Chapter Two: The Bonding Ritual

Sharissa looked up when the door opened and sucked in a breath when she looked into the silver eyes of Dustin Kraftman. She wasn’t sure if she was scared or turned on.

“Sharissa,” he said as he closed the door.

Shar swallowed. Her name on his lips was so sexy—she felt herself moisten and pressed her knees together.

“We have some unfinished business,” he said, looking her up and down.

Shar whimpered. Was he serious? The look in his eyes told her—yes, he was deadly serious.

Sharissa jumped to her feet and placed her hands in front of her to keep him back. Like that would work with a shifter! She backed away from him as he came toward her.

“Come now,” he said, moving chairs out of his way, “I know you can feel it too.”

Her eyes widened. Did he feel the strange pull, too? Or does he sleep with anything that has a pussy?

“Sharissa, I can smell your desire,” he whispered as he moved closer to her.

‘Damn shifters and their acute senses,’ Shar thought as she backed up against the wall.

“You smell wonderful,” he sniffed the air, “better than any normal human.”

‘Normal human?’ What the hell was he talking about? She is an average human.

“You’re mine,” he said, pressing his body against her, pinning her to the wall.

Shar whimpered. She couldn’t deny him. Whatever this man wants, she will give it to him. Oh, God, what has he done to her?

“I love your scent,” he said, sniffing her neck, “like the ripest peaches.”

She groaned when he licked her neck.

“You taste good, too,” he whispered.

“Why… why are you doing this?” she asked, finally finding her voice.

He smiled. “Don’t you feel it, Mafilia?”

‘Ma, what?’ she wondered, staring into his eyes. They were like thunder clouds—dark and stormy.

“Feel what?” she asked.

He grinned and said, “you cannot fool me, Mafilia. I see it in your eyes and smell it on your skin.”

She sucked in a breath when he leaned forward and sniffed her skin.

“Do you like peaches?” he whispered into her ear.

She nodded.

“Good, because I love peaches.” He licked her neck again, “God, I must have you.”

She whimpered when his hands grabbed her hips. What was he doing to her? She’s never felt like this with a man before. Her skin was on fire—her lungs were full of his musky, woodsy scent. And she wanted him to fuck her more than she wanted to take her next breath.

“I’m sorry that our first time will be like this,” he said as he unfastened her jeans. “But with four other shifters in the building, this needs to happen now. Before my brothers are tempted to take you for themselves, even if they know you’re not theirs.”

“Not what?” she asked, staring into his eyes.

He smiled. “Sharissa, you have no clue what is going on, do you?”

She shook her head. “I have never met shifters before. I’ve seen a few here and there, but they seem to stay away from me.”

Dustin chuckled and replied, “they could smell that you are not theirs.” He slid his hand into her pants.

“Oh, God,” she moaned, closing her eyes.

“Fuck, you’re already wet,” he groaned.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

Her body had a mind of its own and started moving against his hand. God, what was he doing to her?

“I am doing what my mate needs.” He found her clit and started rubbing it.

“Dustin,” she breathed. ’What did he mean by—what his mate needs?’

“That’s it, Mafilia,” he said with a growl.

“Oh my God!” she cried out as an explosion erupted through her body.

He held her as she rode out her orgasm.

“How… how did that happen so fast?” she asked, blinking at him. She has never orgasmed that fast before.

He chuckled, “it’s the connection between Fated mates.”

“Fated, what?” she asked, confused.

He sighed and said, “I don’t have time to explain it, Mafilia. My brothers will be here soon once they discover I’m not where I should be.”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked again.

He kissed her, and every thought—other than him—left her mind. When his tongue slid across her lips, she opened to him, and her body jerked with a sensation she had never felt before.

“Sharissa,” he whispered against her lips.

“Dustin,” she moaned.

Dustin pulled her pants and panties down her legs. Sharissa giggled when they got caught on her shoes. He smiled at her, then removed her shoes so she could kick her pants off to the side. Once her bottom half was naked, he took hold of her hips and squeezed.

“I wish I could look at you.” He grabbed her ass and lifted her off the floor. He wrapped her legs around his hips and grunted. “Next time,” he promised.

Sharissa cried out when Dustin entered her. He was huge, and she was tight.

“Fuck,” he growled. “You’re so fucking tight.”

Sharissa panted as they waited for her body to get used to his size, then he started moving.

“Holy shit,” she breathed as sensations rocketed through her body. Nothing has ever felt this good before. “Dustin,” she moaned.

“Goddesses, Sharissa,” he groaned, then bit her neck.

“I have felt nothing like this before,” she breathed.

He chuckled, “it’s our bond.”

‘What does he mean by that?’ she wondered, then cried out in ecstasy when an orgasm erupted through her body.

Dustin grunted. Sex has never been like this. His mate—he has finally found his mate. And she was more than just beautiful. She was smart and brave and so sexy—he couldn’t wait to see all of her.

