His face fell and my heart broke at the sight of such a strong man breaking before me.
“I’m not saying no; I do care about you. I…” I swallowed hard. “I just want to be sure I can give you what you need.”
“You’re all I need, Emma. I don’t need anything more.”
He rolled over and pulled me on top of him. I sat up, straddling his waist with my legs, staring down at his beauty. I let my hands roam over him, running a trail from his abs up over his chest. I slid down and gripped the hem of his shirt slowly kissing a path up him as I removed it. He allowed me to take him in as I raked my eyes over him. He was gorgeous. More than I ever imagined I’d be worthy of. His skin was sun kissed, a golden tan upon a golden god. His honey-brown eyes narrowed as I lightly ran my finger down the pulse point on his neck.
He was being patient. He was letting me set the pace I was comfortable with. He was trying not to scare me off again. I leaned down and gently kissed his lips. “I can’t promise I will be perfect in or out of bed, but I do know that I can’t seem to break away from you for long.” The thought of being away from him long term had my chest compressing, my heart aching. Why can’t I just let go? I was still afraid, I was still holding back.
“Let me love you, Emma. Let me claim you so I know you’re safe in that regard. You won’t owe me anything in return.”
I gave him a light smile. Teasingly I posed the question, “How easy do you think I am, alpha? I’ve known you for less than a month?”
He smirked. “You’re just delaying the inevitable.”
“A little cocky of you, don’t you think, Mr. Raul?”
“Perhaps, but I always get what I want, Miss Bledri.” He gave me a feather light kiss on the lobe of my ear. “And I want you.”
My breath caught as warmth spread through my lower stomach. My body reacted to him, to his words as if it was trying to claim him too. His hands skimmed my hips and smoothly slid beneath the hem of my shirt. His eyes locked on mine, pulling me in with his sensual moves. Before I knew it, my shirt was off. My hand instantly went to cover the permanent discoloration on my upper stomach. He broke away, honing in on my action.
“Why are you covering yourself, mi amor? You’re beautiful.” I couldn’t look at him. He was perfect, yet I seemed to be flawed in nearly every way, especially emotionally as of late.
When the silence held on for too long, he placed his hand over mine and gently pulled. “Let me see,” his voice caressed me with his request.
I flashed back to the incident. I’d been doing the dishes that evening after supper as it was my chore that week. I was washing and drying each dish by hand and had stacked them to the side on the counter to put them away once I was done.
Meriam came in, a scowl upon her face. Her black eyes zoomed in on me. I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but she seemed geared up to release her anger on someone. I went back to work, trying to ignore her presence. I sped up, wanting to escape her as soon as possible.
“Filthy! All of them,” she said smashing the last plate I’d dried on the floor. “I can’t seem to get rid of you, yet you prove worthless here!”
I winced, but remained silent. I continued scrubbing the plate in my hand.
Abruptly she squeezed my face, her sharp nails clawing my cheeks. She yanked my face towards her. “You look at me when I’m talking to you, you little wench!”
My eyes were wide as I struggled to cower away from her. I felt my body tense in panic, every muscle recoiling from her.
“Don’t try to run away! Don’t cower away from your punishment!”
I heard my heart pounding in my head. I didn’t know what to expect. She was so unpredictable. Once, she had thrown Johnny across a room. She’d also beat Emily with a book. She was infamous for using everyday items as weapons.
She grabbed a wooden spoon I’d washed. She glowered as she inspected it. “Filthy! It’s filthy just like you.”
I gasped as she whacked me repeatedly with the item. It slapped my skin with the sting of the wind on a snowy day. I struggled against her slaughter, fighting hard against her grasp. I broke away from her, feeling her nail slice my cheek in my efforts.
She quickly grabbed my upper arm and increased her force as punishment for my escape until the wooden spoon splintered and broke on my upper stomach.
My flesh ached, pulsating beneath the surface from her onslaught, particularly where the spoon had broken.
