Lacey

I decided to skip dinner after getting off the phone with my boss. I still have seven more days of paid vacation time left as I never take it anyway. After Victoria died, I distanced myself from my pack. I had already gone through so much with Harry and then losing Victoria in such a terrible way, I didn’t want to be around it anymore. Abe took his son and left the pack once everything calmed down after she died too. Our Alpha understood my reasons. I was still a pack member; I just lived outside the pack.

I found a typical, simple job in a human city and settled myself there, completely prepared to be by myself for the rest of my life. I spent time with my family occasionally but not as much as I used to. After Harry passed, the world lost color. I stopped enjoying things and wanting to be around people. Victoria was a lovely friend during those times. I knew Abe because I worked for our Alpha, so I met Victoria on a few occasions, and we eventually became good friends. But losing her solidified my needing to get away from the pack.

But that is all different now. Felix is changing things. He is so different from everything I had with Harry, and for the first time in years, I want something. I want to be around him; I want to get to know him. I want to hear him speak, however infrequently. And I definitely want to get closer to him.

I need to make my decision soon, too. I am sure being around him for over a week now will cause my heat to start. It is undoubtedly an experience I do not want to repeat. Because Harry was human, I had to approach things in a whole different manner than wolves normally do. I thought I was going to die the first time I went through it.

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. Azalea had been kind enough to give me a room down the hall from Felix, so we weren’t forced to share. I was grateful only because things had been slightly awkward as we figured out how to navigate each other. I stood up from the small desk and moved to the door. As soon as I cracked the door open, I could smell the roasted marshmallows.

“Hi,” I said as Felix’s large form filled the doorway. He had two plates in his hands. I looked over my shoulder at the clock on the nightstand, realizing it was still dinner time. He looked down at his hands and then back up at me. “Did you bring me dinner?” I asked him.

Felix nodded. Then it struck me that he had two plates in his hands. “Did you want to have dinner with me alone?” The tiniest smile graced his lips, telling me that was what he wanted.

I opened the door all the way and stepped aside so he could come in. He waited for me to turn around and lead the way into the room. I plopped down on the bed since there was no other place to sit in the room other than the desk.

Felix joined, sitting on the edge of the bed. He set down the plates in between us but didn’t say anything. I hadn’t noticed he was also holding bottles of water until he passed me one. “Thanks,” I said softly. He picked up his own plate and started eating. I watched him thoughtfully for a minute. My heart was already ready for him, and so was my wolf. He may be my second chance at perfect love, but was I ready to deal with his eccentricity? I lived a quiet life to myself. There weren’t many people who would come looking for me if I disappeared, at least not right away. Was I ready to commit myself to a mate again?

Felix’s eyes peered up at me through his lashes. He looked curious and sweet while he ate. I realized the problem wasn’t that he was quiet and sometimes challenging to talk to; the problem was that I was comparing him to Harry. Harry was outgoing and extroverted but sweet and gentle at the same time. Felix is exceptionally introverted, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t gentle or caring. If I am honest, I already know how big his heart is. He was torn up when those rogues almost caught the Alpha and Luna’s children. He blamed himself for the situation, and they didn’t leave his sight the next day until they were back with their parents, safe and sound. That doesn’t just come from duty.

“Hmmm?” he almost hummed, like he was trying to ask me what I was thinking.

“You shouldn’t speak with your mouth full,” I tried to tease him. Teasing him occasionally won me some real words. He finished chewing what was in his mouth before taking a swig of water.

“Something on your mind?” he finally asked in his low voice. My wolf purred at the sound of his voice. I nodded my head but waited a moment before elaborating. He just stared at me like I was obviously supposed to expound.

“I was thinking about your request earlier,” I said carefully. I barely noticed his breath hitch. He shifted on the bed a bit. “Okay. I will move in and accept you as my mate.” I smiled at him, and he surprised me with a smile back. It was my turn to lose my breath as I looked at him. He set his plate aside then also moved mine aside. I gave him a confused glance, but it didn’t last long because he grabbed my face in his large hands and pulled me to him as he scooted closer. His lips came to mine in a sensual k**s; it was firm and eager.

When we finally broke apart, he whispered, “Thank you.” My mind took a second to catch up from his dazzling gratitude.

