Chapter 18
Zoey
My head was swimming, my body throbbing, my muscles tensing as I braced myself for climax, holding on to Monte for dear life. Sex had never been like this before, but I had also never given myself over to anyone so wholly before.
Tears pricked my eyes as my emotions swirled around with his. This was something special, and I just prayed it wasn’t a once in a lifetime moment. Because even as my body strung tight and then released in the most spectacular way, I was already craving more of him.
Would it ever be enough?
How could I be fully satisfied and still want more?
He moaned my name as his body shook and he collapsed on top of me. I loved the feeling of his weight as we both took a moment to breathe through what had just happened.
What the hell had just happened?
That was a lot more than sex.
He rolled off of me, and it dawned on me that as we were caught up in the moment, he hadn’t worn a condom.
I should have been freaking out about that.
I knew better. Even though I was on the pill and there was no concern of an unexpected pregnancy, STDs were real and ran rampant around campus.
It was a rookie mistake, but the moment had been too powerful to even think straight, let alone care.
I pushed those thoughts away. He was my mate, and I knew he would never do anything to purposefully hurt me.
As the beating of my heart started to slow, I could hear the muffled pounding of bass from the party. How was it they were still going strong? How could they not know that my life had just been changed forever.
“Mmm, I fear you’ve ruined me for all other men.”
He growled.
I yawned, exhaustion hitting hard as I came down from the high of the best orgasm of my life.
“Guess you have to claim me now because no one else will ever do after that.”
I smiled and managed to kiss him before curling up against his chest and falling fast asleep.
*****
The first thing I noticed when I started to wake was the delicious smell of my mate surrounding me. It was everywhere and took me a minute to remember I was in his bed. Of course the place smelled like him.
He was still snoring lightly and since it was Saturday, there was nothing pressing that required me to get up and leave right away.
My brain started swirling with all the things I needed to do today. Normally this would stress me out until I was wide awake and making my list.
The shoot from the lodge needed to be broken out into short videos. They needed to be edited and uploaded, scheduled throughout the week.
I had a week’s worth of mail to sift through.
Most of my schoolwork had been kept up with while away, but I still needed to log on and ensure nothing new had been posted for the weekend.
I still had responsibilities to Theta too. I had no idea what all had happened since my exit at the party last week, well, aside from what little bit Chloe had caught me up on.
Even knowing all of this, I didn’t want to move or leave the warmth of Monte’s bed.
Well, unless it was for more of what we did last night.
I grinned as I propped myself up with my arm and looked him over.
He was so handsome, and his body looked like something carved out of stone. Was that from all the rock climbing? Because if so, I was going to highly encourage he keep that up.
For the first time I allowed myself to really think about him and about us. Imagining my future with him was so easy. I didn’t care where we lived or what life brought our way, so long as we had this. The connection between us was overwhelming at times, but also simply amazing.
My heart swelled just thinking about him.
Shifters took a long time to grow old, and we were still young. There was a lifetime ahead of us, and it didn’t seem so daunting with the idea of Monte by my side.
I didn’t just want him or need him because the bond told me I did. I was falling in love with him, head over heels in love.
I’d never been in love before. But I knew my own heart, and this was a lot more than just sex, infatuation, or the bond. And it felt wonderful.
I kissed his chest and smiled like a fool, a fool in love.
My body got all tingly, quickly turning into desire.
“I’m afraid I’m going to become quite addicted to you at this rate,” I whispered.
Pulling the blanket back, I really looked at him. He was still gloriously naked and was long, lean, and hard.
I’d never woken up with a man before, at least none other than him, and certainly not one naked. This was sort of new territory for me.
My core ached for him to be inside me.
Curious, I lightly touched him, watching him respond to me even in his sleep. I’d never done anything so bold before, but I was fascinated and very horny.
Scooting down for closer look, I kissed him there and then I licked him from base up, swirling my tongue around his tip. It tasted like Monte but a little earthier. My mouth watered and I dared to take him fully into my mouth, or at least as much of him as I could fit.
He moaned, which should have been my cue to stop but instead spurred me on.
I needed to make him as crazy and out of control as he made me.
Closing my eyes, I recalled how it felt to have him deep inside me, how safe I felt to explore new things with him, like this. I’d never sucked anyone like this before, but Monte made me feel secure enough to do things I’d never dreamed I’d do or even want to do.
I sucked him harder, letting my mouth slide up and down over him.
He growled as I looked up to find him watching me. I released him to smile back at him.
He growled again, and this time he grabbed me and pulled me toward him, not my face, but my legs.
I gasped as he planted his face between my legs and started to nibble and lick me there.
“Oh God,” I cried.
One hand directed me back to him and I happily took him in my mouth once more.
Was this really happening?
Was I okay with it?
Hell yes!
I thought tasting and teasing him had been great, but being reciprocated at the same time was suddenly the greatest thing ever.
It didn’t take long for me to really find how to please him most. He grew impossibly larger and his hips started to buck off the bed. At the same time his mouth grew faster and more regulated, sending me spiraling into the great unknown.
