by Kathryn Moon
Ah, easy. I relaxed and scooted closer, my lips quirking as Matthieu grunted as I wiggled over his lap. “It’s recently come to my attention that the best way of knowing that I can be a part of the pack, be loved and accepted by you, be happy…is to just let myself,” I said, bending forward and nuzzling against Matthieu’s nose. “It’s been a long time since I’ve doubted any of you. And I’m ready to let you all prove that I can stop doubting myself.”
His purr thrummed to life and I smiled, kissing the hooked bridge of his nose. “Is that so?” he asked, his own grin growing.
“I already know that I’m yours, Matthieu. I love you, I admire you, and I feel more myself when I’m with you, in the best way.”
“Lola,” Matthieu growled, his hands pressing to my back to pin me to his chest, his hips rising to meet mine as I rolled gently on top of him, stirring interest in his cock. “My darling girl, there is no luckier pack, no luckier alpha than I am to hear you say those words.”
His tongue vibrated as I slanted my lips over his, licking into his mouth and claiming him in my own way, my fingers combing through his hair and my body playing at riding him, waiting for him to take the invitation.
He tore away from the kiss and rasped against my cheek, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I said, biting at his bottom lip and pushing at the shoulders of his jacket. “Now take off all your clothes.”
Matthieu barked a laugh, head falling to the back of the couch. I took the opportunity to suck kisses down his throat, wrestling him out of his jacket, and pushing it out of the way. I leaned back and blinked down at him and realized he was wearing one of his grubbiest t-shirts.
“Babe, were you in your pajamas before you came here?” I asked. Or did he think it took armpit holes to blend in with the Howlers?
Matthieu hummed and reached for my own t-shirt hem, smiling as I raised my arms for him to peel me out of it. “I couldn’t sleep another night without you, Lolotte.” I shivered at the sweet words and the cool air running over my skin, and Matthieu’s eyes caught on the lace bra I’d been wearing. “Should I be jealous you’re wearing this without expecting to see me?”
I laughed and shook my head, cupping his jaw and lifting his gaze to mine. “It was my last clean one before I came home, so I would’ve worn it tomorrow for you.”
His hands skimmed up my back, drawing me in at an arch, offering my breasts up to his mouth, his lips clasping over the lace and tongue flicking over my nipple. I moaned and held him to me, bouncing against his now stiff length for friction.
“You know I love to watch you come, but I want to know it’s my cock making you scream this time, Lolotte,” Matthieu growled, teeth tugging on the cup of my bra as his hands unhooked the clasp at the back.
“Works for me,” I gasped out, sighing as he switched to the other breast, this time without the barrier of fabric, tongue swirling and teeth grazing gently.
I tugged his t-shirt over his back, dragging it up over his shoulders, and Matthieu pulled away just long enough to help me free him.
“What’s your pleasure tonight, mon coeur?” Matthieu purred, hands cupping and massaging my breasts, his thumbs flicking over my nipples.
Did I want him pounding me from behind and tugging on my hair? A little bit, yes, but I’d missed seeing him and feeling him, and there was something I really wanted tonight.
“You pinning me to this creaky old couch while I squeeze you so tight, it makes you feel like a teenage boy,” I said, grinning and bumping my forehead against his.
Matthieu’s hands cupped my waist and I giggled as he twisted us on the couch, my bare back landing against cushions. Matthieu was on his knees, between my legs, his fingers tugging hard at the button of my jeans, yanking down the zipper and then hooking into the waistband. He growled as my breasts jiggled with laughter, diving down to suck and bite at my breast while he tried to pull my jeans off. Given the way I was spread for him, it didn’t work very well, and he ended up huffing and pulling away, frowning at me as I laughed beneath him.
“Worry about yourself,” I said, sitting up to give myself room to shimmy out of my pants and underwear.
Matthieu grinned, standing and easily slipping out of his own loose jeans, cock jutting proudly in my face. Before he could stop me, I leaned forward, lapping at the head of him, sighing as the warm flavor sang through my veins. Strong fingers combed into my hair and then clutched hard, drawing my head away.
