Chapter 45 #2
Then, on the walk back to the copter, Seb had thrown his arm around Serenity and had some secret telepathic conversation that put their heads close together and left them both blushing and laughing softly.
I thought it was picture perfect, like something out of a timeless love story, but I’d been walking next to Hunter just behind them and could practically hear his jaguar side readying for a fight.
He glowered at the back of Seb’s head with a primal look I’d seen before, back in the days when he’d step out of the ring the bloodied victor.
Knowing that Seb—and worse, Dagger—had gone farther than he ever had with Serenity last night was eating into his rational side, chewing a hole that his animal would burst through at the slightest provocation.
I’d distracted him with reminiscences of childhood days, which also drew Serenity’s attention, breaking her and Seb apart. But by the time we piled back into the loft, I was more than ready for the stress relief that cooking always provided.
Dinner came and went. So did Hunter and Dagger. One to check in on his club and the other to talk over recent criminal events with his partner ‘Teddy Bear’ at Chops—a bar and grill that doubled as the favorite watering hole of the police officers’ union.
I cuddled up with Serenity on the largest couch, melting into the bliss of her simple proximity. Seb took one look at us and a knowing spark lit his eyes. “I think I’m going to work on some designs in my room a while.”
How could Hunter begrudge that guy anything?
I wrapped an arm around Serenity’s shoulders and pulled her close. The scent of her floral shampoo filled my nose as I pressed my lips to the top of her head. Her sigh and the circles she traced on my chest encouraged me to let my lips travel along her skin from neck to shoulder.
She unbuttoned my shirt halfway and slipped a hand inside, caressing my chest with her palm. “Can I sleep with you tonight?” Her whisper sent shivers across my body.
“Of course you can.” I tapped a finger on her nose, fighting the wave of excited tremors coursing through my body. “But can I ask whether it’s because Hunter nearly cracked his jawbone a couple times today?”
“So, you noticed, too.” Her lips pressed together.
“Hard not to. I’ve known him a long time.” I shrugged, the motion a bit restrained as she lay on my chest.
“That’s not why I want to spend time with you tonight, but it is on my mind. I’m worried he thinks I picked Dagger over him or something. I wasn’t even thinking like that. I just… Really, it was about getting over my fears with Seb and, well, I mean…” She looked up at me, her cheeks red.
“You have nothing to feel guilty about. And Hunter knows it, deep down. Trust me, if he truly felt jilted or like he had a valid complaint, he’d tell you, upfront.”
Jaguars were jealous, but Hunter was always trying to temper the basic instincts of the predator within. He was probably in his club office right now, meditating over some ancient Greek or Roman wisdom to set his mind straight.
The scare at the charity ball had messed with him too.
“Yeah,” she said on a long exhale. “You’re probably right.” She poked my stomach. “You’re always right.”
I smiled and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “He’ll be okay. I promise. Shifters don’t always take to sharing mates as easily. And his history with Dagger, and their disagreement over handling Winterborn is compounding the issue. Then knowing that Dagger got to be your first—”
“But he didn’t!” She shook her head hard. “Dagger and I fooled around”—her voice softened into a wistful tone—“but Seb and I were each other’s firsts.”
“And that’s your right to choose.” I brushed back her hair. “I think that’s incredibly sweet.”
“Dagger and I didn’t have sex at all. He said we should wait. Seb’s venom which we’d used as pain killer was wearing off.”
“Really?” I reeled back and let out a half-laugh. “I hope you know the change you’ve had on Dagger is nothing short of a miracle.”
She tucked a bashful smile against her shrugging shoulder. “I don’t want to change him too much. I like him a little naughty. But maybe I should let Hunter know what really happened?”
“Well, he is definitely assuming you slept with Dagger last night, like I did. I’ll talk to him, though, if you want. He might open up a little more to me. Be less embarrassed about his mistake and the way he acted. I can set him straight.”
“Thanks, Bry.” She kissed my cheek. “I can always count on you. And I hope you know how much I enjoy spending time with you. Doing anything.” She gripped the sides of my opened shirt and drew me into a dizzying kiss on the mouth.
Her breasts pressing against my chest, the feather-light circles her curling fingers drew on my nape, and the sweet swirls of her tongue began to stiffen my cock. I had to do an adjustment to untangle it from my underwear elastic.
