-Ember-
The first thing I register is warmth. Not the gentle, cozy warmth of a blanket, but the solid, furnace-like heat of a very large, very male body pressed against my back. For one heart-stopping moment, panic claws at my throat -- memories of Tanner trying to force himself on me flash through my mind. But then I breathe in, and my whole body relaxes.
Cedar, rain, lavender. Adrian.
"Mmm, good morning, gorgeous," Ivy practically purrs in my mind, suddenly very alert. "Is that a tree trunk pressing against our ass, or is our Alpha just really happy to see us?"
"Oh my god, Ivy," I groan, though I can't help the heat that rushes through me. "It's too early for your commentary."
"Honey, it's never too early when THAT is what we're waking up to," she sasses back. "And after yesterday's drama with Miss Bleach Blonde Disaster? I say we stake our claim. Hard. Multiple times. In various positions."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. As much as I hate to admit it, my wolf has a point.
I shift experimentally, rolling my hips just enough to feel that impressive length twitch against me. The arm slung around my waist tightens possessively, and Adrian's chest rumbles against my back with a low, dangerous growl.
"Careful, little wolf," he murmurs, his voice heavy with sleep and dark promise. "Keep moving like that and I'll forget how to be a gentleman."
"Who says we want a gentleman?" Ivy scoffs. "I'm thinking more along the lines of that caveman who threw us over his shoulder last night. THAT guy knew how to handle business."
A thrill shoots through me at the warning in his tone. After everything that happened last night -- finding that bleached blonde disaster in his bed, our fight, the way he literally threw me over his shoulder (that Neanderthal) -- I probably should maintain some dignity.
But dignity is overrated when you've got six-foot-something of prime Alpha in bed with you.
"That's my girl," Ivy celebrates as I make my decision.
I wiggle my hips again, deliberately this time. "Who said I wanted you to be a gentleman?"
Adrian goes completely still. The kind of still that makes prey animals freeze in terror. Then, in one fluid motion that showcases exactly why he's an Alpha, he rolls me onto my back and cages me beneath him. His green eyes bore into mine, pupils blown wide with lust and something darker, more primal.
"Say that again." It's not a request. It's a demand.
His scent surrounds me, making my head spin. The weight of his body presses me into the mattress, and I have to bite back a moan at the memories of exactly what that body can do to me. What it did to me during our weekend together.
"I said..." I meet his gaze boldly, even as my heart thunders in my chest. "Who said I wanted you to be a gentleman?"
The smile that curves his lips is pure sin. Then his mouth is on mine -- hot, hungry, desperate. Any thought of taking things slow evaporates like morning mist. I kiss him back with equal desperation, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down until his chest crashes into mine.
"You belong to me," he growls against my lips, the vibration sending heat pooling between my thighs. "Every. Single. Inch."
"Yes," I gasp, barely getting the words out before his mouth claims mine again. "But if another woman ends up in your bed, I'll skin you alive and wear your pelt as a winter coat."
He pulls back just enough to look at me, eyes dancing with amusement and something deeper. "Possessive little thing, aren't you?"
"You started it," I remind him, nipping at his bottom lip. "Mr. Throw-Her-Over-My-Shoulder-And-Growl-At-Everyone."
"And I'd do it again," he murmurs, his voice dropping to that dangerous octave that makes my toes curl.
His kisses trail along my jaw, down to my neck, and I arch into him as he starts rolling his hips, grinding that delicious hardness against my core through the thin barrier of his sweatpants.
"Please, Adrian," I breathe, already lost to the sensation. "I need you."
He freezes mid-thrust, slowly lifting his head to search my face. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, thumb caressing my bottom lip with unexpected gentleness.
"I don't want to rush you," he says, jaw clenching. "After..."
He doesn't finish the sentence. He doesn't have to. We both know what – who – he's talking about.
I pull him down until our lips are barely touching, causing him to shift his hand to cradle the back of my neck. "Please take the memory of his hands away from me," I whisper. "I need this. I need the last hands on me to be yours."
His eyes darken with possession, but concern still lingers. "Are you sure?"
"If you ask me that one more time, I'm going to flip you over and take matters into my own hands," I threaten, only half-joking. "Yes, Adrian. I'm sure. I've never been more sure of anything."