I staved off my own orgasm, determined to drag him there with me.
It wasn’t much longer before he released me and cried out my name while I pumped him harder until he let go, but as he did, he latched on to me and pulled out a never-ending orgasm that just continued to come in waves over and over again until my body was limp.
He picked me up like a rag doll and snuggled me against him. Then he kissed the top of my head.
“Good morning,” he said in a deep, husky voice.
“Good morning,” I squeaked.
“You can wake me up like that anytime.”
“I don’t know what came over me. I fear I may be becoming addicted to you.”
He kissed my forehead once more, probably because I couldn’t force myself to look at him.
My cheeks were burning at the thought of what I’d just done.
“Best day ever,” he whispered.
We laid there just holding each other. No words were necessary. For the moment my sex drive was low, even though I knew that one touch from him would spike it through the roof again.
I groaned at the thought.
“Is it always going to be like this?”
“Like what?”
I scowled. There was no way he wasn’t feeling it too.
“This. Always wanting you. You should know I’m a bit of a workaholic but even knowing I have a ton to do isn’t dragging me from this bed.”
“I sure hope so, because I love having you naked in my bed.”
As nice as that sounded, it wasn’t long before my stomach began to rumble and the need for a bathroom arose.
“Reality sucks,” I whined. “Why can’t we just stay in bed forever.”
“I will happily feast on you for the rest of my life.” He nibbled on my neck, and I wiggled away from him, because if I didn’t, I really wouldn’t get out of his bed.
It wasn’t until I forced myself away and stood there with my hands on my hips that I remembered I was completely naked.
His eyes drank me in and a familiar pulsating set in between my legs.
“Monte, stop.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You can’t look at me like that.”
“Oh yes I can.”
I tried to give him a stern look.
“Where’s the bathroom?”
He growled, causing me to jump back in surprise.
Then he jumped out of bed and pulled out a pair of drawstring shorts and a T-shirt from his drawers.
“Put these on,” he demanded.
I just stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Please.”
“You growled at me,” I complained as I begrudgingly got dressed.
“Not at you exactly. Look, I share a bathroom with Remy, Braxton, and Caleb. It was the thought of you running into any of them looking like that. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to control it.”
“Are you going to punch Caleb again if he looks my way?”
“Hell yes, I will.”
“Monte.”
He just shrugged. “Blame it on the bond. Until you make an honest man out of me, it’s bound to happen. Maybe even after that.”
I wanted to tell him that I was ready, that I wanted to be his forever, but the words didn’t quite come. And before I could muster up the courage to try and tell him, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room and across the hall.
“Wait here.”
He walked into the bathroom and then came back out. “Coast is clear. I’ll stand guard.”
I bit back a laugh, but when I walked into the bathroom I sort of understood. It wasn’t a single bathroom. There were two stalls, two sinks, and two showers in the room, and the showers didn’t seem to have curtains on them.
Mother Nature didn’t allow me to look around long. I ran to a stall and relieved myself, then washed my hands, and got out of there.
“Better?” Monte said.
“Yes. Thanks.”
Now I knew why I’d never done the morning-after thing. When Braxton stepped out of his room and gave me a knowing look and a wink, things started to get awkward. Before I made it back to Monte’s room, Remy and Caleb had also stepped out of theirs.
“Morning Zoey,” Remy said.
“Uh, good morning,” I managed.
Caleb was sporting a black eye and wouldn’t even look in my direction.
He nodded. “Monte.”
“Caleb.”
And then he disappeared into the bathroom as quickly as possible while Monte escorted me back to his room.
“Wait here,” he said. I suspected he had to go to the bathroom too.
That’s when I realized I had no toothbrush or toothpaste. I didn’t even have a brush. No doubt my hair was a mess and all I had were my pajamas.
I groaned, looking down at Monte’s clothes sagging off me and shrugged.
“Guess this is what they call the walk of shame,” I said to myself.
I gathered my things, climbed out his bedroom window, held my head high, and strutted across Greek Row to Theta house.
Halfway across the lawn I felt Monte’s emotions spike, and then he poked his head through the window, calmed down, and let out a loud catcall whistle.
“Call me later, doll,” he yelled across the courtyard.
I was horrified but turned and waved at him anyway.
At that point there was no reason in hiding it. We’d be the talk of campus by lunchtime at this rate . . . if we weren’t already.
Instead of crawling through my bedroom window, I walked right through the front door of Theta house. A bunch of my sisters were there and started cheering and whistling.
Chloe ran over and hugged me. “Our illustrious leader has finally had her first walk of shame. I’m so proud.”
“You skank. I can’t believe you landed a D.O.G. when I struck out last night,” Tia whined.
“So the rumors are true?” someone else asked.
“Monte,” Kinley moaned. “Oh Monte.” Then she picked up a pillow from the couch and pretended to kiss it.
I rolled my eyes. “Can I go shower now?”
“Shower that boy’s scent off you? Are you crazy. I could smell you from halfway across the courtyard. I’d be parading it all over campus if I were you,” Chloe said.
I shook my head and grinned. “You’re all ridiculous.”