32. Riley

Chapter 32

Riley

I 'd hoped that, as time passed, Danny would settle into his role. That the boredom I felt creeping in would start to lessen. That we'd gradually find more time to spend together.

But as another month passed, none of that happened. Danny's frustration at having to play diplomat was only growing. His belief that Finn should be leader over him solidified with every passing day.

And my boredom didn't seem to be improving either. I tried to fill my time. I baked. Hung out with Logan. Went on walks in the surrounding woodland. FaceTimed with my friends back home. Gamed alone. I even read a book Matty had been nagging at me to start—something I'd thought I'd never do. It had been awesome too, not that I'd admitted as much to Matty. I'd just quietly binged the entirety of the author's backlist, devouring one title after the other. Fortunately, Becca Seymour was a prolific writer, so that had kept me entertained for a while.

Having all this free time, although it bored me, did show me what I wanted from my work. Or rather, what I didn't want. My eight weeks were up, and my decision had been simple. I didn't want to go back there. I didn't know what I wanted to do instead, but being away from the office had opened my eyes to how toxic it was. I couldn't believe the hours and stress I'd been putting up with while getting so little in return. Danny had been right—the job had been slowly eating away at me. It had taken this break from it to realise how much happier I was now that I wasn't there.

Sebastian had agreed to deal with it all for me, no doubt at Matty's insistence. It had occurred to me once or twice that I'd run out of money at some point. My bank account had remained untouched since we'd arrived in the clan lands, but it wouldn't stay that way forever.

Or maybe it would. This was our home now. I needed to remember that.

It was hard though. I missed my life back in Southampton. I missed going to Mum's for Sunday lunch. Missed dancing with Matty at The Closet. Missed noisy, chaotic barbeques at River and Mori's house. Missed games night at Ferry and Leo's. Missed going shopping with Harlow for new clothes and dreaming of what I'd buy if I could afford it.

But most of all, I missed Danny. I missed the simplicity of our life there. The endless hours we could spend with no one else infringing on our time. It was selfish, but I wasn't used to sharing him.

Now I had to share him with an entire clan of people. He left our bed before dawn most mornings, often not crawling back in until after I'd lost the fight with my eyelids at night. Sometimes I'd wake up enough for us to have hurried sex. Other times we simply held each other, wishing dawn was further away than it was.

I couldn't even be upset with him, not knowing how hard he was finding it too. Where I disliked this life, Danny loathed it. He preferred to be running into burning buildings rather than running meetings. Any significant change he tried to implement was blocked by the council, making him feel his efforts were pointless.

Most of all, he hated being apart from me. I could feel it in the bond, the way he longed for me. It was the same way I felt for him.

We both knew this was our life now. That this was the price he'd paid to save me. Neither of us regretted it—of course we didn't—but it was hard to resign ourselves to this being our future.

Take this morning, for example. All week, we'd been planning on hiking over to a small waterfall a mile away. Just the two of us. The picnic was packed. Lube had been snuck into the side pocket of the basket. Everything was ready.

But just as it did every time we made plans together, his clan seemed to find out and arrange something that would put a stop to it. It was like they were punishing Danny for the time he'd left them for by keeping us apart as much as possible.

"Are you sure you have to go?" I leaned my chin on Danny's chest, pouting up at him.

"I wish I didn't," he said, carding his fingers through my hair. "I'd much rather spend the time with you. You know that, princess."

I did, but it didn't stop the ever-growing loneliness inside me. "How long until you need to leave?"

We were curled up in bed together, sleep still clinging to our lashes. "About an hour."

I smirked at him while I walked my fingers up his chest. "Hmm, a whole hour. What could we possibly do to pass the time?"

Danny's cock thickened against my thigh as he returned my smirk. "You're a clever bloke, I'm sure you'll think of something."

I kissed my way down his stomach. "I generally do."

He kept his hand in my hair, following me down his body. I didn't make it easy on him, dropping kisses along his happy trail. His hips. Down one side of his groin. The other.

But never where he most wanted them.

It entertained me to feel his frustration growing in the bond and, I couldn't lie, I fucking loved feeling how I affected him. How desperately he wanted me. How just being in the same room as me made him happy.

How could I ever have doubted that his feelings for me might change? It seemed ludicrous now. But that was the thing with fear—it was rarely logical.

The best thing about it was that I felt the same way about him. I wanted him with a hunger that was overwhelming. He didn't need to do anything other than walk into the room to have my cock hard and my hole aching for him.

I teased him until I felt his patience snap. "Princess, are you going to suck my cock or—oh fuck ."

I sucked him into my mouth before he finished talking. Deep-throating Danny would never be on the table, not with his size. But over the past few weeks, I'd managed to train myself to take another couple of inches of him.

His hands tightened reflexively in my hair as his body started to tremble. "Riley. Oh fuck, why are you so good at this? Don't stop."

