Page 67 of The Alpha and the Baker
“Okay, maybe it’s a little of that too.” She batted her eyes at me. It felt like a missile went straight for my knees, because they nearly buckled with the surge of desire I felt for her.
Had I really only met this woman a week ago? It didn’t feel that way at all.
“Only a little? I think I’m insulted.”
This time she didn’t jostle my arm. Instead, she whirled fully in front of me and pressed her lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around her back and lifted her off her feet.
“Oh!” she cried happily, breaking our kiss to beam at me. God, that smile. I never knew the heavens could be contained in a grin, yet that was exactly what I was seeing reflected back at me. “I forgot how strong you are.”
I captured her lips once again. “How about I remind you?”
I swung her legs to the side until I had her in a bridal carry. It was cheesy as all get out, but sometimes it was nice tobecheesy and unabashedly romantic. After all, “cringe” as the kids called it, was a choice. I simply couldn’t feel it if I refused to acknowledge it.
“Oh my god, Cas, really?” Felicia said, still laughing.
“Don’t you like it?” I paused, wanting to make sure I wasn’t pushing too far. I could scent her happiness and the hear the pleasant pitter-patter of her heart, but it never hurt to check in.
“No, I like it.” She blushed so furiously I could see it even in the darkness. “It’s just…”
“Just not used to being treated like a princess?”
She went even redder. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“Well, you deserve to be treated like that. Now, if you wouldn’t mind getting your keys out, I’d like to carry you across the threshold.”
It was a little awkward for her to dig them out of her pocket, but she managed without me having to put her down. It wasn’t smooth in the slightest, but what about us had been since we’d met? Maybe that was kind of our thing. Rough around the edges, far too many relatives around, but entirely us.
Felicia seemed awake and impressed as I carried her up the stairs without missing a step. Despite the laughter, the silliness, and the slapdash way we’d gotten together, each stair upward made the rest of the world fall further away until only Felicia and I remained. No pack. No bakery.
Justus.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said once we reached the top of the stairs, and I set her on her feet.
“I’m just wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and I don’t think I even brushed my hair today.”
“Doesn’t matter to me,” I said, cupping the back of her neck. She was incredibly strong, yet she still felt so fragile and soft in my grasp. Some alphas got drunk on the fact that they only had to apply the slightest pressure to snap a human’s spine, but that did nothing for me. If anything, it only made me want to protect her that much more, to use my might and teeth and claws to make sure no harm ever befell her again.
Was it perhaps a bit much for what was only sort of a second date? Perhaps. But I was done listening to the what-ifs. I wanted to be in the moment with her.
And the moment currently involved her putting both of her palms on my chest. Normally, her touch was like a cool, soothing balm against the wildfire that ran naturally in my blood, but now? Now, it felt like pure electricity crackling through me. Could she feel that? Feel how much she affected me? I fucking hoped so. It was far too intense to be one-sided.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to sleep?” I ground out. My every instinct yelled at me to shut up, to not dissuade Felicia from getting closer to me and touching me more. But no matter what I wanted, Felicia’s well-being would always come first.
Always.
I wanted to devour her. I wanted to bend her over and fill her so full of my seed that my cabin couldn’t fit all our pups. I wanted, I wanted,I wanted. But all of that want came secondary to Felicia.
“I’m sure, Cas,” she said, looking up at me through her eyelashes with so much heat that any remaining hesitation died away. How could I argue when she looked at me like that?
I couldn’t, so I let her walk me backward, hands still on my chest, until my calves brushed against her bed frame. Her palms kept up the pressure. It was a wordless request, but a request, nonetheless.
So I obliged.
I sat on the edge of her bed, feeling overdressed despite the fact that we were both fully clothed. But then she knelt between my legs, and all thoughts of clothing flew far, far away.
“Felicia…” I threaded my hand through that thick hair of hers, wanting to feel the kiss of it against my rough fingers. Was this really happening? Already, my body was responding, mycock so hard I was surprised the button of my jeans didn’t pop off and ricochet around the room like a cartoon bullet.
“Just sit back and let me make you feel good.”
