Page 117 of The Pack Next Door
“If you knew…” I growled, the wolf pushing hard.
Briar was ours and we’d proven ourselves, hadn’t we? He was moving the agenda forward, showing me exactly how things would go if I got her anywhere private.
“I know.”
Her smile faded and something happened that I’d given up hope of seeing. That smooth, perfect mask of tranquillity dropped, revealing the thing I needed the most. Her, vulnerable, letting it all hang out, and I was right there with her.
“Hotel,” I ground out, barking the word at Gideon until he caught my eyes in the rear vision mirror.
“Briar?”
His voice was like a splash of cold water in my face, but despite wanting to splutter, I still felt the same. Her nod was everything, my heart aching in my chest as that smile came back.
“Hotel,” she confirmed, right as her hand stroked my hair back from my face. “I need to spend a whole lot of time telling Jace what a good boy he is.”
The rest of the car ride was a blur of kisses. All I could feel, smell, see was Briar. She was my whole damn world, and now I’d get a chance to show her exactly that.
The minute the wheels stopped turning, my spare hand was shoving open the car door. I slid across the seat with my mate on my lap and then didn’t let her thighs move from around my waist as I carried her towards the foyer of the hotel.
“Jace—!” she protested with a giggle.
“Just say yes, Briar.” I paused for a second, ignoring the few people waiting for the elevator as I pressed her against the wall. “Say yes and I promise that every day will be like today.”
“You can’t?—”
“I can.” I stared into her eyes, willing her to see it. “I can. Before… I was just doing what my brothers, my dads, my mum told me. Following along like a good boy and hating every damn moment of it. You freed me from that. I just wanted to make them happy, but Briar.” I swallowed hard, my throat swelling,but I would force the words out if that’s what it took. “Now the only person I want to please is you.”
Her smile was crooked and her eyes shone silver in the artificial light. There may have been a tear in the corner of one, but her smile turned into a grin.
“Yes.” The best word, the only word I needed to hear. “Yes, Jace.”
I was sprinting towards the stairwell, not giving a shit what anyone thought as I kicked it open and then took the stairs two at a time, still carrying my mate in my arms. Up I went, getting faster and faster, ignoring the burn of lactic acid in my thighs. Exiting when I go to our floor and then running over to the door, the keycard somehow already in my hand. Gideon emerged from the elevator, tracking us, but I had the door open and ferried Briar over to my bed, laying her down gently.
“My mate?—”
“I know.” Watching her roll upwards and pause for just a second, smiling up at me. “I know because I’m right there with you.”
“Briar.” Gideon appeared in the doorway. “Are you sure? You’ve had a few wines.”
“Just enough to get out of my own head.” Her hand slid down my chest, popping buttons open and my spirits rose each time when one pulled free. “To stop thinking and just…” With a sigh, she slid her hand inside, rubbing it over the hot skin there. “Be here with my mate.”
“I…” With a shake of my head, I tried to swallow down the lump in my throat. “Say those words and I will do whatever the fuck it is you want. Clean the entire warehouse with a toothbrush? Make you coffee from beans I grew, harvested, roasted, and then ground with my bare hands.”
“I don’t need that.” She reached up and pulled me down so my body hovered over hers. “You’re not my slave.”
“I will be. Whatever you need.”
With a grin, she stroked my face.
“Oh, you’re dangerous.” A kiss pressed to my lips, and I was silent as a grave. “I’m going to have to be very careful with you.”
“Don’t be.” I grabbed her hand and placed it over my heart. “Just… accept the bond. Be mine. That’s all I fucking need, Briar. Just that.”
Her nod was all that I needed. Gideon too, it appeared, because he left us to it, the door was closed with a little click. Clothes were torn off, tossed aside like all the other bullshit and then finally, finally, I had my mate bare underneath me.
Hands tried to stroke me, but I had to shake her off.
“I’m right on the edge, Briar.” I looked up the line of her body, catching the way her back arched as she propped herself up on her elbows. “Just let me get you close to it, too.”
