7. Maddy
CHAPTER SEVEN
MADDY
“ O kay,” Rafe repeated.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Rafe was too close, his warmth and strength wrapping around me like a blanket. My fingers itched to reach out and touch him, to trace the lines of his jaw and the curve of his lips.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest. My wolf whined, pawing at my insides, desperate for me to close the gap between us.
But I stared into the amber depths of my drink, watching the light fracture off the cut crystal. My future distilled into this moment. A claiming in desperation, but not without desire.
I wondered what we could have been under normal circumstances.
“Right.” Rafe’s voice was low and rough, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. He cleared his throat. “I can claim you with a bite now, if you’re ready. Or later, if you’d prefer.”
My eyes snapped to his. His words aimed for nonchalance, but I caught the undercurrent of a growl, the tension coiling in his muscles.
I inhaled sharply, the air heavy with the scent of him—pine and leather and raw, masculine heat. A thrill of anticipation zinged through me. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to feel his hands on me, his skin on mine.
“No use waiting for cold feet.” I tried for a casual shrug, but the gesture felt clumsy.
Rafe’s gaze darkened. He reached out, taking the half-empty glass from my trembling fingers. For a moment, our hands lingered together, sparks of heat tingling across my palm. Then he set both glasses on the desk with a thump and turned back to me.
The air charged, electrified, as we stared at each other. I tilted my chin up, meeting his gaze head-on. A challenge.
An invitation.
His hand cupped my jaw, callused fingers grazing my pulse point. My breath caught as he leaned down, bringing his face mere inches from mine. I could smell the lingering traces of whiskey on his breath mingled with the warm, woodsy scent of his skin.
“Last chance, little wolf,” he murmured, equal parts warning and promise. “Are you sure?”
No. Yes. I didn’t know anymore. All I knew was the heat of his skin on mine, the primal need thrumming through my veins, the incessant urge of my wolf to press closer.
His breath ghosted down my neck as I pressed my palms to his chest. The wall of his muscled chest rippled and flexed under the thin t-shirt. His lips pressed a hot kiss to the crook of my neck, the spot he’d claim me, and?—
“Wait!”
Rafe froze, his fingers tightening almost imperceptibly on my hip. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, brows shooting together in concern.
I swallowed hard, gathering my scattered thoughts. “We should do this the right way. Just biting me won’t be enough to convince Bowen.”
My cheeks flamed, and I looked away. Fucking hell, this was ridiculous. I didn’t know how to have this conversation.
“If we’re going to sell this, we need to make it believable. Irrefutable.” I winced inwardly as the words tumbled out in a messy pile. “We need to consummate the claiming. Properly.”
I risked a glance up at Rafe. He was staring at me, his eyes burning with hunger. With deliberate slowness, he stepped between my thighs and settled warm palms on my hips. The weight of them sent shivers of pleasure coursing through me, and I instinctively arched into his touch. He let out a low rumble of approval and tugged me to the edge of the desk, his strong body pressed flush against mine.
“Madison...” My name was a low growl, a final chance to reconsider.
I trailed my hands higher, over his shoulders and around the nape of his neck. His hair tickled my fingertips as I sank them into his dark locks, the silky strands soft between my fingers. I let my nails drag across his scalp and smiled as his eyes slipped closed, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
“Maddy,” I corrected him, a breathless whisper. “If we’re to be mated, you might as well use what I prefer.”
Rafe’s eyes snapped open, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He gripped me tighter, pulling me to him, his hardness pressed against the apex of my thighs. Heat flared within me, my body aching with need. I let my head fall back, baring my throat in a sign of submission.
“Maddy,” he breathed against my skin. He nipped at the delicate flesh of my collarbone, a tiny prick of pain that sent a bolt of pleasure through my body.
Then, with a low growl, he captured my lips in a searing kiss. I melted into him, lost in the sensations, the taste of him. The world narrowed to just the two of us, a tangled mess of tongues and teeth and wandering hands.
He slid his hands lower, tracing the curve of my ass before hoisting me into the air. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pressing myself closer as he ripped open the office door and carried me through the pack house.
Sensation overloaded my mind. Rafe’s lips on mine, his strong arms wrapped around me. I could hear his heartbeat, the steady rhythm echoing my own. His scent washed over me, spicy and male and utterly intoxicating.
The journey to his room was a blur, a rush of heat and need and pleasure. I was drowning in it, falling deeper and deeper with each passing moment.
Then we were tumbling into his bed, his body a delicious weight above me. I writhed against him, desperate for more, for the feel of his skin on mine. He obliged with a growl, tearing his shirt over his head before reaching for mine. He discarded it with the same impatience, his eyes dark and hungry as he devoured me with his gaze.
