The Mating Project Read online

  Maria laughed and didn’t stop him when he grabbed the keys off the side board she'd put them on when she came in.

  "Bath is at the end of the hall. Make yourself at home. I'll be back soon."

  Silas got her sigh of happiness loud and clear in his head, and it started an echoing bubble of happy in his heart. He grabbed a jumper off the coat rack, pulled it over his head, stepped into his shoes, and slammed the front door shut behind him. The sooner he got her car back here, the sooner he could join her in the bath. That thought made him even harder, and he smirked at his predicament as he fell into a jog. It was damned hard to run with a boner the size of the Eiffel Tower.

  ****

  The slam of the front door echoed in Maria's ears, and she hugged his shirt to her body. He'd barely left, and she missed him already. This was insane. A blast of his scent wafted in through the open window, and Maria stepped up to it just in time to appreciate the view of his denim clad ass jogging away at high speed.

  Mine.

  Her cougar's possessive growl matched her own thought processes, and she grinned. Despite the shit-load of trouble this mating would land her in, she was deliriously happy. The faint buzzing coming from her handbag made her frown. She'd forgotten she'd turned her phone to silent. The message from her sister-in-law, attaching the most adorable picture of the triplets made her grin. A smile that evaporated fast, when she listened to her voice mail messages.

  There was one from Cole Jackson himself, asking her to get in touch with him, once she'd spoken to Professor Deacon, and even over the phone the bear shifter's deep growl sent a shiver down her spine. There was no mistaking the aura of authority the man exuded.

  You simply did not argue with Jackson. As one of the rare originals sitting on the council he was akin to royalty in their circles. The fact that he, too, had chosen to mate with a human, gave Maria hope that things would work out okay for her. Mind you, she was a mere pure blood and a female to boot.

  She pushed the disturbing thoughts away, only for the message from her mother to turn those thoughts into a vise sitting on her chest.

  Maria, where are you? I've been trying to ring you for ages. I've come up with the perfect plan to celebrate the birth of the triplets. We'll have a shifter gathering. Your dad is all for the idea, and Anton has given it the council's blessings. You'll be there, of course, and I expect Anton has something to say to you. It really is time this mating thing was settled.

  Maria's beast growled, and she fought the shivers taking over her body and switched the phone off. She really didn’t want to speak to anyone. For the first time in a long time she was happy, damn it, truly happy, and no one was going to take that away from her.

  Silas would be back soon and he'd told her to run a bath, so that was exactly what she was going to do. The bathroom was easy enough to find at the bottom of the long hallway, just like Silas had said. There were two more doors leading off the passage way, and she smiled when she stuck her head round one and saw his bedroom. His scent was everywhere, calming her agitated beast, and she had to giggle at the organized chaos that was her Professor's private domain.

  Just like in his office, and the living room, books were everywhere. The bookcases in the living room were crammed full, and even here there was a large bookcase taking up one entire wall. More piles of books and magazines were stacked in neat order in front of it, together with tons of hand written notes in Silas's big, bold writing.

  The large bed held satin sheets, which made her grin deepen. Silas liked his creature comforts, it seemed, and the little luxuries in life.

  A stack of weights in one corner next to the window completed the bachelor pad look.

  The door opposite to his called her. Unlike the other doors this was one was shut, and she got the oddest sensation when she put her hand on the handle. Her cougar's fur rose, and Maria hastily pulled her hand away. Really, what was she doing?

  He might be her mate, but that didn't give her the right to snoop around behind shut doors. Still, that room called her, and she rubbed the gooseflesh off her bare arms. What she needed was a hot bath, and the old fashioned claw footed bath tub she spotted in Silas's bathroom called to her, too.

  His bathroom was simply delightful. The bath took center place with its big chrome taps and an equally big shower attachment. A dolphin shower curtain surrounded the bathtub, and Maria had to smile at the mental image of Silas cocooned behind that blue concoction. A collection of seashells sat on the window ledge, and big fluffy towels warmed on the towel rail.

  She whistled through her teeth at the myriad of bath salts and bubble baths, and having played eeenie, miney, moe eventually settled on a mineral one that promised rejuvenation.

