Page 50 of Breathe Again

“Just relax and listen to my voice,” he told me, sending shivers up my spine. Was there anything sexier than Cole’s voice?

I felt his hand brush up my arm, then down my side. “I’m not trying to scare you, so just relax. We’re here together. I’m going to undress you now.”

His hand skimmed the hem of my shirt and even knowing it was coming, I jumped when he lifted it from me.

“Relax Elizabeth,” he told me again.

This time I tried to obey. I took a deep breath and laid back on the bed.

“Better,” he praised.

I imagined he was studying the exposed parts of my body. Instead of stressing about all the imperfections he’d find there, I pushed that negativity aside and tried to focus. It caused my body to freeze, until his light touch trailed down my sides, across my stomach to the buckle of my jeans.

Excitement spiked through me, since I could guess where he was headed next. He took his time removing my pants, drawing out my anticipation. As his hands slid the material down my thighs, his teeth grazed the middle of my abdomen, planting light kissed down my body. I moaned, forgetting about my fears and worries. I simply enjoyed the sensations he was stirring within me.

He sat me up to reach around and unclasp my bra. Even the scraping of the elastic straps down my arms caused me to shudder. He readjusted our position so I was no longer on the edge of the bed as he joined me. My entire body was one giant ball of nerve endings that Cole was playing with precision as he set about exploring me.

Everywhere he touched, nibbled, and kissed drove my arousal higher. When he sucked in just the right spot I bucked against him. When he trailed love bites, I moaned with new found pleasure. All I could do was feel. The expectation of not knowing where his mouth or hands would land next only proved to heighten the experience until my body tensed to the point of no return and splintered into brilliant white lights, despite the darkness of the blindfold.

I floated up to the heavens and crashed back down to Earth three times before he joined me. Through it all he had purposefully kept our bond closed to keep me in suspense. I was just as aware of his body as I was my own, and as our breaths turned to pants and our rhythm became more sporadic, he opened the link we shared and tore off the blindfold, slamming a new emotional element into the mix just as we both crested.

I knew he had been just as vulnerable through it all as I had been, and his love for me was overwhelming. Tears streamed down my cheeks as we lay there recovering from the magic that had enveloped us in.

“I love you, Elizabeth,” he said, just before his breathing leveled out to a soft snore.

Cole

Chapter 21

I shouldn’t have fallen asleep like that. I’d just been so overwhelmed by how trusting and responsive Elizabeth had been that I’d poured every ounce of energy into the experience. Combine that with the emotional turmoil the Larken wolves had put on my wolf earlier in the day, I was exhausted.

By the time I awoke it was dark out. Elizabeth was sound asleep in my arms, but it was still early. I had borrowed Thomas’s truck and knew it needed to be returned. Plus, I could use a good run.

Without waking my mate, I climbed out of bed and threw on the clothes I’d worn earlier. With keys still in my pocket, I let myself out and made the short drive over to her brother’s house. The lights were still on, though I paused a minute to listen with my heightened wolf hearing to ensure I wasn’t disturbing them. I heard soft voices talking, and they seemed to be coming from the living room. That was a relief.

I walked to the porch and knocked on their door.

Thomas was shirtless, but not indisposed when he answered.

“Just returning your truck. Thanks for letting me borrow it today,” I told him, planning to turn around and run back to town.

“Is that Cole and Lizzy?” Lily hollered before I could escape.

Thomas looked around past me. “Just Cole.”

Lily poked her head under her mate’s arm and cuddled against his side. “Got her tied up somewhere so you can ravish her when you return?” she teased, but I just gave her a stone-faced look, refusing to join her shenanigans. She looked me over and genuinely beamed back. “I’m really happy for you, you know. Both of you. I’ve never felt you or your wolf as calm and content as you are right now.”

A half smirk donned my face knowing the truth of her words.

“Kyle arrives tomorrow. You ready?” Thomas asked, changing the subject.

“Ready as we’ll ever be. Seriously, there’s not exactly a high threat or even opposition to your advancement. It’s going to be fun, a time for celebration. Get some sleep, you have a crazy couple of days ahead of you,” I reminded him.

They didn’t ask how I was getting back, and I didn’t offer. Once they were back inside, I stripped and shifted, letting my wolf stretch. I grabbed up my clothes into my mouth and took off running towards town. The night was cool and the crisp wind in my fur was refreshing

As the town came into focus, I stopped in a patch of trees and shifted back to my skin, dressing quickly and walking the remainder of the way. I wasn’t sure Elizabeth was going to wake, but I was starving and wanted to provide for her if she did.

I stopped by the Tavern where Milly was working; it felt like she was always there. I just smiled and shook my head as I approached the bar. “Are you ever not here?”

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