Shawn: Spring (Shifter Seasons Book 5) Read online

  “I want you, Joanna,” he ground out. “So much it hurts.”

  “Then it’s a good thing there’s a doctor in the house.”

  He kissed her. Tendrils of desire unfurled in her belly, spreading out through her body until her knees were weak and her heart raced. She wanted him. Needed him.

  This might be their first date, but she had waited her whole life for him.

  Joanna slid her hands down his body, her fingers brushing his hard-toned stomach as they inched toward the hem of his sweater. Curling around the woolen fabric, she tugged it upward, grabbing his T-shirt at the same time. She wanted him naked. Fast.

  Shawn groaned as their kiss broke and he raised his hands above his head, helping Joanna as she tugged his clothing over his head. Blindly aiming for the back of one of the kitchen chairs, she threw his clothes out of the way.

  His jeans were going to go next. She reached for his belt, at the same time Shawn carefully undid the buttons on her blouse. A shiver of anticipation rippled down her spine. This was really happening. She was about to make love to her mate.

  She fumbled with his belt as if her fingers had grown to twice their normal size and were incapable of responding to simple instructions. Joanna blew the air out of her cheeks and focused on unbuckling his belt, while simultaneously trying to ignore Shawn’s breath on her skin and the soft touch of his fingertips as he worked his way down her blouse, leaving her skin exposed in his wake.

  “You are beautiful,” he whispered against her neck as he nuzzled the sensitive skin, his lips leaving a trail of butterfly kisses as he moved lower.

  “Thank you,” she murmured lamely but this was not the time for conversation. It was time for action.

  Yanking the leather of his belt, she opened the belt buckle and slid it loose. With a sigh of satisfaction, she pushed his jeans and shorts down over his slender hips. As they slid to the floor, they revealed his long slender thighs and his hard length.

  He was definitely hard.

  She swallowed down her nerves. Would they fit together, would they satisfy each other? This bonding was for life and if the sex was bad...

  Her wolf chuckled. When has sex ever been bad?

  True. She lifted her eyes to his as he undid the last of her buttons. His desire registered in his eyes as a hunger and she licked her lips in anticipation as Shawn slid his hands under the fabric of her shirt and pushed it from her shoulders. The cotton fabric fell to the floor where it mingled with Shawn’s clothes as he turned his attention to her skinny jeans.

  There was about to be some wiggling going on. Joanna leaned down and kicked off her boots before hooking her finger and thumb around the buttons of her jeans. Flipping them open, she tucked her hands in the denim and pushed them down over her curvy thighs.

  “Need a hand with that?” Shawn drawled.

  “No, I got it.”

  “Take your time.” Shawn stood back and watched her wriggling out of her skinny jeans, his arms by his side. He was confident in his body, even though he was no longer a young man. But age had only enhanced his body, his honey-toned skin taut but with the marks that come with age visible. Faint lines and creases, scars, and blemishes. Shawn was a man who had lived a full life.

  “Like what you see?” he asked.

  “Oh. Yeah.” Joanna realized she’d stopped wriggling and was just openly staring at her mate. Who was doing some staring of his own. “Maybe I might need a hand.”

  “My pleasure.” He stepped forward, hooked his hands under her arms, and swung her around. Lifting her a little, she slid onto a perched position on the tabletop.

  Joanna lifted her foot and he took hold of the denim caught around her ankle and pulled. Her jeans slid down her leg and she repeated the action with her other leg. “Thank you.”

  She was seated on the edge of her mate’s table, naked aside from the sexy lingerie O’Malley had advised her to wear. One glimpse at the passion in his eyes told her she’d been right to take the cougar shifter’s advice.

  The look in her mate’s eyes was one of hunger. And the only thing that would satisfy his appetite was her.

  Joanna reached out her hand and took hold of his, pulling him toward her. Shawn placed a hand on each of her knees and eased them apart before nestling between her thighs. He slipped a hand around her and placed it on the small of her back. With one abrupt movement, he slid her forward and leaned in, pressing his hard length against her mound.

