by M. K. Harper
“This isn’t a race. We’ve got all night, Linny. Why don’t we go start a bath?” His sweet offer only makes me love him more. I smile tentatively and nod. Dax drops a lingering kiss to my forehead and then steps aside so that I can lead the way. Taking a deep breath, I shake out my free arm and put one foot in front of the other. It’d be great to have a moment to myself but the rope around our wrists says that’s a big fat nope. I can tell he’s doing his best to seem invisible, though. My bag from Beatrix’s sits on the bed. Taking a look inside, I see that mom has packed me a few things to hold me over. I pull out some pajamas and a pair of panties, swearing I hear Dax mumble something along the lines of “won’t be needing those” as I do. I bite back a smile and turn for the bathroom.
Dax really outdid himself with this house. Our tub is modern, with a separate shower to the side of it. Everything is white with black hardware. It’s like HGTV porn. On the vanity, between his and hers sinks, sits a few smell-good products. After scanning them quickly, I grab the lavender bubble bath and turn the water on, drizzling in the yummy smelling wash as I go. Lavender is calming, right? I could definitely use some calm right about now. Once the bath is full and the bubbles are just near flooding over, I turn it off and slowly turn to the big bad wolf I’ve been doing my best to ignore. He looks so sweet, standing there with all the patience in the world. I have no doubt that he meant exactly what he said. We can take this as slow as I want and he’ll be just fine. Inhaling deeply, I slowly strip away my clothes. This isn’t the first time he’s seen me naked, but his heated stare still makes me squirm.
Dax seems to contemplate something for a bit, his gaze ping ponging from my lip tucked between my teeth, my eyes and all the bare skin on display. He must come to a decision because he slowly pushes himself back, giving us the tiniest amount of space between our bodies and starts to undress. First his shirt, revealing a lean and sculpted abdomen that I’ve almost memorized. The colorful tattoos lining his arm and the few scattered around his chest call to me, my eyes zeroing in on them like they always do. The button on his pants popping open snags my attention, as does the slow decent they make to the floor.
Dax is in nothing but black briefs when he pauses his strip tease. I can see the quick rise and fall of his chest, the slight tremble in his hands. Finally, he hooks his thumbs in the waistband and takes them off. I know I’ve been in the presence of him naked before this moment, but never when the time was appropriate for me to fully take him in and truly appreciate all that man. Look at God, showing out. He deserves a gold star for this one, because he clearly made Dax with a little something extra. Not a dick joke, but it works in that context just as well. He’s perfect. Every inch of him is flawless, and I have the insane urge to explore all of that beauty...with my tongue. But that thing hanging between his legs? That makes me gulp. Audibly.
“You aren’t the only one that’s nervous, baby. This is a first for me as well. Blind leading the blind over here,” he chuckles, making me smile. “Whatever fears or insecurities we have, we’ll get over them together. There’s no reason for either of us to be so worried. Just you and me here, Linny.” That heart stopping smile that hooked me from day one spreads across his face. I let that wall I was trying to put up fall away. He’s right. And when we talk like this, completely open and honest with one another, it’s easier to feel at ease with him when we’re treading new waters.
“Hop in and slide forward a bit,” Dax instructs me. The warm water feels like heaven against my tense muscles. Once I’ve created enough room for him, he slips in behind me. Cautiously, his arm snakes around my waist and pulls me back against him. I relax immediately, like my body is programmed to let everything else go whenever we touch. We stay that way for a while, his hand spread across my stomach as his thumb rubs back and forth just above my bellybutton. I don’t think he realizes how much that one, repetitive movement is driving me wild. Maybe my skin is extra sensitive and the bath has me overheated, but every drag of his thumb feels like a tug straight to my core. I turn my head, my mouth brushing beneath his jaw as I breathe him in. I place a tiny kiss there, and smile when he stills.
“Linny,” he warns.
“Hmm?” I flick my tongue out, wanting to taste him. I’m abruptly flipped around and straddling Dax before I’m even aware of what’s happening. His eyes are faintly wolf, that luminescent amber color coming and going as he struggles for the upper hand. My breaths saw in and out, excitement and desire pulsing through my body. I’ve always wanted to see what would happen when he finally let go of all that control, and it looks like I’m about to find out.
