I
wiped my lips. “And that is?”
“Noah
and I had a conversation where he confessed that he had hoped for more than friendship with you.”
I
choked on my glass of water. “What? Uh, no. Wait. No—we're just friends.”
“He
was giving you time to warm up to the idea of more,” Knox said coolly.
I
started rewinding back to all of the times that we were together, and he had never once hinted he wanted more than friendship. Damn, how could I be so naive? I just automatically assumed he would mate-claim a full-blood wolf-shifter and not a hybrid like me. Which was kind of bullshit since the prejudice against mating hybrids had lessened over the centuries due to the shortage of female shifters. This was ridiculous. I gave him advice on how to handle sticky relationship issues. He could have told me how he felt. I rubbed my head. “This is fucking crazy. All these years? And why in the hell would he tell you and not me?”
Knox
got up and started clearing the dishes. “Maybe because it's something he thought that you wouldn't accept.”
Now
I was offended. I mean, shit, there was nothing about him a woman wouldn't want. He was caring, intelligent, rich, and panty-dropping hot. The whole damn package. But I did consider him to be like a brother. “There's nothing about him that I wouldn't accept.”
Knox
stopped cold with narrowed eyes.
I
shrugged. “He's hot. It's a fact.”
He
turned, calmly placing the dirty dishes onto the counter before leaning against it with arms crossed. “And?” he asked calmly.
I
leaned back in the chair with a smirk. “What do you mean by
and
? I never slept with him. Which I don't doubt he already told you.” I paused dramatically. “But I'm kind of kicking myself right now for missing out on the
Noah
experience.” I tapped my chin. “Hmmm, maybe he's not called Big Noah for nothing.” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.
I
was laughing at my joke, waiting for Knox's angry reaction. Nothing. In fact, he looked at me with such nonchalance you would’ve sworn I was talking about the weather.
“
Uh-huh.” He widened his stance. “Anything else you'd like to add before you assume the position?”
Uh-oh.
My brows raised. “What position?”
“Come
here, baby.” His voice was husky like he just woke up.
Damn
it! “And if I do? Are you going to make it worth my time?” I ran my tongue across my lips.
“Yes.”
I pursed my lips playfully. “Well, okay… if you say so.” I stood up slowly, walking up, cupping his cheek. He nuzzled my hand. Damn, it was hard to believe this man was all mine. I bit my lower lip, holding back my smile.
“Why
aren't you upset?” I asked softly.
He
pulled me closer by my jeans waistband. “Because he can't give you what you need.”
Wrapping
my arms around his thick neck, I languished in his comforting body heat. “And what do I need?”
“This
.” He swooped down, kissing me with soft strokes. His tongue running over my teeth, dueling with mine, and rendering me speechless. He was sensual. Stoking the flames. Building the anticipation fluttering in my stomach. Daring me to let go. Showing me he’d give me everything I need—but I would have to give him all of me. He’d accept nothing less.
I
reveled in the many sides to this man. Hard, rough, gentle, demanding, and dominant. I wanted it all. He was right. No man could give me what he could. I sighed, letting go. Knowing it was the only way I could have him—with no reservation. Just trusting he would give me everything I needed. I knew then that I couldn't live without him. I couldn't go back to a life of loneliness, living half a life. Not living much of a life. Fearing love.
Knox
pulled off my T-shirt, unhooking my bra with unhurried fingers. Savoring the moment and working me slowly. As soon as he grabbed my breasts with his large, rough hands, my stomach clenched with need. My head dropped forward as he fell to his knees in front of me, unzipping my jeans and yanking them down with my sheer panties. He leaned in, resting his head against my stomach, kissing it softly before running his tongue around my belly button. My knees almost buckled.
In
one swift movement, he lifted me up, sitting me on the large black granite countertop. He leaned in, grazing his lips against my neck. I leaned forward, gliding my teeth against his throat, kissing him. I wanted him inside me so bad that I could taste him on the tip of my tongue.
I
nipped and licked him. “I want you, Knox.”
He
whispered against my neck, “And you shall have me, baby. Once you understand one thing. I’m a selfish man—I don’t share.”
I
swallowed hard. “And I’m a selfish woman—and I don’t share.”
He
grabbed my face between his hands. His eyes were dark and sensual. “Now that we have that out of the way, let me show you how much I need you.”
My
hands desperately clutched his shoulders, my legs wrapping around his waist, holding him tightly against me. My nails dug into his muscled shoulders. Knox growled, pulling away from my hold to settle his face between my legs. His tongue slid into my pulsating, wet sex. I gasped with pleasure, my hands grabbing his head, my fingers digging into his scalp. The tip of his tongue circled my nub, licking and teasing it.
“Yes
.” I gasped, arching my back as he flicked my clit with such a delicious force that my ass lifted off the granite with ecstasy. My hips surged against his face. He pushed his tongue deep into me, making a low growling sound. Its hard vibration made me tremble, moving my hips faster.
Oh
. My. Gawd.
“Yes, Knox.”
“Yes
, Knox, what?” He pulled back, replacing his tongue with a thick finger.
“Give
it to me now.” He inserted a second finger into me. My thighs quivered. My head fell back as I panted like I just ran a marathon.
“Now
, is that nice?” He continued to move his fingers in and out with such precision that, for the first time in my life, I was speechless. My mind went blank as my hips thrust forward, riding his fingers hard. The need to climax was building—hovering, but he deliberately kept me in limbo.
“I
don’t give a fuck about nice. I need you now, Knox.”
