Page 21 of Midnight Hunt (Wolves of Midnight #4)

20

GRIFF

She came. She came to me .

She’d never come to me like this before. I’d always been the one to go to her. When she needed me, I was there. She asked, and I gave. That’s how our relationship had worked for years.

But I’d finally dared to push, dared to pursue her, dared to express my own needs.

I’d asked her, and . . . and she’d come.

As she approached, my dick started to harden. It couldn’t be helped, but she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, her eyes dipped below my waist as if she knew the effect she had on me. And when her gaze lingered, my cock stiffened even more, proudly saluting the air. She continued to eye it, and I half expected it to start wagging like a golden retriever’s tail.

“Keep staring at me like that, and I’m going to come,” I gruffly told her.

A little smirk tilted her lips. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

At the playful way she said it, I had the sudden urge to howl, roll on the floor, and show her my belly.

Whiskey, get out of my thoughts , I growled at my familiar.

But you used to like it when I helped guide your movements , he huffed in disappointment. I know Vi definitely liked it .

This moment is for me and her only. She’s struggling to accept what I told her, so I need to handle this carefully .

He huffed again, but I knew he understood. Vi hadn’t said she loved me back. Hell, she hadn’t even said she wanted me.

But she was here. She’d stayed, and that said more than any words could. I wasn’t just a friend to her. She had feelings for me. Just how deep they were, I didn’t know, but I was willing to find out slowly. To move forward at the pace she wanted, no matter how excruciating that may be.

She was my future, and we had all the time in the world to explore our feelings.

Even so, I could barely contain my excitement when she stopped before the shower door and our eyes met again. I didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t even blink. The only sound was the steady rush of water from the showerhead.

The decision was hers to leave or stay. If she left, I would be heartbroken, but I didn’t want her to stay if she didn’t want to. I openly conveyed that message with my eyes, hoping she could see it. Hoping she knew the choice was hers and hers alone. No matter how I felt, I would never force myself on her. She could walk away from this forever, and I would respect that decision.

But I ached for her to stay. Ached for her to open the shower door and join me. I longed for it so deeply that I couldn’t breathe. My heart started to thunder, and I grew lightheaded as I continued to wait, hoping with all of my heart that she would—

She lifted a hand and opened the glass door, and I nearly dropped to my knees in relief. Still, I didn’t move, watching her slowly step inside and shut the door behind her. But as vulnerability flashed in her eyes, I eased forward, raising my hand to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

“If at any time you don’t want this, just say the word,” I gently said, letting my hand linger on her face.

Her swallow was audible, and she nervously nodded.

“Hey,” I soothingly said, reaching up to cup her other cheek. “It’s me , Violet. You have nothing to be nervous about.”

She huffed an embarrassed laugh. “I know. It’s just . . . It’s different this time. And I haven’t . . . I haven’t done it in so long.”

I gave her a small smile. “Me neither. I might have even forgotten how to do it.”

Just like I’d hoped, she scoffed at the joke. “Yeah, right. You probably have a sex doll in your closet.”

My brows rose. “Now there’s an idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”

She poked my chest. “Don’t pretend innocence with me, Griffin O’Neal. I’ve caught you jerking off more than once, you know. One time with a sock and another time with that stuffed teddy bear Mellie got you for Christmas two years ago.”

“ Teddy bear? ” I incredulously said, choking back laughter. “I was cuddling with it, not humping it.”

“Cuddling it with your dick , you mean. Your naked dick.”

“You know I always sleep in the nude.”

“Yeah, and now I know why.”

I burst out laughing, still cradling her face in my hands. Feeling the tension drain out of her, I dropped my forehead to hers and said, “God, you’re so adorable when you flirt with me.”

“Flirt? This isn’t flirting. I’m just calling you out on your bull—”

I captured her lips with my own, effectively silencing her. The pressure was firm yet gentle, giving her the opportunity to pull away if she wanted to. When she didn’t, I kissed her again, tipping her face up to deepen it. Her hands came up to grip my arms, and when I felt them tremble, I began to tremble as well.

She wasn’t nervous anymore. She was turned on. Excited . And that excitement fueled my own.

I caressed her mouth with mine, each sweep slowly prying her lips apart. When they were opened enough, I slipped my tongue inside and found hers. She sighed into my mouth, and I dug my fingers into her hair, all of my focus on tasting and inhaling her dark chocolate scent. A moan of pleasure rolled up my throat, and her knees buckled at the sound. I caught her before she could fall, slowly backing her against the slick tiles.