“I’m trying to go slow, baby, but you’re making it really hard.” He lowers his gaze, homing in on my chest that’s no longer shielded by the bubble bath. Like he’s mesmerized, his thumb runs over my nipple without command. I gasp, the jolt it sends to the place between my legs has my hips rocking forward, drawing a groan from Dax. My body seems to have a mind of its own, and now that I’ve started this, I have no intention of stopping.
“I wanna go fast,” I whisper, too caught up in his hands to think straight.
“My mate’s quoting Ricky Bobby and I’m still turned on,” he laughs incredulously. The feel of his fingers sliding down between us, lightly skimming over my folds, makes me jump. I think his touch will always feel extra potent, eliciting little spasms all over me.
“Easy,” he grunts, then continues his exploration. He plays with every part of my pussy. Teasing me, learning every spot that makes me squirm and sigh. Finally, fucking finally, he slips one, thick digit inside of me. My eyes close, my head falling back as Dax drags his finger in and out. His rhythm never wavers, remaining excruciatingly slow in the best way possible. My orgasm builds quickly and it’s just out of reach when he adds a second finger. Curling them upwards, he reaches a place that causes my entire body to tremble. Whatever he’s doing makes me want to push him away and drag him closer all at once. It’s almost too much, the pleasure more intense than anything I’ve ever felt and it sends me flying, colorful spots dancing behind my eyelids.
“Dax!” I cry out, my voice hoarse and shaky. Growling, he stands from the now cool bath water. It didn’t feel like we were in there that long, but I’m also too high on him to really be coherent of anything at the moment. My legs lock behind him, while his hands grip my ass. Dax buries his face against my neck as he stalks toward our bed. Tossing a throw blanket down so that we don’t soak our sheets, he gently lowers me. For as long as I live, I’ll always remember this moment and the way he’s staring at me. The way we see each other is a bit overwhelming. He’s my world, and while that may be, that world revolves around me like I’m his sun.
“I need you,” he forces out. And I believe him, I can feel his muscles vibrating beneath my hand. I nod, hoping that’s enough. That he understands I don’t want to wait anymore either. Words just seem too difficult to formulate right now. Settling between my legs, I feel him brush against my entrance. I flinch from the contact, every nerve in my body intensified and still reeling from the orgasm that just wrecked me. Dax’s head lowers, one hand coming up to rest against my face while he holds himself up with the other that’s tied to me.
“I love you. So fucking much, Linny.” Our eyes lock, neither of us looking away as he slowly eases inside of me. I tense, the sting making me want to shy away.
“Just relax, baby.” Dax brushes a few stray hairs away from my face. Do not snap at him, Linden. Why is that a thing people even say? Does he think I’m purposely trying not to relax? Pain obviously makes me bitchy. I take a few calming breaths and will my muscles to unclench. It’s not so much painful as it is uncomfortable, but I know he’s barely in and it’ll likely get worse before it gets better.
“Keep going,” I pant, certain he’s got several more inches to go. Might as well get it over with all at once instead of dragging it out. I’ll appreciate his impressive size another day. His lips come down on mine as he surges forward, not giving me the chance to tense again. Dax swa
llows my pained cry, his thumbs swiping away the few tears that manage to escape.
Baby Jesus, if there were ever an example of a square peg, round hole.
Dax’s body shakes above me. It takes a second for me to realize it’s from him laughing. Super sexy, Linden. You definitely said that out loud. On the plus side, while I’ve been off in la la land, the pain has faded some. I twist my hips just a bit, testing out the feel him. Dax’s humor dries up real quick, turning into more of a choked cough than a laugh.
“Move,” I urge him. Carefully, he slides back out before pushing forward again. Each stroke makes the pain fade a little more, until I’m left writhing, begging to reach that place again. My body fully relaxes, the sting all but gone as that wave of pleasure starts to build again.
“Fuuuuuuck,” Dax groans. “You feel so goddamn good.” His thrust become harder, more demanding. “I gotta bite you, baby.” I instinctively tilt my neck, exposing it for him. His teeth sink in instantly, only biting hard enough to draw a few drops of blood, but it doesn’t hurt. I imagined there’d be pain, despite what he said. Instead, something inside of me stirs, welling up and taking over.
