Alpha Lion: BBW Lion Shifter Paranormal Romance Read online

  The teasing sparkle drained away, and in place was pure lust. "That's...really hot to hear. Okay. Your wish is my command," and she bent her head to taste him.

  He was expecting more teasing—for her to lap at the head of his cock, or just lick around the base—but apparently Sam felt like he'd had enough, because she engulfed him in her warm, wet mouth right away, and Dale heard a growl coming from deep in his chest.

  It was probably the best thing he'd ever felt, Sam's mouth on him, and suddenly all of his concentration was focused on lasting long enough for it not to be embarrassing.

  She was incredibly good at it, sucking hard at the head and slipping her tongue into his slit, then licking down his length and getting him good and wet, and finally wrapping her hand around the base and jerking him off as she sucked. The rhythm was perfect.

  He could hear himself talking—"Just like that, Sam, you're perfect, you're so perfect, you feel so good—" and knew it was incoherent sex babble, but he couldn't stop himself to save his life.

  It was all right, though, because he meant it all. She was perfect.

  He was at least in control enough to say, “Sam—Sam, I’m going to come,” when it was imminent. She didn’t pull back, though; instead, she brought him off in one long perfect wave—it just built and built and built until he tipped over the top and came hard.

  When he could move his arms again, Dale pulled Sam up into a tight embrace, inhaling her scent and wrapping her sleep-warm body up with his. “That was amazing," he said into her ear.

  “Back at you," she whispered, breathless.

  He smiled into her neck. “Good way to wake up?”

  “The best," she said. “I wish I could wake up like that every day.”

  “That can be arranged," he said, and she laughed.

  “I was kidding.”

  “I wasn’t.” He kissed her neck, and then her chin, and the side of her face, and then pulled back to meet her beautiful brown eyes. “I want to wake up to sex with you every day. I want you in my bed every night. I want to make breakfast for you every morning.”

  Her gaze flickered away. “I want that, too," she whispered.

  He kissed her cheekbone. “You don’t sound that sure.”

  She pulled back, and he let her go, until she was sitting next to him on the bed, looking down at him. There was love in her eyes, but also sadness. “I guess...this all seems like too much of a good thing. Too good to be true. That you should come out of nowhere and be everything I ever wanted…”

  “Hey.” He sat up and took her hands in his. “You deserve everything you ever wanted. You deserve the best that I can give you. You deserve orgasms every morning and breakfast in bed.”

  He meant every word. When he thought about what she’d gone through in her life, and how strong she still was...his heart felt like it was breaking.

  She smiled at him, sweet and heartfelt. “Thank you. But I don’t know. It almost felt like Chapman and Freddie coming after me was...the other shoe dropping. The balance to the scale.”

  “No, Sam," Dale said, unable to keep from leaning forward and wrapping her up again. “This is the balance.” He hugged her tight. “This is what’s right.”

  She leaned into him. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  He shook his head. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to you. And Chapman’s never going to touch you again.”

  “That, I believe," she said, and sat back. “Don’t you have a fight to get to?”

  “That’s right," Dale said. “We’d better get moving, I wouldn’t want to be late to beat him.”

  * * *

  Sam had pulled herself together by the time she and Dale got in the car.

  “I don’t really think you’re going to be snatched away from me at any second," she said to him as she put her seatbelt on. “I just sometimes remember...being a kid, and my mom, and I think that’s how it’s always going to be. Feel free to knock me back into reality when that happens.”

  She’d never shared one of those insecure moments with another person before, and having Dale there to hold her through it had been...wonderful.

  “Trust me," said Dale, “I’ll do that. Whenever you need me to.” He squeezed her hand, and then started the car.

  They drove a ways in comfortable silence—they were going out of the city, Sam realized, and she guessed they must be on their way to the territory the pride used to shift.

  Sure enough, a good twenty-minute drive from the city limits, Dale pulled off onto a dirt side road, and they ended up in a clearing that had become a makeshift parking lot.

  “Everyone’s early," Dale remarked as they got out of the car.

