Page 180 of Settle Down, Princess

The wolf was there in my growl as my head dropped closer.

“I know,” she whispered, stroking my stubbled cheek.

“Jess, I’ve held back for so long. I must—”

“I know.”

Her little nod, the way she leaned closer, it was like fine wine, going straight to my head. They had taken roseblood when we first met, but I’d never needed it. She turned my blood to fire just by standing next to me. It hurt, the rapid inflation of my knot at the base of my cock. Everything was hardening, my body intent on doing one thing: mating.

“No, Jess, you don’t understand—”

Her fingers pressed against my lips, and I moaned helplessly at that contact. I needed her touch so much, because my dreams were filled with it. Gasping, painfully sweet touches that made my heart break all over again when my eyes opened to see the morning sun but not her. I needed her like the air in my lungs, the water in the skin at my waist. I needed her like sunlight because the whole world felt duller, dimmer without her beside me. I told her just that, mumbling it into her hand until she pulled it away and replaced it with her lips.

“I know.” Her forehead pressed against mine for a second before I kissed her back. Just a nipping thing, I tried to hold myself back. “I know, Creed. This is meant to be.”

That was what I needed to hear. I scooped her up and into my arms, feeling hers sling around my shoulders.

“Hold all the war councils you like,” I told Herald, this duke, and all the other nobles. “The commander will take the lead on this.”

“Afterwards.” Arik dropped down from his horse and then regarded the two of us with a small smile. “You’re looking a little on edge there, brother. I think you need your pack with you for whatever happens, to keep you from doing something stupid.”

“I thought we did more stupid things when we were together,” Silas said, “not less.” Then he winked at me. “Good to see you again, brother.” He nodded at the camp beyond. “That’s an impressive effort.” His elbow found Roan’s ribs. “We’ll need to do a lot more ourselves if we’re to compete for the princess’ affections.”

“Compete…?” Roan looked Jess and I up and down with a slow smile. “Who said anything about competition? Surely we work better as a team.”

The sweet, floral scent of Jess’ arousal had me staring down at her, studying her face. Scent didn’t mean consent, and I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“What do you think, my mate? Do you want to see what your mates are capable of if they work together?”

“Well, we will need to build strong bonds if we’re to fight a war.” Her fingers traced the line of my collar. “In the spirit of preparation…”

She didn’t get to finish that statement because I was striding off over the fields, leaving everyone else to worry about business I no longer cared for. I wasn’t the alpha, with my eye always on the wellbeing of the pack, but I was Jess’ mate. As I zeroed in on my tent, then flicked open the flaps, I was determined to make how seriously I took that role as clear as possible to her.

Chapter 102

“Creed…” I barely gasped his name as he laid me down on his bedroll, his lips silencing me. “Creed, I…”

What was I about to say? I could barely put a thought together as he kissed me. Pressed tight against the mattress, his massive body had me thoroughly pinned and yet that heavy weight was utterly reassuring. He was a wall between me and the world, one with a hard mouth and hungry teeth that nipped at my skin.

“Creed…”

Was I trying to stop him or just moaning like a cat in heat, I couldn’t seem to determine which. My hands raked through his hair, then spread across his broad shoulders. “Creed, I…”

“Creed, I what?” Silas appeared behind me, setting my head into his lap, then tilting my head back so my eyes met his.

“What’re you doing?”

Creed’s thunderous growl would’ve terrified me in any other man, but not this one. He was mine, all mine, I felt that as I raked my fingers over his rock-hard muscles.

“Ensuring that whatever happens here does so with the princess’ consent.” Silas’ attention returned to me, his fingers sliding over my overheated cheeks, his thumb pressing between swollen lips. “We gave you the wrong impression last time, making it seem like we were in control. One look at Creed shows you that we’re not. His wolf gives him an advantage, allowing him to wear his heart on his sleeve.”

“He’s also got something else.” Arik sat down beside me, staring into my eyes. “Wolf shifters are built differently to human men.”

“You won’t be forcing that knot of yours into her,” Roan growled at Creed, not even blinking with the wolf shifter bared his very large fangs. “You don’t want to hurt Jess.” The fire seemed to go out of Creed then, shadows forming in his eyes as he looked back at me.

“You won’t,” I announced, as if that was all it took to make it true. “You’ll never hurt me.” My hands smoothed down the front of his shirt, fingers popping one button open, then another. “That’s how this works, right?’

“Never.” He grabbed my hand and slid it inside his shirt, holding it over his heart, and that’s when I heard the rapid beat of it. My eyes locked with his, shocked to find this massive wolf shifter’s heart rate matched mine. Did he feel like he teetered on the edge of something both terrifying and incredible and wasn’t sure where he should jump? No, as his grip on my hand tightened, I knew he’d lead me where I needed to go. Relief flooded through me, allowing all the details to filter through. How hot his skin was, the weight of his body, how very hard and ready for me he was. “I’ve already caused you more pain in the short time we’ve known each other than I’d ever want to inflict on you in your entire life.” His gaze softened. “Our life. That means it has to be perfect going forward, no discomfort, no irritation.”

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