Page 41 of Savage Trap

His pleasure licks through our bond, magnifying my own. But Arben suddenly stands, taking me with him. I moan as he throbs inside me, his hands under my ass as he strides across the room to the couch. He lies me down exactly where our mates reduced me to a puddle only hours before, then flips me to my hands and knees. Before I can draw a breath, his lips are on my ass, tracing the faint outline of his handprints. I groan and rock back against the hint of his tongue. But he gently pries me open and I freeze. “What are you doing?”

“Your virgin ass is mine, princeshë. Fingers and tongues I accept, but you save this for me. Understand?”

I want to tell him I’m not a piece of land he needs to claim, but this is Arben. And that’s exactly what I want him to do. But before I can get the words out, he’s flipped me again and is suddenly pushing his cock back inside me, his fingers slipping down my belly to pluck at my clit. He fills me to the brim, and I shiver at how perfect it feels.

“You already own every part of me,” I tell him as I sink into the stretch. “If there’s anything left, just take it.”

He clutches my sore ass, a groan ripping from his chest. “Then take my knot now, so I don’t lose myself in your sweet hole.”

I look down to see it pushing against me, a hard, swollen muscle that demands entry. And I soften to grant it, moaning and panting as he works his way inside. So tight. So hot. My body sealing around his fat knot until I’m coming with a desperate, mindless sob.

“I have you trapped,” I whisper when my heart rate slows enough to speak. He’s still rocking inside me, but there really is nowhere for him to go, and I wind my fingers through his hair. It’s just long enough to show a hint of curl, and for some reason, that makes my heart melt. “Will you stay? Can you just give the hunt a rest until we go home?”

“No, but I’m prepared to compromise.” I cock a brow and he chases it with his thumb. “I’ll hunt while you’re in meetings, then come find you after dark. But only if it’s safe to do so.”

I shiver, imagining him sneaking into my bed in the dead of night. But the reality of how this usually plays out – the hours I spend staring at the ceiling, waiting for a shadow that never comes – brings me back with a thud.

“What about the pack run? You need to come on that.” He frowns and I can imagine all the terrible possibilities flicking through his head. I grind myself down on him, his nostrils flaring as I bring him back to the present. And when our eyes lock, I don’t hide a thing from him. “My wolf needs to run with you under the moon, Arben.”

He nods, but his gaze is already distant, his body softening inside mine. I bite my lip, trying to think of a way to stop him from slipping away. “Shower with me?”

That brings a small smile to his lips. “I’ll scrub your back.”

I look pointedly at the mess dripping between our thighs and he smirks. “If you’re carrying the imprint of my knot all day, then I get to keep your sweet scent on my skin.”

When I’m freshly scrubbed, Arben leaves me with a kiss, and I come out of the bathroom to find a note on the table from Kelly. He’s taken Link out for breakfast, and I try not to feel hurt that I wasn’t invited along.

Not that there’s much opportunity to sulk with the agenda ahead of me. The rest of my pack has been excused again, and I’m feeling particularly sour as I meet my dad outside the boardroom where we’ll be working all day. Maybe he senses my mood, because he pulls me in for a tight hug. “Arben said you had a rocky night. Does it have anything to do with the bruises on that boy in there?”

I peek through the door to find Nate in a huddle with his dad and brother. “He’s not exactly a boy, dad.” I roll my eyes at the smirk on his face. “You know what I mean. And yes, we had a strange night, but I think everything’s okay now.”

I’ll need to talk to Nate to know for sure, but my dad just pats my shoulder. “Well, just remember we’re only here a few more days, sweetheart. My advice is to take things slowly, and if it’s meant to be more, time will tell.”

Now I’m curious exactly what Arben told him about last night. But my focus is still on Nate, who’s separated from his family and is taking his seat at the table in the corner. I slide past a couple of chatting alphas and crouch down beside him, frowning at the bruises on his face. He’s in another navy suit, his hair perfectly parted, but there’s a lick of fire in his gray eyes as they meet mine. “Hi, Elvi.”

“Hey. Are you okay? That bruise on your temple looks nasty.”

He adjusts his glasses and smiles at me in a way that makes my stomach swoop. “I’m fine. I don’t heal as fast as alphas, but it’ll be gone in a couple of days.”

I don’t like the fact he’s so familiar with his recovery time. But I’m distracted as his hand brushes mine where it grips the side of his desk. “What about you, though? Did you get into a lot of trouble?”

That’s one way to describe it, but I manage to keep the blush off my face. “There were words, but we made up.”

Nate clearly suspects there’s more to it, but I have no intention of talking about my ass in present company. When he leans back, he’s biting his lip. “But Arben Marku?” He’s speaking quietly, but I can see the glitter of excitement in his eyes. “Even my dad doesn’t know about him.”

I wince a bit at that. “Sorry, but we need to keep it that way. I know it’s a lot to ask since we’re in your territory, but it’s not safe for him to be out in the open right now.”

I expect him to probe for more details, but he just says, “No problem. I’m loyal to my dad, and if I thought this was going to be an issue for him, I’d ask you to bring him into the loop. But as for protecting your pack, I’ll help in any way I can.”

I blink at him, surprised by the fervor in his voice. “Thank you. Finding people to trust isn’t easy, so this means a lot to me.”

He gives my fingers a discreet squeeze. “Like I said before, your pack is perfect.” He pauses, then huffs out a breath, looking sheepish. “Although I have a ton of questions.”

“Arben has that effect on people,” I murmur with a smile. “But you can ask him yourself if you come on the pack run with us tonight.”

He gives a tiny shiver, and I wonder if he’s finally reacting to Arben and his reputation. But I realize he’s thinking about something completely different as he chews on the inside of his cheek. “But what if – what if I still can’t shift?”

And with that question, last night comes rushing back. I see him under the harsh spotlight, bruised and humiliated as he desperately tries to free his wolf. Having to rely upon someone else to unlock a part of yourself is one of the cruelest tricks nature can play. Which makes me surge forward and kiss Nate’s pale cheek, right over where he’s gnawing away at it so hard. Do I pity him? No. But I understand him in a way Arben and my other alphas probably never will.

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