  “Must be exciting, an alpha fight." Sam looked covertly around to see if she could spot any lions. None immediately appeared, although she saw a few people in human shape a ways off. “Are we going over there?”

  “That’s right.” Dale took her hand and set off, leading her along a path through tall grass.

  Sam appreciated the feeling of his big hand engulfing hers. As confident as she’d acted about the fight—as confident as she genuinely was about the fight—there was still a tiny bit of doubt. What if Chapman got in a lucky shot? What if—

  “Dale," Sam said urgently, coming to a stop and tugging on his hand. When he turned, she said, “This fight isn’t to the death, is it?”

  “Not usually," Dale said seriously. His golden eyes were steady, and his voice was level. “I have no intention of killing Chapman, in any case. The fight goes to whichever fighter can pin the other. The loser has to leave the pride, and the city, forever.”

  Sam let out a breath. “Okay. Although I don’t think Chapman would mind if you died.”

  “Too bad for him, then," Dale said grimly, and turned to keep walking. He kept her hand in his.

  When they emerged from the grass, they were in another level clearing, which ended with the beginnings of a sparse group of trees on the far end. Low, rolling hills stretched off into the distance. Sam looked at it and wondered how much of the territory belonged to the pride.

  She didn’t have time to ask Dale, though, because they came up on the small group of people she’d seen from their car. To her relief, Lynn was already among them, and Chapman was not.

  “Welcome, Sam," Lynn said, as warmly as Sam had ever heard her speak. “Let me introduce you to some of the other members of our pride. This is Tammy," a short Asian woman with gorgeous long hair, “Bruce," a blond man who looked like he could be Dale’s cousin, and maybe was, “David," a tall, slender man with bright red curls, “and Joyce," a short, plump woman about Lynn’s age or a little older. “Nancy, Rafe, Jorge, and Luke are over there marking out the circle—” she nodded to a small group of people talking intently about a hundred feet away—“and everyone else is on their way. Maureen’s bringing the kids.”

  “Kids?” Sam asked dubiously.

  “Young lions, who’ve already gone through their first change but aren’t eighteen yet, or still live with their parents," Lynn said. “No unchanged children are allowed to witness a fight.”

  Good, Sam thought, and decided not to mention that she hadn’t changed yet. She wasn’t a child, and she was going to watch Dale bring Chapman down.

  Lynn said, “Dale, let me speak to you for a second.”

  “Not right now," Dale said politely but firmly, looking at Sam, and Sam realized that he didn’t want to leave her alone with strange pride members.

  “Go on," she said. “Lynn probably has something important to talk to you about. I’ll be fine here.”

  Dale’s eyes flicked from her to the other four, and back again. “You’re sure?”

  She gave him a firm nod. “Don’t worry.”

  Dale went off several steps with Lynn, oriented so he was facing Sam while they talked.

  Sam turned to face the four new acquaintances. “Hello," she said, with as much confidence as she could muster. “It’s very nice to meet all
of you.”

  Bruce was looking at her a little suspiciously. “You’re human," he said, although there was a bit of an upturn at the end, like he wasn’t sure.

  Sam wondered if she was giving off any lioness...pheromones, or scent. She thought about just agreeing that she was human, but decided there wasn’t any disadvantage in sharing what had happened. “I’m not sure, actually.”

  “How can you not be sure?” Tammy raised an eyebrow.

  “Freddie, Chapman’s friend, bit me a little this morning." Sam tugged up her sleeve to show the scrape.

  The lions collectively inhaled in shock. “On purpose?” Tammy asked, leaning in to inspect the cut.

  “I don’t know," Sam said. “He meant to hurt me, but I don’t think he meant to turn me.”

  David peered at the cut. “He didn’t do a very good job if he meant to hurt you.”

  “David," said Joyce.

  “What?” David asked. “I didn’t say that was a bad thing.”

  “It’s true, anyway," Sam said. “Dale showed up and took care of things before he could do anything really bad.”

  “Did Freddie do this, too?” Tammy’s fingers ghosted just above her cheekbone.

