Chapter 42
“Irresponsible fucking behavior, Sin,” Elias snapped.
“Oh, bugger off,” he shoved his shoulder. “I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her for shite’s sake. And she needed the air.”
“While we’re all there,” Kyan retorted. “Not just you. Do you know what you could have exposed her to? You’re lucky nothing happened. Her face is splashed all over the internet right now.”
My head bounced from one Alpha to the other. Standing here and watching them argue was kind of hot, and only the dig of the lighter in my bra forced me to get a grip on myself.
“Where are you going?” Elias demanded.
“To piss! Do you want to watch me?” I stopped at the entrance of the kitchen.
His lips formed a thin line. A smidgen of guilt speared through my gut, but I kept walking to my bathroom, locking it behind me. I turned the light on, which started the inside fan, then stuffed my hand into my bra to grab my contraband.
A few puffs were all I needed. I pulled one out, popped it between my lips, and shoved the box between the last two towels stacked above the toilet. The lengths I had to go to get a bit of relief. Shaking my head, I propped my foot on the edge of the bath to open the slim window above the shower.
I lit the end and inhaled.
Mint spread inside my mouth and nose. I held my breath and exhaled toward the screen.
God, they stressed me out. I breathed out another plume of smoke. And then another. My shoulders sank, and I took a final drag. If I spent too much time in here, I would bring too much attention to myself.
After jumping off the edge of the bath, I tossed the half-smoked cigarette into the toilet and flushed it.
I grabbed my toothbrush and brushed the hell out of my teeth, then washed my hands and wiped my mouth. Hopefully, that was enough to get rid of the smoke smell.
I stepped out of the bathroom, leaving the humming fan on, and closed the door behind me.
None of them were in here.
I tossed myself on the bed, groaning.
Sinclair had only left me needy. I closed my eyes, imagining his head between my legs again. Of his skillful tongue.
Slick gathered between my thighs. and I squeezed them together.
“Briar?” Elias’ voice infiltrated the growing lust. I shot upright and met his careful expression.
He walked inside, hands full of my bags from Langley Mall, which he set behind the door.
He’d removed his jacket, so he was only in a long-sleeved shirt tucked into his slacks.
It was a shame I couldn’t fuck him.
Elias swung his arms outward and brought them in to clap his palm on his other fist.
I slowly turned my head to look at him, and I raised an eyebrow.
“I have something to say. Now that it’s just you and me.
” I stayed silent while he shuffled a few steps toward me and stopped.
He dropped his head, and his hair fell forward, shadowing his gaze.
“I should have been a better Alpha. To Kyan and Sin, but more to you. As much as they wanted you, I refused to see reason—”
I disagreed; they were big boys who could make up their own minds, but he seemed so anxious, and I didn’t want to argue.
“Elias, not right now.” Or ever. I picked at my cuticles, waiting for his retreating steps.
“Do you want me to crawl?” he blurted.
It shocked me so much, I whipped my head up.
His head lowered, shadowing his face further. “I’ll do anything. For your acceptance. Fuck, for a scrap of your attention.” His voice cracked, turning husky toward the end. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”
“For everything. For breaking into your house and not running to find you as soon as I caught your scent. For how . . . I treated you when you arrived at The Bordello.” He clenched his hands in front of him. “For letting a woman get anywhere near me.”
Just the reminder raked at my insides. “I’ll never be able to erase the image from my memories.” My sharp words found their mark, and he flinched. He had no right to be hurt! “You know what? Yes.” I glared, knowing that this massive man was too prideful to bend to me. “Crawl,” I called his bluff.
“You think I’m joking?”
He cocked his head, and that heart-stopping smile with a tinge of a smirk settled on his mouth. He looked as full of himself as he did when I first met him.
It didn’t disappear as he lowered to his knees. “You don’t know what I would do for you.” My tongue refused to work. I gawked, watching him fall forward on his hands.
He moved like some sort of big cat. Dangerous, careful, and measured.
