Chapter Four #3
Finally pulling back, Toby touched his forehead to hers briefly, a silent acknowledgment of the connection they both seemed to be feeling.
“We should probably keep moving,” he murmured, his voice husky.
Harper nodded, her mind still reeling from the kiss. “Yeah,” she managed to say, though part of her wanted nothing more than to stay right there with him as they got lost in another kiss.
After Toby had refueled and paid for the gas, they continued on their journey, the atmosphere charged with a new type of energy, one that was filled with the promise of what was to come.
The rest of the drive went by in an easy, comfortable silence, both of them lost in their thoughts about what had just transpired and what might lay ahead.
As they arrived at the hotel where Jack was staying, the reality of their mission snapped back into focus. The building loomed large as Toby parked the car, and they gathered their things to check in.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Toby said as he turned off the ignition, giving Harper a look that was both reassuring and filled with anticipation.
Harper nodded and got out of the car and the heat hit her like a freight train. Toby reached for her hand and she took it without hesitation. Despite the dangers they were about to face, she felt an undeniable sense of safety with Toby by her side.
As they entered the hotel lobby, the cool air was a welcome respite from the humidity outside.
The interior was lush, with deep green plants and soft, ambient music playing in the background.
Toby approached the reception desk to secure their rooms for the night, his demeanor calm despite the urgency of their mission.
“We need two rooms, please,” Toby stated to the receptionist, his eyes scanning the area subtly. “For two or three nights, possibly longer.”
The woman tapped at the computer, her expression apologetic when she looked up. “I’m sorry, but we only have one room left. It’s been busy because of the festival.”
Toby paused, turning slightly to Harper, his eyebrow raised in question. Harper met his gaze, a slight flush on her cheeks as she considered the implications. After a brief moment, she nodded subtly and turned back to the receptionist.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice steady. “We’ll take it.”
They retrieved their bags and followed the directions given, ascending one flight of stairs to their room.
The tension between them seemed to amplify with each step they took.
When they found the right door, Toby swiped the key card, and the soft click of the lock opening felt unusually loud in the silent corridor.
Harper’s heart rate increased as Toby pushed open the door and it felt so loud in her ears that she wondered if Toby could hear it.
Once inside, they set down their bags and looked around.
The room was tastefully decorated, the large bed with an ornate dark wood headboard taking center stage, but despite its linens looking crisp and inviting, the very presence of the bed, a bed they would have to share, made Harper’s heart beat faster still.
She stood there for a moment, her eyes shifting from the bed to Toby wondering what he was thinking.
Was he as acutely aware of her presence as she was his?
The air between them seemed to crackle and fizzle with a charge of heat and lust, Toby took a tentative step closer to Harper.
Their eyes locked, and all the unspoken tension and growing attraction that had been building over the course of their journey seemed to converge into a single, electrifying moment.
Without a word spoken, they reached for each other simultaneously.
Toby’s arms went around Harper’s waist, pulling her close, at the same time that her hands found his back, clutching at him and pulling him tighter against her.
Their kiss was immediate and intense, born out of the adrenaline of undeniable chemistry that simmered between them.
It was filled with longing and growing feelings, intense and overwhelming, and yet perfect.
As they finally parted, both breathing heavily, their foreheads touching, Toby seemed to be grappling with his feelings and the unexpected intimacy every bit as much as Harper was. The room around Harper felt smaller, the world outside forgotten in favor of the man in front of her.
“Jesus, I want you,” Toby murmured, his breath hot and fanning across Harper’s lips. “So much.”
“I want you too,” she admitted.
How could this be possible? She barely knew Toby and yet she felt as if she’d known him a lifetime. She’d never rushed into intimacy before, but with Toby, it was as if she craved it. Craved him.
As she gazed into his eyes, an amber light flickered in them, and Harper stared at it closely, mesmerized.
But it was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared, making her wonder if she’d only imagined it.
Toby leaned in again, his gaze fixed on her lips, and Harper was powerless to do anything other than lean in to meet his kiss.
This time the kiss was less urgent, but every bit as powerful.
When his tongue probed the entrance to her lips, she groaned, and Toby kissed her harder.
His hands down her back and over the cheeks of her ass to pull her closer still and the feel of his hardness pressed against her made her gasp at the promise of what was to come. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been as turned on. Had she ever been this aroused? She didn’t think so.
“Please,” she begged, surprised by the desperation in her voice.
At first, she thought her plea had been swallowed up by Toby’s hungry kiss, but the ragged groan that tore from his throat suggested otherwise.
The clutching of each other’s backs quickly became the tugging of one another’s clothes, and as each item was removed, they seemed to move closer and closer to the bed.
When all clothes had been removed, and Toby finally pressed her down onto the sheets, she welcomed his warm weight on top of her.
Toby’s lips trailed down her neck, to her collarbone, and then back up again. He moved slowly as if savoring every inch of skin he covered. The room was filled with a heady mix of their arousal and the air was thick with tension. Harper’s heart pounded, and she arched her back to invite him closer.
As he moved lower, Harper trembled in anticipation. She reached between them and smoothed her hand over the swollen line of his erection. She licked her lips, nervously excited by what they were about to do.
Toby looked down at her, his eyes dark with desire, and whispered, “Are you sure?”
Harper nodded, unable to speak past the sudden lump in her throat.
She had never been as sure of anything. Her hand trembling, she wrapped it around his length, amazed by just how hard he was for her.
A ragged groan tore from his throat, more animal than human and the sound reminded her of his coyote half.
Instead of giving her pause, the sound made a thrill of desire shoot through her body, and she squeezed him harder to solicit the noise again.
