Page 151 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)
AUDREY
I woke in Bishop’s arms, lying on a futon and covered with a light, soft blanket. We were in a small room with exposed thick stone blocks along the back wall and small blocks making up the other walls. Sunlight poured through a narrow window above our heads, and at our feet stood a plain wooden door. My whole face throbbed and I could barely open my right eye, but I’d happily pay the price of a broken nose again to ensure Bishop survived.
“There you are,” he rumbled, the sound vibrating in my chest and setting off a soft, delicious warmth between my thighs. It wasn’t a desperate need like it had been before and it certainly wasn’t anywhere near the level of my heat. It was just me reacting to being naked in the arms of a sexy naked man who loved me.
“I could feel you waking up through the bond but it took you a minute to open your eyes,” he said, pressing his lips against the top of my head and squeezing me tighter. “That’s going to take some getting used to. I’m not even that connected with Knox and our twin bond is unusually strong.”
“It is weird and there are some downsides to being able to sense each other’s emotions,” I told him. “We can’t keep anything from each other, even if it’s a lie to spare my feelings.”
“Not much of a downside if it means I’ll know when you need me and what you need.”
I snuggled in closer, breathing in his bright, fresh-cut grass scent. He was alive and safe and mine, and I could feel through our bond that he was thrilled to be my mate. His love shimmered bright and warm around my heart and, just like I felt with Knox, I felt like I was home with Bishop.
Of course, I’d always felt like I belonged with Bishop. Not once had he made me feel unwanted or weak or unworthy. Everything Bishop had done had been to build me up, to prove I deserved love, and that there wasn’t anything wrong with me, even though I couldn’t shift.
But I also knew, if I’d bonded with him first, I’d never have bonded with Knox, and my soul needed Knox as much as it needed Bishop. I wasn’t sure how I knew that or if I really was as powerful as they said and that was the reason I needed both of them — and Cyrus, too, if I was being honest with myself — but I felt more settled and at peace with who and where I was than I’d ever been before.
Bishop stroked a gentle hand along my cheek, his fingers skimming too close to my broken nose, spiking pain through my throbbing face and making me wince.
“Sorry.” He jerked his hand away and leaned back so he could look me in the eyes. “Cyrus said I’m the one who hurt you.”
Shame flickered through our bond and I responded by sending him more love.
His eyes widened in surprise. “ That’s going to take some getting used to, too. Can I do that?”
The shame vanished, replaced by curiosity. Then a massive wave of love and desire flooded me, making my heated core ache with need.
“Oh!” he gasped, then his voice lowered and his pupils dilated with desire. “I see. I’ve left my mate wanting.”
With a sexy groan, he captured my lips in a long, sweltering kiss that stole my breath and left me gasping. His desire spun around and wove through mine with a heady rush of emotions that both of us could feel, drawing another sexy groan from him.
“You mentioned the disadvantage of the bond,” he purred, teasing his lips down my neck and flicking his tongue against his mating mark.
Sensation jolted through me, rushing straight to my core and making me moan.
“But you didn’t mention the advantages,” he added.
He teased his lips to my breasts and sucked on one nipple then the other, working them into tight buds, before pushing the blanket aside and moving lower.
His need and love and awe roared through me before shifting into a ferocious hunger. He settled between my thighs and buried his nose in my curls, breathing in my scent.
Tremors of anticipation fluttered through my core, and he hummed in satisfaction, now knowing — because of our bond — how much I wanted him.
“Bishop,” I moaned, tangling my fingers in his hair. “Don’t make me wait.”
“As my mate commands.”
He swept his tongue through my folds in a slow, sensual stroke, sending shivers rushing up my spine. I moaned again and sank into the sensation. His desire and mine swirled together and grew stronger as he worked me to the edge.
I clung to him, riding the building wave, my hips bucking into his mouth. He pushed a finger inside me and sucked on my clit, drawing me closer and closer.
Right to the edge.
Then he pulled back before I could come, making me whimper in disappointment.
“I’ve got you, Audrey,” he said, crawling up my body and kissing me, filling my mouth with the flavor of my desire.
The head of his cocked pushed at my opening and slowly — so damned slowly — he pushed inside me. My breath picked up, my pulse racing with anticipation while he bottomed out then held still, fighting to control himself.
