It was utter bullshit, of course. I have never been able to bury those memories deep enough. It was both comforting and painful to know Stone saw all that and more. He was right about me being exhausted, too. Telling Stone everything, followed by the knowledge that he still wanted me, how he’d taken me ina way I’d loved, and with a level of dominance and intensity that had blown apart everything I’d known about sex, was overwhelming. Add to that the fact he was determined to pursue me and become my mate, that he’d promised to never leave me, and I was emotionally wrung out.
After he’d given me that epic orgasm, he’d given me instructions to relax in the perfumed water and to get out before it was cold. I’d been disappointed that he’d taken his impressive cock with him without letting me reciprocate, but he was right, we had time, and Iwastired.
The water turned decidedly cool, and goosebumps peppered my skin. I sighed. Even though I was relaxed enough to sleep, drowning wasn’t on my list of things to do. Part of me wanted to push and see what he’d do if I defied him and stayed in the cold water, but I really didn’t fancy it. What I did want was the look of approval I’d seen in his eyes when I’d followed his instruction to eat more, to get undressed and get into the divinely hot, sweet-smelling water. And the way he purred, ‘good girl’? Shit, I was definitely a slut for that.
I rolled my eyes but smiled. My shoulders were lighter than they’d been for years as I got out, dried myself on the soft towel he’d left out, and pulled on the silk nightie he’d draped over the back of a chair. The silky, silver garment caressed my skin as it fell about my thighs. I ran my fingertips over its coolness.
“Silver…” I whispered, thinking of the way his molten mercury eyes had swirled with purple as he’d fucked me more thoroughly than anyone ever had. It was hard to comprehend the depth of feelings he’d pulled from me in such a short time. I perched on the chair, biting my lip. Except it wasn’t a short time, not at all. My feelings for Stone had been growing for years. I just couldn’t drown them out with booze and meaningless sex anymore. The warmth in my chest intensified as his deep voice rumbled through the still air in the cottage, and happinessswirled in my gut. It was strange to feel it when I’d spent so long being deeply unhappy, only ever happy on the outside—even with Ava and my pack.
Not wanting to eavesdrop and incur his wrath, I padded into the cosy bedroom and climbed under the covers, groaning as warmth hit me. He must have used his magic to warm the bed.
For a while, I listened to the cadence of his voice. Just knowing he was close settled me, and I trusted he’d tell me if there was something to know about Ava. Letting the warmth roll through my muscles, my limbs relaxed. Wanting to be a little closer to him, I rolled onto my side and snuggled my face into his soft pillow, wishing he was here instead. Within moments, I was pulled into a deep, restful sleep, one where, in my dreams, strong arms pulled me close, and Stone’s deep voice whispered in my ear how proud he was of me for doing as he asked, for looking after myself and resting, where he told me he loved me and would never leave me.
The next day, I woke up alone. Disappointment dragged at my belly until I turned over and found Stone’s scent was strong on the pillow next to mine. I smiled and inhaled deeply. Whether the words I’d heard in my dreams were just that, a dream, he’d been here, watching over me as I slept.
I sighed. It would have been nice to wake up in his arms…. Wait. What? I didn’t cuddle...or did I? I flopped onto my back. It was disconcerting to learn so many new things about myself. Maybe I did cuddle. Just because I hadn’t found anyone I’d even wanted to share a bed with for a few hours didn’t mean I didn’t want to hold or be held by Stone. I stared at the ceiling. He was my mate. He’d never hurt me or abuse me; he’d never leave meor force me to do anything I didn’t want to. I jumped out of bed, suddenly desperate to see him, to feel his arms around me like they had been in my dream.
I grabbed one of his huge shirts to cover my nightie and padded out of the bedroom. He wasn’t in the kitchen. My heart rate spiked. No, he wouldn’t have left. He promised…. I shook my head, trying to calm my illogical thoughts.
“Morning, dearie…Oh.” Finchley’s eyes shone with sympathy and understanding when she saw my anxious expression. “He’s outside at the back, chopping wood for the fire.”
“Thank you,” I said, hurtling to the door.
“Think nothing of it. Food will be on the table when you're ready. And I’ll be going out.” She raised her voice as I stepped outside. “In case you need privacy,” she tagged on with a small laugh.
Privacy? I didn’t care about privacy. I just needed to wrap myself around Stone and inhale his scent.
The sound of a blade hitting wood before it cracked open guided me to him. He looked up as I rounded the corner, and I had to suck in a breath at the sight of him. Gods, he was beautiful. He wore jeans and heavy combat boots but no shirt. His silver hair was loose, and his muscles glistened with a light sheen of sweat. Tattoos gleamed on his chest and neck. I’d seen them before but never illuminated with his magic like they were now. Their purple glow only made him even more gorgeous. His silver brows drew down as he searched my face.
I didn't care if I looked desperate; I ran at him. He just had time to put the axe down before I launched myself and wrapped my arms around his neck and legs around his waist, kissing him like my life depended on it. Because it did. Only when I was surrounded by a cage of muscle and a scent uniquely his did the panic that he had left me start to subside. I didn’t let either of us come up for air, and for a while, he seemed happy to let me kisshim like he was all I needed to survive before he wrapped a hand in my hair and gently forced my head back.
His chest heaved as he searched my gaze. “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s this about?” His firm hold let me know he had no intention of letting me down, which eased the vice around my chest even more. Biting my lip, I decided honesty was the best policy—well, mostly; part of my brain still hankered for self-preservation. If he knew how much I needed him, he could exploit it…. Still, there was no need to push him away or pretend I hated him. Not anymore.
“I missed you,” I answered, unable to look away from his piercing gaze.
“I see. Then, you didn’t think I’d lied and left you alone here? Or changed my mind about us?”
My cheeks flamed, and I tried to look away.
“The truth, Butterfly,” he said, already striding back to the cottage.
Defend. Defend. “Fuck you. Let me down.”
“No. You’re about to get a lesson in believing in me. In us.”
My pussy contracted, my heart rate kicking up. “What kind of lesson?” My fingers curled into his shoulders, his hard muscles shifting as he walked. He stopped and stared into my eyes. I still couldn’t move, held by a steel grip that was as calming as it was hot. My anxiety and confusion over my contradictory thoughts were changing into something far more pleasurable as I flashed back to yesterday’s lesson.
“When I give you my word, it’s important you understand that I mean it. I will never lie to you. So I’m going to show you how very here I am with you so that the next time you panic, you’ll know, even if I’m not right beside you, I’ll always come back.”
He continued into the cottage, only grunting as Finchley grinned and said a hasty goodbye. We were in the bedroomwhen he let my feet hit the floor. Keeping a hand wrapped firmly in my hair, he pulled back enough that I had to look at his face as he took one of my hands and slid it down to the erection that was pressing against his zipper.
“Feel this?”
“Yes.” My hoarse voice shook with the strength of need slamming through me. Even my wolf raised her head and unfurled her body, more than interested in my reaction to him.
“Good. You must understand that I need you as much as you need me. Now, use my body to convince yourself that I mean those words. This isn’t a game. Not to me.”
His hand left my hair, and I felt suddenly bereft, even unsure. Which was an alien thing for me. I’d fucked plenty of men, but I’d never once worried about how my technique made them feel, whether sex was good for them. I used them and left. Now, I was presented with this Adonis, my gorgeous Alpha shifter-Fae soul mate, who I wanted to please more than anything, and I had no idea where to start.