“Your turn, sweethe...” Dax doesn’t get to finish. My fingers rake through his hair, tightening enough for me to turn his head and bare his neck. Something that sounds a helluva lot like a growl comes out of me just before I bite him back. I don’t feel in control of my actions, like something else is has briefly taken over and is guiding me. It’s pure instinct that I somehow know exactly how much pressure to use and for how long in order to pierce his skin. I pull away slowly and swallow the lingering taste of his blood. When I meet Dax’s eyes, he looks wild.
“Beautiful,” he chokes out. Taking my hand that isn’t already tied to him, he lifts it above my head. His free one reaches beneath me, tilting my lower half to a different angle before slamming back inside of me.
“Oh, God...” I mumble incoherently. I think I might actually die. Here lies Linden, death by orgasm. Seems entirely plausible right now. Dax doesn’t slow down, his frantic movement causing the bed to bang the wall comically. I’m sure I’ll laugh about it later.
“Come for me, Linny. One more time,” his gravelly voice practically demands that my body obey and give him what he wants. I thrash beneath him, too sensitive to even consider his request. But then he reaches between us and presses his thumb against my clit. Just presses, barely more than a touch, and I detonate.
“Unnghhh…” I moan, unintelligibly, my back arching as his mouth locks around one of my nipples. He bites down just enough to make my eyes roll so far back, I swear I see my ancestors. He groans, his hand gripping my shoulder and pulling me to his chest as he finishes. I couldn’t tell you how long we lay, still connected, as we wait for our breathing to return to normal. Our bodies are sweaty and covered in a lot more than perspiration, but there’s a smile the size Texas on my face. My eyes eventually grow heavy, body spent and thoroughly satisfied. When Dax slips out of me, I grunt from the loss. I can hear him laugh faintly before the sound fades away as he rolls over. I watch through lidded eyes as he snags one of his shirts from the floor and uses it to wipe between my legs, cleaning away the both of us. A few minutes later, his arm wraps around my waist as he presses his lips to my neck.
“I love you, Linny.” I try to respond, but I’m not sure if the words ever form before sleep pulls me under. Even that stupid rope digging into my skin isn’t enough to keep me awake.
Chapter 5
Daxton
I stretch, one eye blinking open, and then wince from the sunlight pouring in through the window. We definitely need to invest in some blackout curtains. My arm reaches out, searching for Linny, while absently noting that the ancient ass binding that’d been keeping us together is nowhere in sight. Guess fate gave us the thumbs up. When I’m met with nothing but a cool sheet, I spring up like a goddamn ninja turtle from a sewer drain. My heart’s thumping so loudly it takes a few seconds for me to register the sound of the shower running. I sag back against the bed, feeling like an over dramatic fool. With everything we’ve been through, and our shit luck as of late, maybe I should cut myself some slack. It’s almost second nature to expect the worst at this point, and I hate that. But I don’t want to fall into this place where I start to feel panicked anytime Linny is out of sight. She’d hand me my ass if I started hovering any more than I already do. Fuck Christian Ames, and the horse he rode in on. I have no sympathy for him, even in death. If that makes me an asshole then so be it, but he’s the cause of all the pain we’ve been dealt and the fallout it’s created.
Deciding to shake off my brief freak out, I head for the bathroom to join her. If there’s one thing that can set my mind back straight, it’s my girl’s wet and naked body. Images from last night flicker through my mind, making my cock jump. Having Linny, being inside her, was better than anything I could have imagined. It’s not just the sex, as great as it was, but connecting with her in a way that nothing else will ever compare to. My wolf and I are relaxed and content, knowing we’re fully bonded and no one can ever take that from us. Being as quiet as possible, I strip down and pull the shower door open. Once I’ve eased in behind her, completely unnoticed, I brush her hair aside and kiss the exposed flesh of her shoulder. Linny squeals, spinning around so quick her foot slips and she nearly busts her ass. I chuckle, saving her at the last second.
“Don’t do that, you big turd!” Her hand goes to her heart, the swell of her tits rising and falling rapidly with her heavy breathing. The sight is hypnotizing. All cognitive thought has left the building, leaving only raw and primal reactions guiding me. My head dips low, my tongue swiping at her peaked nipple. Fuck she tastes good. Linny groans, her head falling back against my chest. I take that opportunity to kiss along the length of her neck. Breathing deep, I let her scent invade me and soothe my wolf. Like a fucking pat on the head and a “who’s a good boy?!”. That’s what she does to us. I kiss the mark my teeth left behind, feeling all sorts of cocky and possessive at the sight of it.
