Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Milo

My gaze darts to Lily when we pull into my drive, but she doesn't react to the surroundings. I'm not even certain she recognizes it, since our last time here was at night. A quick flash of memory short circuits my brain—the way she looked under the warm lights, her creamy skin bare, head thrown back in pleasure as I feasted on her. My body reacts viscerally to that mental image, blood rushing with immediate lust. It doesn't help that the scent of her fills my senses in the cozy luxury of my car.

I force myself to breathe slowly and press back the rush of desire; that's not why we're here today. Her needs right now clearly lay along the emotional line, not the physical. Lily was quiet for the entire ride, arms crossed, her usually bright emerald eyes thunderous with frustration. I don't need the ability to sense her emotions to understand what she's feeling.

This time, we head for the large front door instead of around the back. She already had plenty of time outside today, and it's growing colder; I don't think more fresh air is what she wants. A sudden bout of nerves rushes through me, and I realize I'm about to show her into my sanctuary for the first time.

Not that I have anything to hide, or don't want her to see it; she's my mate, and although she hasn't officially accepted me, I already belong to her body and soul. But for some reason, this feels like a tremendous moment, like it's the last part of me she has yet to touch. I'm suddenly, inexplicably apprehensive that she won't like it.

We pass through the cold modern space that is my parents' house, and I try to speed her along without making her hurry. She doesn't seem interested in looking around at the steel and concrete decor, following me instinctually while her thoughts clearly wander somewhere else. Once downstairs, I hold the door open for her, guiding her into my room with my heart in my throat. I get another whiff of her cherry vanilla scent as she passes, but at this moment, my need for her acceptance is even stronger than my desire.

I wish I could read her thoughts; her silence as she examines my room with crossed arms is deafening. Fortunately, I'm always neat, so there are no embarrassing piles of soiled underwear or half-eaten pizza crusts on display like a certain football player I know.

However, there are things in this room that reveal a lot more about me than I've even told her. It didn't seem pertinent at the time; all I wanted was to get to know her and what she needed. But now I realize she might feel like I've been keeping secrets.

She spins slowly in the center of my room, her tiny feet sinking into the plush area rug. My gaze trails hers, taking in the rich wood accents that run up the wall, my platform bed neatly made with the thick forest green duvet, a gas fireplace that I flicked on as soon as we entered the room, the side table with my grandfather's record player, and finally the desk with my sketchbook on top. Her head tilts back as she takes in the frames lining the far wall, forming a grid nearly floor to ceiling, and I swallow thickly, my hands tucked into my back pockets to affect a posture of complete ease despite my racing heart.

Without a word, she crosses to the desk for a closer look, inspecting the drawings at her eye level. My heart is beating a mile a minute; surely she doesn't hate me for not saying anything? Her silence has become very difficult to interpret. I'm not sure if I should try to distract her with a drink and offer her a seat on the low couch by the fireplace, or continue standing here, awkwardly, waiting for her to say something.

"Did you draw all of these?" She asks softly without turning toward me, almost as if she's asking the pictures themselves.

"Yeah." I don't know what else to say.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She steps to her right, following the line of pen and ink studies closer to the fireplace.

"I…" I clear my throat, searching for an explanation. "I don't know, honestly. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret. There just didn't seem to be a time to talk about it." She's getting closer to my most recent work, and my nerves kick it up a notch.

I have little rhyme or reason for where I put each drawing. I've been switching them out for years; when I finish one and am happy with it, I just pick a frame and replace the older piece with the newer. They're all sorts of subjects: landscapes, portraits, buildings, animals, still lives. Lately, however, one particular subject has occupied my mind, and she's about to discover it.

It's obvious when she realizes; she was walking slowly, examining the detailed drawings casually, and her entire body freezes. My body is radiating so much heat I question if turning on the fireplace was a good idea. Lily's gaze is traveling up the wall, taking in each miniature recreation of her in black and white.

I hadn't done it with any actual intent; my hands just seem to shape a subject and it flows from brain to fingers with very little input from me. That's actually one reason I stopped taking art classes, since I was terrible at completing assignments and was really not interested in any other medium. I just wanted to sketch whatever popped into my head at the moment, and I've always been content with pen and ink.

I'm braced for some sort of outburst, or question, or accusation of being a liar or a psychopath, but none of those happen.

She turns toward me, drops her arms to her sides, and bites down on her bottom lip. My breath catches; there's something in her gaze that I've never seen before, a well of vulnerability and emotion, blended with unmistakable lust. Prickling energy crawls across my skin, sinking beneath my flesh to electrify my insides.

