Chapter 18 Choose
Choose
Jas
Taking unsteady breaths, I try to breathe deeply again. Inhale. Exhale. It’s smoother this time. Not as shaky as the last one. I open the door, letting the cool, fresh air come in through the screen.
When I texted the girls earlier to come over, I didn’t give them any details, only expressing my intense need to talk to them. I need their support. But once they know everything, what will they think?
My feet pace like the magic in my blood. It’s in the shape of the wolf that crawls under my skin, demanding release. The magic does what it wants, and I can't control it. I can’t make it stop—the visions, feelings, and thoughts. It's insatiable. It's tormenting.
Phantom claws rake up my spine ever so gently. I hate it, but it makes my knees weak. Okay, maybe I like it...a little. The bond isn’t encouraging anymore, it’s commanding. Demanding I surrender to the wolf—to the beast. Dominik.
I see it when I close my eyes. I allow myself a moment to slip into the fantasy.
His hands are savage with need, fingers digging into my skin, stealing my breath, and making me crave more.
Don’t stop. I’m balancing on the tip of my toes while he crushes my body close to his, my spine arches as I beg for more with each ragged breath.
His large hand wraps around my throat, the other dipping into the lace between my legs—and fuck, I love it.
The heat in my core builds, and the sensation of his calloused fingers brushing my skin makes me writhe desperately in his grip, forcing a guttural moan from his throat. His fingers hover above my throbbing clit.
Goddess. I can’t think of anything else when his hands are on me.
He grinds his rock-hard length into me, rubbing into the lace thong between my cheeks. Precum marks my skin on my lower back like a brand.
"Are you desperate for me?" he purrs into my ear. He plunges his fingers inside of me, each stroke making me pant with need, his thumb rubbing my clit. I rock on his hand, grinding my ass against his throbbing dick. My nails dig into his skin as I cry out.
"Fuck," he groans, "your scent—"
"Open." The command rips from his throat.
My mouth parts instantly, and he places his two fingers into my mouth, whispering for me to suck, demanding I taste.
"See how perfect you taste..." he hisses into my ear, pressing kisses against my jaw line, teeth nipping my earlobe hard enough to make me gasp.
I taste my desperation on my tongue before he removes his fingers and sucks them clean, tasting every trace of me. He repositions his cock to slide between my legs, his hand still holding the pulse in my throat.
"Damn it, damn it!" I cry out, clutching my head and shaking it. "Snap out of it!”
My eyes open to the sound of the screen door. Poppy, Elora, Raene, and Oriana stand and stare with their mouths agape, hands full of wine, a huge sushi platter, and another bag.
Corra darts in front of me, worry etched on her face. Her fingers are twirling the ends of her flowing hair.
I'm not crazy, but maybe I'm going a little crazy. I don't need any vivid imagery right now.
"Hey," I say nervously.
I spill it all—the weird feelings, the Blood Rose Moon that they can’t see, and the dream that felt too real.
I take them through the conversation with Sammie at the coffee shop and how it informed me of my connection with Dominik.
The bond and how my body is overwhelmed with feelings for him, something I thought I’d never have.
I crave him. I've been feeling like this since I left his house.
I confess to the vision I had earlier that almost had me driving into a pole.
Envisioning him shifting from a midnight-furred, sinful beast to man, his mouth finding mine with desperate hunger, tongue seeking as if he'd die without a taste, and fangs piercing my skin.
Does he feel the same way? Does he see what I see?
"Well?" I demand. “Am I losing my mind?”
I set my plate down and grab my wine glass. Their exchanged glances, smirks, and smiles speak volumes.
“Yes!” Oriana drags out, hands lifted in praise as if giving thanks to the Divine Seven. “It’s about time!”
“Oriana! Hush,” Poppy whispers.
“Excuse me?!” I slam my glass down on the coffee table. “About time?”
Oriana waves a dismissive hand in the air, taking a drink. “Oh, come on, Jas. It makes perfect sense. You two are practically already married, without the ring and benefits."
“What benefits?” My eyes roll.
“The SEX,” Oriana purrs, and her smile is sinful.
"If all you have to do is look at him and he hasn't touched you yet," Corra says, breath husky, "and you're wetter than my entire being…then you're a current pulling toward him. When he breathes heavily and he says he wants a taste, tell him to be careful—you can pull him under."
I shake my head at the thought as the girls gasp and awe over the Tide Sprite's lust-filled words. “The last thing on my mind is sex,” I lie, crossing my legs, fighting the urge to leave right now and go straight back to Dominik’s house.
“Oh, honey,” Oriana says sighing, “do I really need to explain the term mates to you? This bond is going to build the desire of you wanting him in every possible way—above you, beneath you, sideways, upside down, behind you—”
Poppy laughs, fanning her face with a napkin. “She gets it, and you’re not doing anything helpful besides adding some more colorful imagery to the fantasies playing in her head.”
I pick my jaw up off the floor and shudder.
Fate—you insolent fucking thing.
"I, for one, think it's amazing," Raene says, feet tucked underneath her. She taps her chopsticks together in the air like they're clapping before popping a piece of sushi into her mouth.
Mellie's ears perk up at the sound before she snuggles further into her bed.
"Seriously?" I stare, not blinking. Of course, Rae would think this is amazing. She’s a romance author after all. She found her own love story with Sylas. She’s the hopeless romantic of our group.
I toss my hands in the air, giving up before sinking deeper into my chair. I’m grateful for their love, their support, but I wanted them to be angry with me.
"All we're saying," Raene pipes up, "is that it honestly couldn't be more perfect, you know?
It's beautiful, poetic even. You two have history.
He knows you, you know him. You trust him.
He's seen you at your lowest and stood by you.
You two already share a love of friendship, why not see what it blooms into? "
"I agree," Elora says, sucking the salt off the edamame. "Dominik is a great guy. He is great with Seren, too."
"I know. He's..." I sigh, resting my chin on my hand, "incredible. He really is. But that doesn't mean we are supposed to be together. Don't I get a say in this?"
"Of course, you get a say." Poppy shrugs, popping a piece of sliced ginger into her mouth. "Can you reject the bond? Do you want to?"
I don't know if it's an option. I don't know what will happen if I reject it. "I don't know if I can. If I do, will I lust after him forever? How will we act around one another?” I sit up. “Let's say we did this. We gave in to the bond. What about Seren?"
"Seren adores Dominik," Oriana says, swirling her glass, watching the bubbles of the wine pop.
"We know you're scared," Raene says, squeezing my knee. I pull my attention to her and out of the chaos in my mind. "We’re with you no matter what, but don’t rush this decision. You need to think about it. It’s okay to be nervous."
"You are such a romantic," I say, rolling my eyes playfully.
"I can’t help it, but there is a spark between you two. Before this moon, you two have been through a lot together and built a great friendship. He’s seen you at your worst, right?"
Yes. Unfortunately, he has.
I take the glass of refilled wine from Poppy, tell her thanks, and drain half of it. The girls spin wild theories on how we possibly were chosen. I guess the universe really is against me. I haven't had one good date. Moiraya is sabotaging me.
“What do you want to do?” Poppy asks.
“Do you really want me to answer that question?”
Their heads bob in unison, waiting in anticipation for my answer.
“The choice is ultimately yours,” Oriana says. “It’s the consequences that you both have to handle after.”
Consequences be damned. I am not something to be claimed simply because the Goddess decided it so. I will choose my own path.