The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Holy. Shit.
Pierce froze for one long moment after Toni pulled him down and smashed her sweet lips against his. Her eyes glittered intensely, like the predator she was when she came at him, but he could handle her.
One. Single. Moment.
That was all he allowed himself to catch up to what was happening. Was this sexy as sin, smart as a whip, funny little Lioness making the first move with him? Fuck yes, she was. And wasn’t that hot?
During that frozen moment in time, Pierce was immovable. Frozen. Rooted to the spot. Hell, he might as well have been a statue—then she sighed.
Shivers raced up his spine, and it was like the entire world just clicked into place. It was a sweet, soft expulsion of sound. So small, it was barely a whisper, but it might have been a roar for the effect it had on him. Blood pumping, heart pounding, his beast growling a chorus inside of him, only it comprised one word and one word only—mine.
Suddenly, Pierce was alive again. Alive and moving. He used one hand to cradle the back of her head, pressing her closer to him as his tongue begged entry to her mouth. Toni turned, pressing her heavenly body flush against his, and that naughty little sigh sounded once more, then Pierce was in. Home free and taking everything she was giving, offering her himself in return.
He growled roughly, unable to keep his tiger at bay. The monster in him wanted her, too, and Pierce allowed it. He deepened the kiss, losing himself to this surprising woman, this peach flavored passionflower.
Who the fuck had called her cold? She was a goddamned inferno in his arms. Fuck that guy. He had no place here. No one did besides the two of them. And that was just the truth, wasn’t it? If it was only ever Pierce and Toni, all would be right with his world.
He imagined Toni hadn’t been kissed like this in a very long time, if ever. That satisfied something primal inside him. He wanted it to be good for her, special, like it was for him. Coils of pleasure unfurled inside of him, and Pierce realized he was getting addicted.
That was dangerous. She was dangerous. But he’d never shied away from that sort of thing before. After his email, Uncle Uzzi had called him to conduct a little interview, and the male Witch had said something that stuck with Pierce. He’d asked him if Pierce was ready for the changes finding his mate would bring.
Pierce had said yes, but he didn’t know it would be like this. He couldn’t know. Hell, he felt as if he’d been born again. Like his life had taken on a new meaning and it revolved around Toni. Like she was his sun and his moon.
She was special. He felt that intensely. Special and kissing him with abandon, covering him with her delicious scent. Pierce angled his head, growling as he sipped from her lips and the woman just melted into him.
Her submission humbled him. She was a powerful Lioness, but she didn’t try to best him. Toni was gifting him with this softness she likely didn’t give to anyone else, and Pierce wanted to roar it to the world.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
Some deep, dark, utterly caveman-like part of him grunted in satisfaction at that thought. She was his and yes, that made him possessive, territorial, all those terrible alphahole qualities he always swore he’d never feel.
But even more than the terrifying need to mark her with his bite, Pierce was filled with the desire to make her feel good. To make sure she knew she was cared for, coveted, safe.
Shit. This is big. Life-changing.
When was the last time he felt protective of a female? Easy answer. Never. Pierce rarely dated, and when he did, it was never serious. The women were typically Shifters. They understood he had needs, and they had their own. It was all mutually consensual fun. Nothing heavy.
But with Toni, this felt heavy. Like fucking huge.
He plucked at her lips, lapping tenderly at her sweet mouth. Every single nerve ending in his body was abuzz with desire and awareness. Her plump lips were the perfect landing zone for his kisses, and her tongue, fuck, her tongue was goddamn magic. Ever the Hunter, he chased after it with his own, loving the way she tangled with him.
Heaven.
Kissing her was like pure heaven. Like he’d been waiting his whole life for her, and Pierce felt that right down to his marrow. His body ached. No, it was more than that. It burned for her. Like he’d been asleep forever and was finally waking up.
He’d never felt so turned on from just kissing. Christ, the woman was so fucking good at this. She was knocking him out, driving him crazy, and capturing his heart without even trying.
Sweet, sexy, pretty, pretty girl. Fierce, badass, funny woman. Mine.
Yes, he wanted so much more than to kiss her. But he wouldn’t rush this. He couldn’t even if he tried. The Tiger would not allow it.
Time lost all meaning as they kissed, and kissed, and kissed on that couch. The world ceased to exist, and Toni was the only thing that mattered. Her hands moved to his shoulders, those tiny digits clinging to him, and yes, he loved it.
She felt so good in his arms, molded to him from hip to mouth. The curve of her breasts felt so damn good against his chest. Their pebbled tips bit into his flesh through the layers of fabric.
Pierce never thought of himself as shallow. He was not moved by beauty alone. But Toni had it all. Holy hell, the woman was a veritable bombshell with her pin-up girl figure, her cover model face, and her wicked sharp mind. Oh, she had layers, and had been gifting him with teasing glimpses of them all day until he was utterly besotted.
He was greedy, though. He wanted more. He wanted it all. But he knew better than to rush. Secrets had to be earned, and Pierce made up his mind then to be the man to earn hers.
“Mmm,” she moaned softly.
It was that sweet, soft vulnerability that did him in. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so damn pretty. It was going to kill him, but he knew what he had to do.
Reining in his monster Cat, Pierce slowed the kiss until his lips were barely brushing against hers. It felt so good, the whisper light touches, he could have continued doing that for who knows how long. Just sliding his lips against hers, breathing her air, worshipping her with his mouth.
