New Alpha-New Rules (12 page)

“What?” She
whispered. Evan nodded at the turkey resting on the counter beside the sink.
She smiled. “Smells good huh?”

“You have no
idea.” He licked his lips. Ryder was suddenly beside him and slapped the back
of his head. Evan laughed loudly.

“Mine.” Ryder
growled and kissed her temple.

“Not her.” Evan’s
smile broadened. “The turkey.”

“Mine too.” Evan
growled and it was Ryder’s turn to laugh. Harper added milk to the potatoes and
continued to mash then added butter and salt. She tasted the potatoes closing
her eyes. Opening them she added more salt and stirred then tasted again.

“Perfect.”
Sticking the spoon in, she handed the bowl to Ryder. “Can you put this on the
table?” He took it and carried it over. She handed the green beans to Evan, the
stuffing to Eric and the turkey to Ryder when he came back. He carried it to
the table to a round of applause. “Ryder can you carve?” She brought the knife
and serving fork to him then took her place at his side.

“Before I start
carving,” Ryder said to a response of growls. “I would like to say
congratulations and great work to everyone involved in the project in the
attic.” They all nodded. “Also, I want to announce that after dinner, there
will be a mole hunt with a thousand dollar prize to the wolf who brings in the
most of the creatures. We can’t have them tearing up the ground if we expect to
raise crops and build. I expect everyone to participate in the hunt.

Nicole chose that
moment to make her appearance. “I don’t hunt moles.” She sniffed. Will who had
been standing just inside the door beside Mathew raised an eyebrow at her and
lifted his chin. “Oh fine. I’ll go but isn’t that more a game for the single
wolves?”

“Everyone will
go.” Ryder said again. “Now let’s enjoy this beautiful bird that Harper caught
and prepared for us. Take a seat everyone, Will and Mathew go clean up while I
carve.” He tilted his head at the sink. They worked their way through the
kitchen and went to the sink. They’d come in during the beginning of Ryder’s
speech. The pack started passing bowls of food around then the turkey after
Ryder took a thigh. He’d put a wing and a slice of breast on her plate. Harper
tried a bite. It was just like she remembered, just like her mother’s.

“This is
incredible.” Ryder said between bites. “Will, Mathew, we are raising turkeys.”

“Damn straight.”
Jack said through a mouthful of food.

“You can cook my
turkey upside down anytime hun.” Cindy said and winked at her. Harper smiled
back at her.

“Wait until you
taste the frosting.” Lucy said spooning mashed potatoes into her mouth.

The pack
demolished her meal. They cleaned up every single crumb. Even Nicole finished
every bite plus seconds. Harper was glad they enjoyed it and wondered how she
could catch another turkey. “Everyone go relax on the porch for a few minutes
then we’ll begin.” They cleared the table and put their dishes away one by one
then filed outside. “Nicole and Kelly, clean up the rest please.” Ryder asked.
“Cindy, Harper join me outside.” Lucy skipped past her grinning and went
outside. The screen door banged loudly. Cindy and Harper filed out behind her.

Harper gasped when
she stepped out into the cool air. The sun was nearly down but there were
torches all around the yard and music played softly. “What’s this?” She asked.
Cindy grinned and went to tuck herself into her mate’s side. “This is your
mating party.” Harper swallowed. “Care to dance?” Ryder held out his hand to
her and she took it.

The fine hairs on
her arms stood up when a current surged through her from his touch. Her toes
curled for a second then she was whirled around the yard. Cindy and Mathew
danced slowly gazing dreamily at each other and Lee had Lucy up in his arms
twirling her around. When Kelly came out, Jack asked her for a dance and her eyes
went round. Harper could see that match. They were near each other in age.
“Soon.” Ryder murmured against the delicate skin beneath her ear. A delicious
shiver raced down her spine and she felt her nipples pebble. He moaned lightly
into her neck. “I’m glad you’re excited about it too.”

Harper saw Will
twirl Nicole around them. She was beautiful. Harper wished that the she-wolf
would act like she belonged to the pack more. Ryder had told her earlier that
when they mated she would have to talk to Nicole. She set her jaw deciding that
she would do it. She would make her give up all of her stored food first then
require her to complete chores every day and come to all meals. No more eating
in the room and she was not going to antagonize Ryder with her eating anymore.
“Hey, the wheels are turning, are you okay?” He asked then kissed her temple.

