Chapter 15

15

HUNTER

The drive from the Lodge back to Emma’s is quick. As I throw the truck into park, she scans the rolling fields, her eyes wide and wary.

“Emma, I’ve got you. Nothing’s going to happen.” My voice is firm but still holding the gentle tone that soothes her.

She nods. The gesture is threaded with nervousness and unease. I’ve worked hard to alleviate her fears all week while I’ve been living here, and within seconds it's back.

Her hesitance is heartbreaking. Instead of waiting for her to get out of the truck, I round the hood and open her door. I lift her into my arms, the same way I carried her into her house after the accident. Only this time, she threads her arms around my neck and nuzzles into my shoulder. The motion calms every jagged edge of my beast. Even though we haven't officially mated, I’ve noticed I can feel her emotions clearer as we have gotten closer, especially tonight.

Just after we finished our run, I was standing with Jackson and Holly outside the Lodge on the large lawn. We were discussing the run and how we all thought it went. When a pulse of energy seemed to shoot through me, it was brief. I didn’t think much of it until my wolf said, mate . I didn’t say goodbye, I just ran to my truck.

I’m glad I did. The man’s smell was still everywhere behind her house and I would’ve ran straight for it if it weren’t for my wolf—wanting to check on our mate. I needed to see she was okay first, before I chased a stranger into the woods.

I carry her to the oversized couch in the front living room and set her down. I kneel in front of my girl. “Emma, what do you need? What can I do?”

Her soft green eyes flick between mine. “Distract me?”

My wolf perks up with the ideas we have in mind. I would be a liar if I hadn't thought about her in the shower. I've struggled between my wolf’s basic carnal instinct and human patience and finally landed on stalking her into submission. Waiting for her to be ready is a game I’ve been winning, but suddenly, my body shifts to instinct—a low hum of energy builds in me. I want to claim every part of her. I slide my hands up her calves to her knees, holding them there while I watch to see what she does—waiting for her permission.

Her small hand traces a line from my cheek toward my ears. She slowly drags her nails across my scalp, pulling my lips to hers. The kiss is soft as her lips explore mine.

I can’t hold back my desire anymore.

My hand presses into the small of her back, pulling her further into me. She releases a soft gasp. I take the opportunity to push my tongue past her lips, savoring the taste. She lets out a small moan as she scoots closer to my body. Her legs naturally spread as my hand slides up her inner thigh.

“Emma, tell me to stop,” I say. The plea is strained. It is fighting against every instinct I have to take her, claim her.

“No.” The word is soft, breaking through our desperate kisses.

I trace a line of kisses down her jaw to her neck, memorizing each spot that has her body succumbing further to mine. I release soft growls as her nails drag along my shoulders and neck.

The tension rises, my wolf presses forward, tugging at the rope and demanding a mating claim. I jerk back sharply. Her eyes widen, but I need space right now.

“Emma, I need you to go to your bedroom and sit in the chair.”

Her eyes flick between mine. She has questions, but she doesn't ask.

I want her. But I need the control. I need to be careful not to take too much all at once.

I sweep the beautiful curls behind her ears as I hold her head. She leans into the touch. “Trust me, sweet girl.”

She bites down on that plump bottom lip and nods. “I trust you.”

“Good. Now go. I'll be in, in just a minute.” I kiss her once more. I stand and step back, offering her a hand to get up.

She takes her time getting to the bedroom door, turning, and looking at me. Her eyes seem so big as they take me in. She gives a small, soft smile, then disappears into the bedroom.

I enter the kitchen, grabbing a glass from the cupboard. She’s going to need this for what I have planned. So far, we haven't done anything besides kiss. My wolf’s been clawing at me to claim her, to claim every part of her so no other male can take or touch what's mine.

I adjust my pants as I work in the kitchen. The thought of Emma in her room, waiting for me, wanting me as much as I want her, has my cock weeping. Water in hand, I close the distance between me and my mate.

I lean into the door frame and take her in as her eyes meet mine. She's perched on the bed, hands in her lap, with only my shirt separating her body from mine. “I think I said the chair, sweet girl.” My voice drops into the low, soft growl that makes a shiver run through her body.

She turns toward the large wingback in the corner of her room and looks back at me. I nod for her to move to the chair.

My flannel shirt fits her like an oversized dress but does little to cover her curves. I love that she’s sleeping in my shirt every night. I can tell she’s more comfortable with me in her space. Her walls have been slowly coming down since I started staying in her bed every night. I hope she doesn't regret this tomorrow.

She slides down into the chair as I set the glass of water on the bedside table. My hand unconsciously rubs against my slacks, trying to relieve some pressure as I turn to take in my beauty, her long legs crossed over one another.

“Uncross your legs for me.” My voice is gentle as I stalk towards her.

