Page 26 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)

AUDREY

I woke thrumming with a need more powerful than what I’d experienced so far, but still drowning in the ice of my frozen mating bond and confused as hell until I remembered it had all just been a dream.

Knox hadn’t ripped an explosive orgasm from my body and hadn’t claimed me as his. And I certainly hadn’t heard the fated mating call ring in my soul. I didn’t even know if that was what Knox really looked like. Hell, I didn’t even want the bond with someone who didn’t want me.

I shoved the covers aside, the fabric brushing against my hypersensitive skin, put my dress on — because that was all I had to wear, and I wasn’t going to tempt fate by trying to race across the hall naked — and hurried to the bathroom to warm up and relieve the pressure in my core with my own fingers. If I scrubbed really well afterward, no one would be able to scent my arousal and as long as I didn’t think about the dream — or anything else for that matter — I wouldn’t end up embarrassing myself today.

Who was I kidding? I’d already embarrassed myself in front of everyone last night. Most of the pack’s betas knew I was desperate for sex even if they didn’t know it was because of a mating bond. Why not just share that with the rest of the town? Hell, the betas hadn’t been sworn to secrecy about me, so the town probably knew already.

Maybe I could convince Bishop to skip the town tour and just stay in. We could go back to Whil’s, and I could keep them supplied in tea or something while they searched for a way to break the mating bond.

Except the odds of breaking the bond were slim, and if Knox and I didn’t seal it — which with him despising me was the likely scenario — I was going to be horny for the rest of my life.

Which was something I was just going to have to figure out how to deal with.

Maybe instead of going to Whil’s we could just stay in my room and alleviate the sexual compulsion from the bond. It had been a bad idea last night and it still was this morning, but I was going to scream if I didn’t have an orgasm and the one in my dream clearly hadn’t been enough.

Besides, Knox didn’t want me, so he shouldn’t have a problem with me sleeping with his brother.

Except the thought of Knox going to some other woman to deal with the desire from the mating bond made me want to storm out of the bathroom, find him, and yell at him… even before he’d done anything.

And really, my reasons for not sleeping with Bishop hadn’t changed.

Jeez. Dealing with my situation by myself was the only safe option.

Steam from the shower misted the mirror, indicating it was warm enough, and I hopped inside.

The water hit my sensitive skin and my core trembled in anticipation of coming even before I’d done anything. The memory of Knox kissing me like his life depended on it, all his ferocious power focused on me, not to make me submit but to turn me on, flooded me.

He could have made me kneel before him but he hadn’t. Of course, that was because it was just a dream. From the ferocity and anger that had roared through the bond when he’d told me I wasn’t his mate, I knew if anything happened between us, he’d demand my complete submission. He’d probably even claim me with his teeth.

The trembling in my core grew at the thought and I let myself fall into the fantasy. He’d want my submission, but he wouldn’t hurt me. I’d be able to trust him because he was my mate.

If he was here in the shower, he’d turn me to face the spray and take me from behind. He’d push his cock into me while he arched me back, a hand on my neck to hold me in place and show me he was in control and the other between my thighs rubbing my clit.

I turned to face the spray just like in my fantasy, letting the water beat against my neck and chest. The water splattered against my thrumming body, tightening already taut nipples. In my fantasy, with my chest pushed out, they’d grow even more sensitive. Tingles would rush through me every time I drew a breath that would push them deeper into the spray, and my breath would get faster and faster.

Knox would pound his length into me over and over again just like he’d pounded his fingers into me in my dream, twisting me tight until stars flashed behind my lids again.

I pushed a finger inside me and rubbed my thumb against my clit. His breath would rush over the back of my neck and cheek and as he came inside me, his wolf would take over, extend his canines, and bite into the muscle between my neck and shoulder.

My inner muscles spasmed at the thought and tossed me over the edge. The orgasm wasn’t as mind-blowing as the one in my dream, but it still left me trembling and breathless and satisfied — which had been the whole point of the exercise.

The throbbing need receded, once more overwhelmed by the icy hollowness, and I finished washing with a mix of bittersweet emotions. Sure, I wasn’t going to lose my mind if I didn’t have sex, but the emptiness wasn’t much better than the need, just less embarrassing, and a part of me feared sex would never live up to the fantasy, even with someone as handsome — and likely experienced — as Bishop.

I pushed that thought aside. Thinking about Bishop and sex was a bad idea, especially since the Knox of my fantasies had had Bishop’s face.

I dressed, finger-combed my hair so it wasn’t a complete disaster, and went to the kitchen.

Bishop was waiting for me just like he’d promised. He sat at the kitchen table reading a book with two other books open in front of him. When he saw me, he flashed a heart-stopping smile and thankfully didn’t sniff or make a face or say anything about my perpetual state of heightened arousal.

A selection of meat and fruit and pastries sat on the counter, the platters half empty as if a few someones had already taken their breakfast and left, and I filled up a plate and sat in the chair across from him.

The door leading to the garden was still open, and I could see the morning sunlight in the greenery beyond and smell the mix of fragrant herbs and flowers on the breeze.

“You ready for the grand tour?” he asked.

“Absolutely.” I didn’t know what was going to happen with the mating bond. If we couldn’t sever it, I didn’t know if I wanted to stay in the same town as Knox. Of course, I also didn’t know if the bond would let me leave Knox. But if we could sever the bond and I did survive, perhaps this could be my new pack.

Bishop was kind and friendly, and Cyrus, while not entirely friendly, didn’t strike me as cruel — although I hadn’t thought Royce was cruel, either. Their betas seemed to like and respect them, and I’d gotten a sense of genuine friendship among everyone at dinner last night. I was weak, and I might never be able to shift, but maybe they’d accept me like Bishop had said they would in Whil’s cottage yesterday. Maybe there was a place where I belonged.