I roll my hips. “We should.”
His hands slide up my waist to thumb the underside of my breasts. I lean into his feverish touch.
“Then get dressed,” he commands, brushing my nipples. I rub myself against him, torturing us both. Breathy sighs escape my mouth, and he watches me in awe, his eyes now black.
The heat in my belly coils tighter. “Stop,” I pant, quickening my movements. “Please. We need to go . . .”
My head falls back as euphoria builds within me, wave after punishing wave. Even with the sheet, I feel him. He’s so hard and impossiblybig. Desperate, my nails scrape his skin.
"Heavens, you’re magnificent," Vane growls.
With each grind, the throbbing intensifies, a coil of pleasure. My clit pulses, sharp and agonizing, and tears flood my eyes. I’m so close.
Vane covers my breast with his mouth. His tongue swirls around my hardened peaks, sending electric shocks straight to my core.
I gasp his name. “Vane . . .”
And then I’m coming. My body convulses as waves of pure bliss crash over me, washing away all coherent thoughts. Vane crushes me to him until the room stops spinning.
“Okay, it’s really time to go,” I mutter between gulps of air.
Vane’s laughter vibrates beneath me. Reluctantly, I pull away from his embrace, my legs wobble as I gather my clothes.
Vane steals one of my brother’s shirts without looking away from me. His clothes are still wet from the freezing rain. “I will spend eternity watching you,” he says while I yank on my jeans.
“Creeper.” I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling.
Once dressed, we head toward the hospital. Several Blade vehicles line the streets, and a chilling silence lingers in the air as if the entire country is holding its breath. Whatever is happening in Aurora, the aftershocks are being felt here.
I grab Vane’s hand. “Let’s hurry.”
“Thank you,”Wilder murmurs.
I turn to him, my breath catching as our eyes lock. The intensity of his gaze makes my pulse race. His presence is comforting and intoxicating, like a cool breeze on a sweltering day, offering a momentary respite from the uncertainty surrounding us.
“For what?” I swipe my tongue across my suddenly dry lips.
The desire to kiss him is overwhelming, like a magnetic pull threatening to consume me. But there’s so much we need to discuss, so many secrets I’ve buried deep within me these past weeks, which have festered like open wounds. My anger over Stellan’s articles barely scratches the surface. It is a mere fraction of the truth that yearns to be revealed.
“For working with Bennett. I know it was a tough decision for you, but despite his hangups, we need him,” Wilder says. “Who knows what will happen at dawn?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat, the weight of my guilt pressing on me. If I can’t convince Alden to switch sides by giving him the cure for Tanith, Zeus will ask me to surrender. When I refuse, we will fight, and there’s a high likelihood I will lose several people I love. After that, the Wolf Prince will take me prisoner. Before that happens, I owe it to Wilder to tell him howI feel. I take a deep breath and say, “It’s the least I could do after I ambushed you with Marlowe.”
Wilder’s face tightens. I reach for his hand in a silent plea for forgiveness. I exhale when he doesn’t pull away.
“Are you ready to talk to me?” Wilder asks.
I try to muster a smile, but it is a brittle, fragile thing. “I have so much to?—”
The shrill ring of my phone cuts me off. I silence the number I don’t recognize, but they call again.
Wilder sighs. “Answer it. It could be the Council. Maybe Janus has changed her mind.”
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hello, sweetness,” Vane’s voice crackles through the speaker.
“Vane, I’m in the middle of something. Can I call you back?” I ask as Wilder’s brow wrinkles. I shrug, having no clue why Vane wants to talk unless it’s to discuss Janus and the Council. Did Janus tell them about the wolves?
