Page 39 of Gentle Giant

BRUTUS

I saton the bench in the water, holding Hailey as she told me about her dreams. There was no doubt in my mind that she was my perfect mate, but hearing her explain how she’d glimpsed my face and heard my voice nightly for two moon cycles came as a happy surprise.

“The Great Spirit sent the dreams,” I said confidently, “to show you that we are meant to be lifemates.”

“Perhaps you’re right. I can’t explain it. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before. So… what time should we mate tomorrow? Early in the morning? Midday?” She smiled and ran her fingers through my chest fur.

“Morning,” I said, returning her smile. “My mating call will awaken the whole tribe, and they can spend the day celebrating.”

“With all that’s going on, are you certain that tomorrow will work? If there is an immediate danger and you’re needed elsewhere, I would understand. I will wait for you, Brutus. I swear it.”

“I am certain tomorrow will work, sweet human, though I appreciate that you are thinking of my people and my duties as chief. You are an admirable female,” I said. “But I do not believe the danger facing my tribe will arrive on our lands tomorrow or the next day or even the day after that. We should have time to prepare for it, time to ask other Montikaan tribes to join our cause. Please do not worry. I believe our mating union will bring my people hope, and the celebration will bring them joy during a worrying time. Please trust me.”

She nodded. “I trust you, Brutus. Truly, I do. Tomorrow it is.” Her breathing became more rapid, and her hand traveled down my chest, lower and lower until… I growled with pleasure as her fingers grazed my cock, her touch light and teasing.

“Tomorrow,” I said, then wondered how I would get any sleep tonight.

She grabbed one of my fingers and tugged me toward the ledge of the spring. With a playful waggle of her eyebrows, she patted the stone and said, “It’s your turn, big guy. Hop on up.” Her gaze went to my crotch, and this time her fingers danced over the tip of my cock.

I eagerly complied with her request.

HAILEY

When I awoke,Brutus was still sleeping. I reached for my phone and checked the time. For all I knew, it could still be the middle of the night. But to my delight, it was six in the morning.

Wanting to freshen up for our big mating session, I quietly climbed out of bed and went through the motions of getting ready for my day… took care of business, washed my face andbrushed my teeth, combed my hair. I even applied a hint of makeup. But when it came time to get dressed, I slipped into a short silk robe and went commando underneath.

Lifemates. I smiled. We were about to become lifemates.

And it was basically my wedding day. But I didn’t need a fancy diamond ring or a huge, lavish wedding. I just needed Brutus. My sweet and sexy gentle giant, and the male of my dreams… literally.

My heart filled with tenderness as I watched him sleep. Though I longed to get things started, I decided he could probably use the extra rest and refrained from waking him. After we’d returned from the bathing alcove last night, he’d tossed and turned on the mattress, and his restlessness had kept me awake much of the night too.

“All I can think about is having you, sweet human, and making you mine. Forever,” he’d said at one point, spooning me from behind as his massively erect cock poked into my butt.

My face heated as I recalled our sexy times in the bathing alcove. He’d brought me to a thunderous climax with his tongue, then spent a long time bathing me, affection filling his gaze as he scrubbed me all over. He’d enjoyed taking care of me, had loved every second of it.

Likewise, I’d loved every second of tending to him. Pleasuring him with my mouth, swallowing his seed, then running a soapy cloth all over his muscular body. His powerful muscles had trembled underneath my hands, and as I’d cleaned him, a steady purring-growl rumbled from his chest.

I cuddled beside him on the bed and wedged one of my legs between us, seeking his nearness, his comforting warmth. He stirred in his sleep, flung an arm over me, and pulled me closer. “Hailey. Sweet human.” His voice sounded far away. He was talking in his sleep again. But oh, how I loved it when he said my name during sleep. “Hailey, Hailey, my mate.”

But the peaceful expression he wore suddenly transformed to one of distress. Eyes still closed, his breathing became erratic, and he shook his head and winced a few times. I started to reach for his face, intending to gently wake him from whatever nightmare was invading his mind, when his eyes shot open, his whole body tensed, and his look of distress deepened.

A cold hand clutched my heart. Something was wrong. Very wrong. I couldn’t explain how, but I could sense it too. He sat up and pulled me into his lap, cradling me in his arms as he took deep breaths. Then he straightened and aimed a wary look out the arching entryway of our bedroom.

“What is it?” Fear pooled in my stomach and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

“I can sense him coming for us.”

“Who?” I asked as I fought back a shiver.

“The dark entity. The creature who helped the Volmatt tribe attack the Lonnis tribe.” Brutus’s face paled. “I’d thought we would have more time.”

Before I could ask another question, great whooping howls filled the cavern, the Montikaans calling out a warning to one another, and the whole mountainside trembled.

Brutus lifted his face and released an answering call, a growling cry that echoed throughout the cavern and drowned out all the other howls. It was the cry of a commander summoning his warriors to battle.

Chapter 29

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