A Mate's Revenge(13)

She watched him in the mirror as he ran the towel down her back and arms taking water droplets with it. He tossed it to the corner. Taking a deep breath, he peeled his shirt off, adding it to the pile.

Looking down, he took in the shape of her body, the way it curved in and then back out at the waist. It was exactly how he remembered it, though a bit slighter, and marked from years of mistreatment.

Cael shook his head. How could her mate have done this? Didn’t his wolf rebel at the action? Their animals were inherently born to protect, only harming those who threatened what belonged to them. How did Jax become the threat instead of the protector?

With his hands, he grazed the skin of her back. A breath of air rushed from her lungs, her sides heaving at his barely-there touch. He smoothed his hands up and over her shoulders. His scent needed to be everywhere, and this is how they’d start. Skin on skin contact. Following the line of her arms until he reached her hands, he twined his fingers with hers, bringing them to rest on her belly.

She trembled, her breath catching.

“I’m angry,” he seethed. “So fucking angry. At you, at him. But I would never hurt you. Could never…”

A sob escaped her throat followed by a jagged inhale.

His wolf bucked inside, confused, scenting Jax’s mark and Isabesh’s heat. The heat called to him, the mark warned him away. He’d fix both of those things.

He flattened his palm, rubbing gentle circles over her stomach. She had to accept him mentally as well as physically in order for this to work the way she wanted it to. Over and over, he passed his hands along the skin there, imprinting as much of his scent as possible. He moved to her ribs and arms, repeating the motion before pressing her back against his chest. Her chilled, dewy skin against his hot made his throat ache with want.

Meeting her gaze in the mirror, he realized just how tortured he was. Secretly, and without even realizing it, he’d wished for this to happen, this union  , this opportunity to make Isabesh his again. Killing Jax had only ever been part of the plan. He’d been a fool for ever thinking that would be enough.

The green of her eyes mixing with sadness and hope anchored him, focused him.

His hand slipped around her throat, fingers brushing over the angry red line there. With his thumb, he caressed her jaw, slowly, never taking his eyes off their reflection.

“I need to touch every inch of you,” he whispered. “The more of me on your skin, the better.” He was asking permission. Everything from here on out had to be her choice.

She understood, giving a nod.

His other hand trailed slowly upward, stroking just under her heaving breast. Then he palmed it, carefully, gently, holding his breath as her nipple hardened against his grip. He squeezed, letting his thumb brush the tight bud.

Cael’s heart went from steady to racing when her scent changed from one of fear and desperation to something heavy and luxurious. Her heat was thick, but this was something more. He was bringing her pleasure with the simplest touch.

He shouldn’t be doling out pleasure. He should be punishing. But she’d had so much of that already, and the tears streaming down her cheeks to land on the hand at her jaw told him this pleasure was also breaking her.

He spread his hand over her other breast before moving down her front, lower and lower. He hesitated just above her cleft. If he touched her there this would be game over. He had to mark the rest of her first.

He released her throat, stepping back just enough to squat behind her. Starting at her ankles, he slowly swept his hands along her lithe legs. He was growing hungry for her, and with her scent so close to his face, it was impossible not to want to lick.

At her thigh, Cael noticed a drip, and it wasn’t a drop of water he’d missed with the towel. For the first time since their reunion  , he let his eyes land on the crevice between her legs. She was swollen from her heat, and glistening.

Cael swallowed to stem a growl. Fuck.

He dipped his head, catching the drip on her thigh and tasting her sweetness once again. So fucking long. It’d been so long. Cael shivered to his toes.

That fucker’d had this, had what was his.

He stared at her entrance, grinding his teeth to keep control. He wanted to bury his face there forever. Lick away every drop of arousal. Mark that area with his tongue.

She was trying to keep still. He could tell by the way she trembled. But she was needy. And that was too fucking bad.

Somehow, he managed to move his hands to her ass without touching the spot that called to him. Her whimper gave him so much satisfaction. He massaged her cheeks before running a finger lightly along her crack, earning him another small moan.

Cael stood. His pants had to go. He was harder than he’d ever been. He made quick work of his belt and shoes, all the while holding her gaze in the mirror. Her eyes were half mast but still held a hint of fear. His pants joined the towel in the corner.