She chuckled and reached down with one hand to the bulge in my pants. “You know,” she sighed against my lips, “I’m not nearly as sore from last night as I thought I’d be.”
My breath quickened, making me stammer. “O-oh?” I questioned between kisses. I cringed at how awkward it came out, heat crawling up the back of my neck.
She just nodded, drawing back just enough to give me that sexy smile, perched over me on the couch like a feline, back curving in a perfect bow that I wanted to trace with my tongue. “I think we should stay up. So long as we can find something fun to do.”
I picked her up, drinking in her laugh as I spun her once.
But my blood was so supercharged that it rushed right to my head, and I had to stop.
Holding her ass and thighs as she wrapped herself around me, I felt my arms tremble with anticipation and a nervous energy.
I felt like a college freshman, out of his depth but desperate to please with a good first show.
Roaring fires crackled through my veins, searing across my chest as I used my knee to nudge open the door of the bedroom I always used when I stayed over, closing it behind us.
“Toss me,” she said through an adorable grin, eyes sparkling, as we approached the bed.
I obeyed, flinging her onto the mattress, where she bounced with a cute squeak. Then she stretched her legs out, leaned back on her forearms, and in a theatrical sultry voice said, “Mr. Harding, what will your secretary think?”
That startled a chuckle out of me.
“We are being very unprofessional, aren’t we?” I slipped off my shirt. Her playful smile and the distraction of the teasing roleplay soothed the worst of my nerves, leaving me buzzing with anticipation. I crawled onto the bed after her and shook my head. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
She batted her eyelashes, her tone lowering as she rubbed my cock through my pants. “I’d rather shout it from the rooftops. Would you fire me if I did that? Hmm, boss?”
I wrapped a strand of her auburn hair around my finger, marveling at the coppers and golds hidden in each strand. “I could be persuaded to keep you on. But I think for that we both need to get more comfortable.”
When I moved to unbuckle my belt, her fingers pushed mine aside and tugged the leather free herself.
“Let me do it.” The belt snaked free, and she slowly, pulled down the zipper. “You give so much and never ask for anything back. Let me take care of you for once.”
She tugged my pants off, followed by my socks, caressing my legs as she slunk back up to lay her body atop mine.
I held her close, rubbing circles over her back and running a thumb over her jaw.
When she bent to kiss me, I gently held her in place.
“Wait. Just a moment. Please, angel. I want to remember this. Every second of it.”
Her eyes softened, and she stilled, gaze trailing over me as mine did the same.
“I just…” I swallowed, not wanting to worry her with a tremor in my voice or blur her face with welling tears.
“I just want you to know that I cherish every time you say my name or hold my hand or think to look my way. It’s not just about the fact that you can touch me.
It’s amazement at the fact that the person who can touch me is an angel who escaped hell and still has boundless compassion and creativity and resilience. ”
Her tear splashed on my jaw, and I wiped another from her cheek, gut clenching, worried I’d said something wrong.
But she snuggled down closer, slipping an arm under my neck to hold me tighter, like she might be able to meld us into one. Her other hand cupped my face as she said, “I love you, Bryce.”
If she’d cut my chest open, sunlight would have poured out with all the power of a blazing star—life-giving and all-consuming.
“I love you, too, Serenity. God, I’ve known I loved you since the warehouse.
When Dagger said you’d been taken, it felt like someone had torn out my heart.
” I slowed my breaths, centering myself by stroking her hair.
“But I didn’t want you to feel… obligated to say it back or stay because of my condition.
I know how badly you’ve wanted to get out of New Nebraska. ”
She paused a moment, and I could sense her mulling over her next words. “I’m starting to realize that I thought I needed other humans to feel like me again. But I’m finding out it’s not true. I feel like the woman I am with all of you is who I was meant to be.”
My exhale shook. “I’m so glad.”
“And do you know who I want to be tonight?” She rocked her hips over mine in a sudden burst of pleasure that tipped back my head.
“Who?” I gasped out.
She dipped low to whisper in my ear. “Your first.” Her hand slipped into my boxers, stroking down my shaft to cup my balls, sending explosions through my head.
“My first and only, forever.” I closed my eyes, head still thrown back, struggling to keep control of the furnace raging deep inside. “I want us. So much. I want you.”
“I’m almost as new at this as you,” she whispered, hand wrapped around me. “Let’s learn from each other.”