  Minutes later she sank into the fragrant bubbles with a mewl of appreciation and let her eyes drift shut. She must have fallen asleep, because the first she knew of Silas's return was when he lifted her and slid into the bath tub behind her.

  "You don't mind, do you, Maria?" His deep baritone next to her ear sent delightful shivers of anticipation down her spine. He lifted her damp hair off her neck and nuzzled into her. Puffs of his hot and minty breath teased her senses, and Maria exhaled and let her body go limp. For the longest time they simply sat in silence, until finally Silas ran a sponge up and down Maria's arms, and then over her breasts. He lingered on her painfully erect nipples, and his hard cock pressed into her lower back with renewed urgency when she couldn't hold back her cat's purr.

  "Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are when you do that?" he asked in between delivering little bites along her shoulder, and Maria squirmed as her pussy clenched in remembered pleasure. She could listen to that deep drawl of his all day, and it got her wet in record time.

  She turned slightly to see his face, and the heavy lidded way in which he studied her left her in no doubt that he meant what he said.

  She allowed a bigger purr to escape, and he fisted his hand in her hair and tugged her head round to enable him to kiss her.

  The world narrowed like it always did when he touched her, and her heart turned into a jack hammer at the possessive way he handled her. As though it was his God-given right, and of course it was. There wasn't anything Maria would deny him, not when the heaviness of her arousal buzzed through her veins, and she could sense his own need as acutely as her own.

  When he released her with a nip to her bottom lip hard enough to draw spots of blood, Maria tried to close the distance, to prolong the kiss, but he was having none of it.

  His raw masculinity and sheer dominance spoke to her inner animal, and her cougar bowed her head in silent submission. Maria dropped her gaze to his lips, and she licked her own, making him groan.

  "It freaks most humans out."

  "Then they're fucking idiots, and I'm not most humans." The odd note to his voice made her smile. It was almost as though he was jealous. Sure enough his next words confirmed that suspicion. "And have there been many? Humans that is?"

  "Is that your not so subtle way of asking me how many lovers I've had?" she asked, and Silas tensed around her. She risked a peep up at his face, and the intense way in which he studied her took her breath away.

  "Maybe I am. Not that it makes an iota of difference to us, but—"

  "I've had many, Silas." Maria interrupted him, and he blinked in surprise, resignation, she wasn't quite sure. "I almost lost my life ten years ago, met my mate, and was promptly abandoned, so I made sure I had fun, you know?"

  His expression darkened, but he nodded in understanding.

  Forgive me, little cat. I'm a jealous ass, that's all.

  As I am of you, so perhaps we should just draw a line under our past and just concentrate on now?

  Silas smiled and nodded, and they sat grinning at each other like sappy fools.

  "Besides I've always had an unwanted mating hanging over my head, and I was going to make darn sure I took my pleasure before that happened."

  Chapter Eight

  Silas really didn't l
ike the sound of that, and he grunted his disgust.

  "At the risk of sounding like a male chauvinistic asshole for saying this, no one is going to force any mating on you now. You're mine, dammit."

  The force of his feelings and the truth behind that statement made his gut clench, and he crunched his teeth at the rush of possessiveness. No one was going to lay a hand on his little cat. Shifter council or not, he'd tear them limb from fucking limb first, before he allowed that to happen.

  "That wouldn't be a wise move, Silas. You're stronger thanks to our bond, but you're no match for a shifter." Bile rose in his throat at Maria's whispered reply. "Besides, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you, because of your involvement with me. I'm a big girl. I can handle this. This isn't your problem, and I don't want you anywhere near the council."

  "Well, that will taking on the job they've offered me kinda hard to do, wouldn’t you say?"

  Maria looked as surprised as he felt for voicing that out loud. Now where had that thought come from?

  "You're going to take the job?" she asked. "Really?" Her palpable excitement was infectious, and it burst a bubble of happiness in his chest. "Your expertise will make such a difference, but … you were so set against it all. Why have you changed your mind?"

  Silas had to smile at her beast's growl that came through in her voice. The animal seemed as agitated as her human half, and that gave him a warm glow inside.

