Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
ISABELLA
T he grand hall of the Nightshade Pack’s lodge feels impossibly vast as I step inside, the quiet grandeur of the place seeming almost out of place here in the Cascade Mountains. The polished wooden floors gleam in the soft glow of the overhead lights, and the scent of cedar and something faintly wild lingers in the air. Ryder strides ahead of me, his broad shoulders tense, every movement radiating command and control. Lucas has joined us, his usual easy demeanor laced with something sharper, though he hides it well.
“This isn’t necessary,” I say, my voice cutting through the silence. “I can find a place to stay in town.”
Ryder glances back at me, his amber eyes catching the light. “Do you remember the state of your clinic when you got back from town? And that was broad daylight. No way you’re staying at the clinic—or anywhere else for that matter—by yourself.”
My hands ball into fists at my sides, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “I didn’t ask for your protection.”
“No,” he says, his tone even, “but you’ve got it anyway.”
“You can’t just order me around,” I say, feeling kind of foolish, as it’s obvious he can.
“I hate to tell you this,” says Lucas in a stage whisper. “But he’s alpha. He can pretty much do whatever he wants to do.”
“He’s not wrong,” says Ryder, and I can’t tell whether or not he’s joking. “Put her things in my suite. Lucas, you’re in charge of Blue.”
“What’s wrong with the guest room on this floor?” asks Lucas innocently, although I suspect he is goading his brother.
“Lucas,” Ryder snarls, shooting his brother a sharp look.
Lucas clears his throat behind us, his lips twitching into a grin. “You two should really learn how to discuss things and reach some kind of agreement. It’s a lot less exhausting than all this bickering, although not nearly as entertaining for the rest of us.”
“Enough Lucas,” growls Ryder.
“Ryder, knock it off,” I say, not sure whether I’m more aroused or angry—could be both.
Lucas raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Try not to murder each other.” He winks at me before taking Blue and disappearing down a side hall, leaving me to face Ryder alone in front of a small group of his pack.
Great.
Ryder turns back to me, his gaze narrowing. “Come on,” he says, jerking his head toward the staircase. “You’re not staying in the room at the end of the hall. You’ll be upstairs with me.”
“Excuse me?” I stop in my tracks, crossing my arms. “I’m sure the guest room is fine.”
“I don’t agree. It’s too exposed,” he says, his tone clipped as he starts up the stairs. “Anyone can access it from the outside if they’re determined enough. You’ll be upstairs.”
I don’t move. “You can’t just decide things for me, Ryder. I’m not one of your pack members.”
He pauses on the stairs, turning to look at me. There’s a flicker of something in his eyes—something raw and unguarded that sends a shiver racing down my spine. “You’re in my house, Bella. That makes you my responsibility.”
The seriousness of his words lingers between us. While I should resist, his powerful presence and focused attention on me renders me speechless.
Realizing I’m not really capable of moving, Ryder comes back down the stairs and grabs me by the wrist before I can take another step back. His movements are swift and precise, leaving no room for argument. One second, I’m standing my ground, ready to fight, and the next I’m slung over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
“Ryder!” I yell, my fists pounding his broad back. He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t slow. “Put me down! This is insane!”
“Not until you stop being stubborn and start listening,” he growls, his voice low and commanding, rumbling through me like thunder.
I kick my legs, but his grip only tightens, his arm like an iron band around my thighs. “You can’t just throw me over your shoulder like I’m a sack of grain!”
“I’m pretty sure I can,” he laughs, his tone sharp and unyielding as he heads up the stairs.
“Ryder!” I shriek, my fists thumping against his back again. I don’t think he even notices until he lands one sharp slap to my backside, making me shriek again.
With everyone in the foyer looking on, he ascends the staircase with a steady and deliberate step.
“You’re wasting your energy,” he says, his tone maddeningly calm now, as if he’s enjoying my struggle. “Save it for something useful.”
“Like what?” I snap, twisting in his hold, but his grip is unrelenting.
“Like surviving,” he says darkly, his voice dropping lower. “Because the Crimson Claw won’t give a damn about your independence when they come for you.”
The words hit me hard, silencing me for a moment. I can hear the raw frustration in his tone, the anger barely masking something deeper. Something sharper. His muscles coil beneath my fists, every inch of him radiating power, authority, and an unwavering need to protect.
When we reach the landing, he turns down the hall, heading for the door at the far end. “This is ridiculous!” I shout, finding my voice again. “You don’t get to decide where I stay!”
