"I would really rather keep it on," she said.
His brows pulled together. "Why?"
He sounded confused—truly baffled. It was as if he seriously couldn't imagine any reason someone who had just peeled off her size 22 jeans wouldn't want to be buck naked next to a man who looked like a chiseled Greek statue come to life.
And maybe he really didn't know.
Emily had learned early on that unmated alphas didn't exactly spend a lot of time with women—beta or omega. Maybe that was why their empathy always seemed to be in short supply.
"I don't know what you're used to, but I'm not a skinny woman," she said.
"I know.”
Apparently, that was all he had to say on the subject because he lowered his mouth down to the sensitive hollow just behind her ear and started tonguing and nibbling. Electric sparks rocketed directly from that spot to her pussy, causing damp slick to soak her thighs.
Goddamn, it was hard to think straight with an alpha like Cade kissing her like that.
Emily forced her mind back to the issue of her shirt. She had no choice, not when she remembered how horrible it had been that first night with Sloan.
It made no difference that she hated him, that she found him repellant, that she'd sooner have eaten a bucket of cockroaches than touched him—the look of disgust in his eyes as he'd ripped her clothes away still felt like an ax to the heart. The taunts and insults he'd thrown at her only deepened the wound, scarring her down to the bone. Words that made it clear that he hated her for not living up to his fantasies—and hated himself for wanting her anyway.
Emily would not survive going through that again. Not with Cade.
If he saw what she really looked like—if she glimpsed disgust in his eyes—the sliver of trust and hope that she'd foolishly allowed to take root in her heart would be crushed. Cade's rejection would kill her.
Not right away, perhaps, but slowly, steadily, until she was drained of the will to go on.
Cade had paused again, sensing her internal battle. Emily tightened her fingers around his wrists as he slowly drew back until she could look him in the eye.
"I mean it, Cade," she said as forcefully as she could manage. "I don't want you to see me naked."
"Why not?"
Dear God, was he really going to make her say it out loud?
Apparently so.
Emily gritted her teeth as she let out a sharp breath. "Because I'm fat."
Cade blinked. "And?"
Oh, for fuck’s sake. "And I think you're going to be disgusted by my body."
A hint of a smile played at his lips. "That is not going to happen," he said. "I'm feeling all sorts of things about that body of yours, and I can promise you that disgust is not one of them."
"Sloan thought—"
A low growl filled the room—a warning.
"Stop saying that bastard's name," Cade said. "Not on my land. Not in my home. Not in my bed. He has no place here."
"But—"
"But nothing," The intensity of Cade's fury would have terrified Emily if it wasn't directed at her tormentor. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm nothing like him? All he wanted was an omega to make his breakfast, swallow his lust, and shovel his frustrations onto. But I want you, Emily. You."
It would be so easy to get lost in those words and the flashing depths of his eyes. So easy to give in to his assurances, letting them slip into her bloodstream and feed the seeds of trust and hope in her heart.
But Emily's fears hadn't been built in a day, and her defenses hadn't either. She'd taken her time and reinforced them well, knowing how strong they'd need to be for her to survive in a place that wanted nothing to do with her.
"How can you?" she asked. "You only met me a day ago."
"You say that like time matters."
Now she was the confused one. "Doesn't it?"
"How can you have lived in the Boundarylands for months and still think like a beta?"
Emily had no answer for that, and Cade returned his attention to kissing her neck even more hungrily. There was no way she could continue to hold out against the onslaught of his touch.
But Cade wasn't one to let well enough alone.
"All it took was one breath, and I knew everything about you," he purred against her ear. "How soft you'd feel beneath my fingers, how warm. I could guess how you'd moan when I grazed your nipple with my fingers."
Without warning, he slid his hand under her shirt to cup her breast, thumbing her nipple.
How quickly her body betrayed her, the sharp sound that escaped her lips proved everything he'd said.
Emily's nipple tightened almost painfully, desperate for more. She bit her lip as her breath came in ragged gasps.
"Yes," he growled in victory. "Just like that."
Emily gave up fighting then, arching up, seeking his touch, giving into her own howling need. Vaguely, she was aware of Cade moving her hand to give him access to her breast even while she clung tightly to the shirt covering the rest of her body.
She felt the brush of his rigid cock against her belly through the fabric, and grabbed the back of his head in a wordless plea, pushing it down. Cade was only too happy to take over with his tongue where his fingers had left off, circling her nipple, gently nipping, causing a whirling tornado at her core.
He seemed content to keep it up forever, moving from one nipple to the other.
But she wasn't.
She wanted more. She wanted all of him.
"Cade," she whispered. "Please."
"Please what? Please touch more of you? You know I want to, but you're going to have to show me more of your body first."
Emily pressed her lips together tightly. Goddamn it. She knew she'd done this to herself, making Cade promise not to take anything from her that she didn't freely give.
It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now she was having second thoughts. It would be so much easier if he just took what he wanted.
But he wouldn't. He'd made a promise. And it seemed he was going to keep it no matter what.
Which meant that if Emily was going to feel the heaven of his touch again—and you better fucking believe that she was—then she was going to have to give in to hope and trust after all.