“Of course,” I managed to breathe out. He was still smiling, and my insides were heating up. “I need to pack up my apartment and quit my job. Alpha Liam will also have to accept me into the pack,” I said as I tried to force my brain back to practical thought. Felix nodded, still smiling. “Would you like me to move in with you or stay in this room?”

“Stay with me,” he said quickly. It was my turn to nod. His eagerness and enthusiasm over this were adorable. He still hadn’t let go of me.

“Felix, we need to talk about mating. I think I am going to go into heat soon, so if you aren’t ready….” I trailed off. I watched his expression, trying to gauge his reaction. I wanted him; my body wanted him. But it had been over five years now since I had s*x with anyone. After Harry got sick, he was weak from treatment, making it difficult to be intimate. When he passed, I had no interest in anyone else until now.

Felix’s smile faltered at first. His face went back to its regular, passive expression before he nodded and simply replied, “Yes.”

I had no time to ask him what he meant by that because his lips were back on mine, moving against me softly. I felt myself relax at his touch slightly, and I closed my eyes to enjoy his affection. Hesitantly, I brought my hands up to wrap around his neck. One of his hands dropped to my waist while the other migrated to the back of my head, his fingers braiding into my hair. He used his new grip to pull me even closer so that I was almost in his lap.

His tongue poked my l*p, trying to get through. I parted my lips, and his tongue slid into my mouth. He tasted me, but he wasn’t dominating or controlling. He was slow and gentle, taking his time and not pushing any boundaries. I tasted him back and g*****d at the sensation of his tongue over mine. It had been so long, and now, my body was in overdrive.

I lifted myself up, taking the initiative to close the remaining distance between us. I sat on his lap, straddling his h**s as I deepened the k**s. The hand he had on my waist wrapped around my back, coming under my shirt. Scintillating fire erupted over my skin at his touch. I kissed him even more eagerly now, fueled by those mate bond sparks.

He pulled his head back just enough to stop our k**s. “Slow,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Mark me,” I pleaded. He nodded his head.

“Slow,” he repeated, his eyes also imploring me. I nodded my head, and his mouth came back to mine. He kissed me for another minute before his mouth began to slowly creep across my jaw, laying soft k****s in its wake. A breathy m**n escaped my lips. His hand caressed my skin as he made his way to my neck and down to my collar bone. He breathed in deeply for a moment, savoring my scent. My head fell back while he moved. Every time his mouth made contact with my skin, my body grew warmer, and pressure built in my lower abdomen. It had been so long; I thought I was going to burst from just his mouth alone.

He found the most sensitive spot on my neck and began sucking and nipping at it lightly. I ground my h**s against him in response. His hand moved down to my h*p and gripped it tightly, stopping my movement. His mouth moved from my skin, hovering over where he was just pleasantly torturing me.

“Slow,” he almost growled.

“Okay,” I breathed out.

“Where’s your mark?”

“Harry was human. I was never marked,” he tensed a bit at my words, but it didn’t feel like a bad tense. I looked down at his neck, pulling his shirt aside. He wasn’t marked either. “Where is yours?”

“Witch,” he said before his lips went back to my neck. I couldn’t explain why but Felix not being marked made me want him even more. Both of his hands found the hem of my shirt and began to push it up slowly. I sat up, lifting my arms to give him easier access. He was really taking his time. When he finally pulled my shirt entirely over my head, he just raked his eyes over me. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes were ebony pools. He wanted this just as much as I did, and I didn’t need the stiffness poking my core to tell me that.

His hands came to my waist once more, and our lips met again. His hands roamed over my skin, touching and feeling me. The feeling was so tender and sensual that it was dizzying. I reached down to his sides and found the bottom of his shirt, impatiently lifting it up. He pulled away and let me rip his shirt from his body. His look was intense, but I was focused on his chest. When I described him like a wall of muscle, it was whole-heartedly true. He was thick and wide, muscles prominent everywhere. My hands came to his chest, feeling his skin and reveling in the sparks that ignited at our touch. I looked back up at him.

“Slow,” he said gently before bringing his lips back to mine. I let my hands roam over his skin, wanting to commit every inch to memory. His hands eventually found their way up to the clasp of my bra, and after the shortest moment of fumbling, he undid the clasp. He slowly slid the almost unnecessary piece of clothing down my arms, sending goosebumps across my skin. His mouth left mine, and his eyes moved down to my exposed chest. Before Harry, I was always self-conscious of my small chest, and some of those feelings crept back in now.

