Page 8 of Homecoming

“You do know, you don’t have to call me Master Chief anymore?” Darius smiles. “Kat, you’re so beautiful, but… what happened? Riley said you were—”

“Shh… not now. Please, there’ll be plenty of time for explanations later.” She smiles as she kisses him repeatedly. “Right now, I just want to be with you.”

Dropping the towel to the floor, Kat takes his hand in hers and places it gently against the curve of her breast, then throwing her head back, she murmurs a groan.

Her skin feels smooth and warm to his touch, her belly, her breasts, her thighs soft and full. Squeezing her flesh beneath the palm of his hand, Darius swears he can hear the blood rush in her veins. Lightly, he caresses a teasing rub of his thumb against her nipple and playing with it he watches as it puckers against his touch.

Immediately, it sends a wave of feelings flooding between her legs. It seems such a long time since she’s felt the touch of Darius’s hands on her body, but Kat’s quickly reminded of how much she enjoys it.

“Mm… that’s nice.” She moans, gliding her hand across the curved tone of his tattooed chest—tracing the pattern of the new writing burned like a black scar on the skin over his heart. Her name etched in a filigree pattern—entwined hearts—the tattoo seared with a brand deep into his flesh. “You did this for me?”

She looks up and wrinkles her brow as she continues slowly with her finger following the lines of the scar, and mindful of how precious Darius is about his body, this tattoo is a deep and meaningful gesture to show the desire and affection he has for her.

He grins as he looks down in admiration of his own body and is proud to show it off. “You like it?” he questions with a grin.

“Like it? I love it. I love that you did that for me. Darius… I missed you so much. I missed not being able to be with you.”

“I know, but you’re back now and we’ll have plenty of time to be together. Kat, I don’t want you to worry about anything because I can assure you, I’m going to keep both you and the pups safe. You don’t have to be in fear but I also want you to know that I will find him—Auriel—and when I do, I’m going to kill him in the most unpleasant of ways.”

“Shh… not now. Don’t let the past spoil this moment. I just want this to be about us—nothing else.”

Her finger continues tracing the calligraphy scar before she looks up and focuses on his eyes. Staring into the deepening violet pools, she grabs his head and locking her fingers in his hair, she pulls Darius against her lips for a kiss.

The desirable smell of his aftershave is overpowering. It's mixed with the deep sensual scent of dominant alpha pheromones and as Kat nuzzles relaxed against his body Darius settles his mouth, sucking in gentle bites against the soft flesh of her neck.

It might be the first time he’s touched her in months, but he’s quick to notice how relaxed and comfortable she is with him now.

Luna is silent. The wolf’s usual roar of disapproval seems lost to the past and with Luna and Kat at peace—the woman and wolf bonded as one—now more than ever before, Kat can finally exert control over the wolf’s emotions.

Relaxing into his touch, Kat settles herself against the cool of his skin and as he encircles her tightly in his arms, she mumbles a whisper against his ear, “bite me.”

“What?” Darius frowns with a momentary hesitation.

“You heard me. I said, bite me.” She gestures her neck towards him. “Darius please.”

“Kat, no.” He frowns, watching as she stares up, almost pleading with him. Her neck is warm and inviting and as he brushes her tangle of damp curls from her shoulder, he watches the soft thud of her pulse and is soon reminded just how beautifully tempting her blood is. It catches his breath and he hesitates. “Are you sure about this?” Her request is a surprise and as he studies the look on her face, he frowns. “It’s been a while. Are you sure you want me to do it?”

“Yes. I need to reconnect with you. I need to feel you. It’s been much too long. Darius, I want you.”

A tingle of trepidation races through her flesh and it only serves to increase her heart rate. She can hear the gentle thud of her own pulse pound in her ears and as anxiety clutches in the pit of her belly, her body prickles with goosebumps. She feels a sudden pang of apprehension and there’s a secondary moment of hesitation, a pause as she bites into her lip and nods.

“I need you too, but…” Darius holds a breath and stares longingly into her glistening bright eyes as they continue to beg her request. “Kat, what is it?” He can see the desolate, almost lost expression filling her face—like she’s given way to a thought far from here.

“Nothing… No really it’s nothing, I’m fine.” She kisses and snuggles close against his smooth bare skin, holding him tight with her arms gripped against the strong muscles of his back.

Darius growls against her ear and sniffing her skin, he smooths a finger against the pulse rapidly throbbing against the soft flesh of her neck. Each beat of her heart raises the vein from below the surface and Darius nibbles his teeth softly at the vulnerable part between her neck and shoulder slowly, as if tasting a glass of fine champagne.

Kat licks her lips and moans softly in anticipation. Darius’ smell is intoxicating, and she waits patiently as he kisses the delicate flesh with his mouth. Her head tips back and as she inhales slowly he can feel the surge of adrenaline as her pulse races. Taking a breath, he expels a gentle hiss of air through his teeth. The thought of savoring her rare sweet taste is too much after all this time, but just before he sinks their sharpness into her flesh, he’s splashed in the face with a shot of cold water.

Shooting a glance over Kat’s shoulder, he can now see the small toddler boy standing perfectly still watching them.

Wearing only a small pair of red cotton shorts, the boy with a lush of tangled black curls and a soil-caked face stares focused. “Oh…” he cries in a soft, timid tone, as he holds the water-filled toy high and points it directly at Darius.

Kat turns around to see what’s distracting her estranged lover’s attention. Immediately her mouth drops open and ready to call out, she watches as Lukas again splashes the pair with water. Then suddenly recognizing Kat, the wide-eyed child drops the plastic gun and squeals in delight. “Mommy… Mommy, mommy!”

“Lukas!” Kat’s startled and snaps his name. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

It’s a panicked response and a look of annoyed irritation fills her face as she sees the chunky toddler quickly turn and leave the doorway to head back outside.

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