Chapter 2: Alpha’s Prize: Chapter 2

Council Elder

I stand outside the cell with my fellow elders Don Jose and Don Mateo, watching the two young wolves interact. I’ve sent the guards away. They aren’t necessary—these cells are impossible to break out of. “It’s only a matter of time. Their attraction is already apparent.”

“Agreed,” Mateo says. “He’ll mark her before midnight. That much of the plan will be successful. But when we let him out, he may rip all our throats out. His wolf has grown fierce since we saw him last.”

“I have a plan for that.” Don Jose taps one finger on the door. “We drug them both before we separate them, then overdose his mother. When Carlos wakes, he will have to respond to that crisis first. He’ll forget his fury because his mother will require all the gentleness he has inside him.”

“That’s not much of a plan,” Mateo says.

“By the time he finds his female again, she’ll be locked in a guest room, dressed in fine robes and being treated like royalty. He’ll have no cause to punish us for our means, as he’ll be pleased with the result—a beautiful prize for a strong alpha. Just what this pack has needed. Of course, we’ll humbly beg his forgiveness.”

I narrow my eyes. “It’s risky. What if he lets her go?” Although I was the one who the traffickers notified when they kidnapped the American she-wolf, the idea to imprison her with our alpha was Don Jose’s. I would have preferred in vitro fertilization. To use the girl as a breeder for the entire pack. A science experiment. We can’t depend on nature or animal nature to keep the pack healthy.

“If he marks her, he won’t be able to let her go. Biology will take its course, just as it will tonight.”

“You’re sure of it.” I say it more like a statement than a question.

“Yes.”

Juanito, a nine-year-old servant, arrives with the water I instructed him to fetch. He’s a slight risk, because he’s Carlos’ favorite, but that’s also why I picked him. We need someone to deliver food and drink to the couple, and I don’t trust Carlos not to tear off the hand that goes through the window. He won’t hurt the boy, though. There’s too much goodness in him. Just like his father.

Which was why we had to get rid of him.

~.~

Sedona

Carlos paces away from me and I register the loss of his closeness like a plant deprived of water. Which pisses me off. I don’t want to be so turned on by the dark, brooding, mostly naked alpha stalking around our cell. Even if he is made of solid muscle so sculpted he could be a bodybuilder. I watch him, fascinated. His chest is hairless and a tattoo covers his left shoulder and biceps, some sort of geometric pattern. A second tattoo covers his right biceps.

I’ve never had such a strong reaction to any male—human or shifter. But then again, I’ve never been chained with my naked body on full display for a male, either.

I replay the scene where he held me down to make me stop pulling on my manacles. He moved lightning-fast, pouncing over me, pinning me to the bed. For one second, I thought he was going to kiss me. Damn. He has neatly trimmed facial hair. What would it feel like against my skin?

What would it be like to have my wrists pinioned over my head by him while he plowed into me? To have all that command and power focused on me. Would he make it hurt? Or is he a tender lover?

Even though his high-handedness annoyed me, he was right to stop me. My wrists are already bruised from where I pulled and the silliest part of me loves that he flexed his will for my own good. It’s what a good alpha should do.

A square window at the base of the heavy door slides back and a small hand pushes a plastic tumbler through.

Carlos springs into action, diving for it, but instead of taking the tumbler, he grabs the wrist delivering it.

“Ay!” The cry of pain from the other side sounds distinctly childlike.

Carlos curses. “Juanito?”

“Perdóname, Don Carlos.” The boy sounds like he’s about to cry.

Carlos lets out a string of Spanish curses, many of which I recognize. He demands something in Spanish but the boy only answers with a sniffle. Carlos releases his wrist and says something in more soothing tones. The small hand folds up and bumps Carlos’ fist before it retreats. Carlos picks up the tumbler of water and stalks toward me. A tightly-leashed fury radiates from him, which I find oddly attractive. But yeah, I was raised by a dominant, generally pissed-off alpha wolf, so I guess that would be my male ideal. It actually makes sense why no other male has caught my interest until now. My wolf only shows her belly to a true alpha.

