Chapter 15 #2
But no, she was as stubborn as a gargoyle. It was only now, within his proximity, that she gave in to what she truly craved.
He strove harder, gripping her butt with both hands. Their frantic breathing overrode the murmuring from the party. Her moans grew louder. She tugged on his hair, consumed him with her kiss, intoxicated him with her body. He wound tighter, matching her fervency, her pace.
“Now, Tristan,” she said, her legs constricting. “Come with me.”
The climax crashed over him. He shuddered against her as she cried out her release.
He breathed heavily with weak knees, leaning harder against her. Her kisses turned languid now; her hands slipped from his hair to around his shoulders.
He didn’t rush her, worried that he’d break the spell. Reveling in the feeling of her.
“Thank you,” she finally said. She draped herself around him. “For coming to get me. I’m exhausted. Sebastian told me to be careful, but I didn’t realize there’s this…like…tipping point. I was getting a little tired, but then all of a sudden I was dragging. I didn’t know how to get out of there.”
“Did you do what you set out to do?”
She kissed his neck softly, then licked up to his ear before taking in his earlobe. He shivered, closing his eyes.
“Yes,” she said. “I planted the suggestion that Armendale might not be the most influential alpha out there. That’s why a lot of them seem to be orbiting him.
They want to be in the circle of influence.
Aljoe helped a ton. He’s a known quantity, and he spoke really well of Austin.
But there’s still work to do. Austin has to keep this territory in line, and he has to prove he’s better than Armendale. ”
“He will. He knows what’s at stake.”
She nodded and snuggled a little closer.
“Let’s get you home.”
He put her down, hating the absence of her heat. He stripped off his shirt and then paused when she ran her hand down his chest. Her gaze took in his body.
“You really are so incredibly handsome,” she murmured. “The ego is justified.”
He handed his clothing to her to hold.
“And you are so incredibly beautiful,” he told her before stepping forward and kissing her.
He shifted and gently pulled her into his arms. He walked away from the building’s overhang until there was a clear view of the sky. He pushed off and soared into the air, holding her tightly.
She curled into him, holding his clothes, trusting him not to let her fall.
He flew fast, feeling her shiver with the colder atmospheric air.
At Ivy House, he landed on one of the third-story balconies before putting her down and shifting again.
Once dressed, he took her hand and tugged her into the house through the hatch.
Her steps were clumsy, relaying her fatigue.
Almost no energy curled around her, only the barest tendrils reaching for him, sliding against his skin.
“Do you need food?” He pulled her into his arms again.
“Sebastian always has something, so probably. This is new for me, being in this situation. I’m usually the no-magic caretaker.”
“The one in control.”
She hesitated, quiet for a long beat as he felt the currents of the house. Ivy House was directing his feet.
“I never looked at it like that,” she said softly.
“It can be hard, letting go,” he said, taking the stairs down to the second floor. “Trusting someone else to take care of you.”
Trust me to take care of you, he wanted to say but didn’t. He’d show her—prove to her that he not only wanted the job, but that he would be good at it. Jessie and the team had taught him how.
A door popped open as he neared it and they emerged into Natasha’s room. He set her on the bed.
“Stay,” he commanded, and she shuddered, closing her eyes. She liked when he got forceful.
He looked through her drawers until he found the pajamas and chose the fluffy ones he’d put on her when in Evan’s cairn. He stood her up and stripped her down to her panties before pausing, seeing his release leaking down her inner thighs.
A wave of arousal rushed through him, so powerful he swayed where he stood, closing his eyes and swearing under his breath.
“We need to get you cleaned up.” He softly ran his thumb along her jaw. Her eyes were still closed. “Let me go grab you something to eat, and then we’ll get you into the shower and to bed, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
He tucked her into her robe and set her down again before heading down to make a protein shake. Back in her room, she sagged where she sat, head tilted forward and eyes closed. It looked like it was a struggle to stay upright.
“Here you go.” He handed her the shake and decided against the shower. She was done in.
Instead, he got a warm washcloth and cleaned her up, jaw clenched against his arousal.
He grabbed a different pair of panties, choosing the largest, ugliest ones she had.
Half laughing to himself, because it didn’t at all help calm him down, he waited for her to finish the shake before dressing her and tucking her into bed.
“Do you want me to stay?” he asked, sitting beside her and looking down on her beautiful face.
Her eyes fluttered open, the now-familiar shadow pooling in their depths. Her past was haunting her again. Her guilt and shame. She just could not get around her self-loathing for the things she’d had to do.
“Why do you bother with me, Tristan?”
Because I love you.
The words were nearly out before he bit them back.
“Because you’re worth my bothering with you.
” He scrunched up his nose. “That didn’t make sense.
” He bent to kiss her forehead, and then her lips.
“Because you’re worth the effort, Natasha.
Because I enjoy being with you and talking to you and playing our games.
I enjoy your presence and your smiles and your frowns.
I get excited when I know I’ll see you, and I miss you when I don’t. ”
“You can have any woman you want.”
He kissed her again. “Not until you finally stop running.”
“What if I never stop?”
“You will. One day you’ll realize I’m not going anywhere, and you’ve finally found someone who will treasure you as you should be treasured.
Who understands you and respects you. Someone who will fight for you and protect you.
” He leaned over her to kiss her wet cheeks.
“One day you’ll stop pretending you don’t want all that and realize it is worth the risk of giving away your heart.
Now close your eyes, little angel. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, and then I’ll give you your space, okay? ”
She took a shuddering breath. “Okay.”
She burrowed a little deeper into her pillows and comforter. He took her hand and watched her as sleep quickly dragged her under. He didn’t leave right away, though. He stayed a while longer, listening to her breathing and feeling her comforting presence.
He hoped he was right, and that she would stop running eventually. He honestly wasn’t so sure anymore.