Page 27

T he ride to the cabin was quick and quiet. I didn’t mind at all, glad to have the time to process what had just happened.

Emmet seemed to need the silence, too. For once, Demon was not growling.

I placed my hand on Emmet’s chest without thinking, just to see if my ears were playing tricks on me or if the hybrid Hellhound Wolf was indeed silent.

Emmet startled beneath my palm, and I felt bad, moving to pull away immediately. He was probably still riled up after that fight or battle or whatever it was called.

But before I could remove my hand, his slammed down over mine, keeping my palms flattened tight to his chest.

“Don’t,” he murmured, and my heart squeezed.

Don’t leave. Don’t stop touching him.

That was what he meant, and I loved him so much right then. I unbuckled my seat belt, sliding to the middle of the truck.

“What are you doing?” he asked, frowning.

“I need to be closer to you,” I confessed, not even bothering with the middle seatbelt because we were already home.

“Come here,” he whispered, after shifting the truck into park.

Emmet turned sideways and dragged me over his lap, hugging me to his chest.

“Thought I lost you,” he said gruffly.

“You didn’t. You found me,” I said, smiling through my tears.

“Only cause you sent that shade after me, my clever girl. Fuck, Angel, I was so damn scared I wouldn’t get to you in time.”

“But you did. So, we don’t have to wonder what if. I knew you and Demon were going to come for me.”

“You did? How?” he asked, canting his head to the side.

“Because you love me. Both sides of you love me, just like I love you. Even if I hadn’t sent that shade, you would have found me. I believe that with every fiber of my being.”

“You think too highly of me, Angel. But I would have never stopped looking for you,” he said.

“I know. Now take me inside, mate,” I whispered, nuzzling his neck with my lips.

“I can do that,” he replied, gazing at me with a look of such raw hunger I felt it down to my toes.

Emmet carried me inside, not pausing for even a moment until we were both in the shower. He’d been naked after his shift, and even though I was wearing clothes, he didn’t seem to care. He just peeled them off me and tossed them into the sink, soaking wet.

“Turn around,” his voice was rough as he gathered a handful of shampoo and began washing my hair.

It was far too much, but I was not about to stop him. His fingers massaged my scalp, soothing all the aches and hurts. After checking my eyebrow in the mirror, I was relieved to see I didn’t need stitches.

Emmet had some medical glue in his first aid kit, and he’d cleaned and dressed my wound before we left. The rest of the Crew milled about, cleaning up and ridding the woods of evidence of the fight.

That they all showed up for me, fought for me, were there to help bring Emmet to me—it all just filled me with such gratitude and humility.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, but it was just all the emotion catching up with me.

“Shh, Angel. I got you,” he whispered, rinsing the shampoo, then working the conditioner through my long hair.

He turned me to face him, using a soft cloth to catch the three pumps of cocoa butter body wash he poured into the middle. Then he kneeled down, running the sudsy washcloth up and down my legs, hips, ass, and sex.

I bit my lip, loving the way he tended to me. I didn’t even mind that under these harsh lights he could see it all. Every dimple. Every extra pound. Every stretch mark and bulge.

The way Emmet looked at me—his eyes hooded, a spark of mischief dancing in their depths—set my heart racing.

Electricity sizzled in his glowing emerald gaze. The perfect blend of lust and unguarded adoration that made me feel like the only person in the room.

Every glance he shot my way seemed to strip away my insecurities, revealing a version of myself I hadn’t fully embraced yet.

His expression was a heady mixture of desire and reverence, as if he could see something in me that I struggled to recognize. It was difficult when you’d been the fat girl all your life.

The strange one who didn’t fit in.

Different.

Weird.

But when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in his eyes, illuminated by the light reflecting through the glass shower door. Well, at that moment, I felt beautiful.

Radiant.

Perfect.

Because that was how he saw me. Emmet coveted every curve and contour, every jiggly bit and cellulite bump, all those pieces of me that I had ever doubted.

I could hardly breathe under the weight of his attention.