“Fuck,” he groaned, slipping the straps of my bra down my arms. “You’re gorgeous, little wolf.”
A shiver raced through me at his words. I wanted to protest, to claim autonomy, but my wolf purred in delight as his scent wrapped around us.
I reached behind me and unhooked the clasp. My breasts spilled free, and I flushed under the intensity of his gaze. His fingers traced a path from my jaw down to my navel, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Then he dipped his head and drew a nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.
Pleasure flooded through me, and I arched against him. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him in place as he worshiped my breasts. Then he trailed kisses lower, down my stomach to the waistband of my jeans. He paused, glancing up at me.
I held his gaze, giving him wordless consent and a plea panted with need.
With one swift movement, he popped the button and slid the denim and my panties down my thighs. I kicked them off and pulled him back to me, our bodies entwined as if we had never been apart.
His skin was hot against mine, his breath a tantalizing promise. I moaned as he cupped my center, his fingers teasing my slick folds. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, his voice husky with desire. “Tell me if it’s too much.”
And then his lips crashed against mine, a demanding, brutal kiss that sent shocks of pleasure racing through me. I gasped as he thrust a finger into my core, my walls stretching to accommodate him.
He stroked me expertly, building the pressure deep within. I writhed against him, desperate for release. With each pump of his finger, each swipe of his thumb over my clit, the pressure grew. Tension coiled inside me, a tight spring waiting to be released.
Then he added a second finger, filling me in a way I’d never experienced before.
“Has anyone made you come before, Maddy?” Rafe rumbled, his voice a low growl. “Any other man ever touched you like this?”
The stretch was almost too much to bear, but the pain only added to my pleasure. I clung to him, wordlessly shaking my head, my fingernails raking down his back.
“Good,” he hissed. His teeth grazed my earlobe, a delicious counterpoint to the mounting ache deep inside me. “You’re mine, Maddy. Only mine.”
At that, he curled his fingers, stroking some hidden bundle of nerves within me.
The spring inside me snapped, waves of pleasure crashing over me. I cried out, clinging to Rafe as my orgasm overwhelmed me. He didn’t stop, driving me higher and higher, until I was a quivering mess beneath him. He held me tight, his lips trailing gentle kisses over my chest and neck as I came down from the high.
But he wasn’t finished with me yet. Before I had time to catch my breath, he shifted down the bed and ducked between my thighs. A deep rumble sounded in his chest, vibrating against my skin. “I need to taste you,” he growled before dragging his tongue along my seam.
I shivered, my body already sensitive from my first orgasm. But he didn’t give me time to recover, delving into my depths with enthusiasm. He licked and sucked and teased, stoking the flames of desire within me once more.
I writhed against him, his tongue dancing on my clit. Pleasure built with each swirl of his tongue, each lap and suck. He held me in place, hands firm on my thighs, as I surrendered to him completely.
I gasped as he pushed a finger inside my pussy, the feeling of fullness adding to the intoxicating mix of sensations. His fingers curled and uncurled, pushing me toward the precipice. When he slipped a second digit inside me, my walls clamped around him.
My orgasm was explosive, ripping through me with the force of a hurricane. I cried out, my fingers tugging at his hair, as wave after wave of pleasure wracked my body. He rode it out with me, his tongue never faltering, drawing out my ecstasy until I lay back against the sheets, struggling to catch my breath.
Rafe crawled up beside me, his eyes dark with need. His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging gently as he leaned down to kiss me. I could taste myself on his lips, the salty tang mixing with the remnants of whiskey. I moaned and melted into him, my body molding to his.
I reached between us and fumbled with the button of his pants, eager to explore his body, to pleasure him as he’d pleasured me. He groaned, his cock thick and hard beneath my fingers. I tugged at the waistband of his boxers, pushing them down his hips to free his length.
He broke away from my lips, his breathing ragged as I closed a hand around his cock. Fates, he was huge. I stroked his shaft, marveling at the silk-covered steel beneath my palm. He hissed in pleasure, his hips rocking into my touch.
“Do you want more, Maddy?” he growled against my lips.
I whimpered in response, my body aching for him. He reached down between us, guiding my hand, showing me exactly how he wanted me to touch him. The tip of his cock twitched as I swiped my thumb over the precum pooled at the slit. His own pressed against my clit, keeping me balanced right on the edge.
“Do you want to feel my cock inside you?” he continued. “Filling you? Fucking you?”
I nodded. I did want that. More than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.
“Please,” I panted, my voice a needy whine. “I need you, Rafe.”