Emily pushed through the fear that was raging inside her and, with trembling hands, lowered her fingers down to the row of buttons. One by one, she slowly undid them as Cade watched.
His eyes zeroed in on her slightest movement like a big cat focused on his prey. The intensity in his eyes increasing with every flick of her fingers until all the buttons were undone.
And then all that was left was to unclasp the belt and push the flannel open.
Emily closed her eyes as the cool air of the bedroom washed against her skin. She'd never felt more exposed or vulnerable in her life.
With Sloan, she'd had her hate and her pain to guard her, but with Cade, there was none of that. She wanted him so badly. If he rejected her now, she'd never recover.
But he didn't.
"So fucking beautiful," he growled with a primal ferocity that made the heat in her belly coil even tighter. In a flash, his wide hands spread over the soft mound of her belly, sweeping down to the curves of her hips and thighs.
Without hesitation, he pushed open her knees, throwing her legs wide and tracing his fingers down the folds of her wet pussy.
"So wet," he growled. "Tell me you want it."
With the thick tips of his fingers already pressing against the outside of her opening, she didn't have to ask what he meant. She knew…and she wanted.
"Yes," she begged. "Please, Cade. I want it so bad."
He didn't make her wait another second, plunging one finger into her warm depths, and adding a second on the next stroke.
Emily arched her back as pleasure shot through her, hotter and sharper than ever before. She cried out, and Cade was there, kissing her lips as the pad of his thumb found the nub of her clit.
"T
his is how it's supposed to be," he whispered, his breath washing against the sensitive earlobe. "You're soft; I'm hard. I'm strong; you yield. There's nothing wrong with you, Emily. You were meant for me."
Dear God, it sounded like the truth.
More than that—it felt like the truth.
Especially when the pleasure inside her grew to levels she didn't even know were possible. The walls of her pussy tightened around his fingers as she came.
She clawed at his shoulders. She screamed his name...just like he'd predicted.
That kernel of trust blossomed into full-blown belief as she found herself desperate and doing the next thing he'd promised.
Begging for his cock.
Chapter Twelve
"Please, Cade, please," Emily pleaded as he licked every bit of her slick from her fingers, unable to get enough. "I need to feel you inside me. All of you."
Cade propped himself up on his elbows, taking in the incredible sight of this beautiful omega offering herself to him, begging him to fuck her.
Just as he'd known she would.
But the moment wasn't what he'd expected—it was so much more.
His blood surged at the sight of her lush breasts with their rosy, sensitive nipples. All he had to do was flick them with his tongue to make her cry out. Then there were her hips, rounded and soft, perfect for grabbing hold of when he plunged inside her.
Even more perfect for bearing pups—a thought that caused his heart to thunder.
For an alpha who'd never given much thought to babies, the thought of planting one in Emily's pretty round stomach nearly drove Cade out of his mind. The need to fill her with his seed while she came over and over again was primal.
Cade stood just long enough to peel off his still-damp jeans and free his cock. It sprang forth instantly, already so hard it ached.
Emily was watching him, her lips parted, the tip of her tongue darting out hungrily. It was possibly the sexiest sight Cade had ever seen.
Oh, he'd give her a taste, there was no question about that—but not until he'd pleasured her over and over and over again. Seeing her succulent body posed like that, on her back and gazing up at him coquettishly, gave him all kinds of ideas.
Apparently, she had some of her own.
Her gaze fixed on his shaft as he climbed back onto the mattress, her teeth grazing her lower lip. The hunger in her eyes was almost tangible. The scent of her desire had deepened and sharpened into a sensual fog.
Could it really be true that there were men in the world who couldn't appreciate these curves, the warm, welcoming softness of her body? Who didn't feel more virile in the presence of her goddess-like femininity? Cade couldn't believe it—it would be like failing to see the beauty in a rose in full bloom, or the moon at its brightest.
Those men deserved his pity, Cade decided, because they would never know the glory of what he was about to experience, never know the satisfaction of making this omega melt into bliss.
But it pained him to think that Emily could ever doubt her beauty—and he decided he would be the one to put those thoughts out of her head forever. He started by kissing her belly, tracing his lips along the incredibly smooth skin, resting his cheek on the soft roundness, pillowy and giving.
Cade felt Emily go rigid as he added his hands, encircling, exploring, gently kneading. He paused long enough to look up at her face and saw that it was etched with doubt, her blue eyes troubled. Her scent shifted as if a cloud had passed over the sun.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Learning everything I can about you," he told her. "Every precious inch of what's mine. Now lie down and be quiet."
Cade smiled to himself as he returned to what he was doing, knowing that Emily wouldn't be quiet for long. Sure enough, as he kissed his way down to the valley of her thighs, she sharply drew in her breath and then released it in a soft sigh. He moved down to nibble the insides of them, parting them gently but firmly to make room.
He kissed and nipped and rubbed the stubble of his beard against the pale, silken flesh, coming ever closer to the outer lips of her pussy—then stopping short, enjoying her whimpers of need. He knew that Emily had abandoned her self-consciousness when she began to move her hips in an effort to bring his mouth closer, but when she tried to touch herself out of desperation, he grabbed her wrists and pressed them to the mattress.