He kicks open the door to his suite, stepping inside without missing a beat. “I think you’ll find I can and will do exactly that, especially when your safety is at stake,” he says firmly, setting me down on my feet with a decisive thud. He’s so close I can feel his heat, his imposing presence making the spacious room feel smaller.
I whirl to face him, my hair flying over my shoulder. “You’re out of your mind! I’m not some problem you can just...”
“You’re staying here,” he says, cutting me off with a tone that brooks no argument. “This room is the safest place in the house, and that’s where you’ll be.”
“Your room,” I say, my voice dripping with disbelief as I glance around. The heavy wood furniture, the rich, dark tones, and the faint, wild scent of him—it’s unmistakable. “Where will you be?”
“In here with you,” he says simply, stepping closer. His amber eyes burn into mine, the intensity in them making my breath catch. “I don’t trust anyone else to keep you safe.”
I take a step back, my spine brushing against the edge of the enormous bed. “I don’t need your protection, Ryder.”
His eyes narrow, his expression hardening. “Yes, you do. And until you figure out how to stop putting yourself in danger, I’m going to be the one protecting you.”
“I don’t want your protection!” I snap, my voice rising as the heat in my chest builds. “I want...”
“What?” he asks, closing the space between us in two quick strides. His hands grip the edge of the bed on either side of me, caging me in. “What do you want, Bella? Because all I see is someone who doesn’t know when to stop picking the wrong battles to fight.”
I freeze, my breath hitching as his words cut through me. The air between us is charged with something I don’t understand but can’t ignore. His scent surrounds me, wild and overwhelming, and his proximity sends a jolt of heat through my body.
“Why do you care so much?” I whisper, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay steady.
His gaze drops to my lips, his jaw tightening. “Because I don’t have a choice,” he says, his voice rough and raw. “Because every time you put yourself in danger, it tears me apart. You are my mate and after tonight, there will be no one who doubts it, not even you.”
The confession leaves me speechless, my chest tight as I stare up at him. His eyes are wild with a maelstrom of emotions I can’t untangle, and the intensity of his presence makes it impossible to look away.
“Ryder...” I start, but my voice falters as he leans closer, his lips so close I can feel the heat of his breath.
“You drive me insane,” he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. “On your knees, Bella.”
Before I can respond, his lips crush against mine, fierce and commanding, stealing the air from my lungs. His hands slide to my waist, pulling me flush against him, and the fire burning between us explodes, consuming everything in its path.
There’s a part of me that is intimidated by Ryder, but at the same time my desire for him seems to grow each day—so much so that there are times I feel like I can’t breathe. His tongue tangles with mine, dominant and seductive at the same time.
“Knees, Bella,” he repeats, and I quickly obey, sinking to the floor before him.
He pulls his sweater over his head as he opens his fly to release his cock. Large, strong, hard, and inches from my mouth. He grips his cock and strokes it slowly once, then again.
“See something you want?” he rumbles in a voice that seems to roll over me and sink into every cell in my body.
I nod my head. Ryder's lips curl into a grin. He takes a step back, giving me a moment to appreciate the sight of his erect cock before he wraps a firm hand around the base and guides it towards me.
I part my lips, eager to feel the warmth of his flesh in my mouth and on my tongue. My cheeks flush scarlet, but I can't help but relish the sensations coursing through me as I take him into my mouth. The taste of him is intoxicating—salty, musky, and undeniably male—and I suck eagerly, swirling my tongue around his shaft as he becomes even more fully engorged.
His hands find their way into my hair, gripping tightly as he thrusts deeper, towards the back of my throat. His breath hitches and his eyes close momentarily in pleasure before opening wide once more to observe me eagerly servicing him. I moan softly around him, feeling an unfamiliar sense of power rush through me as I pleasure Ryder in this way.
"That's it," he rumbles, "take it all." And I do—every inch of him until I gag slightly, but I don't pull away. Instead, I revel in the feeling of fullness stretching out my throat, knowing that I seem to be giving him great pleasure.
His pace quickens; his thrusts become more urgent and demanding. His breathing deepens, growing heavier with each passing second. And then, his cum begins spurting in thick ropes down my throat. I look up, watching as I feel his cock twitching with each spasm of release. It's a sight that both terrifies and exhilarates me—the raw power and vulnerability of it all.
Ryder staggers back, leaning against the door, his breathing ragged as he recovers from his climax. I stay where I am as he composes himself. His dick is still half hard. He growls low in his throat—he wants more. There is something about knowing that that sends a thrill through me like nothing I have ever felt before.
