Chapter 99

Chapter 99

I worry about myself, a little, just passively, as Jackson kisses me. Because something about the way

that his mouth moves against mine makes me…just…really, really stupid.

–

Honestly, all logic is gone from my head all thoughts, all sense, all practicality.

It’s almost like all of my wolf’s crazy impulses which I usually think are so ridiculous come to the

forefront, and they all make a great deal of sense. Because the only thing I want to do right now is strip

off my clothing, and climb on top of him, and let him do whatever the hell he wants to my body – just

take…complete control.

I am all instinct and impulse now as I lose myself in Jackson, as he bends me backwards, slightly, in

his arms, levering his body over mine even as he holds me tight, dominating me and demonstrating in

the same moment how incredibly precious I am to him.

His hand moves slowly down my side as his tongue dips into my mouth, and my hips rise up against

him, seeking friction, wanting to be touched as his hand moves lower to take a firm grip on my ass. I

moan, deep and shuddering, as Jackson presses me tighter against him and then lets his hand dip

further in, his fingers just barely tracing the hot core of me through the fabric of my cadet uniform.

My head falls back on my neck at this touch, a panting gasp escaping my lips.

“Fuck, Ari,” Jackson growls, tucking his face against my neck and then pressing his cheek to my chest.

But he moves his hand away, back to my ass and then slipping down my thigh to tuck safely behind my

knee.

I lift my head, confused, foggy. I frown to see Jackson’s frustrated expression, his clenched teeth.

Slowly he shakes his head at me as I blink at him, coming back to myself.

And then I laugh, covering my face with my hands, groaning a little as I do because I can sense his

emotions now, sense just how much he wants to continue precisely what we were doing just a few

seconds ago.

But…he’s right. We can’t do any of that right now. Nothing has changed.

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And we have we have got to find some semblance of self–control and resist getting lost in each other.

This is the Examination, after all.

“You should sleep,” he murmurs, working to clear his throat.

I laugh at the idea, rolling my eyes even as I sit up in his lap and tuck my hair back from my face,

pretending to ignore the hard, thick length of him that’s now pressed against my ass. [ do my very, very

best to resist the urge to press myself more firmly against that length.

And I…fail. Just a little bit.

Jackson groans, suddenly grabbing me beneath the arms and lifting me bodily out of his lap, placing

me gently beside him as if I’m as light as a kitten. I burst out laughing as he leans away from me.

“I cannot be the only responsible party here, Ari,” Jackson growls, glaring at me even as I can see the

joy on his face, the temptation in his eyes. “You have got to help me out here.”

“But I don’t want to,” I murmur, leaning closer to him again, reaching to wrap my hand. around the back

of his neck, wanting his mouth back on mine

But Jackson just laughs, deep and rueful, pulling away and then getting to his feet, shaking himself

from head to toe like the wolf he is. “I am…going to take a very small walk,” he murmurs, turning away

from me. “And when I come back, we are going to behave ourselves, yes?”

I grumble, discontent, even though I know he’s right. And then Jackson does precisely as he says –

walking a little distance away into the woods with his hands on his hips. I smirk, my hearing straining a

little to hear him giving himself a little pep talk about self–control, and then I lean over in our little space,

reaching for an apple as my stomach growls.

How can you think about eating, my wolf murmurs, sprawled out in my soul in a satisfied daze. We

have to strategize think about how to get him naked. Do you think, if we accidentally spilled the water

all over him, that he…

But I smirk, shaking my head, knowing that I’m not going to ruin our only water source in what will be a

vain attempt to get my mate naked. I bite into the apple with grim

satisfaction, staring into the dark after him, wanting him back right now.

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He takes his time, though time that we both probably need. And as my body unwinds a little bit god, I

hadn’t realize how tense he’d made me – I wonder at myself.

–

I mean, sexually, I have been so shy with Laica- I’ve made him wait months to barely do more than kiss

me in the dream state.

And then here, after thirty minutes with Jackson, I’m ready to just…throw down in the dirt? Let him

have all of me, just after a couple of kisses?

