Logan nodded and stood, taking Cailin’s hand in his. She didn’t pull away, so he took it as the best sign he’d get.
The brothers touched her cheek, one by one, slowly walking away, bruised, bloody, and slightly worse for wear. No doubt they’d each go home to their mates and get their asses kicked once again for interfering in Cailin’s life.
He squeezed Cailin’s hand, but she didn’t squeeze it back.
Didn’t look at him.
Time for the groveling to begin.
Chapter Eight
Cailin used all of her strength not to fling herself onto Logan and never let him go. Damn wolf and mating urge. She was stronger than that.
Or at least she pretended to be most days.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” Logan said.
She didn’t look at him. Couldn’t look at him. Not when her emotions were all over the place. Anger, fear, hurt, need, desire, and pure rage roared within her, pushing down the pain of her loss that she knew she’d never quite lose, only numb over time.
By the time they were in his living room, she was seated on the couch with her hands in her lap and he sitting on the coffee table in front of her, Cailin had started to sift through her emotions.
“I’m sorry I ran out without actually listening or talking this morning,” Cailin started.
Logan’s eyes widened, and she held back a snort. Yeah, she might have surprised him with that one, but she was far from done speaking.
“You don’t have to apologize, princess.” Logan’s gruff voice washed over her, tingling in some places she’d rather not think about at the moment.
“You’re right. I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. I left and then ran to Maddox, not thinking about how he and the others would react. I brought our own problems out in public and ended up having to break up a fight. Don’t even get me started on that.”
The side of his mouth quirked up in a grin, and she held back a moan at how charming he looked. She was still in pain and didn’t have time to moon over him.
He’d have to explain himself fully.
And grovel.
Yes, groveling would be good right now.
“I was so pissed off, Logan. I still am. You don’t get to decide what’s good for us, what works for us. Life-altering decisions, and mating is a big one, need to be made between us, not declared by you.”
Logan sighed, running his hand up and down her thigh. Her wolf took comfort in the action while the woman did her best not to jump his bones. He wasn’t in the clear yet. Far from it.
“You see that mating right away is out of the norm for some, right?”
Cailin narrowed her eyes. “Telling me what’s right again, are you?”
Logan growled. “We spent a year tiptoeing around each other, Cailin. You held yourself back from me, and I did the same. Then the night that we bury your parents, after they die for us, you want to mate? Yes, I wanted to hold back. I didn’t want to be your mistake. I’m sorry that I hurt you, but I was protecting both of us. Yeah, I went about it the wrong way, but I didn’t want to end up with you resenting me for taking advantage of your pain. Can’t you see that? I’ve loved your strength since I’ve met you, and I know that I’m well on the way to full-out loving you. But if we had mated when we both weren’t thinking clearly? We would have ended up like Adam and Bay when they first started, crying, in pain, and not happy. I wanted more for us. I’m sorry.”
Cailin blinked, startled by Logan’s impassioned speech. “Logan…”
Logan stood quickly, pushing the table back. He was on his knees in front of her, his head in her lap, before she could finish her sentence…or even remember what she was about to say.
“I’m sorry for making you cry, baby. God, I’m so sorry. After all we’ve been through separately and together, I take what was supposed to be a night for us and ruin it being an asshole.”
She ran her hand through his hair, the silky tendrils brushing over her skin, calming her wolf…and the human part of herself.
Finding every ounce of courage she possessed, she told him what she wanted. What she felt.
“I want you, Logan. I want to be your mate. I’m ready to take that plunge and find out what we could be with each other. Is it too soon? Maybe. But I’m tired of fighting fate. Fighting what I’m scared of. We have a hell of a war in front of us when it comes to the Centrals, and I’d rather you be by my side than away from me because we’re too scared to take the next step.”
Logan lifted his head and cupped her face. She leaned into his touch, the calluses on his hands grounding her in the present, rather than in the fear of the future or the pain of the past.
“We’re a couple of idiots, but damn it, my wolf is ready for you. Is the man? Honestly I don’t think anyone could be ready for the woman in front of me. And that’s a good thing, princess.”
Cailin grinned. She’d heard the latter a time or two. “And you think anyone could be ready for you?”
“I guess that’s why we’re mates.”
Cailin’s smile fell and she shook her head. “No, we’re not mates yet. Not really, Logan.”
His thumb brushed her lips. “Then let’s get on that.”
“Seriously? That’s the line you’re using? ‘Let’s get on that?’” She rolled her eyes, happy for the levity in a situation where she felt she was floundering.
Logan stood, lifting her up in the process. “I can do better.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and rested her head on his. “Cailin Jamenson. Yours is the soul I want connected to mine, the soul I need. Your fierceness and strength have never and will never be diminished. I want to spend the rest of my long life with you and fight by your side. I want to fall in love with you in every way possible. I want to watch you grow round with our child. I want to see the way you smile and snark back until the day we are no longer of this earth. I will never hold you back, even when my wolf is begging me to protect you. I will find a way to protect you and have you protect me in the process. I want a partnership, a friendship, a relationship. I want it all.”
Cailin swallowed, tears filling her eyes.
