Page 73

EMME

A fter we spent a few hours cooking and eating together as a pack, feeling lighter than we had in weeks, I crashed out between Hunter and Kellan, only to wake far too early.

I headed out of Hunter’s room and found myself in the doorway of Slade’s bedroom, staring at the twins sleeping side by side. In the same freaking bed . My ovaries burst into flames, and I died a thousand deaths as I watched them like I was the stalker.

Fitting, considering how obsessed I was with my alphas.

They slept the same way, their huge bodies sprawled back, one arm flung up above their heads, and the soft sound of breathing filling the room.

They slumbered so soundly, I knew they had finally found peace.

If it wasn’t for the fact that my best friends were dealing with the loss of one of their pack, I’d say that I’d finally reached the pinnacle of happiness.

I couldn’t help Cora or Warrick tonight, but tomorrow I’d be there to do whatever it took to get them through this.

Turning away from the twins was hard; it took every ounce of control not to crawl in between them. For the first time, I was almost certain it wouldn’t bother Slade if I did, but they deserved their time to bond. Just the two of them.

Knowing exactly why I’d been drawn out of bed so early, I headed straight for the garage, picking up the telltale signs of a shifter working on an engine. Finley’s presence called to me, and I was ready to finish what we’d started at the hockey rink.

I needed him tonight.

Finley must have heard me coming, and was already waiting, hip nudged against his Ford. I surprised us both when I leapt at him, and he straightened in time to catch me as my legs wrapped around his waist.

“Ice Queen,” he breathed. “What are you doing down here, darlin’? You were exhausted, and that wasn’t enough sleep.”

The concern on his face was almost my undoing. “I just… needed you.”

He stiffened, and I pulled away from his chest to catch his expression. It was one I’d never seen before, a stare wreathed in devastation as he stared unblinkingly at me.

“Fin,” I whispered, pressing my hand to his cheek.

In a rush, he spun and set me down on the hood of a car. It wasn’t his huge Ford, and I was too focused on him to notice anything other than the cool metal seeping through my underwear.

He slid his hands up to cup my face. “I’ve waited so long for you to come to me like this.

I swear… I’ve never needed anyone the way I need you.

” His whiskey eyes consumed me as he held my gaze.

“It’s an obsession. I’m fucking obsessed with you, mate.

I can’t sleep without you, and when I do, I dream about you.

There’s nothing else on the planet as important as you are to me, and I will never fuck this up again.

I swear. I swear on my life. On the love I have for my brothers.

” He dropped to his knees, his breaths shallow as I pushed myself up to see him.

“I need you to forgive me,” he begged. “In all ways before we can take this step.”

It was my turn to reassure him, as I reached out and pulled him back up to stand.

“Baby, I have forgiven you in all ways. We’re going to bond tonight, mate.

” I made sure he could see and feel my sincerity.

“We’re going to bond our souls and our beasts, and we’ll be joined forever. I want that more than anything.”

Finley’s chest rumbled as he pushed me back, cradling my head as I went down.

He leaned over to press his mouth to mine in a hard, claiming kiss.

“I want that more than my next breath,” he rumbled.

“I want to consume and own you, darlin’.

I hope you know what you’re signing up for here, because I only see this obsession growing with time. ”

A shudder traced across my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake as I registered his poetically perfect words. And, I mean, would he even be one of my pack if he wasn’t semi-stalking me? Obsession and stalking were part of how we loved.

“I hope you know what you’re signing up for,” I teased back, sighing and arching as he kissed my throat, tasting my skin. “I mean, it’s not stalking as much as lovingly observing you without your knowledge . I’ll be taking no notes on that.”

Finley continued to kiss and taste me, the loose neckline of my pajama shirt allowing him to reach the swell of my breasts. When he lifted his head, his pupils were blown out. “My bear wants to keep you in our cave for eternity. Just ours to love and protect and fuck .”

