~ LYRA ~
On some level, I know what I’m doing is inappropriate. I’m in bed with a man I only know from my dreams. Even though I understand why—thanks to all his explanations and the endless contemplation I’ve been doing inside my head—rationalizing what I’m experiencing still isn’t easy. "Ronan," I whisper, making sure he’s real and not a figment of my imagination. My body is on fire, my nipples and pussy more sensitive than they’ve ever been in my life. Even the chilled temperature of the room feels painful brushing against my naked skin. "Hold on, honey." Inhaling me like his life depends on it—which makes my pussy clench and gush even more juices—Ronan's breath begins to caress my skin, whispering over the lips of my sex. Before I can beg him to eat me already, his tongue glides along my seam in one long, deliberate lick that parts the lips of my overly-drenched vagina. Fiery wisps follow his touch, leaving an impression behind. And before I know it, I'm arching my back, fisting the soft blanket beneath my hands, and crying out at the amazing sensations he's forcing my body to experience. Then he pulls away, licking his lips. "You’re so fucking sweet. Just like honey." I’m ready to beg for more when he dips his head a second time. His tongue works its enchantment, licking up and down my slit, softening the burn in my pussy and replacing it with dizzying sensations I can't begin to describe. He changes the motion, alternating with long strokes between my labia and shallow dives at the mouth of my sex. Fresh arousal slams into me as heat spreads from my belly to the tips of my toes, consuming me in a sexual haze. Yes. Oh, freaking yes. This is what I’ve dreamed about, what I’ve waited so long for. Up and down, he licks, growling as he laps up my juices, his fingers digging into my ass. I don’t think the feeling can get any better until he scoots up and the channel of his mouth surrounds my clit. I wriggle on the bed when he starts to suck, caught in a whirlpool of desire and want. His tongue flicks the oversensitive nub, moving over it hard and fast. "Oh! Ronan!" I cry as stars glow before my eyes, a fireball erupting from the inside out. More loud shrieking echoes in my ears, buzzing on and on. It’s not until the sound softens that I realize it's I who’s crying out, my voice sounding far away. Suddenly, I feel something stir inside me. It reaches out to the man giving me pleasure, wanting to make him a part of me. I start to question what I feel when Ronan growls, the sound sexy although it should be frightening. "Again," I hear Ronan snarl, lapping at my wet folds with even more ferocity, whisking his tongue up and down like he needs every drop or he'll die. "Come for me again." I gasp in surprise that I had come without even knowing—and in lust when I feel his finger stroke against the opening of my pussy, gathering moisture before easing it inside my hot channel. If I’d thought his tongue felt amazing, the pressure of his thick finger parting me is extraordinary. And a new, unrestrained part of me wants more. A scent fills my nose—wild and delicious. Unable to help myself, I draw a deep breath and realize it’s coming from Ronan. He already smelled wonderful, but now... it’s so, so good. My mouth waters, taste buds coming to life, eager for a sample of his cock. I want to feel the weight of his erection in my mouth, desperate to savor him in reality and not in a dream. As though he’s aware of my desires, he pulls away and looks at me. His irises are no longer human, glowing in the dark, muscles rock-hard and tense. He could tear me apart if he changed, capable of ripping my throat in two with his teeth. I should be scared to death, not ready to flip him over so I can pay back the oral stimulation. "Don’t even think about it, mate," he murmurs, studying me while his finger glides into my sex, the pads kneading against the clasping borders as though searching for something. "You’ll take what I want to give you. I know what you need. Don’t test Raw. Not yet." Test Raw? Who the hell is Raw? "My wolf," he clarifies as if reading my mind, and I breathe a slight, "Oh." It’s not in my nature to flirt with danger. Yes, I came to his tattoo shop. But I hadn’t known it would lead to this. Had I? Yes, a voice stirs to life inside me, startling in its intensity. You did. "Take it easy, honey," Ronan says, stroking my thigh with his free hand. I arch my back, wanting to feel his hand traveling over my skin, fueling the flame blasting through my veins. The finger that’s lodged inside me rubs a spot that causes me to moan, and Ronan growls louder, thrusting his finger into my moist heat harder, hitting that tender area over and over again. Then he brings his mouth to my sex again and begins to taunt me with licks and nips, the tip of his tongue wandering along my lips. Quakes start in my belly, blustering through my torso and limbs, making it impossible to remain still. The hand on my thigh moves and Ronan splays his fingers over my stomach, keeping me in place as he laves at my pussy. The sharp edge of his teeth scrapes against my exposed folds, creating an oddly pleasurable pain. When he wraps his lips around my clit and sucks, my body becomes pure light, shattering into a trillion tiny fractions. I thrash on the bed, releasing the covers and burying my fingers in his hair. The flicks of his tongue ease, but he doesn’t relent, extending my orgasm, taking me higher. It shouldn’t be possible, but the mind-blowing feeling repeats itself. Another climax takes the place of the first, the sensations stronger this time. I screw my eyes shut, crying out, grasping his hair, and holding on to him like an anchor. Wave upon wave of bliss caresses me, hot and electric, rushing through me like exploding sparks of fire. The dizzying surge slowly fades, leaving me panting, and Ronan presses one final kiss to my pussy. He leaves a trail of kisses along the delicate bones of my pelvis, sliding his lips over my stomach, his tongue darting out to tease my navel. I sigh, pulling him closer, basking in the feel of his warm skin and the careful way he pulls his finger from my still-clenching depths. "Did that help to take the edge off?" he asks as he nuzzles my breast, the bristle on his chin skimming over my pointed nipple. Did it ever? I ask myself before answering with a lazy, "Mm-hmm." His mouth hovers over my pinpoint nipples, his breath hot against the pebbled points as he whispers, "Then you’re right where I want you."