Page 84 of Dark Wolf Soul
“Morning, gorgeous,” he murmurs before brushing my mouth with a soft kiss.
“Mm, morning,” I say, melting into his touch. Or maybe it’s my relief at knowing this is the version of him I’m getting today. Maybe I’m no longer his prisoner after all.
“Sleep well?”
“What little sleep I got was great,” I tease.
He smirks. “Complaining?”
“Not at all.”
“Good, because I’d hate to have to send you to bed alone tonight.” His words are meant to be a threat, but all I can think is that he plans on continuing what we started last night.
“What? No smartass comeback for that one?” he teases.
“I just…wasn’t sure you’d want a repeat performance,” I say carefully.
His humor vanishes. In its place is an intensity that makes me squirm out of his grasp. I cover my discomfort by grabbing a mug and pouring myself a cup of coffee.
Behind me, he says, “I want to repeat the performance for as long as you’ll let me.” I turn back as he adds, “The question is, what do you want, Lexi?”
“What do you mean?”
“I brought you here against your will, and then my father coerced you into marrying me. None of this has been your choice, and I don’t want to continue to force you into anything else you don’t want.”
“You didn’t force me into anything,” I assure him.
“No, I didn’t. You wanted me last night. Even without my wolf’s heightened senses, I could scent it, feel it, taste it. But what about tonight and tomorrow and the day after?”
“What about it?” I’m stalling. We both know it.
He steps closer, which only makes my pulse race faster. I grip the mug tightly to keep from dropping it.
“Do you want me, Lexi?” He backs me against the counter and takes the mug from my hands, setting it aside then boxing me in. “Do you want me in your bed?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
He traces my bottom lip with his thumb, his brow lifting in a sexy arch. “In your mouth?” he challenges.
I’m already turned on, but at his words, heat slams into me. “Yes.”
His thumb releases me, and his hand trails down between my thighs to brush my clit. “In your pussy?”
I swallow hard, rocking forward to meet his touch. “Yes.”
He releases me, and my disappointment must show on my face because his mouth quirks. But instead of stroking me again, his palm presses against my chest as he says, “What about in your heart?”
His question is surprisingly serious and carries so much more meaning than the ones that came before it. That was sex. This is… everything.
I lick my lips, hesitating. More than anything, I want to say yes, not because he’s turned me on enough that I’ll say what he wants, though I have a feeling it’s part of the test. I want to say yes because it’s true. But I’ve learned the hard way that, in this world, truth does not set you free.
“I want to,” I admit.
He drops his hand and steps back. Something flashes in his eyes. Disappointment or maybe hurt. It’s there and gone before I can be sure. It’s stupid, but I feel like, for once, I’m the asshole.
Before I can think of something to say to end this awkward moment, he picks up my coffee and pushes it back into my hands.
“Grey,” I begin.