Logan licked his lips, and her gaze followed his tongue. “I want it all, Cailin. I want forever. I’m not easy, but I know you’re sure as hell not easy.”
She punched him hard, and Logan grinned.
“See? The abuse already.”
“I’ll show you how tough I am,” she taunted.
His smile fell, and he looked serious. “I know how tough you are, princess. I’ve stood back because I knew you needed time. Once more, I held back last night because I thought you needed more. I was wrong. So fucking wrong. But you know what that means? I’m not holding back anymore. You’re mine, Cailin Jamenson. I’m not letting you go.”
“Good. Because I’m not letting you go either.”
Logan bit her lip, and she shuddered, the slight sting feeling oh-so-good. “I won’t give you a choice, princess. You want me? You’ve got me. I’m going to mark you tonight, make love to you, fuck you hard, and show you what it means to be with me. We can worry about the practical parts of what our mating will be and how we will need to learn each other later. Right now? Right now I need in you so bad I can barely think.”
“Then be in me.”
Goddess, please, be in me.
Logan grinned. “Since you asked so nicely.” He wrapped her hair around his fist, tugging her head to the side. With a growl, he licked one long swipe over her neck and shoulder—right where he would soon mark her.
She groaned and dug her nails into his back, wanting more, craving more. Her wolf nudged at her, pushing her to go faster, harder.
“What are you grinning at, princess?” Logan asked, his eyes glowing gold with arousal.
Cailin leaned in and nipped at his chin. “My wolf wants it hard. Fast. And now. I was just thinking that the woman in me doesn’t have a problem with that.”
Her mate—oh goddess, that sounded good to say—grinned. “That I can wo
rk with, princess. That I can fucking work with.”
Logan crushed his mouth to hers, burying his tongue against hers, and she moaned. He kissed her as though this was the last moment they would have together, as though he’d die without her there to quench his thirst.
“I need to taste you,” he growled, low, filled with promise.
She arched into him, wrapping her legs and arms around him as he carried her to the dining room table.
“I’m going to taste every inch of that sweet cunt, let your juices run down my face, and then you’re going to suck my cock and show me how talented that wicked tongue of yours is.”
If there was an Olympics for dirty talk, Logan would win gold hands down. Hell, he’d win silver and bronze, too, for that matter.
Her panties were drenched from his intent and words alone.
And from the way his eyes lit up as he inhaled her arousal, she was sure he knew what he’d find when he stuck his hands down her pants.
Oh goddess, please let him stick his hands down my pants.
He stuck his hand down her pants.
Okay, so it was more of a gentle caress after he set her down on her feet. His eyes never left hers as he palmed her belly then moved lower, oh so lower, until he wiggled his fingers and slid them underneath the waistband of her jeans. She did her best not to let her eyes cross as he cupped her pussy over her panties in a possessive hold that made her want to howl in triumph.
“So wet for me, princess. I’m going to lick up every drop.”
He slowly slid his hand back out then knelt before her.
“Got to tell you, Logan, I sure like the look of you on your knees at my feet,” she breathed as he peeled off her pants and panties in one swoop.
“You’ve said that, princess. Your wish is my command…for now.” He grinned at her then scrunched the bottom of her shirt in his hands.
“Let me help.” She tugged off her shirt, undid her bra, and threw them both in a pile as quickly as she could. “Help me with your shirt. I want to look at all those muscles as you lick me.”
Her soon-to-be mate gave her a rough chuckle then stripped off his shirt, the movement making each muscle in his arms stand out.
And he was hers. All hers.
Before she could say as much, he had his hands on her ass, pushing her up. She reached back to steady herself on the table and wiggled slightly so her bottom rested on the edge.
Then Logan went to town.
He licked around her clit then sucked on her lower lips, breathing hot air every so often against her. She squirmed at his touches, wanting more, but then he put his hand on her stomach, keeping her still.
She loved it when he did that.
Cailin let her head fall back as he sucked her pussy, spearing her with two, then three, fingers. He curled them at that perfect angle, pressing against that swelling bundle of nerves, and she knew she was done for.
With his name on her lips, she came, her body blushing, heating, and still craving his hard cock inside her.
She finally opened her eyes to watch him staring at her, hovering as he licked her juices off his lips. Holy hell, that was such a hot thing to see.
“My turn.” With effort, since she’d just had one of the best orgasms of her life, she hopped off the table and knelt before him. “Turn a bit and grip the table. I want to suck you down.”
He did as he was told then brushed his hand through her hair, a small smile on his face. “Got to say, Cailin, I like the look of you on your knees at my feet.”
She grinned as she undid his pants, carefully sliding the zipper down. “See? Perfect for each other.”
With his help, she got him out of his pants and had her hand on his cock before he could answer. The weight of him warmed her palm, and she slid up and down his length, getting to know every inch of him. When he panted harder, she licked the crown then around the head before taking her time to taste those inches she’d just studied. His salty flavor settled on her tongue, and she wanted more. She licked up and down his shaft then sucked on his balls, rolling them in her mouth one at a time. Her mate rolled his hips, and she knew she’d teased him long enough.
She sat back on her haunches, relaxed her jaw, and then swallowed him all the way to the root.
