Page 32 of Maddie

Maddie stilled. She’d assumed she would’ve just taken care of herself as she had the last time. And even though anticipation stormed through her at what his fingers would feel like on her, inside her, she answered, “You don’t have to.”

“But I want to,” he murmured, his fingers running up the length of her spine in a delectable caress.

And that matter was settled. “All right, show me what you can do, immortal.”

He chuckled, then his gaze grew serious, daring. “To be fair … and less messy, how about you get undressed?”

Fair indeed. Maddie grinned. “One of my hands is already messy, so you may have to help me.”

Noah didn’t hesitate as he loosened the buttons at the front of her dress. Her heart beat faster, preparing to break her rib cage in half. He then reached over and peeled down the straps from her shoulders, exposing her breasts, the cool air hitting her nipples. Fangs lowering, he drew the dress down from her body, and as he reached her panties, he took them with the other material until she was naked before him.

He tossed the dress and undergarments aside and his gaze drank her in while studying her for a long moment.

“Go on,” she instructed.

Noah rolled his eyes and licked his lower lip before he brought his shapely lips to her breast. She moaned when he took her peaked nipple between his teeth, sucking and nipping while his hand ventured to her center. As his fingers brushed the sensitive area, her moans grew louder—she knew her wetness was already pooling around his digits. He circled and rubbed while sliding two fingers inside her heat. Her hands balled into fists and her eyelids fluttered at his practiced movements. Noah’s mouth trailed kisses up her throat, to where his fangs grazed her this time. The fear she’d experienced in the past didn’t come, instead, she wished he would sink them in. And as she imagined it, as she focused on the rhythmic movements of his hand, as she thought about what it would feel like to have his cock inside her doing the same thing his fingers were, a wave of emotions pounced through her. Her body quaking and quaking andquaking. This was nothing like what her own fingers would’ve been able to do. Nothing at all.

Noah lifted his head above her, his mouth so close to touching hers. Chest heaving, Maddie pressed her forehead to his before their lips could brush. Because if she kissed him, she may just be as foolish as she’d been with Rav when she’d given all of herself to him in that forest. A kiss never mattered before, but something about a kiss with Noah seemed different.

“Next time, we’ll take care of each other again,” Noah said softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead before helping her back into her dress. Like a gentleman.

But all she could focus on wasnext time.

Maddie woke and stretched her arms to the ceiling with a yawn. She turned to Noah to find him still asleep on his back, breathing evenly.

He looked angelic as he slept with his chiseled features and his curled blond hair. She tapped his cheek. “Good morning, sunshine. Are you ready to find the werewolves?”

Noah’s eyes cracked open, his gaze meeting hers. Crimson stained his cheeks, and she was certain he was thinking about their night before. After all, it was a memorable night.

“Come on. We’ll be in Ivory soon.” Maddie stood and shoved on her combat boots. She grabbed her backpack from the ground, placing the straps over her shoulders while Noah mirrored her movements.

“What’s Ivory like?” Noah asked as they ascended the stone steps leading out of the tree safe house.

“Beautiful,” Maddie said, opening the door to the fresh air, laced with hints of vanilla and honey. “Decorated in mostly whites and silvers.”

As they entered the night, the world around them grew boisterous from creatures’ activities.

“What is that?” Noah squinted his eyes as he peered around the large trunks.

“Sounds like mostly mating.” Maddie paused, tilting her head to get a better listen. “And perhaps some feeding. We’re in the very outskirts of Scarlet. Occasionally a werewolf will slip in.”

“What the fuck?” Noah’s eyes widened. “I thought they had their own territory.”

“They do, but the rogue ones still prowl about. That’s why most of us keep guns and silver on hand at our homes.” She tapped his cheek. “But they aren’t like you and me. They would be like a wolf in your world—focused on their predatory natures. Vampires like to feed, but not all of us are heartless.”

“Watch out,” Noah shouted, grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her to his firm chest.

Maddie’s gaze fell to where Noah stared. A group of five badgers watched them around a crimson log, their teeth razor-sharp, their skin pale and wrinkled. She laughed. “Noah, they’re only a different breed of badgers than what your world has. They’re harmless … well, to us anyway. Not mortals. They would drink them dry.”

“They have no fur,” he stated, not loosening his grip on her.

Maddie batted his arm away and crept closer to the clan of badgers. She knelt beside a smaller one with a shriveled face, then reached down to pet it, stroking its soft head. The badger let out a light purring sound. “See?” She glanced up at Noah with a smile. “Come on.”

“Uh…” Noah hesitated, but then slid down beside her, shakily pressing a hand forward. The badgers focused on him yet didn’t scamper away as he awkwardly petted each of their heads—if one could call it that. “These don’t run like ours do,” he said in awe.

“One reason why I love Wonderland.” She grinned and stood, straightening the skirt of her dress. The wildlife in Wonderland had their oddities compared to the mortal world which made her feel more at home here, even if most could be deadly. But they were outcasts like she’d been. “Let’s go.”

They continued walking through the forest, the sounds of mating lessening with each step they took. The trees were of black and red—obsidian trunks and crimson leaves, or scarlet trunks and onyx leaves. Crows cawed above them and Noah stepped toward one near a trunk.

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