Page 49 of Crossed Fates
Then a firmer kiss, one underlined inwant.
I gripped her hip, holding her to me as I returned the embrace, my tongue dancing along the seam of her mouth, seeking entry. She parted for me like a good little wolf and allowed me to explore her with open curiosity.
This was different from before.
Less urgent.
Almost…sweeter.
A subtle exploration, a coaxing, a softening in resolves.
“Alaric,” she whispered.
“Makayla,” I returned, inhaling her addictive scent.
She swallowed, her eyes closed as she relaxed into me. We didn’t push boundaries or demand more, just held on to one another, our wolves providing unspoken comfort as we remained locked in an intimate position.
It felt like seconds passed when the oven beeped to announce it was up to temperature. Then Makayla released me and stepped away. I allowed it because I needed the space. I needed my control. Shit, I needed my damn brain.
She’d just… obliterated me with a subtle touch.
My walls all tumbled down at her feet, leaving me open and vulnerable in a way that I didn’t understand. I quickly worked to restore them, but somehow I knew she’d left herself a backdoor entrance. She’d be able to destroy me again with another little flick of her tongue.
And that scared the shit out of me.
“It’s been a really long day,” I said, my voice gruff. “After we eat, we need to sleep.”
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “Yeah.”
“Good,” I replied, unsure of what I actually meant by that. It just sounded right, so I paired it with a nod.
Then I prepared the table.
Waited for the food to finish.
And ate with Makayla in silence.
By the end of our meal, my shoulders were no longer lined with tension and I was starting to feel like myself again. Which made it easy to say good night to Makayla without issuing an invitation for something more. She muttered a similar response. Then we locked ourselves inside our respective bedrooms.
And didn’t speak for the rest of the night.
Makayla
Where am I?I wondered as I stared at the pale ceiling above me.
My nose twitched, the scent of trees and man overwhelming my senses.
The memories of yesterday, or maybe two days ago at this point, all assaulted me at once.
I palmed my eyes, groaning as my limbs protested any and all movement. Probably because I hadn’t slept in… well, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d experienced such a thorough night’s rest. Lowering one hand, I peeked at the windows, noting the late afternoon sun.
Yeah, I’d totally slept for at least twelve hours.
And now all I wanted to do was sleep more.
Coffee,I decided, rolling onto my side.Coffee is good. Coffee is God. Coffee is life. Yes, coffee.
I tumbled off the mattress onto my bare feet. The sweatpants Alaric had given me were at the foot of the bed. I left them there in favor of just wearing his T-shirt. It smelled like him. Unlike the pants, which smelled like another woman.
