Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Sylvik
I wriggled my bare toes, where my feet were propped on the coffee table, a wry smile tugging at my lips.
Perhaps it was the whisky I’d been sipping all afternoon that had given me this soft glow, but maybe not.
I’d been feeling like this all day; I’d met Garrak for lunch, and he’d taken one look at me, grinned hugely, and slapped me on the shoulder.
“Congratulations, T’mak!” he’d rumbled, and I’d found myself chuckling.
We were far from the congratulations stage, but I couldn’t deny that I felt a hell of a lot better after last night. I hadn’t claimed Brooke, not fully, but sinking into her tight pussy had only reinforced how I felt about her. That sounded stupid, yeah, but…
It had been right.
She made me feel complete.
And that, more than anything, made me think that maybe my adopted big brother was right. Brooke was my Mate.
Lazily, I slid my tongue across my upper lip, capturing the last taste of the whisky as I gazed unseeing at the crackling fire, vaguely wondering if I should go make myself something more festive for the season. I still had that chocolate candy leftover, and I could melt some…
No. I wrinkled my nose. It wasn’t going to be as good as the diner’s Mistletoe Mistake.
A log fell into the fire with a snap, making me snort at the illusion. It wasn’t a real fire, no. None of the Eastshore houses had been built with fireplaces, but I’d hung my large television on the wall where a hearth might be, and now it played a looped video of a fire.
It made me feel cozy, and the crackling in the background was pleasant.
There were some days I missed Colorado—hells, I even missed Alaska, although usually not in midwinter. I suspected I’d always be nostalgic for cozy evenings in front of the fire. But if Brooke was here, then my new life was here.
What if she’s not here? What if she takes that job in California? Would you be happy chasing her to the West Coast?
My lips curled downward, and I shifted forward, my feet hitting the floor as I lifted my glass for another sip. Move to Los Angeles? Could I do that? After I’d found such contentment here on Eastshore?
More importantly, would I want to do that if she was returning to her ex-partner? This was the guy who’d made her think her creativity was less valuable than his organizational skills, when clearly she’d been the heart of their company. I knew he was offering her a chance to regain her dream, but…
My fingers tightened on the glass. I couldn’t stand the thought of Brooke with him, and not just because she was mine. He’d treated her like shit, hurt her, made her think she was somehow less.
If she returned to California to be with him and chase her dream again, I would…
I sighed and set the drink down.
I would trust her to know her own mind. Even if it wasn’t the future anyone who loves her would choose for her, I had to trust that she knew herself better than I knew her.
No matter how much it would hurt to see her leave.
Gods below, even the thought of such a thing made my stomach clench and my Kteer moan in pain. My claws scratched at my chest until I realized I was trying to dig out the hurt, the same way I’d been trying for weeks.
I couldn’t.
Brooke was a part of me, a part of my heart.
Suddenly, my senses went on alert and my Kteer began to rumble. I was standing and facing the front door when the knock came. I’m not sure how I knew, but…
She was here. Brooke was here.
I leapt for the door, wrenching it open, and when I saw her standing there on my doorstep with that ridiculous wool cap, my entire chest expanded. My being expanded.
My cock most certainly expanded, I’ll tell you that.
“Merry Christmas!” Her breath fogged the air in front of her face—maybe it was a little chilly outside—and her smile made my heart sing. “I…” She lifted a few plastic containers. “I hated the thought of you sitting here alone…”
So she’d come to me?
In a daze, I pulled her into my home, shutting the door behind her, holding her hands—and the plastic containers—between us. “Thank you,” I managed, still staring into her beautiful green eyes, feeling as if everything was right once more.
“No one should be alone on Christmas,” she whispered.
This wasn’t my tradition or holiday, but I’d come to appreciate the Christmas spirit over the last few decades. “I had lunch with Garrak.” But I didn’t want her to think I was dismissing her efforts, so I smiled slowly and squeezed her hands. “I’d much rather have spent the day with you.”
An adorable blush crept up her cheeks. “Oh. I…um, I wished you’d been with us for Christmas dinner. So afterward I packed up some food for you. There’s enough for both of us, if you want…if you want to share.”