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his chest, her hands stroking his taut skin, fingertips probing, exploring him. Shawn groaned and reached for the clasp of her bra. In seconds it was gone, discarded like the rest of her clothes. His hands took the place of the lacy garment.

  Large, warm, hands cupped each of her breasts, his thumbs brushing her nipples in a simultaneous motion. Her belly clenched and heat flooded her. She was wet. She was ready for him. She needed release.

  Easing her hips forward, she rubbed herself against his hard length. Shawn groaned and inched his hips up and down, pressing against the sensitive bundle of nerves between her thighs.

  Joanna pursed her lips, a silent moan escaping as her arousal kicked up several notches. She wanted him inside her, stretching her, taking her. But she also didn’t want to break the connection between them.

  Sensual, enticing, they caressed each other, his hands expertly fondling her breasts. Shawn applied the right amount of pressure. The palm of his hands massaging her soft plump flesh while his thumb and forefingers tweaked her nipples, just hard enough to cause her exquisite pain. The sensations flooding her body joined as one and lifted her, carrying her toward her orgasm.

  His breath quickened. Joanna was taking her mate along for the ride. They were going to reach climax together.

  She would make sure of it.

  Slipping her hand down between their bodies, she cupped his balls in her hand and squeezed them, rolling them in her palm. His thighs tightened and he claimed her mouth, his kiss needy, his lips firm. Probing for entrance, he ran his tongue along her lower lip, and she nipped it before opening her mouth for him.

  Shawn groaned again, and slid his right hand around her waist, holding her close against him as he flexed his thigh muscles, his movements more exaggerated as he rubbed against her.

  She was close, her body sending signals to her brain that it needed to release the buildup of tension in her muscles. Her nerve endings tingled, each touch too much, and yet not enough.

  So close. She teetered on the edge until she finally let go. Her inner muscles clenched and wave after wave of pleasure swept over her.

  Shawn groaned, his breath hissing through his teeth as he reached for her hand cupping his balls and eased it away. Inching his hips back, he slid his fingers over her mound and stroked her over her panties. Pinching, rubbing, stroking, she came long and hard as he slipped his finger inside her and moved it in and out.

  Joanna pushed forward, wanting more, needing more. Shawn gave it to her. Sliding one more finger inside her, he hooked it, stroking her inner walls until he found her G-spot. Although, by the time she collapsed forward in his arms, Joanna was gripped by the notion she had many G-spots and he’d found them all.

  “That was intense,” she whispered hoarsely as she leaned against his chest, her breathing ragged.

  “Very intense.” He nuzzled her neck, reigniting her desire.

  Joanna slipped her hand down between their bodies and curled her fingers around his hard length. “I want you inside me.” He was still impossibly hard, painfully hard, and she wanted him to experience the same release she had. She wanted him to climb to the highest of heights and throw himself off into the abyss with her.

  She wanted Shawn to abandon all caution and follow her into oblivion.

  Someone is high on love, her wolf chimed in.

  Very high, Joanna replied dreamily. And I don’t want to ever come down.

  But she did want to come. With Shawn buried deep inside her.

  Chapter S
even – Shawn

  “We could go upstairs. Get a little more comfortable,” Shawn suggested. Jane would probably be asleep by now and they wouldn’t disturb her.

  “We could.” Joanna ran her hand over the top of the table. “Although, I’m becoming rather fond of this table. We’re building up lots of memorable memories.” She sniggered.

  “Yeah, I am never going to look at this table the same way again.” He slid his hands under her thighs and lifted her into his arms.

  Joanna wrapped her legs around his waist and clasped her hands behind his neck. “Maybe a bed sounds like a good idea. We can really stretch out there.” She leaned forward and nipped his earlobe. “If you think you can make it that far.”

  She slid her hand down his chest and tweaked his nipple before lowering her head and curling her tongue around the taut bud. He groaned as a new wave of pleasure swept over him, threatening to capsize his resolve.

