Page 23 of Forsaken Desire (Ruthless Wolves #1)

I slipped into the wedge between the columns, slumping against the cold surface. What had I done? Dread formed a ball in my stomach. I dropped my face into my palms, shakily breathing warm air into my palms.

The look in their eyes wouldn’t leave my mind. All they did was confirm what I believed about myself. I was a monster.

My mate got the short end of the stick with me. Tears welled and slipped through my scrunched eyelids.

I rubbed the spot over my sternum, but the pressure did nothing to assuage the agony. If I rejected my mate for his own good . . .

“Josephine?” The shout was sharp and abrupt. I jerked against the column, smacking my shoulder into the stone. I winced and squeezed my arm. Peeking around the column only caught his attention. Although he was multiple yards away, his long stride would eat up the ground.

I took a deep breath, lifted my chin, and stepped into the hall. I wasn’t a coward. He was too far away for me to meet his gaze.

“Not right now,” I raised my voice. “I need to be alone.” He didn’t slow. Shit, he wouldn’t slow either. The single-minded pace and that determined look on his face told me as much.

My pulse jumped, and I took a step back. He would come at me, overwhelming me with his presence, and mess with my head before I worked through what was right or wrong.

His steps thundered louder and louder.

Thud . Dunk . Thud . Dunk .

Each of his strides echoed closer and closer. My heart rate elevated.

A band wound tight around my lungs, squeezing. I took another step back. I’d fall for his comfort. Unless . . . Was he upset he’d found out like this? Panic settled in, and I turned, the bottom of the dress grazing against my skin. With each step away from him, his sounded closer and closer.

I picked up my pace, almost huffing from exertion.

“Josephine.” His grip on my elbow forced me to slow, and he corralled me back, his wide chest taking all of my vision. “Why are you running from me?” He brushed my hair behind my ear.

The hard surface of the column pressed against my spine, and I shoved myself away with more force so it could dig into my skin to the point of pain.

“I understand if you want . . . If you’ve changed your mind about me. I’ll accept your rejection. At least you’ll have a chance of a second-chance mate?—”

He pressed his body against mine so forcefully he stole my breath. He grabbed my chin. I gawked up at him and his upper lip was curved up in a snarl. Every inch of his body overwhelmed mine. My breathing hitched and I lifted my chin even higher, not allowing me an inch of wiggle room.

His touch became harder, and a low growl vibrated through his chest. If I moved, I had no doubt he’d snap. My breathing turned shallow.

“Lucian—”

He grabbed my waist, pulling me up. My legs widened, splitting to wrap around his hips. I gasped, but he caught my mouth, cutting me off, shoving his cock against my covered sex with a hard thrust.

The stiffness ground against my clit. I cried out against his lips. His tongue slid against mine, mimicking the harsh grind of his hips. I could only submit to his touch, he didn’t allow another option.

He pulled back the slightest bit, just enough to undo his belt and unzip himself, hips still propping me up against the column.

Once he slid his hands up the sides of my thighs, taking the bottom of the dress with it, he cupped my ass.

Lucian slid one of his hands into my panties and ripped them off with a quick tug.

The fabric pressed against my sex, wrenching out my groan, and a loud tear mingled with my harsh breathing.

The ripped undergarments slid down my legs, and he thrust a finger into my channel.

I shouted, goose bumps erupting across my flesh.

The pull of the fabric, his frantic movements, his pants, all served to flame my lust.

He returned his hands to my hips and smoothly lifted me up the column, only to drop me onto his cock.

The invasion stole my breath, as did the slap of our skin meeting.

The dig of his fingers into my flesh pinched deliciously.

I gasped, raising my chin, and he didn’t hesitate for a moment, kissing me with a fervor that curled my toes.

He groaned, grinding his knot deep, keeping himself sheathed. A heel slipped off my foot and clattered on the floor. With the same foot, I pressed my ankle against his ass, using the perch to arch my hips more. I wanted him stuck to me—always.

He lifted his mouth, placing kisses against the line of my throat and nuzzling against my skin. Shivers erupted along my spine.

Lucian pulled back a bit and thrust with short pumps. Cries spilled from my lips. I didn’t care if anyone heard. This felt too good.

A sharp pain assaulted my throat, but the wave of my orgasm overtook me so hard that it only turned to pleasure. I screamed, my voice echoing off the cavernous hall.

The skin of my neck gave way to his blunt teeth.

