9. Nova
NOVA
“Thanks for the ride,” I say as Olivia pulls up to the house. Between learning the ropes at the clinic and Roen watching over me every second I allow him, I’ve almost forgotten to worry.
“You’re one of us now. That’s what a pack is for.
” She nods to the small, rectangular white box in my hands.
I’m not sure what’s inside, but she said Roen requested it for our first training session.
“I know you’re trying not to trigger your heat during the week, but it’s okay to take some time off. ”
“We’ll see how this weekend goes,” I reply. Hopefully, two days will be enough to recover from whatever happens tonight.
Concern slips through her features. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to influence your decision. I know better than anyone not to force?—”
“You’ve done nothing but try to help us.” I understand why she didn’t want Roen to reject me. I also know it must hurt to see a bond that she doesn’t have. “It’d be a lot harder to do this without your support.”
“Stay safe,” she says.
I wish I could guarantee that we will.
Stepping out into the dappled shade, I inhale the scent of the ocean and damp earth from this afternoon’s rain. I’m used to finding Roen in the garage, but today the door is closed and the yard is quiet.
I fiddle with the mysterious box as I walk toward a smokestack from the back of the house.
Chatting around the campfire or walking the cliffs has become our version of a date night.
Sometimes he lets me see more of his wolf.
A couple of times, he invited guests so I could meet more of the pack.
It’s my favorite part of the day, a close second to working with Olivia.
Expecting me, Roen looks up from the meat he’s grilling on an open flame. “How was work?”
Even though we agreed to minimal touching, all I want is to jump into his arms. “Cleo came in. She got excited that I knew everything and showed me her wolf. It was cute.” I hold out the box. “Also, Olivia gave me this.”
Instead of taking the box, he pulls me close and seals our lips. Woah. Warmth floods me, and my knees buckle. Roen’s muscles bunch as he holds me tighter, his thick erection pressing through his sweatpants while he deepens the kiss.
I’m panting when we break for air.
“Friday didn’t come fast enough,” he mutters, kneading my ass in his hands.
I collapse against him with a sigh. Then my stomach growls. “I’m not sure which I want more, you or the food.”
He does his half-laugh, half-grunt. “Dinner first. You’ll need your strength when you’re tied to the bed all night.”
My shocked expression only makes him grin.
Heat simmers inside me as we eat. Avoiding any kind of arousal has been draining, and with Roen’s affection, I’m bursting at the seams for more. Soon, I step out of the shower as he prepares the bedroom. My steam-distorted reflection stares back from the mirror.
For once, I don’t look away.
I let my hair down from the shower cap and wipe off the mirror to reveal my face, then keep going until I can see everything. You are the perfect mate .
Can I really accept that? I meet my own eyes in the mirror and finally allow myself to be happy. The wave of emotion is so strong that tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud to be a woman—imperfections and all.
Roen approaches the other side of the bathroom door. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I sniff. “More than okay.” Feeling confident, I open the door without covering myself.
Roen’s gaze locks on my face, then his hands are all over me, his mouth at my throat. My pulse races as his teeth press into the fading bruise. The twinge of pain combats the flare of my heat, his lips soothing both until one sensation bleeds into the next.
I whimper, the fever spreading so fast that the room spins. My pussy is already slick enough that I can feel it on my thighs. I realize Roen is trembling too as he nips at my skin.
His eyes blaze turquoise when he pulls back. “Tempting little mate. How are you coping with the heat?”
“I’m a bit more prepared,” I answer, although I don’t sound prepared at all. “It’s hard to focus.”
He hums, tugging my hips forward and walking us to the side of the bed. “Each wave will be more intense. I need you to stay conscious, especially when you take my knot, so we’ll aim to build both of our tolerances by drawing it out tonight.”
“All right.” It’s a logical approach, but right now, I don’t even think I can hold out another five minutes. The warmth from his touch wraps around me like a second skin, and I rub myself against him like a cat. The bulge in his pants practically jumps into my palm. “I want you.”
He growls. “You have me.” His finger hooks under my chin and brings my face to his. “I need to be in complete control before I’m inside you. Can you be a good girl and wait?”
I pout. “Maybe.”
Something flashes in his eyes. “Bend over the bed, ass in the air.”
He doesn’t use his authority, but the command makes me shiver. I turn slowly. All the air gets sucked out of the room as I lower myself to the mattress.
