by Merel Pierce
I could understand her reasoning. The thought of being with an Alpha worse than my father sent chills down my spine. But she could have told me when my dad died.
“I would have done exactly the same to protect my Nala.”
We both shot our heads around in surprise as Bain strolled into the room. “I’m sorry to intrude,” he said. “I overheard on my way to get some water. I shouldn’t have interrupted. This isn’t any of my business. Excuse me.”
“No need to apologize, Bain,” my mother said. “This is your home now, and Dahlia is your mate. The sooner we all get used to that, the better.” She stood up and patted him on the shoulder as she walked past. “Take a seat. I’ll fetch you some water. Oh, and please call me Merel.”
Bain walked over to me. “May I?” he asked, gesturing to the seat next to me. I drank in the body of the god who stood before me. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a light blue t-shirt, and I don’t think he could have looked any sexier.
Maybe if he lost the shirt? Dahlia!
When my eyes finally reached his, he had one eyebrow raised and cocky smirk on his face. He’d clearly noticed I was checking him out.
As my cheeks flushed, I cleared my throat and moved farther up the couch. The space beside me would have fit a normal-sized man, but this guy was something else.
“Of course. Please, sit.”
“Thank you.”
He sat down, then proceeded to lift his arm and sniff his armpit. I turned my head away. What the hell is he doing?
When I looked back at him, he burst out laughing. His laugh was so infectious, not to mention adorable, but I managed to keep the shocked and slightly disgusted expression on my face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.
“Did you just sniff your armpit?”
He cleared his throat and blushed. “You moved so far up the couch I thought maybe I smelled bad.”
“You smell delicious.” I was surprised at how quickly and seductively I blurted it out. Sure, I was used to being that way with Betas, but around Bain, I was a fumbling mess.
His lips curled into a sexy smile as he leaned in. My heart pounded and I closed my eyes, anticipating his warm kiss.
A kiss that didn’t come.
I heard a pathetic snarl, then the room filled with Bain’s booming growl as he ripped his hand away from my face. My eyes shot open just in time to see him fly across the room and tackle Jaxon.
I rolled my eyes as their bodies hit the hardwood floor of the entrance hall with a thunderous crack.
Crap, why the hell is he here?
Chapter Eight
Bain had his fist pulled high into the air above Jaxon’s face.
“Bain, enough, please,” I pleaded as I placed my hand on his enormous bicep. He looked up into my eyes, and with a harsh snort, he unclenched his fist.
He turned back to a terrified Jaxon and said, “There is nothing left here for you. Do you understand?”
Jaxon glanced up at me, maybe hoping I’d disagree with Bain. I walked over to the front door and opened it. Bain stood, allowing Jaxon to get up off the floor.
“I think it’s time for you to leave,” I said, not even bothering to look at him.
“Lia? What about us?”
Us? Is he joking?
“There is no us, Jaxon,” I said as calmly as I could. I wanted to scream at him, let all my pain and frustration out, but that would escalate the situation. I didn’t want to wake Nala and have her see this. The girl had probably seen so much already, and this was supposed to be her safe place. I never had a safe place, but I intended to create one for her.
“You heard the lady,” Bain said, placing his hand on Jaxon’s arm.
“Get your filthy slave hands off me!” Jaxon yelled as he yanked his arm out of Bain's grip. He stormed past me and out the door, then paused for a second before he turned to face me.
“Lia, please…”
I didn’t give him a chance to finish. I slammed the door right in his stupid face.
“I apologize for my outburst, Merel. After what you told me about him, I couldn’t control myself. I had no right to behave like that in your house. I’m sorry.”
When I looked, Bain was holding onto my mom’s hands. The guy was just so smooth.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” she assured him. “You were protecting Dahlia, and you showed amazing restraint. I am so happy that Dahlia has found such a kind and caring mate.”
Who’d have thought the worst day of my life could turn into the greatest? I now had a family, however crazy that sounded, and I was excited for our future.
I could have stayed angry and bitter with my mom for lying to me and drugging me, but I figured if she hadn’t done what she did, I may have ended up settled down with some scumbag Alpha years ago. I may never have met Bain or Nala, and that thought turned my stomach. It had only been one night, but I knew that they were my future, my family. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
“Daddy? I’m thirsty.” Nala called, rubbing her tired eyes from the top of the stairs.