“Dustin,” she breathed, her legs tightening around him.

Dustin groaned. He loved the sound of his name on her lips. His cougar was happy; he could hear him purring in the background. Dustin could feel his strength growing as he fucked his mate. The connection between them was strengthening him and his cougar. But even if that weren’t the case, he would still have taken her. She’s his, and only his, and he will make sure no one else ever touched her. He will kill her ex if he must.

“Dustin,” Shar moaned as another orgasm had her tightening around his cock.

“Ah, fuck,” Dustin groaned when her pussy strangled his dick.

It’s almost time for him to claim his mate—he can feel it. When he’s about to cum—he must start the ritual. He’d better warn her.

“Sharissa,” he said, looking into her dazed eyes.

She looked at him, and his body fell to pieces as he almost lost it. He couldn’t do that yet—this is too important of a point in claiming his mate.

“Something will happen, and it will hurt,” he warned her.

Her eyes widened, and he felt her fear. He kissed her until she relaxed.

“Trust me,” he whispered.

“But I don’t know you.”

Shar groaned. What is she doing? Fucking a guy she doesn’t even know. None of this is like her at all. She never goes to bars and never screws a guy on the first date. Damn, they didn’t even get a first date. He just charged in here, said she’s his, and fucked her against the wall.

But fuck, he’s good. Like, fantastic. That shouldn’t matter—she doesn’t know him.

“Oh, my, God!” Shar cried out when he slammed into her deep and hard.

Doesn’t matter that she doesn’t know him. This feels right. He feels right.

“Sharissa,” he murmured.

“Shar,” she said, pressing herself against his cock. “Call me Shar.”

He grinned, “Shar.”

She smiled, then her head tipped back as another orgasm crept up on her. God, she has never had so many orgasms during sex before.

“When I cum, things will happen, and I need you to stay calm for me,” he said as he kissed her exposed throat.

She groaned. “Things? Like what?”

He shook his head. “Hard to explain right now. I will tell you everything after.”

She nodded, not sure what the hell she was nodding to. She felt scared, yet she trusted him—which was odd.

“Oh, Goddesses, Shar, I’m going to cum,” he breathed as he nipped her throat. “Remember to stay calm.”

Dustin took Sharissa’s hands and laced his fingers through hers. He then pulled her arms up and crossed their hands above her head. She looked up just in time to watch him press his wrists to hers as he pinned her arms to the wall.

“Holy shit!” he hollered as his body tensed.

“Oh my God!” she cried out when she felt something hard and thick at her opening just as he started cumming deep inside her.

“Here it comes!” he shouted as her wrists started burning.

“What the hell?!” she cried out, looking up at their wrists again.

“It’s our bonding,” he said, looking into her face. “Shar, look at me.”

Her head came down, and she looked into his silver eyes.

He smiled. “It will hurt like a motherfucker,” he said, and she cringed.

The searing pain hit, and Shar screamed so loud her ears started ringing.

~🐱~

“What was that?” Dylan wondered as he looked up from the table where the four of them were talking about what to do with Johnny Vega and the shifter mate.

“Dustin,” Daryl growled.

“I thought he’d gone to his office,” Dominic said, getting to his feet.

“His cougar was more in control earlier,” Dylan said as they listened to the screaming.

“Would he hurt her?” Drezden asked.

“Sounds like someone is,” Daryl said as he rushed to the door.

The four brothers ran to the room Daryl had left the female. When they entered the room, they froze in shock. Dustin held the woman against the wall. How could their brother stoop so low? None of them have ever cockblocked another shifter like this before. Not that they have ever seen a Fated mate before.

“Dustin! Get off her!” Daryl hollered as he stormed toward his brother and the now whimpering woman.

“Get out of here!” Dustin bellowed.

“Not until you get off her….” Daryl stopped when he pulled on his brother, and Sharissa cried out in pain.

“Brother, I love you, but if you don’t leave right this minute, I will kill you when I get out of here,” Dustin said with a deep growl.

“Look at their hands,” Dylan whispered.

Daryl looked up at their linked hands and gasped. No wonder his cougar had been going crazy earlier.

“Come on,” Dylan said, taking hold of Daryl’s arm and leading him from the room.

“To think, that asshole gets his mate first,” Dominic growled.

But none of them were angry with their brother. They were happy. Dustin is the first to find his true mate in a very long time.

~🐱~

“Oh, my, God,” Shar panted. “What the hell was that?”

Dustin smiled as he looked up at their joined hands. “That, Mafilia, was our joining.”

“Wasn’t very pleasant,” she grumbled.

“No, but it bonds us, in body and spirit,” he laughingly said.

Shar looked up at their joined hands and sucked in a breath when she saw the markings on her wrists.

“What the hell?”

He chuckled. “I’ll explain them to you once we’re free.”

“Yeah,” she looked at him. “Why haven’t you let me go yet?”