My core pulsed, and if he wasn’t inside me soon, I’d probably lose my mind. “Fuck,” he groaned, and I was coming to learn that nothing got me off faster than seeing strong, powerful, dominant alphas fall apart.

Finley traced his fingertips gently over the bridge of my nose. “Kellan raves about your freckles, and while I’m most certainly a fan, it’s your eyes that I crave. My perfect Ice.”

“Whiskey and ice are our eyes,” I said with a chuckle. “Sounds like Hunter’s favorite drink.”

Finley’s smile grew. “It’s one of mine too.

” With that, our conversation was done, his lips returning to my throat as he tasted me in slow, delicious swirls of his tongue.

My body grew heavy and languid under his touch, legs moving restlessly against the energy building beneath my skin.

His weight held me down as he very thoroughly explored my body, one of his hands dragging off my shirt, leaving me half naked. My panties were gone just as quickly.

The metal of the hood heated under my skin, as Finley’s hands slid over me, learning through touch.

His gaze traced down my face and body, taking in every inch of me, and the feral want in his expression had me throbbing and wet.

“Touch me,” I pleaded, my core clenching around nothing, which was sadly depressing.

Finley’s grin was sharp, and I loved to see that hint of his darker side once more.

He’d been on his best behavior for so long now that I almost forgot the fire and wicked humor that filled his core.

“Are you begging me, darlin’?” he murmured, looking pleased by this turn of events. “An alpha could grow used to that.”

I arched up against him, my scent sprinkling the air ferociously, while desire coated my thighs. Finley’s mouth caressed my chest, and my hands went into his hair as he sucked one nipple between his teeth. I clawed at his shirt, needing his naked skin against mine.

He helped me tear it from him, and I sighed as broad shoulders came into view. I ran my hands over the thick muscles, loving how big he was all over. Finley was just the most delicious big boy and I fucking lived for it.

He stroked my tits, and as he moved lower his hands remained cupped around them, brushing my nipples. The scrape of his beard over my stomach had me gasping, and I was so sensitive already that I knew it wouldn’t take much to make me come.

Finley was controlled as he explored, and when his breath brushed over my core, he licked up the pre-cum already sliding down my thighs. Pressing my hands into the hood, I worried I was about to just slip right off this thing.

Finley continued lower, reaching the arch of my foot, which he kissed and touched. With a groan, I wiggled my toes in his face. “Grouchy, please.” I was about to beg. On my damn knees if needed.

His laughter rumbled over my skin. “Patience, Emmeline Anders. I’ve waited a long time to get my hands on you, and I need to learn every inch of your skin. I want to know where you’re ticklish, which touch gives you goosebumps, and where I can find your strongest scent. I need to know it all.”

I was panting hard, and when he finally rose, his hands wrapped around my hips. In one swift movement he flipped me over and slowly lowered me against the hood.

From this new angle, Finley continued to explore, touching every inch of my scar.

That mark represented some of the worst days of my life, but apparently not to him.

“This shows your strength and resilience,” he murmured, kissing down the ropy length.

“This is a battle scar, Emme. You wear it well.”

My eyes burned, but I was thankfully distracted when he continued exploring. When he reached my ass cheeks, his touch firmed until I was arching and all but shoving my dripping core in his face.

His groan was loud. “Fucking hell,” he rumbled. “I can’t…”

He buried his face in my pussy, devouring me. “Fuck, you taste so damn good,” he growled.

Small gasping cries spilled from my lips, and I pushed back as he plunged his tongue inside to fuck me, while his fingers caressed my clit. The slow buildup had me so on edge, all it took was a few strokes until I tumbled over.

“Finley,” I cried, the force of the release launching me flat against the hood. On the shiny surface, I couldn’t get traction, but the bear’s strong hold kept me in place as he lapped at my release, face buried between my thighs until I was completely spent.

All I could hear were delicious rumbles, as if he was the happiest bear shifter in the world. Which was fitting, as I was the happiest wolf shifter.