35. Chad
CHAPTER 35
Chad
As Lakelyn takes a shower, I stand in front of her full-length mirror, staring at my reflection like it's the first time I’ve ever seen myself. My fingers trace the mark Mason left on me, a glowing reminder of last night. It's strange—shiny, almost, like it’s got its own light source. And if I focus, really concentrate, I swear I can feel him through it. This weird buzzing warmth, like he’s right there, even though he’s not.
I’ve never had an alpha’s mark before. The whole thing feels surreal. Especially since I spent so long searching for this before finally telling myself it wasn’t something I wanted. Now here I am, practically willing my heat to come so we can make it permanent. So I can keep it. The thought makes my stomach twist in this weird, excited way that I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with.
I’m still staring at the mark, lost in it when Lakelyn comes out of the bathroom. She’s got that freshly showered glow, skin warm and dewy, hair damp and sticking to her neck. A towel wrapped around her perfect body. Her eyes soften when they meet mine, and she walks over, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. She presses a sweet kiss to my shoulder, smiling into my skin like everything’s perfect.
I catch her hands with mine, holding them against my stomach, her touch grounding me. “I’m sorry he didn’t mark you last night,” I say, my voice a little rougher than I intended. “He should have.”
Lakelyn laughs, light and easy, like it’s no big deal. “Pretty sure I would’ve died trying to take him last night. Even without the knot, I’m not sure I could handle it yet. That’s a whole lot of alpha.”
I smirk, unable to help myself. “He can mark you without sex, you know. It just… hurts less if he does it during.”
Her fingers trace over my bare chest, sending shivers down my spine. “Well then, maybe next time you could be inside me when he bites me,” she says, her voice teasing, low. Then, her lips brush against my skin again. “Or maybe you could…do the claiming.”
That stops me cold. For a split second, everything freezes in place—her suggestion hanging in the air, sending my brain into overdrive. Me? Marking her? That’s… I mean, it’s not impossible, but the idea’s so intimate, so personal. My heart kicks up, adrenaline coursing through me.
Without thinking, I twist in her arms, my hands grabbing her waist as I pull her closer. There’s this electricity sparking between us, and suddenly, I can’t wait. I lean down, my lips crashing against hers, and kiss her senseless. It’s not soft or sweet—it’s messy, needy, like I need to show her just how much she affects me.
Her fingers dig into my back as she kisses me back, just as desperate. Every thought I had about Mason’s mark, about wanting my heat, evaporates like rain on hot pavement. Right now, it’s just Lakelyn, her taste, the feel of her body pressed against mine, and the way her lips part like she’s ready to let me consume her whole.
I pull back, breathless, our foreheads resting together. “You don’t know what you’re asking for; once my heat comes, it will be forever,” I whisper, voice rough around the edges. “If you change your mind, it will be way more painful than losing your virginity for it to fade.” But even as I say it, I know deep down that if she asked me again, I wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Not now.
Not ever.
She holds my face in her hands, her eyes locking onto mine like she’s trying to burn her gaze straight into my soul. “I know,” she says softly. “If I’m with anyone, it’s you.” Her thumbs brush gently over my cheeks, her next words barely above a whisper, but they hit me like a tidal wave. “I love you.”
It’s like those words wrap around me, warm and solid, sinking into my bones. I feel them everywhere—steadying me, grounding me. God, I love her too. I’ve never been so sure of anything.
“I love you too,” I manage, my voice thick with everything I can’t say. “More than I could ever put into words.” Sure, I’ve told her that I thought I was in love with her, but even then, I knew I was. She’s the one thing I’m absolutely positive about. My beta.
Her lips brush my ear as she whispers, “Then let’s do it now. I want to wear your mark.”
Her words send a shiver down my spine, igniting something deep and primal. I pull back just enough to look into her eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation. There’s none. She’s serious—just as sure as I am.
“And I want to wear yours,” I reply, my voice steady with a confidence I didn’t know I had until now. It feels like everything in my life has been leading to this moment. To her.
I’ve never been so sure of anything. Lakelyn is mine. Even if Mason or Dean claim her too, it doesn’t change the fact that she was mine first. And I’m hers, no matter what.
Her fingers trace the line of my jaw before drifting down to the spot where she wants to leave her mark. Her touch’s soft but insistent, her pulse quick beneath her skin. My chest tightens with the need to make this official.
“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice low as I let my hands settle on her waist. I can feel the tremble in her body, but there’s a fire in her gaze. “Once we do this, there’s no going back.” I don’t add without a lot of pain, but she knows.
She smiles, her lips curving into something both mischievous and sincere. “I don’t want to go back. I want this. I want you.”
A growl of satisfaction rises from deep inside me, and I bend my head, nuzzling the curve of her neck. The spot where I’ll leave my claim on her perfect skin. My lips brush her throat, soft and warm, and she tilts her head back, exposing more to me, trusting me completely.