Toni sighed, and he shivered, rubbing his nose along hers, his cheek next. It was a sign of affection all felines recognized. It was also a way to transfer his scent to her. A fact his inner beast reveled in.
Possessive much? Hell. Yes. Unapologetically so.
He pressed his cheek against hers one last time and lifted his face, cupping her cheeks gently. When she lifted her heavy lids and those golden amber beauties flashed at him, he saw curiosity, but not anger.
Thank fuck.
“Should, uh, should I press play?” he asked.
“Um, yeah, sure,” she whispered, her posture stiffening.
The last thing he wanted her to feel was rejection, so Pierce decided to nip that in the bud right then. He held her hand, stopping her from sliding away. Not quite ready for that sort of distance. Not yet, maybe not ever.
“This isn’t me saying no, Toni,” he murmured.
“It’s not? Because you were the one who stopped,” she replied, not looking at him.
Oh no. He wasn’t having that. Pierce touched her chin with his forefinger, gently cajoling her to turn his way. When she did, he kept his gaze steady on hers.
Easy does it. Just tell the truth.
“You don’t get it, do you, pretty girl?” he asked, cocking his head as he took her in.
She was so pretty, and the thing about it was, she was not conceited at all. If ever a woman should be, it was her. Pierce had met plenty of females who thought they were all that, and they demanded the attention they believed was their due. But not her.
Here Toni was, still glowing from their kiss, her lips all plump and glistening, and her cheeks blushing a pretty pink, but it was like she had no idea the picture she made. Fucking gorgeous. The woman was a heartbreaker, and she had him already. He was a fucking goner.
Hook. Line. Sinker. I am hers.
“Toni, I want more than to fool around on the couch with you.”
“I get it, I was never very good at this anyway,” she murmured, blushing crimson.
“Are you serious? Woman, you really don’t get it,” he growled, grabbing her hand, and pressing against the hard evidence of his arousal.
“Oh! Then why?” she asked, her hand still on his dick.
Pierce closed his eyes, willing himself not to explode from the barely there touch. She got curious then, her hands rubbing up and down his hard length beneath his jeans. The seam of the zipper was oddly arousing, and he dropped his head back and moaned before touching her wrist.
“You see what you do to me? Fuck, I’m about to come like some teenager on his first date.”
“Then why don’t we finish?” she asked huskily, and it took every ounce of willpower he possessed to hit pause.
“Fuck baby, this is so hard⁠—”
“I know,” she grinned, and he barked a laugh.
“Ha ha. That’s what she said,” he growled playfully, plucking her hand off his cock and nibbling her fingers. “Look, I am stopping now because I want more than just this one night, pretty girl. You get what I am saying?” he asked.
Toni cocked her head, her eyes glittering gold with her Lioness. Pierce held his breath until she smiled, then he exhaled. That smile she gifted him with was absolutely heart-stopping, but somehow it got his beating again.
You are done, boy. She got you now.
“Thank you for that,” Toni said, her voice husky with emotion. “Um, is it alright if I stay right here?” she asked, tucking her feet under her legs, and leaning on him.
“You better. If you move, I’ll just follow you, anyway,” he told her, only half teasing.
He pressed play and tried to focus on the show, but that was impossible. Watching a movie with the worst case of blue balls he’d ever had in his life was something Pierce never intended to do again. Not after tenth grade, anyway.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” she asked, turning her head as the movie played in the background.
“Never better,” he smiled tightly.
“You know, it’s been a long time for me. I appreciate you going slow.”
“And that right there makes all this worth it,” he whispered, kissing her temple, and tucking her in close.
An hour later, the credits were rolling, and Pierce was still hard as stone. Didn’t matter though, his discomfort was nothing compared to how good it felt just to hold her. His Tiger chuffed, content for the first time in a very long time.
He exhaled and stretched his free arm, looking down to see Toni had fallen asleep curled up against him. Damn, she really was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen. At some point during the evening, she had wiped off her makeup and braided her hair.
Fresh and clean, with her face relaxed in slumber, Toni looked like an angel. Either Pierce was the luckiest SOB in the whole damn world, or he was in big trouble with this one. Maybe both. Either way, he would not leave her on the couch.
He was already resigned to a night of discomfort, also known as epic-blue-balls-itis, but he would make sure his mate was tucked into bed safe and sound. Pierce paused as he stood, lifting her in his arms. Mate. The word had come so easily to his mind. But it felt right. He stared at her sleeping form and tested it out again.
Mate. Mine. Yesssss, the Tiger hissed.
Pierce’s heart filled with emotion, and he closed his eyes, thanking the gods, Uncle Uzzi, Hunter, everyone he could think of for the chance to know this wonderful woman. He could already replace that word know with another four letter word starting with the letter l but was early days yet.
They had all the time in the world, and after what she’d been through with her ex and was still going through at work, he figured she deserved it. He walked her to the main bedroom, already having given that one up to her.
The cabin had a second, smaller one, and Pierce was fine sleeping in that one until their relationship progressed. Maybe it was the lawyer in him that didn’t mind him taking his time. Then again, the hunt was just as important to his beast. But this felt bigger than a hunt. This felt like nothing he’d ever experienced.
Pierce balanced her on his leg and pulled the covers down, placing her gently on the sheets. Unable to resist, he bent and kissed her temple one more time, tucking her in. When he got to the door, he heard her whisper his name in sleep, and he stopped and closed his eyes. Forcing himself to leave the room was difficult, but he did it.