I didn't, hollowing my cheeks as I swirled my tongue around the bottom half of his shaft. I cupped his balls, already tight to his body. My other hand traced down his taint and between his cheeks. Unlike me, Danny was vers. I knew he didn't mind exclusively topping with me, but I didn't want him to miss it either.

I sought out the tiny furl of puckered skin, tapping against it teasingly. Danny groaned loud enough to shake the windows, his knees falling wide. "Fuck yes, Riley. Touch me there. Please, princess."

Well, never let it be said that I left my man wanting.

I pulled off his cock, ignoring his whine of protest. Glancing at the bedside table, I frowned when I saw the lube was missing. I had a vague recollection of it hitting the floor at some point in the night, but Danny had been too deep in me for either of us to care.

That was fine. I'd just have to get him wet in other ways.

Leaning over, I popped my glasses on the floor, making a mental note not to tread on them later. Not that it would matter too much—Danny had ordered six extra pairs online for me. I think me not having them immediately following my crash had stayed with him. It was funny, how it had affected us both. Really, we'd gotten over it with remarkable speed, which was thanks in part to the mating bond. But Danny couldn't cope with the idea that I might be without my glasses again, stashing a pair in every room of our little cottage.

As for me? I'd still yet to get behind the wheel myself. Not that it really bothered me. I was content being Danny's princess in all areas, including as his passenger.

With my glasses no longer in the way, I spread his cheeks wide. Danny went a step further, lifting his knees to his chest. I didn't need my glasses on to feel the heat of the stare he was sending my way. "You gonna eat me out, princess?"

"I am." I licked up his taint, drawing a whimper from him. "And you're going to stay just like that and let me."

"Trust me, Ry. I'm not going to move a fucking inch."

We'd see about that.

Holding him open, I went to lick him, but Danny stopped me. "Wait."

I lifted my head to scowl at him. "For what?"

"Here." He shoved something white in my direction. I grabbed it, realising it was a pillow. "Put this under your hips. I want you to fuck against it while you eat me out. See if you can come from just that."

"You're a dirty fucker."

His dark chuckle made me tingle all over. "Princess, you love it."

"Fuck yeah, I do." I positioned the pillow underneath me, just as Danny had instructed. I gave an experimental thrust, wincing at the friction. That wouldn't be a problem in a few minutes time, not given the amount of precum I was leaking.

I returned to his arse, running my tongue over his hole. He shivered, his fingers turning the skin on his thighs white where they were digging in. I did it again, revelling in how it was undoing him.

"More," he grunted. "Please, princess."

I pushed my tongue against his hole, spearing it inside. Holding him open with my hands, I fucked at the ring of muscle, relishing how it softened for me. Each time, I got a little deeper. Took Danny a little higher.

As I'd predicted, the friction became a slick glide as my dick leaked all over the pillow. Good thing too; I didn't think I could've stopped my hips moving if I'd tried.

My face was buried between Danny's cheeks now, small grunts escaping me as I ate him out. They were barely audible over the noise Danny was making. It was a garbled combination of ‘princess,' ‘yes,' and ‘more.'

My hips thrust faster against the pillow as I chased my own release. Danny was shaking with the force of holding his back. Was it possible to make him come without touching his cock?

I was about to find out.

Sucking a finger into my mouth, I slipped it into his slackened hole. Twisting it around, I sought out the fleshy mound. I may not have been a top, but I still knew how to find a prostate.

Danny howled when I tapped it. I bounced my finger against it as I continued licking and sucking what I could reach. My cock was sliding against the pillow furiously now, my own hole aching, wanting to be filled like I was filling Danny.

Later. This was about Danny.

Sliding a second finger in beside the first sent Danny over the edge. Feeling his release in the bond, I sprang up, wanting to catch his cum in my mouth. I missed the first few spurts, the hot liquid hitting my face. I suckled the head of his cock, not letting the rest escape.

The flavour of him had me thrusting against the pillow one final time before giving in to my own orgasm.

"Fuck, princess," Danny moaned, his hips bucking up as I continued to suckle at his sensitive tip. "The things that mouth can do."

I pulled off him with a pop . "You've always known my mouth is talented."

"With sass and sarcasm, sure. But you've got to admit, that was a whole different league of talent."

"Is it going to keep your mind occupied during your meeting?"

"Oh, you fucking know it will." Danny motioned for me to stand. "Speaking of which, I need to go, but not before we shower. How fast do you think you can come?"

I was already up and heading for the door. Fuck the fact that I'd just come, if I ever turned down an orgasm from Danny, you could sign my death certificate then and there. "With your mouth on me? Under five minutes, easy."

A fter how I'd started my day, you'd think I'd be in a better mood.

But no. Misery and boredom were insistent on being my companions. It didn't help that I could feel Danny's sour mood through the bond. I didn't know if I was influencing him or vice versa, but it all added up to the same outcome.

