Chapter 9

Those last few seconds were the longest she’d ever experienced. 

“Well, well,” Brendan said, appearing behind her suddenly, emerging from the shadows, “still lost, are we, love?” 

She pouted, “No.” A twinge of excitement pulsed in her stomach, one she tried to push aside. She shouldn’t be here; she should have just left and not let the bond pull her back in. 

Brendan turned her around and pushed her against the wall. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“How did you find me so fast?” she asked, completely ignoring his question as she looked deep into his eyes.

He chuckled, “I was following you.” He moved her hair out of her face, “You were doing really well,” he hummed, pressing his palms against the wall, trapping her in place, “but then you suddenly went right past the exit. What happened there?”

Suki’s eyes widened, “I…” She shook her head, “Wait, how could I not sense you were near me?”

A single shrug, “It must be one of the witches’ spells,” his tone became dull as he spoke, turning his head to avoid her eyes. 

“Erin told me the spells they used; there was nothing about blocking our senses, only the telepathy.” Her face became sullen as she realised he was hiding something. “Tell me.”

“It’s nothing.”

She placed her hands on his chest, moving slowly up his neck and cupping his face to make him look at her. “Then why won’t you look at me?” 

Brendan stiffened for a moment but then melted into her touch, leaning against her palm. A softness lingered in his eyes as he scanned her face, “I don’t want to lie to you.” 

“Then don’t.” 

“Love…” He groaned, “Let’s just say, I come from a powerful bloodline.”

Her brows furrowed, “An Alpha bloodline?”

He shook his head.

“Beta?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he gripped her waist, “I’m a Rogue now, that’s all I’ll ever be.”

Releasing her hold, Suki rests her hands on his shoulders, “So, the bloodline you descended from, it gave you extra power?”

“More or less, it’s almost like a special ability people of my home pack can obtain if they’re really powerful. I can conceal myself within the shadows, render sounds and smells—any senses really—null, so no one knows I’m coming.” 

“Wow… That’s incredible.”

“Yeah…”

“What pack do you originate from?”

“I don’t like talking about this,” he growled, “change the subject.” 

Suki’s hands dropped to her side, and she pushed herself against the wall as his rage-filled tone flustered.

Brendan tilted his head, “What? Afraid of me now?” He inched his body closer to her, “Did you forget I’m a Rogue, that I did wrong and was banished to live with that shameful title for the rest of my life, hm?” More rage was emitting from his body like a second scent. 

A lump formed in her throat, realising she was alone with someone who was considered dangerous and a threat, someone who betrayed his home pack for reasons she still didn’t know. She forgot that fact, especially because the bond made her see him differently. 

He wasn’t a rebellious teen or a token ‘bad boy’. He was a Rogue—completely and utterly dangerous. 

Even knowing that, she still wanted to be close to him. Perhaps the bond was betraying her, shielding her right judgment and putting her in harm’s way. 

She gazed down at his lips for a moment, only mere inches away from hers. “You won’t hurt me,” she swallowed thickly.

“You don’t sound very convinced about that,” Brendan stroked her cheek, “but you’re right, love, I won’t hurt you.” 

“I know there’s more to your story. Why won’t you tell me?”

Rolling his eyes, “I told you, I don’t like talking about it.” 

“I’m your mate, if you can’t tell me then—”

Brendan laughed, “Playing the mate card, love, seriously?” He placed a hand on her chest, inching his hand towards her throat, “Do you think I can’t smell the touch of that asshole warrior all over you? Masking it with that floral soap did nothing, not for me. I know your scent all too well. I know when it’s tainted with someone else.”

“Brendan…” Her breathing became heavy. 

Holding her neck loosely, he brings his mouth to her ear as he whispers raspily, “Do you realise how much willpower it’s taking me not to rip off your clothes right now and remove that scent off you? I could replace it with a better scent.”

She whimpered, “Bren—”

“That’s why you walked away from the exit, wasn’t it, love?” He pressed his lips against her ear and hummed. “You wanted to see if I would follow through with my little threat. Do you want me to claim you? How about I make you scream my name?”

