Page 20 of Rebel for Claws (Rebellious Mates #4)

FOURTEEN

ALARIC

V ivian didn't respond to Alaric's honest confession with words.

Instead, her hands cupped his face, soft but firm, and she kissed him again.

This kiss was different—slower and deeper, as though she was pouring every unspoken emotion into it.

Heat surged through his veins, a wildfire that threatened to consume him.

His hands tightened in her hair, his breath hitching as their tongues tangled.

Alaric guided her to the stone cave wall, pressing her back against it with a possessive growl.

His lips left hers to trail down her neck, savoring the sweet skin there.

He imagined the day he would mark her, claim her as his mate in the most primal way.

His teeth grazed the sensitive spot below her ear, and she gasped.

Her hands moved to the torn remains of his white formal shirt, already hanging open.

She pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms, letting it fall to the cave floor.

He stood before her, bare chested, his muscled frame illuminated by the flickering firelight.

Her violet eyes roamed over him, and he felt a surge of pride at the way she drank him in.

"Like what you see?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

"You know I do," she replied, her voice breathless but laced with a challenge.

He smirked, his hands moving to her tactical gear and clothes.

Slowly, he removed each piece—her black tactical jacket, the leather harness that held her swords, the hip holster with her throwing knives, her black thermal shirt, her black tactical pants, even her combat boots and socks.

Each item hit the stone floor with a soft thud, until she stood before him in nothing but her white lace bra and panties.

Alaric's breath caught. She was so breathtaking—every curve, every scar, every inch of her was a work of art. His eyes darkened with hunger, and the possessive Alpha within him roared to life.

"Mine," he growled, the single word heavy with meaning.

Her lips curved into a sly smile. "Yours," she agreed, her voice soft but sure.

His hands trembled slightly as he traced the line of her collarbone, his lips following the path his fingers made.

His mouth trailed lower until he found her breasts, teasing her hardened nipples through the lace of her bra until she let out a sharp gasp.

Her hands reached behind her back, unclasping the bra with practiced ease.

It fell to the cave floor, leaving her exposed to his hungry gaze.

Alaric didn't hesitate. His mouth found her nipple again, licking and sucking until she was arching into him, her hands clutching his hair. He moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention, savoring the way she trembled under his touch.

"Alaric," she moaned, her voice a plea.

"Tell me what you need," he demanded, his voice rough with desire.

"More," she whispered, her fingers tightening in his short black hair.

He obeyed, his lips trailing down her toned abdomen until he reached the waistband of her lace panties. He teased her sensitive folds through the fabric with his fingers, feeling the evidence of her arousal. When he finally pulled her panties down her legs, she stepped out of them.

Kneeling before her, Alaric took a moment to drink in the sight of her—the way her body quivered with anticipation, and the way her scent filled the air, sweet and intoxicating. He pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh, his breath hot against her skin.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice reverent.

Her hands tangled in his hair again, urging him closer. He didn't resist. His tongue found her wet folds, licking and sucking until she was gasping, and her knees were shaking. He added two fingers, curling them inside her, and she cried out, the sound echoing off the cave walls.

"Alaric, please," she begged, her voice breaking.

He doubled his efforts, his mouth and fingers working in tandem until he felt her body tense and her climax wash over her in waves. Her cry of release was music to his ears, and he didn't stop until she was trembling uncontrollably, her legs barely able to hold her up.

"That's it," he said, rising to his feet and pulling her into his arms. "Feel that pleasure, Vivian."

She clung to him, her breathing ragged, her body still shuddering with the aftershocks of her orgasm. Alaric held her close, his own arousal pressing insistently against the fabric of his dress pants. He wanted her—needed her—more than he'd ever needed anything in his life.

But he forced himself to pause, to give her a moment to recover. His hands stroked her back, his lips pressing gentle kisses to her hair.

"You're everything to me," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

She looked up at him, her violet eyes shining with something that made his chest ache. "And you're mine," she said, her voice soft but fierce.

Alaric's heart swelled at her words and at the way she looked at him—not with fear or doubt anymore, but with trust and desire. He kissed her again, slow and deep, pouring all the words he couldn't say into it.

The mate bond sang beautifully between them, stronger than ever before, and Alaric knew there was no going back. Vivian was his—and he was hers.

