Page 57 of The Strongest Wolf

“Sit up.” His words are nothing less than an order.

I don’t move. “Nope.”

I’m suddenly half-seated as Galen yanks the shirt away, fabric tearing as he shoves it aside and then goes for my sweatpants.

“Jeez, why are you so…” I grip the waistband and cling to them with both hands. “Just stop, already. I’ll listen. Whatever it is that you’re so desperate for me to hear, tell me.”

He doesn’t dignify my words with a response, just gets to work stripping first me and then himself, until we’re both naked and he’s braced on his elbows over me.

I’m still too surprised to be as angry. My body might be heating from having his heavy muscles pressed against me, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to let him have his way with me.

But when the focused intent melts away from his expression and he brushes the hair from my face with a gentleness that seems to come from nowhere, I swallow down the argument welling in me.

“Sierra.” That’s all he says.

Just my name.

But the softness in his eyes is saying a hell of a lot more than that. The tenderness makes me want to push him away or drag him even closer, and because I don’t know what I want more, I do neither. I lie with my arms by my side, peering up at Galen with no idea what to do.

Or say.

“I want you safe,” he murmurs, his fingers still gliding through my hair, the gentle pressure tugging at my scalp and lulling me into relaxation. “Always.”

“Because I’m a submissive wolf,” I say, searching his expression for the truth—that he doesn’t think I’m strong enough to be Luna.

“You know why I want you safe. I’ll say it if you want.” He pauses as if waiting for me to do just that.

I grab his hips, getting ready to shove him off me.

“But I don’t think you’re ready for me to say it,” he continues, likely reading the creeping panic in my eyes.

I don’t know why it terrifies me so much to hear him say something we both feel. But it does.

No, I know.

He’ll expect something of me. His pack will expect something from me, and I don’t know that I’m strong enough, or capable enough, to give it.

Or if I ever will be.

“So…” Galen drawls.

I blink up at him. “So what?”

He lowers his head and his lips brush against mine, soft and light. “So I’ll have to show you,” he murmurs between kisses.

My eyes flutter closed as I stroke my hands up over his back and shoulders. “Galen…”

His lips tangle with mine once again, and he swallows my breath. One hand grips my chin, and he angles my head a little, slants his mouth over mine, and deepens the kiss.

He kisses me with just the right mix of sweetness and urgency that makes me grab onto him and hold on, desperate for him to never stop.

But when he breaks the kiss, I whimper and nearly drag him right back until he kisses a fiery trail along my jaw to my throat.

Gasping, I tilt my head back to grant him better access.

His breathing turns heavy, and his hips sink into mine. That’s when I know he’s thinking about it. Biting me.

“Galen?” I whisper, suddenly tense.

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