She follows my command. I revel in it. “Good girl, take off my shirt.” My tone is a little less controlled. Her eyes drag down to the buttons as she slowly undoes the first. I want to make sure she isn’t hesitating, that she’s comfortable and can choose to stop, because if I touch her. If I even begin to peel the layers of clothes off, I worry my instincts will win out, and I'll take more than she's ready to give. So, for now, we have to do it this way.

Her fingers work at each button, starting from the bottom. I remember how amazing her skin looked from behind, and I have spent too many showers imagining what her breasts would look like. Would they be heavy and wanting? How they would feel in my hands, in my mouth? What sounds would she make as I bite them?

Fuck me.

The shirt is barely parted once she gets to the last button, keeping her secrets underneath. She bites that goddamn lip again, and I’m ready to crawl to her, spread her wide, and devour her.

“Emma,” I growl as she slips the shirt off her tiny shoulder, revealing soft white skin. Her perky breasts are adorned with dusky pink nipples that are pulled tight. Then I realized she was this naked around other wolves at the Lodge. The thought has me closing the space between us so quickly that I startle her.

I run my hands up her thighs, sweeping the side of her body, careful not to touch her breasts as I pull her mouth to mine.

My lips are a breath apart from hers. I say, “Emma, the thought that you were this exposed, by the forest or near the Lodge, has me ready to claim you right now. Every instinct—demanding I mark you. Mate, you and seal our fate.” My words are a reverent growl as I kiss her deeply.

“Tonight, sweet girl, I'm going to savor you slowly.” My hands find her breasts—cupping them, massaging them, while I continue to kiss her. My thumbs work over each nipple, and I pull away to watch her body curve into mine, growing tighter with each slight touch. Her moans are a symphony orchestrated by my fingers and mouth.

I watch as her head falls back, revealing the long column of her neck. My hand slowly drags up from her breast, stopping just below her delicate jaw, easily wrapping around it as I squeeze softly, watching her intently, making sure she's okay. Her hum vibrates through my hand, and I’m in fucking trouble . I take her nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue as my hand squeezes again. This time, my name rolls off of her lips.

I give the same attention to her other nipple, squeezing slightly every time, letting the moan vibrate through our bodies, egging me on.

Her release sits just out of reach as she pleads with me.

“Tell me what you want, sweet girl.”

My thumb drags down the center of her neck to the spot just at the base of her throat, then along her collarbone .

She will look so good with my mark here .

My mouth pulls to that spot, and I breathe it in as my tongue sweeps along the area. I suck it into my mouth, testing my limits with the idea of claiming her.

“I want you to touch me here.” Her hand slides down to her core.

I quickly grab her hand and place it on the armrest.

“Soon,” I say as my hands pinch her nipples hard, and I press up to swallow her scream.

With my lips pressed to hers, I say, “I want you to be screaming for me, begging for me, before I touch you there.”

“Hunter, please?” Her hand falls off the armrest and drags to her center.

“Emma,” I growl. “I will tie that hand to the chair if you don't behave.” I pull back to look into her eyes, the dark emeralds dilated with the need.

A smirk plays across her plump lips that are swollen from kisses. She says, “Promise?”

Fuuuuck.

I have to put space between us because now I want her tied to the bed, spread wide and at my mercy. I don't know if she's ready for that.

She must see the internal battle I’m having as she stands. Her body is a glorious display that could rival Aphrodite. She is tall and lean with more of an athletic build, and trim waist, full breasts, and hips. I step back once more as I imagine her belly swollen with my baby, my mark on the base of her neck. My hand unclips my belt and pulls it through each loop.

“Give me your wrists,” I say.

She steps towards me, hands held in front of her, silently offering herself to me. My little fawn has no idea she's in the wolf's den now. I secure the belt around her wrists and move around her while unbuttoning my shirt. Her head tries to follow me as I pull my shirt off and drape it over the chair. I step up close behind her the heat of her skin radiates into mine.

“Emma, do you know what I was thinking?”

She shakes her head as my arms wrap around her waist, dragging slowly down towards her core. I stop just above her underwear and say, “How fucking good you will look with my baby right here.”

Her body tightens, and I understand we aren't there yet, but my instincts demand that we reproduce.

I bite her shoulder softly. “Not tonight.” I kiss her neck, just behind her ear. “Tonight I’m going to taste you, torture you, tease you…”

My hands slide to her tight shorts, and I pull them down slowly, kissing each exposed inch until she steps out of the small article. My hands drag back up her sides as I turn her around, hands still tied in front of her. What a glorious fucking sight.

I scoop her up into my arms. Having her naked and pressed against me is the best feeling. I place a knee on the bed and set her down softly in the middle. She's propped up slightly on the pillows. I straddle her and take the belt, holding her hands, and lift it above her head, wrapping the end around the bed frame. I take an extra moment to check her circulation and ensure that it’s not too tight.

