Page 128 of Alpha Queen
She held him as pleasure crested between them, waves of sensation washing away the last vestiges of fear and separation. He cried out her name as he climaxed, his head falling to her neck and kissing her skin. She grabbed onto him as her climax crested, murmuring his name and pulling him close.
Afterward, they lay tangled together and still attached, his heartbeat strong beneath her ear. She traced her fingers over one of the new scars from where he’d been shot.
“Does it bother you?”
She kissed it. “No. I think it’s sexy. I just hate who gave it to you.”
He hugged her. “As long as you like it, I couldn’t care less where I got it.”
"I love you, Ares Wolvenguard." She pressed a kiss to his heart. "And I will always come back to you."
His arms tightened around her, and the tension that had plagued them for the last weeks dissipated.
As sleep claimed them, hope rooted in her heart for the first time since her ordeal began. The nightmares might return, but she would face them with the strength of her mates beside her.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges: the rogues, the trial, rebuilding their world. But tonight, in Ares' arms, everything was exactly as it should be.
CHAPTER FORTY
ARES
Morning light filtered through the curtains when Ares opened his eyes. River still rested against him, his arm draped over her waist, her breath warm against his skin. For several minutes, he lay there, savoring the moment of perfect bliss. After weeks of terror, thinking it may never happen again, having these moments meant so much more than they ever had.
River stirred, her eyes opening to him watching her. A smile spread across her face, transforming her beautiful features.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked, voice husky with sleep.
He kissed her head. "Just long enough to memorize this moment." Ares brushed a strand of silver hair from her face.
River's smile deepened as she stretched against him. "What moment is that?"
"The one where you're in my arms, and nothing can harm you." His voice dropped. "Where you're mine."
She traced the strong line of his jaw with her fingertips. "I've always been yours."
Their lips met in a kiss that started tender but quickly blazed into something more urgent. Ares rolled her onto her back, his body covering hers with protective heat as his mouth explored hers with increasing hunger. River's hands slid up his arms, across his shoulders, tangling in his dark hair to pull him closer.
"Ares," she breathed against his lips, her body arching to meet his.
He moved with deliberate tenderness, mindful of her still-healing wounds as he worshipped every inch of her. His hands traced the curves of her body with reverent appreciation and lingered where their children grew.
River's breathing quickened as he settled between her thighs. "Ares, I need you."
"And I, you." He kissed her and slid inside her at the same time. He fought to hold back his wolf's overwhelming need to take her fast and hard. He joined their bodies slowly, already close to the edge.
She moaned as her fingers dug into his shoulders, heightening his need. He wanted her, all of her, every inch. As her soft folds cradled and massaged him, he couldn't help the emotions running through him. He couldn't process them all. Need. Love. Protection. Hope. Guilt. All of them hit him in rapid succession. He pushed them all away to focus on that moment and being with his mate.
They moved together in harmony. River's soft gasps and moans filled the room, her hands clutching at him as they climbed closer toward the edge. Ares broke the kiss to watch her face as passion overtook her, memorizing every expression, every sound, every shiver of his Beloved. His mate. His mate. His River. She was his and always would be. He would never let her go again.
Ares roared her name as he climaxed. She touched his cheek and ran her hand down to his hips, pulling him deeper into her and rocking him through his climax until he was completely spent.
When they collapsed, breathless and sated, Ares gathered her against him, kissing her face.
"I love you," he murmured. "More than I ever thought possible." It was the truth. He never thought he would love someone the way he loved River. Needed River. Craved River. The thought terrified and elated him.
River smiled, her fingers tracing across his skin.
Ares slid down her body until his head rested against her stomach. He focused on the tiny lives growing within her.