At that, he eased me back, settling himself between my eagerly parted thighs. His lips met mine in a savage kiss as he guided his cock to my entrance.
He rocked against me slowly, letting me adjust to the feeling of his length against my slick heat. Then he began to press forward, his girth stretching me impossibly wide.
The sensation was almost too much to bear. I moaned, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he sank into me by an inch.
“That’s it, Maddy,” Rafe groaned, his breath hot against my lips. “You feel so fucking good.”
He eased out, then forward again, sliding another inch inside me. The feeling of him filling me was incredible, a mix of pleasure and pain that sent shivers through every nerve.
“Relax, good girl. Take my cock.” Rafe’s fingers danced over my clit, distracting me from the discomfort of his size. “Let me make you feel so good.”
With each rock of his hips, he stretched me further, opening me up. His movements were measured, controlled, as he drove me to the brink of madness. I dug my nails into his back, desperate for him to fill me entirely.
He groaned and stilled as he buried himself to the hilt. Rafe lowered his lips to my neck, peppering me with hot kisses, allowing me to adjust to the sensation.
“Fuck, Maddy,” he breathed against my skin, his voice strained. “You’re so tight. You feel amazing.”
I shifted beneath him, rolling my hips, and he let out a low moan.
“That’s it, little wolf,” he muttered, his teeth grazing my neck. “I can’t hold back much longer.”
“So don’t.” I leaned up and nipped at his throat, earning a sharp intake of breath from him. “Make me yours, Rafe.”
That was all it took. A snarl ripped through the air, his eyes flashing bright blue. Then he began to move. Slowly at first, easing in and out of me with deliberate precision. It was too much, and not nearly enough. I wanted—no, needed—more.
“Feels so good,” I murmured, my head spinning with pleasure.
“Look at me,” he commanded, his voice a low growl. I met his gaze, lost in the depths of blue. He held me there, pinning me in place as his fingers dipped between us to circle my clit. “Look at me and know this is how I’ll treat you every day for the rest of your life.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but the words died on my lips, replaced by a cry of pleasure as he gave one hard snap of his hips. I trembled beneath him, my body on fire.
“Say you’re mine,” he hissed through clenched teeth, the muscles in his jaw tensing. “Say you want me to keep fucking you like this, forever.”
“Mate me.” I shuddered as his cock stretched me, the friction setting every nerve ending ablaze. “Mark me.”
His gaze dropped to my lips, his breathing coming in short, harsh pants. He cupped my cheek, thumb stroking over my lower lip. I flicked out my tongue, tasting him, sucking the salt from his skin.
The groan that escaped his lips sent a thrill of heat rushing through me. I rolled my hips, eager for more.
Rafe’s control shattered as he began to fuck me in earnest. He pistoned into me, his cock sliding in and out of my slick pussy with a delicious rasp. He growled, low and dangerous, and I arched my back to meet each powerful thrust.
I couldn’t think, could barely breathe. His fingers swirled, stroking me just where I needed, stoking the flame within me until it exploded.
My orgasm tore through me, obliterating any semblance of control I may have had. I screamed his name the moment he struck, fangs sinking into the tender flesh of my shoulder. The bite of pain only intensified my pleasure, and I shattered into a million pieces.
He followed soon after, spurred on by my climax. His hips jerked and stuttered as he found his release, a low rumble of satisfaction rising from deep in his chest. I clung to him, trembling, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Time stood still as we lay there, our sweat-slick bodies entangled. I couldn’t tell where I ended and he began, and I didn’t care. I breathed in his scent, my wolf sighing happily at the lingering smell of sex and something more. Something wilder and possessive.
After a long moment, Rafe finally stirred. He dragged a slow lick over my fresh mate mark, and a satisfied growl rattled in his throat. “Did I hurt you? Are you okay?”
I shifted slightly, wincing at the soreness between my legs. A decadently achy reminder of the first fuck of my life.
“I’m fine,” I murmured, brushing the damp hair from his forehead. Not that it truly mattered. Any pain from our joining would be minor compared to what Bowen would have done. The care and concern, giving me time to adjust and all-around attention to my needs—this was better than I could have hoped for.
For a moment, I allowed myself to forget. Forget about Bowen. Forget about Shauna. Forget about the mess my brother’s recklessness had thrown me into.
This was safety. This was protection.
This was my mate.
Rafe kissed his way from my mate mark up the line of my throat, across my jaw, to my lips. There he hovered, his gaze locked with mine. There was hunger there, yes, but there was also something else. Something that looked dangerously like affection.
I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but tonight, I could be his.
And I would hold on to him with both hands.