Page 27 of Country and Clove
They were standing in a small office space that looked as though it was more often used for storing training equipment and weights than conducting business. The door behind her closed and she immediately knew she was screwed. Aaron’s scent hit her like a slap to the face. It settled beneath her skin, heating her blood and making her thighs tighten in response.
“You have an office?” she asked, pointing out the obvious. Nerves were tingling through her as she felt Aaron approach her from behind.
“I rarely use it. I don’t like being stuck indoors. Paperwork and meetings are Gideon’s area of expertise.” The deep timbre of his voice came from just over her shoulder. Aaron’s voice was quiet when he spoke again. “We need to talk.”
Clove swallowed, turning around and squaring her shoulders. “No, we really don’t,” she insisted. Her body flushed beneath Aaron’s gaze. His eyes roved over her and she felt naked despite the baggy sweats.
Aaron took a step forward and Clove quickly stepped back, keeping space between them. His brows pulled together unhappily and he stopped moving.
“I’m sorry.” The words floated off his lips, leaving a deep sadness in their wake. Okay, that wasn’t what she was expecting. “I’m sorry for tryouts. I know I humiliated you in front of the other pack members, and worse, I hurt you physically. I should have held back.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Clove said, her tone icy. A new silence stretched out between them and Clove became aware of the steady dripping of her wet hair on the floor. “If that’s everything.” She strode past him, desperate to get back into the fresh, untainted air before she did something stupid. Aaron’s hand snapped out, gripping her elbow as she reached the door.
“Aria said you’re sad.”
Clove stopped, her heart tightening in her chest. “And?” she bit out, unable to look at him.
“And I’m worried it’s because of me,” he said, regret coloring his words. Aaron’s fingers began to stroke Clove’s arm in soft, gentle sweeps. The touch was too intimate, too familiar. She snatched her arm away and flicked her eyes up to meet his pitying gaze.
“Well, what did you expect? You rejected our mate bond and it broke my heart.” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes and her mouth dropped open. She hadn’t meant to admit that part out loud. Aaron whimpered. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his warm chest.
“Tell me how to fix this,” he murmured into her hair. Clove fought his hold but he didn’t release her. She knew the only way to fix this was to mend the bond. But Aaron had made it clear he was never going to be willing to accept a mate. A cold sadness trickled through her lungs, encasing her heart in ice.
“You can’t,” Clove whispered. Aaron pulled back, peering down at her with desperation burning beneath his soft brown irises.
And then his lips were on hers. She sucked in a surprised breath before melting into the kiss. Aaron’s lips moved against hers with a burning need that she was unable to ignore. That smoky, sweet scent seeped through her pores, filling the coldest places inside her with warmth and light. She wanted to disappear inside that scent, lose herself to the heat of his skin and the skilled caress of his touch. She slid her hands up his firm chest, the thin fabric of the tank top allowing her to feel every muscled ridge as she moved higher. A low, throaty growl vibrated through her as she buried her fingers in his curly hair, tugging gently at the roots. Aaron walked them backwards, his mouth never ceasing. Clove’s back hit the wall and a snarl rose from her chest.
“I can’t.” Her words were breathy and rushed. “You can’t just use me every time the instinctual urge to claim me becomes too strong to bear. It’s too much. To take what you want and leave our bond shattered. It’s a cycle I won’t repeat.”
Aaron rested his forehead on hers as his breaths came in heavy pants. His hand cupped her cheek, and when he looked up again his eyes were glowing with the beast beneath.
“Then I won’t take for myself.” His mouth dropped to the base of her ear. “Just let me take care of you.” His lips trailed down her neck, leaving fire in their wake. He pressed a kiss to the base of her throat before sucking on her pulse point. Clove groaned as her body surrendered to the heat of his touch. “Let me make you feel good,” he begged, his voice gravelly and strained.
A clawing need consumed her as Aaron worked his way down her body. His fingers danced along her waistband as he slowly dragged the sweatpants down. Some part of Clove’s mind was screaming at her, telling her to leave, reminding her that he rejected their bond. She shoved those thoughts to the back of her mind. Aaron was right. She had been sad, lonely, miserable. His touch made her feel alive and wanted.
Aaron dipped lower and inhaled deeply. “God you smell good.”
Clove’s cheeks burned as he breathed in her scent. All feelings of embarrassment flew from her mind as his tongue brushed along her clit.
* * *
A deep, needy whimper escaped her and Aaron growled in response, gripping her thigh and hooking her leg over his shoulder. His need to taste her, to satisfy her, to fix things even if it was just for a few minutes took precedence over everything else in his life. The thought of her being as sad and isolated as he was sent pain stabbing into the depths of his soul.
And while he was doing this for her, he needed it, too. To touch and be touched, to forget about the heartbreak of the past and the fears of the future.
His mouth laved at the spot where heady arousal dripped between her thighs. Her scent was the strongest down here, and he wanted to drown in it. Clove gasped as he thrust two fingers inside her. Wet warmth covered his hand as he rotated his wrist and curled his fingers upward. Clove’s body jerked in response and he grinned.That’s the spot. Flesh quivered around him as he stroked that sensitive bundle of nerves. Clove buried her fingers in his hair, guiding his face to her clit, and he growled his approval.
“That’s it, pretty girl. Show me what you need.” He dipped his tongue out, swiping lightly at the swollen nub.
“More,” Clove snarled, grinding her hips up to meet his mouth.
Aaron obeyed, flicking his tongue across her clit with a speed and pressure that had her knees buckling. His free hand reached up, pressing against her lower abdomen and holding her in place. Clove continued to grind against his mouth while his fingers fucked her and he licked, sucked, nibbled every bit of her needy flesh. The deep, mewling moans and whimpers that filled his office made his cock harder than should have been possible. Precum seeped through his sweats as his body begged for relief of its own but he ignored it. This was about Clove. He had so much making up to do, so much blame to take. Her grip in his hair grew brutal as he sucked her clit between his lips and swirled the tip of his tongue.
“Yes, yes…just like that,” she murmured as her walls began to flutter around his fingers. He kept the pace steady when her body tensed, clamping down around his fingers as she screamed out in ecstasy. Aaron guided her through the cascading waves of pleasure, relishing the surge of arousal that dripped down his hand. He pulled back, flicking his tongue against her sensitive clit. She shivered and tried to pull her leg back, but he gripped it more tightly than before.
“Give me another,” he commanded, blowing on the flesh before dropping his tongue to the base of her clit. She squirmed in his hold. He knew she was sensitive. Her body fought against him several seconds longer as he lapped at her with determined strokes. A deep, sexy-as-fuck growl tore from Clove’s chest as he hit the perfect spot and she moved from the edge of sensitivity to the depths of pleasure.
It only took a few dedicated swipes of his tongue to have her coming all over again, her body seizing up even harder than before. His tongue was soft as she came down and he coaxed every last bit of pleasure from her body. Clove’s eyes were closed and when she opened them they were hooded and dark with desire. Aaron pressed kisses all around her searing flesh as he slid his fingers out. She was wobbly and weak as he placed her foot back on the ground. His desire for her was so strong he thought it might kill him. But true to his word, he took nothing in return, simply slid her sweatpants back up on her hips before rising to his feet.
