17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Stephanie

I didn't fight it when Breeane shoved me in the bathroom and put earbuds in my ears, insisting I take a bath. She had control of the music. I wondered why my mate thought it was a good time to chop wood, but Breeane kept me away from the windows, and I was too tired to wonder long. Maybe it was his way of blowing off steam.

I have to admit it is nice to drown everything else out and just let the lyrics flow through me. Since I was in here, I took the opportunity to shave. I may be a bear, but I hate having hairy legs.

The embarrassment from my reaction in the apartment has started to fade. I have to give myself grace. No one except the shifters who were with me can relate to what I went through. I have always prided myself on my strength, and showing any weakness seemed like I was lacking in some way. After I was taken, weakness was all I felt. No one understood. Quinn does. He was stuck in his own kind of prison. He has been nothing but understanding. I want him desperately. The bond is growing fast, even though we haven't marked each other yet. I couldn't walk away from him, and I know he won't leave. We are at the mercy of someone who is taking pleasure out of fucking up Quinn's life. I don't blame him .

I couldn't imagine having to do the things he has done. He feels such shame when he has nothing to be ashamed of.

The music cuts off suddenly.

I sit up, gripping the edges of the tub.

"Little Cub," Quinn says through the door.

"Yeah." I stand up and get out.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, I'll be out in a minute." I take the earbuds out and put them on the sink. I grab the towel Breeane set out, dropping it once in my rush to dry. Reaching for Quinn's shirt I brought in with me, I drop it over my head. I wring as much water from my hair as possible and then brush my teeth.

Even though it's only been a couple of hours since I saw him, I'm excited. Swinging the door open, I freeze.

"The lions took Breeane home. I sent everyone else away. Kade is back. He joined Cash and are still patrolling the area," he says. I turn my head to him, dazed. "I want you to get some sleep."

I put my hands over my heart and take a step into the bedroom.

He made me a bed.

He made me a haven.

I step closer. The mattress is sitting on a frame of trees, chinked together to hold it. Four logs stand at each corner and are connected with a platform of smaller trees above—a canopy of logs.

I walk to the end of the bed, looking through a blanket that is opened like a curtain. Several blankets and sheets are thrown over the top, cascading down the sides, cocooning the whole bed. My mate made me a closet on the bed.

My heart clammers.

"Quinn," I whisper, unable to tear my eyes away from the beauty before me. I'm extremely touched and fall deeper under his spell .

"I know you're tired," he states. "I need you to get some sleep. The sun will be up soon; this will keep out the light. It's secure. I tested it. It's rough, but it works. If you like it, when all this is over, I'll seal it and reinforce it. I borrowed the sheets and blankets from Breeane. I didn't have any big enough."

I slide my hand down the log in front of me. He took the bark off and sanded it. I swallow a few times but still can't express the enormity of my emotions. Breeane kept me distracted while he did this for me. A man like Quinn is not the canopy type of guy. His old bed frame was simple and black. The new frame reminds me of the beds you see in movies, portraying life years ago.

"I love it," I say, turning to face him.

"Good, now get in," he says.

"I will, as long as you come with me," I say, holding out my hand. He looks from it to the bed.

"You get in first," he says.

In that instant, I remember I didn't put on underwear. Perhaps I need to tease my mate. I want to reward him for thinking of nothing but me since we met.

I turn and slowly crawl over the end, putting a knee to the edge of the mattress and then the other. I feel my shirt slide higher as I inch forward on my hands and knees, giving him a full view.

"Are you asking for something without asking?" he asks roughly.

"Yes," I confess easily, looking behind me.

"Don't move," he growls. He reaches behind his neck, pulls off his shirt, and throws it on the floor. He lifts each foot and takes off his boots, the thud of them hitting the floor causing shivers to race over my skin. He stares at my ass as he unbuttons his pants but leaves them on. "No holding back," he says.

"Don't hold back," I agree .

"What is your word?"

"Cage." He nods and steps to my feet at the edge of the bed.

He cups my ankles briefly and then moves up my legs. I drop my head and groan. The roughness of his hands gliding over my skin is euphoric. He travels up my thighs and in, cupping the inside of my knees, and pulls. I lean heavily on my palms as my legs part.

I feel the bed depress when he sits between my caves. His jeans rub against the inside of my legs the closer he gets. He lifts my shirt and folds it to the small of my back.

"I love this ass," he says. I gasp when he nips my cheek and then drags his teeth across the sensitive skin. His hand slides under my shirt, up my back, and grasps my hair, pulling as he curls over me. "This is going to be fast and dirty, Little Cub."

"Yes," I hum.

"Yes, what?" he rasps.

"Yes, Daddy," I say quickly.

