Eyes on the Pride (Awakening Pride Book 8) Read online

  “Not yet,” she whispered, and he realized he’d taken a step toward her.

  She moved quicker now, dropping down to remove her boots and socks then standing and shucking her jeans and panties with more speed than finesse. The striptease was done as the scent of her need saturated the air around them. His gaze dropped to her sex, a groan slipping out as he took in the bare flesh there. He saw the cream coating her lower lips, slicking her thighs.

  He was on her in an instant, lifting her in his arms and carrying her the short distance to the bed. He was careful as he lay her down, stepping back only long enough to strip his jeans all the way off before joining her. He took her mouth again, the taste of his release on her tongue ramping up his desire. He hoped she’d find it just as appealing when his mouth was drenched in her flavor.

  He eased from her lips, planting sucking kisses along her jaw then down the length of her neck and along the slope of her shoulder. Her nipples grazed his chest as he moved, the peaks teasing through the hair. The way she gripped his biceps, nails digging deep as she fought to lift herself higher into him, let him know how much she enjoyed the sensation. He continued lower, maneuvering his hips so they settled into the cradle of hers. Her juices slicked the flesh of his abdomen where he rubbed against her.

  “Calloway.” His name was a sharp cry, almost as sharp as those blood-red nails of hers. She pressed her sex against him, rubbing and undulating up into him.

  “Soon,” he promised and leaned down to run his tongue in a circle around her right nipple. The bud tightened further, the skin puckering and lifting in search of what he offered. He blew over it, circled again then moved over to the left. This time, he didn’t tease, instead latching on and sucking hard before nipping with his teeth.

  Darby cried out, her thighs lifting and gripping his sides while her fingers tunneled into his hair, urging him to continue. He took deep pulls, nursing the nipple up against the roof of his mouth then scraping the underside with his teeth before sucking some more. He moved back to the right, treating it with the same roughness his mate seemed to crave and felt the proof of her approval as more cream slicked his belly.

  With a harsh groan, he moved lower, nibbling across her quivering stomach until he reached the top of her folds. He spread her with two fingers, revealing her clitoris and lapping over it again and again. She cried out, thrashing under him, her hands falling to her sides and twisting in the covers. He flattened his tongue, rubbing the bud vigorously before wrapping his lips around it and sucking softly. He used his shoulders to keep her thighs spread wide. One hand spread over her center where his fingers kept her lips parted. The other hand slid lower, a finger gliding over her entrance before thrusting inside.

  She cried out, her words incoherent, but he got the gist of it. She didn’t want him to stop, which was a good thing as he probably wouldn’t be able to until she’d come at least three times, maybe four. Fingers, tongue and dick. That’s what he’d told her, and he’d meant every word.

  He introduced another finger, scissoring them in her channel, imagining how good his cock would feel with all that tight heat gripping it. He released her clit and ran his tongue between his fingers, fucking her with both. He felt her heels dig into the mattress and wasn’t surprised when she lifted her ass and pressed her pussy harder against his face. He kept his fingers buried, rubbing while his tongue worked in and out. He used the thumb of his other hand to press her clit, not letting up until she was coming.

  Her juices spilled, dampening his chin as he tried to lick them all up. He pulled his fingers out and locked his lips around her opening, sucking in an attempt to prevent her cream from getting away. He laved and ate, finally gathering the excess on his finger and applying it to the puckered rosette of her anus. He rubbed, massaged and tapped before slipping just the tip of his thumb inside, and Darby came again. Her voice broke on a cry until only throaty moans sounded, and still, he devoured. She was like fine wine, sweet and heady, going to his head and making him feel drunk.

  He rose over her, gliding up her body, cupping one leg behind her knee and lifting it with him. He slid his cock between her lips until it found her opening and lodged there, greedy to be inside. He held his breath, waiting for her to open her tightly shut eyes and look at him. Sweat coated his body, mixing with her release, so the room smelled of sex, musk and orgasms.

  “Darby.” Her name was a harsh growl, all he could manage with his dick so close to nirvana.

  Those glorious russet eyes blinked open, the color so deep they appeared more red than brown now. She released her death grip on the covers, curving her arms under his wide-spread arms and hooking them onto his shoulders. She tugged, and he lowered until her nipples pressed into his chest and their breaths mingled, lips mere inches apart.

  She flicked that wicked tongue out again, tasting herself on his lips and chin and groaning with pleasure. He took possession with another growl, all he seemed capable of at the moment, and sucked her tongue into his mouth. Their flavors mixed, creating a heady aphrodisiac. One palm cupped her hip, the other bracing his weight so he didn’t crush her. Her nails drew blood, her nipples hard points scraping his chest, and he thrust deep in one slow, penetrating claim of ownership.

  They broke the kiss, both sucking in air as he pumped his hips. She brought her other leg up, practically climbing him in what he suspected might be her bid to have him hit just the right spot. He changed the angle, making sure his groin rubbed over her clit with every thrust, and he felt her go liquid around him. Her head tipped back, mouth open and neck lifting as she came. Her channel squeezed and released while he fucked her.

