Page 44 of Ruin

“Don’t test me, not now, Em.” And I slanted my mouth over hers, taking her lips in a hard kiss. I didn’t care who was around us. They all needed to know she was mine and I was hers. I had never felt this strong, or this possessive of anyone or anything in my life, and I was trying my damnedest to control my urge to drag her, caveman style, back into that tiny little bedroom. Prime and my fae rumbled as one. I took a slow breath trying to contain the power in me. Now that they had merged I had to learn how to master them both again.

Ember bit my lip, and pushed me away. The sting from that warning bite shot straight to my cock. I knew, after a claiming, it was hard for mates to calm their responses to each other, but controlling myself as she patted my cheek and walked away was almost impossible. I was shaking with need.

“Damn, Prime, you have it bad.” Stone’s arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes narrowed.

“Fuck off.”

His mouth tilted up at one side, and he huffed a laugh. For a moment, I stared at him. He never laughed.

“Umm, she’s getting away.” He dipped his chin and raised his brows.

“Shit!” I ran after Ember, not caring about the big alpha fae following behind. I felt the eyes of a group of soldiers bore into me as I chased Ember into a cabin. Prime growled. I’d get him to show me his memories of them later, right now, Ember was too far away from me.

All noise ceased as I charged into what had to be a canteen of some kind. I snarled and walked up behind Ember in the queue.

“Hey, what kept you? You want bacon?”

I scowled at her and she laughed, raising her brows. “Come on, you know you want some.” A coy look crossed her face. “After all, you did use a lot of energy yesterday...oh, and last night. And this morning.” My lips twitched as she waggled her eyebrows, and my chest tightened at the bright sparkle of happiness in the jade of her eyes. Had I done that? Made my mate happy? Gods, she made my heart swell, and my stomach do all sorts of stupid somersaults when she looked at me like that, even as my blood ran hot at the memory of all we had done. “Yes. I want all of it—again. And some bacon.”

She swallowed as she met my lust filled gaze. Now it was my turn to grin. Her gaze dropped to my lips as I leaned in close enough my breath fanned her lips...and picked a piece of bacon from the serving plate. The poor woman behind the counter paled as I turned my attention to her. “Pile me a plate high. I’m ravenous. My mate used me up and I’ll need all my energy to keep her happy.”

Ember rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed, giving her away. A grin plastered across my face. I loved seeing her blush.

“He meant to say please.”

I looked at the woman who immediately began to shake. I tried not to snarl. Such weakness always irritated me. Lower shifters should submit to me, but having no backbone around a powerful predator was asking for trouble. It made me want to hunt them down. Prime snarled, so did I.

“Connor!” Ember’s sharp words snapped me out of my predatory intent. “Go and sit down. I’ll get our food. Stone? Would you go with him, please? He’s a little—er, riled up today.”

“She’s right. Not so sure it’s a good idea for you to be out in the compound with her today.”

“Yeah? Well, fuck you, Stone. Where she goes, I go. And I need to talk to Owen to find out what’s going on here. So you’re going to keep me out of trouble. Aren’t you, brother?”

Stone grinned. “Depends on who’s stupid enough to antagonise you.”

I plonked myself on a bench seat, noticing everyone nearby kept their eyes averted. Good.

Ember went to sit next to me on the bench. No way was that close enough. Before she could sense my intention, I grabbed her small waist and lifted her easily into my lap.

“Hey!”

“Not close enough.”

Her eyes narrowed on mine. I had sensed her thoughts each time she had totally succumbed to me last night, even felt her pleasure as my own, but now she had gathered her strength again, and it pissed me off that I couldn’t sense her thoughts anymore, only her emotions. Fire flashed in her eyes. I just pulled her closer. “Sit here and eat.”

“What? No way. I’m not going anywhere, Connor. Now be sensible and let me sit down.”

I clenched my teeth. “No.”

Fire flared in her palm. “Let me down, now.”

I shrugged. “Nope. You know you can’t burn me.”

Her lips thinned. “No, but I can withhold sex.”

My balls tightened. Not because of her threat but because of the challenge her words meant.

“That was the wrong threat, Ember.” Stone supplied helpfully, watching us with interest.

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