Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Toni stepped out into the enormous dining room where huge steam tables were being tended to and filled as needed by a small army of kitchen staff. She’d been impressed with the Island Pride Mountain Resort’s employees so far. They’d risen to the challenge and accepted her authority quite readily.
“Paul, we need more au jus at carving station four,” she said into her walkie talkie, as she made her rounds.
It was halfway between the serving time, and the room was crowded with almost every table filled. It seemed the Shifters who’d been invited were eager to arrive to see the changes the Island Stripe Neta had implemented this year.
Toni nodded as she passed her own Alpha Buck and Doe, the Carlsons were nice people and she wholeheartedly approved of how they ran the Cottontail Flock. There were two or three more prey Shifter groups present, but mostly, they were surrounded by predators.
Her inner Bunny tapped her foot, but if she had to pick nervousness or excitement, the latter won out. This gathering would hopefully be the fire that forged new friendships between groups. There was too much division in their world, and now more than ever, they needed to unify.
Though more powerful in a one-on-one situation with humans, the fact remained there were significantly less Shifters in the world than there were normals. With the secret of magic being of the utmost importance, it was necessary to band together to protect it. Technology was the bane of the supernatural world’s existence, but together, they could manage. It was just a matter of getting over idiotic prejudices, in her humble opinion.
She’d showered and dressed in a simple black sheath dress once dinner was ready to be served. Her job as chef included running things once the heavy lifting was finished, and she could not do that in her smock and baggy pants. As Carter had told her countless times, this gathering was important.
Carter.
Just thinking about him sent shivers up and down her spine. She was still reeling from the fact she’d agreed to go home with him tonight and every night for the whole weekend. Her inner Bunny chirped and snapped her teeth together.
The wee beastie liked the idea of going home with Carter very much, but the whole for the weekend part was a bit uncertain. She wanted him with every fiber of her being, but was wanting enough? Would it spare her heart when he left?
Shit. What was she going to do when he’d had his fill? Toni had never been a party girl, and the torch she’d been carrying for the Tiger was burning bright as ever. Denying her instincts once upon a time had been difficult as fuck, there was no telling what would happen to her now, but she knew one thing. It would be worth it.
Living without him all these years had been a form of torture. But it was torture she had grown accustomed to. If she loved him now then he left, well, Toni was certain it would be the purest kind of hell she’d ever known. But loving Carter Marrow was worth the risk. At least, she sure as hell hoped so.
“Excuse me,” a rakish looking Wolf with a head full of thick, glossy red hair, a close-cropped beard, and an outrageous t-shirt with a loaf of bread on it and “I eat the butt” scrawled across the top.
“Uh, yes,” Toni asked, fighting her grin.
“Someone said you’re the head chef here, and I just had to tell you this is the best prime rib I have ever had aside from our Alpha fem’s.”
“Kurt? Oh, there you are,” a stunning blonde in a long, printed skirt with a loose fitting tunic approached. She had a warm smile on her face and took one look at the male’s shirt before busting out laughing.
“Ohmygawd! You wore it anyway? Kurt, I thought I said go for something mild,” she said, exasperated.
"I did, love,” he said, giving her an innocent look that Toni would bet money the guy had practiced beforehand.
“Hi, I’m Clara, and I would like to apologize for my mate,” she said, still grinning as the big man wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her neck a quick nuzzle.
“Not at all,” Toni said, charmed by the Wolf couple. “It is nice to meet you both.”
“Seriously though, congratulations, you have done an outstanding job,” the she-Wolf named Clara continued, rubbing her stomach, and it was then Toni realized she was pregnant.
“There is an empty chair here, why don’t you sit down, and I will bring you some tea,” she said, smiling when the Wolf beside Clare positively beamed.
“Excellent idea,” Kurt seconded, clearly worried about his mate.
“I’ll sit, but please, join us?” Clara asked, and Toni was helpless to disobey. She was just so friendly and open, Toni’s inner Rabbit could not help but gravitate towards her.
She discreetly signaled to one of the server’s and, after asking for a pot of herbal tea and some iced water for the table, she turned to the mated pair with a grin. In her line of work, Toni dealt with predatory species all the time, but this gathering was different.
“So. how long have you worked here?” Clara asked, clearly interested. There was no sense in lying to a Shifter, so Toni went ahead and told her the truth.
“I don’t actually work here. I was hired to cater the event,” she explained and told them about the diner and business she and her sister ran.
“Really? Well, you should know your work is just amazing,” Clara repeated, sipping her tea, and munching on a plate of cookies her husband had procured from the dessert table.
“Baby, did you see these? Their peanut butter and jelly,” he grinned, taking a bite out of the miniature dessert spring rolls Toni had prepared herself.