When
he looked up at me, his sea-green eyes were hard. “Beg for it, Storm. I want to hear you say it.” He grasped my sex between his forefinger and thumb. “Out loud. I want your utter submission.”
I
spread my legs wider, thrusting against his fingers. My body begging to come. I knew he would keep me hovering for as long as it took me to submit. I pushed down all of the fear, the doubt, and just accepted my life would change forever with my submission. Now… I was finally ready to make it happen. Something in me snapped as I recognized and accepted his dominance.
“Please
, Knox. Make me come.” The words rushed out of my mouth. The relief of my submission made me dizzy. My fingers tightened in his hair.
“Yes
.” He growled before returning his tongue to my pulsating nub while pumping his fingers inside me.
My
panting and moans became louder. My body shook, needing just a little bit more. He knew exactly what I desired. With a twist of his finger, he sent me over the cliff, shouting and groaning until my body was spent. I looked down with wide eyes as he unzipped his jeans, pulling out his thick, long length. Damn, I still couldn’t get over how huge he was. Without pause, he pushed into me with no mercy. Stretching me. Remaking me.
“Take
all of it, Storm,” he growled in my ear.
I
wrapped my arms around his neck, letting one leg wrap around his waist, the other around his thick calf. “Give me everything you have.”
“Always
, baby. Always.”
His
rough fingers tightened around my body, digging into my back. He thrust faster, mercilessly, giving me all of him, pushing me hard toward the edge. My arms gripped him with each rough pant and growl.
“You
are mine. And I am yours,” he whispered. The words were said with such reverence, such heartfelt emotion, they anchored me. And for the first time in my life, I actually felt what the Others who were fortunate enough to find their mates talked about—the glorious but elusive feeling that overtook the body as the mystical silken tendrils wrapped around it, snapping the mate-bond in place.
I
never understood the glazed look that came to the Others’s eyes when they talked about it—saying that no words could describe it—until now. I felt the natural seamless slide of my mind and body bonding with him. Now, not only could I feel him deep inside my body, but in my soul and my mind. We were now one.
He
nipped my neck before raising his head. His eyes held mine. His body tensed and then quivered, like he too felt the hard snap of our new mate-bond. And whether he knew it or not… our souls were now entwined… forever. I slid my arms down his muscled arms. I was almost giddy. So this was the feeling my ancestors felt when they bonded with their human mate and knew it was love and it was time to reveal who they were. A surge of warmth flooded my body, pushing me over the edge with my mate, for life. He pushed one more time, seating himself so deep inside me I swore he was touching my womb.
He
leaned down, kissing my neck lightly. My body froze when I felt the graze of his teeth on the sensitive skin between my neck and shoulder. My breath hitched when he bit down slightly, not breaking the skin. My body braced as if expecting the impossible—the sting of canines sinking into me, completing the claiming. He sucked the area lightly as he pumped every bit of his essence within my womb.
He
kissed my neck gently before whispering against it. “Are you okay?”
I
smiled, running my hands across his muscled back. “Never better.” I reached over, caressing his jaw. “Now don't go getting a big ego over this… but you were absolutely amazing.”
He
kissed me on the forehead. “You inspire me to give my best.” He kissed me hard on the lips. “Are you thirsty?”
“You
just defiled me, rock star. Depleting me of energy to even think—of course I'm thirsty.” My legs felt like rubber. I wasn't sure how I was going to walk after this.
He
winked at me. “That was just round one, baby. It's going to be a really long but enjoyable night for you. Wrap your arms and legs around me. Let's get you hydrated and ready for round two.” He wrapped his arm around me, easily picking me up and walking over to the huge stainless steel Sub-Zero refrigerator. He pulled open the door and grabbed two bottles before shutting it.
I
laughed against his neck. “You think that's going to be enough?”
He
winked at me. “I'll be back for more. I'm keeping you locked up in my bedroom until one of us passes out—and it ain't going to be me.”
“That
confident, huh?” I smirked.
“It's
not confidence—it's fact.” He had walked out the kitchen and past the massive hallway in front of the elevator when we both heard the swoosh of the door opening. Knox whirled inhumanly fast. “Slide down, Storm, and stay behind me.” Hurriedly, I slid down, getting behind his massive back. His legs widened, his body shielding me from the prying eyes of an unwelcome visitor.
Jackal
and Rip stepped out of the elevator briskly but stayed within a respectful distance.
“What
the hell, Rip? I'm busy,” Knox snarled.
Jackal
and Rip sniffed the air. Their eyes widened as they took a step back. Jackal cleared his throat loudly. “We're sorry to disturb this very delicate time between you and Stormy, but Ryker needs you, pronto. There's been a serious attack at headquarters.”
Knox
just stared at them with some silent message passing between them. They both shrugged. Knox sighed heavily. “Give me a minute alone with Storm and I'll meet you downstairs,” he growled.
I
opened a bottle of water, drinking thirstily and watching as Jackal and Rip hustled into the elevator, looking at me pensively while Knox stood tensely, waiting for the elevator door to close. And with the closure, his body relaxed from its protective posture.
I
bit my bottom lip worriedly. The attacks had to have something to do with a wolf-shifter war. They were always fighting over something. If it wasn't power, it was territory. It just never ended. “I don't understand. Why do you have to go?” I asked quickly. This was wolf-shifter business. A human had no place in it. The thought of him getting involved or hurt set my teeth on edge.
Silently,
he reached down, swinging me over his shoulders, striding down the long hallway.
“Put
me down, Knox.” I pounded on his back. “You didn't answer my question.” For some reason, all I could think of was some wolf-shifter ripping him apart, killing him.