Page 26 of The Four Leaf

Our heavy breaths mingle in the air, the steady sprinkle of rain cooling my skin as we both come down from the high, neither of us too eager to move yet.

Adrian strokes my cheek with his thumb, his hazel eyes searching mine. When he finds what he’s looking for, he smiles.

It seems too quick when he pulls from my body, but the sting of his loss fades when he lifts me from the forest floor and onto his lap. My heart flutters when he strokes my matted hair, tucking it behind my ear as he gazes down at my face.

I’m completely and utterly smitten, and have been for years. But something in this moment makes me realize I had no idea what really lay beneath the surface of what we could be. What we were always meant to be.

Adrian leans forward, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. The rain has already slowed to a sprinkle, but small beads of it drip from his thick lashes. “Are you hurt?”

My head lulls, falling onto his shoulder. “Yes. But in the best ways.”

He smirks, dropping his hand from my face and tracing over the bite marks he left behind. I tremble as he works his way down.

“I meant what I said, Sam.” His voice is barely above a whisper, but I hear the slight nervousness in his words.

“You’ve said a lot of things today. Which one?” I hold my breath as I wait for his response, my delicate heart waiting for the one thing it’s always wanted to hear. Granted, tonight has told me everything I need to know, but I still want him to say it.

“This changes everything.” He swallows hard. “You are mine, and I am yours.”

The warmth blooms in my chest before expanding outward, making me feel as if I’m floating. To know this is real, after all this time… I kiss him and smile.

“About damn time.”

It takes a bit of convincing, but I’m able to coerce Sam into wearing my shirt as we sneak in the back of the hotel. She’s not a fan of the few glances I get being half-dressed, but my constant hold on her body seems to help while we head to the spare room.

Inside, I run us a shower and make quick work of undressing us both. She’s sore. I can tell by the way she walks, the way her face scrunches together as I touch some of the more tender areas.

My beast is proud, her marks nothing more than evidence of a job well done. Though the softness in me, the best friend, is slightly more concerned.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I guide her into the shower, ignoring her huffs of annoyance.

“Yes, Adrian. I’m… perfect. Currently drowning in bliss. So don’t ruin it with your hovering.”

This makes me laugh. I hadn’t planned to be so rough. I wanted to start slow, only wanted her to experience the chase. But I’m sort of glad she got to see a bit of both. See who I am.

This woman has my entire heart, has for longer than I’ll admit, but for her to enjoy it the way she is… I don’t think anything could make me feel more elated.

She hisses when the warm water meets her back, but then her eyes roll, and my shoulders relax. “God, this feels good. Get in here.”

I smile and climb inside with her. “I need to wash you.”

Her brows furrow. “I can wash myself, Adrian. I’m sore, but I’m not an igit.”

I growl, shaking my head. “You’re not an igit, but I have to do it.”

“Why?”

There’s a real curiosity in her question, and I decide now is as good a time as any to explain to her more in-depth what she’s getting into. “Are you familiar with BDSM?”

Her beautiful brown eyes widen, and she nods.

I grab the loofah hanging from the shower caddy and jerk my head toward the body wash behind her. When she turns to grab it, my gaze follows her golden curves, noting every little fleck of dirt to the tiny pink crescents from my nails and teeth. It spikes my blood pressure, the need to be inside her growing all over again.

She swivels back and hands it to me. “So what we did in the woods… is it like your version of a red room?”

I bark out laughter as I pour soap onto the sponge. “Yes. Exactly that. I’m what people refer to as a primal Dom, and what we did was primal play.”

“So we’ll always end up this messy.” She huffs, smiling as I create big suds.“Is that why you feel the need to clean me?”

---