8. Eight

Negative energy charged the air. The frustration and irritation from both Lincoln and Sloane was too much.

I ran a hand down my face. The feeling reminded me too much of home. This was supposed to be my safe haven. The one place I could go and not have to worry about anything.

Fight or flight was easier. But now we were all butting heads, and I hoped we could all come to some sort of peaceful resolution to work together. That was the only way we would win.

Sloane chewed her bottom lip, tucking it between her teeth while she dabbed at her eyes. She drew in a shuddering breath.

My heart ached, and I wished that I could make everything better between Lincoln and Sloane.

I reached out for her and pulled her to me, pressing her head against my chest. “Lincoln means well. He’s just worried.”

Sloane gripped my sweater. “I just hate being challenged. It’s bad enough that no one else believes in me. I don’t need him not to as well.” Her voice broke.

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. My heart thumped painfully. I hated seeing her cry.

I trailed my thumb underneath her eye, catching a stray tear as it slipped out. “It’s not that Lincoln doesn’t think you’re capable. We both know you are. He’s just worried about you. We don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She sobbed, making a few more tears trickle down her cheeks.

I pulled her to me. She buried her face in the crook of my neck.

Lincoln was being hard on her. I understood why, and I needed her to as well.

“You have to understand. Lincoln was there when my mom and Hannah were killed. He had to watch that, and he couldn’t do anything to help them. That was the single worst moment of his entire life.”

I smoothed my hand up and down her back as she began to cry. “This is all uncharted territory for him. He’s not used to being around this many people. He had to flee his home. You are both going through lots of changes. You just lost your dad and are now the alpha of the pack. Our stress has never been higher. The last thing we need to do is turn against each other.”

Sloane peered up through hooded lashes. “I feel like I have to prove myself, and he’s holding me back.”

I shook my head and cupped her face. “He’s not intentionally trying to hold you back. If he were, he wouldn’t be teaching you how to fight. I think he’s just as overwhelmed as you are, and you’re both showing it in different ways.”

Her head fell forward so it rested on my shoulder. “My dad was supposed to be here to help me with this. I never thought that I’d have to navigate being an alpha by myself. Until a week ago, I didn’t even think I was going to be alpha.”

She looked up at me, and her face crumpled as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Darrin was supposed to be the leader. There was never any question about it. And he’s gone, and now my dad’s gone. Everybody keeps telling me I have to be strong, and I feel like I’m doing my best. I just want to…”

She covered her face with her hands.

I kissed the top of her head and ran my hands up and down her arms. “I know how hard it is to hold every single emotion inside. It tears you apart. There are days I just want to punch my dad and make him see reason. I just want to leave and never go back.”

I exhaled. “The path we’re on now requires us to put anything we feel aside and make everything about the betterment of everyone else. It’s just what we have to do.”

Sloane sniffled. “I don’t know how you’ve done it for so long.”

I pressed my forehead against hers. “It’s not easy, and it never gets easier. I just remind myself why I do it. You and Lincoln are the most important things in the entire world. I have to be strong for the two of you.”

She opened her mouth and then shut it. “I’m afraid it’s going to get harder.”

I closed my eyes and rested against her for a moment. “I think you’re probably right.”

I knew that wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but lying wouldn’t do either of us any good.

I pulled back so I could look her in the eyes. “But we have to believe that we’re making things better. That our future will be brighter, and everyone will be better because of what we’re doing.”

Sloane nodded, and I could tell my words had the desired effect when she pressed her lips into a determined line. We were in this for the long haul together.

Her breath caught, and her lips parted. I realized then just how close we were, our mouths a hair’s breadth apart.

She closed the distance, her lips capturing mine. I pulled her closer, needing to feel every inch of her right now.

I skimmed my hands over her sides to her ass, and I hoisted her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and ground against me.

She mumbled against my lips, “I need you, Sawyer.”

I carried her to the bed, laid her down on the mattress, and climbed over top of her.

She yanked at the edge of my shirt, rolling it up. I broke our kiss just long enough so she could pull it over my head. My lips collided with hers again. I smoothed my hand to the bottom of her workout top and tiptoed my fingers up to her breast until I found her nipple. I rolled it into a tight bud, enjoying the way she hissed when I tweaked it.

She hesitated, pulling back. “I should probably shower first. I’m all sweaty.”

I nuzzled my way to her neck, making a point to breathe her in. “You smell amazing no matter what you do. And I don’t care, because by the time I’m done with you, you would need another one.”

I rolled her top up, taking her sports bra with it, and pulled it over her head. Then I drifted my mouth to her chest, licking and sucking at each peak, being sure to give each one the proper attention.

Sloane bucked beneath me. I slipped my hand into her pants, trailing my fingers across her sensitive flesh until my thumb found her clit. When she gasped, I pushed two fingers into her wet heat.

She moaned and rotated her hips as I thrust inside her.

I picked up the pace as I sucked her nipple. “You are already so wet for me, sweetheart.”

She wiggled, pushing my fingers in deeper. “I need you inside me, Sawyer.”

I chuckled and thrust a third finger inside. “Soon. I want you to come one time for me first. Do you think you can do that for me?”

“Yes!” She sounded breathless and eager as she fisted my hair and tugged lightly.