A throaty growl escaped his lips while his eyes were locked on my chest. Felix stood, and I instinctively clung to him. He turned and leaned forward, laying my back on the bed. A clatter came from the other side of the bed, and I realized he pushed away our dinner. His eyes were still on my chest as his hands started caressing my breasts. They barely filled his large hands, but his eyes only grew impossibly darker.Content rights belong to .

“Perfect,” he growled. He let go of one of my breasts only to bring his mouth over it. My back arched at the contact.

“Felix,” I m****d as he kissed and sucked at my sensitive skin. While he worked true magic on my breasts, his hands slid down my stomach to the button of my pants. It was hard to focus on how charming his slight struggle with it was; it had been a while for him as well.

He finally got it undone and peeled my skinny jeans away, kissing down my stomach as he moved down my legs. Before touching my panties, he stood and undid his own pants, letting them drop to the floor, so now he stood in just a pair of boxer briefs in front of me. I licked my lips, impatience blossoming as I took in the delicious sight in front of me. I sat up, leaning forward to push his boxer briefs down and free the e******n straining against them. I was going to go crazy if he didn’t put out this fire he started.

I pushed the soft fabric away, and his c**k sprang free. My eyes went wide, and my mouth dried up like a desert. Goddess, what was this man made of? I had no answer, but I would gladly accept her challenge. He leaned down over me, nudging me with his nose. His hands came down to my h**s, and he ran his fingers along the waistband of my panties.

“What are you waiting for?” I goaded him. He smirked at me; his fingers of one hand hooked into my panties as his other pushed me back onto the bed. He pulled the last bit of clothing off me. I was panting just as heavily as he was now while he crawled onto the bed over top of me. I spread my legs, letting him settle in between them. He gave me a look like he was asking for permission. I nodded my head; I need him to do this now.

He positioned himself at my dripping entrance, and his eyes locked onto mine. He slid himself into me slowly, stretching me in every direction. My eyes rolled back, and a long m**n left my throat. I have never felt anything like this. I was breathing hard at the fullness in my pelvis. My eyes came back to him, and I realized he wasn’t moving.

“Felix, move,” I said more forcefully than I intended. He grabbed one of my legs and hiked it up over his h*p before he slowly began to move himself in and out. Every single nerve in my body was standing on end at his delectable torment. I brought my other leg up to wrap around his waist and pull him closer. He continued to move slowly and steadily. I leaned forward, pulling his mouth to mine. He obliged, letting our tongues dance against each other.

Everything was building, and I needed more friction, more movement. I didn’t wait or ask; I just shifted my weight to roll us over. I was now on top of him while he looked up at me, surprised. I started bouncing my h**s over his c**k, moving at my own pace now. I threw my head back and almost screamed at the sensation. His hands grabbed my h**s, trying to slow me down. I looked down at him and shook my head.

“Please,” I begged. He sat up, bringing us face to face. He nodded and then started pumping my h**s as fast as I just was. His mouth came back to my shoulder, right where the skin was most sensitive.

“Felix,” I m****d as he repeatedly smashed into that perfect spot just inside. I was quickly approaching the summit as I gripped his shoulders, digging in my fingernails. I felt his teeth grow longer and scrape against my skin. I could feel my own growing longer, and my wolf was ready.

“Yes,” I m****d out, and he didn’t hesitate. He sunk his teeth into my skin right as I found his spot and bit him.

Stars. Bright white stars. That is all I could see.

Euphoria flooded my body as I felt his climax inside me, causing my own dam to burst.

As the feeling started to recede, I pulled my teeth from his neck and licked the spot to make sure it would close; I felt him do the same. My body felt heavy and sated as he pulled himself away from me. I laid myself against his solid chest, sighing. That was incredible, and my whole body was one sensitive mess right now.

Felix kissed the side of my head while he wrapped his arms around me tightly. I haven’t been this close to anyone in years. His arms felt like home, and I haven’t felt at home since Harry left me. Felix turned us over, laying me against the pillows. He let go of me and crawled out of bed. I let out a sad whimper, but he didn’t say anything. He moved over to the small closet and returned a moment later. He had a small towel in his hand that he used to gently wipe up the mess on both of us. He tossed it to the floor before climbing onto the bed and cuddling into me. He laid behind me and pulled me flush against him. He kissed the back of my head softly before snuggling into my back.