“Yes, I’m plotting
my course with Nicole and figuring out how to hold my own with her.”

“Don’t worry about
her tonight. Worry about the Alpha wolf and how you’ll hold your own with him.”
He grinned at her. One song blended into the next, Kelly changed partners, and
so did Lucy. Ryder held her close then dipped her. Harper squealed with
surprise.

Cindy brought the
cake out then with Matt behind her carrying plates and forks. Cindy put it down
on a small table and started cutting. Ryder tugged her toward the porch and
handed her a plate. He took a big bite and smiled down at her. “Very good.”

“Cindy made it,
Lucy and I frosted it.”

“I helped Uncle
Ry.” Lucy said from her seat on a chair where she swung her legs. “I tasted it
and I got to sprinkle the nuts on top.”

“Well let me tell
you something Lucy, they are the best part.” She grinned around her fork. He
finished his and watched Harper eat hers. “You have frosting right here.” He
smoothed a thumb over the corner of her mouth then put it against her lips. He
watched her with intense glowing eyes. Harper opened her mouth and let his
thumb inside. She sucked on it, hard. He moaned and growled at the same time.
Wolves around them stopped to watch them and she let go of him to duck her head
with embarrassment. “Don’t hide.” Ryder said softly.

 “Time for the
mole hunt, Cindy you and Lucy keep score, I know you hate them. Everyone else
head out.” He looked directly at Nicole who shifted on the spot into a sleek
looking ebony wolf. Harper sighed. She was a beautiful wolf too. They rest of
the pack shifted and took off yipping. “You come with me.” Harper nibbled her
lip.

“The party is
over?” He licked his lips. “Okay.” She demurred.

Harper took his
hand and it was her turn to tug him along behind her. She hurried up the steps
pulling him along. Ryder chuckled behind her. When they got to the attic he
stopped to lock the door. “Wow.” She swallowed. Large white pillar candles were
set around the room on small tables with bunches of wild flowers. The brass
headboard of the bed was entwined with them. The room smelled like summer to
her. A light breeze came in from the window that over looked the barn. The
quilt was pulled back and the pillows and sheets were covered in rose petals.

“This is…”

“For you.” He
wrapped his arms around her from the back. “This is how a wolf as lovely as you
should be mated. She should be worshipped and spoiled.” He murmured against her
neck then breathed her in. Harper sank back into his warmth. She peeled her tee
shirt off over her head and he stepped back. She heard him unbuckle his belt
then heard it clunk to the floor. Harper’s eyes were fixed on the bed and her
fingers trembled. Would it be like last time? “Easy girl.” He murmured kissing her
bare shoulder. She smiled knowing that it wouldn’t be.

He was behind her
again with gentle hands on her shoulders. She relaxed realizing how tense she
was until he touched her. He wasn’t Bronson. He wasn’t like him. The only trait
they shared was that they were the same species and that was all.

Ryder unfastened
her bra and pushed the straps slowly over her shoulders. Her skin tingled where
his fingertips brushed it. She let the bra fall to the floor. “You are so
beautiful.” He whispered then kissed the hollow beneath her ear. Her heart
thudded loudly and she wondered if he could hear it trying to bounce from her
chest. His fingers slipped into the waistband of her jeans and eased them down
over her hips.

“How do you want
me?” She whispered. Her throat was suddenly dry.

“Hmm. I think I
want you this way.” He turned her gently to face him. His lips covered hers.
His tongue traced her lips seeking entrance. She opened for him and let him
taste her. He growled then lifted her never breaking their connection. He put
her down on the bed gently and slid her panties over her hips. Harper watched
him. “You’re eyes are glowing sweetness. Are you okay?” She nodded. He climbed
over the mattress and situated himself between her legs. “I think I want you
like this.”

“Aren’t you
supposed to…?”

“What take you
from behind? Not this time, there are no rules. I think it should be very
different for you than the last time. I want this mating to be the one you
never forget. I want this mating to wipe away all of the nasty memories. I want
this to be what you have day dreams about for years to come.” She inhaled
deeply. “I love you Harper. I know we didn’t have a fancy ceremony but it means
the same to me. Forever. Equals. Partners. Mates.”

