Aline Hunter - Enemy Mine

“Okay,” Mary said softly, studying Ava, seeing her in an entirely different way. While they were different, many aspects of their lives were the same. If she moved forward with Emory and accepted the bloodbond, she could be the next one starting a family.

A home. A husband. Children.

Emory wanted children. The hurt in his eyes when Mary had said she wanted to wait was something she’d never forget. She was the only woman who could give him that. And more importantly, with Ava’s help, she wouldn’t have to do anything alone. For the first time in her life, she could have an actual friend. She’d never been close to anyone at her uncle’s farm.

“You really want me to be her godmother?” Why did it hurt so much to ask? And why did Mary feel close to tears?

“Yes, I do.” Ava placed her hand on top of Mary’s.

“Are you sure?” She swallowed back the burn in her throat, forcing her watery eyes not to spill over.

“I am,” Ava confirmed with a smile. “I know you’re a good person. I knew it the first time we met.”

Mary laughed. It was easy to guess how Ava had come to that conclusion. “Because you read my mind?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Someone who has been through as much as you have but continues to care about others has a generous heart.”

The observation made her uncomfortable. Was she that easy to read? “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Well I am,” Ava countered. For such a tiny woman, she certainly was opinionated and determined. “So will you?”

“Will I?”

“Be the godmother of my child.”

What Ava was asking for was an enormous undertaking—caring for a child, protecting an innocent. But this wouldn’t be a normal child. Ava’s baby would be the son or daughter of one of the most powerful shifters Mary had ever encountered, a man who scared the hell out of her even when he tried to put her at ease. Regardless of that fact, a yearning to accept Ava’s offer swept through her. If she was going to be a part of Emory’s life—a part of his world—she had to start thinking of those who were most important to him.

She tried to think of the right words to show Ava how touched she was by the gesture of faith. “I’d be honored.”

“Then I have one small favor to ask.”

Mary used her free hand to swipe at her face. Was that normally how it worked? Did a godmother have to earn her status? “What’s that?”

“When Emory and Doc get here, I want you to kick Doc out of the room and take care of your shoulder yourself.”

“That’s your condition?” Mary was amazed to discover the prospect of the final stage of the bloodbond didn’t frighten her. “You want me to finish the bloodbond with Emory to prove myself or something?”

Ava smiled and tilted her head to the side. “Or something.”

Mary couldn’t prevent the blush that stained her cheeks. “What about the pack? Everyone is upstairs. They’ll hear us. They’ll know what we’re doing.”

“Do you really care?” Ava asked, staring at her pointedly. “At the end of the day does it matter if people know that you’re affectionate with the man you’re meant to be with?”

Did she care? Did it matter if everyone knew that Emory had made her his in every way? She’d said she was staying. She’d made her intentions clear to the pack. They had to know she and Emory were involved in a sexual relationship. Based on what Ava had said, shifters didn’t have inhibitions or a whole lot of modesty. Emory was a hot-blooded man with a sex appeal women couldn’t deny.

Jealousy struck, hitting her hard and fast. The pack consisted of women too. Any of them would be thrilled to be in her position. None of them would care if Emory fucked them in a bathroom against the door while a line to use the restroom formed. The entire scenario made her angry, the ugly green monster making its presence known. She definitely wanted unattached shifters to realize her man was off the market.

Emory was hers. Her place was at his side. She wasn’t letting him go.

The pack can kiss my ass.

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t.”

“I’m glad to hear it, because it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.”

As soon as Ava stood, Mary heard Emory and Doc approaching, their low whispers easy to identify. Mary rose from the bed as Ava strode to the door, opened it wide and waited for Emory and Doc. Then she saw the men with their heads bent, talking softly to each other as they approached.

Just looking at Emory created tightness in her chest. He was so strong and dangerous. If he wanted to, he could kill someone with his bare hands. Yet when it came to her he was incredibly gentle, so careful. From the first time they’d met, she’d instinctually known he would keep her safe. There was something about him that got under her skin, making him a part of her before she’d even realized it.

She knew without a doubt that he’d do anything in his power to make her happy. Their children, if they had them, would be surrounded by love and affection. Yes there would be danger. But wasn’t that how things worked? Nothing was promised. People held on tight to the things they loved and cherished, enjoying the ride for as long as it lasted. There were no guarantees in life, only possibilities.

“Doc?” Mary said, her pulse racing, her mouth going dry. She could do this. To hell with what Doc and the pack thought. If she was going to reclaim her life, now was the time to start.

“Yes?” Doc stopped in the doorway, a puzzled expression on his face.

Mary walked to Emory and grasped his shirt. He frowned but followed, stepping into the room. Once he was safely inside she let Emory go and shooed Ava and Doc away with a firm wave of her hand, until they were outside the room. Ava was grinning like the Cheshire Cat while the doctor looked utterly confused.

“Thanks for coming,” she said with a smile, “but we don’t need you.”

Before anyone could question her, she took a deep breath for courage and closed the door.

Emory was about to ask Mary what she was up to when she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled the garment over her head. Since she’d been forced to remove her bra to allow Doc to tend her wounded shoulder, there was nothing to keep her breasts from view. The mounds were full and pale, her hard nipples a soft pink. He knew if he gave the rounded swells his undivided attention, he could take the color to a darker shade.

The thought made him hard as a rock.

“What are you doing?” His throat felt as constricted, becoming almost as tight as the jeans that encased his cock. It was difficult to think clearly when all he wanted to do was to take his mate to the floor and fuck her long, deep and hard.

Mary grasped the ties of the sweatpants. “What does it look like?”

The instant she dropped the clothing from around her waist and the cotton pooled at her feet, he knew his mate was turned-on. She didn’t have on underwear and her scent rushed to him, stirring his wolf, flicking a switch inside him. He bit the fleshy part of his cheek, trying to do the right thing, to think with his head and not his dick.

“Your shoulder—”

She kicked the sweats from her feet and walked to him. “Doesn’t matter.”

He wanted to argue, he really did. Or at least that’s what he told himself when Mary closed the distance, carefully wrapped her arms around his neck and went to her tiptoes to kiss him. She felt so soft compared to him, so tiny. His arms wrapped around her waist of their own accord, urging her closer. She came to him willingly, pressing her body to his, her breasts flush against his chest.

“You’re killing me,” he whispered against her lips, meeting her eyes. Her pupils were enlarged, the heavy fall of her lashes fluttering as her lids lowered. “I want you so much I ache with it.”