Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Chloe

A s I sit between Holden and Blake, the sweetness of apples, cinnamon, and caramel lingers on my tongue. The empty pie pan sits on the table in front of us, licked clean of crumbs.

The resort's luxurious media room boasts a massive screen that makes me feel like I'm inside the movie. Plush, comfortable seating surrounds us, the tiered rows adorned with cozy blankets and pillows.

On the screen, the heroine creeps down a dark hallway, and I tense with anticipation.

"No, you fool!" My hands lift to my chest, curling as the music raises goose bumps on my arms. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

Blake chuckles. "Because the lightning storm killed the power, remember?"

The killer jumps out from behind a door, and I let out an involuntary squeal, covering my face. When I peek through my fingers, the female lead is narrowly escaping his grasp.

Blake laughs harder. "You said you've already seen Carnival of Carnage."

I pull my frog hood down, obscuring half the movie. "It was a while ago. I still can't believe you had a hard copy."

He tickles my side, making me flail. "How long?"

"A month?" I giggle, batting his hand away.

On screen, the female lead outsmarts the killer, leaving him writhing in pain.

"You go, girl! Stab his ass!" I cheer, thrilled by her victory like it's the first time before turning back to Blake. "Do you have the sequel? It's supposed to be even better!"

Amusement twinkles in his pale brown eyes, and his lips curve into a grin. "Pretty sure we do. Let's look."

He stands and motions for me to follow him.

I turn to Holden. "Coming?"

He stifles a yawn. "The movie closet isn't big enough for three people. I'll stay here where it's comfy."

"Be right back." I hurry after Blake, who leads me to a discreet door at the back of the room, hidden among the heavy curtains that buffer sound, preventing it from intruding into the rest of the house.

He opens the door to reveal an alcove filled with shelves upon shelves of movies, each one carefully cataloged and organized by genre.

A soft gasp escapes my lips at the sheer volume of films.

"Wow." I run my fingers along the spines, the embossed letters of the titles making me nostalgic. While digital is easier to access, we lost a form of tactile art in the name of convenience. "I've never seen anything like this."

"We bought out a video store that closed." The deep rumble of Blake's voice resonates in the small space, making my heart race. "The internet isn't always reliable for streaming, so we figured it was good to have an alternative. And they were cheap."

"This is amazing." I locate the horror section and spot several B-rated films that never warranted being digitized. "A treasure trove of movie history."

It would take years to watch all of these movies, and a pang of longing opens in my chest. If only I could stay here forever.

But that's impossible.

I find Carnival of More Carnage and pull it off the shelf. "Got it."

When I turn, Blake stands right behind me, and his pheromones surround me in the enclosed space. The smoked applewood and cider intoxicates me. I could drown in this scent if I'm not careful.

"All set?" His warm breath caresses my cheek, stirring the tendrils of hair around my face.

Gulping, I nod and hold up the case.

Instead of moving, he leans closer. "Are you a sequel virgin? Or should we expect spoilers along the way of this one, too?"

His deep voice resonates within me, causing my heart to flutter. "First time for me."

"Is that so?" Blake purrs, and I flush at the double entendre. "Let's go, then."

He moves backward, and I trip after him on instinct before I rein in my hormones. Jeez, it's like I've never been around an Alpha.

While Blake swaps the discs on the projector, I return to the front of the theater, hoping that distance will settle my racing pulse.

"Ready for round two?" I ask as I near Holden.

When he doesn't answer, my steps slow.

He lies reclined in his seat, the flickering glow from the screen casting shadows across his slumbering face. His golden-brown curls frame his slightly pointed ears, and thick lashes fan over his softly rounded cheeks. He looks so sweet I want to snuggle up with him, but at the same time, guilt nags at me for keeping him up with our movie marathon.

"Blake." I turn toward him as he walks down the aisle. "Should we call it a night?"

Blake leans over to look at Holden, his long brown hair falling loose from its bun, and he chuckles. "Naw, he's fine. Once he's out, there's no waking him up."

When I check the display on my phone, I see that it's not even nine o'clock. "Is it normal for him to fall asleep so early?"

"No, but he woke up at four this morning to make breakfast." As if he can't help but touch me, he tucks my hair behind my ear. "He wanted to make sure Kyle ate something decent before his fishing trip."

The thought of Holden sacrificing his sleep for others makes me go all melty inside. "That's so nice of him. Did Kyle catch the salmon we had for dinner?"

"He did, but not today. Kyle got lucky yesterday and brought in a big enough haul to smoke some, too. He goes out almost every day." Blake takes my hand and plays with my fingers. "You've probably noticed already how much Holden loves taking care of people."

"Since I arrived, he's gone out of his way several times to make sure I'm comfortable." The innate kindness radiating from him is one of the many things that draws me to him.

My heart yearns for more time with them, but I need to remember that, no matter how tempting these Alphas are, nothing can come of this.

"We should call it a night." My attempt to sound firm wavers with my reluctance to leave the comforting darkness of the media room and the warmth of their presence.

"If that's what you want." Blake's chest brushes against me as he leans down to grab the remote, sending a rush of tingles through me. "We can always continue our movie marathon another night."

At his easy capitulation, a pang of disappointment shoots through me, but I quash it. This is good. A little distance to cool my head is good . So why do my instincts scream that it's bad ?