“Naughty girl,” Matthieu purred, and I shuddered, following his gentle guiding to lay down again. I draped one leg off the edge of the couch and bent the other, exposing myself to Matthieu’s hungry view.
He settled between my legs and released my hair to grip my hips, pulling me forward until the head of him bumped my opening.
“Are you ready for me?” he asked.
I knew I sure as hell was, but I lifted my hips to tease. “Check.”
Matthieu grinned, his right hand stroking over my hip to my core, two fingers pressing gently at my opening. They slid in easily, pumping just long enough to leave me whining for more, before withdrawing, shining with my arousal. He stroked them over his throbbing cock, lubing himself up before notching himself against me.
“Yes, you’re ready,” he hissed, eyes on where we were connected, dipping in with tiny thrusts.
I nearly nodded, but then he was driving into me, my body bowing with relief and agony mixing together. “Oh god, Matthieu, yes!”
Matthieu groaned, his hips pressing into mine as he lowered himself over me. My legs rose to wrap around him as Matthieu’s chest covered mine, the curling hairs tickling my skin.
“I love you,” he whispered, lips grazing over mine.
“I love you.” I tangled my arms around his shoulders, one hand on his back and the other in his hair.
“I missed you terribly,” he said.
“Won’t happen again,” I said, smiling.
Matthieu’s purr shook us both with its strength, and I sighed. My eyes fell shut at the feeling of a perfect, sweet, vibrating alpha draped over me with his cock thrumming deep in my core.
“Move, Matthieu,” I said gently, kissing his cheek. “Claim me.”
He thought I meant with sex, which was fine for now. His body rose to my command, thrusts slow but deep, hands and mouth traveling anywhere they could reach, kissing over my throat, pinching my breasts, gripping my ribs. One of his hands burrowed beneath me to hold the back of my neck in a possessive and powerful grip that I found thrilling and calming all at once.
I was Matthieu’s. Not just his, but tonight I belonged to him and we both knew it. I rocked into his thrusts, squeezed my legs around his hips and my sex around his cock. Matthieu knew me well by now, knew by the sounds of my gasps and the dig of my nails in his back when I was getting closer, and he quickened his pace to drive me there faster.
“More, Matthieu, love, please!” I gasped, unable to decide between relaxing into the rising wave or bracing myself for the crash.
“I have you,” he breathed, biting my bottom lip and then soothing it with his tongue.
“I want you.”
“You have me, Lolotte.”
I tucked my face into his neck to hide my wicked smile and then pressed my heels into his ass, lifting my hips to his so his knot dug at my opening. “All of you,” I moaned breathlessly.
His breath hitched in realization, but he didn’t stop his urgent rocking and on the next collision of our bodies, I held him fast, my orgasm just teasing at the edges. “Please,” I whispered in his ear, sucking on his lobe.
Matthieu growled and pushed, his hand on my neck bracing me as he pinned me down and thrust in. The stretch and strain was first, but with it came the heated wave of release, distracting me from the initial pain. Matthieu roared and trembled against me, his own release hot and dense inside of me as he adjusted to the vice of my body around his knot.
“Oh fuck. Fuck. Dieu, Lola are you—?”
“Mmm, I’m fin
e.” I turned my head and caught Matthieu’s mouth with mine before he could ask again, sucking on his lips and fucking my tongue against his.
I was still squeezing his length, his body slowly relaxing into mine and his knot settling more comfortably.
“You were planning that,” Matthieu rumbled, nudging his nose against mine.
“I was,” I said, grinning and adjusting my legs around his hips. “Do you like it?”
Matthieu huffed, his grin boyish and giddy. “Lola, I haven’t knotted anyone in years. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
My eyes widened at that. I’d assumed he and Carolyn…but he’d never said so, and he hadn’t even blinked when I’d said I hadn’t wanted to try.
“Do you like it?” Matthieu asked, brows raising. He made an experimental rock against me, his pelvis against my clit, and then he grinned as I fluttered around him and wriggled with the echo running through me. “Fuck, you do. My Lolotte.”