“Holy fuck, Cailin,” Logan breathed.
Undaunted, she breathed through her nose, letting his cock slide down into her throat. Then she swallowed.
“Fuck!”
Her eyes watering, she let him slide out of her mouth and then sucked him down again, this time using one hand to cover the length that couldn’t fit in her mouth. She bobbed her head, hollowing her cheeks, loving the control she had over him.
Oh yeah, this big bad-boy dominant wolf might have his hand wrapped in her hair, might be pushing her head so she took him deeper, but she was the one who set him on edge.
She was the one currently letting her free hand reach around to his ass so she could play with his hole. He shifted his stance to give her better access, and she grinned. Oh yeah, her bad boy was totally dirty.
As soon as she pulled back to lick her finger, she met his gaze. Damn it, she couldn’t wait to mark him. To be marked by him.
Soon.
She sucked him down again, this time using her finger to breach his hole. Her mate sucked in a breath then relaxed as she found his prostate. She rubbed it softly, still sucking his cock, and let her body do what it knew best.
Taking care of her mate.
“I’m going to come, Cailin.”
Good.
She didn’t let him pull her away but, instead, pressed harder until she heard him shout and felt his cock stiffen in her mouth before come landed on her tongue and down her throat. She swallowed fast, taking as much as she could until she was sure he was spent.
At least for now.
“You shouldn’t have done that, mate of mine,” Logan said as he carried her to the bedroom, a very satisfied cat-in-cream expression on his face. “I wanted to come in that pretty pussy of yours.”
“You’re a werewolf with supernatural stamina. I think you can come more than once in a night.”
He threw his head back and laughed before throwing her down on the bed. She bounced and glared.
“Hey!”
Logan dropped right next to her, putting his hands behind his head. “Giddy-up.”
“Oh my God. Giddy-up? That’s your line?”
“My cock was just down your throat. I think we’re past lines.”
“True,” she said as she straddled him. Who knew sex could be so much fun?
He moved then, gripping her hips. “Ride me hard, and then I’ll fuck you harder. Then we can mark each other and claim ourselves as mates for all eternity. You in?”
“In.” She slid down his length slowly until he was fully seated within her, stretching her so much she thought he must have grown since the previous night. “Or should I say, you’re in?”
Logan gave a strained chuckle. “I see how it’s going to be. Bad dirty jokes until we’re laughing so hard even as I’m inside you that we’re both crying. I like it.”
She grinned. “Me too.”
Then she moved.
She rolled her hips, letting him stay within her fully as the base of his cock rubbed her clit. Taunting. Teasing. Then he gripped her hips harder, lifting her slightly so he could thrust in and out of her at a dizzying pace. She braced herself on his shoulders as they fucked each other, his cock slamming into her as if he couldn’t go deep enough.
“Need. More.”
At his growled words, she came again, surprising herself, then gasped as Logan switched positions. She found herself on her back, one leg over Logan’s shoulder as he pistoned into her, sweat rolling down both of their bodies. She clutched at him, her nails digging deep, breaking skin. She didn’t care. She just needed him inside her.
As soon as her body arched over that threshold again, she lowered her leg, baring her neck. She needed his fangs in her. Logan moved her he
ad back and met her eyes. For a moment she thought he was changing his mind, and a fresh slash of pain cut into her heart, and then he kissed her.
So soft, a bare whisper of lips even as he thrust into her with all the strength of a dominant male.
“Mine,” he growled low.
“Yours,” she whispered back through tears.
She moved her head back into position, and he bit into her shoulder. She cried out as she came, her pussy tightening around his cock. A warm magic, like a sense of heat, electrifying anticipation, and home, slid through her, the beginning of a bond, as her wolf howled in triumph.
Logan pulled his fangs out then moved so his neck was in view. Without a second thought, she bit into the meaty part of his shoulder and claimed him as her own.
The mating bond snapped into place.
Warmth, earth, goddess, moon, and everything else that shattered her mind slid through the bond, arching into her as Logan came. She met his gaze, both of their eyes glowing gold, and knew she’d found her forever.
He rested his forehead on hers, his cock still buried deep, and sighed. Not a sigh of exhaustion, but one of happiness, joy, and everything she felt as well.
They’d done it. They’d mated. Happiness slid though her, and she smiled.
This was what she’d been waiting for and hadn’t known it.
This.
Chapter Nine
Logan slid oh-so-gently into Cailin, her body warm around him as he slowly woke up. Her wet heat surrounded him, clutching at his cock as he pulled back out before slowly sliding back in. He moaned slightly, her cunt so fucking sweet that he could barely breathe for the warmth and sensation.
They were on their sides, the early morning light dancing on her pale skin. He nudged her hair off her neck, licking and sucking, his perfect breakfast treat. She tasted sweet all over with just the hint of salt from their energetic activities the night prior.
He cupped her breast, tweaking her nipple, and she moaned. Her nipple pebbled between his fingers, and he rolled it, loving the soft feel against his calluses. The bite and scruff marks dotting her skin showed his ownership of her body, her soul. The similar bites and bruises on his skin revealed the same of him to her.
Fighting Fate (Redwood Pack #7) Page 10