With a barely audible growl, she launches herself at me, looping her arms around my neck and straddling my hips. My palms instinctively grab her lush bottom, holding her against my body, as her mouth crushes against mine in a desperate kiss.

Momentarily startled, I freeze for a second as my brain struggles to catch up. Lily is impatient, and her tongue slides along the seam of my lips, begging for entry. In seconds my earlier lust resurfaces, and I'm kissing her back.

Our tongues tangle, vying for dominance. Her sudden attack is surprising but certainly not unwelcome; I'm even more turned on by her overt demonstration of attraction for me. I squeeze her perfect ass with both hands, turning to press her against the door without breaking the kiss. A primal, possessive growl rumbles deep within my chest, shocking in its intensity. Her answering moan sends more heat rushing through me, hips grinding my erection against the answering heat between her legs.

This is nothing like I imagined. Our previous intimacy has been so gentle, so measured and calculated. My plans to delicately and respectfully woo her are completely out the window, and instinct has taken over. Her hands skim across my chest until she finds my shirt buttons. Frantically, she pops them open one by one, working her way down until she's undone them all and runs her hands across my bare flesh. We continue kissing without coming up for air, and she presses herself against me, breasts pinned between us while her nails rake down my back. The sharp sensation isn't painful, but it seems to energize my inner beast even more. I wrap my arms around her firmly and pull away from the door, carrying her across the room before I lower her onto the bed.

One press of her hand to my chest has me immediately standing back up. "I'm sorry, I got carried away," I apologize automatically, panting.

Lily stands as well. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, but she doesn't look upset—the only thought that comes to my mind is that her eyes look hungry .

Without a single word, she grabs my face and kisses me deeply, then pushes my shirt off my shoulders and drops it to the floor. Her fingers hook in my belt loops and she tugs me toward her as she sits on my bed, gaze dropping to my waist.

At this point, I have no words, so I follow her silent instructions. Her fingers swiftly unbuckle my belt, letting it hang open while she unfastens the button and slides down the zipper. I can barely breathe, and not being in charge means I don't know what to do with my hands. They hang limply by my sides while she dips her fingers through the opening of my boxers, her fingers grazing my sensitive, swollen head. A shudder of pleasure zips up my spine, but I force myself to put together a rational thought.

"Lily." I tip her chin up with one finger, forcing her to meet my gaze. I'm trying to understand this sudden change. "What are we doing?"

Her eyes glimmer in the low light. "I don't know, exactly. I just know that I want you, Milo. Isn't that enough?" She stands, claiming my mouth again and sliding a hand down my belly, under my waistband. Her fingers trail down my length before she palms me and squeezes gently.

I suck in a sharp breath, willing myself not to lose control. Her every touch is like lightning on my flesh, and I'm struggling to hold back the instincts telling me to tear her clothes off and claim her. I've never been this close to the edge before, and it's maddening and intoxicating all wrapped up in one delicious, curly-haired package.

Lily scrapes her teeth along my neck, planting kisses under my jaw. Suddenly, she nips my earlobe with her teeth and sucks it into her hot mouth. She's everywhere, her touch all over my body as if she had a thousand hands, a million fingers. My eyelids flutter shut and another animal-like groan escapes my lips.

My well-thought-out plans for our first time mean nothing; all that matters is what my mate wants, what she needs. If this is her desire, then I'm more than willing to give it to her… but I need to be sure.

It takes a herculean effort, but I summon the willpower to interrupt again. My voice is rough when I ask, "Are you sure this is what you want? If you're just trying to work out the frustration, I'm happy to give you release. No return required." I'm actually quite proud of myself for getting the words out, considering the stroke of her hand has made me so painfully hard I'll need to take care of it, with or without her help.

"It's not frustration, Milo. I just want… you close to me." She breathes the words into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. The difference between her forceful actions and hesitant words still leaves doubt in my mind.

I wish my tone was more commanding, but it comes out almost like a plea. "What do you want? Tell me, Lily." I can't help it. I need to hear her say it. To be absolutely sure.

She pulls back, emerald gaze locking on mine. "I want you. All of you. In the way an alpha claims her mate."

A shiver of anticipation runs through me, my last vestiges of self control melting like ice cream in the summer sun. Yes . I've waited for her my entire life, thought about this moment more times than I could possibly count.

My fingers tangle in her wild hair, and I gaze into her eyes with a lump in my throat. "Lily, I-"

She presses a finger to my lips, cutting off my words. A faint blush appears on her pale skin and she says, "Let me."