"Before you go, though," Blake says, straightening to stand in front of me, "you need to see the best part of the media room."

I glance around the dimly lit space. Sure, the leather couches and enormous screen are impressive, but nothing out of the ordinary for a high-end resort. "What am I missing?"

"Let me show you." Blake takes my hand, and the touch of his fingers sends an electric jolt up my arm, igniting a fire within me that I struggle to contain.

Hold tightening, he leads me to a pair of recliners behind the couch.

"Come on," he says, his voice deep and seductive as he draws me down and pushes up the armrest, turning it into a loveseat.

With a practiced flick of his wrist, he lays the chairs all the way back. My heart pounds harder when his shoulder presses against mine.

He turns his head toward me, his face shadowed. "Ready to be amazed?"

I give a shaky laugh. "By all means. Amaze me."

Lifting the remote, Blake shuts off the TV and wall sconces, plunging the room into darkness.

I gasp and clutch his arm.

"Scared?" he teases, his warm breath tickling my ear.

"Of what? You secretly being a zombie clown?" I say to mask my nervousness.

He lets out a low groan, mimicking the undead, and tickles my ribs. "Brains. Must eat brains."

I giggle despite myself, swatting his hands away. "You know, I'm beginning to think this was all a setup."

"Trust me, it's not."

We settle back into the recliners, our arms pressed together, the warmth of his body seeping into me.

Lips brush my cheek. "Look up."

Slowly, pinpricks of light appear in the darkness above us, drawing a gasp of delight from me. It's as if we're lying beneath a clear night sky, the heavens stretching out before us.

"Amazing, right?" Blake wraps an arm around me, and I snuggle up, breathing in his intoxicating pheromones. "There are fiber optic lights in the ceiling panels."

I smile at his enthusiasm for the technology behind it. "But can't we walk outside to see the stars?"

"Ah, but not tonight." He cuddles me closer. "There's a storm outside, and it's cold and rainy."

I nestle my head against his chest. "Being here is so much nicer."

The longing inside me grows. I'll never be able to have something like this if I stay locked in my fake courtship with my mom's loan shark.

But if I pay him off, will he break the contract? I could do it if I agree to write the trilogy my publishers want. Would it be so bad if it meant freedom? What are three more years of my life compared to all the years that come after?

Blake's chest rises and falls beneath my cheek, and I turn to rub my nose against him, breathing in his scent. A purr rumbles from him, and his hand drops to my hip, snugging me closer.

My breath catches, and I tilt my face up to his, needing to see his expression. At the same time, he leans down, and our gazes lock as our lips meet in a tender kiss.

Time stops, leaving only the two of us in the star-speckled darkness. The taste of Blake, the sensation of his mouth moving over mine, draws me in deeper, each touch an unfurling map of new sensations. I lose myself in the warmth of his embrace, irresistibly drawn to this Alpha.

Tingles light up every nerve in my body as our mouths move in sync, exploring each other with a hunger that grows with every passing second. His hands slide down my back, and he shifts onto his side, gripping my hip to pull me closer, making it impossible to ignore the growing bulge tightening his zipper.

Liquid heat floods my core, and with a needy whine, I hook my leg over his waist. His hand drops to my ass, and he ruts against me. Pleasure spirals through me, and I grip his shoulders, needing more than this. I ache with an emptiness that can't be eased by only grinding together.

I reach down to wrap my hand around his thick length as much as his jeans allow.

He mirrors my action, cupping between my thighs, and groans. "Fuck, you're so warm."

I gasp as the heel of his hand massages my clit, and his fingers stroke my aching folds, pressing my wet underwear inside me. His pheromones thicken, making me dizzy, but it's still not enough, and I whimper in frustration.

His hand leaves me, and he reaches for the zipper on the front of my onesie. "Can I?"

I nod desperately, and he opens my outfit down to my waist, baring the sensitive skin beneath. Cool air hits my flushed body, and I shiver as I fumble to open his fly. Blake's warm hand glides over my breast, teasing my nipples into aching peaks.

"God, you smell so good." He nuzzles my neck, his rough beard heightening the sensation. "Lilies and lilacs… It's intoxicating."

My heart races as his hand slips lower, cupping my sex through the much thinner fabric of my panties. Even through the material, the heat of his touch burns, and an involuntary moan escapes my lips.

"Please…" I beg, unsure what I'm asking for, but knowing I need more of him.

"Shh," he soothes, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "I've got you."

His fingers move beneath my waistband, and I gasp as they find my slick folds. He teases me for a moment, tracing light circles around my clit before slipping a finger inside me, quickly followed by a second.

I whimper and finally slip my hand into his boxers, his flesh hot and velvety in my hold. His hips flex, and my head falls back against the recliner as the pleasure builds.

"You're so tight," he groans, his thumb massaging my clit as his fingers work magic. "I want to feel you come undone."

My body tenses, every sensation heightened as I hover on the edge of something magical. Then his fingers curl, stretching my entrance the same way a knot would, and my climax sweeps over me. My inner walls clench, pulsing with each aftershock, and hot cum coats my hand as he follows me over.

As the intensity fades, leaving me breathless and trembling, I realize this moment is more than a fleeting connection. It's a glimpse into the future we can have together, if only I can escape my past.