Page 63 of Fire Bound

Remington just barely has herself straddling my thighs before I’m gripping her hips in a painful hold and slamming her down onto me.

“Sucking me off makes you so wet, doesn’t it?” I groan as I glide fully into her, bottoming out at her cervix. She whimpers and nods her head in jerky movements.

Holding on to the back of the seat, Remington rides me and while she does, I begin to think maybe flying isn’t so bad.

Ididn’t realize just how big the piece of my missing soul was until Jax became mine. It’s like my whole life I’ve been walking around missing a vital organ or something, but now that he’s mine and I am his, I feel whole.

And happy.

I never really understood what people meant when they said they couldn’t describe the feeling of being mated and that I’d have to be mated to understand. I always thought they were full of shit and didn’t know how to articulate their emotions or something, but they were right. The level of contentment I feel being mated isn’t something I’ll ever be able to put into words.

For the rest of my life, I will have him with me. There’s an invisible tether tying us together and through that, I can feel him. Like his soul is now embedded with mine. For the rest of my life, as long as that might be, I’ll never feel alone. I feel ashamed of myself that I ever resented my siblings for spending more time with their mates than with the pack or with me. I understand now that they weren’t able to stop themselves. Jax has been at my side for the past twelve hours, but the idea of being somewhere he’s not makes my chest tighten.

Oh great, being mated just makes you wildly codependent and a stage-five clinger. Not a good look.

But regardless, I’m blissfully and unapologetically happy and I want to protect that feeling from everyone and everything. I want to continue to live in my perfect bubble with my mate. I don’t want to have to let everyone in on our secret and I definitely don’t want to have to go back to our dark reality where our monster is lurking somewhere in the shadows.

A part of me isn’t ready to tell my family or pack because I’m worried about the questions. For months, most of them think I’ve been mourning the loss of my boyfriend, but grief wasn’t what I was feeling. To them, it looks like I bonded myself to the first man to show me interest. They have no idea what mine and Jax’s history is. Hell, Pru is the only family that knows, and I think that’s why when Winslow’s house comes into view ahead of us, my palms start to sweat.

Winnie and Ranger had picked us up from the airport and they’d called the rest of the family to meet us back at their house after Jax and I gave them a short recap of what’d happened with Kaius. Even though Jax and I aren’t acting like anything is different between us, Winslow has been sending me weird looks through the rearview mirror the whole time.

Jax and I aren’t hiding what we are, but I’d rather not have to explain everything to each family member one at a time. This is a conversation best had once, done quick and dirty. Like pulling off a Band-Aid.

Walking around the car, Winslow stops me before I can start heading toward the stairs of her house.

Knowing eyes lock with mine and her lips tip in a grin. “And just like that, the rest of your light has returned.”God, she’s so observant it’s scary.She gets up on her tippy-toes so no one else can hear her as she whispers, “I’m glad you finally figured out what he means to you.”

Stunned silent for a second that she’d sensed the change already, I finally find the ability to ask, “Did you know thewholetime that we were...” I trail off.

Smiling smugly as she backs away from me. “I only had strong suspicions.” Winnie shrugs nonchalantly. “And it was another thing you needed to figure out on your own. You wouldn’t have believed it coming from me anyway. That denial tends to run deep.”

“You could have saved us a lot of time if you’d just said something.” A lot of wasted time and a lot of hurt.

“I don’t know, I’m a pretty big believer that things happen the way they’re supposed to. Just look at how all of us found each other. The universe is a sick bastard, but there’s a plan in place and sometimes we just have to suffer along until we find our person.” None of my siblings met their mates under normal circumstances, that’s for sure. “It’s a tough journey, but the final destination is so,soworth it, Remington.” Winslow looks behind her where Ranger talks to Jax before turning back to me. “And you’ve made it and you’re allowed to be happy about it. Don’t feel like you have to hide it from us.”

Not needing to say anything back, I wrap my arms around her tiny body and squeeze her tight. She showed up like a stray at our door a year and a half ago and I’m so glad she did. Our family needed someone like her.

Pulling back, I smile when I see her bangs are mussed. Remembering something important, I push her hair off her forehead and expose her hairline. Keeping my face straight, I fix her hair without giving her any explanation, then I head toward the house.

Jax, now waiting for me by the end of the stairs, stares at me with purple flames in his eyes. I feel the heat of them licking on my skin the closer I get to him. He reaches for me, and I let him wrap his arm around my waist and pull me close. Winslow’s right, we shouldn’t hide. My heart skips in my chest when Jax presses a kiss to my temple.

“What thefuckwas that?” I hear Ranger shout somewhere behind us, clearly not missing our moment. He suddenly grunts like he’s been hit by something. The noise is followed by a harsh, whispered warning from his mate.

Jax laughs against my hair before whispering, “This should be fun.”

Every seatin the Winslow’s living room is taken by a member of my family when I walk inside. Even Sawyer is here, at this point the longtime friend of my brothers’ is basically an honorary member of our family.

As if I’m holding a press conference, I stand before them. Jax leans against the wall behind me. Through our bond, I can feel his support. After Ranger and Winslow have taken their seats, I look around at the expectant faces of my family.

“Alright!” I clap my hands before rubbing them together. “There’s a few things we all need to discuss before we talk about Kaius and Sterling. First and foremost, let’s talk about the giant pink, moody elephant in the room. And no, I’m not talking about Pruitt.” I pass my pregnant best friend a joking glance. I’ve missed months of precious time where I could have been joking about her being knocked up and I’m making up for lost time now. “I’m talking about me. I’m not sure if you guys noticed since I was doingsucha good job at hiding it from you all.” When in doubt, go with sarcasm. A life motto I live by. “I was going through a rough spot. There were a lot of things going on and maybe sometime soon I’ll fill you all in.” I’m not sure I’m ready to admit to everyone what happened with Gage. That’s a wound I’m afraid will take more time to heal from. “I apologize for pushing you all away when you just wanted to help. I was an ass and hope you all can forgive me for disappearing like I did.”

Pru smiles at me from across the room. “We’re just happy you seem to be doing better.” Ryker, who sits next to her, nods his head in agreement.

Ransom shifts forward in his seat. “Yeah, Rem, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’ve been lookinghellarough, but you look better now, so that’s good.”

Isabeau, who sits on the arm of his chair, rolls her eyes and slaps the back of his head. “Ignore him.”

“I’ve spent twenty-two years around him, I’m well versed in that skill,” I assure her.

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