“Trey,” Sadie moaned, going soft.
He stopped the motions against her clit, slowed down and wrapped his arm around her. She rested her weight against him, bowing her head as she took deep breaths. He kept moving, not wanting the connection to sever. He’d finally found his place. After all his trials and tribulations he’d found home. His cock softened and he reluctantly pulled away. The head popped free, leaving her open and vulnerable.
“You okay?” he asked, fighting for breath of his own.
She nodded and lifted her torso so she wasn’t bent at the waist. He reached above them to return the streams of water to their bodies. Her sigh was one of relief and satisfaction. A smile spread across his face, happiness radiating over him like the rays of the sun.
This was as good as life could get. Here, with her.
“Just rest.” He ran his hand down the length of her back, fingers drifting over the delicate arch of her spine. He rested his thumbs in the dimples in her lower back and made a mental note to touch them next time he fucked her like this. “I’m going to clean you up.”
Another surprise—she didn’t protest or try to deny him. In fact when he retrieved the washcloth she parted her thighs. He cleaned away his semen, lovingly caressing her thigh and lower back as he did. Knowing her ass was sensitive, he made sure to be tender, washing the area carefully. He made sure she was cared for before he cleaned himself, swiping at his cock.
Tossing the cloth aside, he returned to her.
She pivoted from the wall and faced him, a curious and shy expression on her face. He wasn’t sure what put it there but he liked it. He wanted her to feel comfortable around him, even when she was exposed and uncertain. She needed to know she didn’t always have to be ferocious or deadly. Not with him. When they were alone she was always free and safe to let her guard down.
An instinct he was born with told him to hold her. She needed it as much as he did.
He opened his arms and she stepped into them. They swayed in the shower, cocooned by the hot steam. He didn’t want to pull the curtain aside and face the world but they couldn’t hide forever. Emotions tugged at his heart, telling him he needed to share how he felt.
This had to be what people had told him about.
This has to be how Emory and Diskant felt about their mates.
He’d never been in love before but he couldn’t imagine anything that was more intense.
“You don’t have to say it,” she whispered, her lips drifting over his neck, repeating his earlier words. “I already know.”
He held his breath when her tongue danced over his skin, anticipating her bite. His cock remained soft but he knew he’d come the instant she bit him. He felt drained from what she’d taken earlier but he didn’t have it in him to tell her no. With a soft kiss to his pulse, she drew away. His confusion must have shown because she immediately rested a hand on his chest, her palm directly over his heart.
“Next time.” Tilting her head to peer up at him, she said, “You need to be strong for what’s coming.”
Just like that, everything came rushing back.
His growl came naturally. “I know I said you’d have to fight for me but I’m not sure that’s best. We have a little time left. We can think of something else.”
“Trey.” This close, he could see how full and dark her lashes were. “I’d tell you if I didn’t think I could handle myself. I’m not worried for me. I’m worried for you.”
“Don’t be.” The last thing she needed to worry about was him. “Worst case scenario? They’ll make me leave. Everything considered it might not be a bad thing. We wouldn’t be tied down. We could go wherever we want.”
“And you’d be miserable.” Her fingers whispered over his chest. “I know you need them. They’re all you’ve ever known. And that’s understandable. It’s who you are. It’s what’s in your blood. I’ll do my best to prove myself. If Diskant thinks we can do it—if you believe you can do it—then we will.”
“I don’t deserve you.” The words came right out, uncensored.
“I didn’t think you did either but I’m starting to warm up to the idea.” She shook her head when he tried to respond. “No more words. Let’s just be for a while.”
She lifted to the tips of her toes and he bent his head. Their lips met, soft and sweet. He cradled her to him and she slid her hands around his neck. Once again she was right. Nothing had ever been better. Their mating was like a key sliding into a lock. Doors opened, the world changed. Everything faded away but the woman in his arms, her skin warm and slippery from the water. Her mouth opened and he swept his tongue over her lower lip, asking for more.
“I’ll give you more, don’t worry,” she whispered in his mind. “Once we settle accounts we’ll have all the time in the world.”
He couldn’t prevent the fears that raced through his head. If something happened to her he wouldn’t be able to survive the loss. If she was aware of what he was thinking she didn’t let on, deepening the kiss.
And that was a good thing.
He didn’t want her to see him trying to imagine a world without her in it.
Chapter Thirteen
Diskant Black had seen a lot of serious shit in his life, from battles to blood feuds. As an Omega—with the ability to sense other beasts and control most shifters—not much surprised him. Then his mate had come along, flipped him on his head and pretty much caused the world to start spinning in the opposite fucking direction. Like dominos, things had tumbled and fallen one by one. He’d thought he’d finally gotten things worked out when Sadie’d showed up with her friend in tow.
Trey and Nathan. Mated to fucking vampires.
He raked his fingers through his hair, glaring at the phone.
Craig Newlander had agreed to help, but as always the bastard was asking questions. It was the truce Diskant had made with the head of the Villati—a group of humans who researched and chronicled information on all things supernatural. Each and every time he’d had to reach out to Craig, Diskant’s skin had crawled. He didn’t like the man, not one fucking bit.
Heaviness weighed on his shoulders.
Nathan would want to know what was going on, and he’d given his word to give the male a say in things. Diskant wasn’t sure how Nathan would take the news. In a few hours he’d have to depart with Leigh. Craig had played phone tag with the enclave but eventually the fucker had come through. The enclave said they could protect Leigh. Craig even indicated they were curious about the woman when they’d learned of her circumstances. Of course Diskant had kept her ability a secret, saying only that she’d been changed against her will and needed a safe place from others like her.
His eyes closed, the images that Sadie’d shown him flashing through his head.
Fear. Horror. Devastation. Loss.
Leigh had suffered in ways he didn’t want to ponder too heavily. He only wished he could convey it to Nathan in a way that wouldn’t destroy the man. The Beta was unstable enough. Much more and he’d lose control over his wolf. If and when that happened, Nathan would likely destroy any chance he had with his female.
Opening his lids, Diskant reclined in his chair.
The office usually calmed him. It was a quiet place where he could think things through. Now the space seemed almost constrictive, the walls closing in on him while he waited for the pack to arrive. He had no idea how they’d react to Sadie. After what had happened with Mary they’d probably get the fuck out of town. Without the numbers he needed to form a proper guard, he couldn’t give his mate or child safety.