Lily pulls free of my grasp, drawing her fingers from my erection and immediately hooking both hands into the waistband of my boxers while lowering herself to the edge of my bed. When she pushes my jeans down my legs, my rigid length bobs in front of her face, begging for attention. The cool air is delicious against the inferno of my skin, and I'm practically shaking with anticipation of her next move. She wraps one hand around me, blowing lightly across the tip already glistening with liquid, then drags her tongue up and around my head before wrapping her perfect lips around it.

A groan rumbles in my chest; I've never allowed another woman to touch me. I've only done what I thought was necessary for me to learn to please my future mate. The sensation of her hot, wet mouth is more than I was prepared for. My hand instinctively fists in her hair as I struggle to remain still. "You don't have to…" I hear myself muttering, fighting the instinct to thrust myself forward. I nearly lose all control as she takes me deeper between those wickedly soft lips. My other hand rises, tugging gently on her hair as my hips rock, seeking more of her heat.

The action must encourage her because she wraps a hand around my shaft and sucks me deeply into her mouth until I hit the back of her throat. The sensation is unreal, and I release a string of curse-laden praises for my perfect mate. A gagging sound nearly stops me completely, but she pulls away and slides her hands up and down, spreading her saliva to coat me and enhance the incredible feeling of her skin on mine. I'm perfectly happy to enjoy her strokes, but she determinedly swallows me down again and again, figuring out her tolerance and rhythm quickly. It's tempting to lose myself to the pleasure, but if she keeps this up, I'm going to explode in her throat. Which is absolutely not how I want this to end.

Not this time, anyway.

Summoning every scrap of my remaining willpower, I cup her face and pull free from her sweet mouth. She protests, but I pull her up gently and claim her lips with mine. The intensity of this kiss is like a simmering inferno. We've shared sweet and sultry kisses, even kisses filled with lust and desire. But now there's no more frantic energy, just a deep, burning certainty that this is absolutely right.

Pausing our kisses, I step out of my shoes, followed by my jeans—and end up standing absolutely naked before my fully clothed mate. Her gaze travels up and down my body, emerald eyes glimmering with desire as she takes in every inch of me, exposed and waiting for her. Her tongue slips over her lower lip, drawing it between her teeth as her gaze finally lands on mine.

Now that she feasted her eyes, I close the distance between us and inhale her intoxicating scent. Even fully clothed, I can smell her desire, and I restrain myself from shoving my hand in her jeans to sink my fingers in the wetness waiting for me. I'll get there soon enough.

I duck my hands under the hem of her shirt and slowly, sensually run them up her sides, peeling the garment from her body. She's already tugging down her own jeans, kicking them off in much the same manner as I did. All that's left between us is few little scraps of light purple lace.

I bite down on my lip to suppress a growl. Those little matching sets are so infernally sexy, especially on Lily. My hand slips between us as I pull her in for another deep, earth-shattering kiss. The heat between her legs is heavenly, and my fingers scrape against the fabric to find it completely soaked with her desire for me. She moans against my lips, pressing herself against my hand, silently begging me for more.

Happy to oblige, I press more firmly, then slip my fingers under the lace so there's no barrier between her hot flesh and mine. Lily's head tips back, and the shuddering gasp she releases almost sends me over the edge. But I fight to keep my control, withdrawing the fingers coated with her desire and sliding them into my mouth with my eyes locked on hers.

Lily wastes no more time, and her lingerie swiftly falls to the floor, leaving her beautiful, flushed body on full display. Her eyes are deep pools of emerald, chest rising and falling beneath her tangle of dark curls. Molten desire floods through me like I've never experienced before. I've never admired another woman like my fated mate; she's the pinnacle of every need, perfectly suited for me just as I'm made for her. The surety of it fills me; the surety of her, of us, and of this moment.

If things had followed my plans, I'd have laid out the perfect scene, chosen the perfect moment, managed every detail down to the last flickering candle. But ironically enough, it didn't come down to my plans at all. Lily chose this moment, and that makes it even more perfect.

Cupping her cheeks with trembling fingers, I utter, "You are everything I've ever wanted. You are my queen, my goddess. Now it's time for me to worship you the way you deserve." I plant a kiss against her parted lips before lifting her onto the bed and covering her body with mine.

Peppering her smooth skin with open-mouthed kisses along her neck, I nip at her shoulder, gradually working my way down to her soft curves. Her nails dig into my back when I draw a pert pink nipple between my lips, teeth grazing the firm pebble. Her back arches off the bed, silently demanding more. My hand rises to replace my lips, pinching lightly as I continue my perusal down her silky stomach, over her hipbone, until I reach the part of her body I've been desperate to taste since we arrived.

