Page 26 of One for the Money

Stepping out of the water, I pressed my forehead against the cool tile. How the fuck am I going to explain this? There he’d been pouring out his heart, trying to make me understand how he felt about me and what did I do? Flipped the fuck out and added even more scars to his already abused body. What are the chances he’d still feel the same now?

Balling my hand, I slammed it into the tiled wall, unable to deal with the emotions that were choking me. This is why I could never love someone. I’d been young, stupid, and overconfident in my abilities, thinking I knew best, which is what allowed a man twice my age to suck me in with pretty words, gifts, and getting addicted to his touch. Sure, drugs, alcohol, and his ability to find my weaknesses played a part, but I never should have let it get that far.

This time, when my fist hit, the tile cracked, and I felt the sting as two of my knuckles were cut. I didn’t turn away from the pain. It was what I deserved and was all I’d ever be good enough to feel. He’d wanted to create a weapon, a beast He could keep on a leash at his side, and when it was needed, take off the muzzle so I could eliminate those who dared to go against him. People called me the Wolf, but the truth is I was so much worse than that. Pulling my arm back, I went to slam my fist again, needing the pain so I could keep my head above the waters that were trying to suck me back under. Only this time, when I made contact with the wall, something was in my way, softening the blow.

Looking, I found Bear had placed his hand in the way, so I hit it instead of the shattered tile. He didn’t say anything as he wrapped his fingers around my fist and pulled it to his chest. I could feel his heart beating in a slow, steady rhythm as he gazed down, his eyes tortured.

“You shouldn’t be here. I can’t be trusted right now,” I managed to say, my throat constricted, making it hard to swallow. Bear’s answer was to shake his head before lowering it to rest against mine, offering comfort without too much contact.

In that simple gesture of forgiveness and understanding, I fucking lost it. Huge, heaving sobs burst out of me that I was unable to fight against. It was as if all the pain, anger, and heartache I’d been running from since the day I took everything from the man who abused me was finally coming to the surface. I heard the sound of the water being turned off, and then felt a warm, soft towel being wrapped around me before Bear picked me up and carried me out of the bathroom.

I don’t know how long I clung to him, letting out all the pain that had been tearing me up inside, but he simply held me. He was my rock, the only person I trusted—well, as much as I could trust anyone. Time and time again, he proved himself to me, never wavered in his loyalty, always had my back, and not once lifted a hand against me in anger. Even when I lashed out at him, trying to provoke a physical response to prove he was just like everyone else, he never did.

Lifting my head from the crook of his neck, I held his gaze, hoping he could understand what I was too weak to put into words. His hand slid up my back until he gingerly cupped the back of my neck and applied a slight pressure. Giving in, I closed the distance between us, and for the first time, I kissed Bear. It was one thing I’d refused to do with any of my flings. It was too intimate, which was the last thing I wanted from any of them. Yet I couldn’t stand the distance between Bear and me any longer.

My hands cupped Bear’s face as I deepened the kiss, delving my tongue into his mouth. I wanted to taste and feel every part of him. Like a true wolf, I was claiming this man as mine, and no one else would ever know the secrets this man’s body held. Bear tugged the towel off my body and effortlessly maneuvered me so that I straddled his lap. I could feel his warm, hard cock throbbing between us, but he didn’t make any move to fill my pussy with it. Instead, he kept me pressed to his chest and let his hand slide between my legs from behind.

I gasped as he slid one finger inside me, but he didn’t linger. Instead, he scooped out some of my personal lubrication to swirl it over my asshole. Smiling, I nipped at his lower lip, making him rumble with pleasure. While I loved a good pussy pounding like everyone, I secretly loved having my ass rammed so much more. The trouble was it took more work to get things rolling, and it was easier to stick with the pussy, especially when it was a quickie in some bar or club bathroom. Time was not on my side, and by that point, I simply wanted to scratch that itch.

A moan slipped out as his finger pressed into my ass, and I relaxed, welcoming the intrusion. “You know we’re going to need lube,” I whispered, sucking his earlobe into my mouth. His hands clamped tighter on me, and I felt his cock pulse. “It’s still in the drawer of your nightstand, right? Let me grab it real quick.”

