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Chapter Twenty-Six

AUTUMN

M y skin prickles with anticipation as I drop my backpack and slip out of my clothes and shoes, leaving them in the sand. The water is warm against my bare legs as I wade in after Renall. It’s soothing as the steam relaxes my bones and eases my tension. Hanging above the cave, all the tendrils of ivy and moss seem to crest in a huge bud of some kind.

I’m in up to my waist when Renall finally turns toward me. His green eyes darken as he takes in my bare chest. He stumbles, reaching for my hand to communicate.

“You’re so beautiful.”

I blush. Hiding the heat in my cheeks and other places as I tread water before him. To distract him, I ask, “What is this place?”

“This is Luna Lake … its waters are said to possess healing and health properties, and it’s the best spot in the cave at midnight on a full moon.”

“Why is that?”

“You’ll see.” His smile is secretive and totally sexy. My skin is tingling again, and it has nothing to do with the warmth of the water. Actually, as the night pushes on, my body is … reacting unusually. Anxious and flushed at the same time. Yearning and desperate. Calm yet on edge.

My legs grow tired of treading water, and I lean on Renall. He wraps his arms around me, holding me up. I’m aware of every place our skin is touching because my skin tingles in every spot we touch.

“Do you feel it? The power of the moon?” Renall grumbles low, the vibrations rippling through me. Gods, that feels so good I almost moan.

“That’s what this feeling is?”

“A full moon is intoxicating for wolves. Guardians are very sensitive to it too.”

“Onai said it’s dangerous for the unmated, and that there are some … expectations.”

“There are no expectations, Autumn, there never has been with me.”

He’s right, he has never forced me to do anything. He even said he would let me leave after this. Whatever this is.

He continues, “It’s true, the moon magic wants us to mate; it releases our inhibitions and makes us drunk with its overflowing power.”

“My skin tingles.” Among other things.

“Yes, mine as well. Just like everywhere your body meets mine feels like hot fire welling up to consume me.”

I meet his gaze, his honest words filtering through my mind. His breathing increases and mine uncontrollably matches. My nipples harden against his chest as his eyes watch me.

“I can feel you all the time,” I tell him. “I feel when you’re thinking of me. I feel when you’re angry or sad or nervous.” I breathe, tracing my fingers up his arm. He shudders under my touch. “I feel you looking at me all the time.”

“I know.” His face grows closer as my hands grip his arms. The hairs on his chest brushing against my sensitive, tingly bare skin—it’s torturous.

“It’s getting really hard to resist whatever this is,” I whisper as our noses touch.

“Then … don’t.”

He hovers there, our noses touching, his lips centimeters from mine. Waiting. Always waiting for me, it’s a theme of ours. My skin is aching to be touched, my lips quiver begging for his kiss, as his words ring in my ears over and over.

Don’t.

Don’t resist.

I close the tiny gap between us, lift my chin up, and kiss him. He tightens his grip on me and I wrap my arms around him as I pull his tongue into my mouth. A moan escapes my lips as his hands rove down me. Everywhere he touches my skin burns and tingles at the same time … and still I crave more. I’m assuming my touch does the same. Desperate to see his primal side, I wrap my legs around his waist, fisting his hair we kiss. The aggression inside of me is a surprise, but I don’t care, I need him closer, and closer still.

Suddenly, the lake is basked in light. Renall reluctantly pulls away from our kiss to point above our heads. Leaning back, we watch as the bud at the center of the ceiling above slowly opens. One petal at a time peeling back until the glowing blue flower is in full bloom. Its huge petals reaching to the far corners of each cavern wall.

“The Moon Flower,” Renall whispers.

“It’s so beautiful,” I gasp, leaning back further to take it all in.

“Yes, yes, it is.”

When I meet his gaze, he’s not looking at the flower. His eyes are on me. All of me bare to him under the bluish glow above, “You’re not even looking.”

“On the contrary, I’m unable to look away.” His gaze is all heat, all passion waiting on me to ignite it. My sixth sense no longer tingles, it burns with a desire I’ve never experienced.

I blush, the rest of my skin flushes as well. He smiles a small smile before I ask, “Can I ask, why are you always watching me?”

His smile widens. “I guess I can’t believe you are truly here. I expect one day to wake up and this all to have been a dream.”

“I assure you this is very real,” I murmur, leaning forward closer to him, running my hands down his shoulders to feel my palms tingle.

He shivers, closing his eyes, relishing in my touch. “Mm, Awe-tum,” he groans.

