Chapter 28
Nathan
I led Rissa into my bedroom, exhaustion weighing down my limbs. Tension from the failed trap still coiled tightly under my skin.
Rissa moved about the room, her presence soothing my wolf in a way I couldn't ignore. Satisfied. Protective. This rightness, this sense of mate and family and home, it was what I'd been missing for so long.
Part of me ached, unsure how to move forward after everything. But watching Rissa, having her here in my space like this, stirred something powerful inside me. My heart clenched with an emotion I wasn't ready to name.
Rissa perched on the edge of the bed and glanced over at me. "We talked about Elle's power."
"Her empathy?" I said. "I figured it out years ago. I wasn't sure when the right time to talk to her about it was, though."
"Yeah, it's time. She's ready." Rissa took a deep breath. "As you heard, we also talked about Mira."
My stomach clenched at the mention of my late mate. I nodded but didn't trust myself to speak, yet.
"Elle told me she barely remembers her," Rissa continued gently. "And that she doesn't ask because she doesn't want to make you sad."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. All this time, I thought keeping Mira's memory tucked away was protecting Elle. Now I saw it for the mistake it was.
I clenched my fists at my sides, realizing I had failed Elle in a way I never intended. "I thought I was doing the right thing," I admitted, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. "But I should've been telling her about her mom every chance I got."
Rissa stepped closer, studying me carefully. "She needs to know her mother, Nathan. And you're the best one to give that to her."
I dragged a hand down my face, recalling all those lonely nights I spent staring at pictures of Mira, consumed by grief. And all the while, Elle was growing up without those stories, without those pieces of her mother.
"I'll fix it," I said finally, emotion straining my words. "I'll tell her everything."
The corners of Rissa's mouth lifted slightly. "I think she'd really like that."
I exhaled slowly, the weight of my own mistakes pressing down on me. "Thank you for being there for her. Even when she didn't make it easy."
Rissa's hand found mine, her touch gentle but reassuring. "She's a good kid. Strong, like her dad."
I squeezed her hand, gratitude swelling in my chest. Having Rissa here, supporting me, supporting Elle, meant more than I could say.
My wolf stirred again, urging me to pull her closer, to claim her as mine. But I resisted. I wasn't ready for that step. Not yet.
Instead, I met her gaze, letting her see the sincerity in my eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Riss."
She smiled then, a real smile that lit up her face.
“I’ll be back,” I said quietly. “I don’t want to wait to tell her I’m sorry.”
I stepped into Elle's room, the soft glow of her bedside lamp illuminating her peaceful face as she slept. Crouching down beside her bed, I gently brushed my hand along her arm. "Hey, kiddo. Wake up."
Elle groaned, shifting under the covers before blinking up at me with sleepy eyes. "Wha'?"
My gaze fell on the picture of Mira on Elle's nightstand. I hesitated for a moment before picking it up, my heart squeezing with a familiar ache. But this time, it didn't shatter. I looked back at my daughter, determination filling me. "I should've told you more about your mom."
Rubbing her eyes, Elle sat up straighter. "Dad—"
"I'm sorry, baby girl," I said quietly. "That changes now. I'll tell you anything you want to know."
Elle stared at me, her brown eyes so much like Mira's that it stole my breath. Then, slowly, she nodded. "I want to know everything."
Pulling her into a tight hug, I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "We'll start tomorrow."
Elle's gaze drifted past me as I released her, landing on Rissa, who stood in the doorway. To my surprise, my daughter climbed out of bed and walked over to her, hesitating only a heartbeat before wrapping her arms around Rissa's waist.
Rissa's eyebrows shot up, but she quickly returned the embrace, holding Elle close. Something warm unfurled in my chest as I watched them. My daughter had just accepted Rissa into her life, into our family. And that meant everything.
When Elle stepped back, she mumbled a quick "Night" before clambering back into bed.
Rissa and I exchanged a glance, a wordless understanding passing between us as we slipped out of the room and into the hallway. With each step toward my bedroom, the pull between us grew stronger, more insistent.
I wanted her. Every part of me craved her touch, her taste, her scent. Yanking her into my arms, I growled against her lips. “If you don’t want this, say so now.”
She sighed and whispered, “Nathan, this is what, the third time we will fuck? Stop asking. If I don’t want it, I’ll tell you in no uncertain terms.”
