Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
HUGO
I’d woken earlier than the others and couldn’t get back to sleep. Being cuddled up with all of them was overwhelming, so I eased myself out and left the room. My own bedroom was across the hall, and I fumbled my way over to my bed. I didn’t even bother to pull on the blankets; I was exhausted.
Like before, my dream came intense and vivid, crashing into my mind with a wave of arousal.
The smell of sweet plums and summer wine filtered into my dreams. In them, the bedsprings creaked as someone climbed onto the mattress beside me. I looked up to find Jewel staring down at me with glittering golden eyes. He was still shirtless from earlier and absolutely gorgeous.
“Come here. Let me see you,” I said.
He gave me a grin and crawled up the bed toward me. His scent swirled around me, a sharp, rich aroma that made my mouth water.
“So beautiful,” I murmured, stroking his cheek. His eyes softened, and he almost preened at the praise.
I brushed my thumb against his pink lips, and they parted. His mouth felt hot and wet, and my thickening cock fully hardened. His hand touched my stomach, tracing a path up my chest that left electricity crackling beneath my skin.
His touch felt so good, his strong fingers taking their time as he explored my body. He didn’t care about how much hair I had or the mess of scars twisting over my skin. His golden eyes shimmered as they flicked up to meet mine.
“So how about now?” His voice was a low purr.
Arousal was pumping through every inch of me.
It felt hard to breathe as he slid onto my lap.
His elegant fingers threaded through the hair on my chest as he settled on top of my erection.
Fuck. I could feel his ass sliding against me through the thin fabric of our pants.
I was hard and aching, desperate to consume him.
My hands came up to settle on his hips as he bit his lip. He lowered his head to the side, exposing the elegant lines of his neck. “Offer me a bond, alpha?”
I leaned closer instinctively.
I groaned, and both our scents thickened in the air. My eyes darted to his neck, where I could see his pulse racing under his flushed skin. A lazy smirk played on his face as I took him in.
“You want me as your alpha?” My voice was scratchy with lust.
“Well, there are worse options,” he said lightly.
Still a brat. I moved, rolling us over so I was on top of him, and he rewarded me with a needy whine.
“You want me to bond you? I need to hear you say it. Tell me you want me, Jewel.”
I bent down, running my nose along his neck. Every beat of my heart pounded in my ear, pushing me to bite him.
Claim him.
He let out a delicious moan as I ground myself against his cock.
“I do,” he panted.
I let out a snarl, pinning him to the bed. My hand wrapped possessively around his throat, caging it between my fingers without cutting off his air. His scent fizzed in the air, exploding with desire.
“You’re sure? Because I’m not gonna be nice. You’ll be mine. Mine to play with. Mine to command.”
His pupils had blown wide, and his tongue darted out to wet his lips.
“Fuck, yes. Harder, daddy.”
He arched his back, and I got rid of the bits of fabric that we were still wearing.
I got my first look at his fully naked body.
He’d looked insanely hot with his clothes half-on while he fucked Jade in the sunroom, but it was different seeing him spread out underneath me like a feast. Bare and open, thighs coated in slick and his cock already leaking onto his stomach.
His hand came down to stroke it while his hooded eyes dropped straight to my erection. He bit his lip. “Fuck, I’ve been wanting this for so long.” His voice was breathy, his chest heaving.
It was a nice thought, Jewel dreaming of me. Longing for me. Waiting for the day I’d take him apart.
He cried out as I slipped my finger between his legs, pressing inside him mercilessly. He was hot and tight, and I could get addicted to the little noises he was making as I started to work him open.
“Make me yours. Need you.” His head fell back, and he hooked his leg over my shoulder. His hair was rumpled and messy, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his skin.
“Yeah, you need your alpha, don’t you? Need this cock to fill you up and make you feel good?”
“Mmm,” he said again as I pressed against him, teasing him.
“Oh, fuck. Yes, daddy. Want that. Right there,” he panted, and I reached down to stroke his cock.
I wanted to watch his face as I did this. He didn’t take long before he climaxed in my hand, his tight body clamping onto mine, and I had to grit my teeth not to come as well. I wasn’t done with him yet.
I pulled free and patted his thigh. “Good boy. Now, ass up, omega.”
“Yes, daddy,” he murmured as he rolled over. His eyes were still closed, a blissed-out look on his face as he presented for me.
He let out another whine as I thrust inside him. His slick and my prepping made for a smooth entry, and fuck, it felt amazing. He was hot and tight, and he began shaking as I started fucking him.