The urge to bite down, to seal this bond, pulses through me with every beat of my heart. But I force myself to slow down, savoring the moment. My lips trail from her collarbone, moving with reverence across her skin. She lets out a soft, needy sound, her breath hitching as my mouth lingers over the pulse at her throat.
“I want to be inside you,” I murmur against her skin, my voice rough with desire, "making you come undone when I do it.”
Lakelyn shudders at my words, but instead of letting me lead, she surprises me. Her hands slide to my chest, palms flat against me as she gently pushes me back. I blink in surprise, but the look in her eyes—soft yet commanding—keeps me quiet. She’s not hesitant. There’s a confidence there, blooming as she takes control.
“Then let me make you mine first,” she whispers, her voice a breath of silk as she steps forward, slowly backing me toward her bed.
Her touch is featherlight, but the pressure of her intent is unmistakable. My heart pounds in my chest, both from the raw desire swirling between us and the vulnerability of letting her take the lead.
She smiles, a hint of playfulness in her expression, and with one more nudge, I feel the backs of my legs hit the edge of the bed. My knees give way, and I sink down onto the soft mattress, watching her every move, mesmerized by how she’s commanding the moment, controlling me in the gentlest of ways.
Lakelyn climbs onto the bed, straddling my hips with an easy grace. Her hands find their way to my shoulders, her fingertips grazing the mark Mason left on me. A flicker of something passes between us—possessiveness mixed with tenderness. My breath catches as she leans down, her lips brushing my ear, a soft hum of approval escaping her lips.
“You’re mine, Chad,” she murmurs, her voice steady but full of affection. She kisses the curve of my jaw, teasing, before lowering her body onto mine, her warmth and weight pressing against me in all the right places. The towel falls completely open as she does.
I groan softly, the feeling of her taking control sending a thrill through me. Her movements are slow, deliberate, as she rolls her hips just enough to make my pulse quicken. My cock surges with blood in my jeans. My hands settle on her thighs, fingers digging in gently as I try to anchor myself, the connection between us deepening with every second.
“Say it,” she whispers against my lips, her eyes locked on mine. “Tell me you’re mine.”
I swallow hard. “I’m yours,” I breathe, my voice rough and full of need. “I’ve been yours since the first moment I saw you.”
Her lips curve into a satisfied smile as she leans down to kiss me, her mouth soft but insistent, drawing me further under her spell. I lose myself in the kiss, the world narrowing down to just her, the feel of her skin against mine, the way she moves above me, the overwhelming desire to be hers completely.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I gaze up at her. “You’ve already done all three,” I murmur, my voice full of affection and truth. “But let’s make it official.”
Her lips curve into a smile as she leans forward, her fingers gliding down between us. With a swift, deft movement, the button of my jeans pops open, followed by the soft rasp of the zipper sliding down. She presses a kiss to my lips—slow, sweet, and full of promise—before pushing me gently down onto the bed, her palm firm against my chest. There’s no hesitation in her movements, just confidence and the quiet assurance that this moment belongs to both of us.
I let out a shaky breath as she rises above me, lifting her body slightly to tug my jeans and boxers down, pushing them toward the floor with ease. The cool air brushes my skin, a sharp contrast to the heat building between us. Her eyes never leave mine as she urges me fully onto her bed, her hands guiding me back until my head rests against the pillows.
And then, she’s on top of me again, her thighs bracketing my hips, her weight warm and grounding. My length presses up against her stomach, the heat of her skin sending jolts of electricity through me. Lakelyn leans forward, her lips brushing mine in a kiss that feels like a promise—a soft, lingering connection that sends my pulse into overdrive.
Her hands explore my body as she deepens the kiss, her fingertips grazing my chest, my ribs, leaving trails of fire in their wake. My hands find her waist, gripping her gently, urging her closer, wanting to lose myself in the feel of her, in this moment that feels so much more than just physical.
She pulls back slightly, her breath warm against my lips as she gazes down at me, her eyes full of desire and something deeper, something that feels like forever. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” she whispers, her voice barely audible, like a confession meant only for me. And I know she isn’t just talking about sex, because we did that last night. She’s talking about this connection between us.
My chest tightens at her words, and I cup her face with both hands, my thumbs brushing her soft skin. “Then take it,” I whisper back, my voice raw with emotion. “I’m yours, Lakelyn. Completely.”
With a quiet hum of approval, she shifts her hips, aligning us perfectly. The sensation’s enough to drive me to the edge, but I hold on, wanting to savor every second of this. She takes her time, lowering herself slowly, inch by inch, until I’m fully inside her. A groan escapes my lips, and she lets out a soft, breathless sigh, her hands gripping my shoulders for balance. I’m sure she’s a little sore from last night, so I won't rush the moment.
