Page 57 of Cursed Magic

“Patient?” At this point, I wasn’t above begging. “I’ve been patient for way too long.”

His chest rumbled against mine in a satisfied laugh before he kissed me again, and his other hand slid underneath the waist of my sweatpants. His fingers immediately slid between my folds and found the right spot.

No one had ever known my body so well before, and this was his first time touching me this way.

“When we complete the bond, I want it to be perfect.”

He circled faster and harder, already building tension inside me. I followed his lead, sliding my hands under his waistband and grabbing him.

Ryker groaned into my neck, his hips bucking as I stroked him in time with his fingers. His muscles responded beneath my touch, and I longed for more. I tugged at his jeans, needing him free so he could get inside me.

“Fuck,” he gasped, pressing me harder against the tree. I could feel how close he was to losing control, and it thrilled me.

I tried to spin him so he was against the tree and I could take charge, but he caught my arm.

“No.” He pressed harder against me and growled, “Not like this. Not when another man could come out here and see you naked.”

I quivered at his possessiveness, and excitement shot through me.

“You don’t seem to mind someone watching you pleasure me while my clothes are on, though,” I teased as I quickened my pace.

His fingers worked me faster, and I lost all sense of anything except how damn good his hand felt. “That’s different.” His eyes burned into mine, and my wolf bayed at the raw desire written across his features.

My body coiled tight as I got closer and closer to release. He swallowed hard as I moved my hand over him, building the same tension inside him. “Ember…” He groaned my name like a warning just before I shattered beneath his touch.

My body shook as his name ripped from my throat. My legs went weak, but the tree and Ryker’s body kept me upright.

I gripped him tighter, knowing I had to finish him, demanding he come at the same time. My own ecstasy strengthened. His muscles strained, and he buried his face against my shoulder as he grunted with his own release.

Our hands stilled, our breaths coming out in ragged gasps, but everything had already begun building inside me again. This wasn’t enough. He had to beinme.

“I saw fucking stars, lil rebel.” He chuckled, peppering kisses all along my face.

“Imagine what it’ll feel like when we complete our bond.” I leaned back and kissed him once more, enjoying the way our tongues collided.

But then Briar linked,Ember, we’ve got to go. Something went wrong.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Istiffened against him, the urgency of Briar’s message slicing through the haze of desire. Reality flooded back in a rush, reminding me why I’d held myself back from Ryker and this connection in the first place.

“What is it?” Ryker pulled away slightly, brows furrowed.

“Briar.” Dread settled heavily in my bones. “Something’s up.”

“Of course my pack wouldn’t alert me.” His jaw clenched, and he exhaled a shaky breath. “The witch?”

I nodded, forcing myself not to step forward and close the small gap between us. My wolf whimpered, and an emptiness ached deep inside my heart. “She’s essential if we’re going to stop these attacks. We should go inside.”

He kissed me once more as though sealing a promise, then pulled back with obvious reluctance. “Let’s go.”

We fixed our clothes in silence, both of us battling the bond that screamed at us to stay together. He took my hand, sending sparks through my body and giving me comfort that we were in this together.

Ember, this isn’t a joke,Briar connected again, her frustration surging through the connection.The Shae pack’s backup are close by and want us to meet them. The witch returned a lot quicker than any of us expected.

“We won’t have a bond for long if we can’t stop the Blackwoods.” I didn’t hide the fear in my voice.We’re on our way.

Ryker’s hand tightened. “They’ll make a mistake. Maybe if we can capture the witch, we can get some answers.”

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