A tear falls down her cheek when she looks up at me. “I did, but I didn’t.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling her sorrow.
Her eyes well up even more. “Physically, I left, but mentally, I was still there. When I felt the bond between us, it scared the hell out of me. But it was also the first time I’ve felt my wolf since this,” she murmurs, holding up her wrist with the bracelet. “It was as if I was brought to life again.” Her eyes narrow angrily at the bracelet. “But getting this off was important, too. I thought I could find help.”
“If you had gotten the bracelet off, would you have come back to me?” It’s a question I’m not sure I want to know the answer to.
Kara lowers her gaze, and it’s all the answer I need. “I don’t know,” she confesses. Her fear fills the room.
“What are you so afraid of, Kara?” She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her go. “Tell me.”
She jerks her head back and forth, averting her gaze, more tears falling down her face. “I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever loved. I’ve been betrayed by the people I thought loved me. I don’t know how to trust anyone with my heart.”
After letting her hands go, I bring mine up to cup her cheeks and turn her to face me. Then, using the pad of my thumbs, I wipe her tears away. “You can trust me, Kara. I will never betray you. You’re mine now, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
Her eyes begin to soften, but then they harden just as quickly. “What about your pack? They’ll never accept me.”
“Once they see the real you, they will.”
“You don’t even know the real me. You can’t see inside of my head.”
I move closer, my body flush against hers. “Then let me. Let me taste you. That way, you can see everything in my mind. Then, you’ll never have to doubt me.”
Another tear falls down her cheek. “I’m afraid. What if the bracelet doesn’t let us do this?”
“Hey,” I murmur, tilting her face up, “it’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to cry and let others in.” I try to touch the bracelet, but it repels me, like trying to put two of the same side magnets together. “The bracelet may not let us have our vision or the mental bond, but we can at least try to see if it works. When we’re together, you can feel your wolf, right?”
She shrugs. “Yes, but not fully. It’s like she’s just underneath the surface.”
I smile. “And that’s all that matters. Laila said it’s up to you to figure out how to free yourself. When you’re with me, things get better. Maybe we’re on to something here. All I know is I’m never going to leave your side.”
She lifts on her toes and rests her forehead to mine. “Promise?”
“I promise.” I kiss her gently, waiting to see if she responds. When she does, I deepen the kiss, and she opens up to me, pressing her body desperately against mine. I can feel her want, her need; it matches my own.
Without warning, I slide my hands down her thighs, and lift her into my arms. I don’t want to start this in the living room like the first time. No, this time is different. Before it had been all about primal need, but right now, I need to show her I can protect her … that I love her.
With one arm across Kara’s back and the other under her knees, I hold her close so she can lean into my chest as I take her to the bedroom.
Once we’re there, I situate her on the bed, and she grabs my hand, her steely blue eyes boring into mine. “I think it’s time you made love to me.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I’d stripped her naked first last time, but tonight I want it to be my turn. I yank my shirt over my head with one hand, then pop the button on my jeans as her eyes rake down my body. Her desire hits me full force and it goes straight to my cock. Soon, I’m naked and standing before her, allowing Kara to look as much as she wants.
“I could stare at you all day,” she says, her voice smooth and seductive. Her tongue shoots out to wet her bottom lip and she pats the bed. “Lie down, Chase. I need to taste you in another way.” Her eyes stray down to my dick, and it hardens even more. I know what she plans to do.
Groaning in delight, I lie down beside her. “You’re killing me, princess.”
A spark twinkles in her eyes as she wraps a hand around my cock, pumping my length with the right amount of pressure. Tilting my head back, I moan and suck in a breath when I feel her warm lips close over the head of my dick. She takes me in as far as she can go, up and down, sucking greedily to the point where I feel I’m about to lose control.
“Kara, stop,” I beg.
She giggles and looks up at me, but I grab her shoulders and push her onto the bed. If I don’t make love to her, I’m going to go insane.
Kara snickers again. “I like watching you lose control.”
Slowly, I crawl over her and kiss her as my hands push under her shirt. I rip it off, never once taking my tongue from her mouth. My cock is raging hard with a desperate need to get inside of her. Once I have Kara fully naked on the bed, I kiss down her chest and palm her breasts. I suck one nipple, then the other, into my mouth. Her fingers thread into my hair and pull. When she gets her wolf strength back, I can only imagine the damage she’ll do in bed. I look forward to finding out.
I continue my trek down her stomach, dropping wet kisses along the way. Kara’s body moves in waves as she anticipates where I will strike next. Everything I do is gentle. I trail my fingers down her skin, creating an avalanche of goosebumps as Kara’s moans fill the room. My wolf wants to give her pleasure, to show her just how good it’ll be with me, that I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s happy.
Taking my place between Kara’s legs, I lick her clit, and my name falls from her lips. When she’s wet enough, I slide two fingers into her and stroke gently in rhythm with my tongue. Before I moved fast, but this time, I take my time guiding her to her release. Her breaths come out in rapid pants as I feel her clench around my fingers, her orgasm close. Her thighs squeeze my head when her release hits like a truck, making her body arch off the bed.
“Chase,” she gasps, her voice laced with need, “I want you now.”
Without giving her the chance to recover, I position myself between her legs and push inside of her, but not fully. Kara drops her head back and cries out, making her breasts lift in the air. I suck her nipples, loving the way her pussy clenches around my cock.
Kara gasps and moans again; the sound is music to my ears. I run my hand down her face as her fingers dig into my back. The sting is worth knowing that she’s enjoying my touch. Pushing in just a little bit more, I circle my hips to get her ready for me. “Is this what you wanted?” I ask, thrusting in a little deeper.
She shakes her head. “No, I need more.”
When I enter her fully, she grips her legs tighter around my waist and moves her hips along with mine as I thrust inside of her. I lick and suck her nipples one after the other as I pound my hips against hers.
“Chase,” she moans. The sound sends me over the edge.
The second her nails dig into my back and her muscles clench tighter around my cock, I know it’s game over. She screams as her orgasm starts to hit its peak, but I cover her mouth with mine, and muffle her cries with my own as I come inside of her. I stay between her legs for a few more seconds, letting her body milk me completely.