Only then, with the fire crackling behind them and the world far away, did he realize that today was the day he was finally going to claim her, not officially, but in all the ways that mattered.

Alaric stepped back from Vivian, their bodies parting reluctantly as the firelight flickered against the stone walls of the cave.

His hands moved to the waistband of his dress pants, his fingers deftly undoing the button and zipper.

He let the fabric fall to the ground, followed by his black boxers, dress shoes, and socks, until he stood before her completely bare.

His body was a testament to decades of discipline—broad shoulders, carved muscles, and the unmistakable hardness of his arousal, thick and throbbing, the physical manifestation of his desire for her.

Vivian's gaze dropped, her violet eyes widening as they took in the sight of him. A low growl rumbled in his chest, primal satisfaction surging through him at the unmistakable hunger in her expression. Her lips parted, and he could see the pulse quicken in her throat.

"Pleased with what you see?" he asked, his voice a low, teasing rumble.

She didn't look away. "Very pleased," she replied, her voice steady but laced with heat.

His lips curved into a smirk, his Alpha male pride swelling.

He closed the distance between them in one stride, his hands gripping her hips as he lifted her effortlessly off the ground.

Her legs wrapped around his waist, her body pressing flush against his as he pinned her back against the cool stone wall.

"Are you ready for me?" he asked, his voice rough with need, his grey eyes darkening to gold.

She leaned in, her breath warm against his ear. "I've been ready for you for days," she admitted, her tone both sheepish and daring. "I've been fantasizing about this."

His jaw tightened, a surge of possessive satisfaction coursing through him. "Then let's not wait any longer," he growled softly.

He positioned himself at her entrance, the tip of his cock brushing against her slick heat.

Slowly and agonizingly, he pushed into her, inch by inch, savoring the way her body stretched to accommodate him.

She was so tight and so warm, that he had to clench his jaw to keep from losing control right then and there.

"Alaric," she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders as he filled her completely.

He paused, giving her a moment to adjust, his forehead resting against hers. Her breath came in short, ragged bursts, her body trembling against his.

"You feel incredible," he murmured, his voice thick with reverence.

Her eyes met his, violet and gold, and she nodded, urging him on.

He began to move, slow and deliberate at first, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through both of them. Her breath hitched, soft moans escaping her lips as she clung to him.

"More," she begged, her voice a desperate whisper.

He complied without hesitation, his pace quickening, his thrusts growing harder and deeper. The sound of their bodies joining echoed through the cave, mingling with their ragged breaths and the crackle of the fire.

She met his intensity with her own, her hips rolling against his with a primal rhythm that drove him wild. Her nails raked down his back, and he growled, the sound feral and possessive.

Between gasps, she whispered his name, each syllable a plea and a promise. He buried his face in her neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin as he claimed her in every way he could. For now.

Their connection was electric, the mate bond humming between them, amplifying every sensation. No words were needed; their bodies spoke a language all their own—primal, raw, and utterly consuming.

Her breathing quickened, her body tightening around him as she approached the edge. "Alaric," she cried, her voice breaking as her orgasm ripped through her.

Her climax was his undoing. With a growl, he thrust into her one final time, his own release crashing over him in a tidal wave of ecstasy. He spilled himself deep inside her, claiming her in the most intimate way possible, their bodies trembling together in the aftermath.

For several long moments, they stayed like that, their foreheads pressing together and their breaths mingling as they came down from the high. Slowly, he lowered her to the ground, his arms still wrapped around her as they sank to the floor by the fire.

She looked at him, her violet eyes glowing with contentment and something deeper—trust, affection, and a connection that went beyond the physical.

"You're amazing," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with awe.

He brushed a strand of her pale hair from her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. "And you're my everything," he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

They dressed in silence, the firelight casting warm shadows across the cave. When they were both clothed again, he guided her to sit by the fire, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him.

"Rest," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll keep watch."

She nodded, her eyes drifting closed as exhaustion finally claimed her. Alaric watched her for a long moment, his heart swelling with a protectiveness he hadn't felt in years.

As the fire crackled and the night deepened, his thoughts turned to the future—to the battles ahead, to the man he wanted to become, not just for his pack, but for her.

For the first time in decades, he felt hope. And he knew, without a doubt, that he would do anything to protect the woman who had reignited that spark within him.

The mate bond hummed softly between them, a quiet promise of what was to come. And for now, that was enough.