  Shawn longed to bury himself inside her and make love to her until they both lost their senses. He wanted to spend the rest of the night claiming his mate. Over and over again. He doubted once would ever be enough.

  He took the stairs two at a time, ensuring his mate was safe in his arms as he hurried to his bedroom. At the top of the stairs, he paused and listened to Jane’s breathing. Slow and deep, she was asleep. He could turn all his attention to his mate.

  All his attention and all his body were hers for the night.

  Turning to the left, he strode down the hallway and shouldered his bedroom door open before moving to the bed. His heart thundered in his chest as he laid Joanna down on the bed. He’d dreamed of this moment since they’d first met.

  Hell, he’d dreamed of this moment since he’d first moved to Cougar Ridge. Only now his dream had the gorgeous face of his mate.

  Joanna reached for his hand and pulled him down beside her. “Nice bed.”

  “It’s much better now that you are in it.” He kissed her mouth and she nipped his bottom lip, sending shockwaves through his body. Shawn was barely hanging on to his self-control. He wanted to thrust into her. Long, hard strokes until he filled her with his seed.

  But he also wanted to take it slow. He wanted to take his time and savor every minute of making love to his mate.

  “You are so smooth. You have the perfect bedside manner.” She stroked his cheek and kissed his lips lightly. “I’m so lucky you are my mate.”

  “And I haven’t even made love to you yet.” His mouth curled up at one corner as he brushed her hair back from her face, using this moment of calm to regain his control.

  He wanted his mate so much it hurt, but he was content to lie here in bed with her. As long as she was in his company, that was enough. It would always be enough. The rest of it was just an added extra.

  Joanna kissed his neck, her breath warm on his skin. Shawn inhaled her scent, a mixture of coconut and orange blossom, and beneath that scent was an undertone of pine and damp earth. She’d been running in the forest.

  I long for us to run together, his cougar said wistfully.

  Soon, Shawn replied. Soon.

  “I’m right here.” She kissed his jawline and he tilted his head and looked down at her face.

  “I was thinking of the mountains and the forest we can explore together.” He kissed her cheek.

  “I did stop on the way over. Only briefly.” She turned his face and kissed his mouth, her hands roaming his body. “I needed to ease the built-up tension in my body.”

  “I could ease your tension,” Shawn offered.

  “I think you already have.” She dipped her shoulder and reached down between his legs, her fingertips tickling his balls. His thighs tensed and he bit down on his bottom lip. “But I feel you have some tension that needs easing.”

  “I know just what I need.” He pulled away from her and sat up. Curling his fingers around the elastic of her panties, he pulled them down over her thighs. “Very pretty.”

  She squirmed as he looked down at her naked body. “I wore my best lingerie.”

  “I wasn’t talking about your lingerie.” He slid a finger inside her and drew it up over her mound. She gasped and opened her thighs wider.

  “Make love to me, mate.” She pushed herself up on one elbow and slid her hand around his neck, pulling him down toward her.

  As he moved forward, he guided himself into her.

  Shawn closed his eyes as he fought for control. Being inside his mate left him breathless. He’d waited so long for her and being with Joanna was more incredible than he could ever have imagined. As he eased himself deeper, they connected on a level he never thought possible.

  She kissed him, her hands roaming his body, touching, stroking, teasing. Shawn brought his attention back into the moment. She was here beneath him and he was buried deep inside her. He didn’t want to think about the past or even the future. Not when the now was the most incredible thing he’d ever experienced.

  Joanna drew her knees up toward her body, changing the angle of her hips as he thrust into her. She whimpered softly as he flexed his hips, pulling out of her before thrusting deep into her once more. Her fingers raked his back as she urged him to take her and his control slipped with each beat of his thundering heart. He wanted to claim her, to fill her with his seed and put a child inside her.

