Page 65

EMME

F inley was a bear of his word, keeping me from landing on the ice as he patiently taught me the basics of skating. My wolf didn’t want any part of it to start with, but once she realized we’d have our mate’s hands on us constantly as he kept us from killing ourselves, she was a much bigger fan.

But like… same.

By the end of the session, I made it all the way around the rink without needing to be caught. When he guided me off the ice, I was all pumped up on adrenaline. “We need to do this again soon.”

Finley’s grip firmed across my hips. “We can come here whenever you want. This is all of my fucking fantasies come to life… minus one.”

The heat in his voice, and the way his gaze locked onto me, had me feeling a little hot under the collar myself. “What fantasy is that?” I had to ask. Which got only a smug grin from him, and I fought down a needy sigh. “Okay, well, if you won’t tell me that, then what’s your third tattoo say?”

Finley’s laughter was a nice reminder that it was okay if I was annoying and pushy. He wasn’t going to turn on me. “I think I’ll keep both of those a secret for a little while longer. I quite like being on your mind.”

I grumbled under my breath. “You’re never far from mind.” Which only had him smiling harder.

He kept his hand on me as we headed for the lockers, and I said, “I still don’t know how you managed to tattoo yourself. Especially words. That must be so hard.”

“It took a long time, and a lot of practicing in a mirror to get all the details right,” he admitted.

“The guys helped as well. Hunter is actually pretty good with the gun, as he is with most things he tries. Annoying fucker.” His indulgent smile lessened the harshness of that statement—we all knew he loved his brothers.

“Would you tattoo me?” I asked, and for the first time since we’d put skates on our feet he stumbled.

“You want a tattoo?” he asked.

As if there was any question when faced with how stunning his work was. “Yeah, I’d love one. I’ve been playing with this idea, but without an ounce of artistic ability, I can’t do more than sketch a few stick figures and hope for the best.”

Finley got us moving toward the lockers again.

“I can draw up anything you want, and I’d love to get my ink on your virgin skin.

But… it’s fairly painful. The ink is infused with magic, which cuts through your natural healing abilities.

The pain can last for a few weeks to months, depending on the size and location, until eventually it’s an oddly numb spot. ”

Without even having to ask, he’d given me the answer to a question I’d had for a while.

It annoyed me to know magic was involved—witches were officially on my shit list—but I couldn’t say I was surprised.

“I think I can handle it,” I said, hoping that wasn’t a lie.

“I mean, not now when we have all this shit going on and have to head to Europe, but soon.”

Finley looked pleased. “I can’t wait to get my hands on you, Emmeline Anders. I have so many ideas.” The way his gaze caressed down my body had my pulse speeding, and my scent filling the damn locker room as we entered. No way he was only referring to tattoos in that statement.

Whatever had shifted between us early this morning, with his lovely flowers , was still in full effect, and neither of us were backtracking. We were diving headfirst into it.

Finley helped me out of my skates, and goddess be damned, it felt so good to take them off.

I could finally wiggle my toes, and when he used his talented fingers to rub out a few spots on my feet that he somehow knew were aching, I barely suppressed my groan.

“Skates take some getting used to,” he said with a chuckle.

“I think I’ve permanently changed the shape of my foot by now. ”

I laughed with him. “I have no doubt with the amount of time you’re on the ice.”

My boots felt so good when I slipped them back on, and I was one happy shifter as I followed him from the stadium and hopped into the truck. After closing my door, Finley crossed to the driver’s side, and I swore the desire between us was its own beating heart, thudding in the air.

I was struggling to remember that bonding was special, and we shouldn’t rush it.

“You’re making this damn hard,” Finley groaned as he started the car, startling me from my depraved thoughts.

“Hard?” I repeated, and then I smirked because I was about to be such a cliché. “What’s hard?”

He closed his eyes; another groan reverberated through the cab. “Every fucking part of me is hard.” His laughter was strangled, and then with zero fucks given he grabbed my hand and placed it on the front of his jeans.

Well, now I’m deceased .

Under my touch he felt thick, hard, and huge like all the alphas.

Choking on air, I almost used his dick as a handle to drag myself across the center console to straddle him. My underwear was soaked, and my scent turned just short of obscene as our eyes remained locked together. Finley’s chest rocked with need.

“We don’t have time,” I breathed, my annoyance seeping out in those four words.

He fisted the front of his hoodie and jerked me closer, kissing me like I was his last chance for salvation. My hand remained in his lap and I stroked his length, lost in his sweet taste on my lips.

Finley slid his hands down to pop the top button on my jeans. “I need to touch you,” he murmured, voice growly. “Please, Em. You’re sitting here in my hoodie, drenched in arousal, and I can’t leave without touching you.”

At this point, I’d all but forgotten we sat in the parking lot of a hockey stadium where anyone could stumble upon us. “Yes, Fin,” I gasped. “Please. I need you to make me come.”

With my consent given, he snapped into action, opening my jeans fully and sliding his hand down the front of my panties and over my bare pussy. His touch was firm and sure, and when he stroked through my wet heat, his cock kicked hard under my hand.

“I always knew you’d be the death of me,” he whispered, without any heat in that statement. “And when it’s my time to go, this is exactly what I want to be doing.”

