Chapter 5
FIVE
Declan
Chloe’s hand in mine wasn’t soft. She didn’t pamper them, or shy away from putting them to work.
They were firm and strong. It reminded me of earlier, when I watched her climb down the rock formation—something that was obviously not a first for her.
She grabbed life and ran with whatever it brought.
Would she be content with life on the ranch?
My promise to my mother would keep me here. I couldn’t leave my brothers to care for the ranch alone. They relied on me.
Chloe’s fingers squeezed mine, bringing me back to the moment. I pushed aside my worries about the ranch and if it would be enough for her. We were mates and could work through it. She knew I was a rancher but had still taken my hand when I offered her the choice.
I led her to the second floor of the house, glad that it was Mae’s day in town, and turned right.
My room was at the end of the hall. The top half-story held the master suite, but none of us felt right moving in there after our parents died.
We always said the first one to find a mate would get it.
I’d let Chloe redecorate however she wanted. Make it feel like a new space.
My bedroom was plain. The walls were a light blue, and the bed and window coverings were navy.
The furniture was sturdy but basic, and the only thing resembling decor was a colorful rag carpet beside the bed.
I never understood the point of putting pictures on the walls, as I only used the bedroom to sleep.
Now, seeing the room from Chloe’s perspective, I wished I had done more.
I turned to her, ready to apologize, but the sight of her robbed me of any words.
She was leaning against the closed door, head tilted down as she looked at me, biting her lip.
The position itself spoke of shyness, nerves, but the sparkle in her eye was pure seduction.
She pushed away from the door, hips swaying as she closed the distance between us. “I only have one rule.”
“Anything.” I didn’t recognize my own voice, it came out so hoarse.
“No marking. I’m not ready for that yet.” She waited for me to agree.
All I could do was nod. My bear protested, but it was what I expected. She was human, and it would take time. I could keep my instincts under control. For her, I could do anything.
Her hand rested at the hem of my shirt, her fingers sliding beneath the fabric to tease lightly on my skin.
My breaths were heavy, my heart racing as she explored farther under my shirt.
I wanted to strip both of us bare and feel her under me on my bed.
Her skin against mine. Her scent surrounding me as I slid inside her body.
But I also wanted to give her control. To know I wouldn’t push her into anything she didn’t want.
I moaned when her palms skimmed across my nipples, gliding back and forth. My breathing sounded harsh to my ears as I gripped the footboard of the bed to keep from grabbing her. She leaned closer, raising up on her toes, her lips brushing against my ear. “Take your clothes off.”
I was quick to comply.
A smile flashed over her face. “Someone’s eager.”
“You have no idea.” I slipped my underwear off, standing naked before her. Nudity didn’t bother shifters, but it was different in front of my mate. There was no hiding my arousal from her. No hiding anything. I wanted her to like what she saw.
Her eyes darkened and her gaze lingered on my cock, thick and hard. “I think I have some idea.”
“You have too many clothes on.”
“I do. But I’m not ready to take them off yet.
” She stepped close enough for the fabric of her clothing to brush against my bare skin.
Her hands came back to rest on my chest, sliding up and over my shoulders, kneading the muscles, then smoothing her palms over the skin.
“Are you okay if I explore some more first?”
My only answer was a groan when one of her hands dipped lower, briefly touching the head of my cock as it slipped down my stomach. I again gripped the top slat of the footboard with all my strength, and a crack sounded as it broke under my hands.
She stared at the broken wood, eyes and mouth round. “I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff.”
“It’s all good stuff with you.”
Red stained her cheeks. “Someone knows what to say.” She slid down to her knees in front of me and took my cock in her hand. Licking her lips, she leaned in and brushed a kiss across my sensitive flesh before looking back up at me. “I feel like I should reward that.”
I wanted to tell her she didn’t need to, but my control only went so far, and she was pushing at the edge of it.
Her warm mouth closed around my tip and I moaned at the light suction she applied.
I just barely kept my hips still as she slid up and down, her tongue stroking the underside of my cock.
The wet, sucking heat surrounded me, moving me deeper into her mouth.
I slipped my hand into her red curls, the silky strands sliding through my fingers. I wanted more, but I was about to lose control. And I wanted her to come first.
I tugged gently, moving her off my throbbing cock. “Your turn.”
