I hurried to her as fast as I could. With my good arm, I picked her up and crushed her against my chest in a wholesome embrace. She hugged me back. She cast her arms around my shoulders and buried her face in my neck, as if she was trying to hide herself from the world.
When I set her down, she looked at me in a way she never had. Her eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head to the side in curiosity.
It was… unsettling. Like she knew something about me now that she hadn’t before. Or she was trying to picture someone else in my place.
“I can’t believe it.” The grin wouldn’t melt off my face. “We made it. We’re going to be king and queen, Em.”
The corners of her mouth tilted upward slightly. “Yeah. I guess we are, aren’t we?”
A bit of my enthusiasm dampened. I thought she’d be more excited. I stroked her hair back and cupped her face in my hand. “What is it you want, Emma? You’re queen now. Whatever you ask for, you’ll have. I want to give you the world.”
“I don’t want anything,” Emma replied honestly. “I just want you.”
That went like an arrow straight to my heart. It melted away my tough wolven exterior and exposed a soft shifter. One who wanted to crawl onto my mate’s lap and beg for her attention.
I pulled myself together and said, “Well… I suppose I should get out of these filthy clothes. We have a celebration to get to.” They’d removed my armor at the medical tent to take care of my wounds.
“Let me help you.” Emma went to the water basin. She dipped in a clean cloth as I stripped away my shirt. She began wiping the dirt off of me.
I shivered as she lightly caressed the cloth over my chest and abdomen. Every nerve of my body fired off when the tips of her fingers pressed against my skin. Her eyes surveyed me hungrily and intensely as she watched the water trickle slowly down my muscles. She was definitely checking me out.
By the gods. This was some kind of torture. My senses were overpowering.
Emma put her hands on the button at the top of my trousers. It was a gesture that both thrilled me and frightened me. I wanted her to take my pants off— badly— but then she’d see my prosthetic, and my missing leg.
I shied away from her hands. It was involuntary, but it still happened. Emma frowned, like my reaction bothered her.
I wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable. Not yet.
She stepped away and put the cloth back in the basin. While her back was turned, I ducked behind the screen. A new set of clothes had been placed there for me. I stripped quickly and tried to slip the clean pants on as fast as possible. As a result, I tripped, and fell against a tent wall. I righted myself and finished buttoning with trembling hands.
“Do you need help?” Her voice sounded hopeful.
“No, I’m fine,” I told her. I could still dress myself.
“Okay.” Disappointment rang throughout her tone. I hated to tell her no, but still… I didn’t want her to see that part of me. Ever.
I knew it would have to happen eventually, though my heart pleaded it never would. She’d probably think I was less of a man. It was better to keep the illusion.
When I stepped out from behind the screen, Emma didn’t hesitate. She flung herself at me. I didn’t know what to do. Her body crashed into mine, and our lips met as one. Shock and surprise came over me at the unexpected kiss. My rigid form was put at ease as her soft mouth melded with my own. She placed her arms around my neck and trailed her fingers through my hair, giving tender kisses that landed delicately against my mouth.
It was like I couldn’t control myself. My hands went to her hips, but they didn’t stay there. As her mouth opened to accept my tongue, my hands started to wander. My fingers grazed against her breasts before wandering downward to squeeze her ass. She gasped, and the noise only increased my desire.
That one little noise spurred my longing and made me crave her body. The wolf inside of me was going nuts. It scratched and pawed at my insides, demanding that I hurry up and take her as my own. I needed Emma at my side. I needed her as my mate.
Emma pushed me backwards, and I fell against the bed. My body extended as Emma climbed on top of me and began kissing me harder as her figure moved over mine. Emma straddled my hips, then took one of my hands and placed it on her right breast.
Gods, it felt more than amazing. It sent a rush through my body. She sank her hips firmly against my dick, which was hard and begging for attention. The pressure sent a shiver through my body that I couldn’t control. Emma pressed down even harder, and I was unable to control letting a moan escape from my mouth. She gasped in response and moved over me faster. I was aware that the bulge in my pants was growing. She rocked back and forth over my hardened cock, and I swear I felt moisture coating her panties through my trousers.
We were basically having sex with clothes on. This was way too much. I don’t think my body could take it. The effect she had on me was overpowering. She could ask me anything right now and I’d give it to her. I was a helpless dog begging for a treat. Emma was my master, and I’d do whatever she told me. I’d play fetch as long as I received the reward.
Emma slipped out of the sleeves of her dress and pushed the shoulders off her body, so that the top of the gown bunched around her middle. Underneath, she was wearing a strapless push-up bra, blue in color. It was the only thing that kept her breasts concealed. The burn marks from the necklace were still visible, but at the moment, all I could focus on was the curves of her body.
Yes!That’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to see her exposed body, perfect and moving above me. My eyes wandered over the curves over her bosom, and her perfect navel. I couldn’t resist touching her. My fingers wandered across her skin. I dared to slip a finger inside one of the cups of her bra and found that her nipple was hard as diamond.
Emma hissed with pleasure. I slipped my hand underneath the bra cup and fondled her breast within my hand. My thumb and my forefinger rubbed her nipple.
I desperately ached to be inside her. I didn’t know what it would feel like, only that it would be the fulfillment of my needs as an Arcanea. Emma threw her head back and moaned again as I continued to play with her breasts delicately, treating them like they were the most precious treasure in the world.