A couple of really good kisses, my wolf counters, her eyes half shut and her tongue lolling from her

mouth. I swat her little rump, correcting her, because Luca is one hell of a kisser

too.

So…what is different?

Has Luca just done all the hard work and Jackson’s here to reap the benefits? A little guilt twists in me

at the idea.

Or, my wolf suggests, lifting her head a little, curious, maybe you just have…a more sexual connection

with this mate. They don’t have to be the same. Luca brings his own particular set of appealing

characteristics to the table.

But as I consider that…well, that doesn’t quite fit either, does it? Because it’s not like Jackson’s just

some piece of meat with no personality, and it’s not like Luca doesn’t get me going.

They’re just….different.

I sigh, taking another bite of my apple, studying it, confused but…well, letting myself be confused, I

guess.

Nobody I know has ever done this whole two–mate thing before, at least not that I know of. This is new

territory for everyone involved, and I suppose I’m bound to feel this way.

Confusion wipes away, though, the moment Jackson walks quietly back onto our little plateau,

apparently having gotten control of myself.

Unfortunately, my confusion is replaced by an immediate and undeniable sense of lust. God, has he

seen himself? Does he know how insanely hot he is when he just…walks? The

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way

his shoulders shift, the grace with which he moves

“Ari,” Jackson moans, stopping a few feet from me and dragging his hand down the length of his face.

“You have…you have got to stop doing that.”

I burst out laughing, suddenly terribly embarrassed, because I just sent every one of those emotions

right down the bond, didn’t I?

“Okay, okay,” I say, turning suddenly so that my back is to him now. “Here, this is better, I can’t see you

anymore-”

He laughs, coming to sit next to me again. “We have to be able to look at each other-

“No, we don’t!” I squeak, turning away again as he tries to peer at my face, leaning my shoulders back

against him and facing the stone wall at the back of the tiny plateau. “I’ll just…stare at these rocks. And

pretend that you’re….very, very ugly.”

“Well, don’t tell yourself lies, Ari,” Jackson murmurs, wrapping an arm around me and tilting me back so

that when I open my eyes I can see his gorgeous face again, just…a little upside down now. “Honesty

with one’s self is really important –”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head and turning back to him, letting him wrap an arm around me as I

press my cheek to his chest. “You are very handsome,” I murmur, nuzzling a little and working hard to

scold my wolf when she urges me to climb back into his lap.

“I know,” he murmurs, kissing the top of my head. “You’re so lucky to be mated to such a looker, Ari,

honestly-

–

I squeak in protest, whipping my head up at his vanity, but he’s ready for me, cupping my cheek in his

broad palm and pressing a sweet, chaste kiss to my mouth.

“Not as lucky as me, though,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “You’re the most precious. thing in the

whole world. Do you know that?”

Everything in me just…melts at the insane sweetness of my big, scary Alpha mate. And I smile at him,

a little dazed.

“Now, will you please try to sleep?” he pleads, stroking my cheekbone with his thumb.

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Chapter 99

“How can I sleep?” I ask, shaking my head at him, baffled at the thought, “when I just got you?”

“I’ll just be really boring.” he murmurs with a shrug, making me grin.

“Impossible,” I say, but I lower my head to his chest, wanting to please him and, honestly, feeling a little

weak and tired after the insane day I’ve had, however short.

hair “Oh, very possible,” he replies, his voice soft and easy as he strokes his hand over my again and

again, comforting and steady. “If you want. I’ll recount the hundreds of ancient battles they made us

memorize for warrior track – that should put you out

I groan, shuddering at the prospect, which makes him huff a little laugh.

“Fine,” he sighs, continuing to pet me, his hand drifting over my shoulders, too, when it reaches the

ends of my hair. “Let’s just sit here and…be quiet.”

“You’ll wake me?” I whisper, feeling my eyes drift shut despite myself. “The moment the sun comes

up?”

“I will,” he promises. “The moment there’s light to see by, Ari. I’ll wake you. We have a lot to do

tomorrow. We need an early start.”

And so I shut my eyes, letting myself rest a little, trusting my mate to keep me warm and safe through

the short hours left in the night.