Her fingers tangle in my hair, her eyes soft, breathing shallow as she parts her legs before me. With grateful release, I dive in like a starving man attacks his favorite meal.

LILLIANA

A gasp bursts past my lips as Milo buries his face between my thighs. His talented tongue sends immediate waves of pleasure through my body, causing my legs to quake. Even though I've enjoyed his particular form of worship before, something about this time feels different. Perhaps it's knowing another piece of the puzzle that is Milo Vernice, or perhaps it's knowing that we won't stop here. I've spent far too long waiting for things to happen to me, not sure how to choose what I wanted and when. Tonight, I choose to claim Milo as my own, cementing our bond as firmly as an oath sworn before a priest.

I have no experience to draw on; just some general knowledge about how certain things work that I've compiled from health class, secrets whispered between teenage girls, and lewd comments shouted by men on the street. Things that had never quite been intriguing enough to attempt until tonight. Kissing Milo, touching his skin and feeling his erection pressed between my legs, fed a wild instinct that quickly took over. It had never interested me before, but I was struck with a sudden desire to run my tongue over the silky flesh of him, taste his desire the way he'd tasted mine. And the more he reacted to my actions, the further I craved to go. My fingers practically had a mind of their own. A deep, throbbing need for him rose within me like the tide, a desire to open myself to him, to welcome him into my body, into my flesh. To be as close to him as one person can be to another.

Tingling spreads across my skin as Milo increases his efforts, forcing my wandering mind back to the present. His arms wrap around my legs, hands pulling me firmly to the experienced lips of my mate. Slowly, he pulls back, gazing up at me with adoring, lustful eyes as he releases my left hip.

I barely raise a questioning brow before I'm treated to a firm stroke at my entrance. His left hand pressing on my belly, Milo slides a finger inside me. The sensation is novel and exhilarating but somehow not enough, which he immediately fixes by adding a second. Now my heart races in earnest, my body adapting to the strange and wonderful pressure of a part of him inside my most intimate place. His eyes are glassy and half-open, lips parted as if he's enjoying this almost as much as I am. His fingers move gently, in and out, for just a moment. Then he presses them deeply inside me and keeps them there, moving in such a way that a new heat builds in my belly.

But just when I think I've figured out what's going on, he lowers his head and adds his mouth into the mix again, teasing my sensitive bundle of nerves until my body bucks and grinds with no conscious effort of my own. Milo's hand presses more firmly against my belly, holding me in place while everything else continues to move and drive a rapid wave of pressure deep in my core. My hands travel south and pull his head closer to me, fingers tightening in his silky hair.

Milo hums in response, and I fall right over the precipice with his name on my lips.

My body continues bucking, legs trembling as wave after wave of shudders wrack my body and starbursts flash behind my eyelids. I find myself completely unable to move, not even the fingers fisted in Milo's hair. He takes a few lazy laps with his tongue that send aftershock jolts across my body, then gently disengages himself from me. My fingers release him, but my hands don't move, dropping to my hips. My legs remain splayed, the air cold on my sensitive flesh without Milo pressed against it.

When I finally land back on earth and open my eyes, it's to find Milo hovering above me, his eyes sparkling with adoration.

I lift my heavy arms and pull him close for a languid kiss. Somehow, that simple act stokes the embers of my earlier fire, rekindling the deep burning need for him. My hands drift between us and I find my target: the silk-covered rod of his desire for me. Some instinct drives me to stroke it against myself where his lips have so recently been, and I'm suddenly not as sensitive as I was.

I'm already ready for more.

I drag his head through the slippery evidence of my desire for him, and Milo's eyes flutter closed, a groan escaping his lips that only encourages me further. I angle him at my entrance, my hips lifting of their own accord, seeking… more. Milo pulls back slightly and gazes down at me with utter devotion.

My eyes lock on his, and I have no more thoughts. I'm lost in the infinite depth of connection between us.

"Lily." His breath is warm and sweet on my face. "I love you. Not just because some witch declared you were my fated mate. I love you, Lilliana Harridan, for the incredible woman you are."

A single tear leaks from my eye, emotion rising in my throat. I didn't know how that would affect me, how badly I needed to hear it, until just now.

"I love you too, Milo. I didn't grow up knowing about fated mates, but since the first time we met, I've felt like I've always known you. The love I feel for you, and Landon and Jared, is all equal, but so incredibly different. What you and I have is special in a way I can't quite describe."

