Page 7 of Bound to the Mafia Guard (Mated in the Mafia #5)

6

ROWAN

Sunlight streamed into the window as I woke to my body aching in the most delicious way. Stretching languidly, I practically purred from the lingering scent of Trev on my skin. Last night was the most amazing night of my life. The way his hands gripped my hips and his mouth devoured mine possessively was more than I ever imagined sex could be.

A grin spread across my face as I thought about it. I should have felt exhausted, but instead, I was buzzing with energy. I’d not only had a full heat and sex for the first time, but a gorgeous alpha that I trusted completely was the one to break it. Filled with contentment and sated in a way I didn’t know was possible, I stretched and let out a happy sigh.

“Morning.” Trev sat up in the bed across from mine and scrubbed his hands down his face. “How are you feeling?”

I would have preferred to have woken up next to him, but these damn dorm beds didn’t leave a ton of room for a bulky alpha and an omega to sleep.

“Amazing.” I practically bounced out of bed, humming as I got ready for class. Even the usual tedium of lectures couldn't dampen my mood. I caught Trev watching me from his post by the door, his eyes dark with hunger. A thrill ran through me, remembering how those eyes had burned as he'd knotted me over and over again.

But I didn’t bring up our night together…and neither did he.

I showered reluctantly, washing off the sweat and dried cum from the night before. Trev must’ve showered as well after I passed out because he smelled like his cologne rather than me. I didn’t like it.

When classes finally ended, we headed back to the family mansion where I would stay until I needed to be back on campus Tuesday morning.

On the drive, the air was thick with unspoken tension, but I wasn’t sure how to bring up our night. Suave and sophistication didn’t come naturally to me, and as much as I liked to be the sassy omega who took what the wanted, that wasn’t me. Not when my actual heart was on the line. So I just stared out the window and did my best to get ahead on some of the chapters I needed to read.

Now that the desperate need of my heat had passed, awkwardness crept in. Was breaking my heat just part of his job? If it was, I wasn’t ready to hear him confirm that. I wanted to keep whatever fantasy was brewing in my head alive just a little bit longer.

Once Trev delivered me safely to the mansion, he handed me my bag and cleared his throat. "Well, I'm technically off duty now, so I should head home."

"Oh. Right. Of course." I tried to hide my disappointment as I shouldered my duffle bag. "Thanks for…umm…you know."

He nodded stiffly but didn’t make eye contact. "Anytime."

Yeah. He sounded about as enthusiastic about a repeat as getting a tooth pulled.

As he walked back to his car, loneliness immediately set in. The same loneliness I’d experienced for most of my life. I didn’t grow up with a houseful of brothers and servants and built-in friends. I was always alone, and apparently, that hadn’t changed after losing my V-card.

At least he didn’t know it was my first time. He might’ve thought this was just another regular day for me.

After quickly checking in with Andro to let him know I was back and alive, I wandered to my guest room and flopped on the bed, restless and unsettled.

It had only been a few days with him, but without Trev's dominating presence, I felt adrift.

The hours crawled by, and even though I tried to distract myself with homework, I couldn't focus. Just as the house quieted down and everyone went to bed, a knock echoed on my door.

With my heart in my throat, I opened the door.

Trev was standing there, looking just as agitated as I felt. "I couldn't stay away." He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Can I come in?”

Relief flooded through me as I pulled the door wider and let him inside. "Yeah, of course. And…I'm glad you’re here."

As if that was all he needed to hear, Trev cupped my face and looked between my eyes. "We need to talk about this. About us."

Fuck, I wanted to collapse into his arms like the needy omega that I was. But what if he was only here because he was worried about his job?

I nodded and led him to the loveseat near the window. "First, I need to thank you." I wasn’t sure how to start, but this needed to be said. "For not marking me. I know it couldn't have been easy to hold back in the moment, but I appreciate that you did."

Trev's jaw clenched, and he exhaled through his nose. "I didn't want you to feel pressured or trapped by a mate mark. You deserve a choice in this. Especially after everything you’ve been through."

“And I understand why.”

His eyes narrowed as he watched me. “What do you mean by that? What do you understand?”

