Hmmm, she teased. I can only imagine what that would be. On second that, I can do more than imagine.

She slid her thigh across his waist, and straddled him.

He moaned when she cushioned her a.s.s against his d.i.c.k. Im beginning to get used to you being half-dressed. Maybe I should cancel that order you made this morning to make sure things like this happen all the time.

The only thing separating them was one of his oversized shirts and a pair of his boxer briefs. She wore no panties.

You dont have to worry about that. She rocked her hips, moving gently on his arousal. For this, I would strip down to my undies every day.

Connor rose just enough, and their lips meshed together in a sensual kiss. He raked his fingers into her hair and tugged gently, bringing her in closer. She loved his taste, his sandalwood smell. Everything about him. She just couldnt get enough.

He tore the oversized t-shirt over her head then dipped his head lower to take her nipple into his hot mouth. She arched into him, kneading his manhood until it was long and firm.

He gripped her hips firmly as he suckled her until her nipples were taut like thimbles.

She pulled apart from the kiss and proceeded to remove his boxers. After sliding them down his legs, she took his arousal in her hand, admiring the perfection. Her fingers wrapped around his thick length perfectly. She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, thinking about how she wanted to please him.

Youre so s.e.xy when you bite your lips like that, he said.

Do you want my lips on your c.o.c.k, she asked, looking up at him, waiting for his answer.

Yes, his reply came quickly.

She rolled her tongue up his long length, starting at the base and then reaching the peak. His bulbous head pulsed against her tongue and she wrapped her mouth fully around him.

His hips jerked slightly off the bed as she sucked and licked the soft leathery head. She pleased him with her mouth, taking him over and over again to the back of her throat. She was turned on by the moans coming from his mouth, and the fact that she could please him in this manner. She tasted his sweet pre-c.u.m more than once when she sucked and lapped her tongue over the tip.

Ah, he groaned and grabbed the back of her head roughly.

Antonia allowed him to take over and submitted as he f.u.c.ked her mouth with gentle, but precise strokes. Moments later, his thighs began to quake and he let go and released himself. Streams of liquid coated her tongue, which she accepted without hesitation. In the aftermath, she sucked and licked him dry until his breathing had returned to normal.

When his c.o.c.k began to rise and harden again, she asked, Are you always this insatiable?

Not insatiable. You are just irresistible, he replied.

Connor grabbed her by the legs and pulled her upward until her thighs were straddling both sides of his face. As soon as his lips met her center, her l.u.s.t for completion began to peak. He sucked her c.l.i.t until her toes curled and her legs shook.

A pleasure-numbing spell began to take her away, and she clutched the headboard in front of her for support. His big hands grabbed her plump a.s.s as he held her to his mouth. It seemed like he wanted her to come undone completely. It was evident in the way he ravaged her hungrily. She rode his tongue until a fierce o.r.g.a.s.m pierced through her.

In the process of flipping them over, Antonia caught sight of stark white canines protruding from his gumline. Her p.u.s.s.y clenched and her body rippled in arousal. She didnt care what he said, his appet.i.te was insatiable and she liked it.

Before Antonia knew it, she was on her knees and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were squashed against the bedroom wall. He caught her about the hips and slammed into her, planting his c.o.c.k to the hilt.

His growled seemed to reverberate through the entire bedroom and awakened the inner vixen in her soul. She moved with him, thrusting her hips back, taking all of his length over and over again.

Connor, she cried out as a mini climax vibrated her body.

Antonia, he replied, driving into her with feverish determination.

He took long laps at the back of her neck, nipping a little and then sucking a little. She was coming undone again, her knees felt like putty under her. The only thing holding her upright were his strong hands gripping her waistline, holding her steady to take his deep strokes.

For a moment, she thought she felt his teeth against her neck. She raised her chin, welcoming him to her throat, offering herself to him.

He pressed his mouth firmly to the spot instead, and something resembled a growl and mewl escaped his lips.

Suddenly, he stiffened and a rapid succession of images seemed to flash before her mind, but the only thing that mattered in the images shown to her was Connor Maxim, her mate. Her soul mate. The man who completed her.

She was glad she didnt have to wait one more day to find him. Shed dreamt that one day a knight in shining armor would sweep her off her feet and bring her to a castle deep in the forest to love her forever.

Fate didnt bring her a knight.

Fate brought her a hero.

With one last growl of completion, he collapsed on the bed and she followed suit, falling into his embrace.

When the only thing that could be heard was their slow breathing and the distant hoot of an owl somewhere in the forest, she rolled over, smiling when he met her gaze.

I never want this to end between us, she said.

I dont either, he replied.

I dont know how to be a mate, a mother, or a family person. I never learned.

Everyone learns. It doesnt matter when you learn, just that you learn, he rea.s.sured her.

Are you going to mark me?

He grinned. Oh, yes. Most definitely.

For a moment, I thought you werent planning to, or maybe that you changed your mind.

My mind is made up. If you submit, I will mark you and then well be bonded officially.

When?

On our wedding night.

Her heart skipped a beat, she pulled the bottom corner of her lip between her teeth and she felt her forehead crease. Our wedding?

He grinned and nodded. And if I picked up on your memories correctly, you wanted a horse and carriage.

When she realized that he wasnt joking, her hesitation transformed to joy. She blushed. Are you sure its not too soon for us?

