Chapter 44
Jordan
“You lied.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then explain why you’re bleeding all over me.”
She’s got me there. “I thought I was completely healed,” I mutter, which seems to irk Kate even more.
She gives me an irritated huff before pressing a knuckle into my wound. I hiss and jerk away, earning an I knew it look.
“Okay fine,” I admit gruffly, “I’m not completely healed. But I should be soon.”
“I get that you don’t want to stay here,” she points out, gesturing to the ransacked clothing store, “but moving on before your body is ready will do more harm than good.”
The beast curls up, content to let her fuss over us for as long as possible. I roll my eyes and mutter, “Yes, doctor.”
She quirks an eyebrow before going back to cleaning me, the water cooling my warm skin. A purr vibrates in my chest at the soothing touch.
I’ve come to value the physical closeness, even seeking it out from her. A brush of our fingertips, an arm slung over her shoulders. Us pressed against one another at night, our bodies aligning in a way that is too perfect, like we’re two puzzle pieces.
I watch her expert hands glide over me, the look of concentration on her face. Without thinking, my finger lifts to the space between her eyebrows, smoothing it out, getting rid of the small ‘v’ that resides there.
“I do heal faster because of the infection,” I insist.
She hums noncommittally, eyes not straying from her work.
“Kate,” I murmur, my fingertips trailing down her cheek to her throat, feeling the strong beating of her pulse. “I promise to take it easy if you promise the same.”
“I can’t do that. You need me.”
My thumb strokes the hollow of her throat. “And what if I need you in a different way?”
She stills, her eyes lifting to mine. “What do you mean?” she asks as a blush spreads across the apples of her cheeks.
I smirk at her. “Don’t bother asking questions you already know the answer to.”
She pins me with a look. “You shouldn’t. It will fuck up your stitches.”
“I know I shouldn’t.” I fight to keep the edge of vulnerability out of my voice. “But you could.”
“Really?” She blinks at me, her stern expression shifting into open curiosity with a hint of longing. “Are you sure?”
The question makes my eyes burn. I swallow the emotions warring in me as I nod. Pulling back, I slowly stand, letting myself tower over her. She peers up at me and arousal pangs in my stomach.
“I need to feel some control,” I tell her.
She doesn’t push or chide me—she simply nods before her eyes flick down to my belt buckle. “If, at any point, you want to stop, just say so.”
I rasp, “Okay.”
Hunger swirls in her forest eyes as her fingers lift to my waistband, slowly but efficiently undoing my pants and sliding them down my legs. I keep my gaze glued to her, hoping it’s enough to keep me rooted in my body. She licks her lips before looking back up at me and pressing a kiss on my mound.
A harsh breath claws out of my throat as she gently explores me, her tongue stroking me, playing with me. She grips my hip, pulling me closer to her as her soft moan vibrates against me.
The stench of those bodies, piled on top of each other—
The feel of them pressed against me, moving like we’re one entity—
My body goes cold and I jerk back. I look down and I can barely see Kate through my panic. “Jordan?”
I’m not there, I repeat to myself. I’m not there, I’m not there, I’m—
“Jordan.” My name reaches my ears and my vision zeroes in on Kate, still kneeling before me. “It’s okay,” she soothes.
“No, it isn’t,” I whine, pressing my hands against my eyes. “I want to do it, but I can’t.” My voice cracks on the final word.
“Jordan,” she repeats, her tone soft enough that I pull my hands back and look back down at her. The smile on her face is warm, open. “We can stop. Is that what you want?”
Yes. No.
“I don’t know,” I admit, my body wanting this but my mind blocking me.
She tilts her head before saying, “All I want to do is please you. However I can do that, I will.”
Desire spirals through me, working hard to keep me in my body, in this moment with her. “You do?”
She nods, her face lighting up with pleasure. “Yes.”
Hands shaking, I thread my fingers through her fiery hair, letting myself get lost in the feel of her here, wanting to be with me.
“Can you beg for it?” I whisper.
She inhales sharply before nodding eagerly. “Please,” she moans, eyes going glassy. “Please let me take care of you. I want to please you.”
Letting out a groan, I grip her head and guide her back between my legs. She doesn’t waste a moment, her tongue lapping at me like she’s parched.
Arousal dances up and down my body, and I keep my gaze on her.
She looks ravenous as she takes me in, her mouth working against me eagerly, greedily. Like she’s never tasted anything better and can’t get enough.
The memories try to force their way to the forefront, wanting to ruin this moment, but the beast swats them away.
“Do you like that?” I ask.
Her moan against me sends a shiver up my spine. “Yes,” she manages to whisper before lapping at me again, swirling her tongue over my clit.
“You’re perfect,” I praise, my fingers slipping through her hair to pet her head. “You know exactly what to do.”
She makes desperate little gasps as she licks, her hips gyrating in her kneeling position, needing some friction. It’s enough to put me into overdrive—I take a fistful of her hair and purr, “Your talented tongue is going to make me come, pretty girl.”
She gasps against me, her hands reaching up and gripping my thighs, nails digging into my flesh as she drinks from me. I refuse to look away, intoxicated by what this is doing to her. Release gathers in me, but I don’t want it—not yet. I never want this feeling to end, for this bubble to burst.
But Kate’s tongue is too eager, too excited to arouse me, that my orgasm takes me.
I hold tight to her, afraid to let go, to let myself get swept away.
Her grip on my thighs doesn’t lessen, needing me to anchor her as much as I need her.
She works me through it until the final sparks of arousal extinguish and my muscles relax in a way I figured they’d forgotten how.
Eventually, she pulls back, eyes still glazed with desire. I lean down and press my lips to hers. She opens for me immediately, our tongues dancing. Tasting myself on her has both the beast and I humming in approval. I break the kiss to peer at her and all of the beauty and courage she has.