  “Mine,” he rumbled, lowering his head and rubbing his canines over the dampness of her neck. He followed it down to her collarbone, licking at the curve before striking, teeth piercing as he marked her.

  Darby cried out, one hand cupping the back of his head and holding him against her as her pussy rippled around him with another release. He thrust deep and held there as orgasm ripped through him. He felt her pussy milking every drop of cum from him, tightening like a fist then releasing only to do it again. Darby shuddered, and he released his bite, licking over the wound he’d left behind. It would never fully heal, leaving a visible sign for any other male that she was his. He inhaled, noting that his scent already enveloped her.

  She was his, locked to him in a way humans with their marriage ceremonies could never understand. And he was hers and only hers. His body would always remain faithful. The scent of another woman’s lust, the sight of the aroused body of any female other than his mate, would make him sick. Soon, they would be able to hear each other without speaking, to sense what the other felt, which would make sex all the more delicious.

  He skimmed his lips up her neck, tugging his cock free and easing to the bed at her side. Darby whimpered and curled into him, her body snuggling into his as if she couldn’t get close enough. Her lids were heavy, and she kept blinking in a bid to keep her eyes open.

  “Sleep, baby,” he crooned, rolling to his back, turning her with him. “I’ll take care of you.”

  With a deep sigh, she settled in, her head resting against his chest, one hand threading through the mat of hair. He combed one hand through her curls where they tumbled down her back. His cock glistened where it rose along his stomach, already eager for more. He’d lied to Darby when he’d said she’d be here for days. She’d be lucky if they left the bed before the end of the week. He hadn’t realized just how insatiable she’d make him.

  Now, if he could just make her forget Utah Pearce and the pride in Riverton, Oklahoma.

  Chapter Four

  Darby came awake with a low moan escaping her lips as dreams bled into reality. She hadn’t imagined it in a fevered rush. She wasn’t delusional. Calloway was in bed with her, had spent the night making love to her, over and over again. Even now, his lips trailed kisses across the top of her shoulder, his tongue snaking out to swipe over the mark he’d left when his sharp canines had
pierced her skin.

  Heaven. It was absolute heaven. Until her stomach growled. Calloway paused at her ear, releasing a husky chuckle that had her nipples growing tighter. He nipped the lobe then slid away, his fingertips brushing her skin as he did.

  She rolled over onto her back, not bothering to tug the twisted sheets to cover herself. He’d seen every inch of her already, and she’d never been one to play coy. His avid gaze seemed to eat her up as he jerked his jeans from the floor and pulled them up his legs, slowing down only to ease his still aroused cock under the material. Just glimpsing the swollen head made her inner muscles clench and release with anticipation and a bit of an ache, if she were honest. He was very well-endowed and possessed a quick recovery rate. Not that she’d ever complain about either of those qualities.

  “Why don’t you take a nice, hot shower while I go get us some breakfast?” Calloway suggested as he reached for the shirt he’d discarded the night before.

  “Do you want to take one first?” she offered.

  He shook his head. “No, I’ll grab one when I get back. I left my bag in the truck. No sense in showering then putting dirty clothes back on.” He dropped back onto the mattress to pull on his socks and boots. “I shouldn’t be long. You need any cream or sugar for your coffee?”

  “Both,” she said, sitting up.

  He turned to her, letting his gaze slide over her again before dropping a kiss on her closed lips. “Don’t leave the room,” he murmured.

  “The only place I’m planning to head is to the shower,” she vowed. “I won’t promise there will be any hot water left when you get back.”

  He seemed to study her, as if weighing the truth in her words, and it dawned on her that, as much as they knew about each other, they still had so much to learn.

  “Go,” she urged, and her stomach growled again as if on cue.

  A smile curved his lips once more. “I won’t be long.”

  “You already said that,” she reminded him.

  Calloway nodded, dropped another kiss as if he couldn’t control the urge then rose from the bed. He crossed the room in long strides. She watched him swipe the keycard from the dresser as he did, slipping it in his pocket. He threw her another look before easing the door open and stepping out. She heard the knob rattle and knew he was checking to make sure the lock had engaged.

  She vaulted from the bed and practically danced to the bathroom. As soon as she’d sat up, her bladder had announced itself. She took care of that pressing need then went about turning the dials and adjusting the water, getting the temperature where she wanted it. The room was already filling with steam as she stepped into the shower and sighed with bliss. She just stood there for the longest time, letting the hot spray massage her skin. Then, deciding to be nice and not use all the hot water, she made quick work of washing her hair and body.

  She was at the sink with a mouthful of toothpaste when she heard ringing from the other room. She rushed, spitting and grabbing the washcloth to dab at remnants of the paste around her mouth as she hurried over to grab her phone. As soon as she did, it quit.

  “Damn it,” she grumbled then tossed it on the bed before searching for where she’d dropped her bag so she could find some fresh clothes. She was just tugging on panties when her phone let off a series of tones, indicating she had voicemail.

  She used her thumbprint to unlock it and hit the icon, going to voicemail and putting it on speaker so she could continue getting dressed.

