Rising Storm (Westin Force #2) - Julie Trettel Page 0,71

lovemaking to thwart my orgasm. It dawned on me that he was waiting for me to mark him too. In my excitement, I’d nearly forgotten.

Grinning, I bit him on the shoulder. In that instant, as our bond began to seal, it felt like a perfectly magical moment. I was caught up in a world where nothing else existed but my mate and me. I couldn’t imagine ever feeling that close to anyone else. My entire world reset with Painter as my axis.

He pulled back and kissed the spot he’d just marked me. I didn’t want to let go of the moment, but when he began to pick up the pace in a frenzied rhythm seeking his release, the fog that had temporarily set in lifted and I slammed back into the moment.

I yelled out his name as the biggest orgasm of my life wracked my body out of nowhere. It seemed to go on and on as I clawed at his back until his muscles grew taut and then broke free. He sprang up to his knees and started hooting as he pounded his chest causing me to giggle.

It was rare to see the playful side of my mate and I liked to imagine that these moments were reserved just for me. I doubted his teammates would even believe me if I tried to tell them.

He leaned back down and kissed every inch of my face. He lifted up for only a second to stare into my eyes. “Mine.” He kissed me as if he were marking me all over again. I loved every second of it.

There was a lightness about him that hadn’t been there before. It was as if the weight of the world, or perhaps just the past, had finally lifted from his shoulders.

“We should celebrate,” he surprised me by saying.

“I could make breakfast. Something other than one of those shakes you like so much.”

“Why don’t we go out instead?”

“You mean into town?”

“Yeah. I’ll take you to Silver Bells. It’s a local 50’s style diner.”

“In San Marco?”

“Yeah, it’s sort of hidden on the street back behind Main. It’s pretty good. How does fresh homemade blueberry pancakes sound?”

“Chocolate chip?”

“When did you have chocolate chip pancakes?”

“Shelby made them for breakfast last week and I’m sort of addicted now.

“Noted.”

“Will they play Elvis?”

“There is a jukebox. I can make that happen.”

“You’re on, but only if I get some Elvis.”

He grinned from ear to ear. “That’s my girl.”

I was his and he was mine. Just thinking it kept the smile burning in my cheeks.

Painter

Chapter 23

Breakfast out with Emma had been fun. It really did feel like a celebration. Even after I’d found my mate, I had been trying hard not to let myself hope too much that she would choose to stay. I wasn’t sure what had happened to change her mind, or whether she was still going to want to find her band. At some point, we’d need to talk about it, but for now, I just wanted to soak up in the excitement of our new bond.

On the drive home I took a longer route through the woods. Out for a Sunday drive with my favorite girl seemed like the perfect way to spend the morning.

“Do you think you could teach me to drive? Thanks to Silas and Patrick, I do technically have a driver’s license.”

I groaned. “Yeah, I guess I can.”

“If you don’t want to, it’s okay.”

“No, you should learn.”

“But you seemed frustrated by my question.”

“It wasn’t that. It was more like, why would they give you a valid driver’s license when you don’t know how to drive? Please promise me you’ll let me teach you properly and use it only after we’ve completed your training.”

“I promise. But you know what?”

“What?”

“You worry a lot.”

I laughed. If only she knew. “That’s my job.”

“I’m certain Westin Force is paying you to worry.”

“Are you being sarcastic and trying to tease me?”

“I’ve been working on it. Did I do it right?”

I grinned. “Perfect.”

“Are you being sarcastic now? I can’t tell.”

“I was being serious.”

“Oh good. So, will you teach me?”

“Yes.” I turned the car around and headed back up the mountain towards the school. Westin Pack was large but only required one school for all children. It was divided into three sections to keep the grades a bit segregated though.

“Is this the school?”

“Yes.”

“This is where Shelby will be working then. She’s not full time, just substitute teaching. You know, filling in when they need help.”

Of course, I knew what a substitute teacher was, but