Unable to wait any longer, I pulled the containers from her hand, plopped them on the credenza beside the Christmas tree we’d decorated, and whirled back to her before she could do more than exhale.
When I stepped forward, pushing her back against the heavy door, her palms spread across my chest and her breathing hitched.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” I murmured, my gaze hungrily sweeping across her features. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” She sounded breathless. When she stretched up on her toes, I met her.
This kiss was soft, gentle. Teasing. Full of promise. Brooke’s fingers wrapped around my collar, pulling me closer, closer. And my Kteer exalted in the knowledge that my Mate wanted me as much as I wanted her.
Mate.
Yeah, there wasn’t any doubt now. I loved Brooke. She completed me.
And if I wanted the chance at a future with her, I needed to tell her so…before she took Ethan’s offer to return to her old dream. Could I convince her to find a new dream…with me?
Oh yeah, I had plans, good plans. Plans which went all to hells when Brooke’s tongue teased mine tentatively. My Kteer growled, deep in my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her middle, lifting her closer to me.
She snaked her arms around my neck and, as my hands cupped her ass, wrapped her legs around my waist. The position pressed her hot little cunt against my throbbing cock, and all those plans to declare my intentions went right out the window.
Because I remembered how fucking perfect she’d tasted last night, and I wanted to taste her again. Wanted? No, I needed to taste her again.
My lips moved from her mouth to her jaw, then to her neck and the sensitive spot behind her ear, and all the while I was making promises. “You remember what I said last night, dkaar? I need to make you scream in pleasure.”
She wriggled her hips against my cock and hummed. “Yes, please, Sylvik. We can eat later.”
I grinned against her skin, loving that our priorities matched. “Oh, love, I plan to eat my fill now.” Still holding her, I turned us both toward the bedroom. “Ready?”
Her hold on me tightened, even as her hips rocked. “Please, Sylvik!”
I would bring my Mate more pleasure than she could imagine!
Brooke
I’ll admit that I’m not entirely sure how I managed to get all my clothing off in such a short amount of time, especially since I was so distracted by the fact that he was stripping out of his clothing. I’d felt Sylvik’s body last night, but seeing it?
Seeing his body, as he first pulled off his shirt, then slid his sweatpants down his legs? Good God, it was delicious.
And then he slid off his boxers, and that magnificent, ridged cock sprang free, and I think I probably whimpered like an idiot as I reached for it. For him.
But there was a wicked look in his glowing green gaze as he stalked toward the bed, where I was spread out.
When he reached me, he reached up and ripped his glasses from his face—this should not be a sexy move, but it was.
Maybe because he was gazing at me like a starving predator?
All I knew was that I sucked in an aroused breath when he tossed his glasses on the bedside table without looking away from me.
I lifted my arms, hoping to draw him down on top of me—I wanted to finish what we’d started!—but instead he planted his palms on either side of my shoulders and grinned predatorily.
“Mine, Brooke,” he growled, holding my gaze. “Tonight, you’re mine.”
Always! I wanted to blurt. But if he only wanted tonight… I mutely nodded, and I swear he gave a little purr of satisfaction as he lowered his mouth to my breast.
His tongue—wide, ridged, and oh-so-green—flicked out, teasing my nipple until it hardened into a tight bud.
I gasped, arching my back to press closer, eager for more.
Sylvik’s touch was electrifying, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through me whenever his tusks slid along my skin, scraping gently.
His hands weren’t idle; they caressed my sides, my hips, my thighs, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
Every stroke of his tongue sent me spiraling higher, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I writhed beneath him. He moved to my other breast, giving it the same exquisite torture. My fingers clutched at the sheets, needing something to anchor me, to keep me from being swept away.
His touch was masterful, knowing exactly where to tease, where to linger. How could he know my body this well? I didn’t even know my body this well, and none of my previous lovers—
For fuck’s sake, just bask in the moment!
Right.
Sylvik trailed kisses down my stomach, his tongue dipping teasingly into my navel, making me laugh breathlessly. Hopelessly. Anticipatorily?
When he finally settled between my legs, I thought I might die from relief. He looked up at me, his glowing green eyes filled with hunger and something deeper, something that made my heart flutter. Then he lowered his head, and his tongue—that amazing, ridged tongue—found my clit.