Sondrae Bennett - Chasing Paradise

It took Ethan a moment to get his bearings. Gwen cuddled against him making the sweetest cooing sounds as she rubbed her nose on his chest. Suddenly the stinging pain made sense. Glancing down, Ethan’s suspicions were confirmed. There, just above his right nipple, were two small puncture wounds. Bite marks.

Happiness flooded him. Gwen had bitten him. She had marked him as hers. Finally, she wasn’t merely accepting their mating, she had chosen to actively mate with him as well. Searching within, Ethan felt his bond with Gwen thrumming stronger than ever. There was a give-and-take now, an exchange in the connection.

Ethan’s arms curled around her, and he buried his nose in her hair as she continued to coo. He loved hearing the sound of her pleasure. He hadn’t heard it since their first night together and hadn’t realized he missed it until right now. If he had his way he would keep her making that noise every night for the rest of their lives.

Gwen awoke, utterly sated, surrounded by the arms of her wolf. She burrowed her nose against his side and a small sound of contentment escaped her.

“Mmmm, I love that sound.” Ethan’s husky voice ran over her like a warm blanket as he pulled her closer. His lips hovered above hers and Gwen closed her eyes in anticipation of the kiss she knew would melt her soul.

A deep rumbling interrupted them moments before Ethan’s lips would’ve crashed down on hers. She looked up at Ethan in wide-eyed embarrassment. “Sorry, I haven’t eaten much today.”

His rich laugh filled the room. “Guess I’ll have to give you sustenance before I ravage you again.” Ethan began to crawl from the bed but stopped Gwen when she started to move as well. “You stay here. I’ll warm it up. Besides, I like the thought of you waiting for me in bed.”

Gwen smiled as Ethan strode out of the room. The stairs squeaked and Gwen heard the microwave being turned on in the kitchen.

Accepting her love for Ethan was like a weight lifting off her shoulders. It didn’t matter if he loved her or not, she knew her life with him would be everything she dreamed of and more.

Grabbing his dress shirt off the floor, Gwen swung it on as she made her way to the bathroom. The shirt arms engulfed her hands and the waist fell around her hips, landing mid-thigh. Looking at her reflection in the mirror as she washed her hands, Gwen thought she looked delightfully tumbled.

Ethan was already setting the food up on the bed as Gwen made her way out of the bathroom but he paused to stare at her. The wicked smile he threw her warmed her heart.

Abandoning his chore, Ethan grabbed Gwen around the waist and pulled her tight against him.

“I do love you in my shirts.” As he leaned down for a kiss, her growling stomach interrupted them once again. “Come eat before your stomach starts scaring my wolf with its ferociousness.”

Gwen blushed again and looked away. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Ethan saw Gwen pull at the hem of his shirt self-consciously, and her words of their first night together echoed through his mind. I’ve got a few more curves than your average woman. He thought they’d gotten over this. Where was the woman who had just boldly ordered him to strip?

Pulling her in close, Ethan whispered reassurances against her temple. “Gwen, you are the perfect woman for me in every way. I love gripping your curves in my hands as I plunge inside you. Besides, you’re going to need the energy because your curves are so enticing, I plan to keep you up and occupied all night long.” Ethan placed a love bite on the side of her throat.

Her arms snaked around him, and he felt her lips gently brush his jaw. “Thank you.” Keeping his arms around her, he pulled back so that he could look into her eyes. After what she’d given him tonight, he needed to make sure she knew how he felt about her. The trust in her gaze mesmerized him.

“I love you, Gwen.”

Shock reflected back at him, but as he watched, belief and acceptance slowly crept into her eyes.

“You do?”

“I love everything about you. The strength you exude with your business, the vulnerability you show only to me. Just being in your presence sets my wolf at ease, as if everything is right when you’re with me. I love you for everything you are, Gwen, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, but a large smile curled her lips, reassuring him. “Oh Ethan! I love you, too! I never thought you’d love me back.”

“I’m so sorry for the things I said before. They were stupid and selfish and I didn’t mean a word of them. Even as I uttered them, I knew they were wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. None of it matters.”

Holding Gwen at arm’s length, Ethan stared into her eyes.

“It does matter, Gwen.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I hurt you. That matters to me. I swear to you, you’ll never have a reason to doubt me again.”

“You’ve already made it up to me and more.”

“I’ll never stop.”

She started to say something, but Ethan cut her off, claiming her lips in a scorching kiss. He’d known Gwen loved him from the moment she’d sunk her teeth into his chest, claiming him as hers. The words hadn’t been necessary. Still, it was nice to hear them. It had been the last piece missing from their union, the last thing holding her back from him. Her mark was now forever on his chest, proof for all to see.

Dragging her to the bed, he pulled her down and placed a plate full of steaming seafood alfredo on her lap. She waited until he got situated before digging in, her enthusiasm for the meal making him smile. Everything about her made him smile. She caught him staring and gently set down her fork. But he was having none of that. Picking up her fork, he fed her a bite of his pasta. The next bite, he deliberately missed her mouth, leaving a large smudge of sauce at the corner. He leaned over and sucked the pasta off, moving his lips across hers and capturing her lower lip between his teeth.

“Mmm, tasty.” Sitting back, he grinned at the dazed look on her face. He’d never get tired of looking at her, or kissing her until the haze of passion clouded her eyes. Ethan planned to treasure every moment.

Gwen jumped as strong hands clamped on her shoulders. “Relax,” Ethan murmured in her ear, running his hands up and down her arms. “Everything is going to go off without a hitch. And if there is a problem, knowing you, there are three or four back-up plans ready in case of an emergency.”

“Five,” she muttered under her breath but Ethan, damn his wolf hearing, laughed. But this inn was Gwen’s future, her livelihood. Because of her dream, Alyssa had moved here, spent her time and money, with the sole intention of opening a successful B&B. What if she couldn’t pull it off?

For the opening of Moonlit Burrows, Gwen had invited Premiers from some of the most influential packs, prides, troops, and, of course, romps, in the country. They boasted seven guest rooms, and all of them were booked. There’d been such a huge response they’d had to schedule alternate weekends as too many people tried booking for the opening. It seemed she hadn’t been as invisible and unnoticed as she’d thought back in California. If things went well, word would spread quickly and they’d have an overnight success. If things didn’t go well…

Gwen didn’t want to think about that. She let Ethan’s warmth surround her, relaxing against his chest and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder.

“Distract me.”

“And how would you like me to distract you, my love? Somehow, I don’t think our usual method would be appropriate right now.” She had to fight back the urge to arch her back as his hands ran down her spine. Gwen giggled. “No, not like that. Well, later like that. I meant talking. Talk to me.”