“Hey,” Caelan cooed, grabbing my hand encouragingly. “Don’t stress yourself out. You can do this. The luna stuff will come with time. I promise.”
“But your father…the pack,” I huffed, instantly feeling my tension melt away beneath his touch. “I don’t want to let them down.”
“They can wait,” he countered with a shrug. “None of us are going to push you, baby. Plus, I think my mother really enjoys the excuse to spend time with you. She always did say she wanted a daughter.”
I chuckled, smiling at him. “It’s just so much to remember.”
“Well, don’t forget you have Taffy. She’s your beta. She can help with any tasks you can’t handle. And once Oliver meets his mate, he’ll become your gamma, so you’ll have another set of hands,”he replied. “And I’m here too. You’re not alone in this, Shade. We’re all with you.”
I gazed into his eyes, emotion overwhelming me as I realized the truth in his words. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had friends, a new family, and Caelan. He would always be there to catch me.
“I love you,” I murmured, squeezing his hand tight.
He stared at me in surprise for a second before suddenly pulling me into his lap. My legs straddled his waist as his lips crashed into mine in a searing kiss. I clutched his shoulders, trying to bring him impossibly closer as I opened for him and our tongues danced against one another.
“I love you too, Shade. More than you’ll ever know,” he breathed when we finally broke apart.
I ran my fingers through his hair lovingly. “I’m sorry it took me so long to say it.”
“Baby, you have nothing to apologize for,” he assured. “You could’ve taken years, and I’d have happily waited.”
“And that’s why I love you,” I whispered.
He leaned in, his lips hovering over mine as a bright smile appeared on his face.
“Say it again,” he murmured.
I giggled. “Caelan, I love you.”
He kissed me swiftly, his chest rumbling in delight. “It’s even better when you add my name.”
He rubbed the tip of his nose gently against mine before releasing his hold on me, but I stayed, not ready to separate just yet.
“Shade,” he groaned. “You need to get off my lap before I lose control, baby.”
My eyes danced as I thought about the memories we’d made here just a few nights ago.The touches. The moans. Our hearts beating in sync as we kissed.I wriggled in his lap, a thrill going through me as his eyelids fluttered.
“Shade,” he mumbled. “I’m trying so hard to be good here.”
“But what if I don’t want to be good?” I teased, trailing my hand down his chest toward his belt.
“Baby,” he warned with a playful growl. “I thought we agreed to wait.”
“We did, and we are,” I remarked as I undid the buckle and unzipped his jeans. “That doesn’t mean we can’t do other things.”
“Other things?” he asked with a grin. “Like what?” I slipped my hand between us, sliding it beneath the waistband of his briefs to cup him. He moaned, instantly hardening under my touch.
Seeing the pleasure on his face made me feel empowered, like some sultry vixen. I smiled, standing to pull his pants off before dropping to my knees in front of him.
He hissed, his breath slipping out between clenched teeth as I wrapped my fingers around his shaft. It was smooth and velvety in my grasp as I slowly started to stroke him.
His head fell back as he arched his hips toward me. “That feels incredible, baby.”
I leaned closer, relishing in the look of surprise that crossed his face as my tongue darted out, tentatively licking the tip. His fingers curled into the comforter, a strained groan slipping past his lips as I took him into my mouth.
“Oh Goddess, Shade,” he moaned, his hands darting into my hair.
He guided me along his shaft, my head bobbing as I tried to take him deeper with every stroke. I ran my tongue along the underside of it, an excited thrill running through me as his body trembled beneath my hands.
