Page 300 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
I dropped the jeans I was folding, my patience hitting its limit. “Night Shepherd. Look at me.”
When he did, I felt like I was scolding a puppy.
“Why can’t you just answer my question?”
He licked his lips and tossed aside the shirt he’d just picked up. “I went to talk to Lance, but it didn’t really go well. I brought up the idea of us being allies, but we ended up fighting instead of talking.”
“So, all this time you were being distant was because you and Lance were too focused on competing to be the biggest, baddest wolf instead of having a conversation?”
My voice was steady as I spoke, but Night must have sensed my irritation because he stiffened.
“I…wouldn’t really put it like that.”
That was too much. I had to laugh because if I didn’t, I would have exploded. “It’s been a long time since I felt this angry at you, Night.”
“Bryn—”
“No. You spent all this time beating around the fucking bush instead of just talking to me, and I’ve had enough.” I stomped around the bed to get close to him so he could see the emotion on my face. “I’ve been stressing out about what the elders told me, and all I wanted from you was some comfort, some presence. Instead, I heard you hem and haw and only half-listen to what I was saying.”
“Iwaslistening to you, Bryn,” he insisted, but I shook my head.
“No. You were just waiting for me to stop talking so you could keep sulking about how poorly things went with Lance.” I didn’t want to cry. I wanted to be angry and strong, but these damn hormones were something else. Before I finished speaking, tears were pooling in my eyes.
“Bryn.” Night’s voice was softer, soft enough to touch my heart.
“You’re supposed to be my partner, Night,” I told him. “When I ask you something, I want a straight answer. I never, ever want to feel like you’re keeping things from me again. Why do I have to keep reminding you of that?”
Now the tears were flowing freely. I rubbed uselessly at my eyes, but I couldn’t stop them.
“Baby.” Night’s arms went around me, and he pulled me against him. I pressed my damp face to his chest, and he rubbed my back as my shoulders trembled. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“You’re just saying that because I started crying,” I muttered.
I felt his chuckle rumble through his chest, and I pressed closer to him. “No. It’s because you’re right. I lost control earlier today. I was just too ashamed to admit it.”
I sniffled. “You don’t have to be ashamed around me.” I peered up at him, looking deep into his viridian eyes. “I’m going to be here for you no matter what. There’s nothing you could say that would make me stop loving you.”
“You mean that, don’t you?” he asked gently.
“Of course I do.”
He bent to kiss me. I leaned into the kiss, only for him to pull away and drag his shirt over his head. I kissed his collarbone as I slipped my dress down my body. When it pooled around my feet, Night pulled me to his chest and kissed me again. His kisses made me feel wonderfully dizzy.
“I love you,” I told him between kisses. “I love you so much.”
His arms tightened around me, and he held me so close, I felt the quick rhythm of his heartbeat in my body. He stopped kissing me to say, “I love you, too, Bryn. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Tears stung behind my eyes again as I pressed into him. He had hurt my feelings, but I didn’t want to shed more tears. I wanted to feel him, and I wanted him to feel me. I needed to stop my thoughts from circling around lies, fights, and most importantly, the looming danger of Troy.
“Let’s talk about that later,” I said. “For now, let’s just make love.”
He brushed my hair behind my ear, then lowered his head until our lips were just inches apart. “All right.”
His next kiss breathed fire through my blood, the heat concentrating around my heart and my core. My mate was such a big, intimidating man, yet his gentleness left me breathless. The rest of our clothes melted off, and soon I was straddling his lap, my hands on his shoulders. He gripped my hips to support me, his cock erect between us.
I raised myself, but before I lowered myself onto his length, he peppered my collarbones with kisses. I shivered at the caress of his soft lips and moaned as he trailed lower to pull one of my nipples into his mouth. They were so sensitive these days, but his hot tongue was a relief. Though each lap of his tongue stung just the slightest bit, the feeling was electric, and so very lovely.
My nipple fell from his lips with a slightpop,and he moved on to the other one. I rubbed myself against his erection, and he moaned into my skin, his hands massaging up and down my back.