I slide my hands down her extended arms to the side of her breast, where I pinch and pull at each hardened nipple, teasing her again, bringing her to the edge of release before stopping. The small tease has her hips pressing up into me. I slowly drag my hands down her smooth stomach while I scoot further down the bed.

My legs slide between hers, spreading her out for me, and I take a moment to appreciate the sight. Her pussy is pink and bare, glistening with her arousal. “Look how wet you are for me, Mate.” My hand cups her core while I slowly drag my fingers through her folds, spreading her open.

She squirms against the restraints, her legs pulling up to close this beautiful sight off.

“Hunter, please.”

“Beg, Emma. I want you begging for a release.”

I slowly work her clit, finding the rhythm that makes her body sing. My other hand tugs and teases her hard peaks. Her thighs squeeze my body as her orgasm builds, and then I pull away, sliding up to cage her in, taking her mouth as she moans in distress. I don't touch her for a few moments instead, I watch her chest rise and fall with each breath.

“You are so fucking beautiful, sweet mate.”

“Hunter, I need you to touch me, please.” Her voice is breathy and filled with lust.

“Whatever you want, sweet girl.”

I take my time dragging my mouth down her body, reveling in her taste, the small pants, and sweet orange smell. Then like a man thirsty in the desert, my mouth descends on her core, drinking her in, moaning as her sweetness explodes across my tongue, then dragging my mouth up to wrap around the tiny bundle of nerves. My cock begs to be touched. The pressure against my slacks is painful as it weeps precum.

My hand finds her neck once more, squeezing slightly. The sounds she makes reverberate through my arm and make my cock jump at the sensation. Her hips buck off the bed just as my tongue pushes into her center. My restraint to not finger fuck her has my hand tightening around her neck and on her thigh spreading her open wider for me. The quiver starts in her moans and then moves down her body until she's shaking in my hold. My mouth sucks harder at her center, flattening my tongue and sweeping up through her juices. She's on the very edge, and I pull back.

Tears rim her lashes. She begs so prettily for more. “Hunter, please, I want to come. I want to finish, please.”

God, I could have her like this every day . I could tease her and taste her, mate her, and knot her. I sit back on my haunches and take my cock out, rubbing it roughly. Her eyes widen at the sight. My hand is large and does little to hide my size. My other hand hides the knot at the base.

“You aren’t getting this,” I run my hand up and down my cock roughly, “until we are ready to mate. Tonight, I will mark you, just not with my teeth.”

“Hunter, you're so—” Her words cut off as my mouth returns to her core, licking and sucking.

The assault overwhelms her as she screams my name, and I moan deeply. Her hands pull on the restraints as she bucks against my face. Her body is so sensitive and primed for this moment. My hands slide up and undo the restraints, and she reflexively grabs my hair as she rides my face.

I begin to knead her breast, pinching hard on her nipples as she cries out her release into my mouth. I massage her breast and take in every drop of her. She pants and shakes in my hold.

I sit up and slide her legs together, “Look how pretty you look with a full body flush,” her eyes are hooded while I straddle her waist. My cock is firm and dripping in my hand. “You want to taste me?” I slide my thumb over the tip, taking the precum to her lips, letting her lick it off.

She moans as she sucks my thumb in. The sensation has me tugging roughly as my release edges on. My balls tighten as she continues to suck my thumb.

“Fuck, Emma.”

Her bright green eyes meet mine, and she bites my thumb lightly, and that feeling has my cum shooting out in thick spurts marking her breasts and stomach. I drag two fingers through it, bringing them to her mouth again .

She opens automatically, her eyes locked on mine.

“You look so fucking good.”.

I slide off of the bed and head to the bathroom to grab a warm cloth to clean her up. Once we are mated, she will wear my cum all the time especially while in heat. But tonight, I want her safe, clean, and warm.

“Hunter, that was…” Her voice falls off as she looks for words. I toss the small cloth towards the basket of laundry in the corner and slide into bed beside her. Her head rests on my shoulder as she looks up to meet my eyes.

“That was amazing…”

I kiss her forehead. “Good.”

She nuzzles closer to me as I pull her body in and wrap the blanket around us. “Go to sleep, sweet girl. I have you.”

The sun is barely a sliver on the horizon as my phone ringing pulls me from my deep sleep. I reach for the nightstand to see Jackson's name on the top.

Sliding the green button across, I answer, “Jackson.”

“Kyler told me about last night. I need you to come to the Lodge. Bring Emma.”

“What did he say?”

My brother's sigh is telling. “We need to talk in person, but don’t leave Emma there.”

The tone he uses has my wolf bristling under my skin.

“We’ll be there soon.”