~ LYRA ~ I look into Ronan's eyes and smile. "I agree with you, but endangerment is kind of a stretch, don't you think?" Ronan huffs before growling, "If you hadn't found me, honey, you'd be singing a very different tune right now." "So you keep telling me," I growl right back. It seems Ronan holds the trigger to my temper. "Maybe if you repeat yourself a few more times, the message will stick." I immediately feel the energy in the room shift and glance up to find everyone watching our exchange with a mix of curiosity and humor. Especially the mated males. It's as though they've been waiting a long time for this moment. Normally, I hate being the center of attention, but since I'm already the elephant in the room, I might as well speak my mind. "If you declare her as your mate during the hunt, no one can question it," a big male—Barron, I remember—says to Ronan, getting the conversation back on track. "If her protector puts his seal on the match in front of local Alphas, it's a d
~ RONAN ~ "How on earth did Selene know you were going to go sneaking around their pack for information?" I bark, already beyond pissed. Killan rubs the back of his neck. "It seems Selene has something up her sleeve because she came looking for you at the tattoo parlor last night. And when I refused to tell her where you were, she subtly threatened us. I think she has spies watching because when I went to The Grit, Magnus’s men were already there. I managed to eavesdrop on a conversation that confirmed Selene was the informant before I was told to leave. Magnus spread the word that something was going down. It seems the wrong people got the message and sent our friend there," Killan points at the vampire, Jude, "to see what was what. I tried to call and warn you, but apparently, you were too busy to answer your goddamn phone." "So Magnus doesn’t know for sure yet?" I ask. Killan’s gaze briefly darts over to Lyra. "It seems like it. It also seems like the Crimson Court doesn’t
~ LYRA ~ Ronan's button fly isn’t any trouble to undo. The damn thing parts like a breeze when I tug at the fastener. He lifts his hips, helping me out, and I know it won’t take much to reveal his straining erection. He hasn’t bothered with underwear. A couple of well-timed tugs, and he’ll be free. And once he removes my jeans, nothing will stand in our way. I’ll urge him to take me hard and fast, needing to feel him plunging into me over and over again. Realization crashes over me and my fingers still. "Oh shit! We need a condom," I blurt out, my cheeks heating when his silken flesh slaps into my hand, reminding me just how crazy I almost was. Ronan gazes at me, confusion in his eyes. "What?" "I’m not on a pill." "You don't have to worry about that." He pinches my nipples through my bra, causing me to gasp, passion and sexual hunger trying to override reason. "Trust me." I do trust him—more than he probably realizes—but when it comes to this, the risks are too high. The
~ RONAN ~ My phone hums for the umpteenth time, but I ignore it. Lowering my head, I brush my lips over Lyra's and nearly lose control when she moans into my mouth, sagging against me. When she bites my bottom lip, all bets go off. My woman wants me, and nothing—nothing—is more important than her happiness. I'll make sure she has no reason to fear, no reason to worry, and certainly no reason to feel unsatisfied. I'll be the one to chase the nightmares away and flood her world with pleasure. The man she can lean on, no matter what. No one will ever harm her. If they try, I'll kill them. The brush of her fingers across my chest combined with the scent of her arousal nearly drops me to my knees. I yank her closer, my hands gripping her hips. A breeze from the nearby water sweeps past us, carrying her scent and merging it with the natural world, and I growl—consumed by the feel and taste of my mate. When her hand drifts down my
~ RONAN ~ Lyra exhales, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face at her awed expression. "It’s gorgeous here." "Come on." I lead the way, heading down the patio stairs. I finally relax when I feel the tension slowly lifting from the air as Lyra draws in the earthy scent of pine, soil, and the songs of birds echoing in the background. Wolves are comforted by open spaces, and thankfully, this change in scenery seems to be doing the trick for her—even if she’s not fully aware of it yet. "Where are we going?" she asks. "For a walk," I say simply, continuing along the leaf-strewn path. "I need to call Killan soon to bring us supplies. But I figured we should talk first." Despite the nagging instinct to contact my Beta right away, getting Lyra grounded comes first. Once she’s settled in and breathing easier, I’ll deal with logistics. "Who’s Killan?" Her brows pinch as she recalls. "Is he the man I met at Moonmark Ink?" "That’s him," I say, shooting her a grin. There’s
~ RONAN ~ I lead Lyra inside the elegant little cottage I use when I need time alone, relaxing slightly as I step into the space. I wait until she crosses the threshold before closing the door behind her. I can’t stop myself from assessing her movements or scenting the air for any hint of her emotions. She’s nervous. I can tell. She twirls slowly, her gaze sweeping over the connected living room and kitchen before roaming up toward the narrow staircase that leads to the bathroom nestled upstairs. The moment I saw this property, I knew I had to have it. It’s not extravagant, but it’s the perfect hideaway—one I only ever visit when I need to clear my head. Aside from Killan, no one else knows about it. Lyra lets out a soft sneeze and glances up at me, and I immediately wish I’d had time to come air out the place before now. Normally, I visit during the warmer months, keep the back door open to the porch, shift, and explore the twelve acres of peace and trees. But I've only been here