  "I haven't accepted the job yet, but I'm willing to listen to what your Cole Jackson has to say. As long as I don't have to deal with De Souza, we'll be good I reckon."

  He didn't miss the shiver that went through Maria at the mention of that name, and he pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his legs around hers, effectively imprisoning her in his hold. The action had the desired effect. Maria sighed and relaxed against him.

  "Besides, being mated to this blonde bombshell cougar kinda means a man wants to know what the future holds. For all I know, she might turn into a hormonal bitch at that time of the month, shift and ruin a man's décor."

  "Watch it, human. I could eat you for breakfast."

  "I was rather hoping you would. After all, this state I'm in is all your fault."

  He rubbed his throbbing dick into her ass cheeks and winced when Maria allowed her claws to run out. She leapt out of the bath like the agile cat she was, and his balls drew tight at the alluring vision of a wet and naked Maria standing in front of him. The damp tendrils of her hair clung to her full breasts, and she slowly ran her hands up and down her sides. Rivulets of water caressed her curves and ran into her bare mound.

  Silas groaned and took himself in hand, not once taking his eyes off her cunt. With him still sat in the bath and her standing, he had the perfect view of her puffy nether lips.

  "Spread your legs and use your fingers to open your sweet pussy for me. I want to see what's mine. I want to see how much my fisting myself turns my little cat on. I know you're wet for me, aren't you? Let me see."

  A strangled moan escaped Maria, but she complied with his husky demand, and Silas stroked his shaft faster at the sight of her pink flesh. Her inner lips glistened with the evidence of her arousal, and her sweet musk filled his nostrils.

  "Look at that greedy little cunt. I can see it throb for me. Touch your clit for me. Coax your pearl to come out and see me. Come on, baby, make yourself whimper for me."

  "Oh God, Silas." Her breathless plea meant he had to grab the side of the bath for support to stop himself from reaching out to her, as he fucked his own hand.

  "That's it. Finger yourself. Spread your cream and make yourself come for me. Tell me how much you want my cock. Tell me I can take you any way which I want."

  "Yes, god yes. Anywhere … please, Silas. This feels good, but my fingers are not enough. I'm so damn close, but I want your cock."

  The movements of her digits turned into a blur, and her breath came in short gasps that matched his own, as she pumped her fingers in and out of her channel, and rubbed her clit with her thumb. Her eyes opened, and their gazes held as she trembled at the cusp of her release.

  "Stop that now." She froze at his growled demand, and he watched in fascination as her blue eyes bled to yellow and then back to the deep blue slits of her animal. He could see her beast ripple under her skin, and it was the sexiest sight ever. One day soon, he would ask her to shift for him, so that he could truly appreciate the beauty of her shifted form, but for now he wanted to possess her.

  "Turn round and spread your ass cheeks for me. Let me see all of you."

  Maria followed his hoarse order without a moment's hesitation, and Silas's mouth went dry at the sight of her little puckered hole.

  "Bend forward, so that I can see you properly."

  A shudder went through his little cat, and she spread her legs and bent over, leaving all of her moist, pink flesh on display for him. He got out of the bath, and ran his hands over the perfect form of her ass.

  "So fucking beautiful." He dipped his fingers into her wet cunt and then spread her essence around her forbidden hole. Maria pushed back against his groin, and his dick jumped in eagerness. He smacked her ass, and the sight of the blood rushing to the surface made him repeat that action again and again until the air in the humid bathroom was saturated with her heavy musk, and her cat's purrs rang in his ears.

  Wrapping his hands into her hair he pulled her up and against him and marched her over to the sink.

  "I'm going to fuck you so hard."

  Their eyes met in the mirror when he released her to reach across to get the lube and a condom, and the trust and surrender he saw in them blew him away. He had a second's warning, before she grinned and ducked under his arms.

  "You'll have to get me first."

  With a chuckle she dashed off, and Silas sprinted after her. He caught up with her outside his bedroom, and she shrieked when he grabbed her ‘round the waist and flung her over his shoulder. He'd crossed the distance to his bed in a matter of seconds and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed. She went still when he tore open the condom and sheathed his aching cock, and then grabbed her ankles and pulled her down the bed.

  "I do believe I've got you."