Harper’s eyes
pricked with impending tears. She grabbed his head then and kissed him, her
tongue surged into his mouth. Harper wrapped her legs around his waist and bucked
into him. Ryder’s erection slid deliciously against her center and she reached
for it. His proclamation set something free in her. She steadied him at her
center and flexed her hips. Ryder sank into her slowly letting her grow
accustomed to him. He was large but she was no virgin. “More.” She pulled at
him with her feet.

“Easy.” He
murmured. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“More.” She
demanded. He sank into her balls deep and she groaned.

“Okay?” His voice
was hoarse with the effort of restraint.

“Oh God yes Ryder.
Please.” Her fingernails dug into his shoulders.

“Baby.” He
breathed and moved against her then. She urged him deeper taking all that he
had to give. Harper met him thrust for thrust. Her body responded to Ryder as
it never had to Bronson. She felt her fangs lengthen and had a tremendous urge
to sink her teeth into him. To mark him. Her wolf was close, it wanted to claim
him and Harper’s heart lightened. Every cell in her body was alight with
tension, muscles flexed and held, her center throbbed and her womb clenched,
hard. These feelings and the way her body reacted to him were so different than
any she’d ever felt. It was overwhelming how excited and wonderful her body
felt. Never before had so much joy filled her. She’d never felt more alive or
more at peace. She knew that this was right. This was the life she was meant to
have and this wolf was meant to be hers.

Her beast urged
her and Harper couldn’t hold it back any longer. She sank her fangs into the
muscle on the side of his neck and the world exploded into a million colors at
once. Harper felt like she’d burst into countless pieces and then the world was
black. Her soul was so full of pleasure with him that she wanted to crawl
inside of him and stay forever. Her body shuddered and bucked against him
wanting more. He was still filling her and she could feel her channel throbbing
around him,  clenching and trying desperately to keep him there. He thrust
inside her still and she clung to him, a second orgasm building. She loosened
her teeth and tended to her bite but her limbs still held him tightly. In
seconds, her body went again. This time soft ripples of pleasure worked through
her and she moaned into his neck.

Ryder roared his
release then and sank his teeth into her gently and with much more control than
she’d had. He kissed her mouth then, still moving slowly in and out of her. Her
core clung to him desperately. Ryder slowed and rolled over bringing her with
him pulling her onto his chest. “I love you.” He said kissing the top of her
head. “That wasn’t what I had planned.” He quietly said. Harper felt boneless.

“Oh? What was the
plan?” She gazed up at him.

“I planned to kiss
every inch of this beautiful skin.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed
each finger. “Then I was going to taste you and make you come on my tongue.”
She wiggled against him deciding she shouldn’t have hurried him. “Then I was
going to fuck you thoroughly.”

“It was thorough
but I’m not going anywhere if you’d still like to do all of those things.” She
smiled sweetly.

“I promised it
would be memorable the first time, you made me change the plan sweetness.”

“You don’t think
I’m going to forget my first orgasm do you or the second?” Harper kissed his
chest.

“Your first?” She
nodded. “That’s a crime. It was your first on many thousands then.”

“I won’t forget
the first time I marked a male either.” She gave his nipple a small lick and he
grinned down at her.

“You
didn’t...before?” She shook her head. “Cool.” He grinned and she laughed. She
heard the pack outside running and hunting. She didn’t miss the run though,
there was no place that she would rather be than right here with him. He
lowered his head and smoothed his tongue over his bite again and her body
quivered.

Ryder trailed
kisses down her hairline to her ear where he nipped and sucked. He pulled out
of her then much to her disappointment. His mouth found her breast and she
arched her back up to give him more. He chuckled against her damp skin. He
sucked just hard enough that a frisson of pain mixed with extreme pleasure shot
through her to her core and she moaned. Her body was responding again and she
wondered briefly if she could do it again.

“That’s it
darling.” He murmured against her skin. She trembled again at the sound of that
word that he made sound so damned sexy. He was nipping at her ribs now,
kissing, and licking. Her navel was next and she’d never thought about it much
but apparently it was connected directly to her core. It clenched deliciously
when his tongue dipped and delved inside. He was getting closer to her mound
and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Bronson never, not once offered or
even got close to there with his mouth. She’d heard women talk about it. Sidney
could fill an encyclopedia with how great cunnilingus was, in fact she rarely
shut up about it. It still made Harper nervous though. What if he didn’t like
it or what if she didn’t? Her head was starting to churn and she realized that
he’d stopped. She looked down the length of her body and he was watching her
from his place between her legs.

