Chapter Seventeen
Con studied Rey’s expression. Worry shadowed her eyes, her mouth twisted with concern, and she chewed on her lower lip. She cared. Too much.
Her fingers had combed through his fur for hours, unafraid he might hurt her. His wolf had scented her while it flickered in and out of a healing sleep. She had fed him when he was hungry. She had stayed by his side, whispering to him.
What was more amazing was that his wolf had calmed beneath her touch. He had not fought Con for control. He had neither raged at his injury nor snarled and snapped. He had given himself over to Rey’s gentle hand, cherishing her attention, needing her.
“Come here.” Con stretched his arms wide, welcoming her.
She eyed his chest where his wound was nothing but a thin red scar.
Naked, he drew Rey in close, reassuring her he was healed. Brushing his hand down her auburn, unbound hair, he sighed. Pushing his fingers under her shirt, he caressed her back, loving the softness of her skin. His voice was raspy when he whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she sniffed.
Con stepped closer, his erection prodding her belly. When she jerked away, obviously aware of his arousal, he said, “Hush. Not now. I just plan to hold you.”
“That’s all I want, Con. I need your arms around me, to know that you are alive.”
They walked hand in hand to the bedroom, showering together because Rey wouldn’t let go of him. Wrapped in towels, they lay on the bed, touching each other until Rey fell asleep. She needed the rest, probably having been awake ever since he’d been stabbed.
He watched her sleep. Her face serene. Her long lashes a fan on her cheek. Her lips upturned with a slight smile. It was enough that her head was nestled between his shoulder and chest. Con used the time to think.
Though his wolf was a wild, untamed beast, its memory was better than his for some things—scents, for example. It had pulled his memories together, sorting through them and rearranging them until it found what the two-legged male had missed.
By morning, sunlight streaming across the bed, he’d solved the problem. He’d also solved the Rey problem, but the solution weighed heavily on his heart.
Rae stirred.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Fine.” She peeked under the covers.
When Con twisted to face her, she jumped out of bed and beelined for the bathroom. The toilet flushed, the sink faucet turned on, and her electric toothbrush buzzed.
Happily, she came out as naked as she went in, but she’d brushed her hair. “I think you made me a promise.”
“I would never renege on a promise. I’m finally up for it.” And he was stiff as the proverbial board, growing harder as her eyes ate him up. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we have to be quick.”
Rey crawled onto the bed, pausing after she straddled his thighs. “Why?”
“Because you need to call a task force meeting this morning.”
“I do? Because?”
“Because, love, your wolf is brilliant.” His breath hitched when she wrapped her hand around his cock and squeezed.
“Do you want to share with me?”
“I have only one thing I want to share right now.”
“And it’s oh, so hard. Is that for me?”
“No one else.” He feared he meant it. No use denying it, Rey was his mate. Though he refused to endanger her by activating the bond, the angry wolf prowled close to the surface of his skin. It demanded its prey, but Con kept it on a leash.
He moaned when she stroked him. From crown to root. Up. Down. Fuck that felt good. Her thighs pressed his, tighter. Her hand was perfection. The firm grip. The smooth motion. The rhythm. Just how he liked it.
Rey’s breasts bounced with each movement. Wanting a taste, he lifted his head and captured her full, firm mounds in his hands. He sucked on one nipple until it tightened into a hard bud. He moved to the other, eventually taking more of her into his mouth and sucking.
She moaned and stroked him harder, the muscles in her arm bunching with each glide up and down his shaft.
He deserted her breasts to lap his hand over hers. He squeezed it harder. “Yes. Like that. Faster.” Con jerked his hips off the bed.
His lids dropped as seed spewed from him, spraying Rey’s belly and chest. Con’s head fell back, but his female wasn’t through with him.
Rey scooted farther up his thighs, held him upright, and slid down onto him, taking all of him. She paused, leaning close. When her lips captured his, Con grabbed her hips and rolled her beneath him.
She laughed, her mouth still pressed to his. When she opened, he plunged inside, their tongues clashing, battling for control.
Con surged forward, pumping furiously, fucking her hard and fast. With his hands beneath her ass, he lifted her, opening her wider. That wasn’t enough for him. “Your legs. Over my shoulders.”
She complied, gasping for air as he drove in and out.
He held her down, plunging deeper and deeper. Con buried his face in her neck, his teeth closing on it. Catching himself, he released her and dragged his tongue over her skin.
The way he pulled away felt miraculous, considering he was consumed by raw lust for Rey. His mind was foggy, and his wolf was restless. Yet, he restrained himself, aware of the potential consequences of his actions.
Her soft hands stroked his arms, his chest.
He groaned when her inner muscles squeezed his cock, his hips keeping a steady rhythm.
When she trembled and dug her fingers into his skin, Rey screamed, “Yes, Con. Oh, yes.”
He thrust forward, slamming in and out as she quivered around his shaft, spent and satisfied.
He slapped his palms to the mattress on each side of her head.
As his claws shot from his fingers, Con chased his own relief and found it.
Retracting his nails, he collapsed on top of Rey, unconcerned about the effect of his weight.
When realization crept into his brain, he tumbled to the side to avoid smothering her.
They both lay on their backs, arms loose at their sides, sweating. Gods. He’d almost hurt Rey, but he’d been thinking about something else before he lost his mind to lust.
Yeah. The murders.
“You’re thinking too hard,” said Rey.
“Not really. That’s the problem. When I’m around you, all thoughts pour out of my ears.” He raised onto his elbows, twisted to the side, and kissed her lips. “Let’s get going, love.”
Rey groaned but slid her feet to the floor.