His movements were soft shifts, but tied together with his knot everything was insanely powerful. It was tighter from this angle, not quite the deep and pounding kind of satisfying as when I’d been on top with Caleb, but full of sensation and an intense and feverish feeling that left me tingling.
“Jesus,” Matthieu panted, sweat dewing on his brow. His lips stamped against mine, once and then again. “I love you. I love you. You’re mine, Lola.”
“I am yours,” I said, a selfish emotional satisfaction filling me from head to toe at the words. “Forever.”
Matthieu purred, and when I arched my throat to him the sound grew louder, his lips brushing back and forth over the curve of my shoulder. Between the soft grind of him against my clit and the overwhelming weight of the knot, I was quickly approaching another orgasm.
“Bite,” I said, combing my fingers through Matthieu’s hair.
His purr continued, and he sucked on the muscle of my shoulder, his head rolling back and forth. “You don’t need to be rushed,” he said, but I could hear the strain in the words as he resisted my demand.
“Neither do you, but I’m ready. I’m yours when you’re ready too,” I said.
Matthieu lifted, and I moaned as he pushed deep into me, the head of him nesting as deeply as it could. His mouth covered mine, teeth dragging over my lips.
“I love you,” he growled, and then he pulled away, hips kicking quickly into me.
I came with a cry, body bowing, and Matthieu arched over me. Electricity rushed through my veins and stars flashed behind my eyes, the faintest whispers of the damp breath on my shoulder. And then Matthieu bit, fire lashing through me, my body freezing in his hold as his teeth sank in.
I was claimed.
The bite echoed in my core, the pain and pulsing pleasure blending together until I went limp with relief. Warmth and softness followed, not unlike the usual aftereffects of good sex. I hummed as Matthieu very gently eased his bite, tongue lapping over the wound. That dense liquid heat grew deeper, the long rush of alcohol blooming in my chest. A velvety caress followed.
Tears rose to my eyes as I realized what was happening, Matthieu’s bond sweeping me up in his embrace. Love was heady and rich, draping over me completely, soaking into my veins like sunshine.
“Oh, Matthieu,” I breathed.
“Yes, there you are,” Matthieu sighed before going back to attending the bite. It stung a little, ached from the wound, but with every kiss of his lips and swipe of his tongue, pleasure sang too, making me clasp around him.
I was liquid gold in Matthieu’s arms, stunned by the force of his affection and love, smiling at his amusement at my own shock, a little loop of us calling to one another.
“There was no one I would share this with but you, Lolotte,” Matthieu said, kissing the bite and making the tears spill over. “I know I won’t be alone in your bonds, but you will always be mine.”
“I will,” I said softly.
Matthieu left the bite for the moment, straightening so his face hovered over mine. The soft lines of his age were full of smiles in my eyes, and I kissed his mouth greedily.
“I want to take you home tonight. I don’t care what time. But for now, I want to hold you and feel this. You are shining, my darling girl.”
I nodded, holding tight to Matthieu and soaking up the bond. I might’ve felt foolish for resisting a bond when it was so powerful and beautiful and fulfilling, but Matthieu left no room between us for any shame, and I sighed with relief as he turned us slowly to our sides, contentment filling the quiet.
Nineteen
Lola
I woke to a soft kiss on my lips. And then more on my jaw, my neck, my shoulders.
I shuddered and sighed as Matthieu sucked gently on his bondmark, a sweet pulse of desire rushing through me. He purred and leaned back, and I opened my eyes to find us in the garage of the house, Matthieu hunched into the passenger side of Bertha.
“We’re home,” I murmured.
Matthieu’s smile was brilliant in answer. “We are. I know the others would hate if we made them wait to see you until the morning, but I wanted to catch a few more seconds with you alone. Also, I’m not sure I can carry you and work the elevator at the same time.”
I laughed and stretched on my way out of the car, groaning as my body reminded me that I’d not only been missing the creature comforts of the beds here, but had just been knotted and bonded on a freaking couch. Worth it, I thought. I was sore, but it was only working as a delicious reminder of my evening.
