“You consider this early to be morning?” she asks Lev like he can’t be serious. My lips kick up into a smirk at her response. She’s confident and relaxed. She fits right in as the Alpha mate.
It was shocking when I found out my mate was human. When I felt her, when I was drawn to her. Having to leave without her at last year’s offering was … excruciating. The pain is inhumane. We’re the strongest pack on this side of the country. I thought having a human mate would make me weak and waiting for her certainly held its challenges, but I can already feel the power she’s giving me through our bond. I’m honored to be her mate even if she’s younger and has so much to learn. I hope one day she’ll feel the same way.
Lev smiles at her response after taking a swig from the jug of orange juice. “Well, it’s the morning shift.” He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Lev is … Lev. A fucking animal. “I’ve got to go do my laps and get shit in order before Jude checks out.”
Grace tilts her head in confusion, her brunette hair slipping from her shoulder and falling behind her. The curve of her neck is … tempting.
“We have to do rounds to ensure the estate is secure,” he explains to Grace and her expression falls just slightly, a flicker of uncertainty present. As she swallows, her fingers grip the edge of the counter slightly.
“You think … you think someone would try to come for us?” she questions and Lev keeps his laugh to himself, although I hear it.
“She doesn’t need to know yet,” I warn Lev and although he doesn’t respond to me, he tells her, “No, it’s just a good habit for a wolf to be in.” We share a glance and Grace’s shoulders lose some of their tension. She offers him a tight smile.
“Already lying to her?”
“I’ll tell her soon,” I answer Lev but then doubt myself and my decision. Never in the years since we’ve formed a pack have I doubted so much. She brings questions and unease, but it feels right and just.
My pack’s on high alert now that the old Alpha has threatened to return. I should’ve killed him rather than shown mercy. I shake my head and silently tell Lev to shut the fuck up. She doesn’t need to know about all that shit. Not after the day she’s had.
Grace yawns although it’s obvious she tried to hold it back, and then says, “Well, I call this bedtime.” Her shirt rises up as she stretches her arms above her head. The hem tickles her upper thighs, and with the small movement and realization she’s only in a top, her eyes widen with a hint of embarrassment. She grabs the fabric and pulls it down as a rosy blush of embarrassment brightens her cheeks. I let a chuckle rumble through my chest. We’re shifters, so we don’t give a fuck about nudity. I want her to feel comfortable, though.
Lev smirks at her response so I have to silently scold the little shit. “Have some respect for her modesty, Lev.”
“Sorry, Dev.” I hear his humorous remark in my head. He turns on his heels leaving the juice on the counter and heads toward the hall while calling out, “Good night, Grace. See you two later.”
Grace calls out in a strained voice, “See you, Lev,” while pushing her knees and thighs together and staring at the floor. She whispers, “I’m sorry. I forgot I was only wearing a T-shirt.” Her eyes peek up at me, searching for something, and I reach out to cup her chin and run my thumb along her bottom lip.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. You don’t have to worry about that. Lev doesn’t mind.” My words don’t have the effect I thought they would. She pulls away from my grasp and I let my hand fall to my side. She noticeably swallows.
“I want to go to bed,” she speaks quietly to the floor. I can tell she’s trying hard not to say something and I have no fucking clue why.
“What’s wrong?” She shakes her head, still not making eye contact and I’m not going to stand for that. That’s not what this is between us. I should be able to hear everything. Frustration is … so unexpected. I take her chin in my hand again and force her to look at me. Her skin is hot against mine, sparking from the small contact. My gaze bores into her hazel eyes, willing her to answer. She squares her shoulders before shrugging.
“I’m fine. Really. It’s just been a long day.” I stare at her lying ass for a few seconds before releasing my hold on her. It only takes a second of debating whether or not I should drop this. She’s keeping shit from me, but I’m guilty of doing the same to her. Her hands cover her face for a moment before she lifts her hair off her shoulders, breathes in deep, and exhales slow and steady. She twists the hair at the nape of her neck and pulls her brunette locks over her shoulder.
My eyes focus on the sight of her exposed neck; it’s a welcome distraction. There are a few tiny scrapes on her delicate skin from my fangs and it makes my dick hard remembering how I fucked her earlier. The marks call to me to bite her. Hard. To claim her by sinking my fangs deep into her tender, pale flesh. I lean down and run my tongue over the most prominent mark, torturing my wolf. She leans into me and hums in approval. I grin into her neck. I may not be able to justify scolding her for keeping secrets when I am too, but I can give her a merciless, punishing fuck. I nuzzle under her ear before nipping her lobe. Her thick thighs clench together as I smell her arousal.
My intentions were to feed her and then take her to bed, but I can’t let her go without satisfying all of her hunger, and my own. I run my fingers down her neck to her collarbone then trail back up as I plant small kisses on the other side, up to that tender spot behind her ear. She shivers at my touch. I fucking love it.
“I know you’re tired, sweetheart, but I’m not going to leave you while you’re in need.” I take her bottom lip in between my teeth and bite down hard enough that it’ll leave a bruise. She yelps and her little whimper makes my dick swell with desire. I swiftly pick her up off the counter and lay her on her stomach across the barstool so she’s at the perfect height for me to fuck her greedy cunt with long, hard strokes.
Brushing her hair over one shoulder, I grip the nape of her neck. With my chest pressed to her back, I listen to her unsteady breathing pick up. Nothing but lust settles in the warm air between us. She moans my name and arches her back just slightly. This is the obedience I’ve craved. She’s a dream come true. Letting my lips tickle the shell of her ear, I whisper, “Hold on, sweetheart.” Her hands instantly grab the legs of the stool while I slam my dick into her.
Fuck, she’s even tighter than she was earlier. She’s got to be sore to be this swollen and I’ve only taken her twice so far, but I know that the pain will only heighten her pleasure. The barstool wobbles on the ground, struggling to stay balanced as I hammer my dick into her, pulling almost all the way out and then slamming back in over and over. My grip tightens on her hips as she bites down on her bottom lip, attempting to quiet her sounds of pleasure.
I groan as the feeling of her tight walls stroking my length sends a heated rush through my body, starting at my toes and working its way up in long pulses. She feels too fucking good. I keep my pace slow and steady, knowing how intense it is for her. Hard and fast is right around the corner, but she needs to get off first.
It only takes a few more strokes for me to push her to the edge of her release. Her body trembles and she bites her arm to quiet her moans. I slam my hips into her, forcing her to take all of me and hold it there while she screams out my name and arches her back as her orgasm rips through her body. Fucking perfect.