Page 24 of Caught By the Wolf

She rose on her toes and brushed her lips against his. “You still haven’t bitten me. And after watching what you did to protect me, I think I’m done waiting.”

The gold flared bright and possessive in his eyes. “Then we finish this. Tonight.”

Ella smiled against his mouth, and for the first time in a very long time, she felt exactly where she was supposed to be.

Home.

CHAPTER TEN

Roman

The sheriff came and picked up the men and took them to jail, or the hospital. He didn’t question how they received their injuries. Once everyone had left, Roman locked the door, turned, and found Ella watching him with that same steady green gaze that had undone him from the first second.

“Shower,” he said. “Both of us. Then we talk.”

She arched a brow. “Bossy.”

“Yes.”

They washed the day off in silence. He kept his hands mostly to himself. She, on the other hand, seemed to touch every bruise on his body, pressing a kiss on the already fading wounds.

Soap-slick fingers traced the fading marks on his chest, his shoulders, the place where the bullet had torn through him only days ago. She was thorough, almost clinical, until her hand slid lower. Small fingers wrapped around his cock that was already half-hard from the simple fact of her naked and wet in front of him. Once, twice, slow and deliberate.

Roman’s breath left him in a rough exhale.

“Ella.”

“Hmm?” She looked up at him through wet lashes, the picture of innocence except for the way her thumb smeared over the head of his cock, spreading the bead of precum there. “Just making sure everything still works. Nurse’s instincts.”

“Everything works just fine.”

“Good.” She gave him another slow pull, then started to sink to her knees right there on the shower floor. Water ran down her back, over the full curves of her ass, and the sight of her about to put her mouth on him nearly short-circuited every higher function he had left.

He caught her under the arms and hauled her back up before her knees could hit the tile.

“Later,” he growled against her mouth. “You can do that later. All night if you want. But if you put that pretty mouth on me right now I’m going to come down your throat and then I’m going to claim you against this wall before you’ve had a chance to change your mind.”

She laughed, breathless and a little shaky. “That’s supposed to be a deterrent?”

“It’s a promise of timing. I want you in bed for this. I want room to take my time.”

They finished the shower in record time. Ella pulled on one of his clean shirts and nothing else. Roman stayed in a towel. Anything more felt pointless.

He led her to the bedroom, sat on the edge of the mattress, and drew her between his knees. His hands settled on the curve of her hips.

“Last chance to change your mind,” he said quietly. “Once I claim you, it’s done. The bond locks. You’ll feel me the way I already feel you. Your life stretches to match mine. And when I knot you tonight, the chance of pups is high. My wolf is already certain. I need you to be certain too.”

Ella looked down at him, and the corner of her mouth twitched.

“Roman Matthews. You just spent the afternoon turning armed poachers into a cautionary tale, and now you’re giving me the full informed-consent speech like I’m about to sign a mortgage.” She poked his bare chest. “I heard you the first three times. Bite. Bond. Forever. Possible baby wolf. I’m still here. I’m still saying yes. And if you make me say it again I’m going to start charging.”

His wolf rumbled in pure delight. Smart mouth. Perfect mouth.

Roman’s hands flexed on her hips. “You’re snarky when you’re nervous.”

“I’m snarky when I’m in love with a stubborn, overprotective wolf who keeps acting like I’m going to bolt.” She cupped his face, brushing the dark stubble on his cheeks. Her voice softened, but the sass stayed right there underneath. “I love you, you idiot. I love the way you look at me like I’m something worth bleeding for. I love that you cooked me eggs and kissed my scraped-up hands and still somehow think you’re the lucky one. I love your brothers and this overly large house and the fact that I got lost in the woods and found the rest of my life. So, stop explaining and claim me already before I start thinking you don’t want to.”

She didn’t wait for his answer. She pushed him back onto the mattress herself, climbed over him, and kissed him like she was the one making the claim.