  She simply grinned in answer and thrust her breasts up in a silent offering that he was only too happy to indulge in. Grasping the heavy mounds he pushed them together and rubbed his chin over the hard, pink, nipples. Maria groaned and rubbed her cunt along his cock, until he knew he had to take her or explode.

  He thrust into her tight channel once, and then withdrew, eliciting a high pitched moan from his little wild cat. Her fingernails dug into his shoulder, and he welcomed the slight pain, as he slathered his cock with the lube and then pushed one slick finger through her anus. The tight little hole gripped his digit, and a lust filled groan escaped Maria when he pushed first one and then two more of his fingers into her back passage. He scissored those digits to prepare her for his cock, and she yanked at his shoulders.

  When he replaced his fingers with the tip of his cock their gazes met and held, as he slowly pushed past the tight ring of muscle into heaven.

  Maria's eyes fluttered shut, and her mouth opened into a silent “O”, and he began to thrust. Every tight slide in and out of her delicious ass sent shards of ecstasy along his nerve endings, and by the needy little sounds coming from Maria and the way she lifted her hips and pushed against him, this was just as good for her.

  "I'm fucking you, babe. Right up your sweet ass. Hard, fast, dirty, and you're loving it, aren't you, little cat? Answer me."

  Silas accentuated every word with another thrust into her tight depths, and Maria's pants grew louder as her hole clenched around him with the first tremors of her impending orgasm. It was all the confirmation he needed. With one thumb on her clit, he worked his hips to piston in and out of her ass, ruthlessly seeking his own release, as Maria splintered underneath him.

  His orgasm when it came took his breath away, and morphed into blissful pain so i
ntense he was sure he blacked out for a second, when she bit him again, and his body soared.

  He collapsed on top of her with a groan, before he levered himself off her, so as not to squash her. Still trembling in aftershocks, Maria was already falling asleep by the time he carefully withdrew from the clasp of her butt. He disposed of the condom in the bathroom bin, washed his hands, and then ran a washcloth under warm water.

  Maria stirred slightly when he wiped her clean, and he smiled at her sleepy moan of protest. In truth, he, too, was exhausted, so he threw the cloth over his shoulder. It fell to the floor with a wet splat, and Silas rearranged the sheets, pulled her into his arms, and allowed sleep to claim him, too.

  ****

  Morning came all too soon, and Maria tensed when she woke up in an unfamiliar bed. Pinned under the heavy weight of her bed partner she tried to muster her cougar's strength to move, but the animal simply curled up and refused to help.

  Cautiously Maria cracked open one eye. Where in the world was she? Damn it, she had sworn to herself the days of waking up in a stranger's bed were over. She licked her dry lips, and through the dull ache in her head a familiar and enticing scent registered as the sleep fog cleared.

  Silas grunted and rolled to his side, freeing her from under his body, and the last of her lethargy left Maria's system. She suppressed a giggle and ignored her cat's smug expression. Maria really was a doofus first thing in the morning. She was in Silas's bed, of course, so no wonder her animal just burrowed in deeper. Her cougar did not want leave its mate's side, and Maria's human side wanted nothing more than to curl back around Silas's relaxed form and drift back off, until he was awake enough to do something about the erection he was sporting.

  Her insides clenched, and her pussy throbbed when she lifted the sheet to get a better look at him. Half erect as he was, his cock was still just as impressive as she remembered it feeling last night. No wonder she was sore this morning. Maria ached in all the right places, in fact, and she gave in to instinct and trailed her fingers along the ridges of his abdomen. Silas wasn't bulging with muscles like most shifters would be, but there still wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body anywhere. He had the lean, toned physique of a swimmer, with just enough hair sprinkled over his chest for her to chase the swirls and to follow the happy trail to his cock. His nipples hardened into flat little nubs when she ran her fingernails over them, and his cock twitched upwards. Thick and long, it reached up to his navel, and the tiny bead of pre-cum at his mushroom tip called her for a taste. She licked that drop away and then ran her tongue up and down the thick vein underneath his silky shaft, until she reached his testicles. Heavy and hairless, they, too, called her, and she sucked first one and then the other into her mouth, whilst fisting his long rod.