Great. I hope there’s therapy for this, because the last thing I need is another big shot male telling me what to do. I already have an over-protective father and brother for that.

I watch his muscles ripple as he walks to the side of the bed.

“They send a boy with the water because they know I won’t hurt him. Chingada bola de pendejos.”

“Who is the boy?” I’m thinking he’s a relative of Carlos.

“A servant.”

“Don’t they have child labor laws in Mexico?”

Carlos’ expression darkens even more. “I know. My pack is… archaic. They—we”— his voice takes on a bitter tone— “live in a different era. The weak serve the strong. And they’re kept weak by design. Congress or commerce with outsiders is forbidden, technology and media is not allowed, nor do we even trade with other packs. Only the council and myself are exempt from all these rules.”

Water sloshes over the lip of the purple plastic tumbler. With far greater finesse than he showed when he tried to cover me with his shirt, he slides a hand behind my head and lifts it to meet the cup. I guzzle down half the water, not even caring that some of it dribbles down my chin. “Thank you,” I gasp when I’m finished.

“If you don’t approve, why don’t you change things?”

A muscle in his jaw jumps. “I am—I will. It’s a fight—always a fight against the council. But I will.”

I accept another sip of water from the tumbler.

Carlos stares down at me with glittering dark eyes. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Sedona.”

He raises a brow. “Like the city?”

“My parents met there.” A few years ago, I was afraid Sedona and Tucson would be the farthest I’d ever travel from my home pack in Phoenix. And now I’m somewhere in Mexico, chained to a bed with a sexy Latino wolf devouring my naked body with his eyes. Not quite the adventure I’d hoped for.

Carlos repeats my name in his Spanish accent, giving it an exotic and sexy sound. “Beautiful name for a beautiful wolf.” The fact that he finds me beautiful seems to piss him off, because he scowls when he says it. He lifts his hand to my mouth, like he’s going to wipe the water off my chin, then retracts it with a grimace.

“Gee, thanks,” I say drily.

He brings his thumb to my lower lip and rubs it, back and forth slowly, his dark eyes growing black.

A thrum starts between my legs and my nipples tighten.

Oh shit.

I’m totally out of my depth here. The honest truth—I’m a virgin. My dad would’ve killed any boy I screwed around with when I was in high school. And I mean that literally. I didn’t even have a date to prom. I could’ve had sex in college, but I hang out with humans, and human males just don’t ring my bell. Not that they haven’t tried. I’ve messed around a little bit, but no intercourse.

The next thing I know, Carlos pushes his thumb between my lips and I’m making love to it with my tongue. A low growl reverberates in his chest like the start of an engine and all my lady parts rev up in response.

“Sedona,” he rasps in his sexy accent again. Say-doh-na. He pronounces my name like it’s a magical place. He drags his thumb from the suction of my mouth as if it pains him. “Being locked in here with you is going to kill me.”

It must be the repeated tranquilizers they gave me because I’m seriously about to invite him to try out the Sedona buffet, seeing as how I’m all spread out here for his delight.

“What’s your—” I clear my throat because I find it hard to speak now since he invaded my mouth with his thick digit— “What’s your plan, exactly? Wait it out? I don’t think that’s going to work. If they locked you in here to get us to breed, will they let us out before we do?”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. He’s beautiful angry, a lock of thick dark hair falling across his forehead, the strong lines of his face accented by the firm set of his mouth. His fingers close into fists at his side. “I don’t know yet.”

If I didn’t have an alpha father and brother I might miss the legions of guilt and frustration coming off him in waves. Alphas can’t stand not taking action, not having an answer, or having their hands tied. Considering the way his cock is locked in the upright position, the action he’s most likely to take is thrusting into my warm, wet pussy. Not that I’m totally against the idea. Liquid trickles between my thighs as I fight to keep my head.

“How long have you been alpha?” I ask.

