The Next Step

Addy

Stepping out of the shower, my skin still damp, I find myself in the open bathroom. I long to shut the door, but Drake hasn’t ventured near it. I can’t help but smile, knowing he’s respecting my decision to wait. I reach for his robe hanging on the hook and spot him sprawled under the covers, his chest bare, a soft snore escaping his lips.

~He’s one of the most attractive partners I’ve had in a while,~ she purrs.

~Remember, he’s not pressuring us. Let’s not push him either. When I’m ready to be with him, we will. That part scares me. I’m not experienced, and he is. What if I’m not good enough for him?~ My gaze travels down his body.

She snorts. ~The first time is like nothing else. It’s amazing, him fulfilling a need that will grow within you until you’re begging for more. I’ve always been in a virgin’s body when the time comes, but I’m not inexperienced. It will be as satisfying as my first time. Alpha males are, let’s say, generously endowed to please their mates. He won’t care about your inexperience; males love their mates unconditionally. He might teach you things later to satisfy him, but as far as sex goes, you’ll be perfect in his eyes.~

Images of what she’s describing flash in my mind, sending a shiver through me. I shake my head. ~No, no, no! I want to be surprised by him when we mate. I don’t want you sneaking peeks at him when I’m not looking.~

She rolls her eyes at me as I head to the closet. I grab a pair of pajama shorts and a shirt, then return to the bathroom to dry my hair. Once done, I tiptoe into bed, careful not to wake him. But he must sense me. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me close. He buries his face in my hair, his breathing steadying as his warmth envelops me. My eyes grow heavy. She may have knocked me out earlier, but that wasn’t real sleep. That was the most painful experience I’ve ever had. It felt like my body was on fire. I wish I had been unconscious, but my mind was painfully aware of everything. The worst part was when she merged our souls. It felt like a hot poker was pressed against my chest, growing hotter and hotter until I couldn’t bear it. If I were in a car, being burned alive wouldn’t compare to that feeling. Gradually, my mind quiets, allowing me to drift into much-needed sleep.

Later in the afternoon, my stomach growls loudly, waking me. My back aches from the position I’m in, but when I try to move, something is holding me down. I turn my head to see Drake’s leg and half his body draped over mine, preventing me from moving. I push up slightly, eliciting a grunt from him. He shifts enough for me to roll over and stretch out my back.

“Don’t like me holding you down?” His voice is thick with sleep.

I stretch my arms. “My back was hurting. I needed to move. The way I was twisted with your weight on top of me was really uncomfortable.”

He chuckles sleepily, his face hovering over mine. “That’s not a good excuse. You were all over me last night. I guess I had to restrain you.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face. “If I couldn’t control myself, you would have woken up with me completely on top of you.”

I must look confused. “How could I have been all over you when I was sound asleep?”

He points to a faint pink mark on his neck. “You did this to me last night. I woke up to you kissing and sucking on my neck. If I weren’t an Alpha, you would have woken up to us making love. I could tell you were dreaming about it or something because the noises you were making made it very hard not to wake you up. I had to take a cold shower to cool down. It wasn’t the best solution, but I had no choice.”

~Mystic, what did you do?~ I growl at her.

She smirks. ~Nothing. I was asleep like you. I can’t control what your mind does when you’re asleep.~

~You made my body do this, didn’t you?~ I glare at her.

She stands and walks over to me. ~No, I didn’t. This was your mind at work while your body was asleep. It will only get worse as time goes on. I should warn you, when the human I’m part of finds their mate, it goes into overdrive until the process is completed.~

I cross my arms at her. ~Just this once, can you let me move at my own pace? I know the time will come for us to be together, but I want it to be on my terms, not anyone else’s. Give me this one thing since it looks like you’ll make me do all sorts of things in the future.~

She sits down, studying me. ~I won’t be making you do things. The future will unfold, and we’ll have to move forward. I’ll back off on this one thing, but I promise it’s not me doing this; it’s your mind. It knows what it wants and won’t stop until it’s satisfied.~

“Addy,” Drake’s voice pulls me out of my internal conversation. “You’re making me feel ignored talking to your wolf.”