"Goddess, you're perfect," he breathes, and the reverence in his voice makes my heart stutter.
Adrian sits back slightly, hands moving to the hem of my shirt – his shirt – and starts lifting it with deliberate slowness. He's giving me time to change my mind, to stop this. But as the material brushes against my sensitized nipples, a soft moan escapes me.
His eyes flash gold at the sound.
"I've b7\een dreaming about this," he confesses, his gaze devouring every inch of newly exposed skin. "Waking up with you, seeing you in my clothes, in my bed. Where you belong."
Starting at my navel, he trails kisses up my torso, his stubble creating delicious friction against my skin. His hands reach my breasts, his thumbs circle my nipples with maddening precision. This time my moan is louder, needier.
"So responsive," he murmurs against my skin, his tongue replacing his lips as he licks a hot path up my ribs. "I fucking love how you react to my touch."
When he reaches my breast, he circles my nipple with his tongue before closing his mouth around it, sucking gently. I arch into him, fingers tangling in his hair. The loss of his hand on my other breast makes me whimper, before feeling it trailing down my side, between our bodies.
"You're killing me," I gasp, as he switches to my other breast, giving it the same thorough attention. "Adrian, please."
He releases my nipple with a wet pop, his hand finding the hem of my panties.
"How wet for me are you, little wolf?" He leans down, licking my marking spot causing sparks to explode across my skin.
"Why don't you find out for yourself?" I challenge, lifting my hips in invitation.
"Fuck, baby." His finger slips past the elastic, running through my wetness with a groan. "You're soaked for me. You're going to taste so fucking good."
The dirty promise in his voice makes me clench around nothing, desperate for more.
"Adrian," I whine, rolling my hips to chase his touch. "Don't tease."
His chuckle is dark, wicked. "But teasing you is half the fun, little wolf. Watching you squirm, hearing those pretty sounds you make..." He circles my clit with feather-light pressure. "It makes me hard as fuck."
"Then do something about it," I challenge, even as my body trembles under his touch.
"Demanding little thing, aren't you?" But there's approval in his tone, pride even. "Don't worry, baby. I'm going to take such good care of you."
His finger slides lower, teasing my entrance. "I'm going to make you forget anyone else ever touched you."
"Already have," I admit breathlessly. The words die on my lips as he slides one thick finger inside me, curling it just right.
"That's it," he encourages, adding a second finger. "Show me how much you want it."
I rock against his hand shamelessly, chasing the pleasure he's offering. His thumb finds my clit, circling in tight circles that have me seeing stars.
"Adrian, I'm... I'm going to..."
"Come for me, little wolf," he commands, voice rough with his own need. "Let me feel you."
His words push me over the edge, and I shatter around his fingers with a cry. He works me through it, drawing out my pleasure until I'm trembling and oversensitive.
"Beautiful," he murmurs, withdrawing his fingers and bringing them to his mouth. His eyes lock with mine as he sucks them clean. "And delicious, just like I knew you'd be."
The sight is so erotic I feel fresh arousal pulse through me. "Adrian..."
"I'm not done with you yet, baby." He grins wickedly. "Not even close."
And as he slides down my body with clear intent, I realize this is exactly what I needed. Not just the physical pleasure, but this – the reminder that I'm desired, cherished, wanted.
His.
His grin turns predatory as he hooks his fingers in my panties, slowly dragging them down my legs. "I'm going to devour you until you can't remember your own name, little wolf."
"Bold promise from the Alpha," I tease, unable to help myself.
His eyes narrow dangerously, but there's a spark of amusement there too. "I think someone needs a reminder of exactly who she belongs to."
The promise in his voice makes me shiver with anticipation. He settles between my thighs, his broad shoulders forcing them wider. The first swipe of his tongue has me crying out, hands flying to his hair.
"So fucking sweet," he growls against me, the vibration making me buck. "I could eat this pretty pussy for hours."
"Adrian," I whimper as he circles my sensitive clit with the tip of his tongue. "Please..."
"Please what, Little wolf?" He pulls back just enough to speak, his breath hot against my wetness. "Tell me what you want."