He rubs the back of his neck. “De facto—since my father’s death when I was sixteen. But el consejo encouraged me to leave, to continue at my boarding school education and then to attend university in the United States. And then to go to graduate school. I didn’t return until this fall.” There’s a heaviness to his words. I sense the weight of more guilt, or some other burden as he stares at the wall opposite him.

“You didn’t want to return.”

“No.” He meets my eyes in a new way, as if the cloud of lust has lifted and he actually sees me, Sedona, not my naked body offered up on a platter. “I’ve never admitted that before. Even to myself.”

“How long have you been gone?”

“Seven years. Long enough to comprehend if we don’t make changes to this archaic place, the pack will die out.”

I shudder. I’m the solution his council cooked up to save the pack. There’s a certain amount of duty I was prepared for as an alpha’s daughter. Being a part of a breeding program wasn’t one of them. My dad is old school, but this is positively primeval.

He sits on the edge of the bed near my waist and examines the locks on my shackles. My wrists must look as raw as they feel because he rubs my skin around the edges of the cuffs and growls. “Tell me how you ended up here, Sedona.”

The dominant tone makes me shiver. It doesn’t matter that he’s trying to be a gentleman. My body responds to him. “It’s my spring break—or was. I was in San Carlos with my friends and a shifter approached me on the beach. Another came up behind me and stabbed a needle in my neck to drug me. They put me in a cage and flew me to a city where I spent the night in a warehouse. Then they drove me here.”

Carlos growls through my entire story, while his thumb works magic on the inside of my wrist, tracing light circles on my sensitive skin. I never realized a touch on the wrist was so sexy. My pussy throbs in a way that’s hard to ignore. The strange heat floods my system again.

“Traffickers,” he says when I finish. “From Mexico City. I’d heard a rumor that shifters were selling wolves in my country, but I didn’t believe it. The stories feature a demon called the Harvester who buys shifters, drains their blood, and steals their organs.”

I shudder.

“When we get out, I’ll kill every last one of the traffickers who touched you. You have my word on that.”

I swallow and nod. “Thank you.”

He brushes his lips over my pulse. “Tell me, where do you go to school and what do you study, Sedona?”

I lick my lips to wet them, and his gaze snaps to my mouth. Fates, I may actually be blushing. I’ve had attention from males my entire life and never had this reaction. Shifting my hips to relieve the tickle between them, I answer, “I go to the University of Arizona, in Tucson. I’m getting a degree in commercial art.”

He tilts his head to the side as if I’ve said the most fascinating thing on Earth. “An artist. Claro que si.”

“What does that mean?”

He smiles, shifting his attention to my other wrist. “Yes, of course. I should have known a wolf as beautiful as you would only put more beauty into the world.”

I roll my eyes.

“What kind of art do you produce?”

I nibble my lip. “Right now I’m really into watercolors with black ink outlines.”

“Like landscapes?”

I don’t know why it embarrasses me to say what I’ve been drawing. I say it, anyway. “Fairies.”

He cocks his head, studying me. I wait for him to scoff, but instead he asks, “Why fairies?”

“Um.” I flush. No one’s ever asked me this much about my art before. Not even my folks. “When I was little, I had a nanny. Well, an older wolf who watched me in the afternoon sometimes. She always told me if I took a nap when she wanted me to, good fairies would come and fill my life with magic. I, um, remember trying to draw them.” I rush to finish my lame story, but he doesn’t interrupt or look bored. “Later, when she got sick, I made her little cards decorated with fairies. Somehow, I never grew out of it.”

“I would very much like to see your fairies, Sedona.”

His intense gaze makes my heart flutter. I look away. “I don’t really show them to anyone,” I mumble.

“Why not?”

“My professors would think it’s dumb. My folks think that art is just a phase I’m going through. Something cute for me to occupy my time with until I’m mated. It’s like they sent me for the 1950s Mrs. degree.”

Carlos clucked. “They should be proud of you, and leave you to your art.”

“Yeah. My dad and brother just care about keeping me safe and protected. The rest doesn’t matter so much.”