"Good, Little Cub." I hear his zipper lower. "I will do anything to make my baby feel secure. I don't give a shit how or where or on what we sleep, as long as you are with me, and I'm deep inside this pussy." His finger separates my lips, dragging through the wetness he caused. "I have dreamed of having a mate. The universe couldn't have sent me a better one." My pussy sucks at his finger as he teases it. "Your pussy wants Daddy."

"Please," I beg. He continues to tempt me.

"You beg so well, Little Cub. It pleases Daddy." His fingers go away, and before I can complain, his cock replaces it.

"Yes."

He chuckles darkly. "Not yet. I want you on the edge of exploding." He slides his cock over my clit, over and over. "Once I'm inside your pussy, I want you to come." He thrusts once more against my clit and then slides from it to just under my ass. He presses against me.

I moan. "Daddy." I push back, and his hand pulls my hair.

"Do not move," he growls. "You will let Daddy control the movement and the pace." I freeze, automatically obeying. "Good girl." He starts to move again, covering his cock, but never entering where I need him the most. "Fuck, you feel so good."

"Daddy, I need you," I whine, wanting to remind him that he said fast and dirty, and this is not fast. He's dragging every inch of his cock over me, and I need more.

"I know you do." He tightens his fingers. "I need my Little Cub, too," he says and thrusts deep.

"Yes," I cry. I have never felt anything so right.

"What did I say, baby," he grunts. "What are you supposed to do?"

"Come," I pant.

"Right answer." He gains speed, and I have no choice.

"Daddy," I whimper, coming. I close my eyes and lean into the hand in my hair.

"Yes, Little Cub. Your so fucking tight around me," he grits out. His words cause the orgasm to go on and on.

My hip is gripped in his other hand, which squeezes tightly as his hips hit mine faster and faster. If I were human, it would leave bruises. I'm grateful my mate was a shifter already. I can't imagine the care you have to take when your mate is human. The bed is tested with the force of our love. The spasms slow but simmering as he builds me up again.

The fire in my stomach from the heat will return again, only temporarily satisfied. The more I am with my mate, the more severe the need will become, which is already fierce .

He moves his hand to the front of my neck and pulls. Suddenly, I am sitting on his lap; my legs spread wide on either side of his thighs as he sits on his ankles.

"Daddy," I gasp, the move causing me to sink onto him in a way that shoots sparks inside me.

"Do not move," he orders and pushes up. His cock presses deep for a moment before sliding away slightly when he sits. Again and again, his short movements make me want more. "Feel me, Little Cub. I am all yours, and you are mine. Feel the power of our connection." He uses his hand on my neck to guide my head to his shoulder. "No one will take it away from us."

"Yes, Daddy." I let my body relax entirely onto him, around him, putting my pleasure and my trust in him.

"I want another one, baby." He locks his arm low around my waist. "Come again." I start to shake my head. "You can, and you will. Give Daddy your come so I can give you mine," he demands.

"Fuck," I cry. His words gave my body permission. The tightness builds, gaining momentum with every flick of his hips.

"Little Cub," he groans. "Give it to Daddy."

That's all it takes to overflow. He owns my body and my heart. My head pushes against him, lost in the emotions coursing through me.

"Daddy," I whisper.

"Take me," he whispers back and floods me, warming me further from the inside out. He roars, and I hear his bear in his voice, and my bear wants to join. She is just as pleased as I am with our mate. "Little Cub." The praise in his voice causing a dreamy smile to tug on my lips. He buries his face in my hair as we sit, his cock still inside me.

His fingers caress my neck, every few moments stopping to press on my pulse. I have never felt so safe wrapped tightly to my bear .

"Quinn," I say.

"Mmm…" He rubs his nose over my cheek.

"This is my reward." He freezes. "If I would have known I had to live in a cage, hide in the woods, be tormented for two months in order to come out the other side to you, I would do it again in a heartbeat." I swallow harshly. "I would have done it for a year to get you."

"Jesus," he growls. He yanks his hand away and out of my shirt. He lifts my body and flips me to my back, hovering over me. "My Little Cub," he mumbles, cupping my face, his thumb gliding over my lips. "If I could go back in time and meet you before then, I fucking would." He kisses me, taking my mouth with passion, but pulls away too soon. "I never want you to feel unsafe again. I will do everything I can to make sure you don't. Do you believe me?"

"Yes, Quinn," I say firmly.

"We are going to start our life together, in this house, once I make sure whoever is doing this shit is dead."

"Okay," I whisper.

"I am going to mark you and be tied permanently to you once that happens," he says.

"Yes," I agree. My bear rolls over in my head, ready now.

"I want you to get some sleep."

"Okay," I repeat.

We take turns in the bathroom before settling in bed. Quinn shuts the blankets at the foot of it so we are cocooned inside. My heart melts.

He pulls me close, his body in the same position as every night, sheltering mine. He kisses my forehead, palms the back of my head, and pulls my face to his chest.

I am lulled to sleep, listening to his steady heartbeat, with the confidence that he will always be beside me.