I blink rapidly. “Sorry, we were just trying to sort a few things out.”

He hovers over me. “Addy, I know these past few days have been tough with everything that’s happened. I hope you understand that I’ll always be here for you, whether you need to talk or just need a comforting cuddle.”

I cup his face in my hand. “I know. My body feels like I’ve just run a marathon without stopping. I’m still adjusting to all this newness. Things are slowly starting to calm down.”

His eyes flicker to my lips as I speak. “There’s something else I want to try if you’re up for it. We’ve been together for two days now, and usually, it’s the first thing mates do when they find each other.”

I know what he’s getting at. “I’ve never been kissed before. What if I’m not any good?” My voice is barely a whisper.

A slow grin spreads across his face. “It’s not complicated. You’ll get the hang of it in a few seconds. Math is harder than this.”

I furrow my brow at his comparison. His face is now inches from mine. “I just don’t...”

His lips brush against mine. “Please, we won’t go any further than you want. I’ve been dying to kiss you since we first locked eyes.”

Before I can finish nodding, his lips gently meet mine, sending sparks through my body. I follow his lead as our lips move together. I can feel a slight smirk on his lips as he pulls back. His eyes are dancing in the light before he leans in again, his lips moving slowly and gently against mine. The longer we kiss, the more comfortable I become. His tongue sweeps across my lips, drawing a small gasp from me as his tongue barely enters my mouth. I close my eyes, feeling his tongue brush against mine as I mimic his actions. A low growl rumbles from his chest as he slowly moves over me, pinning my hands down as his movements become more intense. His tongue dances with mine as I feel his rigid member pressing against my inner thigh, making my pulse quicken. He releases my lips, kissing down my neck to the spot where females bear their mate’s marks. Heat floods through my body as his mouth starts to suck on that spot. I feel the prick of his canines on my neck. I’m about to open my mouth when he places a hand on my side, his body moving slowly against mine in a rhythm so gentle I wouldn’t feel it if he weren’t on top of me.

A soft moan escapes my lips, drawing him back to me for another kiss. His hand begins to inch towards the hem of my shirt. I want him to stop, it’s moving too fast, but I can’t seem to find the words. His fingers brush against my skin where my shirt has ridden up from him holding my hands with one of his. Suddenly, a loud howl echoes through the hall, causing me to jump. His head whips around towards the door.

He chuckles and turns back to me. “It’s okay, sweetheart. That’s just what happens when a male mates with his female for the first time. I think Alpha Tate has just marked my sister.”

The thought of them together sends a rush of heat to my cheeks. He loosens his grip, noticing my reaction, and pulls away, helping me to my feet.

He tugs my shirt back down. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t realize my kisses were driving you into such a frenzy.”

His arm wraps around my waist. “I was just testing the waters, seeing how far you’d let me go. We might have continued if that howl hadn’t interrupted us.”

I brush my hair out of my face. “I’m sorry, Drake. I’m just not ready for that step yet.”

He gently touches my shoulder. “I would never push you into anything you’re not ready for. We’ll get there eventually, and I can wait. We can keep kissing, and maybe I can touch that soft skin your clothes are hiding, but we’ll only go all the way when you’re comfortable.”

Suddenly, the door swings open and Myra stands there, flushed and sporting a new red mark on her neck. She points to it. “Look, I’m finally mated.”

Tate follows her in. “Sorry, Drake. I tried to stop her, but she was too quick for me.”

We both burst out laughing at the sight of them. He’s in his boxers and she’s in a sexy lingerie set. They glance down at themselves, then join in our laughter before quickly exiting the room.

“I guess we should get dressed and start our day. I heard your stomach growl earlier. You must be hungry. Why don’t you get dressed while I order us some food?”

He slides out of bed, picks up his phone, and walks over to the window while I head into the bathroom.