"Your mouth," I gasp, trying to pull him closer. "I need your mouth on me."
"Like this?" He flattens his tongue, licking me from entrance to clit in one long, slow stroke that has my back arching off the bed.
"Yes! Goddess, yes!"
He chuckles darkly. "So eager. Love how desperate you get for me."
His hands grip my thighs, holding me open as he feasts on me like a man starved. Every lick, every suck is designed to drive me higher, pushing me toward that edge. When he slides two fingers inside me while sucking on my clit, I nearly scream.
"That's it, little wolf," he encourages between licks. "Let me hear you. Want the whole pack to know who's making you feel this good."
The thought of others hearing us should embarrass me, but it only makes me hotter. My fingers tighten in his hair as I rock against his face, chasing my release.
"Adrian..."
"Come for me," he commands, curling his fingers just right. "Now."
I shatter with a cry, my whole body trembling as waves of pleasure crash over me. He doesn't let up, working me through it until I'm oversensitive and pushing at his shoulders.
"Too much," I gasp. "I can't..."
He gives me one last, lingering lick before crawling back up my body, his lips and chin glistening with my arousal. The sight is so erotic it sends another pulse of heat through me.
"You taste like heaven," he murmurs, capturing my lips in a deep kiss that lets me taste myself on his tongue. "I could live between those thighs."
Without breaking our kiss, I shift my weight and guide him onto his back. In one swift motion, I swing my leg over him, straddling his hips. The feel of his hard length pressing against me through his sweatpants makes me moan into his mouth.
"Mmm, someone's eager," he teases, but I can feel how his cock jumps beneath me.
"You have no idea," I murmur, trailing kisses down his neck. I take my time, savoring the taste of his skin as I work my way to his chest. My tongue traces each ridge of his abs, following the V-line that disappears beneath his waistband.
"Little wolf, you don't have to," Adrian says, lifting his head to watch me with eyes so dark they're almost black.
I tuck my fingers into his waistband, slowly dragging the material down. "Oh, but I want to," I purr, looking up at him through my lashes. "You had your breakfast. Now it's time for mine."
He lifts his hips, helping me pull his sweatpants down. My breath catches as his cock springs free – thick, hard, and absolutely perfect. A bead of moisture glistens at the tip, and my mouth literally waters.
"See something you like?" he asks, voice rough with need.
"Mmhmm." I wrap my hand around him, watching as more precum beads at the tip. "I see exactly what I want."
I lean down, maintaining eye contact as I slowly lick the drop from his tip. The salty-sweet taste explodes on my tongue.
"Fuck," Adrian groans, his head dropping back against the pillow. "Your mouth..."
I run my tongue up his shaft, from base to tip, savoring every inch.
When I finally close my mouth over him, we both moan. The vibration makes his cock twitch, and I take that as encouragement to take him deeper.
"Goddess, Ember," he pants, one hand tangling in my hair. "That mouth... fuck, baby, you're killing me."
I pull back, releasing him with an obscene pop. "Good," I say, before diving down again. This time I swirl my tongue around the head before taking him as deep as I can, pushing myself to take more into my throat.
His breathing turns ragged, fingers tightening in my hair. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," he chants. "You better stop before I come in that pretty little mouth."
I release him with one last lick, crawling back up his body like a cat. "Maybe I wanted you to," I tease, settling myself over his lap. My slick heat rubs against his cock, making us both groan.
"Tease," he accuses, hands gripping my hips hard enough to bruise.
"You love it," I counter, rolling my hips deliberately.
His eyes blaze with possession. "Take what you need, baby," he commands, voice rough with emotion and desire. "Take all of me. Show me how much you want your Alpha's cock."
"Want it?" I laugh breathlessly, sinking down just enough to take his tip. "I've been aching for this since that weekend in the city. Every night I'd close my eyes and remember how perfectly we fit together, how completely you satisfied m
"Fuck, little wolf," he groans as I slowly take him inch by inch. "You're so fucking tight. So perfect. Made for me."
As I settle fully in his lap, I feel complete in a way I never have before. This isn't just sex – it's a claiming, a promise, a beginning.
"Mine," I whisper, leaning down to kiss him deeply as I start to move.