Chapter 24 #2
A tangy sweetness overrides the sour in her smell, prompting my alpha to purr. My chest vibrates, and I press her hand against it so she can feel as well as hear as I ask, “Does that mean I can hold you?”
Only my purr prevents utter silence from settling over us for a long moment as she stares at me.
Then, she dives forward. Her head bumps into my chest, awkwardness giving way as the rest of her body follows.
Her arms snake around to clutch my shoulders.
Mine round her back as she snuggles into my lap.
The top of her head tucks under my chin and she rubs against me.
I’m the one purring, but she’s like a cat, kneading and rubbing until settling and pressing soft kisses against the base of my throat.
Much as I would love to bask in the moment, there’s still too much left unspoken—not to mention the one-on-one lunches she doesn’t yet know I’ve set up for the rest of the week.
“I need words, darling.” I nuzzle the delicate curve of her ear as she kisses my throat again. “You liked my, er, romantic speech, but you haven’t actually said what you want, what you’re willing to be with me.”
“And do with you?” Her eyebrows lift in suggestively as she pulls back just enough that we can see each other, catch a hint of the warmth of each other’s breath. Her hands still stroke my shoulders and mine brace her arched back.
“That, too. Consent and all that jazz.”
“Somehow, you asking about consent is very sexy.” Her gaze drops to my mouth.
She shifts, bringing a hand around, and traces my bottom lip back and forth.
“I’m interested in all manner of consent, in bed and out, though we’ll have to negotiate the details as we go.
It’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone outside of Max’s heats that I don’t know if my likes have changed. ”
“I’d be happy to help you find out.” As she strokes my lips again, I slip my tongue out and taste her fingertip. Pure, tangy cranberry.
“I thought you might.” She adjusts her seat, giving my cock room to harden further. The teasing twist to her mouth suggests the shift wasn’t by chance.
Much as I want to pursue that line further, duty calls.
“What about Dan and Nathan?”
“What about them?” She shrugs and leans back, shoulders stiffening.
“Do you want them?” I stroke her back, careful to keep my tone as casual as possible. She’s demonstrated that she wants me. Therefore, I can be generous and share. My alpha huffs, not completely on board.
“Maybe.” She meets my gaze with a mixture of challenge and uncertainty. “Do you mind?”
A rueful chuckle escapes me. “Yes, no, and let me get back to you on that.”
“That’s not an answer.” She pokes my chest, then rubs the spot to ease any hurt.
“I love you. I don’t love them.” Oddly, my inner alpha pushes me to clarify that last, offering me intriguing flashes of ordering Dan or Nathan to pleasure her, using them as extensions of myself, or even exploring the nuances of Dan’s mix of dominance and submission.
“I don’t love them yet. I might learn to, provided they treat you well enough that you decide to keep them around. ”
“Hmm.” The tanginess of her fragrance increases. “Do you like them?
“Maybe.”
She gives me a sideways glance, settling into my lap again and bearing down on the bulge in my pants. “Do you want either of them?”
“I don’t know.” My cock throbs. Unlikely she didn’t catch the twitch, given the way her throat works as she swallows hard.
“It’s the truth: I don’t know. I might reach that point—it’s not a stretch to imagine—but I need to know them better first. I’m picky about who I take to bed.
” I drink in the whole of her, leaving no doubt of the visions passing through my head. My alpha purrs louder.
“Fair enough.”
“I’m willing to give us a chance as a pack. Us, as in all four of us”—my turn to quirk my eyebrows and give her a sideways glance—“unless there’s someone else you’d like to add?”
“I wasn’t even looking.” Johanna’s head falls forward against my chest, but rueful amusement rings clear in her voice.
“Now you don’t have to.” I stroke her back and keep purring. “We’ll just take it day by day?”
“Yeah. I care about you, too, you know.” Her words are muffled against chest, but clear enough.
“I suspected, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Don’t know when it started or when it changed.” She takes a deep breath, pebbled nipples brushing my chest as she tilts back and meets my gaze again.
One long moment of staring into each other’s eyes. Then, she leans forward and initiates a kiss.
Finally!
Sweet and gentle at the start, lips whispering against each other. A nibble here, another there. The floodgates break, and we’re wrapped in each other’s arms, chest to chest, breast to breast, her mouth voracious as she sucks on my tongue …
Only to break into a big yawn.
We draw back, laughing, an edge of confusion and apology in her voice and expression. She slumps tiredly against me and yawns again, making clear I’ve pushed her as much as I should for the night.
But tomorrow will come soon enough.