“Maybe I should make it twice,” I said with a chuckle.

She opened her mouth like she might protest, but I pressed my thumb against her just right. Whatever she was going to say, a breathy whimper captured it. I kissed down her body and then used my free hand to wiggle her pants down.

I then replaced my fingers with my mouth, humming and pushing my tongue against her delicate core. My sweet Sloane. She needed this just as much as I did. She tasted like hope and sunshine and everything that I wanted for my future.

My only wish was that Lincoln could be here with us, too. Later, we’d all be together again so both of us could please her and show her how much we loved her.

She ran her fingers through my hair. Her thighs pressed against my shoulders, squeezing like she was trying to hold me in place. Her cries grew louder, and her movements became jerky until her orgasm raced through her and her juices flooded my mouth.

I licked up every delicious drop, drawing out her release as much as I could. She went lax, her fingers softly threading through my hair instead of pulling it.

I kissed her core a few more times and then peeked up at her. “Do you still want me, sweetheart?”

I gave her a roguish grin.

A wide smile spread over her features. “Always.”

She sounded breathless and hoarse, and my cock hardened to the point of pain.

I finished pulling her pants down and then got to work on mine, taking my shoes off as I let my jeans fall to the floor before stepping out of them.

I didn’t take her right away. I picked up her left foot and kissed her ankle, slowly working my way up with open-mouthed kisses. I skimmed one hand to her breast and the other back to her core, where I pumped two fingers into her, making her moan loudly.

“You are ready for me, aren’t you?” I could make her come for me twice and then a third time on my cock, but I needed her right now.

Her chest heaved as she stared at me. “Please, Sawyer. Please.”

Her hand went to my cock. She ran her thumb over the tip of it and slowly pumped up and down. I grunted, squeezing my eyes shut. Luna, if she kept that up, I might not get to be inside her.

I pulled her hand away, guided my member to her center, and slowly slid inside her. Her heat enveloped me, and I buried myself all the way to the hilt.

I stared into her eyes for a long moment and then slowly moved inside her, keeping myself as deep as I could. She hooked one leg around my waist and rolled her hips in time with my thrusts.

I wanted to enjoy every second of our coupling. I didn’t know when I might see her again. It was getting harder to slip away each day.

I kissed her softly, my tongue tracing along her lips. She hummed, allowing me entrance to her mouth. I skimmed my tongue across her teeth before gliding across her own.

She reached for my butt and kneaded the flesh, pulling me impossibly deeper. She was so wet and so tight, and I fit inside her like we were made for each other.

Because we were. Sloane was the only woman I’d ever been with and the only woman I ever would be with for the rest of my life.

I knew I wasn’t always the best with words, but I hoped I showed her how much she truly meant to me.

I massaged her breast with my hand, rolling the nipple between my thumb and forefinger. She wrapped her other leg around my waist and changed directions with the way she rolled her hips. A wanton sound left her lips.

I kissed the side of her mouth, working my way to her ear. I nibbled on the lobe before whispering, “Are you going to come for me, sweetheart?”

I thrust harder, my hands skimming down her leg and lifting it a little so I could stroke her at a new angle.

Sloane tilted her head back. “Please don’t stop. Just like that, Sawyer.”

I hitched her leg up higher and smacked her on the bottom. She cried out.

I chuckled, spanking her again. “That’s it, baby. Come for me.”

She didn’t need further coaxing. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, and her inner wall milked my cock as her orgasm raced through her. I pumped inside her a few more times before my release took over, and I joined her in ecstasy.

I kissed my way back to her lips and placed soft kisses against them.

Then I moved the hair out of her face and gazed down at her. “I love you, Sloane. I hope you know that.”

She bobbed her head up and down, her chest heaving as she breathlessly attempted to speak but failed.

I wished I could stay with her all day, but in the back of my mind, there was a slight knocking sound, and it came from where I was physically.

I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes, leaning my forehead against hers. One of these days, we were going to lounge in bed the entire day with no interruption. Just me, Sloane, and Lincoln.

I gave her a few more kisses before I cleared my throat. “I have to go. I have a feeling that my dad is at my bedroom door.”

Her face fell, but she nodded. “It’s fine. Go. Be safe and come back when you can. I love you too.”

I grabbed my clothes from the floor and then severed the connection.

I’d been right. My dad was pounding on the door while yelling for me. I’d been about to get in the shower when I connected with them, so I had a reason for not answering him right away. I put my hand under the spray of running water and then threw it on my hair so it looked wet, like I’d just finished in the shower. I splashed a few drops onto my face and arms too before shutting the water off. Then I threw my clothes back on and hurried to the door.

My dad punched on the door so hard it rattled, and he nearly fell into the room when I opened it.

He glared at me. “Are you going deaf, boy?”

I ran my hands through my hair and picked up the bottom of my shirt to use it to wipe at my face. “I was in the shower, Dad. I had soap in my hair and all over my body already. I didn’t want to just get out.”

He appraised me for a moment before rolling his eyes. “Whatever. I need you to come with me.”

I left my door open as I crossed to my dresser, grabbed socks, and picked up my shoes. “What’s going on?”

I sat on the bed as I put them on.

He gave me a grin that made my heart sink to my stomach. “There’s someone I want you to meet. I found you a new mate.”