Chapter Twenty-Three
Relief flooded Eli, along with a sense of purpose. It was up to him to ensure she never came to regret or question her decision. Being with Kinley had given him a better understanding of his daddy. She’d quickly become the center of his life. He couldn’t foresee that ever changing.
She loved him. Or rather, she thought she was falling in love with him.
He could work with that. Cyrus would lecture him about it being too soon, that the intensity of the situation was affecting his judgement.
And he wouldn’t be wrong. The situation had been a reminder of how fast life could change.
He’d almost lost Kinley, would never forget the sight of her lifeless body on the ground.
They’d been given a second chance, and he wasn’t about to waste it.
There’d been times of intense knowing in his life.
Call it instinct or something more, but whatever it was, he trusted it.
On both days his parents had died, he’d woke with a knot in the pit of his stomach and an awareness that something terrible was going to happen.
That same intuition had saved his life many times over the years.
Now his gut shouted that he’d regret it to his dying day if he let Kinley walk away without trying to win her.
I want to build a life with her. When his wolf howled in agreement, it only added to his determination.
His dick twitched when she stroked his tongue with hers. There was nothing holding either of them back. She was free of her past. He wanted to be part of her future.
“Are you sure?” He reached beneath the hem of her shirt and stroked up her torso, stopping short of her breast. He’d removed the socks and leggings last night but had left the rest.
She reared back, yanked her top off. The sports bra followed. “I’m sure.”
He lunged, taking her down onto her back and covering her with his body.
The brush of her nipples against his bare chest had his dick throbbing.
Latching onto her lips, he kissed her with an intensity that should have scared them both.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and didn’t hold back.
He tasted desire and acceptance, a hunger that went beyond the physical, a yearning for connection.
Unable to get enough of her, he kissed a path down her neck, pausing to nip at the delicate curve of her throat. For a brief second, he considered marking her. Fortunately, sanity prevailed and he continued his path downward.
Her breathy sighs, the way her nails skated over his shoulder and down his spine, had his balls aching. Breathing heavily, he cupped her breasts, savoring the sensation of her soft skin beneath his big, rough hands.
“That feels so good.” She twisted beneath him, arching up to rub her mound against his erection.
“Need you naked.” He lightly pinched her nipples.
“Yes, please. Hurry.” She thrashed, trying to pull away the remaining barrier between them.
He reared back, his chest rising and falling as he sucked air into his lungs. In seconds, he’d stripped away her underwear. “God, you’re beautiful.” She was still too thin, her ribs prominent, but that didn’t detract from her innate beauty.
“And you’re naked.” She eyed him up and down and licked her lips.
He’d been too damn tired to worry about donning a pair of boxers last night, and it was too warm and uncomfortable to sleep in jeans. He cocked an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”
She gave a sexy growl. “Not at all.” Using her strong legs, she wrapped them around his thighs and pulled him back down. “Saves time.”
“In a hurry, are you?” His laugh turned to a groan when she reached between them and stroked him from base to tip.
“You have no idea.”
She was his match in all ways that mattered—brave, smart, and not afraid to go for what she wanted.
And right now, she wanted him. That was his miracle.
Not only did she want him, she was willing to give their relationship a shot.
Somehow, someway, the universe had conspired for them to cross paths.
He wasn’t about to squander the gift he’d been given.
He couldn’t quell her worries about the future, but they’d work it out. The only thing that mattered now was loving Kinley. When he tried to pull away, she tightened her grip on his shaft. He peppered her face with kisses. “You have to let me go.”
She shook her head. “No.” When she angled her body, the head of his dick brushed against her, and his eyes almost rolled back in his head. “Now.”
Not willing to argue or deny either of them, he flexed his hips and pushed inward.
Her damp heat surrounded him. Sweat beaded on his body.
Her inner muscles fluttered and tightened as he surged deeper.
“So damn good.” And it was. This went far beyond sex.
It was a joining of body and soul, at least for him.