Before I could move, the sound of a drawer opening had my head snapping up. Erik, unable to meet my eyes, held out the bottle of lube. “Here you go.”

I glanced at Bear, seeing the humor in his smirk but unwilling to share any insights, and turned back to Erik, taking the bottle. “Why are you still here?”

“Ah…” Erik said, rubbing the back of his head. “Bear locked us in here and chained me to the foot of his bed. Otherwise, I would have at least gone into the bathroom when you two started making out.”

Sitting back, I regarded Bear. “You’re fine with him being here and most likely watching?”

“Yes, as long as he doesn’t join in, I’m fine with it,” he answered. “I want the first time I get to make love to my goddess to be just us.”

My brows snapped together. “Why did you make that sound like it wouldn’t always be the case?”

“Because you’ll never be satisfied with just me, and as you told me yourself, traditional commitment is hard for you. You are who you are, and I don’t want to change a single thing about Evonnia Marisa Zuccaro because she is exactly who I want,” Bear explained.

Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them away. I’d done enough crying for the next decade, and I didn’t plan on making it a habit. Setting the lube down where he could reach it, I grabbed his face and kissed the hell out of him. I didn’t deserve this man or the love and loyalty he offered, and I wasn’t a good person. So if he was willing to offer it, then there was no fucking way I’d ever say no.

He was mine now—it was as simple as that.

A wolf never gives up what they claim, no matter what it might cost the other person.

My goddess was finally ready to acknowledge what was between us. Here she was in my arms, surrendering to the truth that we were always destined for each other. The feel of her soft lips on mine and tasting her sweet nectar as she explored my mouth was pure ecstasy. Most of my tongue was destroyed by my previous employer. However, I had a small portion left that allowed me to taste certain things, and she was most definitely one of them.

I groaned as she rubbed her soaked pussy against my cock, urging me to move faster. This was going to be different than the other times we’d fucked. Before, I’d allowed her to use my body to meet her needs. Relishing the chance to feel her pussy wrapping around my cock was worth being a living fuckdoll for her but not this time. I planned to indulge in everything I’d wanted to do to her body but didn’t feel I had the right to ask.

Snatching up the bottle of lube, I coated my fingers, then felt my way up to the top of her ass crack. I squeezed out the thick substance, letting it slide down her hot skin to her tight little asshole. With the tip of my finger, I swirled it around her entrance then slowly pressed, allowing her body to accept me at a torturously slow pace.

“Bear, please,” Von pleaded, kissing along my neck as her hips rocked, trying to get my finger in deeper.

With a warning growl, I wrapped an arm around her hips right before the swell of her ass, trapping Von tightly against my throbbing cock. If the damn woman didn’t stop, I was going to come before I even got to fill up her ass. Not pleased with me restricting her, Von tried to wriggle out of my hold, so I slapped her ass, causing her to gasp. Even if I couldn’t scold her with words, there was always another way to get my point across. Yet when it came to a woman like Von, they’d always test just how far they could get away with things. Two more stinging blows to her ass later, she finally accepted the fact I wasn’t going to give in.

The moment I felt her settle against me, I rewarded her by shoving one of my lubed fingers into her ass. Sharp pricks of pain on my shoulder and the loud moan coming out of her told me how much my goddess was enjoying this. Only when she was overwhelmed with pleasure did she feel the need to bite something, mainly me. Any time we fucked, I always walked away with new cuts and scrapes, but I wore them proudly. It was a badge of honor proving that I’d satisfied my woman.

When she loosened enough, I plunged a second finger beside the other. I needed to get at least three, preferably four, fingers into her before stuffing her full of my cock. There had been more than one occasion I’d torn up a whore’s pussy, not giving a shit about preparing them, but not my goddess—she would only ever feel pleasure from my cock. She was the reason I had the amount of piercings I did. Over time, I slowly added them until I had her screaming and thrashing in pleasure with each stroke.

“Enough, Bear. I’m stretched to three fingers, so please just fucking fill me,” Von begged, resting her forehead on mine so our breaths mingled. “I can’t stand it anymore… I need you, Bear.”

My dark angel knew just what to say to get what she wanted. There was no way I could deny her what she wanted when she asked like that.