Page 68 of Twisted Mates

TWENTY-ONE

Alexia

I knew I should’ve listened to my gut feeling when I stopped in front of that first wolf during my cleansing ceremony. I couldn’t have possibly known it was Xander, but clearly, my gut reaction was right. Because from the time Xander talked to me on the porch after the awkward night I spent in bed with Kai, I felt something between us—a connection I couldn’t explain. That had been it. How had I never put two and two together? And even after we got closer, when I wished every minute that it had been him instead of his brother. I never even gave myself the freedom to think I could’ve made a mistake. But to be fair, I’ve never heard of someone making a mistake when it comes to the bond.

It doesn’t matter now. What matters is I got lucky enough for my wish to actually come true.

After what we shared last night, I don’t want to be apart from Xander, and it may sound silly, but Imisshim. That’s why I’m already in the bathroom wearing one of his t-shirts out of his dresser, loving the way it swallows me whole. Ready to go findwhere my mate's gotten off to, I brush my teeth and run a comb through my wild hair; it’s a little tangled from Xander tugging at the strands all night, and I don’t bother taming it.

Setting the comb down on the counter, I go back to Xander’s bedroom and rifle through my purse, looking for my birth control pack. My heart beats faster when I reach the bottom of the small crossbody I packed for what was going to be a quick day trip, and I still haven’t seen it. Dumping the contents on the bed, I tuck my lips between my teeth and hold back the frustrated groan that threatens to erupt from me.

I didn’t bring it. It’s in my other bag.Shit.This wouldn’t ordinarily be a big deal, because I haven’t been sexually active in quite a few months, but...

Last night Xander fucked me ten ways to Sunday. With no protection.Andhe knotted me.All after I told him I was on birth control.I have to tell him. Right? I mean, I can take it when we get back to the chateau and it will only be a few hours late. Surely it won’t makethatbig of a difference.

When I venture out into the main living area, I realize I have no clue where he is. Shouldn’t there be some kind of like, mate tracking feature or something? I laugh and shake my head. That’s weird. I don’t think that’s a thing, but?—

I stop short when I hear a familiar buzzing. I follow the sound to a room all the way to the other side of the penthouse. I knock once but he doesn’t answer, so I peek my head inside.

“Xander?”

The room is dimly lit with track lighting illuminating the framed art on the wall. In the far corner stands a sleek desk with a bright lamp shining down on it. The buzzing stops and he looks up with a grin. “Good morning, beautiful mate. Did you sleep well?”

My lips turn up into a smile as I look him over, sitting in a leather chair, shirtless with a tattoo machine in his left hand. Ithovers over his right, but he lays it to rest on the tray next to him. His hair is loose and his skin is radiant in the early morning light.

“You’re the beautiful one,” I say, crossing the room and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I slept better than I have in my whole life. You?”

“You exhausted me. I had no choice but to have a good night’s rest. It also helped that you were wrapped around me all night.”

I did hold onto him for hours. The couple of times I woke up I’d discovered that I’d rolled away from him. That would not do, so I wiggled my way back into his arms and tangled my legs with his. I was determined to keep my hands on him until the sun came up.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He lifts his ungloved hand, showing me the back of it. Where a ring would go on his fourth finger is a swooping A with an offset R. My mouth falls open at the sight of my initials.

I lock eyes with him and smile. “You are making this very official.”

“I am. I never want to be mistaken as anything but yours.”

Shit, that’s hot.I draw my bottom lip between my teeth and take one step closer to him, tipping his chin up with my finger. “That’s really sexy. I want everyone to know that too,” I whisper, leaning in and capturing his lips with mine.

He groans into the kiss and wraps his arm around my waist, keeping the tattoo machine clear of my body. “You’re going to get me hard, and I need to finish this tattoo,” he says against my mouth, his beard brushing against my nose as a smile graces his full lips.

“Oh? Is that so?” I ask, a wicked idea forming in the back of my mind.

“Yeah. Basically anything you do makes me hard, so...”

I hum in response and drop to my knees, running my palms down his bare chest, stopping when I get to his waistband. Sure enough, his cock is already straining against his grey sweatpants.

“Just go ahead and get back to work, and I'll take good care of you,” I purr, dipping my hand under the elastic and pulling his cock out.

“You’re asking the impossible from me.” His eyes flutter shut as my lips graze the tip of him. He slips his fingers in my hair and pulls me closer as he bucks farther into my mouth.

I draw him in deep and suck hard, slowly pulling away. “Please, I want to watch you work from this position.”

Xander moans as he releases me and picks up his tattoo machine. It takes a little maneuvering on both our parts. I find myself tucked beneath his desk as he leans forward, and the buzzing fills the air. His forehead wrinkles with concentration as I descend on him again and he sets to work. He stops several times to brush his ink-stained hand through my hair and catch his breath. I try to take it easy on him, but it’s so damn hard when I’m addicted to his taste.

I swirl my tongue up and down his shaft several more times, sucking harder and faster, and finally, there’s aclankon the metal tray, signaling he’s done with his tattoo before I’m yanked up onto his lap. I squeak as my legs spread around his waist, open for him to see.

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