Page 87 of Dawn of the Pack

My gaze darts to her curiously, and she lifts her lips to my ear, whispering, “I need to have you to myself tonight.” Her warm breath rustles my hair, tickling my ear and sending a jolt of adrenaline through my system. I am definitely fully awake now.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be as difficult to get time alone with her as I’d imagined.

If the others dislike the idea, they don’t let it show. The car remains silent, and Lilliana’s hand continues to stroke my thigh.

I clench my jaw and swallow with difficulty, then claim her hand and thread my fingers through hers, tracing tiny circles on the back with my thumb.

As tempting as it is to cop a feel, I’m determined not to act like a complete animal. She’s giving me this night to make her mine, and I already have a plan. There may be several enthusiastic young men to choose from, but it’ll be my pleasure to show her what a man with my experience can give her.

Time slows to a crawl as I bide my time, waiting until the moment we close the door between us and the rest of her mates, and I finally have her completely to myself.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Derrek

We only make it halfway up the stairs before my resolve crumbles. I need to feel her against me, to convince myself that this is real. We’re actually here and I’m not just lost in another dream. I pull Lilliana’s face to me and her expression is openly lustful, lips parted to release breathy little puffs of air. My heart beats so hard in my chest it feels as though she ought to see it. I allow my palms to skim her sides gently, brushing the sides of her breasts with my thumbs as they make their way down to her hips. My fingers sink into her soft curves, and I don’t have to push hard to get her up against the wall; she melts against me, her hands reaching up to pull my face close, to claim my mouth with hers once again.

The heat between us is blazing, like we’re made of living fire. And to finally be here; with nothing to keep us apart aside from sheer will and a few scraps of clothing… the pressure has built so high I don’t know if I’ll survive long enough to see it through.

Reluctantly I draw back, and then can’t help but chuckle at the sound of irritation she makes and the way her lips chase mine.

“Come on, beautiful. I wouldn’t want one of my neighbors to come down and catch their alpha making out in the stairwell.”

She snorts. “Well, I doubt they’d complain to me about it if they did!”

I grasp her hand and tug gently, leading her up the remaining stairs to my apartment.

Then I remember… shit.

“Ah, slight problem,” I confess, supremely embarrassed.

“What’s that?”

“I don’t have my keys. I left them in my car at the dance. Oh god, I hope it’s still there. Is crime a problem in your city, Ms. Mayor? Should I worry about my ride being stolen?”

She rolls her eyes, but smirks. “Why don’t you look under the doormat?”

I raise an eyebrow at her, but her smirk only widens. I glance down and spot a small bulge in the middle of the mat.

Wonders never cease around here. “Okay, how did this happen? And where’s my car?”

“Your car is in your parking spot outside, and what did you expect, that we’d let Nielsen cart you off and just leave you illegally parked in front of the community center? We’re not animals. Besides, they would have given you like a million parking tickets by now.”

Sliding the key into the lock, I turn it and realize it’s too late to wonder if I’d cleaned up before I left… however many weeks ago that was.

But when we walk in, the apartment is pristine. Like, sparkling clean. I may be neat, but I’m not that neat.

Lilliana looks around, then shrugs. “Mrs. Dowling wanted to make sure your plants weren’t neglected. I guess she felt the need to clean while she was here.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “I don’t have any plants.”

“Now it all makes sense,” she deadpans.

“Come here, you,” I growl, kicking the door closed, tossing my keys on the table, and pulling her to me again.

She releases a surprised laugh before my mouth is on hers, and now we don’t have to worry about a hapless neighbor wondering by.

We are well and truly alone.

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