“You feel so good and with our bond, it’s even more intense.” He met my gaze, capturing me with his warm brown eyes and the mesmerizing bright green flecks. “So perfect.”
His love flooded me and he began to move, his pace getting faster and faster and my desire spinning tighter and tighter, taking me higher than he had before, and sending me spiraling over the edge.
My satisfaction sent him over the edge as well and together we whirled in bliss, his and mine mingling, feeding each other, before slowly releasing us.
A moment later someone knocked on the door.
“Well that sounded satisfying,” Deacon chuckled through the door, making my face burn with embarrassment. “Wish I could give you more time, but our mighty leader wants to head out.”
“Tell him Audrey needs to rest,” Bishop replied.
Deacon snorted. “That didn’t sound like resting.”
“We’ve just bonded,” Bishop insisted. “You know we’re not going to be able to keep our hands off each other.”
“You couldn’t keep your hands off her before,” he laughed. “But if you want more time, then you’ll have to tell him yourself.”
Bishop tipped his head back and groaned. “How long did it take us to get here?”
“Five days, and yes, Cyrus plans a slower pace so six or seven days back,” Deacon replied.
“And the alliance meeting in Stonehaven will only be a few days after that,” Bishop groaned. “That doesn’t give us much time to prepare.”
“Exactly. The bathrooms are at the end of the hall to your right, the stairs to the first floor beside them,” Deacon said. “You probably have enough time to clean up and eat breakfast before Cyrus starts getting agitated. Oh, and watch your nudity. There are humans around.”
Bishop sighed. “Looks like we should get up.”
“If we don’t, the next person at our door will be Cyrus, and I doubt he’ll knock,” I replied.
A small shiver of desire rushed down my spine at that thought but thankfully Bishop didn’t comment on it. The bond didn’t tell us where the other person’s emotions were coming from, although sometimes it was pretty easy to guess.
Someone had brought our packs to the small room, leaving them in a neat row by the door, and Bishop grabbed a pair of pants while I wrapped myself in the blanket — not wanting to put on clean clothes until I’d bathed.
It wasn’t a walk of shame if you were doing it with your mate.
“Sisters, you’re so beautiful,” Bishop groaned, his gaze raking down my body. “When we get back?—”
“You’ll have the meeting with the alliance members to prepare for.” And I had no doubt Bishop was necessary.
Cyrus could conduct business and negotiate the best deal for the pack, but he needed Bishop’s social finesse to put the alliance members at ease.
“There’ll be times when I can get away. And besides—” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “You do have another mate to keep you satisfied.” He grabbed our packs before opening the door, gesturing for me to step out into a narrow, windowless hall lit by glowing stones. “Then after the meeting, you’re all mine for at least a week.”
“Just a week?” I asked with a chuckle, turning right and heading to the bathroom while pretending not to see the three men at the end of the hall staring at us. “Pretty sure we’re mated for life.”
“The week is just for us,” he said, leaning close and dropping his voice to that sexy low rumble that always turned me on. “After that, I’ll share you with my brother.”
Heat blossomed across my cheeks and in my core, making both of us groan.
One of the men at the end of the hall gave us a knowing look before ushering the other two — who looked surprised — down the stairs.
“Damn,” he said, clutching his chest in mock agony. “Teasing you now teases me. That’s not fair.”
I laughed at him. “I’d say that’s only fair.”
“Nothing is fair with you, beautiful. You can slay me with a smile and I’ll always die happy.”
“Yeah, well,” I said, trying to get my blush under control. “Hold off on the dying for… I don’t know… close to a century or so.”
His expression softened and he pulled me into a warm embrace. “I promise. No dying. I’ll never leave you, Audrey.”
“I know.” My throat tightened with all the fear I’d been fighting since he’d been poisoned.
“You’ll never be alone again,” he murmured as he pressed his lips to my forehead. Then he released a soft huff. “But we now have to change the conversation. Knox just yelled at me for making you upset.”
I squeezed Bishop tighter, savoring his fresh green scent, and sent love to Knox to reassure him that I was fine.
This was going to be a very strange relationship, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I was with the people I was supposed to be with and loved by two incredible men.