My name on his mouth ignites that smoldering heat into a raging fire. Until I’m unable to suppress it. Possibly because I don’t want to. I want his hands on me, all over, even inside me. A surge of crazy aggression overwhelms me, and my lips are on his. Frantic and hungry, I explore his mouth. He grips me closer, and his hands sear into my skin as they slip down my back and filter up again to cup my bare breast. My nipples have been hard as stone since Renall started touching me, desperate for his touch. I gasp at how sensitive they are when he finally does. His mouth trails down my neck to the aching nipples of mine, and this time my moan echoes in the cave.

He shivers when he hears me moan again, gripping me tighter, as his hand on my breast falls lower. Rough fingers graze over my sensitive skin, then my belly button, lower still he glides on. Oh Goddess, his hands slip lower until they fall between my legs. The craving to have him inside me is blinding, but my doubt and fear are more pressing. Remembering the conflict my bleeding caused the first time, I don’t want to see what it would do to Renall. His fingers slide up, almost touching my tampon string.

I break from the moon spell. Sitting up straighter, I state, “No. Not that, not yet.”

He nods, placing his forehead to mine as his fingers slide up the center of me. I buck against him when that rough finger of his grazes the sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of my legs. He smiles a mischievous grin as his finger starts lazily swirling in circles.

My nails dig into his back, searching for his mouth as I groan. Renall meets my mouth with the same ferocity. There is only us and our bodies touching and petting each other. Our panting echoing in the silent cavern.

Without warning, he grips my ass hard and swims me over to the edge of the lake, propping me up onto the rock, he sinks lower into the water. Renall kisses up my thigh, the roughness of his beard along my sensitive skin is unbearably amazing. The trek alone causes me to whimper and wiggle with anticipation, but when he finally gets to the apex of my legs, his tongue flicks out and I gasp. He continues to swirl around that sensitive part that causes me to fall back onto my elbows as I moan.

The cool rock behind me is nothing compared to the warm tongue that traces its way around me, drawing out moans I didn’t know I could make. Warmth tingles down through our bond, causing me to moan louder still as glorious pressure builds in my gut. He reaches his hands underneath my ass and grips it tight. His nails biting into my skin. Yes. More.

I glance downward, only to meet his eyes. He’s watching me. Watching the pleasure he’s causing me. Feral desire pulses through the bond as that pressure builds higher, higher. My hands fist through his hair as I pull him closer. I’m moaning uncontrollably now, my hips grinding against his mouth, desperate for release. Until a magnificent pressure finally brings me toppling over the edge as I scream his name repeatedly. Waves of pleasure wash over me as Renall continues to lick me, dragging out my pleasure even more. My thighs automatically snap around his head, unable to take even a minute longer of his assault.

Pride trickles down the bond as he slips from between my legs and back down into the water. After I catch my breath, I glance down at the man who has given me my first orgasm and notice the head of his cock protruding from the water. The desire within me returns.

I need to please him. Slipping down into the water, Renall takes my face in his hands and kisses me. With my warm hand around his cock, I slowly pump it up and down. He gasps, then groans under my touch. His kiss turns deeper as he meets my hand thrust for thrust. Harder and tighter, I pump as his groaning increases and pleasure tickles the bond. It only takes a few more pumps before he growls, a euphoric feeling erupts through the bond, tingling my own arousal.

His cock slips out of my grasp as he slides fully under the water to clean himself up. But I’m still reeling from feeling his pleasure down the bond as I stare at the glistening cum on my skin. I crave to taste him too. Bringing my fingers to my mouth, I lick his release off my hand. It’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. I need more. When I look over to Renall, he’s looking at me again, hunger in his eyes.

He points behind me, along the rock, vegetation has sprung up on the two sides where my hands were. Flowers in full bloom.

“Was that me?”

He nods, unable to take his eyes off the flowers, and if my legs weren’t still wrapped around him, I don’t think I’d understand him whispering, “Powerful.”

I place my forehead to his. “Renall, can you feel me orgasm like I felt you?”

“Goddess, yes, it was the best feeling in the world.” His nose nudges mine.

“Oh my.” My hands trail down his big arms and I tip my mouth back, inviting him in again. He kisses me softly. I dig my nails into his arm, and I bite his bottom lip. I want him to ravage me again.

“Let’s go back upstairs.” He wades for the shore. “We have all night for this.”

“Oh really?” I giggle.

“The pack will be returning soon …” He pauses, turning to me, eyes pinning me in place, “And I don’t want any interruptions.”