  “No," Sam said. “That was Chapman.”

  David’s eyebrows were up. “No wonder Dale wants to fight him.”

  “I can’t believe Chapman agreed to fight Dale," Tammy said.

  Sam decided she didn’t want to explain the whole kidnapping plot right now. “It was complicated," she said. “Is Dale that hard to beat?”

  It wasn’t like she didn’t trust Dale’s word that he could beat Chapman, but a second opinion would just be...nice to hear.

  “He’s untouchable on the practice floor," Bruce said. “I’ve never seen him fight for real, though. I don’t know if he ever has.”

  “Has Chapman?” Sam was suddenly seized by fear—all she could think of were Lynn’s strictures from Sam’s single self-defense class: You can practice all you want, but a real-life attack isn’t going to be like this.

  “I don’t know," Joyce said thoughtfully. “Never for alpha before, obviously, but who knows. People used to fight a lot more often underneath Dale’s father. One of the many reasons we’re happier to have Dale here.”

  Sam glanced back at Dale, more worried than she had been. Chapman was at least ten years older—maybe he’d been in some real fights in his life.

  But Dale was a martial arts instructor, she reminded herself as Dale met her eyes and started back to the group immediately. He knew what he was doing. He knew just as well as Lynn that real-life situations were different from the practice room.

  And he’d taken Freddie down without so much as blinking.

  “Okay?” Dale asked her as he came up.

  I will be once this is over, Sam thought. “Just fine,” she said, smiling at him. “Everyone’s being really nice.”

  “Everyone’s a little freaked out that Freddie bit her,” David said. “Did he do it on purpose?”

  “I couldn’t say, and I was right there when it happened,” Dale said. “She was trying to get away from him, and he shifted.”

  “More likely to be an accident,” Lynn said. “Freddie wouldn’t have any reason to want Sam to turn.”

  “Chapman wouldn’t, you mean,” Dale said. “He wants Sam and me out, not in.”

  “So you guys are like...a package deal, then?” Bruce glanced back and forth between them.

  Dale put an arm around Sam’s shoulders and tugged her into his side. “Sam’s my mate,” he said.

  “I thought you didn’t believe in that stuff,” Tammy said, her eyebrow arching up again.

  “Turns out I was wrong,” Dale said solidly. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Huh,” said Joyce. “You know, your father would never have said that in a million years.”

  “Thank you, Joyce.” Dale gave her his almost-smile, just the overall brightening of his face. Sam realized with some startlement that she hadn’t seen it in days; Dale had been smiling broadly and brightly at her ever since they’d realized they were mates.

  Even though the field was a bit windy and chilly, she felt warmed through at that.

  Then a ripple went through the lions, all of them turning their heads toward the makeshift parking lot. Sam turned around slowly, already knowing what she was going to see.

  Sure enough, Chapman was getting out of his silver BMW. He slammed the door, did up the button on the jacket of his expensive suit, and started through the grass toward them.

  Dale moved to stand in front of Sam as he came closer, and it made her feel a little better about having to see him again. Not much, though; she just wished he would disappear from the face of the earth, so that she’d never have any chance of seeing him ever again.

  Instead, he came closer and closer until he was standing face-to-face with Dale. He wasn’t looking at him, though; he was looking past him at Sam. “You got lucky today,” he said.

  Dale snarled at him, a very animal sound even from his human throat. “Don’t talk to her.”

  “You didn’t,” Sam said back to Chapman. “And it’s about to get even worse.”

  Chapman growled and took a step forward; Dale growled back and put up his hands—and Lynn stepped between them, a hand on each of their chests.

  “Save it for the circle,” she said, and pressed them apart.

  They each stepped back, growling low in their chests, and Sam looked at Lynn with renewed respect.

  Lynn was almost a foot shorter than both Dale and Chapman, but they both listened to her, even though they wanted nothing more than to fight each other. Sam wanted to be able to command that much respect someday.

  “What time is it?” Dale asked.

  “It’s three fifty-five,” Joyce said.

