Zero fox given, p.17
Zero Fox Given, page 17
Zelda looked down at him, noticed how shiny his mouth looked with her fluids, and she thought she was going to die from both the pleasure and embarrassment of it.
“Don’t stop!”
It came out sounding more like a whine, but at least Victor got back to work with that wicked grin on his face.
Zelda let her head fall back onto the messy sheets and pillows, running her fingers through Victor’s hair, gently scratching at his scalp, then gripping hard whenever he thrust his tongue deep inside her.
He brought her close to orgasm time and again, only to pull back and prolong her torture.
Victor moaned against her sex, sending small vibrations through her that drove her wild again and again. She couldn’t take it. She wasn’t going to last.
Just when she thought she was done for, her legs and toes clenching in preparation of release, Victor pulled back from her with a sigh, his lips seeming as hot as a small fire as he kissed her thighs.
“It’s always been you. God, it’s always been you.”
What was he talking about? They hadn’t known each other for long, though she liked the romantic sentiment that came with words like that.
“Victor.”
Victor didn’t say anything else. He climbed up her body. Zelda kept her thighs open for him.
Using one hand, he was quickly able to open his belt and drag down the zipper of his jeans, metal teeth grinding open.
Zelda couldn’t wait for him. She reached for him, helping to ease his cock out. It was only the second time she’d been able to hold it in her hand, and the fact that she could do so freely came with all kinds of perks.
Like the look on Victor’s face when she gently pumped her hand.
“I want to make you feel good, too.”
He grinned. “Baby, you make me feel good all the time.”
Why? Why was he always able to just spout off easy words like that, as though he’d plucked them mindlessly from the air, and make her face heat up like that? It was beyond not fair. She needed to do something about this. To show that she was at least capable of some control.
Zelda pushed against Victor’s chest. With his strength as a subhuman, she doubted she would be able to get him off her if he really didn’t want to move, so it was only by his compliance with her wishes that she got him onto his back and straddled him.
He looked up at her with a playful fire in his eyes, his hands casually resting on her hips.
“What do you think you’re doing up there?”
Zelda didn’t have a mirror handy, but she was pretty sure, she hoped, that the visual she was presenting was a good one.
Her fox ears perked and pointed up at the ceiling, her hair played around her shoulders, and she knew he could see her nipples through the T-shirt. She grinned down at him. “You did something nice for me. So I want to do something nice for you.”
She could not make that sound sexual to save her life, but she did take note of the slight widening of Victor’s eyes, and the flare in his nostrils as she slid down his body until she was in a similar position to the one he’d started off in.
On her knees, between his legs.
Zelda had never much liked doing this to Harry. It had always seemed like a chore, something she didn’t get to partake in and enjoy as much as he did.
This time, it seemed like something so much better. It seemed like something she would enjoy as well. She felt an eagerness to do this for him that she had never felt for Harry.
Though she was pleased by it, now she knew better than to bring Harry’s name in this space between her and Victor, so she just tested out her theory.
Zelda wet her lips, letting them slide around the enlarged head of his cock. He tasted a little like salt and skin, but not in the unpleasant way she was used to where Harry was concerned. This tasted, not good, but not bad either. Not bitter, not like something she had to get used to. It was just…him.
She liked it. Zelda’s confidence was boosted by the sound of his hard and heavy breathing. She glanced up, sliding her mouth down farther and farther around his shaft.
Victor’s face was dark with color, as though he was doing everything in his power to hold back, to prevent her from knowing how much she was having an effect on him.
She liked that. It made her want to keep going, to see how much she could make Victor come undone.
Zelda thought of everything she knew about this, about all the things Harry had said he’d liked.
She tried them, slowly, not entirely comfortable with using techniques she’d learned from her murderous ex on her mate, but she didn’t have any other teaching to fall back on.
It was as though she was following a map. The best working compass she had was the sound of Victor’s breathing, of his moans. He gave her the best guidance simply by those sounds alone, and Zelda did her best to follow along with what he wanted.
He groaned low when she tightened her mouth, dipping down low, until she was able to take almost all of him into her mouth.
She wanted to. God, she so wanted to, but she couldn’t quite get there before she had to pull back. Maybe a little more practice was needed before she could quite reach that level of skill.
And Victor was still talking to her, still calling her baby. She liked that, liked his hand in her hair, his encouragement, and the power this gave to her. Because she was doing this. He wasn’t the only one who could do this; she could make him come undone, too. She could make him pant and gasp and moan her name.
As she swirled her tongue around the base of his shaft, Zelda felt a tightening, felt his orgasm on the horizon, and she wanted it. She wanted it probably more than he did. She wanted to make him come, wanted to taste him on her tongue.
Except, just as she was starting to find her groove, Victor growled again, sounding more and more like an alpha with every second that ticked by. He grabbed her by her shoulders, pushing her back from his cock until it slipped out of her lips and Victor, with all the strength in his body, was able to easily lift her back up the bed and on top of him.
“Come here.”