His hand extends, and I place mine in it. He helps me to my feet and leads me to an oversized chair by the fireplace.
I watch him sit. “Naked,” he commands.
He truly is lord and master of his domain—the alpha. I remove my clothes as his dark eyes rake over my naked body. I want to cover myself. I want to look away, but I know he wouldn’t allow that.
He gestures to the ottoman in front of him. I stand in front of it, my body closer to him. He doesn’t touch me. He won’t. Not yet. I realize this is a game of seduction and a demonstration of his power.
“Sit,” his command is sharp. Final.
My body quickly obeys. He begins to stroke his now fully hard cock.
“Spread your legs for me, Bella.”
I do so. I want him to lick my pussy. I want to feel his mouth suck my clit as his fingers fuck me. I want so much. But I know that Ryder is in complete control. I trust he will see to my needs, but he will do so in his own way. He will give me what he wants to give me.
“Touch your pussy.”
My hand hesitates a moment. I’ve masturbated before, but never in front of anyone and never at anyone else’s command.
“Now, Bella.”
My hand lowers, I stroke my finger over my clit, through my lips. My head falls back on a moan. I am so wet, so needy.
He watches me as I masturbate, a slow smile forming on his face.
"That's it," he says softly, "make yourself come for me."
His words send a fresh wave of arousal through me. I can feel the pressure building within me, the need to release growing stronger with each passing moment. I rub faster, my breath quickening as I concentrate on the pleasure coursing through my body.
Ryder's eyes never leave mine as he strokes himself. I watch the veins in his cock pulsing with each movement of his hand, his dark gaze never wavering. The sight of him so aroused only heightens my own desire, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
"Ryder," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the rush of blood in my ears.
He nods once, a sinister smile playing across his lips. Then he stands up and walks towards me. My heart pounds in my chest, anticipating what he might do next. He kneels in front of me and takes my nipple between his teeth, gently biting down and sending a jolt of pleasure-pain through me that makes me gasp and moan louder.
With one hand still firmly wrapped around his erection, Ryder uses the other to grip the back of my head, pulling me towards him until our faces are just inches apart. His eyes burn into mine as he rumbles, "Come for me now."
And with that command I do, my body shaking with pleasure as wave after wave of ecstasy floods through me. My orgasm is intense, a result of my own touch combined with the knowledge that Ryder is watching me, eager to claim his pleasure from me next.
As I come down from my high, Ryder steps closer and takes my hand away from my wet core. He presses his dick against me, the head sliding easily into my entrance as he tilts me back, bringing my legs up around his waist. He pushes harder, filling me completely with his thick shaft. I gasp at the feel of him inside me, so hard and hot.
He starts to move, thrusting slowly at first, building up speed as he watches me writhe beneath him. His hands grip my hips tightly, never letting go even as our bodies move together rhythmically. Every thrust sends sparks through me, making me want him more and more until I'm moaning again.
I look up at him, eyes wide and filled with desire. "Harder," I beg him softly, loving how he dominates me in this moment. He grins cruelly, and without pause, he obliges. His rhythm intensifies; his thrusts are deep and powerful now, each one hitting my sweet spot just right to induce another orgasm within moments of the first one subsiding.
And so we continue, Ryder pounding into me relentlessly while I cling to him for dear life, both of us seeking release in this primal bond we share. It's exhilarating; it's terrifying; it's intoxicating. In this moment, I am completely and utterly under his control, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
His gaze fixes on mine, his eyes dark with lust as he drives into me over and over again. I am a vessel for his passion, a willing participant in his desire. And as he nears his climax, I can see it in the way his muscles tense, the way his breath quickens, the way his eyes flash dangerously.
"I'm going to fill you up," he whispers, the words barely audible over the sound of our bodies slapping together.
The thought sends a shockwave of pleasure through me, knowing that I am the cause of his ecstasy. He doesn't hesitate, thrusting harder and faster now as he nears his peak. His breath is ragged, each word an effort. With that, he thrusts one final time before releasing inside me with a hoarse cry.
As he collapses against me, still joined, we linger in the aftermath, tangled in each other and the echoes of what just happened. His breath comes shallow and labored, his body trembling against mine as I trail my fingers along his damp skin. Slowly, he withdraws, leaving a spark of longing in his wake. My eyes flutter shut as he scoops me up effortlessly, carrying me to the bed—but the intensity of his gaze tells me this night is far from over.