“But only you can live your life. You should be free to make your choices.”

I snort. “I’ve never been free. They’re… dominant.” I remember just in time not to mention that Dad and Garrett are both alphas. “Don’t dominant wolves like making decisions for others?”

“An alpha should be a leader, yes.” Carlos nods. He caught what I didn’t say, and I should be worried, but all I can think is smart wolf. “He should oversee the good of the pack, protect the weak, and keep them safe. But he should also know what his members care about, what makes them tick. That is leadership.”

I swallow hard. This is dangerous territory. At least Carlos doesn’t seem to think all women should be tied to their beds for an alpha asshole to ravish and breed. Or he does, and he’s talking a good game to manipulate me. I’m just not sure.

“What about you?” I redirect the conversation. “Where did you go to school?”

“Stanford for undergrad, Harvard for my MBA.”

Wow. Okay, he is a smart wolf. No wonder he didn’t want to come back to his pack. A spark of anger on his behalf kindles in my chest. He should be able to choose his own future, not be shackled to this crazy pack.

But a more pressing and disturbing thought pushes its way to the forefront of my mind. “Carlos? I have to pee.”

~.~

Carlos

My wolf loves the way Sedona looks up at me and spills her problem, like I’m the guy who will know how to fix it.

And then I’m enraged. There’s a toilet in the room, but my female is chained to a bed. Yes, I called her my female. I know I can’t keep her, but in this moment, she’s under my protection. She’s naked and vulnerable and—mine. My wolf snaps his teeth with that assertion. Down, boy.

I stomp to the door and pound on it again. “Give me the keys to her cuffs. Now.”

I hear low voices murmuring behind the door, then Don Jose makes an offer, “The keys for the clothing.”

Fuck. Me.

Anger has the cords in my neck standing out, but I’m impotent to act. I grit my teeth and turn to Sedona. “They say they will trade the keys for the scraps of clothing.”

Her nostrils flare, lower jaw juts out at a stubborn angle. “Right. Because they’re hoping for sexy time. How sexy will it be when I wet the bed?”

I can’t hold back the bark of laughter that comes flying out. It surprises me—I honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed. It’s been years. Probably since before my father died.

Sedona’s lips turn up into a wry grimace and I get lost in the cerulean blue of her eyes. And then, because there’s no fucking way I’m letting my female be humiliated by wetting the bed, I make the decision for her. I march over and snatch my shirt from her body.

“Hey,” she protests, but her nipples bead up.

“Your freedom is worth my discomfort,” I tell her, dropping my boxers to the floor.

“Your discomfort?” Disbelief crowds her tone.

“Yes, muñeca. I’m the one who has to fight my instincts.”

She blushes like an innocent, and I wonder how much sexual experience she has. She’s mature, but still young.

It doesn’t matter. She shouldn’t be locked up with a wolf like me.

I gather up the other scraps littered around the room and give the delivery door a sharp kick. It slides back and I stuff the items through. Juanito’s hand appears with the key. His wrist is still marked with red imprints from my fingers and guilt slams through me.

Of all the shifters in the hacienda, Juanito is one I would never wish to hurt. Juanito and my mother, may the fates protect her.

I wanted to ask Juanito to slip me the key to her cuffs when he delivered the water—I know the boy would do anything I ask—but I couldn’t put him in that position. He’d get a terrible beating at best. At worst, el consejo would exact their revenge on his mother, and she’s had enough grief in this lifetime after losing her husband to the mines and her eldest son disappearing.

If I can find a way to communicate with him alone, maybe he can get me the key to the door and I’ll be out in time to protect him and his mother. Fates, how I’d like to just remove him from this dark place.

I take the key and Juanito’s other hand appears with a ripe mango, still in its peel. I roll my eyes. Seriously? It’s like they’re taking advice from a bad dating book. Eating a mango can be sensual and stimulating in foreplay. Lick the juice from your lover’s skin, or have her suck on the seed.