“Mine,” I growl. Linny shivers, every inch of her exposed so that I’m able to watch the effect my words have. I move up, my breath skating along her wet skin and making it pebble. Just as I dive in to seal my lips with hers, she ducks low and maneuvers around me so quickly I’m left standing there like a love-struck dumbass, wondering what the hell just happened. Linny’s laughter rings out as she pushes open the shower door and snatches a towel, wrapping it around her and hiding that beautiful body from my very hungry eyes.
“Catch me if you can, Wolf-Man,” she taunts, running from the room. Oh, my mate wants to play? Shame no one ever told her not to run from a wolf. I’m all predator right now, and Linny is definitely my prey. And when I do catch her? I’m gonna fucking feast. I wash off so fast I’m not positive I get all the necessary spots that need to be cleaned. Oh well, it’ll buff. I plan to dirty the both of us right back up anyways. I’m in such a rush I nearly slip and bust my own ass on the wet tiles as I get out. I throw on a pair of gym shorts, my still damp body making it more of a challenge, all while stalking through the house.
“Linny?” I call out, the place so quiet I start to wonder if she’s still here. I wouldn’t put it past her to really fuck with me and take her teasing to next level by heading to Ma and Pop’s. Leaving me with a raging hard-on and blue balls so painful I won’t be able to think straight. But no one could ever accuse my girl of being stealthy, so one way or another I’ll find her. “Come out, come out wherever you are!” I swing open Caulder’s door. Nothing. The guest room turns up the same, as does the bathroom. That panicky feeling starts to seep back in, my worry overshadowing logical thought.
“Baby?” I turn the corner to the kitchen, my voice wavering just the slightest. The sight that awaits me makes me stagger. Partly from relief, partly from how turned on I am. My girl sits on the counter, in nothing but one of my white undershirts, her legs swinging lazily. I make a mental note to toss out all of her clothes so
that she’ll only ever be able to wear mine from now on. She grins around a spoon, then slides it from her mouth, her tongue darting out to swipe away any peanut butter left behind. At least that’s what it smells like from here. I grin, that one I know makes her head kinda fuzzy, and eat up the space between us in just a few strides.
“Let me,” I force out, my wolf so close to the surface I have to fight him to back down. Now that we’ve had our mate, we want nothing more than to get lost in her again. And again. I shove my way between her thighs, loving how she parts them so easily to fit me there. Caging my arms around her, I lean in and lick along her bottom lip, tasting the lingering bit of her snack that she missed. My hands go to Linny’s sides, tracing her curves and brushing the sides or her breasts. She moans, a sound that does me in and drops me to my knees. Kneeling, I take in the sight of her beneath my shirt. Completely bare and glistening.
“Fuck me...” I groan. I want to ravish her, leave marks along her thighs before I latch on to her clit and make her writhe on our kitchen counter. Seems like the perfect way to break it in if you ask me. I slide her closer, intending to do just that, when the sound of our front door being flung open makes me freeze. I yank my shirt back down to cover her up and twist around so that she’s at my back. I growl, feeling sorry for the asshole that decided to just waltz into our home unannounced, like they fucking own the place.
“Calm down, lover boy! It’s just your favorite mate rescuer, so please keep that in mind before you act rashly.” Lex’s voice calls out from one room over, making me deflate. I can’t very well kill her with that reminder hanging in the air.
“What’s she doing here?” Linny whispers, tugging on my arm. I look back at my girl, annoyed with the interruption. Before I can answer, Linny’s eyes widen comically.
“Oh God, please tell me she’s not here to drag me back for another round of ‘training’?!” she air quotes. I smirk, thinking of the few times over the last week that she’s been woken up to Lex carting her off before the sun has even come up. “Quick, hide me. She can’t make me if she can’t find me!” Linny starts to do some sort of roll off the counter, but she grunts, cursing about being sore, then kinda flops off. I think she intended for it to look smooth and ninja-y, but it was more arthritic old lady than anything. Lex laughs from the other room, having heard her just fine even though the full moon is still a few weeks away. Linny lacks the ability to whisper, though she doesn’t realize it.