“You think you can run? You think you deserve the mercy of running?” she shrieked.
I groaned inwardly. My heart raced, dread seeping through my veins. I knew it was going to be bad. Her voice only reached that high of a pitch when she’d hit her boiling point and was about to release every bit of negative emotion she had within her on her victim. My stomach was a ball of knots, of fear, as I silently prayed for mercy, for a savior. I couldn’t brace myself because I didn’t know what she was about to do, so I did what any child could: I shut myself down; I numbed myself to what was going on, sinking into my mental space where prayers were my comfort as I waited for my white knight to arrive...
Next thing I knew I was being hurled into the metal preparation island running through the kitchen. The counter’s edge rammed into my upper stomach; my body bowed around it, my head and neck whipping forward as my lower half flew beneath the counter, further compressing the throbbing skin beneath my chest. The action knocked the wind out of me, like a bad car crash. The island, cemented to the floor, didn’t budge, effectively blocking and then kicking me to the floor. My head pounded. My vision was blurred for a moment, leaving me dizzy and disoriented as pain lacerated my upper body.
“Get your ass up and rewash every single dish. And clean up this mess on the floor. You make me break one more thing and I swear you won’t live to see tomorrow.” She spit out the words, glaring at me with no regard, no concern at all to the pain spreading through my body, or even the fact that I was gasping for air yet still couldn’t seem to get enough of it.
I spent the rest of the night silently crying as I rewashed every dish and cleaned the floor. Later, I went to the bathroom and lifted my shirt. My skin had welts on it from her abuse, but my upper stomach was the worst. I had a swollen knot the size of a small football running around my bottom ribs. It was puffed up and bright purple.
I went to the doctor once as an adult. He’d said because of my malnutrition I was probably anemic and had some other deficiencies that weakened my skin and immune system, which was probably why I had a permanent purplish bruise that wrapped around my lower ribs. It had faded, wasn’t as prominent nor was it puffy anymore, but it was a constant reminder every time I saw it of my childhood, and in particular, Meriam.
“Emma,” Marco pulled me back to him.
I looked at him with all the vulnerability I held that night. I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side as I lifted my hand and arm away from the spot. I heard the hitch in his breath indicating the second he saw it.
He flipped us, laying me gently against the pillows. I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to see the disgust on his face. His fingertips grazed the spot. I slowly opened my eyes as he pressed several kisses to the area.
He looked at me solemnly. “You’re beautiful.”
A knot formed in my throat. Tears gathered as I stared openly at him. How could I not want forever with a man like this? He was gentle when I needed him to be. He was always what I needed him to be in the moment.
“Who did this to you, mi amor?” He used the pad of this thumb to wipe away a stray tear.
“Meriam.” My voice was low; it unveiled all the pain I’d endured at her hand simply with her name.
His eyes began to brighten. His muscles flexed. I could tell he was fighting to maintain control of his wolf. “Who is Meriam?”
“The head mistress at the orphanage.”
“The director? The one who ran the whole fucking place?” His eyes glowed as he bit out the last sentence.
I could only nod
my head.
He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. “I’m sorry, mi amor.” He gently kissed the spot again.
“It’s not your fault.” For so long I’d blamed my biological family, but, I was quickly learning that holding a grudge didn’t erase what happened. It didn’t turn back the hands of time and save me from the past. The only thing it did was tether me to the very past I wanted to forget. It was time to move on. It was time to let go of the unchangeable.
“I wish I was there to protect you then. I hate to see you hurt.”
I met his gaze. “I know.”
“Let me love you, Emma. Let me give you something you’ll never forget.” He kissed my lips, caressing my skin, warming me through all over again.
His hard body levitated above me, pressing against me in the right places. He ran his hands over my chest sending a shiver down my spine and causing my nipples to perk and tighten. He pinched and rubbed them through my bra sending unfamiliar sensations through me. He made me want to rip my clothes off.