There is no question that I will spend the rest of my life loving you and admiring you. Will you marry me, Antonia?

Yes, she said, without missing a beat, although her heart missed several. I will. She was elated.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

Antonia stuck the last bobby pin in place to secure her hair in a bun. She ran some mousse through the few coils she left in the front to set the curls in place. The air out in the country was a bit more humid than in the city, probably do to the large body of water nearby"the lake. She knew shed have to put extra effort into her daily hair routine. Antonia wanted to make sure that she was well put together for Connors mother.

When Connor returned from what he called his morning run at the break of dawn, thats when hed broken the news to her. His mother wanted to meet her. At first, she was apprehensive and wasnt sure if she was ready. What would Mrs. Maxim think of her? Was she disappointed that her sons mate was a past criminal and had never had a family life?

Antonia glanced at herself in the mirror, second guessing the two-piece swimsuit Connor had bought her at the shop near the lake. Maybe it was too revealing. Maybe shed keep a layer of clothing on the whole time they were on the boat.

Thank G.o.d the shipment of clothes shed ordered the other day had arrived. If she had to meet Connors mother in mens clothing, shed really be embarra.s.sed.

Antonia walked out into the bedroom and looked back and forth between the choices laid out for her. She picked the light airy coral-colored sundress on the right.

As soon as she slipped it on, Connor walked into the room.

Beautiful, he said softly, closing the gap between them and capturing her in his arms.

Really? Is it too short? she asked.

No. It looks perfect on you. He kissed her lightly on the lips. Ive got our lunch and drinks packed in coolers and the truck is running. You ready?

Of course.

I told you I couldnt swim!

Antonias heart thundered in her chest and she clutched onto Connors arm tightly. She wrapped her thighs around his waist in a vice grip as he walked deeper into the lake.

He winked. Today, you get your first basic lesson. Being comfortable in the water.

Well, why do I need to be comfortable in the water? she gawked.

Because Im going to teach you how to swim, he said, stopping somewhere several feet away from the sh.o.r.e of the lake.

But I thought your mom was on her way.

Shes late, as always. By the way, why do you think I bought you the swimsuit?

She pressed her lips together and narrowed her gaze on him. I wont be easily fooled next time.

He chuckled and the vibrations flowed from his body to hers. I love your legs wrapped around me like this, but were giving a lot of people a pretty good show.

Antonia followed his line of sight to some people perched on the edge of the lake absorbing them. She was half naked with her legs wrapped around a mans hips. She hadnt even realized that Connor was partially aroused because she was so preoccupied in her fear of drowning.

Im going to stay here with you the whole time, he rea.s.sured her as he lowered her into the water. I wont let you go. I promise.

She let her breath escape her as he helped her slowly descend into the water. The temperature was chillier than she expected, but it helped with simmering down the heat and tension in her body. The water was level with her upper abdomens when her feet finally touched the bottom.

Swimming is similar to riding a bike at first. You will falter a few times. Many times, really. But you have to get over your fear and trust that your body knows what to do, Connor said.

He walked around her and finally came to stand behind her. Pressing his chest against her back, he took her forearms. Relax. We have all the time in the world.

Do we now? she asked. We only have one life and it doesnt last forever.

Yes and thats the beauty of it. Even when we are gone our legacy will continue with our children and then our childrens children. Well teach them that its okay to fear, but we shouldnt fear something weve never tried to master.

What do you mean? Antonia asked, looking across the lake at the trees. Even though they were deep in the lake and she wasnt clutching him like shed seen a ghost, they still had at least one onlooker.

A lady in a sky blue dress walked a path toward the lake between the trees. Her eyes were fixed in their direction, if not exactly on them.

You said you fear drowning. He kissed the side of her neck. Why let your fear of something control your life? Why not master the art of swimming?

Ill try, Connor. If youre my teacher, Ill try, she declared.

The woman in the sky blue dress had dirty blonde hair that fell way past her hips. When she came closer into view, Antonia realized that she bore a striking resemblance to Connor.

Is that your mom?

Connor lifted his chin and looked up. Yes.

They waded back toward the sh.o.r.e. Antonia forgot about her fear of drowning and became more worried about whether Connors mom would accept her being with her son.

Connor s.n.a.t.c.hed up a towel from their bags sitting near the sh.o.r.e and draped it around Antonias shoulder. But Connors mother wasnt worried about getting wet. She hurried over to both of them and hugged them, squeezing them close together.

I wish I had brought my camera, she squealed. Max, she is so beautiful. Oh, I wanna send pictures to Connor.

Mom, dont embarra.s.s me. Connors face reddened. Antonia, meet my mom, Priscilla Smith-Maxim. Mom, Antonia and I will be bonded soon.

Oh, my G.o.d. I just knew hed find you, she exclaimed and gave Antonia another bear hug, catching her off guard. Her emerald eyes sparkled brightly when she leaned back to give Antonia another once over. Im finally gonna have a daughter.

Not knowing how to react to her kind sentiment and someone gushing over her, Antonia said, Im glad to meet you, too, Mrs. Maxim.

Mrs. Maxim smacked her lips and shook her head in indifference. No, dont call me a Mrs. Im Priscilla or mom. Okay?

Okay. Antonia smiled and then looked behind her at Connor, who grinned.