  Her father’s voice filtered through the phone. “I was hoping to speak with you before takeoff. My flight’s nine and a half hours with only one stop. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to call you then or not. I wanted to warn you. Calloway left sometime last night.”

  Darby snorted. He’d left much earlier than that as he’d spent the night showing her what it meant to be his. Very thoroughly.

  “I have no doubt he’s following you. Eyes open, my girl.”

  They’d been open all right. She’d soaked up the glorious sight of every naked inch of him. She was eager to do it again.

  “One more thing. I…had a phone call this morning. We’ve found something…someone. I’ll tell you more when we speak. She’s…unique…and in danger, serious danger. We’ve got to get her out before it’s too late.”

  Shit! She hadn’t thought once about her task since Calloway had swept in and consumed her. She still had no clue how she’d help Utah Pearce send out a primal call to every feline shifter.

  “In the meantime, focus on your mission. You’ll figure it out,” he said as if he knew what she was thinking. Most likely, he did. “Follow your instinct. It’s always your best guide.”

  She heard something that sounded like an intercom but couldn’t make out what was being said.

  “I’ve got to go. I’ll call when I can. Love you.”

  “Love you,” she whispered back to the sound of the message clicking off.

  She tugged on leggings and one of her camis with a built-in bra that held nothing but was comfortable as hell then went about making the bed look a little less…debauched. She was adjusting the pillows when she heard the beep of the card being used on the door and glanced over. Calloway stepped in, balancing two bulging bags and a tray holding four drinks.

  “Here,” she said as she crossed to him. “Let me help.” She reached for the tray of drinks and placed them on the dresser while he helped the door close with a tap of his foot. He dropped the bags next to the cardboard tray then reached for her, pulling her against his chest and leaning down to claim her lips.

  His touch had her pressing closer as every inch of her screamed out for more. Her nipples were tight pebbles, her core moist and ready for his possession. She lifted her arms, fingers tunneling through his hair, and she climbed him so that blatant bulge would hit where she wanted it to. The man had her going from sated to desperate in seconds flat.

  Her moan turned to a whimper as he eased back. One hand cupped her ass while he ran the fingers of the other down her cheek, grasping her chin and tilting it up.

  “I’m glad you missed me,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

  She dropped her head forward onto his chest, letting it roll back and forth against him as she sighed. She had it bad. It was one thing to read about what it meant for shifters to mate. It was another to experience it firsthand. There was no clinical detachment here. There was need, burning a fiery path through her body. There was lust…unquenchable. There was hunger…insatiable. There was the way Calloway possessed her so thoroughly she craved him more than the food her body needed.

  “Is it the same for you?” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “This…” She shook her head, glancing up as if her eyes could convey what her mind couldn’t. What word was there that could adequately describe what was happening?

  His smile was slow, warm, erotic. He nodded. “I ache for you, Darby. I couldn’t get back to you fast enough. You’re mine.”

  “And you’re mine,” she charged.

  His eyes smoldered, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled. “All yours.”

  He bent and scooped her up then carried her over to drop her on the bed. “Stay,” he ordered when she immediately rose to her knees, ready to reach for him and bring him down with her. “We’ll eat first. Then we’ll satisfy our other needs.”

  He turned to grab the bags, and she collapsed back on the bed, adjusting until she sat cross-legged with something jabbing her hip. She fumbled to see what it was, eyes still glued to Calloway as he lifted containers out of the bags and carried them over. It looked as if he’d purchased every breakfast the restaurant had had to offer. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, hash browns, fresh fruit and muffins. There was more food than she could even make a dent in, but Calloway was a shifter. His metabolism burned at a much faster rate than a human’s did. She had little doubt there’d be nothing left by the time her man was done.

  “Dig in,” he ordered. “I’ve got coffee and O
J.” He took them out of the tray and sat one of each on the table beside her then placed the remaining cups on the opposite side before sliding onto the bed to join her.

  “Silverware?” she asked.

  “Shit,” he muttered and hopped up, grabbing one of the bags and upending it on the bed. Forks, knives, spoons and napkins tumbled out. She laughed as the metal utensils fell.

  “Don’t most places give plastic?”

  He grunted, his look clearly stating what he thought of that and reached for a container. “Eat,” he ordered again.

  She was still grinning as she stretched for a fork and noticed her phone in her hand. It must have been what had been digging into her hip.

  “Shit!”

  “What? Did I forget something?” He glanced over the food display before looking back at her, brow lifted in question.

  “No, I did.” Hell, every thought that didn’t center around the two of them naked seemed to vacate her brain as soon as she saw him.

  “Well,” he prompted. “What did you forget?”

  “My dad called,” she said, holding up her phone. “He’s on his way to Ireland. Said he’d call me as soon as he could. Seems he found something or someone he thinks is important.”

  Calloway nodded, eyes going back to the food. He grabbed a second container, and she realized he was putting bits and pieces of all the food into one of them. She wasn’t surprised when he offered it to her along with the fork she’d yet to pick up.

  “I’m going to Riverton,” she said.

  He hummed some noncommittal reply and kept his focus on the food.

  “Calloway.”