“Beautiful.” He spreads me with a palm on each ass cheek, his skin rough with callouses, then he runs his nose along the inside of my thigh. I shift away as his beard tickles my sensitive skin. “Arch your back.”
“I…” But his face is right there , and that would mean— “I can’t.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I get what I want. Believe me when I say I can do this all day, Nova. Don’t try me.” His warm breath caresses my pussy, and I fight the urge to squirm.
I bury my face in the sheets. It’s not just the bond heating me, it’s my own embarrassment. How could someone wanting me be even harder to accept than being shamed?
With a deep exhale, I let my body arch for him.
“Better.” He rewards me with a kiss and suckle on each ass cheek.
His fingers brush over the same places, and I realize he left hickeys—marking me.
“We’re skipping a lot of steps, and I can’t take any chances, so for now, your safe word is ‘stop’.
Once we’re mated, you can choose a new word. Is that all right?”
“Mhm,” I hum.
I gasp as he nips my thigh. “Use your words.”
“Yes, sir,” I breathe.
“Good girl.” He straightens and presses his hand into my back to keep me in position. “Now then. If you can’t wait, I’ll occupy your mind with something else.”
Before I get the chance to wonder what he means, there’s a whoosh and a sharp sting on my ass.
I jerk, but he keeps me pinned.
“Focus on the pain. Tell me when it balances the heat.”
“Okay.” I barely get the word out before he strikes again. I groan, clawing at the blankets as my clit thuds—an echo of the heatwave flaring through my veins. Tears prick my eyes with the overwhelming urge to come, but he’s not giving me enough stimulation.
Roen lands three more hits in quick succession. It takes every ounce of energy just to breathe. I know he’s holding back, but damn, he’s strong.
Smack! Smack!
“Ouch,” I hiss. My skin burns. My pussy is dripping. All I need is one touch of pleasure…but I bite my lip instead of telling him to stop.
“Breathe. I’ve got you.” His hand smooths along my back to steady me, leaving a trail of pleasant tingles.
I distract myself by counting the swats, remembering to breathe between each one and inhaling his scent.
Then I discover I’m not struggling anymore.
I don’t have to counter the urgency of the fever because he’s doing it for me.
The room comes back into focus and I listen to the rhythm of our heavy breaths, letting him lead while my only task is to follow.
“That’s it,” he whispers, his voice as ragged as I feel. He grabs my hips with both hands and presses himself to me. His fingers dig into my skin, cock throbbing under his clothes. “Can you wait?”
My pussy clenches in response. I shudder at the thought of him swelling, of feeling him inside and being filled with his sperm. It would feel so good…
I force myself to fall limp. “Yes, I can wait.”
We both breathe out at the same time. His hands slide up my ribs, then he lifts me and positions us so I’m lying on my back in the middle of the bed. I open my eyes as he strokes my face with the back of his hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Lighter.” I smile. “A little disoriented.”
He reaches into a black bag on the nightstand. Next to it is a bottle of water and the box Olivia gave me.
“What’s in the white box?” I ask.
“Insurance.” He pulls out a cotton rope, then picks up the box and takes off the lid to show me.
My stomach churns. It’s a syringe. “Roen, you don’t need that?—”
“Shh. It’s not lethal.” He sets the syringe on the table and extends my right arm to make sure I can reach it. “We shouldn’t even need it tonight. But if things get out of hand, that will tranquilize me.”
“We won’t need it,” I assert. More like I won’t use it.
“You’re putting yourself in enough danger as is. I can handle being knocked out for a few hours.” He gives me a stern look as he wraps my fingers around the bedpost. “Don’t let go.”
I try to stay upset, but everything fades under his touch. It’s only our first training session. If I do well enough, then neither of us will have to worry about using that thing.
He stretches my left arm up to the opposite bedpost and ties my wrist with the rope. “Restraints will remind you to submit, but the real challenge is accepting it in your mind. If you need to safe out at any time, just pull this end of the rope and the knot will come undone.”
I nod as he shows me, then he pinches my fingertips to double-check the blood flow. With only one hand tied, the message is clear—I’ll have to choose everything that happens between us. Enduring tonight is more than training. It’s accepting him as my mate a second time, and all of what that means.
I tighten my hand around the bedpost. “What’s next?”
The corner of his mouth tilts in a predatory grin. “Now, I get to have some fun.”
He reaches into the black bag, then the buzz of a vibrator fills the room. I wiggle in anticipation, but it only makes the sore skin on my bottom rub against the sheets. My breath hitches.
This is about to be the longest night of my life.