Emmet’s Wolf was a monster. Demon the Hellhound. My fierce protector. But he was my monster. And I reveled in his steady, verdant gaze.

Each lingering glance wrapped around me like a warm embrace, banishing all my old insecurities.

The way his lips curled into a smirk, the way he tilted his head as if drinking me in—it was intoxicating.

I couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks, as if he could see straight into my soul.

Maybe he could. Maybe that was what being fated mates meant.

The air felt thick with unspoken words, and after rinsing my hair and washing off both our bodies, I was more than ready for my mate.

The beauty of the moment was ingrained in my heart, etched on my brain like a fond memory, and I knew I would never forget it.

This man, this Wolf , had cast a spell on me, turning my plain, boring, lonely life into something extraordinary.

How could I feel anything but beautiful, bathed in the glow of his admiration?

I could have stood there forever, wrapped in his gaze, floating on the warmth of his desire.

But I had other plans, and they involved our shared bed.

“Can smell your arousal, mate,” he growled.

Desire zipped right through to my core at the way his hot breath fell against the skin at the nape of my neck. My hair swept to the side, Emmet kissed the scar of my mating mark, and I swayed on my feet.

He’d followed me to the foot of the bed and his front was pressed to my back, the hard bar of his erection pulsed against my back.

“Need you,” I whimpered, turning around so I could face him.

I ran my hands up his tight abs, tracing the swirling tattoos inked across his smooth skin. God, he was so hot. I didn’t know what they meant, if anything at all, and I hoped he would share the story someday.

But we had time for that. We had forever.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged him down to me. His lips curled, and he pulled against me, canting his head, green eyes glittering with Demon.

“Tell me what you want, Angel? Anything you want, you can have. You just have to ask.”

“Need you to kiss me,” I said, loving the way his nostrils flared, and his eyes glazed over with pure, unfiltered desire.

“I can do that,” he growled, lifting me up and slamming his mouth to mine.

There weren’t many perfect things in this world. Or if there were, I sure as hell hadn’t experienced them.

But kissing Emmet Quinn was pretty close to number one on my list.

“What’s number one if not kissing me, mate?” Emmet asked, curiosity on his face.

God, I loved when he read my mind.

“Being in love with you is tied with you being in love with me for number one, Baby,” I said, loving the smile that spread across his face.

“Oh yeah? So kissing me is number two?” he asked, falling onto the mattress with me still in his arms.

He kissed me harder, swirling his tongue with mine, and sipping from my lips like I was some fine vintage wine.

“If you keep sliding that hand where I think you’re sliding it, I might have to rethink that number two position,” I moaned, arching my back as he found my slick pussy with his fingers.

“I think I know how to solve this dilemma,” he growled.

Next, he slid down my body, sucking my breast into his mouth and releasing it with an audible pop as he traveled lower still. His hands were everywhere, caressing, kneading, branding me with his touch.

Emmet pushed my legs wider apart with his big shoulders, making room for himself. He leaned down, blowing hot air on my needy sex, and I flexed my hips, trying to get him where I needed him.

“So wet for me, Angel. Always so fucking wet.”

“Please,” I begged.

The sound careened into a moan as Emmet closed his mouth over my dripping sex and made out with my pussy. Licking, sucking, fucking me with his clever tongue. I clutched at his hair, determined to ride out wave after wave of pleasure he dealt me.

By the time he positioned his thick cock at my entrance, I was desperate for him, muttering unintelligible gibberish. My entire body was on fire with need, and only my mate could cool me.

Only Emmet could quench my thirst, sate my hunger, fill the void I’d been living with for so long.

“I got you,” he panted, slamming his hips to mine, gripping me tight in his arms.

“Emmet. Love you,” I moaned, feeling my body contract around him.

“That’s it. Fuck, that is it. Feel s’good. My sweet Angel.”

“Emmet, fuck, I’m coming again,” I moaned, arching my back.

“That’s right. Come for me again. Milk me with this sweet pussy. Tell me it’s mine. Your body. Your heart. Mine.”

“Yours!”

“Love you so much,” he growled.