The sound of his voice, so guttural, so animalistic, brought a shiver from Zelda’s body. She curled her arms around his neck, eager as Victor reached between them.
“Lift your hips.”
She did, then felt his swollen cock head pressing against her sex.
She gasped, anticipation and excitement making her body tremble.
Zelda sat down onto him, taking all of him inside her before he could tell her to, not giving Victor the chance to prepare her.
Zelda sighed, the sensation of being filled, of having Victor inside her again after the thousand years ago when he’d last been there was exhilarating.
And Victor wasn’t just going to lie back and let her do all the work, it seemed. He pushed himself to sit up, looping his arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
“You are so fucking sexy.” He kissed her on the mouth, his breath warm across her throat as his lips travelled across her skin. “I used to dream of a woman like you.”
Zelda didn’t understand. “What?”
Victor was silent for a moment, as though regretting saying something like that, but then he continued. “I don’t know if it was the mating, but it’s always been you. You’re exactly my type in every way. I used to dream of someone like you, and I knew she was the one. Everyone else I’ve ever been with, they’ve always been you. I was always waiting for you.”
Zelda’s throat closed. She didn’t expect him to say something like that. She didn’t expect him to have such an effect on her.
It did. It was better than hearing a love declaration.
“Say something.”
She couldn’t. Her throat ached too badly.
Zelda grabbed Victor by the back of his head, yanking his mouth forward and crushing their lips together while thrusting her hips forward.
Victor moaned against her mouth. She swallowed the noise, adjusting her hips until she found a comfortable rhythm, until Victor’s hands on her waist gripped her strong enough to bruise.
That was fine. That small pain was nothing compared to the pleasure he gave her as he thrust hard and fast inside her. Victor had to free one hand to steady himself on the bed; their rhythm together was off, but somehow still perfect.
The pleasure was even better than the first time because she was, well, in bed. She was making love with her mate in bed, not outdoors because they were so desperate for each other, unable to control themselves and overcome with such a desperate need that it couldn’t be contained any longer.
This almost felt normal. Maybe that was why Zelda liked it so much. The chance to feel normal didn’t come to her too often these days.
Zelda couldn’t last. Victor was close. She could tell by the groans that left his lips, his perfectly kissable lips.
“Come inside me.”
She only had to whisper the words before Victor did as she asked.
Well, she doubted he popped off because she’d commanded it. Even he couldn’t have that kind of self-control, but it was a nice thing to think about.
He fucked into her harder, milking his orgasm, and pushing her over the edge as a result.
Zelda cried out, her body clenching tightly around Victor. She couldn’t help herself, even as she knew she was gripping him.
He seemed to like it, however, if the way he kissed her after the fact was any indication. Zelda luxuriated in the feeling of his arms wrapped around her, his mouth on hers.
Something had happened here, something other than the obvious sex.
She didn’t know how to describe it, but she got the feeling that all of his previous resistance wouldn’t be a problem going forward.
It was like he’d said. A man can only resist a beautiful woman for so long.
Chapter 26
Zelda had to admit, she felt pretty good after that. Victor growled a little when they were done, and she knew he was disappointed with his inability to control what was a natural function of their mating, but she smoothed away his creased brow with more kisses. She touched his face, his chest, smiled up at him.
Told him she loved him.
That did it. That made the scowl go away.
“When we’re outside of our bedroom, it goes back to the way it’s supposed to be.”
Zelda nodded. “Understood.”
“I won’t be distracted when I’m supposed to be protecting you, and no more pole dancing classes.”
“You are safe from my amazing hips until this is all said and done with.”
Victor grinned at that, which was good, because then they made love again, and again.
He really was a subhuman. No normal man could have that kind of stamina. It wasn’t normal.
And she wasn’t complaining.
When it was over, dawn approached. Zelda couldn’t remember the last time she’d ever stayed awake so long, making love and talking all night. She didn’t think she’d ever done that with Harry, not even on their wedding night.
And this night was so much more special than her wedding night. She never wanted it to end. “So, what kind of shifter are you supposed to be?”
Zelda lazily played with the dark hairs on Victor’s chest. Scratchy soft. She liked them.
“Honestly, a wolf.”
Her hand froze, then she settled back into what she was doing. “Really?”
“Are you upset?”
Zelda shook her head. “No. It doesn’t matter about Harry or his pack. I actually like wolves.” She grinned up at him. “It kind of explains a lot about you.”
“Not really. I’ll never be able to shift anyway.”
“But you’ve still got all the best qualities.”
Like that look of a hunter he got in his eyes whenever he wanted her. Zelda was always going to enjoy that.
Victor grinned down at her. “Well, I think you’re the first shifter to come right out and tell me that.”
“Really? Why?”
He shrugged, lifting a hand up and settling it behind his head. “Well, most packs, most shifters, look at subhumans like they’re just normal humans. It’s the full-blooded humans who look at subhumans as though there’s anything special about them. Aside from being a little stronger than average and enjoying my steak sandwiches, I feel pretty human.”
“Steak sandwiches, I’ll remember that.”
He nudged her, still grinning.
