Page 36 of Clash of Kings

“You’re no fun,” Anthony teased. “But I see your point. This is why you’re the King.”

Dakota shifted closer to Sebastian. “I say we let Knox do the talking for us. I don’t know that many Alphas, but those I do know, other than King, are peaceable and want what’s best for their packs.”

Bas tucked her hair behind her ear. “I agree. Let’s get a good night’s sleep, go see the lodge tomorrow, and see where things are then.” He opened the back door and retrieved their bags, encouraging Anthony and Lydia to do the same. They entered the hotel together, and while Sebastian approached the front desk, Dakota looked around the lobby. The building hadn’t looked like much on the outside, but the inside was quaint. The furniture in the waiting area appeared new. There was a coffee and water station off to the side, and through an open door was the dining area.

Anthony sidled up next to Dakota and whispered, “Are you going to let her talk to Bas that way?”

Dakota had been listening as the desk clerk flirted with Sebastian. Anthony was trying to get a rise out of Dakota, but she wasn’t taking the bait. “Yep.”

Anthony frowned, looking between Dakota and the woman. “You are?”

“Sure. All she’s doing is flirting, not offering turn-down service. And even if she were? Sebastian would make sure she knows he’s taken.”

“Dakota, Sweetheart? Are you ready?” Bas called out.

Giving Anthony a smirk of her own, she muttered, “You’re a goober,” and playfully punched Anthony on the shoulder as she strolled past. When she reached Sebastian, she palmed his cheek. “More than,” she husked.

“Come on, Goober. Let’s head upstairs,” Lydia called out to Anthony who was staring at Dakota. Shaking his head, he joined them, but he was smiling.

Sebastian handed his cousins their room keys. “They start serving breakfast at six.”

Anthony took his card. “Son, if I see your ass down here that early, you and I are going to have a talk.”

Sebastian sighed, and Dakota had a feeling it was something he did often around Anthony. Bas picked up their bags and stepped toward the elevator. When he pushed the up button, he told Tony, “Let me rephrase. Breakfast is served from six ‘til eleven. The realtor is meeting us at ten, so if you want to eat before then, you can. Dakota and I will meet you in the lobby at eight-thirty.”

They all piled on the lift, and Bas pressed the button for the second floor. When they exited a few seconds later, Lydia shoved her cousin. “Tony and I will see you when we see you.” They turned right, but Sebastian didn’t follow.

“I made sure our room wasn’t close to theirs,” Bas explained when he turned left.

“Good idea.” When they stood outside room 212, Dakota took the key from Bas and unlocked the door, pushing it open and holding it so he could enter. It had a king-sized bed in the middle of the small room. The décor was minimal with tones of blues and grays throughout.

“I’m sorry it’s not bigger,” Bas said, placing their bags on the bed.

“They make bigger beds?” Dakota joked. Bas stared at her, and Dakota laughed. “Sarcasm, big guy.” She took the two steps separating them and locked her arms around his neck. “I know you said you’re loaded, and you’re probably used to staying in fancy suites, but you saw my home, Bas. That little cabin is what I’m used to.I’mnot fancy. I don’t require opulence to be happy. What will make me happy isn’t a mansion or expensive cars. If you have those already, I’m not opposed, but I don’t need them. What I do need is someone to have my back. To put me first sometimes. To treat me as an equal.”

“I won’t put you first sometimes,Mia Regina. You’ll be first every time.”

Dakota pulled Sebastian’s head down so she could kiss him. Their first kiss had been explosive, and she wanted more fireworks. Bas gripped her waist, his thumbs stroking her stomach over her shirt. Without breaking the kiss, Dakota unbuttoned her flannel and dropped it to the floor. She then worked Sebastian’s shirt off, wanting to see his chest again. Wanted to kiss the scars left behind from her brother’s attack. Understanding where she was going, Sebastian leaned back long enough to remove his undershirt, and Dakota did the same, leaving them bare from the waist up. She only wore a bra when she had to, and in her rush to get out of the cabin and away from Panther, she hadn’t bothered.

Sebastian seemed hesitant as he placed his hands on her shoulders. Dakota was okay with that. It meant they could take their time exploring. She toed off her boots while running her fingertips over the pink lines on his torso. She leaned in and pressed open-mouthed kisses to each one. Bas sucked in a breath, his hands tightening on her shoulders, then easing to slide up her neck and cradling her head. Using her hair, Bas tilted Dakota’s head back and gazed at her with adoration.

“Exquisite,” Bas whispered before pressing his lips to hers. The kiss wasn’t hurried. It was intentional, as though he were speaking to her without words. She chalked it up to them being fated mates, but Dakota understood what he was implying. She expressed the same feelings, the same intentions with her mouth and tongue. With her gentle strokes over his chest. Bas caressed her scalp with one hand while the other dropped to her hip, tugging her closer. She slid her hands up his pecs, across his shoulders, pressing her aching breasts to his abs. His erection was thick against her stomach, and her core pulsed with need. The previous times Dakota had sex, it was usually after a mediocre date where both parties were drinking and fell into bed because they were lonely. At least she had been. There had been no tender touches. No sweet words. Just two bodies coming together to slake a need. This was different. This was two beings whose fate had been written in the stars.

Dakota ached with such need, something she’d never encountered. Never had she wanted to give pleasure more than receiving it. Oh, she wanted him to take her. To make love to her. To ravish her body. But she wanted to taste him. To bring him to release with her mouth and hands as much as with Bas deep inside her. From the feel of his erection, he would bedeep.

“Please, Bas,” she begged.

“Tell me,Cucciolina. Tell me what you need.”

“You. I need you inside me.”

Sebastian released Dakota. “If we do this, I won’t be able to stop my beast from claiming you.”

“I don’t want you to stop it. I want to claim you just as much.”

Bas pointed to her jeans. “Then those need to go.” He removed his own boots and pants as she did the same. When they were both naked, Sebastian lifted her into his arms, and Dakota wrapped her legs around his waist, his erection caught between them. “Fuck,Amore Mio.”

“Yes, I want you to fuck me, Bas. We can make love later.” Dakota gripped Sebastian’s hair and kissed him roughly. She was ready to impale herself on his magnificent cock, knowing without a doubt it would be the best sex of her life. Dakota squirmed, trying to get his dick where she needed it, all while mauling his mouth. Her body ached with need. “I need you in me now.”

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