“Okay, sweetheart, I’ll be right up,” he replied, such love and devotion in his voice.
My mom placed her hand on his arm. “It’s okay, I’ll settle her in on my way to bed. I think you two have a lot to discuss.”
She fetched some water from the kitchen, then headed upstairs. I linked my fingers with Bain’s and guided him toward the stairs. He hesitated a little, but with a smile I tugged at his hand, letting him know it was okay.
He followed me up the stairs and down the corridor. I guided him to my bedroom, and once inside, I gently closed the door.
I made my way to the bed and threw myself on it. I expected Bain to join me, but when I looked up, he was standing frozen by the door, a nervous look on his face.
I sat up and lifted my arm. Shoving my nose into my armpit, I took a huge whiff. Bain chuckled.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, you’re so far away, I thought maybe I stank or something.”
With a giant smile, he shook his head at me. I tapped the bed beside me, inviting him to sit.
He strolled over and sat down on the bed. The weight of him dipped my mattress, making me fall into him. He cleared his throat and moved over slightly.
The guy was more nervous than I was. I never thought I’d see the day—a shy Alpha. I was used to taking charge in the bedroom. Betas weren’t exactly great at being dominant, but I didn’t expect to be like that with an Alpha. I surprisingly liked the idea, though.
With one swift move, I lifted my leg and swung it over him, pressing my hands against his hard chest for balance. I watched in fascination as blood rushed to his cheeks. With his head tilted down slightly, he opened his beautiful green eyes to gaze up at me. He looked so nervous, and as I slid my hands up his chest, he groaned, then threw himself back on the bed. I wasn’t used to that kind of reaction to my advances.
“Um…” I said awkwardly as I lifted my leg to get off him.
“Don’t!” His voice dripped with dominance.
“Sorry, don’t what?”
He slid his hands around my waist and pulled me back onto him. “Don’t move,” he replied as he pushed me down onto his lap.
My eyes flew open when his hard cock pressed against my crotch. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, not moving or talking, just lying there. I sat on his lap in complete and utter silence, mainly because I didn’t have a clue what he wanted. I knew that he was turned on, so he clearly wanted me, but he wasn’t making a move.
So, I waited, and waited, and waited.
This is so uncomfortable, I thought as I wiggled my hips a little. He let out a rumbling growl as I rubbed against his contained beast. I hadn’t done it to tease him. I was just trying to get some feeling back into my legs and butt cheeks. My ass had gone numb from straddling him. Bain was really wide, and I wasn’t used to sitting in that position for long. Typically there would’ve been a lot
of movement.
Damn it, I’ve had enough of this.
“Bain?”
“Uh-huh?”
“What are you doing?”
“Lying on your bed with you wiggling away on my lap.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t keep a grin from forming on my face. “Yes, I’m well aware of that. But why?”
He smirked and popped one eye open to peer at me. I placed my hands on my hips and gave him a scowl. He chuckled as he closed his eye again and went back to just lying there. But now he was snoring.
I knew he was faking, so I slapped his chest and whined, “Hey!”
He sat up faster than lighting and grabbed my waist. He lifted me up, threw me onto the bed, and came to rest above me. I couldn’t help but giggle when he pinned my arms above my head.
“Did you just slap me?” he purred.
“Yes. What you gonna do about it?”
“I’m gonna punish you.”
My bud began to pound at the thought and my mind raced, wondering what he was going to do to me.
He pushed my arms together and held them in one of his giant hands. With his free hand, he delicately brushed down my arm until he reached my chest. I waited for him to cup my breast, but that didn’t happen. Instead he continued past, then stopped at my waist.
I furrowed my brow at him, curious to know what he was planning. His lips curled into a smirk as he lifted my top, revealing my stomach.
There were so many dirty thoughts racing through mind, visions of things that I prayed he'd do to me, but none of them included what he actually did.
I wailed with laughter as he dug his fingers into the soft flesh under my ribs and wriggled them viciously. The idiot was tickling me.
I kicked my legs and thrashed around, trying to break free, but the man was too strong and too heavy for me to budge.
“Bain…” I choked out between gasps of air.
“Yes?” he said in a mocking tone as he continued his onslaught.