I take the fruit. My she-wolf may be hungry. I fist bump with Juanito again, stride back to the bed and unlock Sedona’s wrist cuffs. She groans as she pulls her arms down and shakes them. When I’ve freed her ankles, I help her sit and rub her arms to get the life back in them.

“What is moon-yeca?” she asks.

I smile. “Doll.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks color again and she surges to her feet. “Turn around. I need some privacy.”

“It’s yours, doll.” I stand up and walk to the other side of the room, turning my back to the toilet and biting the peel of the mango to tear a piece off.

The toilet flushes and I turn back. Sedona pours a bit of water from the cup over her hands to wash. My cock thickens at this new view of her. She’s a goddess. Long legs, breasts, a perfect handful, her coppery brown hair falling in waves down her slender back.

And that ass…

In less than a minute, I could have Sedona on her hands and knees, spreading those ass cheeks wide for me as I hold a fistful of her silky hair and pound into her. She’s hot for it. I could make her want it. It wouldn’t even be rape…

I shake my head and swallow the growl starting up my throat, but not before she catches it.

She turns and quirks her brows. “What?” Then her gaze drops to my erect and bobbing cock and she knows what.

I don’t know what I expected—another blush, or irritation. Maybe defensiveness. Instead, my American doll moistens her lips with her tongue.

I groan. “Don’t do that, muñeca. Not unless you want to find out what it’s like to be thrown face down on that mattress and fucked until you scream.”

Her eyes widen and I know I went too far. Maybe I was trying to piss her off, to get her to put up a wall to keep me out. Because fates know my control is crumbling.

I face the wall so she doesn’t have to look at my dick waving around while I speak with blatant vulgar disrespect.

And then it hits me—the scent of her arousal—so pure, so undeniable, my vision tunnels.

Fuck. My wolf wants to mark her. I haven’t even kissed the female and he’s ready to mate for life.

My fingernails turn to claws. I dig them into the wall and drag downwards, relishing the pain. Less than an hour and my control is dangerously close to breaking. I seriously don’t know how I’ll survive the night.

“Are you all right?” Her soft voice does wicked things to my body.

“Fine,” I give a strangled chuckle. “Just fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“Just… give me a moment.” I press my forehead against the wall. The council is smarter than I give them credit for. Locking me in with a female in heat—it’s too much.

“Are… are you moon mad?” she asks.

“No.” Not yet. I lean one hand against the wall. I’m dying to stroke my cock, just beat off right here to keep from marking her. I’d do it, except I doubt it’d help. “What do you know about moon sickness, Sedona?”

“I know dominant wolves get it when their wolf needs to mate and they deny him.”

“Not just mate. Mark. For life.”

“Have you ever had it?”

“No. If I did… I’d take a mate. Not like this,” I hasten to explain. “I’d woo her. Court her. She’d have a choice. Of course.”

“Your council doesn’t take the same stance on she-wolves’ rights.”

“No,” I breathe out, grateful she doesn’t lump me in with them. “They don’t. They’ve been pushing me to take a mate. But I’m not ready.”

“Still playing the field?” Her tone has an edge that makes me turn. I brace as her beauty hits me like a blow.

“Jealous?” I try to joke. My voice comes out strangled.

She bites her lip.

“Madre de Dios,” I mutter. “Don’t do that.”

Her lovely eyes widen. “Do what?”

“Nothing.” I don’t want to scare her. It’s not her fault she’s perfect. “I’m not a player, no matter what you’ve heard about Latin lovers. I’ve never even had a she-wolf—only human females.”

“I’ve never been with a wolf, either.”

My fist curls at the thought of another male—wolf or human—touching her. I press my body against the wall and dig my nails into my palm until the bite makes me grit my teeth.

“You’re in pain.” The concern in her voice wraps around me.

And she’s been kidnapped, drugged, and locked in a room to serve against her will in a bogus breeding program. I don’t deserve her compassion.

“Look, Carlos. Neither of us want to be in this situation, but…”

I open my eyes. She’s gnawing that lip again. Naughty she-wolf. I’d punish her for being a tease, if she were mine.