There were obviously some other aspects to being a subhuman that he wasn’t bringing up. Zelda was positive his eyesight went beyond a perfect 20/20. She already knew he had a good sense of smell on top of everything else, and his instincts made him perfect for the career path he’d chosen.
But if he wanted to think of himself as mostly human, she wasn’t going to argue with him. It had never occurred to her that subhumans could be treated like that. She’d always assumed they were accepted by all sides. It made more sense, and was a little sad, that he would have trouble finding acceptance by either.
Zelda held him a little tighter. She doubted Victor would want her sympathy. He didn’t seem like the type, so she didn’t say anything about it, but she would give him all the hugs and snuggles she could muster.
“It was fine. I had a good life. I knew my dad was hoping I would be able to shift, but he was still a good dad.”
Zelda hesitated to ask her next question, but so many mysteries about him were being unlocked that she couldn’t help herself. “You think part of the reason Angela left was because…”
Victor seemed to think about it. “Maybe. I know it was something she thought of, but I was being honest with you before. We just weren’t a good match. Trust me, it didn’t feel good to be left at the altar like that, but I got over it.” He looked down at her. “And I’m glad she left me. It would be kind of awkward to find your mate when you’re already married, wouldn’t it?”
Zelda’s ears twitched. “I never even thought of that.” She looked up into Victor’s dark blue eyes. “If Harry didn’t turn out to be a complete idiot, I would have still been married to him when we met.”
“We wouldn’t have met.” Victor sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Christ, now I have something to be grateful to him for.”
“That’s weird.”
He nodded. “Yeah, it is. You and I are going to keep that to ourselves.”
Zelda couldn’t agree more.
“So, while we’re talking…” Victor’s fingers slid up and down Zelda’s shoulders. She liked the small tickle that left her with. “Zelda and Link?”
Zelda groaned, hiding her face in Victor’s chest. She could feel the way his body wracked with laughter.
“I was dreading when you would bring that up.”
“I’m guessing your parents liked video games.”
“No, they were just…idiot hippies.”
“Oh?” Zelda heard the smiled in his voice. “Don’t think I ever heard you growl like that.”
“They dumped Link and me off on Uncle Mike and took off. Said they were coming back, all that stuff. Poor Mike. He really was too young to get saddled with a couple of kids.”
“Your parents are just…gone?”
Zelda heard the serious note in Victor’s voice. Oddly, it was enough to calm her down. “Yeah. They wanted to go to some concert or convention. Whatever it was. They didn’t come back. To be honest, I don’t even know if they’re still alive.”
Victor rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry, baby.”
Now it was Zelda’s turn to shrug, as though none of this mattered. “It’s okay. I got over that a long time ago.”
And she had. For the most part. The dreams she used to have as a little girl of Mommy and Daddy coming back were long gone. Even the tiniest spark of hope that she would hear something from them when she’d married Harry died when there was no word from them.
They’d either abandoned their children or were killed in some terrible event. She didn’t know which she hoped for it to be, if she was honest with herself.
Victor was silent in that way that she could tell meant he was thinking.
“Really, I’m okay. Mike was a good second dad. He didn’t always know what he was doing, but he was good.”
“Well, I’m glad you had him. He does seem like a decent guy.”
Zelda wanted off this topic. It was too much talking about her. “What made you want to get into protecting people?”
“Oh, well, that was easy. It was just something I always wanted to be part of. I think part of it was knowing what pack life was like. The sense of community, of looking out for each other. Humans don’t always have that. Some people are alone in the world, and if they come to me or Steve, then I want to be able to put their minds at rest.”
Warmth filled Zelda’s chest. “You’re a good person.”
She could swear she spotted a dusting of color rising up his neck. “Yeah, well, it’s not always romantic or noble. You wouldn’t believe how terrible it is when my job is to follow around some woman who may or may not be cheating on her husband so I can snap pictures for the divorce lawyers. Or tail some under aged kids whose parents worry they’re doing drugs, or dating the wrong boy.”
“Aw, makes you feel a little like a peeping Tom?”
“Try not to sound too amused by that.”
Zelda laughed. “Sorry!”
But she couldn’t help it, and when Victor spun her around, pinning her down, his merciless hands attacking her ribs in retaliation, she really couldn’t help but laugh then.
Victor took her into the shower after that, practically carrying her over his shoulder, caveman style.
Zelda decided she liked caveman style, as well as this new side to Victor. She could really get used to it.
They didn’t make love in the water, despite how the only thing between their bodies was the soap suds, but it was still incredibly perfect. Intimate.
This was what it felt like to really be with a mate.
Zelda was getting tired by the end. Even the rush of adrenaline that came with all the sex, and with simply being with her mate, wasn’t enough to stop her eyelids from constantly trying to pull shut. Towards the end of her shower, Victor was helping her to rinse her hair. He was shockingly gentle. He knew to cup his hands over her fox ears to keep water and soap from getting in them. He kissed her neck as he washed her back, and she could tell he wanted more. She wanted to give it to him, but she was dead on her feet by the time they were finished.
