No, it’s the beginning.
Of my insanity? Of my life in the after-world? I thought.
The beginning of your new life
Yay, I thought dryly. My delusion was being cryptic.
I’m part of you now. We were given to each other
Lovely.
I’m your wolf, my name is Ember
Oh, oh
It worked. You’re alive; you just need to open your eyes.
I was scared to do that. It didn’t feel real.
Don’t be scared; I’m with you.
Great, this thing can read my mind. I swear if she was always this upbeat..
Yes, and I heard that. I am literally part of you.
ked a sob, thinking of leaving Loreli, but she had a new family now, and I knew she would always be taken care of. cked. Then the warmth was gone, and I was left cold.
I groaned and forced my eyes open, blinking against the bright light above me. The light dimmed a bit, but I think it was just my eyes adjusting.
Everything looked so much sharper. I could hear sounds that didn’t make sense to me-the smell of sweat mixed with a bit of metallic blood, fresh sheets, and home.
I snapped my eyes to Holden’s, his scent. He always smelled good, but this unlocked something deep inside me. He smelled like when my grandmother would make fresh bread, something I didn’t know I remembered. “Cali,” he breathed, his blue eyes softening as he scanned my face.
“Holden,” I smiled back; the familiar planes of his face eased me back to reality.
He took my face in his hands, and I jolted back from the touch. It felt electric. Sparks shot through me, radiating from my cheeks. I touched my cheek and looked at him.
What did he do?
“The mate bond,” he shrugged, smiling, holding out one hand. I tentatively put my hand in his, and the warmth and tingles erupted from our touch.
“Wow,” I knew I wanted him, knew there was something different about my attraction to him, but this, this was beyond anything I was expecting. I wonder how Willa held out for so long if this is what she felt for Caspien.
“That was really great, under four hours, one of the fastest I’ve seen.” I was aware of someone else in the room, Holden’s living room. I thought I would be in a clinic or hospital or something.
“Caspien had it set up,” Holden shrugged, motioning to the wires and machines that surrounded me.
“I think you’re good to go. Great transition,” The doctor came into view, and I recognized him from one of Emmett’s appointments when he was sick.
“T-thanks,” I managed. Nothing about that seemed great, but I was still reeling from it all and the new sights, sounds, and feelings.
“Holden knows how to contact me if you have any questions, but I don’t think you’ll need anything else.” He smiled and started to unhook me, “Welcome to the pack, officially.” “Thanks,” I smiled at him. Being part of something bigger than myself wasn’t something that I ever thought I wanted. But this, with him, was something I could get behind.
“I think I need a shower,” I looked down at my sweat-dampened shirt.
“I’ll join you,” He pulled me up, leading me into his bathroom.
I stood in the mirror studying myself. My curls were unruly; the ones that escaped my bun were matted to my face. But I didn’t look any different.
“I tried to put it up, but I didn’t know how,” Holden shrugged. I smiled at him, yanking loose my lopsided bun, barely in the hair tie.
“Thanks,”
He rubbed his neck, “I was worried for a minute there,” I met his eyes in the mirror, “Okay, for longer than a minute actually.” He came up to me and placed his hands on my hips, kissing my neck in a spot that sent shivers through my spine and settled into my core. I tilted my head. That mark, his mark, was gone.
“Once this is done, I’m going to mark you here, and you will mark me, and you won’t ever be able to leave me,” He growled into that spot again. The spot where I had his mark before was so sensitive, “Of course, if you’ll let me, again.” He pulled back a little. I nodded once, closing my eyes; I could think of nothing I wanted more than to be his forever.
He tugged at the oversized shirt I didn’t remember putting on. I lifted my arms, helping him remove it. He lowered his mouth to brush featherlight, kisses on my bare shoulder, removing the clasps of my b.ra. He tugged down the straps with his teeth until it fell at my feet.
Goosebumps pebbled my b.reasts, and it had nothing to do with the cold. I didn’t feel cold at all; it was the desire and anticipation that swirled through me, ignited by his strong large hands making their way up from my hips to cover my b.reasts. He caressed them and made his way up to my neck, biting gently and sucking. I tilted my neck to give him better access.
The sparks tingling through me were almost too much. They set me completely on edge. I thought s.ex with him was addictive before, but now the slightest of his touches had me spiraling.
“Now, Holden.” I breathed, and his lips met mine, sucking at my lower one, taking it into his mouth before grazing his teeth across it. I whimpered as heat flooded to my core.
“Now,” I repeated, and he stepped away. My body seemed to curl in on itself at the absence of him, my mate.
Our mate
Great, now she was following me to the bedroom.
I am literally a part of you, you chose this – She sounded annoyed; this was going to be fun – Now go back to our mate
Just wait til you see what he can do with that d.ick of his She growled in my mind, and I smiled.
The sound of water brought me back. Steam started to permeate the air. I turned to the shower to find Holden fully n.aked, and ready for me.
Yummy
He closed his hand over his length, I could watch him all day, and I had for hours before. We took turns p.leasuring ourselves while the other watched without touching. The memory of that afternoon sent a new wave of delight through me. “Cali,” He watched me, his eyes roaming over me in a way I never thought I would like.
I hated being objectified. I didn’t want anyone to think that they owned me or I owed them anything. But with him, it was different. Everything was. It was a turn-on to have him claim me, possess me in a way I had never wanted. It was mutual, I claimed him, and he claimed me. I was his; he could look at me however and whenever he wanted. There was a freedom to that sort of mutual desire that accompanied a sort of respect I didn’t know existed.
He held out an arm to the shower, “Wouldn’t want to waste water,” He flashed me a smile.
I bent down to remove my u.nderwear and strode past him. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him, tilting my head up in a claiming kiss. My n.ipples pressed against the hard contours of his chest, and I m.oaned in his mouth at the feeling of it. His hand wrapped around me and pressed me to him further as if he could physically make us one.
He pulled back and frowned, “I want to hear every sound that I elicit from you. Everything that my body makes yours feel, I want to hear it,”
“I need you,” I leaned back, looking up at him. I needed him more than anything. I don’t know if it was the bond or me being a wolf; I didn’t fucking care. There was nothing in this world that would sustain me more than him.
“Alright, skip the foreplay then,” He sighed and tugged me into the shower.
He brushed my hair back as the hot water started to fall, running through my hair and relaxing my sore muscles. I didn’t realize how sore I was. Actually, I must have been clenching or moving or something the entire time I was changing.
“I’ll give you a nice long massage, followed by all the foreplay you’re making me skip,” He growled into my ear.
I grabbed his velvety length, wrapping my hand around it and sliding my hand up and down him. He groaned, a sound that came deep within him, like a rumble. It was primitive, and it would be my undoing. He grabbed onto my a.ss tightly, slapping it once before taking it into his hands and holding on.
“You’re ready for me, you have been for a while,” His eyes opened, and he focused on me. I twisted my hand in a way I knew he liked, “Goddess, Cali, the things you do to me,” His eyes shut again, and his breathing became more shallow.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.