Chapter 6 #5
She sighed, a sound of pure contentment, and melted into my embrace.
I rolled to my side, pulling her with me, tucking her against my chest with her head pillowed on my arm.
The blanket was tangled around us, sand stuck to our sweat-dampened skin, and the ocean continued its eternal rhythm against the shore.
Above us, the stars wheeled in their ancient patterns, indifferent to the small drama of two people finding each other on a beach in the middle of nowhere.
But I wasn't indifferent. I was transformed.
"Tori," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair.
"Mmm?"
"Thank you."
She lifted her head, her eyes meeting mine in the darkness. "For what?"
"For trusting me. For choosing me. For giving me..." I trailed off, searching for words adequate to the magnitude of what she'd given me. "For giving me everything."
The ocean wind shifted through the trees, stirring the warm night air around us. I could hear the distant rhythm of waves rolling across the sand beyond the palms, the scent of salt and flowers drifting through the clearing. I rested my forehead briefly against hers.
"Tomorrow," I said quietly. "Will be difficult.
" She stilled slightly in my arms, already knowing what I meant.
"There is a group date. The producers will expect me to entertain the contestants.
I will have to pretend to be interested in them.
" My jaw tightened slightly. "I will have to smile at Jessica and let her touch me. "
Tori's fingers tightened in the fabric at my shoulder. "I know," she whispered. The words were soft, but I could feel the tension in her body.
My hand lifted to her face, tilting her chin upward so she had no choice but to meet my eyes.
"But know this." The seriousness in my voice made her breath catch.
"Every smile is false. Every touch makes my skin crawl.
When I look at them, I see only you." My thumb brushed slowly across her cheek.
"When I close my eyes, I smell only you.
You are my first thought when I wake and my last before I sleep. "
The beast stirred inside me, quieter now that we had the taste of our mate on our lips, her wet heat around our cock. He was quiet but not sated. Watchful. Eager to claim her for himself.
Mate.
I agreed.
She lifted her head, kissing me softly. The kiss was nothing like the desperate one from moments earlier. This one was slower. Gentle. Full of quiet warmth that settled deep in my chest.
Tori's fingers traced idle patterns across my chest, following the faint ridges of scars earned in battles she would never see.
Her touch was thoughtful now instead of hungry, like she was trying to learn something about me with her fingertips.
But something had changed. I felt it before she spoke.
Her body had gone slightly still. Her breathing had shifted. My instincts sharpened immediately.
"What troubles you?" I asked quietly.
She hesitated. That alone made my chest tighten. Tori was not a hesitant female. I had already learned that much about her. Her gaze dropped to my chest instead of meeting my eyes.
"It's… nothing," she said, though the words sounded uncertain even to her own ears.
The beast stirred restlessly.
She hides something.
"Yes," I murmured. My fingers slid beneath her chin, lifting her face gently until she had no choice but to look at me. Moonlight filtered through the leaves above, catching in her eyes. "There is no reason for silence between us," I told her softly. "You may speak freely to me, Tori. Always."
She exhaled slowly. "I know." Another pause.
The ocean breeze shifted again, carrying the scent of salt and night-blooming flowers between us.
"I just…" She shook her head slightly, clearly frustrated with herself.
"I should have told you sooner. It's not exactly a secret, but everything happened so fast today. The church, the cameras, the show—"
My stomach tightened. "What is it?"
She looked at me again, her expression serious in a way I hadn't seen before. "There might be a problem."
The beast rose instantly. Problem? My hands tightened slightly at her waist. "What problem?"
She drew in a steadying breath. "You remember Derek. The groom."
"I remember," I said evenly.
Her fingers twisted together nervously in the fabric of my discarded shirt lying across the blanket. "I told you I didn't love him. That part is completely true." Her voice softened slightly. "But the wedding ceremony… that was just for show."
My body went completely still. The beast inside me prepared for battle.
"No," I growled softly, the sound escaping before I could stop it.
"It wasn't like that," she said quickly, placing her hands against my chest as if trying to calm the storm she could see building in me. "It was a contract marriage. A business deal. I had a separate bedroom at his house. It was just going to be for six months. Then we would get a quickie divorce."
My pulse thundered in my ears. Fucking human males.
What was wrong with them? "These are things you have already told me.
" I waited. I would eliminate the male, Derek, if I must. Now that I had tasted pleasure with my female, touched her.
Heard her cries of pleasure. I would not give her up.
The time for honor was over. The beast roared inside me, furious and wild.
Mine. Kill Derek. Destroy him. He will not touch my mate.
I ignored his ranting and forced myself to stay still. To listen. To trust her.
She swallowed, her voice quiet but steady. "I don't love him. I never wanted him." Then she looked at me with complete honesty. "He's not my mate. But legally, right now… I'm…" She slammed her fist down on the blanket. "This is a lot harder than I thought."
Neither beast nor male could stand to see our mate in distress. I pulled her against me and rubbed her back until she melted against me. Soft. Content. I could hold her all night.
"What the hell are you two doing out here?
" Chet, dressed casually in shirt, sandals and shorts, appeared out of the darkness like a specter.
Rohn and Krag with him. Of course. "You ever heard of telephoto lenses?
Zoom? Hell, someone probably has satellites pointed at this place right now.
And you're naked? God, are you naked under that blanket? Please don't tell me…"
My beast growled a warning. "Do not finish that sentence."
Chet burst out laughing. "I know. I know.
" His fingers danced over his mating collar.
I had no idea what he and his mates were sharing through the unique Prillon psychic link, but whatever it was had Chet blushing.
"Just get inside, okay? Before you ruin everything. Did you see the numbers from last night’s show?
Oh my god. Amazing. So good. So whatever you're doing out here, do it inside.
Deal? We have time delay releases, but even I can only do so much if you two are parading out here naked. "
Tori was already on her feet; the blanket wrapped around her as she gathered her clothing and shoes. Fucking cock blocking bastard. I wasn't done with her. And she still hadn't told me the rest of her secret.