Chloe
I debated taking him back in my mouth. His hold on me was gentle, and I didn’t think he’d protest if I insisted. I wanted to feel him come apart from my mouth and hands, but I also wanted more. I wanted to feel his mouth on me, his skin against mine, and his cock sliding in my body.
With his help, I was soon naked, my clothes in a pile on the floor. He lifted me and lay me on the bed, his dark eyes taking in every inch of me. His voice was so raspy, I could almost feel it against my skin. “My bed’s never looked so good.”
He crawled next to me, tracing my curves.
His calloused hands were rough, but the texture set off tingling in my body.
He eased them across my skin, as if handling something delicate.
I wasn’t delicate, but I couldn’t make myself tell him that.
The sensations he was awakening were like nothing I’d felt before.
Every stroke, every gentle squeeze, had me slipping deeper into my arousal.
I twisted my legs, pressing my thighs together as moisture seeped from my core, which throbbed, desperate for something to relieve the ache.
He cupped a breast, leaning in to suck the nipple into his mouth and I arched my back, a moan escaping my lips.
His other hand moved lower, feathery strokes brushing over my stomach, my hips, sliding between my thighs and pushing my legs apart to give him access to the part of me that longed for his attention.
When he finally touched me there, so lightly, I nearly came on the spot.
His lips and tongue worked their way down my body and I eagerly spread beneath him, giving him room to fit his broad frame between my legs.
He paused for a moment, staring at my most intimate place.
I knew it must be glistening with my arousal for him.
I shifted, the throbbing ache only growing at the thought of his coming attentions.
But my imagination couldn’t capture the full depth of the feeling he elicited when he applied himself to the task.
Lips, teeth, tongue, and fingers all took part.
Even his breaths blowing across my wet flesh only took me higher.
I gripped his hair, holding him to me. As if he had planned to do anything else.
I was going to shatter, break into pieces beneath him.
But I needed more, and if I came apart now, I might pass out from the pleasure.
I tugged on his hair, urging him to move away from my core. He looked up at me, my wetness shining against his mouth and chin. I tried to drag him up my body, but he was too heavy to move. My words weren’t smooth, coming out in breathless pants instead. “Please. I need you. Now. Inside me.”
He moved, hovering over me as he fit himself against my entrance. Our eyes met and held. He slid inside me slowly, ever so slowly. His gaze held a promise I wasn’t ready for, but still I couldn’t look away. Nothing had ever felt as right as this moment.
When he was fully seated, he leaned in and kissed me.
I tasted myself on his lips and tongue, our flavors mixing into something I couldn’t get enough of.
I held him to me as he began to thrust, gradually picking up speed.
We were both near our limits of control.
Needing each other. Needing to come. I met him thrust for thrust, wrapping my thighs around his hips.
He slid an arm beneath my left knee, holding me open as he continued moving in and out of me, brushing against my clit with every thrust.
Then my body could take no more, and it exploded into a pleasure so intense I swore I saw stars.
I squeezed around him, my body pulsing as my orgasm washed over me in waves.
He groaned, the steadiness of his movements devolving into a series of irregular hard thrusts into my quivering body until he also came, collapsing onto me, his weight there for only a moment before he rolled to his back, taking me with him.
I perched on top of him, my head resting against his heaving chest as we both came down from our highs. Our sweat-dampened skin made my position slippery, but I couldn’t move. Didn’t want to move. His heart beat fast against my ear, slowing gradually. As did my own.
I must have slept, because when I next opened my eyes, the sun was high in the sky.
Declan was spooning me from behind and I hummed at the feel of his solid body holding me tight.
I would have been happy to stay in bed with him all afternoon, but I was also itching to hold my camera.
I loved taking pictures when I was happy and my body was loose like it was now.
The shots I took always turned out better.
Careful not to wake Declan, I slipped out of bed.
He was more relaxed than when he was awake, and I didn’t want to disturb him.
Plus, he’d probably object to me going off on my own.
The last thing I wanted to do right now was fight.
He would have to get used to my independence.
Protecting me was one thing but stopping me from living my life to the fullest would never happen.
I wrote a quick note and left it on the bed where my head had been only minutes ago, then pulled on my clothes and grabbed my camera.
The lighting wasn’t ideal, but I could get the lay of the land.
Then I’d know where to go when the light was right.
I wouldn’t be gone long. I might even return before Declan woke.