Page 17

CHAPTER 17

brIAR

W hile the kiss is slow and tender, having his soft lips against mine still makes everything in me light up. I arch up into him as arousal snakes up my spine. Wanting relief from the need spiraling through me, I try to rub myself against him. He stubbornly keeps his hips away from mine.

When I whimper, Malachi pulls back. His chest heaves as he gives me a heavy-lidded stare. “I didn’t mean this to be anything other than a kiss, baby girl. You’re hurt, and I don’t want you to injure yourself further. I just needed you to know how fucking much I love you. I’ve never been very good at wording my emotions, so I was trying to show you how I feel.”

How turned on I am takes a back seat as I gape at him in disbelief. “You love me?” I whisper, unsure if he can even hear the words with how quiet I am.

He chuckles, the deep sound vibrating through me. “Why are you so surprised, Briar? I started falling for you the first time you talked back to me in my office. I’ve been in love with you for a while now. I love how strong and determined you are. I love how you aren’t afraid to sass me and put me in my place. I love how kind, loving, and loyal you are. I love everything about you, Briar Rose Ward-Wylder, and I’ll do everything I can to be the best man and mate possible for you, as long as you’ll have me.”

I let out a watery laugh at his last line. “Of course I’ll have you, Malachi Leo Wyldhart. I love you so much. I love how protective you are of those you care about and how you’re willing to do anything and everything for the people lucky enough to earn your loyalty. I love that I’m one of the few you show your gentle side to. And I love our verbal sparring more than I probably should.”

He snorts and shakes his head at me before his navy eyes turn serious. “I gave up hope of finding you a long time ago. It seemed like all life consisted of was moving from one problem to another, every day something I had to get through. With you, I now look forward to each and every moment we get to spend together. You’ve brightened my life and given me so much I didn’t even know I needed. You’re everything I could’ve ever dreamed of, baby girl, and I’m the luckiest man alive.”

Before I can respond to his heartfelt confessions, Malachi slams his lips down on mine, harder and more demanding this time. I gasp into his mouth, and he takes the opportunity to plunge his tongue between my parted lips.

As we kiss, the embers of arousal turn into a full-blown bonfire of need. I again try to get relief by rubbing myself against him, but he moves his hips away as soon as I touch him. After a few attempts to ease the ache between my thighs, I give up. As I collapse back on the bed, I tear my mouth away from his to pant, “Please, Malachi. I need you.”

He leans his forehead against mine as he tries to catch his breath.

“How can I say no to that? But you’re in no shape for fucking.” I whimper at his refusal, but he silences me with another hard and fast kiss. “I’ll still make you feel good, baby girl. There’s a lot I can do to you that doesn’t involve me shoving my cock in your tight little pussy.”

Trailing one hand down my front, Malachi pulls down my loose sweats. I lift my hips to help him, earning me a glare and a wordless demand to stay still. He then pushes up my sweater before finally moving to where I need him. Pushing my panties to the side, he shoves a finger into me without warning.

I cry out at the intrusion and try to arch into his touch.

“Don’t move,” he orders, his tone dripping authority and dark promise. “Ignore me and I’ll stop. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” My voice comes out breathy as I try to force myself to form a coherent response. All my brainpower is focused on how good it feels, though. It’s hard to even think straight, much less form words.

It takes all my willpower not to rock my hips with his thrusts, but I’ll do anything he tells me to as long as he doesn’t stop.

Pushing a second finger into me, Malachi hisses, “You’re so fucking hot and wet, baby girl. It’s taking everything I have not to say ‘fuck it’ and plunge my cock in you.”

I nod vigorously because he should absolutely lose control and fuck me until neither of us can remember our names. He chuckles at my eagerness but, unfortunately, holds himself back. I stop caring as he brushes my clit with his thumb on each thrust, driving me closer and closer to climaxing.

When I’m about to hurtle over the edge, I gasp out, “Bite me, Malachi.”

He freezes, and his muscles pull taut as he tries to get a hold of himself. “Baby girl…” He trails off, but the refusal is clear in his tone.

My orgasm slips away when he stills, much to my frustration.

“Please.” I should care that I’m stooping to pleading with him, but I don’t. All I care about is forming the bond with him.