“Maybe I can do something to help you—” She lowers her eyes in the direction of my cock, flushing. I bite back a laugh. If I had known such an alluring innocent existed, I would have torn apart the world to find her.

“I mean,” Sedona continues, “We’re obviously attracted to each other—”

The roaring in my ears is the sound of all the blood in my body rushing to my cock. It’s so loud I nearly miss her next comment, “We could just, I don’t know, fool around.” She shrugs and swallows. “It doesn’t have to mean anything, beyond tonight.”

I’m across the room before I realize my control has snapped. Sedona retreats, her face white at the wolf in my eyes. I stalk her until her back hits the wall and then plant my hands beside her head, caging her. I lean close, careful not to touch, but it’s no use. Her sweet scent makes me dizzy.

“Is that what you did with your little humans? Fool around?” My voice comes out a growl.

“No,” she breathes. Her pupils are blown.

I curl a lock of her hair around my index finger. “No? You sure, ángel? Because I seriously want to kick the ass of every boy who’s ever touched you.” I’ve gone way too far, but I can’t seem to dial back the competitive aggression burning just below the surface now.

She shoves at my chest and when I don’t move, tries to duck under my arm.

Yeah, I definitely went too far.

“Wait.” I catch her and pull her back. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being an asshole.”

“Yeah. You are.”

I flip her around, hold her against me until she stops struggling. Her scent envelops me, and I know she really is an angel. I’m in heaven. My lips nuzzle her ear. “I’m trying. You see how difficult this is for me…” I rub my cock against her bare rear.

Her breath grows ragged. “I know. I can help with that.”

“Thank you, Sedona.” Although it pains me, I release her. “But I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She hides the hurt confusion on her face. “Whatever.” She stalks to the bed and sits down, arms crossed over her chest.

“You can’t seriously think I don’t want you.” My goddamn dick bobs in front of me as nodding in agreement.

She gives a shrug.

“No, I mean for me, there’s no fooling around. Not with you. Because I wouldn’t be satisfied with just one night.”

She shakes her head, muttering something about men and overinflated opinions of their stamina.

“One night wouldn’t be enough because I’d want more of you. Not sex. Not fooling around. You.” I take a deep breath and tell her the truth. “If my wolf was ready to choose a mate, I’d choose a she-wolf like you.”

“What?”

“Kind. Intelligent. Educated.”

A smile plays over her lips. “You forgot smoking hot.”

“Muñeca, I didn’t forget.”

She laughs and her breasts bounce lightly. My cock is so hard I’m in pain. But I’d give anything to see her laugh again.

I sit next to her, leaving a space between us. My heart stops racing when I get a lungful of her scent. My wolf seems content I’m with my female. Maybe I can do this.

I bump her shoulder with mine. “I changed my mind. Let’s fool around.”

“Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not. I would never.” I search for a peace offering, and remember the mango. “Are you hungry?” Retrieving the fruit, I tear off a piece. She reaches for it and I shake my head. You want to play, doll? Let’s see how you handle this game.

I bring the mango to her lips. She holds onto the stiffness in her body for another moment, then leans forward to bite into the ripe yellow flesh. As expected, the fruit dribbles down her chin and neck, dropping onto her chest in sticky rivulets. “Oh my God,” she exclaims with her mouth full, hands flying up to catch the juice. She chews, moaning. “This is so good. Mangoes are not this good in the States.”

“It’s fresh. We have a grove inside the hacienda walls with all kinds of fruit-bearing trees—almond, avocado, lemon, lime, sapote, papaya.”

“Mmm.” She leans forward and takes another bite. “This is one reason I’ve always wanted to travel. The food.”

“You haven’t traveled?” I peel a new section, smiling like a fool as she lets me feed her.

She licks her lips and my vision darkens. The only thing keeping me from claiming her is my satisfaction watching her eat. My wolf is content, for now.

“I always wanted to get out, see the world. My folks won’t let me. They’re protective.”

“With good reason,” I say softly and feed her another bite.

