Chapter 28
Heat tugged at my awareness.
Allie’s scent invaded my senses, sweet and potent, and roused me to wakefulness. I groaned against the back of her neck, sucking in deep lungfuls of the air saturated with her as her hips rocked against mine. Her skin was damp with sweat, and she reached for me in the dark.
I moved without thinking, wrapping a hand over her hip, holding her still as she whimpered, angling myself to slide inside her warm, waiting body.
I was never prepared for the feel of her, for the silken heat of her accepting me, or the burst of ginger notes in her scent that clouded my mind. Allie shuddered. She cradled my head in her hand, her nails digging pleasantly against my scalp, urging me onward. Each thrust was punctuated with a puff of breath that was forced out by the movement.
We rolled over as one, and she spread her thighs, letting me fuck into her, grind her into the mattress. I hovered over her, and she turned her head, offering up her throat to me. I wrapped my fingers around it, a cradle, so gentle compared to my hips or the teeth I sank into the scent gland.
All I wanted was to offer my own throat, to let her claim me in return. I’d never felt the deep, overwhelming spike of pleasure that came from a bonding bite, and I craved it with an intensity that made it hard to think. The only thing that kept me where I was was the shift in her breathing and the growing desperation of her moans. My first instinct was always to care for and satisfy her. Even with the haze overtaking my thoughts, I followed that desire.
I growled against her skin as her cunt squeezed me and she moaned into the sheets. I kept my pace even as she grew quiet and relaxed against the bed. It took a few moments before tension radiated from her again and she moved frantically beneath me.
Possessiveness simmered my blood. I wanted to have all of her, to give all of myself, and live in the intoxication of her nearness. She pulled me under with the sound of my own name.
I sank against her, skin sweaty, content to lie there and inhale the scent of her.
“You’re squishing me.”
Her voice pushed me back to the surface of clarity, and I rolled off. “Sorry.”
“It’s cool.” Allie slid off the bed and disappeared into my en suite bathroom. She returned a moment later, looking refreshed. “What time is it?”
I nudged my pillow to see the alarm clock on the bedside table. “5:45AM.”
“Ugh, gross.” She flopped down and rolled until she was pressed against the length of me.
“I should check on the pups,” I said quietly. “I usually go on a run in the mornings too, but I’ll skip it today.”
“I’ll come with you if you bribe me with coffee and treats.”
I chuckled. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“Not even a little bit. I would run for cardio. I don’t care about adding cake to my waistline.” She patted her belly.
I leaned down and nipped her stomach before she could react. Allie shrieked with laughter and shoved my face away.
“You can’t bite me there, you weirdo. I’m ticklish.”
Funny how I hadn’t discovered that when we’d been together last time. I snared her waist and pulled her to lie on top of me. “Quit being adorable.”
“Nope. It’s impossible.” She buried her face against my neck. “I have to be cute at all times, or I’ll fade from existence.”
“We can’t have that.” I cupped her ass and inched my fingers upward, dancing up her ribs, and dangerously close to her stomach.
“Don’t you fucking dare, Sidney Marino.” She laughed and squirmed. “I will bite you.”
“That’s not a deterrent,” I said. “But I won’t.”
She threaded her fingers into my hair and gave my scalp a thorough rubdown. “That’s a good boy.”
Warmth flooded my chest and an involuntary squeak left my mouth.
Allie stared down at me. “What was that?”
“Um…”
“Sidney.” She leaned in, her face hovering an inch from mine. “Do you like being called a good boy?”
“I’m…not sure. You’re the first one to ever call me that.”
Allie sat up, straddling my hips. “Considering all the things you’ve called me, I think it’s only fair that we have some kind of pet name that makes you weak. I need to level the playing field.”
I snorted. “We don’t need a pet name. You make me weak.”
“Awwww.” She patted my chest. “You’re the cutest sap.”
“I was being serious.”
She cupped my cheeks and kissed me softly. “You can be serious and the cutest at the same time.”
I let myself indulge in her, let her nearness settle some deep and ancient part of myself I rarely acknowledged. My alpha instincts wanted her so badly, and the rest of me wasn’t far behind.
“I don’t want either of us in public until we know what’s going on. How about some coffee on the deck?”
“No one’s going to be out this early,” she said. “What if we took the pups for a tiny walk?”
“Okay. A very short one,” I agreed. “I’ll put the coffee on and get their breakfast.”
Allie nodded and climbed off me, flopping onto her side and immediately closing her eyes. I left the room smiling and went about my morning business. When the pups were fed and harnessed, I carried a to-go cup of coffee into the bedroom for her.
She hadn’t moved an inch.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You can keep sleeping if you want to.”
“No,” she mumbled. “I’ll come.”
Allie rose and located her undergarments, pants, and shirt, pulling them on in turn.
“Could we stop by my place for fresh clothes? I’m a few streets over.”
“Yeah, that should be short enough for the puppies.”
We stepped out into the morning light, three puppy leashes each, sipping coffee as we walked side by side. I’d never had anyone take on puppy care with me before. They were a draw when it came to cuteness and cuddles, but I’d always done the actual work alone.
Allie hummed while we walked, one arm looped through mine, the other holding her coffee with the leashes around her wrist. The pups trotted along, happily sniffing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so relaxed with another person.
We reached her place about fifteen minutes later, and I took over the pups while she washed up, packed herself some essentials, and watered the lone plant she’d bought since moving in. I surveyed the plethora of unpacked boxes and simple furniture.
“I could help you unpack sometime if you want,” I offered.
She beamed at me as she re-emerged. “Normally I’d say no, but I hate unpacking, so that would be fab if you actually want to.”
“For sure, we’ll figure out some time that coordinates with work schedules and puppy naps.”
Allie bent down to pet them all, setting aside the bag slung over her shoulder. Johann got so excited over the attention he peed right in her entryway.
“Oh, baby, is life too exciting?” She laughed.
“I’ll clean it if you watch them,” I offered.
“I’ve got it.” She hopped off to get paper towels.
I wasn’t certain why I found her mopping up puppy pee while cooing at the offender so endearing.
With the cleanup done, we headed back to my place.
The general populace was stirring by that time, though no one bothered us. Only the singing birds and the happy scampering of puppies broke the morning silence.
The pups were slowing down by the time we got home again. I carted two in my arms who had sat down and refused to continue.
“This has been the cutest morning-after in my whole life,” she said, giggling as she leaned down to scoop up one of her group that had been falling behind.
I tried not to think of the others. She was free to be with whoever she wanted, but it did still pick at me to know it hadn’t been with me, even though I had removed myself as an option.
“I can agree with that. Definitely my cutest one, too.”