand over his as he ran his fingers over it—“it means forever to me, Janos, and that to me means everything to me.”