Page 42 of Claimed By the Feral Wolves

I stop paddling, my arms wrap around her, pulling her closer.

“I’m not in the market for mates,” she says again.

“Why not?” I ask.

She stills against me and silence stretches between us, but I don’t say a word. I need to understand thewhyof all of this, so I can untangle it. So I can get her to accept me, accept us.

“Being an omega means being smaller and weaker than everyone else. The second an omega ties herself to an alpha, pack, or ferals, it doesn’t matter, she’s opening herself up to get hurt. To get mistreated. I don’t want any of that. I just want to go home to my quiet cabin, live alone, and never worry about getting hurt ever again.”

My sweet mate. She’s not just coming up with scenarios. Her words are those of someone who has known a great deal of pain from those who were supposed to keep her safe.

“I’m sorry you’ve been hurt.”

“How do you know?” she asks softly.

“We’re connected,” I tell her, stroking her arms under the blanket. “But you know, as hard as it is, you can’t just live the rest of your life afraid to be hurt again. You have to take a risk if you want to form connections. Mates are an amazing thing. Our job is to create a beautiful home, a safe place for your nesting, and to help you bring our children into this world. Nothing is more important than taking care of you. Now, I don’t know your other mates, but I, for one, will do all these things for you and keep you safe.”

She glances up at me, and I stare down at her perfect hazel eyes. “You don’t even know I’m your mate for sure.”

I feel my blood pumping harder through my body. “I’m absolutely certain you are my mate. I’ve never reacted to anywoman the way I’ve reacted to you. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. I mean–” I take a deep breath, wondering if I should keep my darker thoughts to myself. “Your scent is driving me wild.”

“It is?” She looks startled.

Reaching down, I run my fingertips over one of her legs. “And I can scent your reaction to me.”

Her cheeks turn bright red. “You can?”

I absolutely can. From the moment I pulled her into my lap, she’s been aroused. And it’s been driving me wild. A man can hardly be blamed for losing control with a mate this close, smelling this good.

“You clearly want me too.”

She shakes her head. “I– it’s not–”

I slide my fingers to glide along her inner thighs, and she spreads her legs a little, which makes my heartbeat fill my ears. That’s the best green light I’ve ever been given, but I don’t want to make a mistake or take anything for granted. Her trust is more important than getting what I want right now.

Using my fingertips, I run my fingers higher along her thighs, stroking down, then back up higher and higher every time. “You have no idea how wild you drive me. How much I want you. I mean your scent, fuck, Faye, it’s incredible.”

“Maverick,” she whispers, and her voice trembles.

I bring my hand up higher, hesitate, then push aside her panties. Her hands grasp my arm, but they don’t try to pull me away, they just cling to me, like she needs support.

“What if I touched you?” I ask, running a finger along her slit.

“I–I…” She swallows, her eyelids fluttering.

As I enter her very slowly, a groan slips from my lips at just how wet she is for me. “We don’t have to take things further. I could just make you feel good. Relieve your tension. Would you like that?”

She’s breathing hard. “Would it… relieve my tension?”

Fuck. She’s not very experienced.“It would.” My voice comes out low and husky.

Very slowly, I begin to stroke her, glorying in her silky smooth body. Glorying in how every slide of my fingers seems to make her wetter. She’s soaking my fingers, probably dripping, and her scent is everywhere, all around me. It’s the only thing I can smell.

She moans in my lap, and my cock jerks.

Her head falls back, and as I stroke her, she lets out a little whimper.

I start working my fingers harder and faster, knowing exactly where to touch her to bring her closer to the edge, and how to slow her down, to make her orgasm hit hard. Her muscles are tense. She begins to bounce against my lap, against my hardened cock, and I’m having trouble pulling in a full breath.

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