“I am glad you like them,” she said, grinning when he found the Elvis special.
“Holy cow! This one has peanut butter, bacon, and banana! I need more,” he growled and raced back for seconds.
“I swear, he’s usually more couth than this,” Clara began, then shook her head. “Never mind. This is actually his norm, but I love him. What can I say?” she shrugged, beaming.
“He seems great, and he’s crazy about you, what more could a girl want?” Toni asked, smiling.
She’d meant it to be light and cute, but her words had an effect she was not expecting. Through the crowd, her eyes found Carter chatting to a group of important looking men. He was not looking at her, and for the first time all night, she could simply observe him.
"Is that man your mate?” Clara asked.
“What? Oh,” she replied, swallowing. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to answer that,” she started, surprised at herself for opening up to this stranger.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Clara added, concern on her pretty face.
Toni noted a thin scar running along her hairline down her face, but it did nothing to detract from the she-Wolf’s beauty. In fact, it may have enhanced it.
"It’s complicated,” Toni admitted, smiling at her new friend. “Sort of like this business with predatory species and prey side by side for the first time in a gathering such as this. I do not know Dean Romero personally, but the Neta is very forward in his thinking, and I have high hopes for the outcome here.”
“Same,” Clara replied with tinkling laughter.
“Excuse me, are these seats taken?” a Lioness Shifter with bright green eyes and a skintight gold dress interrupted Toni and Clara’s conversation.
“Um, I think—” Toni started, but she did not get to finish her sentence.
The female leaned forward, sniffed at Toni, and snarled right in her face. Toni gasped and leaned back. She did not want to antagonize anyone with her presence, the predators especially. Some could not control their baser instincts when faced with something small and furry. Though hunting each other was strictly forbidden, as a Bunny, Toni was aware of the dangers of being in a crowd of hunters.
“No fucking way? So, the city boy really invited prey to a gathering. Well, I guess he knew I’d want something to hunt,” the she-Cat said and laughed maniacally.
“Excuse me, miss, but I think you have the wrong idea. I am not here to be hunted, and I am currently employed by your hosts. You would do well to remember that,” Toni snapped.
“What did you say, rodent?”
“I am not a rodent, you overgrown house cat,” she snapped back.
The Lioness snarled, her claws popping free one at a time, she lunged for Toni. Unfortunately for her, there was a pissed off and pregnant she-Wolf at the table. Clara stood and used her plate to deflect the attack, leaving the she-Cat with a handful of peanut butter and flaky spring roll crust. She yelped and withdrew her hand, her face showing shock and outrage both.
“Actually,” Clara said, standing to meet the eyes of the Lioness who was still struggling to control her she-Cat while she tried to shake off the peanut butter. Toni could have told her that wouldn’t work. She only used top quality natural organic, and that stuff was thicker than cement.
“This table is taken. You better go, pussycat. Now,” Clara said with more authority than Toni had given her credit for.
The she-Cat’s face had partially shifted, and she was staring at Toni with her Lioness’ eyes. Only the sharp snarl of the angry she-Wolf brought her attention back to Clara. Toni’s newfound friend growled deep and low and suddenly they were surrounded by several more Wolves, including her redheaded mate.
Then he was there. Carter Marrow inserted himself between the two groups of jumpy Shifters and had the Lions brought to an empty table clear across the room. But only after he reminded them about the rules.
“Everyone here is under the protection of the ,” he explained firmly. “An unprovoked attack on any person, guest, or staff will be seen as an attack on the Pride itself. Now please, eat, drink, then rest. Tomorrow is a busy day.”
“What? She started it. Just look what she did to me! OMG! Are there nuts in that? I have an allergy,” she yelped as large red welts began to pop up all over her face.
Carter just waited, knowing already that the Wolves and Toni were not responsible for the haughty she-Cat’s attitude or behavior. The Lions nodded and moved away, with the she-Cat giving Toni one last angry glare.
Even with welts on her face, the stunning green-eyed Lioness had looked covetously at Carter when he’d broken up the argument, and Toni’s Bunny had reacted unprecedentedly. She was jealous and angry.
Though not in league with a Lioness strength wise, Toni could not help her rising fury. Her inner beastie was more than up for a little game of smack down ride to nibble-town on that skanky beyotch’s furry ass.
Snarl. Hiss. Nibble-nibble, assface!
After everyone was settled back at their own tables, Carter approached Toni. She felt his presence like a warm blanket to her shocked system. Admittedly, she had not given herself a moment to even process what had happened. The Lioness had gone apeshit, and the Wolf had risen to her defense, then Carter had jumped in, and it was all over. The whole thing had taken scant minutes at most.