  A child that they would raise together, nurture together. Being a parent was the most primal need of a shifter and it threatened to overwhelm him. He wanted to make a perfect life for his mate. One that included Jane, who was his child even if his blood didn’t flow through her veins. But he wanted a whole brood of cougar cubs. Or wolf pups.

  Shawn didn’t care which. If they were blessed with one or two children, he’d be happy.

  He lowered his head and kissed her beautiful mouth as he trailed his fingertips over her belly, her soft skin heated from their lovemaking. A similar heat grew in him. Stoked by the flames of desire. Desire for the woman who had only just entered his life but already consumed him.

  He thrust his tongue into her mouth, and she nipped it, her teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Shawn slid his hand higher and cupped her breast in the palm of his hand. A perfect fit. Rubbing his thumb over her nipple, he teased and tortured the taut bud. Her inner muscles tensed around him, and she dug her nails into his back.

  She was close. So close. He wanted to push her over the edge where they would lose themselves in pleasure and forget the world around them.

  He hooked his hand around her knee and drew it higher, spreading her thighs wider. With each thrust, his body grazed her sensitive bundle of nerves and her breathing quickened. He pushed her further, harder.

  Joanna broke their kiss and gasped for air, her hips moving in time with his until her whole body tensed. She came around him, her inner muscles tight, bringing him to the edge of his orgasm and he finally let go.

  His seed spurted deep inside her. Filling her with his essence and maybe planting the seed of their first child in her womb.

  A shifter could hope.

  Chapter Eight – Joanna

  There was something wrong. Joanna opened her eyes, immediately alert.

  “Jane.” Next to her, in the bed they’d shared for the night, Shawn sat upright and glanced around his bedroom. “Jane.”

  “Is everything all right?” Joanna asked, as her mate continued to look around the room as if searching for someone. There was no one else in the room. The house was all quiet.

  “I thought.” He ran his hand through his hair, his forehead creased, as he tried to shake off the fog of sleep. “I’ll just go and check on Jane.” He paused, his leg half under the covers, half exposed to the cool early morning air that filtered in through the open window.

  Concern bloomed in Joanna’s heart. What had caused this reaction? Did Shawn have regrets about last night? Was he worried Joanna being here this morning might upset his daughter?

  “Do you want me to come, too?” Joanna sat up in bed, the covers pulled over her breasts as she stifled
a yawn.

  Shawn sat in silence for a moment before lifting his head and staring toward the window. “There’s someone outside.”

  “Are you sure?” Joanna gathered up her clothes. Shawn had thoughtfully gone downstairs and collected them up, so Jane didn’t find them strewn around the floor if she’d gotten up early. But before she had a chance to dress, her shifter senses confirmed the presence of someone outside the house.

  Shawn nodded. “I thought I’d imagined it.” He sprang out of bed and grabbed his clothes, pulling on his jeans as he walked to the door.

  “Can you sense who it is?” Joanna pulled on her blouse and wriggled into her skinny jeans as she followed him out of the room.

  “I…” He stopped at the top of the stairs, his hand on the rail as he turned his head from side to side. “I think so.”

  He plunged down the stairs, and Joanna followed, her heart racing.

  Why would someone be here at this time of night? her wolf asked, as they reached the front door.

  I don’t know. Perhaps a patient, or someone needing medical attention. Joanna swallowed down her apprehension.

  Perhaps. Her wolf wasn’t convinced as she prowled around the edges of Joanna’s mind, ready to leap into action.

  “Shawn?” Joanna hissed and placed a hand on his shoulder, wanting him to know she was there for him. “Be careful.”

  “I will.” He turned to look at her, his body blocking the door. “Maybe you should go back upstairs.”

  “Really?” She arched her eyebrow, her expression telling him in no uncertain words that she was not going anywhere and if he thought she was, he’d made a huge mistake.

  “I don’t mean it like…” He sighed, curling his fingers around the door handle. “I know who it is.” With no further explanation, he opened the front door. “Fiona.”

  “Shawn.” Fiona’s gaze, however, was locked on Joanna. “I don’t believe we have met.”