“The wheels are
turning again. You okay?” She nodded. “You’re with me now?”

“Sorry.” She
whispered. “Old ghosts.”

“It’s okay, if you
need to work something out, I can wait. We have the rest of our lives.” She
smiled at how sweet he was to her and wondered if she deserved this man. “Did
he mess this up for you?” His head tilted to one side and he kissed her thigh.
She shook her head. “Ah. He never bothered.” She shook her head again. “Are you
nervous about this because I can assure you that I’m not. In fact, I’m thinking
of spending the next week down here.” He grinned and she tried to close her
legs. “No you don’t.
Mine
.”
His eyes flashed and she giggled. He
pushed them apart. “That’s better.”

He kissed her
mound then circled his tongue around her clit. Harper gasped. “That’s right
baby. All mine.” He sucked and nipped until she writhed then pushed his tongue
deep inside her. How was he doing that? How could his tongue be that long? He
kissed the space between her front and back making her tense. She wasn’t sure
how she felt about him and her back entrance. “Shh. That’s not for tonight.” He
worked two fingers inside of her and circled her clit with his tongue again.
She squirmed. “So sweet.” He mumbled against her delicate flesh. Ryder pursed
his lips against the tiny bundle of nerves and sucked hard. Harper bowed off
the bed and detonated. The colors were back and the ceiling disappeared, all
she saw were dots. Blues, pinks purples bright red, and gold pulsed in and out
of her vision. She felt like she was floating and had no idea how long it
lasted just that she wanted that feeling again. “So lovely.” He was kissing her
cheeks and mouth again. She tasted herself on his lips. “How are you?” He asked
softly.

“Wow.” She
murmured.

“Yeah, wow.” His
eyes blazed. “I think you liked that after all.” She nodded and he laughed.
“Good because you are sweeter than anything I’ve ever tasted.” She felt her
skin heat. “We’ll be doing that often. I need to be inside of you again darling
only I want…” He grimaced. “I don’t want to scare you. Some other time, not
tonight.” Ryder pulled her on top of him and laid on his back. “Rest now
sweetness.”

“No.” He looked at
her with surprise. “I said no. You said you wanted to be inside of me and now
we’re going to sleep? Can I try something?”

“Anything you like
darling.” He folded his arms under his head and watched her. Harper climbed up
and straddled him. “Are you trying to top your Alpha?” He grinned at her.

“No, I am topping
my mate but I think he might like it. I’ve never done this before so if I do it
wrong…”

“Oh, I don’t think
you can mess it up.” He gave her a lopsided grin. She sank down onto him. His
body stiffened beneath her. “Jesus.” He hissed and grabbed her hips. “That’s
incredible baby.” Her brow knitted with concentration and his strong hands
guided her into rhythm. “Arch your back.” She did then sighed delightedly.
“That’s it. Fuck you’re so beautiful.” He bucked up into her and she came
quickly, hard and fast. Her body shook and a keening wail left her followed by
his triumphant roar. She collapsed onto his chest feeling like a used rag.
Ryder tucked her into his side and held her there. Harper was nearly asleep
when she heard a triumphant whoop from the yard. Lee was excited.

“I think Lee won.”
She mumbled.

“It seems that
way.” Ryder traced circles with his finger around her hip bone.”

“What do you do
with the moles? We aren’t eating them, are we?” Ryder grunted.

“No, we are not
eating them. The boys will take them out in the woods and get rid of them.” She
relaxed. “Not a fan of moles in any respect huh?” She shook her head. He
chuckled. “Me either. Sleep.” She heard a commotion then, Jack and Lee were
arguing and someone got punched or at least it sounded that way. Ryder was up
and out of the attic in a flash. Harper heard growls and yips then a yelp. She
sat up listening and waited then heard Ryder down there too. By the time he
returned, she was on her knees in the middle of the bed.

“Hey.” He hurried
to her. “Easy. It’s just pride. It’s fine.” He climbed into the bed and eased her
down beside him. “Jack brought in two more than Lee. Lee had already claimed
his victory and he’s a bit of a sore loser.”

“Are they going to
fight again?” She worried.

“Nah, I broke it
up, and they’re okay. Everyone is going to bed. We should do the same.” He
smoothed his hand down her back to relax her. She sighed and melted into him.