He shook his head and explained, “I’m knotted in you right now; it will take a bit for the swelling to go down.”

“Knotted? What?” she queried, confused.

He chuckled and explained, “shifters knot with their Fated mate.”

“So, that’s what I feel?” she asked, wiggling her hips.

He nodded.

“And that’s why it hurt when your brother tried to pull us apart.”

He nodded again.

“How long does it last?”

He shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I’ve never knotted with anyone before.”

“Never?”

He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her. “Never. Shifters only have one mate for life.”

“Oh.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry my brothers barged in like that.”

She smiled and said, “they heard me scream and thought you were killing me.”

He chuckled, “more than likely. Goddess, you are incredible.”

Sharissa sighed. This was all some crazy ass shit. But wonderful at the same time.

“Dustin?”

“Yes, Mafilia?”

“What does being mated mean? I mean, other than the wild, crazy, amazing sex.”

He grinned and answered, “well, it means we will be together forever. And I will never have sex with another woman. You’re the only one for me, Sharissa Flemmings.”

Her cheeks turned bright red, “but we don’t even know each other.”

He leaned his head back and looked into her eyes. “Shar, we may have just met, but our souls have always known each other. You’re my other half, and I’m yours.”

“Are you talking about soul mates?”

He nodded, “that is what humans call it, yes. But for us, it’s much deeper. The connection empowers us and will strengthen us. Not to mention the powerful, amazing sex.”

“I strengthen you?” she asked, her eyes open wide.

He chuckled and responded, “yes, our bond does. Having sex with you just now, I felt my strength grow. And that….” He looked up at their joined hands. “Is giving me even more strength. It will also give you strength….”

“Me?” she asked, stunned.

He nodded, “to be sure that the cubs have a powerful mother.”

“Cubs?” she squealed.

He chuckled and said, “that’s what the knotting is for.”

“Oh, God. I’m too young to be a mother.”

He smiled and kissed her. “Are you on the pill?”

She nodded.

“Then I doubt it will happen this time,” he said, kissing her cheek. “We will start a family when you are ready.”

She stared at him. “You want to start a family with me?”

He shook his head. “Haven’t you been listening to me, Mafilia? You are my mate. I will have no other. You will be the mother of my cubs. The half of my soul that has been missing for so long.”

“But….” She stared at him.

“What is it?” he asked, his fingers squeezing hers. “You can tell me.”

She sighed. “Why would a man like you want to mate with someone like me?”

He growled and kissed her again, “for one—fate put us together. There is no choice on either side.”

She felt her heart plummet to the floor and his enormous feet stomp on it.

“For another,” Dustin said with another growl when he saw the look on her face. “Even if fate hadn’t brought us together, you are the sexiest woman I have ever laid eyes on. I’d be working on getting into your pants right now.”

She looked into his silver eyes. “Just into my pants?”

He snorted, “after that, I’d take you out to dinner.”

Sharissa laughed. Dustin’s idea of wooing was hilarious. Fuck the girl first, then take her to dinner. Though, as sexy as he is, she would have fallen for it.

“Is that what you did with your last client?”

He stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. “I guess you overheard that.”

She nodded, not pleased with his response.

He smiled and kissed her. “I did not fuck my client. She was angry that I wouldn’t, so she told my brother I did. And I love the looks my brother gets, so I let him believe the worst. Besides, I doubt he would believe me, anyway. My brothers think I fuck anything with a pussy.”

“Don’t you?”

He growled and nipped at her bottom lip. “I am more discreet than that.”

Shar felt the knot loosening and looked into Dustin’s eyes. He had felt it too, and once it was gone, he slid her down his body. She giggled when his cock slipped out of her with a loud pop.

He brought their hands down in front of them and looked at their wrists.

“What the hell?” she asked when she saw the scars on her wrists.

He grinned and stated, “we’re bonded.”

Shar pulled her hands from his and looked at the scars across her wrists. It looked like someone had burned her wrists until they blistered and scarred. No wonder it had hurt so much. The scars looked like tribal markings, and on the inside of her right wrist was the word UNITY. On her left wrist, it said, DUSTIN.

She looked at his wrists and found that it was the same; only his left wrist had her name on it.

“Wow,” she whispered. “Can anyone do this?”

He shook his head, “only Fated mates.”

She looked up at him. “How did you know I was your Fated mate?”

He smiled down at her, “I told you; it was the pull. You’d felt it too.”

She nodded. Now that she understood what it was. “Does this mean I can’t hire you now?”

He laughed and kissed her, “you need not hire me, Mafilia. I will protect my mate from anything and everything. Even an asshole ex-boyfriend.”

She smiled, “thank you.”

He shook his head, “no need to thank me—it is my job now.”

She nodded.

“Now, get dressed so we can talk with my brothers.”

Shar’s cheeks turned a bright red as she remembered Dustin’s brothers bursting in on them just after they’d finished fucking.