Dragging my mouth from hers, I breathed against her lips, “Do you feel that?”

Her chest rose and fell sharply, pushing against mine. “Feel what?”

I took one of her hands and slid it over my pounding chest. “This.” I brought her hand lower, my stomach flexing as her nails scraped over my abs. “And this.” Opening my eyes to meet hers, I tugged her hand even lower and firmly wrapped it around my swollen cock. “And this.”

Desire sparked in her violet eyes, making them glow, and I nearly came right then and there.

“Every part of me is yours,” I said, my voice deeper, rougher than before. “Every inch belongs to you and only you. Touch it. I want you to. I’m begging you to.”

Her lashes fluttered, and her hold on my shaft tightened. Pleasure shot down the length, settling into my balls, and I expelled a harsh breath.

“That’s it,” I said, struggling to speak. “Touch me. I’m yours.”

“What if,” she whispered, her hold suddenly loosening, then falling away completely.

Panic beat at my chest. Had she changed her mind? Was she going to leave?

“Yes?” I managed to get out, barely able to breathe.

“What if . . .” she repeated, then lifted up on tiptoe to breathe in my ear, “What if I want to lick you instead?”

At her words, my legs nearly gave out.

My heart was all but pounding out of my chest now, and breathing was practically impossible. She was wrecking me, and I loved it. Loved the way she submitted to me one minute, only to dominate me the next. I’d always thought her alpha side was sexy, especially in the bedroom. She wanted control, and I gladly gave it to her without resistance.

“Lick me, suck me, blow me. Whatever you want. Take what’s yours, Vi.”

She made a soft humming noise, clearly pleased by my words. Her tongue darted out and flicked the shell of my ear, and it was all I could do to hold still. She was in charge now, not me.

“What a good boy,” she crooned, reaching up to pat my cheek. When I turned my head and kissed her palm, she patted my cheek again. Hard . And lightly growled, “Behave.”

A crooked smile crept over my face, and she paused to peck my lips. My smile immediately turned into a frown. “That’s it?”

“You said whatever I want,” she replied with a shrug. “Behave, and I’ll give you more.”

Obediently holding still—and fighting back a smile—I let her have her way with me. Satisfied that I wasn’t going to interrupt her again, she pressed another kiss to my mouth.

Better. Much better.

I tried to pull her face closer to mine and kiss her back, but she grabbed my wrist and, in a flash, reversed our positions. As my back slammed against the tiles, she tightly gripped my jaw and forced my mouth open, then thrust her tongue inside. The dominant move made me wild with excitement, and I violently shuddered as she thoroughly licked the inside of my mouth.

She’d been rough with me before, especially during her heat, but it felt different this time. It almost felt like she was marking me. Claiming me. And the possibility of that happening filled me with euphoria.

I tried to touch her, but she grabbed both wrists and pressed them against the tiles. This was her moment, and she was making that perfectly clear. Her tongue left my mouth, and I immediately mourned its loss. A second later, though, she pressed an open-mouthed kiss to my jaw, then my neck. I tipped my head back to give her better access, and she instantly took advantage, sucking on my neck hard enough to leave a bruise.

Realizing how close she was to the claim spot between my neck and shoulder, I inhaled sharply between my teeth, my instincts going haywire. Every molecule of my being wanted her to nuzzle that spot, to bite it. Hard . Hard enough to draw blood. The harder she bit, the harder she claimed me as hers.

What I wouldn’t give to have her scent buried beneath my skin, to proudly wear it like a badge of honor.

But after another moment, she moved on from my neck to kiss and lick my collarbone, then my chest. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. Or a lot.

Slowly , I reminded myself, looking down as she flicked her tongue over one of my nipples. She wasn’t ready to claim me, and that was okay. She was ready for this , so I set aside my need to be claimed and focused on what she was doing to me.

“Don’t forget the other one,” I dared to speak as she sucked on my hardened nipple. “It’s lonely.” She bit down on the nipple as payback, and I choked out a groan. “That’s it, baby. The rougher, the better.”

She released the nipple to look up at me. “Griff?”

“Yeah?”

Sticking her tongue out, she slowly licked a path up my chest and throat. As I felt her hands join in, sliding up the length of my stomach to rest on my pecs, I bit back another groan. Standing face to face with me again, she caressed her lips over mine, then whispered, “Shut up.”