My desire goes molten at his words as we walk out of the shallows and collect my clothing. I’m dripping wet and we didn’t bring any towels, so I carry my clothes instead of wearing them. Renall is always nude, so I don’t feel so self-conscious around him. But by the time we make it up the stairs and into the cavern, men and Guardians have started to return and filter into their rooms.

“Oh, I’m …” I start to stammer.

“Run,” Renall interrupts and dashes up the stairs.

Choking on a set of giggles, I dash after him, holding my clothes over my lady bits, hoping the faster I run, the less likely they will be able to see anything. I catch up to Renall quickly and we laugh as we stumble into our room stark naked.

Breathlessly catching my breath, I mutter, “Oh my God, I think ten people saw my naked ass.”

“So?” he chuckles, “People have seen my ass dozens of times.”

“I’ve only been here a month or so, and I’ve seen it hundreds of times. The pack here must have seen it an infinite number.”

He smirks over his shoulder. “You sound like you’re complaining.”

“No.” I smack his bare ass with the back of my hand. “It doesn’t hurt when it’s so nice to look at.”

His eyes darken and my nipples pebble as he releases a soft, tempting growl. In two strides he has me pinned against the wall. Then he kisses me. Maybe kiss is the wrong word. He worships me with his mouth. Exploring, tempting, teasing me. Until he slips from my mouth and lazily trails more luxurious kisses down my jaw, my neck, then my chest. He acts like he has all the time in the world as he explores my nipples before fiery kisses tingle down my abdomen. They are nothing compared to the fire already raging between my thighs. By the time he reaches it, he swings my leg over his shoulder as he presses a kiss between my legs. I practically buck off the wall at the contact. A delicious growl vibrates through me, and I have to grip his hair for support. He takes that moment to swing my other leg around his other shoulder, pushing me harder against the wall and taking full control. His tongue explores me as he stands to his feet, sliding me up the wall with him. Gods, I’m completely at his mercy on his shoulders. It’s absolutely sexy, the pressure already building, so close to coming undone.

I’m unable to stop the sounds falling from my lips as that glorious tongue explores me before swirling around my clit. I scream as I come. But Renall doesn’t stop. He teases and swirls as I squirm against him. My heels digging into his back. Screaming louder and louder until seconds later I’m coming again, this time stronger, and my legs tremble behind his head.

He slides me down the length of his body. His nose sliding up the naked length of me as he places me on wobbly legs. He still has me pinned to the wall, which is great because I don’t think I can stand on my own, probably ever again. Renall leans in, placing his forehead to mine. His beard still wet with my release. His eyes closed, content.

Breathless and trembling, I whisper, “I never imagined it would be like this.”

“ We have a strong bond. A soulbond, if I’m correct .”

“I keep hearing that, but what does it actually mean to you?”

“You’re my Guardian, my one true mate.”

“How do you know that I’m your mate and not just another Guardian?”

“The true mate is a stronger bond; it’s said to be your equal in every way.”

“We don’t feel very equal.”

“Maybe not yet ...” Renall places his lips to my forehead and kisses me. “But we will be.”

I nod before lowering my head back onto the crook of his shoulder.

“I thank the Goddess every day I wake up and you’re still here.”

“You risked a lot to do that, why?”

“I could feel you and I couldn’t stop myself. Your pain, your heart called to me, needed me. How could I not have answered?”

I shiver remembering how broken I was after Colton. In some ways, I’m still broken. I don’t know where I would be if he hadn’t. “I’m glad you did.”

“So am I.”

We were inevitable. This bond, this link between us isn’t just going to disappear. If anything, it’s going to grow. There is no point in trying to outrun it. He’s a part of me now—whether I like it or not.

His nose is nuzzled against my ear when he starts nibbling it. I moan again, it would have been embarrassingly loud if it wasn’t for the chorus of moaning now resounding around all edges of the cave. He hardens against me. Oh Gods, again? I will never look at a full moon the same ever. I slip my hands down his body and grip his ass closer to me. If I wasn’t afraid of what would happen if I took my tampon out, I’d want him inside me. The need for him on a full moon will never be sated.

Once again, pure primal instinct takes over. I flip him and pin him to the wall, deepening our kiss. His eyes widen in surprise as he groans into my mouth. I’m left breathless and drunk off his kiss as I pull away. He watches me for a moment before leaning forward to take my lips again. With a naughty smile, I place a finger on his lips and playfully push him back.

Then I drop to my knees and pull the hard length of him into my mouth as he growls, “Oh Gods …”