In one quick move my bra was off and being tossed somewhere. He broke our kiss and leaned back to take me in. “These are the most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen.”
I know I flushed. This was all so new to me. I felt comfortable with him, but uncomfortable with the unknown. It was a welcomed introduction to pleasure and womanhood, yet I was self conscious every step of the way.
I gasped as his tongue darted out and flickered over my right nipple. His eyes were dark and focused on my reaction as he continued. He began to work the other with his hand, rolling the tip between his fingers. My pussy throbbed in reaction, pushing me to cross my legs and squeeze them together to dull the ache building below. Sensations of pleasure and something untouchable hummed through me. I found myself arching into him as I began to breathe harder.
He switched breasts, exempting another gasp from me. I didn’t know how I was supposed to react to him, yet I felt cautiously uninhibited by his actions.
He kissed a trail down to my pants where he proceeded to slide them off of me. Thank God I was wearing decent panties today.
“Red lace?” He acted surprised despite being the one to purchase the panties for me. “How did you know they were my favorite?” His eyes feasted upon me. His lips parted, his tongue darting along his inner lip as if he was contemplating me as a meal.
It felt strange being ogled without any barriers. I fought the urge to cover myself, and after what seemed like too long of him staring at all my imperfections, I crossed my arms over my chest and averted my gaze.
“Hey, Emma,” he said, gently running the back of his hand along my cheek. “Don’t hide from me. Never hide yourself from me.”
I turned back towards him. He had a carnal look about him. Despite his eyes being normal, there was something wild about him in that moment, as if he were fighting his inner wolf who probably wanted to take over.
He leaned in and kissed me, wrapping his arms fully around me, squeezing me to him; allowing me to feel his erected need. The feel of his chest to mine was heavenly, like a layer of warm protection against the cold. He pressed into my panties, prompting me to wrap my legs around his waist. He brought his hands back around to my breasts, torturing me with his fingers, causing frictions of pleasure to ripple through me.
My hips thrust against him of their own accord as a deep desire bloomed within me. My lower stomach was full of heat, my clit swelling with need.
With a growl he broke away and ripped off my panties. He grabbed my hips and lifted me to him. He inhaled deep, closing his eyes in elation. “You are definitely mine,” he declared.
My heart sped up, anticipation building as his fingers spread me open before him. A moment of hesitation was quickly tossed into the wind the second his tongue swept over me from bottom to top.
“Oh my!” I gasped as an intense surge of pleasure shot from my pussy to my nipples and spread over me. I never knew such enjoyment existed.
He smirked, his pupils enlarged, his gaze dark, ravenous and just beginning to glow.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. He was my captor and I his prey…his anxious victim.
He began to assault my clit with an intense abrasion of flickers from his tongue.
My breathing grew shallower as tension began to build. It was a tug of war between luscious pleasure and torturous escalation. I threw my head back, my lids half closing as a moan escaped. I gripped the sheets and gasped for air when a finger slid into me.
“You’re so tight, Emma. So fucking beautifully tight,” he purred.
I looked at him. His face was intensely focused on me. His eyes were dilated with desire. I didn’t question whether he wanted me in that moment. I knew he did.
My hips rose up off the bed when he curled his finger within me, pressing into a sensitive spot that sent shock waves through me.
He chuckled deviously and locked his eyes with mine. “I want you to come, Emma. I want you to let go of yourself. Give yourself to me.”
I nearly choked gasping for air when he began to suck my clit while his finger berated me. The tension was mounting too quickly. Everything coiled down low, the pressure becoming too powerful. It was a concentrated struggle; I was fighting to hold on, to control it.
“Let go, Emma,” he growled.
