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“It’s a bed,” I say casually, proving I’m an excellent liar, even under duress. “I come out here sometimes when I’m having trouble sleeping. Being out under the stars helps quiet my thoughts.”
“That sounds nice.” She reaches for her wine, taking another sip as my tongue tries to crawl down my throat. “I haven’t slept outside since I was a kid, back before Victor hated my family, and we were still welcome at pack camping trips.” She wrinkles her nose. “But I couldn’t really relax and enjoy it. Even back then. Pax and his friends were such bullies. They picked on all the girls and the smaller kids relentlessly.” Her hand falls to the collar of her dress, pulling it away from her throat as she takes a deeper breath and shifts in her chair.
When her eyes meet mine again, there’s a glitter in them that wasn’t there before and a husky note in her voice as she adds, “But I bet it would be nice to sleep outside somewhere you felt safe.”
Safe.
I want to keep her safe. That’s what this is about. I’m not a monster; I’m a decent man who’s been forced into an impossible position.
Suddenly I need her to know that. I need her to know how sorry I am before she’s too far gone to listen to anything I have to say.
I reach out, taking her hand in mine and giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “You are safe here. I won’t cast you out, Willow. That’s not on the table for me anymore. I will protect and defend you as long as I’m able. As long as I’m still Alpha of this pack.”
Her eyes warm with affection I don’t deserve. “Thank you. I… That means a lot to me, Maxim. I just…” She trails off with a soft laugh and a shake of her head. “I’m sorry, sometimes I have a hard time focusing when you’re touching me.”
“Even like this?” I brush my thumb gently back and forth over the soft skin on the back of her hand.
“Y-yes.” She nods slowly, her lips parting and her breath coming faster. “B-but I can’t… I can’t be with you, Maxim.”
“Sure, you can,” I murmur, torn between self-loathing and the hunger thickening the air. It’s always this way between us. Sexual awareness is always there, swimming just below the surface. This drug isn’t making her feel something she doesn’t already feel, it’s just eliminating her ability to control her reactions.
That’s something, at least.
Not much, but enough to silence the fretful voice in my head as I twine my fingers through hers. “I’ll make you feel good, little wolf. I promise. After tonight, you won’t remember any man has ever touched you before. You’ll just remember my hands and my mouth and my body making you ache and need and come so hard and sweet. I will give you only pleasure, only bliss.”
Her breath rushes out and her forehead furrows. “That sounds… B-but I can’t. Not tonight, I…” She tries to pull her hand from mine but stops fighting almost instantly when I tighten my grip on her fingers. She bites her lip, moaning. “God, Maxim. I can’t think. Is it the fated mate bond or something? Is that why I’m so… God, I’m so…”
“Turned on?” I supply, scooting my chair around the small table until our knees touch and our joined hands rest in her lap. “Is that what you’re feeling, little wolf?” I curl my free hand above her knee and squeeze, summoning another hungry sound from low in her throat.
She squeezes her thighs together and squirms in her chair, sending a jolt of lust surging to my groin. The unconscious sign that she wants me between her legs would be intoxicating even if I couldn’t smell how wet she is. But I can smell it, and the salty-sweet smell of her slick pussy calls to my wolf, banishing the last of my indecision.
My human side will likely feel like shit about this later, but right now my animal side needs to claim his mate, needs to feel her soft and hot under him while he plants his seed deep in her belly.
“Maxim, p-please,” she says, shivering as I slide my hand higher on her thigh.
“Please what?”
“I don’t…” She exhales then sucks in a breath as my palms skims higher still.
“But I think you do, little wolf.” I release her hand and curl my fingers around the back of her neck, pulling her head closer to mine. My lips are a whisper away from hers as I ask, “Can I carry you to that bed and make you mine?”
“Yes, please, yes,” she says, and then her lips crash into mine.
Chapter Seventeen
Maxim
We kiss hard and deep, our tongues sparring and stroking as I gather her into my arms and start across the patio.
I drag the curtains surrounding the bed to one side and lay her down on the mattress, pulling back long enough to dispose of my clothes with swift, efficient motions. I’m back beside her less than ten seconds later, dragging her dress over her head as she runs her hands all over my body, making hungry, eager sounds that drive me fucking wild.
“Need you. Need you so bad,” she whimpers, her cool fingers wrapping around my burning length, making me growl.
“Going to give you everything you need, little wolf. Everything,” I promise as I make quick work of her bra, freeing her gorgeous breasts.
They’re stunning, so full and heavy with dusky rose nipples that demand my attention, my worship. I bend my head, capturing one tight tip in my mouth and sucking as I rip her panties down her thighs and bring my fingers to her slick folds.
“Fuck, Willow,” I groan against her breast as I feel how damned wet she is. “You’re dripping for me, baby.”
