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CHAPTER TWELVE

JAKE

Once I scent Elena’s arousal, I can’t get her upstairs fast enough. I manage to yank on my pants and my unbuttoned shirt — just enough clothing that we won’t attract too much attention from the humans staying at the hotel.

I loop an arm around her waist and half lead, half carry her through the ballroom.

I see one of Carmen’s bridesmaids out of the corner of my eye.

She’s making a beeline for Elena — probably to rope her into yet another group photo — but I just keep moving toward the double doors on the other side of the ballroom.

The second we’re alone in the elevator, the leash on my control snaps. My wolf rises to the surface, growling with the urge to mark her as I pin her to the mirrored wall and crush my mouth over hers.

Elena tastes like mint and chocolate, and I curse the elevator for being so damn slow. I’ve waited six years to devour her. My wolf won’t wait much longer.

My hand skims up the inside of her thigh, and I groan as my fingers brush the wet lace of her panties. She’s completely soaked.

“Oh, baby ,” I growl, stroking her through the fabric. “You are so — fucking — wet .”

Elena trembles at my touch, and a little uhn sound escapes her throat. My cock aches with need.

“You see what you do to me?” I growl, grabbing her hand and leading it down to my throbbing member.

Elena sucks in a breath as she palms my length, which only grows harder at her touch.

My fingers continue to trace her sensitive folds through the fabric of her panties, and I shudder as more wetness seeps through the lace.

I bring my hand out from under her dress and dip my finger into my mouth.

Fuck , she tastes so sweet. I need more.

Elena’s mouth falls open in shock as I slowly lick her nectar off my finger. Then I reach under that skimpy purple dress again and shove her panties to the side. She quivers as my finger finds her opening. Then I slip one finger inside her.

Elena yelps in surprise, gripping my shirt as her warm channel clenches around me. I pull back to admire the innocent shock on her face before devouring that mouth.

She rises on tiptoe to kiss me back, and my tongue strokes her as I move my finger in and out, stretching her sweet little cunt. She starts to move against me — on me — moaning softly against my mouth.

She’s wet and needy and so fucking tight . Just imagining being inside her makes my balls ache with want, but she’s so small down there that I’m worried I might hurt her .

Carefully, I slip another finger inside her, and Elena makes a strangled noise of pain. I freeze, giving her a moment to adjust before sliding my fingers out and ramming them back in.

Elena squeals, but it’s a cry of pleasure this time. I moan as she seats herself on my hand, her juices slicking my palm. The sharp ding of the elevator pulls me out of the moment, and when the doors slide open, I hear a soft gasp.

I whip my head around in time to see an older couple gaping at us from the hallway. Luckily, my body is so big that only Elena’s legs are visible, but I’m sure it’s obvious what we’re doing.

There’s a long beat of silence as the couple just stares. In the mirror on the wall opposite us, I see Elena’s horrified expression. The couple lets the doors slide shut, and the elevator starts to move again.

I chuckle at the look on Elena’s face, my fingers still inside her. I kiss her senseless until we reach our floor, unwilling to leave her sweet pussy empty for the rest of our short journey.

When the elevator finally reaches our floor, I withdraw my fingers slowly and tug down the hem of her dress. I about yank her arm off as I drag her down the hallway, my fingers fumbling in my pocket for the key card.

I hold the card to the reader, but the light turns red. Red. Red. Red again.

Finally, the little light turns green, and I throw my weight against the handle and shove the door wide open. It bangs loudly against the wall, and I tug Elena inside before slamming it shut and throwing her up against it.

I crush my mouth against hers as I hike up her dress, yanking her panties down so fast that I hear the rip of fabric. Her inner thighs are slick with her juices, and I thrust my fingers inside her again, groaning when her walls clench around me.

Elena moans and rides my hand, grinding her clit against my palm as she chases more friction. I love the feel of holding her this way, my hand cupped around her mound. Her delicious coconut scent mixes with the tang of feminine arousal. She is so fucking wet for me, I can hardly stand it.

My wolf is begging me to mark her. Claim her. Make her mine. But I’ve waited so long for my sweet Elena. I need to do this right.

It takes great effort to slide my fingers out of her wet, hot core and tear my lips from hers. “Take off your dress,” I growl. “And take down your hair. I want to look at you.”

Elena stiffens. It’s an order, not a request, and for a moment, I wonder if I should have softened my demand. But right now, my mind is more wolf than man, and trying to temper my instincts is completely beyond me.

