Page 22 of Reformed Wolf

I forced myself to walk slowly up the stairs, but as soon as we were out of sight, I broke into a run, keeping my steps as light as I could. I felt him behind me, closing fast. He was hunting me, and every part of me longed to be taken down and eaten. I fumbled with the knob on my suite, and Tristan came down hard against me, pinning me to the door, his body hot even through my clothes.

“Hurry up and get this door open before I take off these filthy clothes right here in the hall,” he gritted out in my ear, grinding his rigid cock on my ass. “And it would be rude of you to let me get naked all alone…”

I whimpered, dropping my head back on his shoulder as slick trickled from my hole. His chest rumbled with a hungry growl against my back. “Door. Open. Faster,” he grunted, his fingers inching around my hips toward my— The door popped open, and I would’ve fallen flat on my face if it weren’t for Tristan’s tight grip on me.

We stumbled into the room, and as soon as the door was closed, Tristan flipped me around and walked me back until I was sandwiched between him and the solid wood. “How much time do we have before your dad comes looking for us?” he asked, his lips feathering over mine.

“Not nearly enough,” I said regretfully. My father would absolutely send someone to find us if we weren’t quick, and I wanted nothing more than to take my time with him.

Tristan gripped the back of my neck tightly in one hand and rolled his hips, refreshing my memory of just how well-endowed he was. “Then we’d better make the most of it.” Then he planted his mouth on mine and did his damnedest to devour me whole. His tongue swept through my mouth in long strokes, tasting me.

First I went soft, melting into his touch like butter in a hot pan, but once I was over the initial shock, then I went hard. I was electrified! I raked my hands over his pecs, up his neck, and buried them in his hair, fisting it until he pulled back with a hiss. “There’s my ferocious kitty,” he teased, his pupils so huge they nearly eclipsed his irises.

And even though I wanted him with my whole body, I knew it went deeper than being attracted to his looks. The connection between us was soul deep. From being lust drunk, I sobered quickly. “You scared me today,” I whispered, my eyes getting misty. My emotions were all over the damn place. I was ramped up, didn’t know which way was up. “When Andreas had you in his grip… I swore I heard something pop. I thought that was it, that you were—”

His predatory grin softened, and he eased himself back, giving me some space. “Hey, shh, it’s okay. I’m okay,” he said, brushing away a stray tear with his thumb. “I’m tough. It’ll take more than a huge-ass gorilla to take me down.”

“What about a tiger?” I blurted before I could stop myself. I felt my face crumple. I’d done a fair job of managing the overwhelming fear so far, but when I looked at it straight on, it shoved every other emotion aside with ease.

He didn’t answer for a moment, tracing his thumb along my bottom lip while he considered his answer. I appreciated that he spared me the platitudes, saying everything would be fine when we both knew it might not be. “Honestly, I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out. But I can tell you I won’t ever give up fighting for you. Whether it’s tomorrow or twenty years from now, I’m yours until my dying breath.”

I nodded and looked down, drawing in a sip of air through my tight throat. I didn’t want to think of him dying. Clearing my throat, I eased out from where he had me caged in. “I’d better find you something that’ll fit. You’re a little taller than I am, so no promises on the pants.”

He let me go, though it looked like he had to fight himself not to reach for me. “I’m not picky,” he said with forced levity. “Whatever you have is perfect. Even showing off three inches of ankle, it will still be nicer than anything I own.”

“Why don’t you… jump in the shower,” I suggested with a gulp as I started imagining him getting naked on the other side of that door.

“Mm,” he murmured, reaching over his shoulder and dragging his shirt off over his head. He balled the ruined material in his hands, purposely flexing his muscles to get a reaction out of me. And of course, I looked, because how could I not? He was fucking hot. “Do we have time for you to shower with me?” he asked, tugging his lower lip between his teeth as he walked backward into the bathroom. “I can be fast… though I really prefer to go slow.”

I groaned, tempted to say fuck it all and go with him. I could just imagine the way it would feel as he lathered up my body with his slippery fingers, exploring every inch of me, inside and out. “No,” I answered instead, pouting.

“That’s a shame,” he said, flipping open the button of his jeans. Since his underwear was left somewhere on the mat downstairs, the head of his cock was right freaking there, weeping with precum. “Let me know if you change your mind.” I gulped, unable to look away. He turned toward the shower and dropped his pants, stepping out of the pooled denim. Oh gods, his ass cheeks had dimples. My skin heated, and I was pretty sure I was panting. He cranked on the water and stepped into the shower stall, the frosted glass blurring his outline.

I rubbed my chin absently, making sure I wasn’t drooling. “I am in sooooo much trouble,” I moaned as I forced myself to step into the closet. I rifled through the hangers without really paying attention. My mind was in the shower with my mate. I was having a hard time remembering why I couldn’t just have him now. I could have my cake and eat it too. We could fuck now, then after he won tomorrow, we could make it official.

Unless he didn’t win…

My eyes burned, my stomach plummeting. I hated myself for not standing up to my father, for not having the strength to say no. I wanted to be strong, to be fierce, to carve out my own future, but I also knew my father was not someone who could be forced into changing his mind. We had no choice but to see this through to the bitter end.

Stomach roiling, I grabbed clothes at random and tossed them into the bathroom, keeping my eyes closed to avoid temptation. I was a weak, weak man. “I’ll meet you downstairs,” I called in.

I heard the glass door open as he stuck his head out, but I was already headed for the door. “Dylan, what’s wrong?” I heard him call after me, but I couldn’t stay, or I might do something I’d regret.

As I stormed into the formal dining room alone, Father took in my flushed cheeks and puffy lips, one brow arched as he leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t born yesterday.

“What, you’re not going to say anything?” I sassed, dropping into my seat on his right.

I grabbed the bottle of wine and poured myself a glass, refusing to look at him, but I heard him huff a sigh. “What else can I say that I haven’t already said?”

“You could say you’ll call off this fucking ridiculous competition,” I snapped. “He is my mate!”

I thought for a second he was going to scold me for my cursing, but instead he said, “This fucking competition will keep things civil between the clans. They’ll have no reason to dispute your mate since they all had an equal opportunity. If we back out now, you know it will only make an enemy out of Azar, and trust me, you do not want him as your enemy.”

We’d all heard the rumors. Stories of his brutality were legendary, the kinds of stories children whispered to each other while tucked into their beds. Of torture and madness. Azar was the boogeyman, but they couldn’t all be true… right?

Tigers were notoriously solitary creatures, and Azar was no different. His streak was small, only a few members, but they made up for it with ferocity and lack of morals. Azar was the only Alpha competing, so he was putting his entire streak at risk if he fell. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I was no fool; I didn’t trust him.

I tipped my glass to my lips and drank it down in just a few swallows, before gasping for breath, grabbing a napkin to wipe the drip of wine from my lips.

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