Page 11 of Hunted Temptation (Alpha Nights: Unlikely Heroes #4)

Chapter Ten

ELODIE

“This is the last night in a motel,” Vaughn announces as he flops down on the queen-size bed near the door.

I’ve noticed that he always takes the bed near the door.

I’m pretty sure it’s for safety reasons, but I can’t deny that it causes my belly to flutter every time he does it.

He’s protecting me, although he’s said that I don’t need it.

That nothing is going to be traced to me, that nobody is going to come looking for me.

I still don’t see how that’s possible, but I don’t bother trying to ask him about it again, either. He’s said what he’s said, and that is that. In the few days I’ve known Vaughn, I can tell that when he speaks, he expects you to listen, to understand, and to let it go.

“And then?” I ask.

“And then you’ll stay at my place for a while.”

That is that.

I don’t bother asking anything else right now. Instead, I excuse myself to the bathroom and take a long, hot shower, washing my hair and shaving my legs. I don’t know what it is about doing an everything shower after a long day of travel, but it feels amazing.

Once I’m finished, I pull on a pair of panties and an oversized shirt to sleep in. I didn’t really pack much, and what I did pack, the clean items are running low. I have two pairs of clean panties and one clean outfit left. I’m definitely going to have to do laundry tomorrow.

“I was wondering…” I begin as I walk into the bedroom from the bathroom.

When I lift my gaze from the floor, my mouth goes dry at the sight of Vaughn. He’s lying on the bed, shirtless, pantless, wearing just boxer briefs and looking like a model. His muscles are perfect.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man with a body like his before.

I didn’t think someone like him existed in real life, and here I am, standing in front of him completely breathless, speechless, and motionless.

I’m not sure how long I stand and ogle him, but when he lifts his eyes from his phone and his gaze finds mine, a jolt slams into me.

I’m not sure what the jolt is, but my entire body feels tingly.

“You good?” he asks.

I hum, and my feet become unstuck from the floor as I shuffle over to the empty bed, slipping under the covers even though I would much rather be beside him. My physical desire for him is growing stronger as each day passes.

I’ve never wanted a man before, never craved or yearned for one, never desired to be touched. It’s always just been something that’s happened to me. A chore, a job, a painful experience that I’ve had to shut myself off to perform. And a performance is what it always was…

But I don’t feel like I want to perform when it comes to Vaughn. It’s as if I have this need balled up inside me, and if the need is not met soon, then I might just explode. And as he watches me, that sensation grows.

“I’m going to jump in the shower. I just ordered food, but it’s thirty minutes out.”

“Okay,” I rasp.

My throat is so dry, and when I try to swallow, it feels as if I’m attempting to gulp down a wad of cotton. He jumps up from the bed, then I watch as he walks past the end of the bed, his scent wafting by me.

So. Damn . Good.

The water turns on moments later. Pressing my thighs together, I try to alleviate the ache there, but it doesn’t work. Not in the slightest. The pressure just makes me want his touch even more.

His shower doesn’t last too long. When the water goes off, I pinch my eyes closed and inhale deeply through my nose, letting the air out of my mouth slowly.

The door opens, and I watch as he walks past me, still in a pair of boxer briefs that hug every part of his lower body expertly, but this time, he’s damp from the shower… everywhere.

There is a knock on the door, which causes me to jump, but doesn’t affect him at all whatsoever. He moves toward the door, looks through the peephole, then wrenches it open without even taking a breath.

The sound of a bag rustling is the only thing I hear before Vaughn calls out a thanks, then shuts and locks the door before he turns to me. “I’m about done eating on the road,” he announces with a chuckle as he shakes the bag from side to side.

“And I’m about done eating in bed—in my underwear,” I state.

Vaughn freezes where he is, his eyes searching mine. I watch as his lips curve up into a smirk. “Goldie, that can be fun. Don’t knock it.”

“Well, like this isn’t fun,” I mutter. He snorts but otherwise doesn’t respond. He tosses the bag onto his bed, then takes out a Styrofoam container and opens it, checking the contents before he extends his arm and hands it to me.

“Thanks,” I say on a heavy sigh.

He rustles the bag a little bit more, then makes his way over to his bed and climbs onto it. I don’t even know what he ordered. When I open the container, my eyes widen at the sight that greets me.

“What is this?” I ask in a whisper.

“I wanted something real. It’s Mediterranean food.”

There are two skewers of meat on a bed of rice pilaf, and then there is a salad with feta, thick chunks of cucumber, and fresh tomatoes. On the other side is pita bread, still warm.

It all smells heavenly.

I make a mental note not to complain about eating in my underwear in bed ever again, although I do want to know why he said not to knock it. I have a feeling I’m missing something. I don’t ask, though. I’m too focused on the mind-blowing dinner.

“There’s baklava for dessert as well.”

I shake my head. I’ve got a whole piece of meat in my mouth, so I chew a few times before I talk around the bite. “I don’t know what that is, but if it’s half as amazing as what’s in my lap, I’m here for it.”

Vaugh laughs again, which seems to be what he does when it comes to me. He is either ordering me around or laughing. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but I decide it must be. Laughter is good for the soul after all.

VAUGHN

The food is consumed, although I didn’t get even a bite of baklava. Once I saw the look of pure ecstasy on Elodie’s face, I knew I couldn’t take that from her. It was all hers, and I’d give her just about anything she wanted, too.

She seems restless tonight, and as I start to drift to sleep, her rolling from side to side in the bed being my lullaby, I try not to think about what life will be like when we arrive in Nights tomorrow.