“I used to think being named after an Arizona town was a curse. Like I’d never get to leave. Of course, my one trip ended with me here—” She waves a hand at the cell.

“You will get out of here safely, Sedona. You’ll get your chance to travel. You have my word.”

“Thanks.” She swallows and forces a smile. “Until then, I’m just going to pretend I’m stuck at a second-hand resort with an unfortunate dungeon theme. Of course, the food service here is very hands on.” She waggles her brows. A joke. Stuck in this hellhole with me, and she’s making a joke. She’s… incredible.

I can’t stop myself from leaning down and kissing the side of her mouth. I pull back immediately, but her taste lingers on my lips, a bit of mango sweetness. “Forgive me, I… you had something.” I gesture to her face.

“Like I said,” she grins. “Very hands on.”

At a loss for words, I raise the mango again. She eats like she’s ravenous, devouring the tender flesh. I make quick work of the peel, dropping it at our feet and turning the sticky fruit around and around until she’s eaten all the orange meat. “Sorry. I didn’t save you any.”

“I’m fine, muñeca. Do you want the seed?” I’m dying as I offer it to her. She’s winning this game without even trying. I won’t survive the torture of watching her suck the seed, and yet every cell in my body requires I see it.

She lifts her brows. “What do you do with it?”

There. It’s all over. I have to show her. I push the seed between her lips, fuck her mouth with it.

Her eyes dilate, teeth clamp down and scrape the remaining flesh from the seed. I pull the seed out so she can swallow and she sounds breathless.

Fates take me now.

Her pretty pink tongue extends from her mouth to lick away some of the juice from her lips. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

“What am I doing?” My voice is pure gravel.

“Making love to me with a mango.”

I thrust the seed back between her lips. “No, beautiful. That wasn’t making love to you with a mango.” I pull the seed back out and trail it down her neck, between her breasts. I follow with my mouth, licking along the sweet trail of juice I’ve left. “This is making love to you with a mango.”

I drag it all the way down her belly, turn the seed flat side up and rub between her legs.

She cries out and tries to close her thighs but I make a sharp disapproving sound and she stills.

Fates, I’m really doing this.

She whimpers, rocking her pelvis down to grind into the fruit. We both pant as I rub it back and forth over her slit, her juices mingling with the mango’s. The sound is slick, like sex. I pull the mango seed away and bring it back with a slap, spanking her pussy. Her eyes widen and she emits a needy moan.

“Do you need me to clean up my mess, baby?” I slap her with the mango seed again. Our eyes are locked, and I’m hoping she’ll see I’ve reined the wolf in enough to do this for her. My cock may seriously break off it’s so hard, but pleasuring her is a need fueling me like no other.

Her head wobbles in a nod.

Thank the fates.

I drop to my knees beside the bed and lift one of her legs, propping it on my shoulder. With a flat tongue I lap up the mango juice, cleaning it until I get to her natural essence, that tang that makes my blood hum.

This is where I belong.

It’s like my entire life, which has been one giant, walking existential crisis, has been solved between her legs. Pleasuring my female is the only thing that matters in the world. I don’t give a fuck about the elders, or even mind that they wanted this, they plotted it. They’re probably watching it from the window. I only live for those cries of pleasure coming from Sedona’s throat, the way her fingers tear at my hair, urging me on. I make my tongue stiff and penetrate her, then move up to her sweet little clit. I suck on it, flick it, swirl my tongue around it. “Like that, beautiful?”

“No,” she moans, pulling my mouth back to her clit. I smile against her flesh, returning to my chosen duty.

Sensing her urgency, I give her more, screwing one finger into her pussy. She’s tight—unbelievably tight—and she moans on every exhale like she’s about to come. I curl my finger to reach her front wall, sweep it around until I find the place where the tissue wrinkles up when I touch it. Her G-spot.

She screams, rubbing her pussy over my face as her muscles clamp down on my finger in a singularly glorious release.

As if to punctuate the end of the show, the lights in the cell abruptly go out.