For a minute, neither of us move. I can feel her pulse around me, squeezing me tight in her warmth. And it almost makes me lose control. The need to thrust up into her is so strong my ass cheeks clench with it.
Her hips begin to move, slow and unhurried, and my hands slide up her sides, gripping them as she finds her rhythm. I can feel the tremor in her body. And it tells me everything I need to know, even without her little gasps of pleasure. It’s almost too much, too sharp, but I hold on, letting her take what she needs, giving myself over to her in every way possible.
She presses kisses along my collarbone, and I know she’s going to leave her mark on my skin. A beta marking an omega isn’t unheard of; it just doesn’t happen all the time. They don’t have the same need to claim as omega’s and alpha’s do.
When her teeth finally graze my pulse point, right next to where Mason’s mark burns bright, a shiver courses through my entire body. My breath stutters, and the need that’s been building inside me for so long peaks. My fingers tighten on her hips, urging her wordlessly, telling her to do it—mark me, claim me, make this moment ours.
She hesitates for a heartbeat, as if waiting for some kind of permission, but I’m already there. I want this. I want her. And I want the world to know that I belong to her just as much as I belong to Mason. So I let out a soft, desperate sound, the only encouragement she needs.
The sharp edge of pain mingles with pleasure as Lakelyn's teeth sink into my skin, and the world narrows to that one overwhelming sensation. It pushes me over, my body arching up into hers as I come undone beneath her. I let out a strangled groan, my fingers gripping her hips hard enough to leave marks. Her rhythm stutters for a second, then she picks it up again, riding out the waves of my release as I tremble beneath her.
I lose track of time for a moment, floating somewhere between the lingering pleasure and the soft heat of her body against mine. My mind’s foggy, but the scent in the air around us cuts through it—our scents, blooming and mixing in the aftermath. The tangy sweetness of my papaya and lime blends with the warm, comforting scent of her blueberry pie, creating something wholly ours.
It's intoxicating.
Lakelyn stays above me for a moment longer, catching her breath, her hands resting lightly on my chest. Her thumb brushes over Mason’s mark right next to hers, sending another pulse of heat through me, even as I’m still coming down from my high. I blink up at her, a lazy grin tugging at my lips, and then I feel the shift inside me. It’s my turn now.
With a quick movement, I twist in her hold, flipping her over onto her back. Her gasp of surprise melts into a soft laugh as I settle above her, my knees bracketing her hips, my hands framing her face. “My turn,” I murmur, my voice still rough with lingering desire.
I pulse my hips into her, sliding in her heat soaked in my slick. The combination makes me groan with pleasure as more blood surges to my cock.
She arches a brow, her lips curving into a soft, playful smile. She flexes up into me, drawing out another moan. “Oh?”
I lean down, pressing my nose into the crook of her neck, breathing her in. The sweetness of her scent blooms even stronger now, filling my senses and making my mouth water. “Yeah. You marked me,” I say, lips brushing her skin as I speak. “Now it’s time for me to remind you who you belong to, too.”
Her breath hitches as I kiss the spot just above her collarbone, where I know my mark will go. The possessive, primal urge to claim her floods me again, but this time, it’s slower, more controlled. I want to savor this. I want her to feel every bit of what she’s done to me.
I take my time, kissing her slowly, trailing my lips down her throat as her fingers slide into my hair, pulling me closer. The sweet, familiar scent of blueberry pie wraps around me as I press my body against hers, my lips brushing over the spot where I’ll bite. But I don’t rush it. I let her feel the anticipation, let her body hum with need beneath me as our perfumes bloom together in the air around us, creating something undeniably intimate.
“You ready for this?” I murmur against her skin, my voice thick with desire, my hips moving slowly, purposefully, drawing her closer to the edge. Each motion makes her gasp, her body trembling beneath me, and I can feel her holding on, right at the brink.
Her fingers tighten in my hair, her thighs clamping around my waist as she breathes out, “I’ve been ready.”
That’s all the encouragement I need.
The moment my teeth sink into her skin, her gasp turns into a moan of pure pleasure, her muscles clenching tight around my cock as she shatters, coming apart beneath me. But something happens—something more than just the physical. I can feel it, too. It’s like I’m inside her head, feeling everything she feels, like we’re one person sharing the same overwhelming sensation. Her pleasure hits me like a wave, crashing through me, doubling, tripling, until it’s almost unbearable.
“Fuck—” The word slips out, strangled, as I lose control, my hips jerking with erratic thrusts, chasing the intensity. It’s too much, but I can’t stop. My body moves on its own, desperate to take everything she’s giving me. I know she feels it too, the connection between us amplifying every pulse, every heartbeat, every thrust. It’s raw and unfiltered, like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
I’m completely lost in her, in us, and I don’t ever want to find my way out.