Sliding away from me, Elena steps out of her ruined underwear and reaches up to pull a pin from her hair. One luscious dark curl tumbles down. Then another. Then another.

When she works around to the side of her updo, I catch a glimpse of the long white scar just above her right ear. She unconsciously fluffs her hair to bring some curls forward to cover it, but I close the distance between us and capture her wrist.

“Don’t,” I whisper, bringing her hand down to her waist and sweeping her hair over one shoulder. “You should never hide your scar. ”

I gently tuck a curl behind her ear to expose that graceful white line.

“It’s ugly,” she protests.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s beautiful — just like the rest of you.” I trace the line marking where the surgeon saved her life before planting a soft kiss there.

When I pull back, Elena’s eyes are bright, and my heart stutters. “Now take off that dress.”

Elena shivers at the order, reaching up to drag the thin straps down her arms. I watch intently as she shimmies it down her waist and over her hips until it pools on the floor.

I suck in a breath at seeing my mate completely bare.

I can’t even absorb her beauty. Her chest rises and falls more rapidly than is natural, drawing my gaze to her perfect breasts.

They’re just the right size to fit in my hands, soft and supple, with rosy nipples that pebble up under my inspection.

Faint tan lines criss-cross her chest, showing what she’s hidden from the world — hidden from everyone but me.

As my eyes drop lower, my cock twitches in my pants. Tucked between those soft, soft thighs is her perfect pussy, the thin line of dark hair glistening with need.

I can hear Elena’s heart pounding from here, but she doesn’t shrink under my gaze. In fact, judging by the way her scent intensifies, she likes being naked for me.

“On the bed,” I say, my voice low and ragged.

Something like worry flickers through her eyes, but she turns away so quickly, I don’t have time to scrutinize it.

I’ve imagined this moment for years, but now that I have Elena alone and naked, I can’t decide how I want her first .

On all fours?

On her back?

Against the wall?

Straddling my lap?

But as Elena puts her knee on the bed and crawls into position, the sight of her perfect, supple ass in the air makes the decision for me.

“Oh, sweetheart. You shouldn’t have done that.”

My shirt is still open in the front, and I just shrug out of it.

“Done what?” she squeaks, her voice oddly panicked.

“Given me the perfect angle to punish you for going out to the club in that skimpy gold dress.”

She turns her head to look over her shoulder, and a nervous pink flush colors her cheeks. I can’t tell if that wild look in her eye is nerves or excitement. Maybe a little of both.

Her back is ramrod straight as she kneels on all fours, waiting for her punishment like the good girl she is. The clink of my belt buckle is the only sound, apart from her shallow breaths.

I yank the belt out of my belt loops and test the leather in my hands. It’s stiff enough to make her ass sting but soft enough not to leave a mark.

I unzip my pants and yank them down, along with my underwear. My cock springs free, hard and ready to sink into Elena’s sweetness.

Prowling toward her, I put one knee on the bed and stroke the soft swell of her ass. My hand drifts lower, fingers brushing the backs of her legs before diving between her thighs. My middle finger grazes her dripping-wet core, and Elena shivers violently .

“Mmm,” I groan, sliding one finger into her pussy. “You’re so tight, baby.”

Elena clenches around me — hard — and I reach up to find that little bundle of nerves. Elena’s butt cheeks clench in response, and I draw a soft moan from her lips as I start to work it in slow, hard circles.

She rolls her hips into me, begging for more, but I have no intention of letting her come just yet. Looping the belt over on itself, I bring it down on her right ass cheek.

Elena screams and bucks against my hand. My sweet girl liked that.

I bring the leather down again, and her back arches with her squeal. I resume my slow circles against her clit, alternating between pleasure and pain.

When I stop to fist my own shaft, Elena makes a little growl of frustration. My dick is so hard it could punch through a wall, and I can’t take it anymore.

I slide my cock between her legs, where my head nudges at her slick, wet entrance. Elena’s whole body stiffens, and I pause.

Something isn’t right.

“Lena?” I ask.

The room fills with the sound of her ragged breathing, and my chest clenches with horror. I pull back and turn her toward me. Elena’s eyes are bright and alert, but her jaw is stiff.

“You having a panic attack?”

“N-no. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” I growl, furious with myself for pulling out my belt when I should have just stuck to the basics.