I finally hit the peak. A hoarse cry bellowed from within me followed by his name as pleasure burst through me like a volcano erupting. Shock waves of pure physical elation rolled over me in intense waves. I felt myself contracting, my legs shaking at the sheer intensity of pleasure devouring me. I thought it would never end. I thought he would never stop. He milked me all the way through until my last shudder when I collapsed, completely spent, against the sheets. My mouth hung open, lids hanging halfway over my eyes.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are when you come?” he asked, feathering kisses over my thighs and stomach.
I was still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. I never knew pleasure like that existed. It was so strong, so overwhelming. I thought it was going to knock me out.
He brought himself to hover over me as he gazed into my eyes. He ran his tongue over his lips carnally. “You taste delicious.”
I felt myself blush. I couldn’t believe I’d just allowed a guy who was still half dressed to see the most vulnerable side of me.
“Don’t go shy on me now, mi amor. There’s a whole lot more of you I want to experience.” He pressed himself to my still swollen pussy. I felt him hard through his slacks.
I bit my lower lip as I studied him, trying to gain the courage I needed. “Can I, uh, taste you?”
Without response, he flipped us again. He caught me to prevent me from toppling over from the quick motion. My hair hung around me, a splayed mess framing my body. My wet pussy sat atop his bulging crotch. I slid down further and carefully undid his pants the best I could with one hand.
“Allow me,” he said.
I sat between his legs as he made quick work of disposing his slacks. My eyes bulged at the size of him curving hard, thick and long towards his navel. “Do whatever you want to me, mi amor. I’m yours.”
Just as he had done to me, I leaned down and smelled him. His scent caused my mouth to water. I studied the head of him where a drop of liquid had pearled. I dragged my tongue over the tip; a salty dessert hit my taste buds at the same time he hissed and fisted the sheets.
I swirled my tongue around the head, sliding along the skin effortlessly. I heard his breath hitch in reaction. I bit my lower lip, trying to decide where to go next. I wasn’t sure what was customary, but it didn’t seem like I could do much wrong. I ran my tongue over his sac, tickled his base and trailed straight up his length.
“Oh, mi amor. You’re torturing me,” he groaned.
I took a deep breath and in one quick strike, like a snake, I covered his entire length with my mouth.
“Mierda!” he gasped. His breathing was suddenly harsh and erratic. I felt his entire body tens
e up, his muscles bolting down.
Knowing I’d found the right move, I started a quick rhythm. His skin was soft against my tongue; his taste invigorated me. When his hips began to rise, I knew he was getting close. I began to swirl my tongue around the head every time I came up.
“Oh, God, Emma. I’m so close. You should stop.”
I didn’t listen. Why would I stop when he was so close? He had given me unbridled pleasure beyond my imagination; I wasn’t about to deny him the same. A few seconds later he grunted my name as he exploded in my mouth. I quickly swallowed his seed, taking him through his final shudder, just as he’d done for me.
He lifted me up and captured my lips, nestling me into him as he turned us on our sides. His hands roved all over me, gently stroking me, reassuring me of what we’d just done. My heart still fluttered in my chest, my belly doing flips over what had commenced. I was a starry eyed teen all over again.
His hands cupped my face as he gazed directly into me. “What are you thinking about?”
I bit my lower lip, dropping my gaze. “I can’t believe I just did- we just did that.”
He pulled back a little. “Do you regret it?”
I lifted my gaze, knowing he needed to see and hear the truth. “No.”
His kissed me once again before pulling me into him, cuddling and comforting me.
—
Chapter Fifteen
I awoke to a knock on the door. I sat up, a bit dazed. I saw the empty spot beside me on the bed and it all came rushing back to me. I heard the shower and knew he was in there.
“Tell them I’ll be down in two minutes,” Marco called without prompting.
They pounded the door again. Seeing only my shirt and panties, I wrapped the comforter around me and sashayed to the door with half the blanket still trailing me. I opened the door to a stunned Kuha.
“Oh…shit. I didn’t…I, uh… Am I interrupting something?” he stuttered, trying to avoid eye contact.
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