“Fuck, yes,” he panted. “You can have me. Bite me, please, Hugo. Make me yours. I need you.”
I wanted to knot him first. I wanted him to be mine, fully, in every single way. He whimpered as I pressed forward, holding him down and making him take me all the way up to my swollen knot.
“Yes—” His voice broke as I worked my way inside.
I grunted as the last bit of resistance gave and my knot locked us together. My orgasm slammed into me, and in the delirious bliss, I leaned forward and bit into his neck.
As the coppery tang of hot blood filled my mouth, I realized that I wasn’t dreaming.
He cried out beneath me with a sound of bliss and ecstasy, while I tried not to panic.
Oh, god.
This was real.
“Hugo?” Jewel’s voice was a whine. “Don’t tease me, do it properly.”
To my horror, he started to turn, trying to see me. I panicked and shoved his head back down into the mattress.
I was frozen, my heart racing in my chest and my breaths coming in pants.
Oh shit. Was I suffocating him?
“Hugo?” His muffled voice wavered as he squirmed beneath me.
?
JEWEL
Was something wrong?
What was wrong?
It had been disorienting, waking in the makeshift nest. My head had felt heavy as I came out of whatever fucking trance I’d been in. That was kind of terrifying, honestly. Losing myself like that.
But it was okay, because Hugo and my betas had drawn me out of it. I’d come here to make that permanent. To finally make Hugo ours. But he hadn’t bonded with me…
To my relief, he released me and turned so we were on our sides. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close to his chest.
The cuddling settled my brain, but it didn’t answer my questions.
Why the fuck hadn’t he bonded me?
With a flash of irritation, I sank my teeth into the thick arm in front of me. He yelped, but I didn’t let go until I’d wormed my way into his mind. If he wasn’t going to bite me, I’d just bite him and get the answers I needed.
Hugo was tense behind me. I licked his bite mark as I studied his mind. He was practically radiating panic and guilt. I let him stew in silence for a minute.
He cleared his throat. “Look. Uh, I think I should tell you I thought I was dreaming.”
Huh.
“Do I often feature in your dreams?” I kept my voice light.
“Um… you do, yeah.”
I was trying very hard not to let my own emotions overwhelm me. I trailed my fingers along his arm, my nose stinging. When I’d gotten a hold of myself, I spoke again. My voice was surprisingly steady. “So, what you said… you didn’t mean it. You don’t want… me.”
“I do, Jewel.” He pulled me closer to him, and his voice softened. “Of course, I do. How could I not?”
My nose was stinging again. I wanted to scream, because this was so perfect. His thick arms wound around me, and our blended scent was everywhere. He was warm and strong, and I felt safe in a way I’d never, ever experienced with any other alpha.
Maybe, with him, I could broach that terrifying unknown that I’d spent most of my life avoiding. The thought flitted through my head before I could stop it; he made me feel like I wasn’t broken.
Fuck that.
I wasn’t broken.
I was fine.
But now I was angry, and my eyes were watering, and I was still in this stupid bed with this stupid alpha who didn’t want me.
“Well?”
I felt him stiffen behind me. “I can’t.”
I grabbed his hand and scent marked it, barely restraining myself from biting him again. Why was he doing this? Why wasn’t I enough?
He sat up, reclaiming his arm. “Stop it, Jewel. I can’t. You deserve better than me.”
His voice was pained, which was so stupid because if saying that hurt him, why the fuck was he doing it?
I sat up and glared at him. “I deserve to get what I want. I want you.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I know exactly what kind of alpha you are. I’m choosing you.”
“You say that now—”
I cut him off with a snarl, jabbing my finger at him. “Don’t tell me what I want, Hugo. I’m so sick of everyone acting like I’m delusional or impaired! I know what I want. I want you to bond me and Jade and Casey and make us pack. So stop being a coward and fucking dark bond me.”
“No.”
I scrunched up my legs, hugging the bedsheet to my chest. I could feel my lip trembling as I lowered my gaze. My voice turned pathetically weak. “Hugo, please. I’m begging you.”
Through my bite, I could feel how much he wanted to. That’s what was so confusing; his longing was bigger than mine. He was alone, too, and he didn’t want to be.
He lowered his head, and for a beautiful moment, I thought he was going to do it.
Instead, he pressed a kiss to my cheek, then pulled away. I grabbed on to him, but he stroked my hair.
“I’ll be back soon. I just need some water.”
My panic started as soon as he walked out of the room.