Page 18 of Caught By the Wolf

“I know.”

“And I still don’t want you to leave again tonight.”

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for hours. “Then I won’t.”

He led her down the hall to his room. No rush. No hands under clothes. They stopped by the side of the bed. “Can I hold you tonight?”

“You mean you want to be big spoon?”

He chuckled and it startled Ella. It was the first time she’d ever heard him make a sound remotely resemble a laugh. Not that there’s been much to laugh tonight.

“I think I’m up for that job. The question is, can I hold you without anything between us?”

“You mean clothes? Because I think there will definitely be something between us.” She looked down at the front of his sweatpants where the thick ridge of his dick was clearly visible.

He pulled back the covers. “You first.”

Slowly she pulled her shirt over her head. She stood there, for just a second, wearing nothing but her panties, blushing, her big breasts there for him to see. She climbed into bed. She lay with her back to him, listening as he removed his clothes and climbed in beside her. He pulled her back into his chest, his arm heavy across her stomach.

She could feel her body slickening, as if anticipating something else happening. Ella Scott was naked in bed with a man who had a massive erection pressed against her ass and every insecure voice in her head was being drowned out by how much she wanted him to roll her under him and finish what he’d started in the kitchen.

She felt his mouth against the skin at the juncture of her neck. “When you’re ready, I’ll bite you here.”

His hand slid down her body, cupping her mound. “And here is where I’ll take you. Knot you.”

Ella closed her eyes and let the heat of him soak into her bones.

Tomorrow the world would still be dangerous. The poachers would still be out there. The bond would still be waiting.

Tonight she was exactly where she wanted to be. Held by a man who, while he hadn’t vowed his undying love, had accepted her as his mate. For the first time in years, perhaps her entire life, she didn’t feel alone.

Roman’s lips brushed her hair.

“Sleep, little mate,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Roman

Roman woke to a knee in his balls and the absolute certainty that God had a sense of humor.

Ella was sprawled across him like she’d been doing it for years instead of just one night. One arm flung over his chest, her hair a dark disaster against his shoulder, one leg hooked over his thigh and creeping higher with every breath she took. He lay very still.

It was not a good strategy. His cock had other ideas, lying hard and hot against her thigh. He needed to extract himself without waking her. He’d just begun to make his move when her knee moved another inch higher.

Direct hit.

“Mmf.” Even the wolf felt pain in a situation like this. He grabbed her thigh to keep her from moving again and Ella’s eyes popped open. She looked up at him, then down the length of the bed, taking in her leg flung across his hips. His hand.

Her mouth twitched. “Did I just knee you in the—”

“Yes.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“You’re not sorry. You’re smiling.”

“I’m smiling because you made a noise like a deflating balloon.” She shifted, and whatever mercy she’d been about to show him evaporated when her thigh slid up instead of retreating, dragging against him. His hand tightened around her thigh.