Page 66 of In Plain Sight

He gave me a sad smile. I could see there was a lot weighing on him, but I sensed he didn't want to, or simply wouldn't, talk about it.

"I'll remember that for next time," he said as he gave me a quick peck on my nose.

I scrunched it up. "Maybe don't let there be a next time then," I grumbled.

"I'll try to remember that."

His lips slowly brushed against mine. They were soft and hesitant at first, but soon became insistent. I played coy as his tongue persisted, seeking entry. He nibbled on my lower lip and it elicited an unexpected moan from me as my lips fell slack. He grinned against my mouth in satisfaction and swirled his tongue inside. God, the man could kiss. It nearly made me weak in the knees.

My arms wrapped around his neck as my fingers threaded through his hair and pulled him impossibly closer. There was a raw hunger in him I had never seen before.

He ran his hands up my thigh and under the short dress I wore. Most of my pants were getting tight in the waist so dresses had become my go-to clothing for the first time in my entire life. As his hand continued its upward trek, and he made fast to dispose of the simple cotton underwear I wore beneath, I thought maybe dresses in general needed to be reconsidered. I could get use to such easy access.

Bran's hand was everywhere and persistent. I was already panting with need when he lifted me with his other arm and carried me the few steps to the kitchen table. He set me on top as he reached for his buckle.

There was no further build as he lifted my dress and thrust himself into me in one fluid motion. I leaned back against the table and groaned as he grabbed my hips and set a hard and steady pace that had me withering in moments. Even through my first orgasm he continued his penetrations. He faltered his pace only slightly on my second. My vision was darkening at the edges and my body spent in sheer ecstasy by the time he finally came hard within me, so hard that it triggered a third that left me quaking in my own skin and unable to speak as I lay on the table.

Bran collapsed on top of me. He kissed my stomach before rising and lovingly cleaning me up.

I finally sat up, still shaking from the greatest sex of my life. He wrapped his arms around my waist and helped steady me before kissing me again. My head was spinning, dizzy with love.

"You're forgiven," I finally managed to say softly.

It caused a deep laugh to rumble through him. He looked at me with so much love in his eyes that my heart nearly burst with happiness. He brushed a stray hair that was plastered to my cheek with sweat.

"Is that all it takes?" he teased.

"My sisters are always going on about how incredible makeup sex is. If that's what they've been talking about, then mister, you and I are going to fight a lot from now on."

The buzzer on the stove went off, bringing me quickly down from cloud nine. I started to jump down off the table and stir the soup I had on, but Bran told me to stay put and took care of it himself. I sighed watching him. Was there anything sexier than a man cooking?

Flashes of him standing over me just a few minutes earlier brought a smile to my face. Okay, was there anything sexier than my mate?

He dished big bowls of soup for the both of us and brought them to the table. I slid off the table to sit in a chair next to him.

The mood between us quickly turned from giddy to solemn.

"We need to talk," he finally said.

I knew whatever he had to say wasn't good. It was likely the reason we came home so quickly. I could feel the sense of doom upon us and wasn't sure I wanted to hear it.

"Look, I don't want you hearing about all this after-the-fact, and there are things you need to know about me. Physically you're prepared and I know you will protect our child against anything life throws your way. But there are things about me that you don't know, Ruby. Things I don't want you to know, but that you're going to hear about anyway."

"Bran, you're freaking me out," I said. "What's going on?"

"You don't need to be scared. It's going to be okay. You're both going to be okay," he assured me, but the fact that he wasn't including himself in that statement terrified me.

"You're leaving us, aren't you?" I accused, trying to stay calm. Everything was going perfectly. Why would he just leave us?

"Yes, but not in the way you think, sweetheart."

"Don't you dare call me sweetheart during this conversation."

"Ruby, calm down. It's not what you think. Will you please just let me explain?"

"Fine," I said, holding back all my redheaded temper. "Explain." I crossed my legs, then crossed my arms over my chest, and waited.

"Govno!This is harder than I thought." He scrubbed his face with his hands and took a deep breath. "Thomas and I leave for Westin Pack in an hour. I don't have much time left."

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