She’d told him not to say anything until he was sure.
The words he’d never thought he’d say to any woman spilled from his lips. “I love you.”
Something clicked inside him, like the missing piece of a puzzle slipping into place at long last. He could live without her, but it would be a cold, barren life of duty, of going from job to job, finding small moments of satisfaction and contentment with his family.
Being with Kinley offered the possibility of so much more.
She was light, joy, laughter, someone to share the most intimate moments with.
His wolf howled inside him. He thought he heard the echo of a female howl.
She froze beneath him and he barely dared to breathe. “What did you say?”
“I love you.” It was easier to say this time. Her nails dug into his sides. A panicked, almost frightened light flashed in her blue eyes. Shit, he’d done exactly what she’d asked him not to. But screw it, he wasn’t taking it back. “You said not to say the words until I was sure. I’m sure.”
She burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck.
Still inside her, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him so she lay on his chest. “I didn’t say it to upset you.
” He ran his big hands up and down her back.
Of all the reactions he could have gotten, he hadn’t expected tears.
He pressed his lips against the top of her head. “Is it so bad?”
“I love you,” she blurted. “I only said I thought I was falling in love with you because I was afraid.”
His arms tightened around her. Inside him, his wolf rejoiced. “What are you afraid of?”
She shrugged and sniffed. “Of you waking up one morning and deciding what we have isn’t worth it. That if your brothers don’t accept me, the loss of your family will turn to blame and bitterness. Of something happening to you.”
He sighed and hugged her closer. “Things will always go wrong. We both have firsthand experience.” That gained a small laugh from her.
“I wish I could tell you it will all be smooth sailing, but we both know I’d be lying.
I’ve seen far too much death and destruction.
Being with you has ignited a spark of life I’d thought gone forever.
That’s worth fighting for. You’re worth fighting for. ”
She raised her head. “I’m a coward compared to you.” She swiped at her cheeks.
“No, you’re a woman who’s lost everything she had, a woman who’s been hurt in every way possible but is still standing. I’m in awe of you.”
Her smile came a little easier. “You’re good for my ego.” The smile faded and she gave a decisive nod. “If you’re willing to take the chance, then so am I.”
The kiss was tender, a way of sealing their pact, signaling their acceptance of the love growing between them. There were no guarantees that life would be easy, but there never were. Together, they could share the good times and the burdens.
His dick flexed, urging him to get back to the business at hand. Kinley moaned and began to laugh. “I can’t believe you’re still hard.” She wiggled around, making the situation worse.
“It’s all you.” He’d never get enough of her.
The scent of her arousal filled his lungs, the feel of her beneath his hands made him crave more.
To lighten the mood, he playfully nipped at her.
Kinley brought out a lighter side of him he’d thought lost forever.
“You shouldn’t tease the big bad wolf unless you’re willing to accept the consequences. ”
She fluttered her eyelashes.” Promises. Promises.”
“I’ll never break a promise.” He arched his hips up while pulling her down hard on his erection, his control hanging by a thread.
“I trust you.”
Those words meant as much to him as her confession of love. “Mine,” he whispered, driven by a primal need to claim her. Rolling until she was on her back, he pulled one of her legs up over his hip and began to thrust hard and fast.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” she chanted, matching him stroke for stroke.
There was no finesse, no foreplay, only unquenchable desire. He drove into her again and again, claiming her, loving her. His fangs dropped, but he shook his head and shoved the urge to mate back down. That would be her decision. It was one he wouldn’t take away from her.
Her fingers dug into his ass, pulling him closer.
Sharp teeth sank into the upper curve of his shoulder.
Molten desire shot straight to his balls.
“Kinley!” he roared her name as he came.
She cried out and began to shake, her sheath clenched down hard around him.
The world around him spun away as his orgasm kept going until he was totally spent.
Collapsing on top of her, he valiantly sucked air into his starving lungs.
What the hell had just happened?
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