The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 175: Chapter 175

The afternoon wore away with Pierce and Toni frolicking in the lake, eating a little more, and making love again in the afternoon sunshine.
He still had her peaches and honey flavor on his lips from when he’d slid down her body and gave her the most intimate of kisses. Gods, he loved the way she’d cried out his name, body arching as he fucked her on his tongue, tasting her orgasm as it pulsed through her. She was the sexiest damn woman he had ever seen, and the wondrous thing was, she didn’t even know it.
Her ex had done a number on her confidence, but Pierce hoped to remove that motherfucker’s taint from her soul with patience and attention. Each and every touch, kiss, climax, and surrender were victories in the war for Toni’s freedom from her past. Pierce was over the fucking moon that he got to be the one to see her shine. And shine, she did. Like a fucking beacon calling to him alone.
After their lovemaking, they’d both fallen asleep in a tangle of arms and legs. Good thing Uncle Uzzi had bid the Neta close the cabins and lake for the weekend just for them. It was like the old Witch had known they would need this privacy, and he was glad.
His chest rumbled with a strange purring sound from his beast and Pierce frowned. That was new. New, but right. The animal could not get enough of her as he cuddled Toni on the blanket. The waning afternoon sun was warm and casting shadows from the leaves across her supple skin.
He took the opportunity to study her in slumber. He knew Shifters fell fast, especially when it was fated, but fuck. He did not know he was even capable of feeling so strongly about another person. She was it. She was all.
He was glad he woke before her and wished he could lie there with her draped across him all day. But mother nature had other plans for him. Pierce frowned and eased her body to the blanket, covering her with a towel before walking away to relieve himself by a tree with her still in his line of sight. They hadn’t installed restrooms yet, though it was on their list of things to add to the area.
Good thing he hadn’t gone far. The sound of snuffling and chuffing reached his ears, and he turned to see Toni’s furry stalker not too far away from him.
“You have got to be kidding me,” he grumbled, turning to the bear, and waving his arms around.
“Beat it! Get out of here,” he whisper-growled.
The boxy-headed bastard snorted and peeled back his lips as if he were laughing at him. Fucking bear. The bear pawed at the ground, clearly having no intention of leaving, and Pierce growled louder.
“You know, you two are awfully cute like that.”
Pierce jumped, spinning around to see an amused and completely bare-assed Toni standing with her arms crossed over her chest. His cock immediately stood at attention, the damn thing practically waving at her. Heart hammering in his chest, she grinned at him, and his mouth went dry.
What the hell had he been doing again?
Oh yeah.
He snorted and shook his head as the wild black bear chuffed and tried to walk past him to get to Toni. Pierce reached out and shoved the big guy back. Was he kidding?
The bear grunted, walking a few steps away, but he turned back, baring his teeth at Pierce. Like he was annoyed the man was standing in his way. That woke the Tiger up, and Pierce flashed some fangs of his own. Toni really giggled then.
“Go on, Yogi, beat it. We’re going home now, too,” she told the creature who chuffed and watched her from further away, adoration in his beady black eyes.
Pierce’s Tiger snarled louder.
“Hey, don’t be mean. Yogi is a sweetheart,” she cooed.
“Yogi is an adult black bear that likely weighs more than my Tiger,” Pierce said, still kinda pissed about it.
“Yeah, well, I won’t let him hurt you,” Toni teased, wrapping her arms around Pierce’s neck.
She pulled him down and he went willingly, loving the feel of her soft, smooth body against his. He kissed her deeply. Long, plucking, biting kisses that made her shiver in his arms.
“You know this is big, right?” he asked, pressing his forehead to hers.
“I know,” she whispered.
“You okay with that, pretty girl? Because, fair warning, I’ve been known to dig in my heels when I want something.”
She blinked up at him slowly, contentment on her pretty face. He noticed her black lashes were thick and short, and her eyes were glowing gold with her beast.
“You were pretty clear about that part before. But, uh, are you saying you want me, big guy?”
“I’m saying I want and plan on keeping you, pretty girl.”
“No one ever wanted to keep me before. Well, except Stefan⁠—”
Pierce’s growl filled the air, and Toni pressed herself more firmly against him.
“Hey, I didn’t say that to make you jealous,” she blurted, and he cut off the sound.
“Shit, sorry, I know that. It’s the Tiger. Wants to claim you,” he growled, noting the shock in her eyes.
“But I won’t Toni, not without your say so, okay? You have nothing to fear from me.”
The Tiger was still there, in his voice. Pierce looked up, trying to get himself under control.
“I believe you, Pierce,” she told him, cupping his face and forcing his gaze back to hers.
“I believe you and I trust you. And, well, I want to thank you for going slow with me.”
“Skinny dipping and lake sex is slow? Damn girl, I hope I can keep up when you decide to move fast,” he teased, catching her laughter with his kiss.
“Alright, enough. Take me home and feed me,” she said when they came up for air. Pierce raised an eyebrow.
“Done. Let’s go,” he took her hand and pulled her to where they parked the ATV.
“Um, Pierce, maybe we can put our clothes on first and get our stuff?”
“Well, damn woman. You got me so mixed up,” he chuckled, picking her up and spinning her around.
After a tickle fight, some splashing in the lake, and a little more making out, they finally got dressed and loaded the ATV. Pierce could not stop smiling the entire drive back to the cabin. The sun had dipped low, but he knew the area like the back of his hand, plus, the whole night vision thing came in handy at times like these.
He still could not believe how this whole thing was turning out. Toni was so much more than he’d ever dared dream. She was so much fun to be with. He loved teasing smiles from her and just letting her just talk. He got the feeling she was always a good listener, but maybe not someone people listened to very often. Like really listened to, as in being an ear for her to confide whatever feelings or issues she was dealing with.
Oh, he had no doubt she was a leader. She showed true leadership skills in the way she gave direction and was self-assured in certain things. But it was those tiny little hints of vulnerability that melted his heart. Toni was a strong Shifter, but she was human, too.
It was clear she loved her family and was a shoulder for her siblings or a kick in the ass, depending on what they needed. Loyalty was one helluva quality to recommend her to his heart, and she was already in there, roots growing steadily.
The whole mess at her job seemed fishy to him. His lawyer senses were tingling, but he would not interfere unless she okayed it. Toni just was not the kind of woman to make a deal without checking all the angles and doing her research. He already knew her better than that, and it surprised him her bosses didn’t recognize that quality.
Clearly, Eat Well Live Proud was not the company he thought it was, if this was how they treated valuable employees. Still, he forced himself to let it go for now.
Toni looked happy, content. Maybe it was the sunshine. Or the somewhat forced vacation they’d both been told to take. Maybe it was kismet. Or maybe it was the smokin’ hot smexy times they’d gotten up to. Hell, it could be all the above.
Whatever put that sweet, soft, tender smile on her pretty face, Pierce was down for more of it. Hell, he was down for all of it. Even his Tiger wanted to be there to see it. He wanted to be there to see her face bright and happy, wearing the smile he put there every single day of his life—if he was lucky.
Please let me be lucky.
Oh, she might not fully understand what she’d done, but Tonie Golden was his now. Marked or not, she was his and he was hers. Body, heart, and soul. She had the fealty of his beast. A seven hundred and fifty pound Tiger at her beck and call.
His body hummed with happiness as he turned down the lane that would take them back to the cabin. Of course, that was when he saw a bunch of cars in the driveway and his own face turned down in a scowl.
“That’s her, officers, Antonetta Golden. Arrest her!”
What. The. Fuck.