We were both irritated and miserable at being apart. Again.

Even more annoyingly, all the betas had been summoned to the meeting too, which meant I didn't get to hang out with Logan today. Other than Danny, he was the only one who'd made the past two months bearable. He reminded me so much of Matty. I knew he was dangerous, but I just didn't see that side of him. Privately, I thought he and Danny were exaggerating to make me feel safe.

Not that they needed to. Aside from a few snide comments, most of the clan had been incredibly welcoming. No one seemed perturbed by my presence, nor did they seem inclined to induce the wrath of Danny by threatening me in any way.

I was trying to find something to watch on the TV, but nothing was taking my fancy. Maybe I'd been trapped indoors for too long. I'd been so excited all week for our outing and the chance to stretch my legs. I glanced longingly at the basket on the table. It was packed and ready to go, but Danny wasn't here. Which meant there'd be no outing for me today.

Unless…unless I went alone. There wouldn't be any harm in that. The falls were on clan lands and only a mile away. Danny could cover that distance in less than thirty seconds if needed. Besides, it wasn't like anyone could really hurt me now that I was mated to a supe.

Going was a good idea. I'd experience nature, get some fresh air, and I wouldn't be staring at the same four walls all day.

Decision made, I shoved my feet into my walking boots. I hadn't owned a pair before this, but one week in I'd realised they were necessary. Thank fuck for online deliveries—I'd been concerned the driver wouldn't be able to find us, but Finn had assured me they had a system set up for stuff like this.

Sure enough, my boots had arrived right on time, saving my ankles from the many times I happened to twist them. Honestly, I knew we were in a forest, but did there have to be tree roots sticking out of every foot of ground? Couldn't roots find something better to do than try to kill me?

Given my luck, I'd probably fall over them anyway. It was that thought that had me stopping in the bathroom to put my contacts in. I didn't like wearing them much, but it was better than accidentally breaking another pair of glasses. Sure, I might have had several pairs now, but I'd still have to find my way back here while half blind.

As that wasn't my definition of a fun and relaxing time, contacts were definitely the way to go.

Hooking the picnic basket over my arm, I paused to text Danny. I didn't know if he'd be able to check his phone, but I didn't want him getting home and panicking when I wasn't here.

decided to hike up to the falls and have the picnic. Come join me when the meeting's done.

Once it was sent, I shifted the basket higher and set off into the woods.

It didn't take long for me to remember why I hated the outdoors. Stinging nettles and gnats made their presence known. Sure, the marks they left healed in seconds, but they were irritating for that time. And even with my sturdy walking boots on, I managed to trip on five different tree roots.

Five. It was a miracle I'd managed any outdoor activity before mating Danny without breaking bones.

Sweat was rolling down my body when I finally reached the falls. Inheriting Danny's strength and stamina didn't seem to equate to improved fitness. At least, if it did, no one had told my sweat glands that.

The thirty-minute hike had taken closer to an hour, thanks to my less than stellar navigation skills. Through the bond, I could feel Danny's concern tinged with amusement. Even if he hadn't checked his phone, he must've realised I was on the move. Knowing my luck, he'd probably heard the many curses and epithets I'd uttered with his supe hearing.

But I was here now. The sun was high in the sky, the surrounding forest peaceful. Dropping the basket on the ground, I stripped off my top and let the gentle breeze cool me. There was no fear about catching the sun. It might have been summer, but we were in the Scottish Highlands. The season didn't really pack the same punch as it did back home.

Another tick in Southampton's column. Really, I was the odd one for preferring what was a relatively grimy, run-down city over the beauty of the Highlands, but there was no denying how I felt.

Pushing away the negativity, I laid out the blanket and opened the basket. All of our favourites were inside: cured meats, paté, Brie, a French stick, and even a small bottle of Prosecco.

I closed it with a sigh. Without Danny to share it with, there didn't seem much point. My appetite appeared to have fucked off, sulking in the corner with the rest of me that wished my mate was here.

I'd chosen a spot right next to the stream. Lying back on the blanket, I listened to the grasshoppers chirping. The leaves rustling in the trees. The quiet rush of the waterfall. Birdsong filtering through the canopy.

It's almost enough to make me want to spend more time in nature , I thought to myself drowsily. Almost.

If I hadn't been paying such close attention to the sounds, I might've missed it. The sudden silence. The birdsong and grasshoppers stopped. The wind died in the trees. Even the water seemed to bubble quieter.

Goosebumps rose on my skin. Even with my eyes closed, I knew I was being watched.

I'm not alone.

At the other end of the bond, the same sense of unease was rising. Was it in response to what I was feeling? Or was something happening to Danny too?

Summoning whatever bravery I possessed, I forced myself to open my eyes.

A sneering face hovered only inches from my own. It was one I recognised immediately. The one who'd insulted me at our first meeting.

Iris.

"Hello, human," she purred.