I grinned, just as she dropped to her knees and, in one fell swoop, swallowed my dick whole. The swift and unexpected move punched the air from my lungs. Not giving me time to catch my breath, she sucked on me hard, so hard that her cheeks hollowed out.

Her name burst from my lips as pleasure shot to every corner of my body. She looked up and met my eyes as I slowly unraveled, wholly lost to the feeling of her lips and tongue milking my pleasure. She’d done this to me a few times before, but I was usually the one between her thighs.

Seeing her down there with her mouth on my cock sent my body into overdrive, and I was fighting back a release only seconds later.

“Vi,” I groaned, the sound almost a plea. My legs trembled as she continued to milk me, making my balls tighten. I was so turned on that a single touch from her would shove me over the edge. But I didn’t want to orgasm right now. Not yet. Not like this. I had a greater desire, and I silently conveyed that message, hoping she would understand.

Seeing it, she stopped sucking on me, then slowly released my dick with a wet pop. The greedy appendage twitched in disappointment, painfully swollen to the max, but I ignored it and reached down to help Vi to her feet. The second she stood, I switched off the shower and swept her into my arms.

“Griff, what—?” she started, but the words died as I exited the shower and strode with purpose to the nearest bedroom. Seeing where I was headed, she protested, “I’m wet.”

“I bet you are. After frantically sucking my dick like your favorite lollipop, you’re probably soaked.”

A noise that sounded a lot like a giggle escaped her. Vi never giggled. Pleased, my swollen dick twitched again. Reaching the king-sized bed, I laid her on the heather gray comforter.

“Yes, I’m practically dripping ,” she sassily replied, looking up at me through her dark lashes. “Or maybe you’re just full of yourself.”

“Guess I should check, then,” I purred, sitting on the bed beside her. When I reached between her slightly parted thighs and found her wetness, she sucked in a quiet gasp. “Mmm,” I rumbled, watching her face as I slowly dipped a finger inside her entrance. “You’re definitely dripping. And tight. Tighter than I remember.”

“It’s been awhile, doofus,” she said, then gasped again when I added a second finger, sliding them both in as far as they would go.

“Guess I should help you prepare, then,” I replied, satisfied when her body quivered. “My dick has grown since the last time it was inside you.”

“Has not. You’re so full of your—” Her words ended in a breathless cry as I curled my fingers inside her. Her slick walls spasmed and tightened around my fingers, and the sensation made me impossibly hard, my cock aching to be there instead.

“You’ll soon be full of me too,” I gruffly said. I started pumping my fingers in her deliciously warm pussy, and she arched off the bed with a moan. The sight made my balls tighten again, her pleasure becoming mine. If I continued pleasuring her for much longer, I was probably going to make a mess all over the gray comforter.

I’d always been able to get off while watching her come undone by my touch. It was stimulating, thrilling to see how she reacted to me. Every moan, every gasp for breath, every quiver and cry sent me into a euphoric state.

As I started to drown in her pleasure, overwhelmed by how good it felt to be filling her trembling body with utmost bliss, I prepared to orgasm right along with her. It hadn’t been my goal to end the moment like this, but I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

She was breathtaking , taking my fingers like such a good girl, and all I could think about was falling over the edge with her.

But she suddenly gasped out, “I need you, Griff.”

Just like that, she set my world on fire. I was ablaze with desire and excitement, eagerly responding to her words. She was my match, and I was her flame, burning hotter and hotter by the second.

I immediately slid my fingers free to crawl on top of her, my arms and legs slightly shaking as I looked down at her bright eyes. They were filled with desire, desire for me , and the sight took my breath away. I lifted one of my hands and gently stroked her cheek, marveling at the way she leaned into my touch.

So responsive. So ready for me. My heart could barely take it, swelling so big that I thought it would burst from my chest.

“I’ve been intimate with you many times before,” I told her, my voice hushed and almost reverent as I continued to stroke her cheek, “but I want this time to be different. This time, I want to make love to you.” Her breath caught. “With your permission, of course,” I softly added, hoping she could see that love shining through my eyes.

She stared at me for a long moment, and I struggled to hold still, to keep breathing. After what felt like an eternity, she finally nodded and whispered a word. One little word that made me feel like the luckiest man on earth.

“Yes.”