Page 19 of My Ruthless Alpha

Regardless, it didn’t deter me. It would only be a step in the right direction to making things right.

“I can’t say I blame you. This isn’t exactly an ideal situation, and it hasn’t been from the start.”

Another flicker of surprise gleamed in her eyes, but she seemed to hold my gaze easier than before. “I feel like I should, but I don’t know how. I don’t want to upset her or cause any issues. I’ve never been in this kind of situation before.”

Taking in her beautiful features again, appreciating how the soft kitchen light accentuated her face and body, I felt almost magnetized to her as my body involuntarily drifted closer. My expression turned to a warmer, more determined one.

“You don’t have to do it alone.”

Her brows went up imperceptibly, and I could’ve sworn I heard her breath hitch as I leaned forward. She swallowed hard, unable to pull her eyes away from me. “…you mean that?”

There was no room left for doubt in my mind—not while my previous affection for her swelled within me and reached the forefront of my mind again.

“Yes, I do,” I murmured, gently stroking her cheek while we stood much closer than before. “…more than I expected myself to. But I mean it. You’ve done enough on your own already. You shouldn’t have to shoulder that responsibility on your own, too.”

Something about those words seemed to resonate with Faye as if I were saying the one thing she had secretly hoped to hear for quite some time now. I watched as she visibly relaxed into my touch, and it caused that dormant longing for her to awaken…and demand more of her.

I went years without being able to see or feel her, and during that time, I still wanted her. From day one, I never wanted to be without her, but given my tumultuous feelings and doubts concerning my place in the pack, I never wanted to drag her down with me. I didn’t want to remove her from the one pack she had ever known for my selfish reasons, especially as things might not have turned out so well for me.

I always wanted her. Only her. And at that moment, having her so close to me made it feel too right to resist.

Unable to help myself, I cupped her cheek and noticed how my longing reflected in her eyes. Without saying a word, I knew she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. It was all the confirmation I needed to take that leap of faith.

Beyond the point of maintaining my self-restraint, I pulled her in close and captured her lips with my own.

Chapter 9 - Faye

Feeling his mouth on mine was like coming home after being gone for far too long. It was as if that kiss had enough power to make everything right again. To fix my inner conflict and remind me of how strong my feelings for him had been at one point.

His lips felt just like they used to, but there was something new in his touch…in how he held me with a hand on my cheek and the other on my hip.

There was a new sense of purpose—one so strong I could feel its intensity through the kiss.

There was no stopping myself from melting into the kiss and giving in to the sensations I had missed for all the years he was gone. Even if I wanted to pretend like it didn’t affect me, my body gave me away as I leaned in even closer, receptive to his kiss despite my previous inhibitions.

Beau hummed into the exchange as his fingers caressed the back of my neck and deepened the melding of our lips. His hand gave my full hip an affectionate squeeze. Almost like he was hypnotized by it, his body lightly pushed against mine until I felt the counter pressed against my back, and he showed no sign of wanting to pull away.

The kitchen was impossibly quiet, punctuated by our breathless sounds as we didn’t let up, chasing after each other’s lips with a renewed desperation neither of us could ignore.

I felt a sense of urgency that was completely new to me, yet Beau returned it tenfold, only making me more invested—more willing to let down my guard and embrace the sparks of pleasure running through me.

My skin felt like it was on fire beneath his eager palms while they explored my body, leaving my head to hold my hips firmly and press himself against me without an ounce of resistance left. At the same time, my fingers found the nape of his neck and explored upward into his hair, causing a faint shiver to move through him.

Something about that honest reaction made more warmth move through me, and I could feel myself becoming more and more lax for him.

When he broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to murmur against my lips, his panted breaths mingled with mine. “Is this what you want?”

I swallowed hard and tried to regain my bearings, but the fiery kiss left me feeling lightheaded. “And if it is?”

“Then I need you to tell me…and I need you to be sure,” he rasped, nose brushing against mine with the look of barely-restrained lust in his eyes. “Because if you agree, then I won’t be able to stop.”

The words uttered with such intensity and genuine rawness forced a shudder through my body, and there wasn’t a drop of doubt left in me. I needed him, regardless of our past. Irrespective of how I didn’t want to give in to him. I needed it more than I thought possible.

Not tearing my eyes away from his or moving away by even an inch, I murmured, “I want it.”

At that, like a switch was flipped inside him, Beau leaned down and put his hands on the back of my thighs, hoisting me up easily. It was seamless, yet the movement made my stomach flip, and my arms instinctively went around the back of his neck.

His lips were on mine at a moment’s notice as he skillfully navigated through the room, brushing his tongue against my lower lip.