Page 70 of True North

"Whatever. I don't need to be lectured," I tell Eloise. "I just want to check on Tess." And maybe shake her until she finds some common sense and never runs away again. Yeah. I'm feeling totally reasonable.

I start toward the stairs, Eloise calling out behind me, "I'm serious, Dominic! She's running for a reason; maybe try listening for once!"

If it were anyone else…

I shake my head, dismissing her words. I'm a great listener. It's not my fault Tess can't manage to have a reasonable conversation with me. She's too suspicious, too stuck on leaving, too stubborn. I just have to wait her out, and I'm sure eventually she'll come around.

Her sister agrees that this is the right place for her. Once Tess woke up, and Tasha stopped staring at me like I'd permanently stolen her sister from her, Tasha was very easy to woo. She wants to see her sister safe, and this is the best place for that.

Today only further proves that point.

I make it to the third floor in record time, but I practice some self-control to not slam the bedroom door open. I assume Tess will be on edge after coming face-to-face with Maren. I don't know the details, but her expression said enough.

I open the door quietly and peer in on her, staring dumbstruck when I see her curled up fast asleep in the center of my bed.

Maybe that's just how safe she feels here,my wolf suggests hopefully.

But I have a feeling that's not it. Whatever scared Tess when she went out on her own today might have sent her running back here, but it didn't break her. It's a testament to the strength I assumed she wouldn't have the first time I laid eyes on her.

It makes me feel like even more of a dick realizing it. I seriously underestimated my mate. And now, the fates give me a second chance, and I’m fucking this one up too.

Suddenly, I feel completely drained from the day. When I went to check on Tess and found her gone this morning, I threw every resource I had into finding her, including venturing out to help search for her myself. I never imagined we would find her simply because she turned around and came back on her own.

That, coupled with the confusing exchange with Maren, and I need some relief. Crawling into bed next to Tess is a temptation too good to refuse.

I grab boxers from the dresser so Tess won’t wake up next to me traumatized. I can see the top of one of my t-shirts peeking out from under the covers. I try to not read into it too much, but I did fill half the closet with clothes meant for her. There's no way she could have gone searching for one of my shirts and missed that little detail.

She wanted to mix your scents.My wolf might as well be a fucking peacock the way he's puffing up with pride at the thought.

There's still a long way to go before we're marking this woman,I remind him sternly. Still, my eyes trace over her, down to the spot on her neck where I would mark her if she would let me.

I can feel my dick stirring now, going from zero to straining against my boxers in about fifteen seconds flat. I look down at my traitorous appendage, willing it to go down to at least a more reasonable level. I'm desperate to crawl into bed right next to Tess, but I'm not about to risk waking her up by poking her in the ass with a raging hard-on.

"Fuck," I murmur.

There's no way I can go to bed without… taking matters into my own hands. I begrudgingly turn for the bathroom, clicking the bathroom door quietly closed behind me and dimming the light to a soft glow.

I'm careful to not look at myself in the mirror. There’s a whole new level of shame to sneaking into my own damn bathroom to jack myself off when there's a beautiful, interesting, enigma of a woman just a few feet away practically naked in my bed.

My disappointed groan turns into a low, pleased one as I shove my boxers out of the way and take my cock in hand. My skin feels like it's on fire as I use steady, measured strokes to try to ease the pressure. I need some semblance of control over a situation that feels completely out of my control at the moment.

I let my boxers drop to the floor so I can step into the shower, planting my hand against the tile and leaning over the drain. I've done this enough to know to go for the easy cleanup.

This is what I get for not getting my rocks off more often. I can barely remember the last time I messed around with anyone. I’m sure it was some random shifter from another pack, like every time before. I wasn't really waiting for Tess, but now it kind of feels like I was.

It's her face I picture as I let my eyes drift shut.

Is it sick of me to picture her with her angry face on? Those moments where I can tell she's desperate to lay my ass out but holds her tongue instead. I know she thinks it's helping her to endear herself to me—and it is—but it doesn't actually lower my guard.

I'm not stupid. We have a long way to go before I can make her the Luna she's supposed to be. But at least here in my fantasy, I can pretend she's incapable of denying me. Crawling onto my bed and spreading her legs for me, whispering my name as a plea for me to take her.

Her skin would be so smooth under my hands, and I would finally have permission to touch her the way I want. The way my wolf has craved since we caught wind of her scent.

Another groan rumbles up from my chest as I increase my speed, stroking myself faster as my fantasy speeds up too. Running my palms across her perfect breasts, leaning in so my mouth can kiss the mark I've left on her.

She moans my name as I sink into her, her pussy squeezing my cock like she's desperate for me. All the breathy sounds she makes in my fantasy are too much. I pant as I slow my strokes again, knowing I'm seconds away from getting off.

The bathroom door creaks on its hinge.

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