“Are you alright?” he asked, eyes raking over her trembling body. “Come with me,” he said, not allowing her to finish before he was dragging her away.
“Wait,” she said, pulling back.
Toni ran up to Clara and hugged the pregnant she-Wolf, thanking her for stepping into what would have been a truly fucking awful episode, she was sure. Tough as her Cottontail might be, Toni would have had her ass handed to her by the powerful Lioness.
Another difference to contend with, she thought sadly as Carter nodded his thanks to the Wolf Pack who’d rallied to protect Toni. Then he was guiding her out of the packed room, whispering to Bradley to take over.
“I shouldn’t leave,” she was saying, but Carter would hear nothing of it.
“I put Bradley in charge. He will let us know if anything happens that requires our attention.”
“But the food⁠—”
“Was fucking fabulous. You managed to whip together a feast to feed over a hundred and fifty Shifters in under a week. And I am positive the rest of the event is just as perfectly organized, isn’t it, cutie pie?”
“Well, I mean, everything is prepped and ready,” Toni said, ridiculously pleased by his compliments.
“Good, then we can do this,” he growled, pressing her against the outer door of his private residence.
She’d hardly noticed him leading her outside, through the gardens and to the smallish cottage that sat near the wooded area surrounding the lake. It was quiet and secluded from the guests and other onsite staff members. Not that Toni was up for a tour, given the way Carter was devastating her with a single, drawn out kiss.
He lapped at her lips, teasing the seam with his tongue. Gaining entry was only half his purpose, she realized as her toes began to curl. Steady, insistent, and focused on every single detail, he kissed like a motherfucking champ. As if his, and maybe her, life depended on it.
Maybe they did? She thought with a dreamy sigh. But that soon gave way to a throaty moan, the kind that made her tingle from head to toe. Toni’s nipples hardened beneath her clothes. Almost painfully so, and she pushed against him, searching for some relief from the uncomfortable tension building just there.
Carter inhaled deeply, growling as his kiss turned wild. He punched some numbers into the pad outside the door, allowing them entry. Clumsily, they fell inside into the large sofa that filled the living room area.
“You taste good, cutie,” he rumbled into her mouth, nipping her bottom lip between his teeth.
Toni moaned as moisture flooded her panties. The hardness below his belt throbbed against her thighs as he pressed her down into the soft cushions.
“I’ve waited so long for this,” he growled, and his voice was unsteady, an echo of her own erratic heartbeat.
He was all masculine dominance, and horny Bunny that she was, Toni ate it up. She loved the feel of him, all of him. Six and a half feet and over two hundred pounds of man hovering over her with a steely gleam in his amber eyes that made her tremble down to her marrow.
“I want you, Carter,” she confessed, like it was a guilty secret only Toni was not feeling very shy about it at the moment. To the contrary, she was proud of it. She wanted to shout her desires for this man from the rooftops.
“Say my name again,” he growled, eyes glowing dangerously in the darkness.
“Carter,” she said, body aching at the sultry tone that filled her.
He stood up slowly, eyes never leaving hers, and for a moment she thought he was going to call it off. A sick way to repay her for her past foolishness? But the moment was soon gone, and Carter was tugging her up to stand in front of him.
Thank fuck.
She was shorter than him by a good twelve inches, if not more, but that did not matter to her. Not at all. She just needed his hands on her body to rein in the fire of her desire that she felt all over her, so hot it threatened to burn her alive.
Carter turned her around so her back was to him. His big hands roamed along her sides, up over her thighs, belly, hips, ass, and breasts. She could hardly breathe for all he was doing to her. And still, it wasn’t enough.
His warm, steady hands reached her shoulders as his lips and nose caressed her cheek and neck. He began to kiss her, setting off explosions of heat rocketing through Toni, from the spot his lips touched all the way to her very core. His hands took the straps of her dress, and he began to push down, undressing her inch by inch.
Her heavy breasts swelled as he pushed the fabric down, taking her slip away with it, revealing nothing but her soft skin. It was the sexiest fucking moment of her life, being undressed slowly and methodically by Carter. He continued to push and tug, hooking his fingers in the elastic of her panties, and adding that to the pile as he gave a final push to the fabric. Once it moved over the hurdle of her hips, there was nothing holding it up.
Dress, slip, and panties were a pile of mesh and lace at Toni’s feet, but even better than that was Carter. Somehow, between his ministrations, kissing and unwrapping her like she was a present, he’d moved till he was in front of Toni.
Kneeling, to be exact. His golden eyes glowed as they raked over her body with possession and dominance in his sight and damn, her body reacted.
All her secret feminine bits swelled and grew wet, readying for him. Always him. Only him.
“Carter,” she whispered.