Page 91 of Alpha Reid

“I love you too,” Serena moans as I pull out halfway, then slam back home again. “So…”

Slam.

“… much.”

Slam.

I grip her hips tightly as I start hammering in and out of her faster, fucking her hard up against the wall. The air around us is thick with steam, our bodies slick with water and sweat. Her pussy fits around my cock like a glove. It isn’t long before I’m right on the edge, a pained groan escaping my lips as I fight to last as long as possible.

It’s a fight I can’t win. Serena’s too fucking hot and this feels too fucking good. She rocks backwards into me, meeting every hard thrust. Her little cries and moans of pleasure are the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard, growing in volume and intensity as she, too climbs to the precipice of release. Then we topple over the edge together- I bury my cock inside her to the hilt as I blow my load, her internal walls fluttering with her own climax and milking every drop of cum from me.

I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her tight as we both catch our breath, slowly coming back down to reality. Then she spins to face me, looping her arms around my neck and rising up on her toes to brush her lips against mine. And I kiss the hell out of her- because this is what I fought for today. Her. Us. The future that we’ll get to have now.

After a beat, I pull Serena back under the spray of water, soaping up a washcloth and softly scrubbing every inch of her skin with it. I massage shampoo into her scalp, then comb my fingers through her fiery hair as I rinse it out, worshiping her body with the reverence it deserves. And once we’re both clean, we towel one another off and I carry her to bed, tucking her naked body between the sheets and slipping in behind her.

“Do you think it’s really over?” Serena whispers, settling her back against my front and covering my hands with hers as they encircle her waist.

I press a kiss to her damp hair, holding her a little tighter. “Hard to say. The worst of it, yes, but there’s still some work to do.”

She pauses for several moments, then I hear her swallow hard. Even though I can’t see her face, I can tell her wheels are spinning.

“Try to get some rest,” I urge, pressing another kiss to her head. “We can worry about tomorrow when it comes.”

“Okay,” she whispers back.

I hold her, listening to her breathing, waiting for her to fall asleep before I’ll allow myself to. I try to send calm, soothing vibes through the mate bond, and I’m not sure whether that actually works or fatigue just takes over, but Serena’s breathing finally becomes more shallow as sleep overcomes her.

If we thought today was tough, tomorrow isn’t going to be much easier. We’ll have to weed through the fallout of this whole mess, making arrangements for both the living and the dead. There’s a long road ahead of us when it comes to rebuilding. But for now, I’ll take my own advice and worry about tomorrow when it comes- because right now, I’m safe in my bed, holding the woman I love, and I can’t ask for anything more. Despite all the bad shit, when I’m holding her, it feels like I’ve won twice.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Reid

The events of the day replay in my dreams all night like a horror movie that I can’t turn off. I’m back on that ridge, watching as Xavier staggers toward Gray, lunging in a last desperate attempt to fight him off. I see Gray tear out his throat again, hear the gurgling sound as Xavier struggles for air, blood spurting from the gaping wound in his neck and staining the snow. This time, though, when I go to turn away, something gives me pause. I look back to see Xavier rise again, still bleeding from the neck but still very much alive. Everyone else has their backs turned, and I open my mouth to warn them, but no sound comes out…

My eyes fly open, the sunlight pouring in through the window stinging them as they adjust to the brightness. My heart is racing, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to my brow. I reach in front of me, then behind me, my hands meeting nothing but the silken bedsheets. No Serena.

I sit up abruptly, heart pounding faster as I blink the sleep from my eyes and scan the room for her presence. When I don’t see her, I toss the covers off, climbing out of bed and making my way to the bedroom door, pulling it open.

As soon as I do, the smell of pancakes and syrup wafts in and I hear the faint tinkering sound of Serena’s laughter from downstairs. Gripping the doorknob tightly, I blow out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, scrubbing a hand over my face. She’s right downstairs. Total overreaction on my part.

I have no idea how Serena managed to sneak out of bed without waking me this morning. I’m usually a light sleeper, but I must’ve really knocked out after all the action yesterday. I quickly get dressed in a pair of sweats and a soft t-shirt- it’s threadbare from years of wear but so comfortable that I refuse to part with it. My bare feet pad against the hardwood floor as I make my way down the hall to the stairs, the delectable scent of pancakes growing stronger with each step.

I start down the stairs, the kitchen coming into view as I hit the landing. Serena’s at the stove, spatula in hand and a pancake in the pan in front of her, while Olivia is seated on the counter beside her. The two girls are lost in conversation as Serena flips the pancake off of the pan and onto a plate on the opposite counter, adding to an already high pile. I pause on the landing, taking in the picture of quiet domesticity below. I can’t help but smile as I watch, thinking of how this is what I’ve always wanted. A mate, a family.

Olivia notices me standing on the landing and looks up, diverting Serena’s attention my way. She turns to peer up at me over her shoulder, lips spreading into a smile when our eyes meet. My heart swells. Damn I love that girl.

“Good morning, handsome,” Serena greets, grinning widely as I descend the rest of the stairs and make my way over.

“Morning, beautiful,” I reply, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. I drop my head down to nuzzle into her neck, peppering kisses down the side as her head falls back on my shoulder.

“Mmm,” she hums, pressing backwards into me and subtly grinding her ass against my crotch.

Olivia clears her throat from her perch on the counter beside us. For a moment I’d forgotten that anyone else was in the room. Serena has a way of doing that to me.

“Sorry Liv,” Serena chuckles as I break away and move to the other side of her, keeping one arm loosely around her waist as I lean a hip against the counter.

“This is still just so weird,” Olivia muses, looking from Serena to me with a shy smile. “Gonna take some getting used to.”

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