I squeezed my eyelids shut. Fuck, he felt so good. Another orgasm crashed into me. My channel throbbed around his cock, clasping him hard.

“Lucian,” I moaned.

He snarled against my throat, his pace ramping up. The slap of our flesh meeting echoed down the hall, mingling with my cries.

I clawed at his suit, yanking and pulling like it would somehow ground me. He continued fucking me. Raw, needy, and desperate. All I could do was take it.

The aftershocks of my orgasm sent tremors to my toes. He ground his knot against my clit.

I didn’t think I could take any more.

Mewls spilled from my mouth.

His pumping slowed, and I thought he was about to come, but then he slid his hands up to my waist, jerking me off his cock.

The wet pop mingled with my cry. Lucian’s lips were still curled with anger.

He turned me, and I caught myself on the column, my fingers curling to press my fingertips into the granite.

With one hand banded around my waist, he hoisted me up, forcing me to press my palms against the column surface. He rammed his cock deep into my core.

I shouted, the blaze of electricity assaulting my limbs.

“Don’t ever repeat that,” he hissed. My mind reeled.

All of that was too intense; it scrambled every thought.

“You belong with me,” he snarled into my hair.

I whimpered, my hips pushing back to shove against his cock.

He ground his swelled shaft against my ass while his fingers curled under my dress, tugging it up with the glide of his hand. Goose bumps rose under his touch.

His teeth sank into my shoulder, in the same spot.

I screamed, the orgasm washing over my limbs with such intensity that my legs trembled. He kept a stiff hold on me, pumping his knot into me. Each graze slid against my clit. I couldn’t hold still because of the sensitivity.

Everything felt like too much. My arms shook from holding me up.

He shoved his finger against the bud of my ass, ripping another scream from my throat; prepping me for when he would take me there, too.

“Lucian,” I whimpered.

His harsh pumps slowed, the frantic movements calming.

“Relax, darling,” he murmured, voice thick. “Take your mate.” He rubbed his finger against my ass with more pressure, adding sensation to everything that was already tight and aching.

I whined, arching and grinding back, wanting his knot to swell.

“Lucian,” I chanted like a mantra.

He groaned, his hips pumping and thighs slapping against mine. The passionate sounds of fucking only made me wetter. Need dripped down my thighs, the wetness cool against my skin. His precum and my slick mingling.

He swiped his tongue across the bite mark. The sting wasn’t as bad anymore, and I was sure that had to do with the bliss playing along my nerve endings.

He slowed, giving a final grind against my sex. He withdrew his cock from my sheath, and my slick and his precum dripped down my thighs. I groaned.

“What about you?” I breathed.

His chuckles sent chills down my spine. Slowly, he lowered my feet to the floor. My now-shoeless foot flat on the cold surface. I dug my fingers into the column as my legs threatened to buckle.

“Come here, Princess,” he grunted and turned me to face him, my back against the column. He crouched and slid his hands up to my knee, using his big hand to pull my leg up and over his shoulder. His hands propped my ass up, and it kept me on my one heel.

He parted my thighs, staring at my wet sex, moaning. He ran his tongue along my inner thigh, collecting our pleasure.

“I need every inch of your pretty little body.” He exhaled, and his puff of air was cold against my skin.

“I want to see you coated with my cum.” Lucian raised his head, and the moonlight flitted over his face.

I could only watch in suspense as he ran his tongue up my other thigh.

Finally, it traveled up to my sex, with a few quick flicks, he pulled back, running his tongue across his lower lip.

I couldn’t help but watch him in a trance-like state. How was it possible he was so fine?

With ease, he placed my bare foot on his thigh, then reached for the heel. He slid it on my foot with ease. He patted my calf and stood. Unsteady, I wobbled on my feet and pressed my hand on his chest.

He swept down and pecked my lips. His eyes were shadowed, so I couldn’t tell where he was looking, but his hand reached for my neck. The gentle touch rubbed against a stinging section. It was the first thing I would check as soon as I was near a mirror.

He reached for the neat bun on my head. He tugged the band, and my hair fluttered around my shoulders. Lucian scooped my hair forward, carefully arranging it so it rested against my throat.

“Let’s get you home.” His arm swept around me, and he escorted me down the hall. I was glad he braced me, because I was struggling to keep my balance. I leaned harder into him.

“I left my phone on the table.”

“I’ll purchase another for you.”