Toby didn’t disappoint. When Harper gasped, Toby looked down to meet her gaze.
He appeared to be checking to see she if she was afraid, but when he took in her expression, he visibly relaxed.
“You like it when I make that noise?” he asked, his voice filled with wonder.
She nodded then felt the heat of a blush creep into her cheeks. “I do. Is that weird?”
Toby chuckled. “Not at all. I like that you feel that way. Don’t forget, this is all new to me too. You’re my first and only mate. You’re the only woman I ever let see this part of myself.”
A slow smile slid into place on Harper’s lips. She liked that Toby hadn’t shared this side of himself with any other woman. It made her feel special.
“Toby, I want you,” Harper whispered.
This time her words were uttered with the utmost certainty.
Toby smiled down at her, a mix of relief and lust shining in his eyes. The heat of his body on hers was intoxicating and Harper’s breath quickened each time her hand moved up and down his length. She was ready for him. Toby gasped, his head falling back as he thrust his hips into her hand.
“Yes, like that,” he ground out.
Harper’s heart pounded harder still when Toby moved his gaze back to hers.
The hunger and affection that shone in his eyes stole her breath.
With a soft, sultry smile, he leaned down and kissed her once more, their tongues dancing together in a passionate waltz.
The taste of him sent shivers sliding down her spine, and she eagerly welcomed him inside her mouth.
As she explored the taste of him with her tongue, Harper’s body came alive with desire.
Her heart raced as he withdrew from the kiss, sweat glistening on his brow.
He looked down at her hungrily, his eyes locked onto her exposed body.
She watched him swallow hard before he began to trace kisses down her stomach, each one leaving a trail of electricity that made her shiver.
The pleasure she felt when Toby’s tongue danced over her skin was beyond anything she had ever known.
His touch was gentle yet ferocious at the same time, setting fire to her senses and leaving little doubt in her mind about how much he wanted her.
He moved lower still, his breath hot against her skin as he trailed kisses across her belly button and just below it.
The anticipation was almost unbearable as she felt him gently parting her legs with his hands. Warm breath washed over her sensitive flesh, sending shockwaves of arousal throughout her entire being. Harper moaned softly, reaching down to guide him closer to where she needed him most.
Toby’s response was immediate, he licked his way up through her folds, and she gasped in pleasure.
As he approached her core, a wave of desire crashed over her. She was so wet the evidence of her arousal would have been clear even to someone who had never been with a woman before. Toby’s hands gripped her hips gently, holding her steady as he dove forward, his mouth engulfing her sensitive nub.
Harper’s eyes rolled back in pleasure as the sensations coursed through her body.
Toby’s tongue danced over her clit in expert motions, sending waves of pleasure cascading through her like a tsunami.
Each touch was more intense than the last, building up to a crescendo that threatened to consume her whole being.
The pressure continued to build until Harper could take it no longer.
She cried out in ecstasy as she came hard against his mouth, her hips bucking involuntarily as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.
Toby continued his gentle ministrations, drawing out the last vestiges of pleasure from her climax until there were no more left for him to draw out.
When at last she was spent, Harper slumped back onto the bed, gasping for air as the remnants of her orgasm coursed through her veins.
Despite finding her release, she wasn’t even close to being finished.
She wanted Toby desperately, more than she’d ever wanted anyone in her life.
More than she’d known it could be possible to want someone.
She pulled at his arms to get him to move and thankfully, Toby seemed to realize instantly what she needed.
He moved up her body until he loomed over her and pressed his swollen cock to the place where his lips and tongue had been moments before.
“Please,” she begged, and that was all the encouragement Toby needed.
He pushed into her with one long, fluid stroke until Harper thought she might lose her mind from the intense sensations.
“Yes!” she gasped.
When he was as deep seated as he could go, Toby let out a ragged groan. “You feel so good,” he bit out. “Perfect.”
Harper wanted to answer only she’d lost the ability to speak.
Toby started to move inside her, retreating slowly then pushing into her again and again until each thrust consumed her.
When she opened her eyes and looked up to meet Toby’s gaze, the same amber glint she had noticed before, shone down at her, only this time, it didn’t disappear as quickly.
It lingered for long moments, captivating in its beauty.
When Toby’s lips parted, she saw that his canines had grown down to twice their length.
They looked lethally sharp and the sight of them was thrilling and pushed Harper ever closer to another release.
But there was something she needed and wouldn’t have known how to ask for it even if she was fully aware of what that something was.
Fortunately, in that moment, Toby had the answers.
“Do you accept me as your mate?” he asked.
Harper nodded. “I do,” she said without hesitation.
He closed his eyes briefly and when he next opened them, there was a wild gleam in their depths.
“I’m going to bite you now,” he informed her. “Is that okay? It will seal our bond.”
“Yes!” Harper said quickly. It hadn’t even occurred to her to be afraid or to answer no to his question, and she realized in that moment that this was the very thing she had needed.
“This is forever, Harper. I can’t take it back.”
“Bite me. Please.”
Without any further words spoken between them, Toby leaned down and struck, his canines sinking into the sensitive flesh at Harper’s throat.
There was a split second of pain, but it quickly morphed into the most intense please that Harper had ever known, and as Toby continued to move his hips against hers, pleasure exploded from her core, making her scream out his name in the otherwise quiet room.
She was dimly aware of Toby’s guttural grunt as he too found his release inside her.
After they had both stopped shuddering from their orgasms, Toby carefully extracted his teeth from her neck, then licked over the bite gently, making her shudder.
He gently flipped them so that he was lying on his back with Harper sprawled half on top of him.
She fell asleep a moment later, sated and more content than she could remember being.