Page 4 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
“What would you have me do? Denounce you as my mate and send you home?”
I gripped my stomach feeling a physical blow at the thought. Gideon wrapped his arms around me until I was curled against his chest. I wasn’t sure what we were doing. When we categorizedusat the full moon it was just supposed to be sex. Now he held me in his arms, comforting me. It was clear this was something more, but what? Did his belief that I was his mate translate into us as a couple? Iknewwhat a mate was to a wolf, but did that mean things were going to change? I scoffed at my idiocy. Thingshadchanged. He moved me in with him. We had sex regularly. Now he was holding me. I’d never had a real relationship having been too busy with my duty that I didn’t know if that’s what this was. I’d had sex buddies before and this no longer felt like any of those relationships. If we were in a relationship, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when my sentence was up. No one knew we’d haggled it down to six months, except his higher-ups, so I could have the year with no one the wiser. He’d gotten under my skin. But could a year be enough? Would that be the end of us? Unless Gideon wanted a war with the Hunter Order, he wouldn’t be able to tack any more time on the sentence. I’d have to go home eventually. I groaned feeling the ache return.
“Stop thinking about leaving,” he muttered against the top of my head.
“How did you…?”
“The pain. It’s a ward to ensure we stay close as the bond solidifies.”
“Will it always feel like this?”
He shook his head tugging me tighter. “Not as strong, but if we’re away from each other for too long the ache will grow.”
“So this is a forever thing?” Forever with Gideon or I’d be in pain? I wish it was that simple but there were so many other things to consider. If the wolves stayed in hiding, I’d eventually step into my father’s position. How could I be in charge of the hunters as the Alpha’s mate? Talk about conflict of interests.
He shifted so he could see my face. “Do you not want it to be?”
I bit my lip nervously. I wanted him, but I also wanted to do what was right for my family and those who relied on us. “I don’t know what I want.”
“I think you do,” he whispered tracing his fingers down my face. It was a loving gesture. What worried me was the move wasn’t unwanted. I found myself leaning into his touch. “You just don’t want to admit it and that’s okay. We have time for you to unveil the truth.”
“You’re not upset?” I asked sitting up surprised by his cool approach.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Only thing that would make me upset is if you insisted on moving back to your room downstairs. I don’t know that I could manage another night on that bed.”
“Pampered werewolf. Who knew there was such a thing?”
He chuckled before cradling my face between his hands and kissing me. When his tongue slipped past my lips, I groaned allowing him to deepen it.
“Mmm...” he moaned licking his lips as he pulled away. “That chocolate cake was good.”
“Right?” I giggled then narrowed my eyes teasingly. “You knew I wouldn’t share my slice with you so you kissed me to get a taste.”
“Only thing I want a taste of is you. The cake was a welcome surprise.”
Smirking, I offered him a bite of cake, which should have been a red flag that he’d gotten under my skin. I shared cake with no one, ever. He took it happily before his brow furrowed.
“What?” I wondered what was causing his expression.
“It doesn’t taste as good.” Dipping his finger into the frosting, it was my turn to furrow my brow. My eyes went wide as he traced his fingertip along my exposed cleavage.
“Gideon!” I gasped which turned to a moan when his tongue replaced his fingers.
“Much better. I think all my meals would taste better if I ate them off of you.” I stared into his green eyes as they sparkled with humor then watched as they darkened. He dipped his finger back into the cake then locked eyes with me silently asking to proceed. When I didn’t refuse, he took it as an affirmation and tugged my top down spilling one of my breasts out. My nipple hardened, begging for attention. Gideon turned his focus to the tender peak. My lips parted as he swirled the chocolate on his finger around my nipple. Once he was content with his results, he offered his finger to me. Without hesitating, I took it into my mouth sucking the residue off.
“Mmm…” The cake did taste better off of him.
“My turn,” he whispered. Cupping my breast, he claimed my nipple. I moaned as his tongue flicked across the hardened peak that was quickly softening due to the warmth of his mouth. Yanking down the other half of my top, he switched offering my other breast the same treatment even though it was clean of chocolate.
Pulling back, Gideon lifted me onto his desk. Taking a position between my thighs, he kissed me hungrily when the door opened.
“Goddamn it!” he bellowed as I pulled my top back in place. “Fucking knock!”
“Sorry,” muttered a reddening Adam. “But I think you want to hear this.”
Exhaling heavily, Gideon ran his fingers through his hair obviously annoyed with the interruption but even more so that we couldn’t continue.
“Isabel,” he sighed.