I shrugged and crossed my arms over my chest, protecting myself from the invisible pain pouring from my heart. “I understand why you didn’t. It’s not like you’re into me or anything. I’m a job, and you kept me safe. It’s cool.”

“It’s cool?” He shifted his weight so he was facing me. “You’re cool with me walking out of here and not coming back until I pick you up next week?”

My body chilled at the thought and goosebumps peppered my flesh. I wrapped my arms around my middle. “I guess. I mean, no.” I sighed and hunched my shoulders, wanting to make myself smaller. “I’ll hate it, and I won’t be able to stop thinking about you, but I’ll understand. I won’t make things awkward, though. You have a job to do. I understand.”

"Stop fucking saying that!” He scooted forward so he was just an inch from me. “Stop saying you’ll understand. That makes no damn sense. I don’t think you understand at all. You’re my mate, Rowan. Whether you’re willing to accept it or not, it’s true.”

“It is?” My eyes welled with tears of relief and joy as his words sank in. “Do you want that?”

“You?” He placed both hands around my jaw and tilted my head so he could press his lips to mine for a moment before pulling back. “Yes, I fucking want you. Not marking you last night took every ounce of willpower I had, but if you feel the same way, I’ll mark you right now and make this permanent, Rowan. Forever.”

“What about Andro? What will he think?”

“Fuck what Andro thinks, Rowan. You’ve had enough of people taking over your life. This decision is yours. Only yours. Andro will understand.”

“You. I want you.”

His lips crashed into mine, and I melted against him with a whimper. This kiss was different from the frenzied passion we’d experienced during my heat. It was slower, deeper, filled with promise.

Trev's hands slid under my shirt and caressed my skin as he explored.

I shivered at his touch, and desire coiled low in my belly. "Please, Trev." I could barely breathe against his mouth, but I didn’t want to lose contact with his soft skin. "Mark me, alpha. Make me yours."

A low rumble vibrated through his chest as he lifted me up and carried me to the bed. This time, when he laid me on the mattress, there was no rush. I wasn’t begging for help, and he wasn’t doing his job.

He wanted me the way I wanted him.

My alpha undressed me slowly, pressing tender kisses to each inch of exposed skin as he moved.

My breaths were shallow but controlled as I ran my hands over the planes of his muscled chest while he shed his own clothes. How could this gorgeous alpha be mine? My fingertips ghosted over his scars. He let me explore for a moment, but then he grasped my hand and placed it on his cheek.

When he finally entered me, it was gentle this time. Slow. Each push and thrust was purposeful and meant to bring us closer together. We moved in perfect sync as a different kind of climax approached. Not purely for biology or even procreation.

This was just for us. To prove to each other that we wanted this bond for all time.

As his knot stretched me, Trev kissed my shoulder and his teeth grazed my neck. "Are you sure, omega?"

"Yes!" I gasped as tremors raced up my spine. "Please, alpha."

My alpha’s teeth sank into my flesh as ecstasy washed over us both.

His seed filled me, warmed me from the inside as his knot expanded at the same time that I cried out, overwhelmed by the intensity of sensation and emotion. The moment my blood filled his mouth, the mate bond snapped into place, permanently connecting us in the most intimate way.

We lay tangled together for a long while, even after his knot receded and his cock slipped out of me. My head rested on Trev's chest, and he stroked my hair, conveying a form of affection I’d never felt before.

Like I was actually safe. Fully cherished. Finally home.

When I couldn’t keep quiet any longer, I had to ask the question I was terrified of answering. "What happens now?"

Trev's arms tightened around me and his tongue swiped across his mark. "Now we talk to Andro.”

“Will he be mad at you…or me?” I didn’t care what he thought about me, but Trev was his best friend. I didn’t want to come between them. They had their own permanent bond that I never wanted to tarnish.

“I don’t think so.” He kissed my temple and then placed his chin on my head. “But even if he is, we’ll deal with it. You're stuck with me now, little omega."

I smiled, nuzzling closer to him. "Promise?"

"Promise," he vowed. "Now get some sleep. We have a lot to figure out over the next few days."

As I drifted off to sleep, I knew my life had changed forever, and I was almost giddy because of it. For the first time, I wasn't afraid of the future. I was actually excited to live it.