He crawled.
To me.
My heart thundered in my ears, and he crawled as if he was born to.
I swallowed with effort as he prowled, his green eyes peeking through the messy strands across his forehead.
He got a foot away from my knees, and I couldn’t move.
His chocolate scent wafted to my nose, and I bit back my groan. Sinclair had left me primed.
“I will crawl for you every day. Whatever you want.” His hand hovered near my leg, barely touching my leggings. I swayed forward, desire stiffening my limbs.
“Briar.” He licked his lips. “Biting you the first time battered through the shell I had around my emotions. I didn’t feel anything before you.”
He laughed, the sound low and frightening enough to send a shiver down my spine.
“What’s so funny?”
He lifted his head, looking up at me.
“No one can bring me to my knees. Only you . . .” His smile twisted. “I know you don’t believe me, and it’s okay. I brought it on myself.”
“You did,” I agreed. “All of you hurt me, but you, Elias? You smelled my scent. You were the one to realize what we were when you broke into my place.”
His head dipped lower, and he shuddered. I could feel their regret, but as much as they hurt, their actions drove me to the deepest of hells. I was at fault for hurting myself. I should have seen reason, should have snapped myself free of the shadows like I always did.
Hurting myself was the lowest I had ever hit. Never again.
“Please know that I regret it with every part of me.” Elias reached for my hand. Hot agony speared through my veins. I cried out, pulling my hand away as he recoiled.
“I’m sorry,” he croaked. As big a man as he was, the way he hunched even deeper into himself hurt my heart, and despite my reticence, I swayed forward. But since his head was dipped, he didn’t react. His chocolate scent filled my nose. I couldn’t stifle my shiver. I pushed on his shoulder.
His gaze flew up to mine, and he backed up, following my urging. He lay on the rug, and I climbed over him, tossing my leg over his waist, making sure not to touch him skin-to-skin.
Elias stared at me, confused, a question in his green gaze. I settled my weight on his waist. Air left his mouth in a gust. Another wave of chocolate scent wrung a shiver free.
Lust swelled with the intensity. He gasped, pushing his hips up, driving his swelling cock toward me.
He rested his hands on my thighs, and I shoved his arms off until they dropped to the ground.
“Don’t touch.” I pressed my palm to his chest, and he settled on the back, keeping his hands in fists where I shoved them, focus entirely on me—waiting.
Slick dampened my thighs, and his covered cock pressed against me. I shivered, so turned on and wet.
“Orgasms are the least you three owe me.” My hips moved of their own accord.
“I want to fuck you so badly,” he hissed, words guttural. My thighs clenched, and the rub of his stiff shaft forced me into a grinding pace. The sounds Elias made only aroused me even more.
I scrunched his shirt, desperately undulating my hips, the pressure driving me closer and closer to the edge. The way his body moved rocked me, but it was his face that sent me over. . .
Pleasure painted the perfect, beautiful, symmetric features. His mouth parted, and his gaze became thin slits, his face stretched taut.
So close.
I scrunched my eyes tight, tilting my head back, and the orgasm that had been hovering just out of reach came at me with force. Moaning, I jerked on top of him while his panting became harsher.
“Ffff—Briar, my Briar,” he moaned.
His hard shaft throbbed under me, and his head tilted, mouth widened on a cry, and he came.
The dampness between my legs grew, forcing a shiver out of me.
Our breaths mingled as we came down.
“I’m at your service,” he croaked. “For as many orgasms as you need.”
My stomach turned over. I shoved off him, using his chest to lift. The front of his slacks was wet; I could only imagine how it was between my legs.
He watched me stride away, and even when I was no longer looking, I could feel his attention.
“You can go,” I said, rifling through my drawers to find new clothes.
I needed another cigarette and a shower.
He didn’t say anything as I stepped past him and closed the door behind me.
I slumped, staring at my red face in the mirror. I shook my head and turned on the shower.