Chapter Nine

Rowan

I woke with a start, flinching, but not a lot since I was in a cage of warm arms.

"It's okay. You're safe here with me," Talon whispered. His cinnamon breath wafted toward me, and what we'd done here, in his playroom, all came flooding back.

What a first date.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm—" Before I could finish my apology, Talon put his finger over my mouth.

"No more sorries, sweet omega. No more."

I sighed. "That's going to be difficult. I'm nearly a professional at apologizing."

He chuckled, tucking me in closer to his body. I craved his nearness. My wolf did as well.

Of course we did. Talon was our alpha. Our fated mate. I knew it but didn't dare say the words out loud.

Plus, there had been no knotting or marking, so there was a chance he didn't think I was his mate.

I leaned back and rolled onto my stomach. Talon ogled my form with hunger in his eyes. "What are you doing, omega? Trying to taunt me?"

"I'm going to get dressed and go home, Talon. Tonight was incredible, but I have to get some sleep for work tomorrow." I scooted toward the edge of the bed, which was easy considering the black satin sheets were made for slipping and sliding.

Talon's hand gripped my forearm and dragged me back until I crashed against his chest again. "I'm not ready to let you go. I…come home with me, Rowan. Spend the night at my home."

I gasped. This was going beyond the club and the playroom and experimenting.

And I was all in for it.

"Are you sure? I thought you just wanted me here, in this room for fun."

He growled. The reverberation shook me. "I thought so too. Convinced myself that once I had you that I might be able to let you go, but I can't. You'll come home with me?" He pressed and sealed my answer with a kiss even though I hadn't spoken it yet.

His lips were demanding and I let out a soft moan. "I have to get dressed first."

Talon smirked. "If you must."

I decided to test something. "I don't want the whole club seeing me naked."

"They will never see what's mine," he answered, low and menacing. "Not without consent."

Once we were dressed, he held my hand as we went to his office where he grabbed his phone, keys, and wallet, and to my surprise, opened one of the panels behind his desk with a press of his palm to the leather.

"I didn't know that was there," I said.

"That's kind of the point, Rowan. This leads to a private exit and to my car. Let's go."

We climbed into Talon's car, which was more like luxury on wheels. He kept his hand on my thigh for the ride, squeezing it a few times.

"Talon, this is your home?"

If an upscale, modern house had a baby with a gothic mansion, Talon lived in it. The outside was dark-gray brickwork with black accents and a huge double black front door. "It was an investment," he said, shrugging. This house was not one you shrugged at. Laid down on your face and prayed to, maybe, but not shrugged.

"It's breathtaking," I said as he came over and opened my door for me. "Don't you think?"

He raised his gaze to the house and back to me. "I've seen more beautiful things. Let's go inside. There's a chill in the air, and you are hungry."

I was, too, but didn't say anything. My hunger for him had been my priority and it was nowhere near sated.

We walked inside after he palmed the touchpad to unlock the door. With our hands linked, he pulled me into the kitchen. "Sit down. I'm going to make us something quick."

"You cook?" I asked.

"I'm a man of many talents, Rowan." He turned and winked at me.

Talon rolled up his sleeves and got to work. In only minutes, he slid an omelet onto a huge plate and added slices of toast. He pulled a container of raspberries and blueberries from the fridge. "I have water. Coffee. Milk. Orange juice. Iced tea. Sodas…" He would've gone on if I let him. I saw the vast number of beverages in his huge, double-door refrigerator.

"Water is fine. Thank you. This looks delicious." We dug in. The food was amazing but I had something to say. One of my dads used to tell me that if you have something to say and you don't, you've lied to yourself and the other person. I was no liar. "Is this…do you often bring people back here?"

He cocked his head. "Say what you mean, Rowan. You can do it. I won't bite. At least, not yet."

Talon always encouraged me. "Do you bring other omegas here? Am I…is this your usual routine? I'm just another…" I couldn't even finish the sentence.

The words were out there. No take backs.

"Rowan, you think I take omegas to my playroom and then bring them back here? That you are some notch in my belt?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. That's why I'm asking."

He stalked around the island and spread my knees to stand in between them. Cupping my face, he searched my eyes before speaking. "I haven't taken any omegas to my playroom and not because the club just opened. I only share that part of myself with those I want to and I haven't wanted to in quite some time." I opened my mouth to apologize but he spoke first. "No one comes to my home except the house staff, and I don't feed anyone. You aren't just someone in a long list of conquests, Rowan. You are special and mine."

I cast my gaze downward. His words buzzed and hummed through my mind, but it was all hard to believe.

I'd been beaten down by the words and fists of Salem for so long that even years later, I found it hard to believe anything good about myself.

"I want you to say it, Rowan."

"Say what?" I asked, meeting his stare again.

"Stand up," he commanded, but from him I didn't mind. I obeyed immediately. "Say that you are special to me. That you are mine. That I am yours. That you are beautiful and worthy and you belong to me."

I snorted. "That's a mouthful. I can't even remember all…" A slap landed on my ass, making me gasp. Gods, I liked that more than I probably should've.

"Remember what we talked about, Rowan. When I tell you to do something, it's because I care. Now, say it."

I sighed. "I am special to you. I am yours and you are mine. I am beautiful and worthy and I belong to you."

The words didn't sound as foreign as I expected.

I was rewarded with a lingering kiss which took away the sting of the spanking. Talon ran his nose up the side of my neck, inhaling deeply. "Such a good omega. So obedient and ready for me." He grazed his hand across my groin. "I'm wondering if you liked that spanking."

I nodded. "Will you only spank me when I'm naughty?"

"If you like it, we will explore the spanking some more. Have you eaten enough? Because I'm starving for you."

"I'm done eating."

Talon led me up to his bedroom where this time, the sex was slow and more fluid, if that was possible. He took his time, loving me. Whispering all kinds of words of praise and care.

"Omega, come with me," he moaned.

"Knot me." I squirmed as he loomed over me. His eyes were golden as his wolf was close, and a sheen of sweat made his body glisten.

His pumps slowed. "Are you sure? Knot you?"

I nodded. "Knot me and mark me as yours, Talon. Unless…"

"Gods, you have no fucking idea how much I needed you to say that."

Our climaxes took us with a fury. The swell of his knot grew inside me at the same time his teeth pierced my skin, right on my shoulder. I cried out in pain and ecstasy and he turned, looking at me. We were still very much connected by his knot. "Mark me, omega. Rowan. Sink your teeth into me. Show me we belong together."

My wolf rose to the surface, sharpening my canines to his, and I bit down on Talon's shoulder. He roared and his knot pulsed inside me, spilling more cum inside my body.

He was mine. And I was his. This time, it was a whole hell of a lot more than words.

He collapsed onto me. Wrapping his arms around me, he cuddled me close.

"Rest now, Rowan. Let's rest."