I stood on wobbly legs and Matthieu held me to his chest, my head tucked beneath his chin, the bond running like a cord between us, full of love and affection and relief. Matthieu was relieved and happy to have me, to have our bond.
You’ve only known these men a few months.
As quick as the thought came, it was squashed by a wave of contentment from Matthieu and my own determination not to stand in my own way. I sighed at the proof of the bond's power over my mood, and Matthieu nuzzled my hair as if he'd sensed the shift as well.
“If you want to go straight to Rake and Caleb, they’re in his room. I can run up and wake Leo,” Matthieu murmured, making no move to leave the garage or our hug.
“Is Leo not with them?”
“He was in his rooms when I left.”
Hmm. I didn’t like the sound of that. Leo wasn’t like Wes or Matthieu—he usually didn’t go in for alone time.
“I’ll go to Leo first. I think I need to clear the air.”
Matthieu kissed the top of my head. “You were honest with us, you took the space you needed, and it gave you the room to make your decision. He’ll understand.”
I nodded, and Matthieu and I finally separated, walking hand in hand into the house and up to the elevator. I did think Leo would understand, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t make the apology. Mostly though, Leo and I shone best when we had moments between just the two of us, without the alphas who claimed us or the omega who united us.
“I’ll wait in my own room, get a little nap in,” Matthieu said with a great yawn as we stepped into the elevator. His hand squeezed mine, and he gazed down at me with a warm, sleepy stare. “But come find me before you see the others? I’m claiming my right to sleep next to you tonight, no matter what kind of fight Rake puts up.”
I laughed and nodded, and the elevator cranked us quietly up to the top floor.
Matthieu left me in the hall with a long kiss, as if I was leaving the house again, not just stepping into Leo’s suite for a dead-of-night talk.
The rooms were dark, and it’d been a while since I’d been up here. I tiptoed into the bedroom, pausing in the doorway and staring at the soft shadow of Leo in the bed. He was curled up on his side, his pillows surrounding him at every side, like he was trying to make up for sleeping alone. I would’ve bet money that Caleb was tossing and turning in his own bed.
Slipping my shoes off, I padded silently to the bed, sliding onto the mattress and watching Leo frown in sleep. I leaned and turned the bedside lamp
on, watching as he stirred, brow furrowing. He was wearing my favorite sweater of his, and my heart panged at the sight. Had he washed it, or was he trying to catch a little whiff of me on its fabric the way I did of him when I wore it?
Leo blinked at me, an adorable grumpy frown on his lips, and it took him a minute before the annoyance at being woken transformed into the shock of being woken by me.
“Hi.”
“Lola?” Leo scrambled in the sheets, pushing pillows out of the way as he sat up and scooted toward me, his hands reaching out and then pausing between us. “God, what time is it?”
“Nearly three, sorry for the rude awakening. Let me make it better,” I said.
I leaned in and Leo’s eyes widened, but his lips were parted and ready as mine covered his, the kiss deep and desperate. His hesitant hands found their courage, and he gathered me up against his chest, sleep-warm skin sliding under my touch as I wrapped my arms around him. Leo shuddered and his hold tightened, the scruff of his cheek rubbing over mine as he turned the kiss into a hug.
“I missed you,” I whispered in his ear, my eyes stinging.
Leo huffed frustrated amusement and turned his face into mine, kissing blindly against my ear and hair and jaw. “What are you doing here? How’d you get home?”
“Matthieu came to the Plaza.”
Leo stiffened against me and leaned back, finding my eyes, his brow lined with worry. “We said we wouldn’t push you.”
“He didn’t.” I kissed Leo’s nose and then went ahead and let my greedy fingers dig in his hair, missing that thick and velvety texture. My eyes traveled over his face. I hadn’t forgotten how beautiful he was, but it was better in person. “I was planning on being home tomorrow for breakfast to surprise you all. Well, originally, yesterday. But Baby asked me to stay one more day.”
I checked Leo’s face, just to make sure he wasn’t offended that I’d been willing to put my return off, but that didn’t seem to be what was bugging him. One of his hands slid from my back, coming around to cup my face. His lips quirked as he saw my hair, and he flipped it around his fingers before frowning again.