She bit her lower lip, “I…” 

Arching a brow, “Yes?” He pulled his head back slightly to meet her gaze. 

Suki’s mouth fell ajar, but no words came out. 

“How often do you think about me?” He held her chin, dragging his thumb across her lips. “I can’t get you out of my head, and it worsens when I imagine what I want to do to you… the number of times I’ve had to please myself a day at the thought of you.” 

“Seriously?” she asked, shocked. 

He nodded, “I think about fingering you, how it would feel when you squeeze against my fingers, I want to taste how much you enjoy me fucking you with my tongue, I want to feel your orgasm on my dick again and again and again, squeezing tightly from all the pleasure I give you.” Tracing his finger down her chest and over her breast, pausing at her pebbled nipple. “Fuck,” he groaned. “You’re horny right now, aren’t you, love?”

Her cheeks burned. “I…” Suki whimpered as Brendan pinched her nipple between his fingers, then gripped her whole breast. “Brendan, I haven’t…” she paused, feeling flustered. 

“I know,” he said softly. A kindness lingered within him, one he did very well to conceal, but it seemed to make an occasional appearance around Suki. 

“I want to… when the bond is sealed. I mean, our situation—my situation—it’s—” 

“I know.” 

She sighed, “But you’re making it really difficult right now…”

Brendan’s ego beamed through his grin, “Are you enjoying me playing with your tits?” He squeezed a little tighter, pushing another moan out of Suki. “Because I want to play with more than just these.” 

Throwing her head back, she writhed, “Yes,” she said in a demanding tone, “more.”

“What?”

“Give me more,” she breathed. “I need more, right now, before I change my mind.” 

Without hesitation, Brendan cupped his hand on the back of Suki’s neck and pulled her mouth to his, kissing her intensely and desperately, like there’s no time to waste. 

Suki whined against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck as his hands moved down her body. Her body tingled at his touch. How could two men have such an impact on her just by touching her so softly, so simply? 

More. She demanded in her mind, forgetting they couldn’t hear each other within the walls of the maze.

Yet, somehow, his feral hunger responded to her demands, gripping her rear and hoisting her up in the air, encouraging her to wrap her legs around his middle. Brendan pushed her back against the wall, pressing his groin against her centre. 

Parting from their kiss, Suki panted, “Is that… Are you…?”

“I told you just the thought of you makes me so fucking hard. This—” he looked down, encouraging Suki to do the same, as he grinds his hardness against her through their clothes, “—is a fucking tease but makes me feel like my head’s in the clouds. You’re a high I haven’t even experienced yet, and I know the minute I have you, I won’t be able to stop. I’ll be addicted.”

All the air had escaped from Suki, and she didn’t care. “I need to feel you,” she exhaled. “I need to feel more of you.” 

“Love, you’re heated,” Brendan’s brows furrowed, “you don’t realise what you’re saying.” 

“Yes… I do,” She brushed her lips against his and whispered, “Please,” moving over to his ear, “please…” Grazing her teeth along his earlobe, she gently bit down. 

Not being able to hold back anymore, he placed her on the bench and hovered over, lifting her dress to expose her lacey underwear. “Fuck, baby, you’re driving me crazy,” Brendan growled, planting another kiss on her lips. 

As his finger brushed across the thin fabric shielding her core, Suki’s voice shuddered, “N-No sex…” 

Brendan shook his head slowly, “No sex,” he repeated in a whisper, “but… just a taste. Can I taste you, love?”

She didn’t need a second to think about it; her mind was fogged with lust and hunger; her inner wolf instinct begging for her to connect with her mate in any way possible. “Yes… Yes.” 

He groaned, palming his trousers to readjust himself. Kissing her on the lips once more, then inching down to her neck… then her chest… her stomach… and then—

“Suki?!” 

Snapping her head towards the voice, Suki’s eyes bulged as she saw Erin—who had clearly come looking for her—standing further down the pathway but close enough to see everything clearly, looking absolutely mortified at the sight before her. 

“What the hell is going on?!”