"No, you don't," he growled. "That's my job."
"But—"
"Mine," he roared. "Every inch of you."
In response, Emily snapped her mouth shut, rolling her head back and forth against the pillow.
Cade slowly made his way up her body, leaving her pussy untouched and untended. But he kissed and laved everything else as he went—the full mounds of her breasts, the freckled valley between them; her delicate collarbones, the curve of her shoulder, her soft upper arms with the strong muscles beneath her skin.
Her sighs and moans and little cries punctuated his progress as he traced her jaw with his lips, abraded her neck with his beard, explored the contours of her ears with his tongue, then moved up along her cheeks and temples.
It was an incredible sight, one that made his heart race. Emily's eyes had rolled slightly back, her eyelashes fluttering. Her face bore a rosy flush, and her lips were swollen and red. Her hair was fanned out on the pillows like a shimmering spill of gold dust, and her hands clutched the sheets as though she were hanging on for dear life. Her breasts heaved with every breath, and Cade knew that if he placed a hand over her heart, it would be galloping as fast as his own.
She responded with an unintelligible sound of need as he positioned his knees between her spread thighs. She reached for his cock, wrapping her hand around its girth and trying to bring it closer.
"Please," she breathed.
Cade decided that was good enough for him. He had a feeling he could spend a lifetime exploring Emily's body with his mouth, and it still wouldn't be enough, but now he needed more. He needed to feel her wrapped around him, welcoming him, bathing him in her warmth, taking him deeper and deeper until they were completely entwined and joined.
In one swift motion, Cade grasped his shaft and guided it to the opening of her pussy. Emily grabbed his hips, digging her fingers into his flesh.
Somehow, Cade found the strength to wait for a few more seconds just so he could memorize the look on her face: pure, undiluted, radiant desire.
But then Emily winced and blinked rapidly, opening her eyes. A sharp rush of concern sliced through her scent, as unwelcome as a thorn in a bouquet.
It took every sliver of control Cade could muster, but somehow he held himself still. He had no choice. For Emily to accept him as her own alpha, this moment needed to be perfect.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Emily mumbled. "I'm sorry, that's all."
Cade was incredulous. What could Emily possibly have to apologize for?
"For what?"
"I've never been able to make enough slick." She wouldn't look at him, her voice hollow with apprehension. "So, I'm sorry if this isn't…you know. If it isn't the best."
Cade scowled. What the hell was she talking about? His sheets were soaked, her slick's sweet aroma filling his senses and making it hard for him to think straight. Emily was mistaken. This wasn't just the best—this was everything.
To prove it, Cade glided the head of his cock through her pussy lips. She was so wet that it was like skimming a flat stone across a lake, the proof of her readiness dripping down his shaft. A fresh gush of slick flowed over his fingers, and Cade couldn't help himself from slathering it all over his cock, bathing himself in her essence.
He held his drenched hand up for her to see. Droplets splashed on her breasts, his fingers glistening.
"Does this look like not enough to you?" he demanded. "Because it feels fucking perfect to me."
He didn't wait for an answer, guiding himself back to her pussy. As he pressed against her, Emily thrust her hips up to meet him, writhing agai
nst him as slick poured out to ease his way—and then suddenly, Cade was past her tight opening.
"Yes!" Emily cried, bucking hard, setting a rhythm that Cade quickly took over. He went deeper with every thrust—so much deeper than he'd ever experienced with any of the beta prostitutes who plied their trade at Evander's.
He gritted his teeth and flung his head back as he rammed himself all the way home, Emily's hot wet warmth surrounding him like a fucking glove.
It was goddamn perfection.
Like it was always meant to be.
Emily felt it too—Cade was sure of it. Her back arched, and her fingers dug further into his flesh. With every thrust she cried his name, again and again, begging him to give her what she needed. What she had gone without for far too long. What her nature had primed her for.
A real alpha of her own.
Pleasure radiated out through Cade's body, changing him. He could feel him becoming something new with every thrust. Every stroke burned away the memory of his life before Emily until it seemed as insignificant as a pile of charred ashes.
Emily cried out, her pussy tightening around him over and over as she came—and Cade knew that there would be no going back. He needed to have this—to have her—for the rest of his life.
No matter what it cost. No matter what trouble it brought. No matter the sacrifices he would have to make. All that mattered was Emily…now and forever.
Her first orgasm was quickly followed by another, and another, driving the tempo of his thrusts faster. His thoughts shattered. All that existed were her cries of pleasure as minutes turned into hours. Then time itself lost meaning until something shifted inside Cade, and he knew that he was approaching the peak.
It shouldn't have taken him by surprise. He knew what the pressure deep in the base of his cock meant. But somehow, he was unprepared for just how blindingly brilliant the swelling of his knot would feel. How perfectly he would lock inside Emily's body. How satisfying it would be to fill her with his come.
Cade knew for certain that his entire life had led him to this moment.
Cade: The Boundarylands Omegaverse Page 9