  “Cutting it close, Chapman,” Dale said.

  “Dale, enough,” said Lynn. “Take five minutes with your mate, and you can bring it all to the circle.”

  Once again, Dale listened, and came over to Sam, while everyone else moved across the field toward the circle.

  Dale cupped her face. “You’re worried.”

  “Only a little bit,” Sam confessed. “I know you’re better than he is. I’m just afraid he has another trick up his sleeve, or that there’ll be some fluke accident.” She shook her head. “I really want to be part of this pride, and I respect your customs, but...God, this is a stupid way to decide on leadership.”

  Dale laughed softly. “I know,” he said. “It is. But it’s going to work in my favor this time, and remember, Lynn and I are pretty progressive. We’re working on moving the pride into the future, and you can help us with that from now on. The way everyone was acting around you earlier—I don’t think you have to worry about being accepted.”

  “You have to win this first.” Sam was a little surprised at the hint of command in her voice.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Dale bent his head and kissed her softly, and then turned and strode towards the circle.

  Sam watched him walk tall and proud, hugging herself around her middle, praying that everything would work out all right.

  “Come on,” said a voice next to her, and she jumped. It was Lynn. “Quit worrying. You won’t be able to see anything from all the way over here.”

  Sam smiled, relieved. “Thanks for stopping them earlier,” she said, as she followed Lynn towards the circle.

  “Don’t thank me for doing my job,” Lynn said. “Sometimes alpha males can lose their brains a little bit. It’s up to us to keep them on track and taking care of business. That’s one of the alpha lioness’s most important jobs.”

  “I’m not the alpha lioness, though,” Sam pointed out.

  Lynn looked at her. “Not yet. But I can see what’s coming. If Freddie’s bite doesn’t change you, you’ll be going through all the rigmarole it takes to volunteer for a bite, won’t you?”

  Sam hesitated, then nodded. “This is what I want.” She twisted her arm automatically to look a
t the cut, which was just a scabbed-over scratch by now. “Dale said it takes a long time.”

  Lynn nodded. “Months at least, if it even happens. Getting a unanimous vote out of this crowd is nearly impossible, although maybe it’ll be easier once Chapman’s out of here. Assuming Dale wins, you might be able to turn his success into a successful petition.”

  Sam nodded, making a mental note. “I guess this whole mess with Chapman might end up being for the best, no matter what happens. If Dale wins.”

  “I’ll just be happy not to have to look at Chapman’s simpering face every again.” Sam was surprised at how vehement Lynn sounded. “Anyway, once you turn, I’ll take you on and teach you the ropes. I won’t be sorry to give up the position as pride social secretary, believe me.”

  Even under the circumstances, Sam had to smile a little bit at that. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “There’s some responsibilities you’ll have to pry from my cold, dead hands,” Lynn said. “But I think you’ll do a better job at wrangling the cubs than I do. You were good with that little idiot Dawn, today.”

  “Thanks,” Sam said, knowing that Lynn didn’t give out compliments lightly.

  She knew all of this was still dependent on the outcome of the fight…but it was good to talk about it as though it was all assured.

  Lynn nodded firmly, and then they were at the circle and they both fell silent.

  Dale and Chapman were standing at opposite ends, in human form. It was a huge circle, marked out in paint on the grass; it looked like plenty of room to fight in, even for a pair of lions.

  Lynn stepped over the edge and strode out to the middle of it. “It’s time,” she proclaimed loudly. “Will the challenger name himself.”

  Chapman lifted his chin. “I, Alan Chapman, challenge Dale Addison for the alpha position in this pride.”

  “I accept your challenge, Alan Chapman,” Dale said, loudly and clearly.

  “The challenge has been witnessed,” said Lynn. “You will fight each other until one lion surrenders, leaves the circle, is killed, or remains pinned for a count of ten.” She paused, looked each of the men in the eye, and said, “Begin,” and shifted, and bounded out of the circle.

  There were a series of blurs in the corner of Sam’s eye, and when she looked around, every person on the field had shifted into lion form, and she was the only human standing there.