Thank fuck. I pulled her into my bedroom and shut the door behind us.
In the dim light, I led Rissa to the bed, yanking my shirt off as I went.
She threw off her shirt, too, and unhooked her bra, exposing her breasts to my waiting lips. I sucked on her hardened nipples as she writhed under me. My cock jerked in my pants, desperate for release.
I lifted her, pressing her against the pillows and biting at the soft flesh of her neck. She moaned, arching into me as I worked my way down to her panties. Dropping to my knees, I yanked them off roughly before devouring her pussy with my mouth.
The taste of her flooded my senses—salty and sweet and alluring. Shoving two fingers into her wetness, I crooned around her clit while sucking and licking. Rissa gasped and threw her head back against the wall, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
“Fuck… Nathan!” She cried out, bucking against my face as her orgasm built.
I pulled away, standing up to strip off the rest of my clothes. I couldn’t wait. I rubbed my head in her folds, lubing it enough so that I could slam into her tight, wet pussy.
She gripped my shoulders as I thrust into her, her legs wrapping around my waist. Her moans echoed around the room as we fucked fast and hard. My release built rapidly, senses heightened by the feel of her body moving against mine—the sounds of our skin slapping together like a rhythmic symphony.
I wasn’t ready to come yet, though. It took everything in me, but I pulled out and buried my face in her pussy again. More to give myself time to calm down than anything, but damn, she tasted good after having my cock in her.
I licked and sucked and nibbled until finally, she yelled my name and came again. Then I flipped her over and settled myself on the bed. “I want to watch you come apart above me,” I said as she positioned herself over my cock.
Slowly, she lowered herself onto me, taking me deep inside her. She sighed as she filled herself with me, as though my cock inside her was the most satisfying feeling in the world. I almost came right then but held on.
With a smile, she began to move, her hips rolling in a mesmerizing manner that had me grunting out curses.
Her movements intensified, becoming increasingly rapid and frenzied as if driven by an unstoppable force.
Her breathing quickened, each inhalation sharp and shallow, punctuating the air with urgency.
Her body moved with an almost rhythmic grace, every muscle taut with anticipation.
The room pulsed with her energy, charged with the electric tension of the moment.
She changed her motion from rocking to more of a bouncing.
Watching her tits bounce as she took her own pleasure made me want to come even more, but I held it back.
Barely. She threw her head back and moaned.
I reached up and squeezed her breasts, tweaking her nipples as she arched backward.
The tips of her hair tickled my thighs as she bounced faster and harder.
I alternated moving my hips with her bounces, thrusting into her.
As she came again, I couldn’t stop myself. Her pussy squeezed my cock relentlessly, her walls undulating. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before.
I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I roared as my own release poured into her, filling her up with my seed. We stayed like that as the room slowly settled back into its normal state, our hearts calming down from their wild race.
I kissed her deeply, tasting myself on her lips. We collapsed onto the bed together, panting and sweaty and content.
“I might not be ready to complete a mating bond just yet,” I whispered against her lips. “But you’re mine, do you hear me? Mine."
Rissa's eyes glittered in the dim light as she gazed up at me. "Yours," she agreed softly, her fingers tracing my jawline. "And you're mine."
The possessive growl that rumbled through my chest surprised even me. My wolf preened at her words, urging me to claim her fully, to complete our bond. But the human part of me knew we weren't quite ready for that step.
I rolled to my side, pulling Rissa with me so we lay face to face. Her skin was flushed, hair tousled from our lovemaking. She'd never looked more beautiful.
"I want to do this right," I murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Take things slow. Make sure we're both ready before we make it permanent."
Rissa nodded, a soft smile playing at her lips.
"I appreciate that," Rissa said softly. "After everything that's happened, I think we both need time."
I nodded, tracing my fingers along the curve of her hip. The warmth of her skin against mine was intoxicating.
"Elle seems to be warming up to you," I said, a hint of wonder in my voice.
Rissa's eyes lit up. "She's an amazing kid, Nathan. Smart and strong, just like her dad."
"And stubborn," I added with a chuckle. "Also like her dad."
We lay in comfortable silence for a few moments, just enjoying each other's presence. I fell asleep happier than I’d been in a very long time.