We’ve been around one another twenty-four seven for a week.

I don’t know what it’s going to be like when she isn’t within arm’s reach, and I have to admit that I’m going to miss it.

I’m not sure when I fall asleep, but I know I do because I’m startled awake. There is a heavy weight on top of me. Wrapping my arms around the weight, I gasp as my eyes adjust to the darkness in the room.

I open my mouth to ask her what she’s doing, but don’t get the chance. She touches her index finger to my lips as she shakes her head a couple of times. “It’s the last night,” she murmurs.

Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around her wrist, tugging it away from my face before I speak. “What are you doing, Elodie?” I ask.

“I want you, Vaughn.”

“You don’t have—” My words are cut off by her own.

She shifts her face closer to mine, her eyes searching my own. “I know I don’t,” she whispers. “I want to.”

Before I can respond to her, I feel her lips touch mine. She kisses me hard, and her tongue slips inside my mouth. I don’t bother holding back the moan that travels up my throat, vibrating throughout my entire body. When I flex my hips, she grinds her panty-clad pussy against my hard cock.

Releasing her wrist, I grip her waist and hold her body down, feeling her warmth from her center penetrate through her panties and my boxer briefs.

Fuck, I bet she’s already wet. Tangling my tongue with hers, I try to keep her body from moving, knowing that I’ll lose control if she tempts me for a second longer.

Elodie rips her mouth from mine, disappointingly. We are both breathing heavily, though I think it’s less because of the kiss and more because I want to be inside her and am trying to hold back.

Slipping one of my hands from her waist, I cup her center. Fuck, her panties are wet. She sits up, and I watch as she grabs her oversized shirt by the hem, pulling it over her body before she tosses it somewhere on the floor.

Curling my finger in the center of her panties, I move them to the side before I glide my knuckle along her damp center. She arches her back, her head falling as she moans while gently rolling her hips.

Circling her clit with my knuckle, I apply pressure there, watching as her nipples tighten.

I’m trying really fucking hard not to lose control.

This is her moment, and while consciously, I know I shouldn’t be doing this—she’s too young, she’s damaged—I can’t stop her.

I can’t tell her no because I want it, too.

“Yes,” Elodie hisses as she begins to move against my knuckle.

As much as I want to rip her panties to shreds and slam her pussy down around my cock, I don’t. This takes the most self-control of my life. It’s a test, I know it is, and I’m not sure if I’m going to pass it.

I know I probably shouldn’t, but I slip my finger inside her wet heat, pressing my thumb against her clit as I make a come-hither motion. Elodie gasps, her eyes popping open and her head straightening before her gaze finds mine.

Her palms press against my chest, her nails digging into my flesh, and my lips curve at the slight bite of pain. I fucking love it. All ten fingernail digs’ worth. Her lips part as she looks down at me, her nipples tightening even more.

“Vaughn,” she hisses. “I’m going to come.”

“Not yet,” I grind out.

One more swirl with my thumb, and she moans, so I slide my finger from inside her. And before I can do anything else, I feel her hands leave my chest and she frees my length. Her warmth is positioned on the head of my cock in the next breath.

“Goldie,” I grind out. “Slow.”

Our gazes are connected, unwavering as we watch one another, while she slowly sinks down along my length. Centimeter by centimeter, she takes me completely inside her. Gripping her hips, I hold her still.

“Don’t move,” I say through gritted teeth.

She shakes her head, her eyes never leaving mine before she speaks. “I need to move, Vaughn,” she rasps.

It seems as if she’s in pain. “No,” I say as I release one of her hips.

Placing my palm against her belly, I slowly move it up the center of her chest, stopping at the back of her throat. Gliding my thumb up and down the column of her throat, I don’t look away from her. She trembles, and I feel that shit all the way down to my toes.

My fingers dance over to her tit. When I slide my thumb along her hardened nipple, she shivers, her eyes still focused on mine. I don’t think she’s even blinked. I pinch that sweet, tempting nipple. She moans, and I feel her hips jerk.

“How close are you?” I ask, knowing that she has to be close.

I’ve been feeling her pussy clench around me and release over and over in a rhythm that’s about to send me over the edge, so I assume she’s got to be on edge, ready to fall over at any moment.

“Close, I think,” she breathes.

She thinks?

I don’t ask her that, but I make a note, because she should know when she’s close. But I’m not going to ask her about it right now. All my focus is on orgasming. Hers and mine.

Tugging on her nipple one more time, I shift my hand between her legs and place my thumb against her clit. It’s my turn to shiver. She’s still wearing those fucking panties, and it’s hot as shit.

“Move, Goldie, make us both come.”

And she does. It’s wild and beautiful. Her back bows as she rides me, my thumb pressed against her clit. Thankfully, it doesn’t take her long to find her release. I’m so on edge, ready to fall over, yet trying to hold on.

When she comes, her cries fill the space around me, the sounds mixed with her pulsing pussy causing my own orgasm to rip through me.

She collapses on my chest, burying her face in my neck.

With my hand still gripping her hip, I move her up and down on my length, milking my dick with her still-fluttering pussy until my balls are empty.

She lifts her head slightly, her eyes finding mine as her lips curve up into a grin. I slide my hands from her hip, up her spine, curl my fingers around the back of her neck, and instead of talking, I gently tug her head down so her mouth is against mine.

After sliding my tongue along the seam of her lips, I gently nip her bottom lip, then release her. She nuzzles my neck, lets out a heavy sigh, and falls asleep that way, my cock softening inside her, her body pressed against mine.

And before I can even gather a thought, I, too, fall asleep—peacefully.