“Stop!”
“Are you sorry for slapping me?”
“Yes!”
“I didn’t quite catch that.” He ceased tickling me and cupped his hand around his ear.
After a few gulps of air, I looked up at him. The smile on his face was huge. He was enjoying this way too much.
I didn’t want to apologize for slapping him—the jerk deserved it for pretending to fall asleep, so I closed my eyes and stayed silent, just like he'd done earlier.
“Oh, the silent treatment, huh? That’s okay, I know how to get you screaming.”
My eyes flew open, half-hoping he’d meant it in a sexual way, but I knew that was too good to be true. His hand was hovering above me, fingers wiggling, ready to tickle me again. I couldn’t take it. I knew if he did it again, I would definitely pee myself, and we weren’t far enough into our relationship for that level of nastiness.
“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry for slapping you. Bain, please,” I begged him.
“I love it when you say my name.”
He lunged forward, smashing his lips onto mine. It was so unexpected that it took my breath away. I inhaled deeply through my nose, taking in much-needed oxygen and his delicious musky scent.
His perfectly soft lips caressed mine. His tongue swept across my bottom lip, politely begging to be let in. I agreed, parting my lips, allowing his entry into my mouth where my own tongue was eagerly waiting.
We kissed each other with such passion that the world around us melted away. He loosened his grip on my arms, allowing me to pull them free. I placed my hands on his strong jaw and slid them behind his head, entwining my fingers in his golden hair. Tugging slightly, I pulled him deeper into the kiss and groaned with disappointment when he pulled away.
Luckily for me, it didn’t last long. He leaned back in and began kissing my neck.
He found the soft spot between my neck and my shoulder and roughly sucked it into his mouth. An intense energy surged through my body and blew my mind. It was a mix of heat and electricity that I had never felt before, nor could I begin to explain it.
As he sucked harder, his tongue massaged my skin, and I couldn’t believe it, but my bud was throbbing, slick pooling inside me. How is this even possible? I thought as another moan slipped out of me, making Bain suck on my neck even harder.
I writhed on the bed beneath my enormous Alpha as he cupped my breast, pinching my nipple and making me moan. I was on the verge of my very first orgasm and he hadn’t even touched my bud, let alone been inside me.
I ran my hand through his hair while my other clutched a fistful of my duvet. My breaths coming now in pathetic pants, I let out another moan. He sucked harder still, but this time he slid his hand down my stomach.
I bucked as his fingers brushed over my skin, and the moment his hand found its way between my legs, I exploded into my climax. Wave after wave hit me like a tsunami. Slick gushed out of me, drenching my pajamas.
My mouth felt so dry, and I welcomed the kiss he offered. It was soft and slow, perfect for helping me ride out the last wave of my climax.
He pulled away and rolled off me, plopping down beside me. I couldn’t speak yet, or even open my eyes. I just lay there, enjoying every last sensation coursing through my body. For the first time in my life, my gasps for air were real.
“If that’s just from me sucking your neck, I wonder what will happen when I suck your clit?”
I swallowed hard, trying to make sure I could speak. No way was I letting that one go. “Wanna find out?” I managed to say.
“Oh, fuck yeah!”
Chapter Nine
He sat up and effortlessly lifted me onto his lap again, instantly meeting my lips with his. His manhood twitched beneath me, and I was excited to unleash the beast.
I pulled away from the kiss, hitched my top up, and yanked it over my head. Bain raised his eyebrows and a low growl rumbled through his chest.
His lips found their way to my breasts, placing tiny kisses on my skin, but I wanted his mouth all over me. I reached behind me and unhooked my bra, launching it across the room once it was off.
“Wow,” he said with a sharp inhale. “They’re perfect. You’re absolutely perfect.”
I blushed. I’d been told that so many times before, but the way he said it made me believe it for the first time. Being with him made me feel whole, and the way he looked at me, it wasn’t just lust that filled his gaze. There seemed to be love behind his eyes, respect, and complete admiration for the woman before him.
I held onto his face and tenderly kissed his lips. I wanted this man more than I’d ever thought possible.
In such a short space of time, I felt more love in my heart for Bain and his child than I'd felt for anyone before. He was what was missing from my life, and now that I had him, I was never letting go.