Chapter 17

BEAST.

I had to give her time to calm down. At least that’s what I kept telling myself as I turned the spaghetti I made on low. The sun was setting and she hadn’t returned.

“Enough of this.” A growl vibrated in my chest as though my wolf agreed with me. I strode to the back door and opened it.

Outside, I let my body transform, welcoming the change into my wolf.

The breeze brought the scent of saltwater, sand, and a hint of Natalia’s own uniqueness. I’d know her anywhere.

With a howl, I chased through the darkening shadows until I came upon her sitting at the edge of the ocean, staring out at the darkening sky.

I shifted back and she shook her head like she could sense me too.

“Guess I can see why you like it out here on your own private island.” She didn’t look at me as I sat beside her. “No need to worry about being naked when you turn back into a man.”

“I’ve learned to keep backpacks of clothes in places around town.” I laughed. “I even have a few stuck inside trees and one buried near the power plant.”

“Really?” She looked at me sideways with a smile tugging at her mouth, but then she sobered. “What are we going to do about my dad?”

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly. We were mates and I wouldn’t lie to her. “But I’ll fucking deal with whatever comes our way.”

“Should we go back to town? Maybe the Feds can put us in the witness protection—” She stopped because she knew as well as I did that the Feds couldn’t do shit. If her father wanted her dead, then I had to change his mind.

“No, we stay. Here, I can see anyone coming and I can protect you.”

“You can’t protect me from my father.” The sadness that hung in her voice ripped into me like nails on a chalkboard.

“You’re not just his daughter. You’re my mate, and I won’t let him hurt you.”

The ocean sang in the background as Natalia leaned into me, wrapping her arms around me. I held her close, my heart burning in my chest with determination. No one would take my mate from me. Not while I was alive.

“We can protect each other,” she said, taking my hand in hers and squeezing it.

“Always.” I brought her knuckles to my lips and kissed them.

She hiccupped. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell me more about this omega thing you say I am.”

“I know you are.” I held her close. “Each omega has a different scent... something no other has.”

“Wait.” She pushed back, looking up at me. “Are you saying I stink?”

I couldn’t hold it back, and I laughed, unable to answer. She glared at me, hands on her hips.

“Answer me.”

When I caught my breath, I wiped the tears from my eyes. “No, Natalia, you don’t smell bad. Not to me. You smell like chai and vanilla. Both spicy and sweet.”

Even in the dark, I could see her blush.

“And you taste like honey and heaven.” I leaned forward, brushing my lips across hers.

She sighed, her lips soft and pliant against mine. Natalia melted into me, her fingers playing with my hair.

“I want you,” she whispered against my lips.

“I want you too.”

The world around us became nothing but the sound of waves, the feel of each other’s heartbeats, the hunger of our kisses, and the sensation of her skin against mine. I wanted her more than anything I ever had before. Not just for tonight but forever.

My fingers stroked over her slick heat and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from plowing into her. I had to make sure she was ready. I wanted to ensure that she enjoyed this as much as I did. And I needed to take her inside the house. Sand and sex were not a good combo.

She giggled, pulling out of my arms and dashing for the water. “Come join me.”

I stood up, watching her take her clothes off and throw them at me as the waves licked at her thighs.

“Hurry up,” she panted. “I’ve never made love in the ocean before.”

She’d never fucked anyone before me. Moonlight shimmered off the water and illuminated her face with a soft, golden hue.

“Tomas,” she crooned. “I’m so wet. I-I can’t wait.” Her moans filled my ears as I stalked toward her.

My cock was rock hard and throbbing for her. “Shit, Natalia, you’re going into heat.”

“I am?” She cupped her sex. “Oh god, I need to come. What is happening to me?”

“It’s your heat coming on. It’s natural.”

Her mouth opened into a perfect O, then she trembled. “I feel like I’m going to overheat. Like I can’t control myself. No, I don’t want this to happen, I’m scared.”

“It’s okay,” I soothed. “I’ve got you. Let me take care of you.”

“I need to come, Tomas. Please don’t make me wait.” Her hands frantically rubbed her clit, but I knew what she needed was my cock buried deep inside her. Shit, I hadn’t told her about knotting or going into heat. There was no time for a long explanation until we both rode out her heat.

“Natalia, listen to me,” I told her, lifting her chin so her gaze met mine. “It’s okay. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe with me. Trust me.”