Milo's eyes turn glassy, an emotional smile curling his swollen lips. My brain and my heart are completely focused, hanging on the power of this moment.

My body, it seems, has no need for instruction from either. At the same time Milo presses gently forward, my hips rise to meet him, and he sheaths himself inside me completely.

A gasp rips from my lips at the same time as a moan slips from Milo's. My tight muscles flex and relax, trying to adjust to the way his presence is stretching me. The sensation's foreign and slightly uncomfortable, but I don't want him to withdraw.

With our eyes locked, he begins to rock his hips, slowly emptying and refilling me over and over again. I'd frozen in place but now my body comes alive again, instinctually matching his rhythm, enjoying the novel sensation of being completely connected to him.

"Is this okay?" He murmurs with concern, watching my expression.

His body is hard against mine, and I realize I'm grimacing and still incredibly tense, which is probably why he's asking.

I draw a deep breath and nod, relaxing beneath him and allowing myself to open more. His pace increases, and soon my stomach flutters with that familiar pressure building low in my abdomen. I wrap my legs around his hips, urging him on, then pull him down for another kiss.

Soon we're lost in each other, our bodies speaking a language all their own. Heat builds between us and instinct takes over. I nip at his bottom lip with impatience. My fingernails carve into his back until he releases a rumbling growl and quickens his pace.

This is what I was seeking when I didn't know how to put it in words. This closeness, this intimacy, the two of us becoming one entity physically that somehow binds us for eternity. All this time I was afraid of sex, afraid of ending up a pregnant teen on the street or being taken advantage of. Finding out I had fated mates made the concept even more confusing, the expectation of intimacy with three men I'd never met before I arrived in Smoky Falls a few short months ago.

Now I understand the difference between sex and making love, and what it means to have a mate. The primal part of me, the part with instincts and burning desire, knows how sex works, how it connects us. But it's also tied to the intangible connection between me and my mate. The physical pleasure is incredible, but something within me knows the deep emotional satisfaction I feel is more than just the physical act.

Milo slips his hand between our bodies, his thumb caressing my sensitive nub with a single stroke that pulls me firmly away from ruminating on our connection and drives my focus to the here and now. I'm aware of nothing but his continued motion, our bodies moving together and apart as if two pieces of one machine. The pressure of his thumb circling is enough to send me spiraling into oblivion, my body clenching around him as he continues to move within me. I shatter into a million pieces of ecstasy, clinging to him as he follows me over the edge, a low moan vibrating in his chest. He braces himself on his arms, but I pull him to my chest, both our bodies slick with sweat, and my tender, swollen lips seek his for a few more gentle kisses.

We lay for an indeterminate moment, our breath slowing and bodies cooling, enjoying the cocoon of intimacy that surrounds us.

My body feels boneless, every muscle heavy and relaxed. I don't have a care in the world. A haze coats the edges of my mind and I float within it, completely content to just be in the moment.

Eventually, he rolls to his side and scoops my body against his, curling around me. Our forms mold together like they were made for this, and I nestle into the utter peace, wrapped in his warmth, inhaling his woodsy cedar scent.

"I should have shown you my drawings sooner," he quips in a whisper, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin behind my ear.

A smile curls my lips; I feel home, in a way I had been seeking all my life. The ironic thought that at the very least I was no longer in danger of being a pregnant homeless girl flits through my mind like a leaf on the wind, and I snuggle tighter against Milo's chest.

Only for my eyelids to fly open a second later. Stiffening, I sit upright. Oh no .

"What's wrong?" Milo rises, worry etched into his handsome face.

I swallow hard. "We didn't use a condom. After all the lectures I've heard my entire life, the first time I have sex and I completely forget to use protection. I'm like a Lifetime special. What if I get pregnant?"

Milo rubs a palm across his face and smiles, releasing a relieved sigh. "Don't worry about it, you can't."

"What do you mean? Are you, I mean… can you not…" I don't know how to ask, since I've heard men are super sensitive about that subject.

He barks a laugh. "No, that's not it. You can't get pregnant until you accept all of your mates at the lunar eclipse; it's part of the weird and wonderful pack biology. Once we're officially mated, the pack witch will brew you a potion to prevent pregnancy… until you're ready to be a mom."

"Oh." How did I not know that? That definitely feels like something someone should have told me.

"Everything's fine, Lily. Come here." He lays back down and opens his arms. Taking the offer, I nuzzle into his chest and let him pull me close. Finally, I can relax; I breathe in his comforting scent, and allow myself to accept that he's truly mine.