As I opened my mouth to growl at him for even mentioning his death— unacceptable— he slid one thick finger inside me, cutting off my ability to talk. Rocking my hips up, I rode his hand, softly moaning as his thumb stroked my clit in time to the thrusts.

In my mindless state, I continued to rub him through his jeans, and he finger-fucked me until I was gasping and seeing stars on the edges of my vision. Overwhelming pleasure stole my ability to breathe.

“Seeing you fall apart like this…” Finley’s rumble had my eyes snapping open to meet his dark gaze.

“…is the best sight of my existence. You’re so beautiful, Em.

So damn beautiful. You’re the best part of this fucked-up world.

I will never stop fighting to be by your side. To be worthy of being by your side.”

My core clenched on him, as his brand of love completely rolled me.

He didn’t dirty talk or praise like Hunter, and he wasn’t a good boy wanting to please like Kellan.

Finley just straight up showered me with unfiltered and pure adoration.

When I shattered and clenched around his finger, he moaned and called my name, and his dick jerked under my touch.

Well, that was one for the books. I’d just made Finley Thornton come in his pants, which had me raring for round two… or ten.

His fingers slowed even as his thumb stroked my clit a few more times, dragging out the full spectra of pleasure. When I fell limply against the chair, he slowly slid his hand free, and I watched greedily as he lapped my release from his fingers, eyes closing as if he savored the taste.

“Goddess, so fucking sweet,” he rumbled, which had another one of those needy whimpers falling from my mouth. He caught the next one on his lips, and I loved the scrape of his beard against my skin.

“Thank you,” he said when we finally parted. “For trusting me with your pleasure and body. I’ll never make you regret that decision.”

My wolf and I were sure now that we never had to worry about pain from this particular alpha again, at least not one he deliberately inflicted. He’d proven himself to us both.

When I glanced down at his lap, I glimpsed the wet patch darkening the denim, which he was wholly unconcerned about. He just laughed. “Yeah, that’s not the first time you’ve made me come in my pants like a fucking teenager learning how to use his dick. It’s just the first time you know about it.”

A smile lit up my face as I relished that little ego boost. Even when he’d “hated me” he still wanted me, which pleased me more than I expected.

“I have a change of jeans in my bag,” Finley said, as he reached for the button. “Think you could reach over and grab them while I clean myself up.”

“No problem,” I said, propping myself up on shaky knees, my body still shuddering through the aftermath of my orgasm. I found the spare jeans in a few seconds, and turned to find Finley sliding out of his jeans and boxers, thick, muscular thighs and long legs sprawled out in front of him.

No part of me wanted to look away, so I didn’t. His dick jutted proudly in front of him, still hard and thick, perfectly fitting the overall big boy size of the bear. These alphas were too much for this omega, and yet, I would die trying to fit them.

“You’ll make a bear blush if you keep staring like that,” Finley drawled, and I jerked my gaze up to find dimples and a smirk. He reached out and caught my chin. “I didn’t say look away.”

“Couldn’t even if I wanted to,” I replied cockily, though the breathiness of my voice kind of gave away how overwhelmed I was.

He sucked in a quick inhale, before shaking his head and releasing me to slide on the clean jeans. I had to give myself a quick pep-talk about not jumping him, while Finley started the car and tossed his stained clothes in the back.

“Come on, Em,” he said, pulling out of the lot. “Let’s get you to your first family barbeque. Our pack wants to show you off to the whole family group.”

A hint of nerves broke through my dick-drunk brain. “What if they don’t like me? They all know I tried to run and rejected you guys. I’m assuming they don’t know the reasons why, so… in those circumstances I’d hate me too.”

At some point I started babbling, and only calmed when Finley reached out and took my hand.

“If they don’t love you, then they’re fucking idiots.

You are entirely loveable, Emmeline Anders.

Every single part of you. Not to mention I’ll be front and center to remind them to mind their own business if needed. ”

Just like that, my fears eased. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought of me, as long as the members of my pack knew the truth.

About halfway home, in the middle of explaining to Finley about all the cars that came through the garage growing up, I jolted in my seat. Hit with a jab in my bond to Kellan and Hunter.

“Something’s wrong?” I gasped when Finley swung toward me. I pressed my hand to Hunter’s bite, trying to figure out what it was.

The car picked up speed as Finley snarled. “I felt it too. You’ve got a stronger connection… Can you tell more specifically what’s happening?”

My mouth went dry as nausea swirled my stomach. “I don’t… They’re not in pain, but it feels like they’re in trouble. Hurry, Fin. Hurry.”

He flew through the streets, and when we reached the tangled mess of the security gates, I felt the blood drain from my face. This was just like my first almost kidnapping.

Please let them be okay. Please.

“What the fuck is going on?” Finley’s gaze scouted the landscape, and there was no sign of the guards.

“They’re down near our house,” I bit out, grabbing his arm to urge him on. “There’s magic all over the area. Can you feel it?”

His focus snapped to the street, as he peered through the windshield. “I don’t want to take you down there,” he said, his voice filled with bear rumbles. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Our pack is down there,” I yelled, too panicked to do anything else. “I have to be there, and we need to move now. Please .”

His expression torn, he finally slammed his foot on the accelerator, the powerful engine shooting us forward toward our pack. And whatever was waiting for us at the end of this street.