If getting captured by the Knights taught me anything, it’s that tomorrow isn’t promised. I waited too long to tell my mates how much they meant to me. After I was captured, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see them again, and I didn’t know if I’d ever get the chance to bond with my wolves. Now that I have the opportunity, I don’t want it to pass me by because I’m waiting for the perfect time.

“Fuck.” He rests his head on my shoulder, and his warm breath feathers over my exposed skin. “You begging me is nearly impossible to resist, but I don’t want to do something in the heat of the moment that you’ll regret later. Bonding isn’t something you can ever undo if you change your mind, Briar.”

I take a deep breath to clear the lingering arousal-induced fog from my mind. My voice is clear and steady as I tell him, “I’m not going to change my mind, Malachi. I’m not blinded by horniness, if that’s what you’re thinking. I love you, and I want forever with you. If you’re not ready for that, that’s okay. But don’t act like I don’t know what I’m asking for.”

Lifting his head to look at me, his gaze roves over my face for a long minute, like he’s searching for any hint that I’m lying to him. When he doesn’t find it, he blows out a harsh breath. “I’ve been ready since I caught your intoxicating lavender and sunshine scent for the first time. This isn’t about me not wanting it. I just don’t know how my wolf and I will handle it if you regret it later.”

“I won’t regret it. I swear.”

I can see the last of his resolve to wait crack as he asks, “You’re sure?”

“Positive. Now are you going to bite me or not?” I give him a challenging smile that I know he can’t resist.

He huffs a laugh and lowers his head to the crook of my shoulder. Shoving my sweater out of the way, he runs his nose over the sensitive skin there, causing me to shiver. Instead of immediately sinking his teeth into me, Malachi resumes moving his fingers in and out of me until I’m writhing on the bed, desperate to come.

When the first wave of my orgasm crashes over me, he bites down on my shoulder, hard enough to break skin. The flicker of pain quickly morphs into a pleasure so intense I’m worried it’ll swallow me whole. My vision goes white as I get lost in my climax that seems to go on forever.

Sometime later, I’m able to wade through the overwhelming sensations to open my eyes. When I do, I feel my wolf take over. I lunge at Malachi, who’s still bent over me. My teeth sink into his neck as my wolf urges me to complete the bond.

As I bite down, he lets out a deep groan into my shoulder. His hips start bucking erratically, grinding his erection against my thigh. Warm blood trickles into my mouth, and I feel the bond snap fully into place. With a shout, his thrusts stutter and eventually still.

We lie there, silently trying to catch our breath. I run my hands through Malachi’s hair as I marvel at the feeling of the bond in my chest, right next to my bond with Saint. It’s weird being able to tell the difference between the two bonds, with Malachi’s bond being a bit more aggressive and Saint’s calmer. There’s also an overwhelming feeling of rightness that I could bask in forever.

He’s the one to finally break the silence. Lifting onto his hands so he can see me better, he presses a quick kiss to my lips. Pulling back, he gives me the most carefree smile I’ve ever seen on him. “That was fucking intense. I’ve never come in my pants like that, even when I was a horny-ass teenager.”

My eyes widen in surprise because I didn’t even touch him, other than the bite. “You came?”

He nods and brushes his nose against mine affectionately. “Mm-hmm. As soon as your little teeth clamped down on my neck, I didn’t really have a choice.”

“Um, I’m sorry? Or you’re welcome?” My voice gets squeaky at the end as I try to figure out what to say.

He snorts. “Nothing to be sorry about, baby girl. It felt pretty fucking amazing. Let’s get cleaned up and in bed. I think you’ve exerted yourself more than enough for today.”

I roll my eyes at how bossy he is but don’t complain as he carries me to get clean clothes for both of us and then to the bathroom. After we change into comfy sleep clothes, we head back out to his bedroom to find my other mates waiting for us.

No one comments on the bonding Xander and Bastian can probably smell and Saint might be able to feel. Instead, they wordlessly arrange themselves around me. Malachi holds me from behind and Bastian presses himself against my front. Xander and Saint reach a hand over the other two to rest on my hip as the four of them surround me in their comforting scents.

As I drift off into an exhausted sleep, I try not to worry about the havoc Ryker is probably causing right now or think about how in the hell I’m supposed to stop it.