My words seemed to break the spell and she nodded, taking a deep, shaky breath.

My lips found hers and I kissed them hungrily, tasting the salt of the sea as I wrapped my arms around her waist. I picked her up and carried her deeper out into the water.

When I touched her sex, she squirmed in my arms. She was so fucking hot and ready for me. In fact, she was clawing her way up my body. I held on to her hips, guiding her onto my erection.

She let out a sexy moan as I thrust in and out of her. The ocean swallowed her cries of pleasure. Her body seemed to quiver with need, clenching down on me. A primal feeling of possessiveness hit me with each thrust. I drew out her climax, claiming her as mine.

She clung to me, kissing my neck, my mouth, driving me insane as she kept orgasming, kept squeezing me tighter.

“Tomas, yes,” she panted, then gasped, her back arching as she climaxed again.

I drove into her over and over, bringing us both pleasure.

Soon, I couldn’t stop, and with a guttural yell, I exploded inside her, our bodies entwined together as the waves rolled around us. I knotted inside her, locked in place to ensure a full mating.

She was mine and I was hers.

Her orgasm abated and she laid her head on my shoulder. “Wow. We’re going to have to do that more often.”

“Make you come your brains out?” I teased. “Definitely.”

“Um...” She bit her lip, lifting her head and looking at me. “Did you... did you come?”

I gave her a sly smile. “Why? You wanna go again?” I would need my cock to unknot before I slammed into her sweetness again. Right now, I was stuck tight and wouldn’t be able to move a hair.

“Yes. No. I mean, I thought you came with me, but you’re still... in. Is that normal? I mean I don’t have experience with guys in the sex department, but you’ve never stayed hard this long after—”

She broke off and I kissed her lightly.

“I did come, Natalia.” I leaned my forehead against hers. “But when an omega goes into heat, the alpha knots inside her. It ensures the mating is complete. I’ll be able to move here in another few moments.”

“Oh.” She squirmed as though testing my words. “I feel so full. Like you’re bigger somehow.”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

She brought her hand up to trace my lips. “I like it,” she murmured, voice dripping with desire.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, catching our breath, savoring the moment.

Then she shivered. “Sorry. I’m getting cold. And hungry.”

I lifted her all the way into my arms, cradling her, and I kissed her forehead. “There’s food already made for you back at the house.”

“You spoil me, Tomas. What did you cook?”

“Spaghetti.” I carried her to the shore and continued up the sand dune to the house.

“Yum. I was sure you were going to say fish.”

“That’s for another day.” If we survived this. I’d heard it was good to make plans for the future even if you didn’t think you’d live to see them. “I'm going to teach you to fish.”

She huffed. “I know how to fish.”

“Without a pole or line?” I prodded.

“Well, no.” She frowned, tightening her arms around my neck as I carried her. “Do you mean we’ll use a net?”

“You’ll see.” I grinned. Having her back in the ocean would probably lead to more sex, and I couldn’t wait.

“Oh, I forgot my clothes.” She wiggled out of my arms and made a mad dash for the beach.

“Leave them.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll get them later.”

“No, the tide might take them out to sea and they’ll strangle a dolphin or something.”

I followed after her.

“The news will have my underwear blasted across the country with some dead sea turtle wrapped up in it.”

“Highly unlikely.” But I appreciated she wanted to keep nature safe. Most people wouldn’t have bothered.

I let her walk ahead of me, enjoying the view of her curvy ass swaying in the moonlight. Every time she moved, it was hypnotic.

As though sensing I watched her, she exaggerated her hips more suggestively. She looked over her shoulder at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and my breath caught in my chest.

Then she faced me, walking backward. Her hand caressed her body, cupping her breasts before moving down to her pussy. Looking up at me through her eyelashes, she gave me a teasing glance as she stroked herself. “Or maybe I left them on the beach on purpose. Ready for round two, wolf boy?”

“I’m always ready.” I palmed my cock, already hardening.

She laughed, dancing toward her clothes. “Next time we should bring a blanket and make love on the sand without it getting into crevices.”

A slither of movement caught my eye and an icy cold finger traced down my spine at the sight—a viper lay next to her shirt.

She wouldn’t be able to see it in the dark with her human eyes, nor would she be able to move away in time before it struck.

My vision tunneled to the snake and a growled snarl erupted from my lips. I had to save her.