Page 37 of Lavender and Lightning

I feel myself teetering on the edge of release, and I try to get Mateo’s hand to move faster, to get his thumb to press harder on my clit. But his low warning growl makes my body go limp, even as I keep stroking his leaking cock, spreading his fluid down to where his knot is swelling at the base and back up again.

“And then I’m going to get your mark, whatever you want that to be, tattooed to match. And I’ll wear it proudly, showing everyone that I belong to you.”

A twist of his wrist drives his fingers deeper, and my legs shake as he thrusts hard, curling his fingers over my sweet spot over and over. I fall over the edge with a scream, my legs shaking and stars bursting behind my eyes.

“Watching you fall apart is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing,” he whispers, words heavy with awe and heat.

I hardly hear him over the pounding of my heart in my ears, the pleasure that seems to go on for ages as he works me down from the high. My whole body goes limp, and I lean my forehead against his shoulder, whimpering when he withdraws at last.

“Make love to me, Mateo. Please,” I beg, kissing the juncture of his throat and shoulder.

He pulls my hand away from his cock at last, then lifts me off his lap for a moment, adjusting himself below me so he’s kneeling. Then he guides me closer until I feel his tip brushing against my soaked, still fluttering entrance. We sigh in unison as he slips inside of my hot channel, the stretch of him the most exquisite pleasure-pain. When he finally bottoms out, and I feel the swell of his knot against my outer lips, we go still. I lift my head and touch his cheek with my fingertips.

“I love you,” he whispers, nuzzling his nose against mine.

“I love you,” I reply.

Our bodies move together, our limbs tangled as our hips roll and breaths mingle. Pleasure builds in my belly, liquid heat that spreads to every cell in my body. The air is thick with the scent of citrus and sex, the sound of rain and fading thunder. Lightning illuminates the room for a flash, and I meet Mateo’s penetrating stare, locking eyes as we writhe faster and faster. The tips of his fingers bite into my ass, and I feel the flex of his arms as he helps me ride him.

“I’m close, baby. So close,” he moans, dissolving into a growl.

“Knot. I want your—”

Before I can finish my plea, Mateo snarls and twists us so my back hits the mattress, my legs locked around his waist as he drives hard and fast. The gentle lover of a moment ago is replaced with the wild, near feral alpha that holds my heart. It only takes moments until the relentless tidal wave of ecstasy crashes over us. My walls flutter and I feel Mateo’s knot slip inside and lock in place, swelling and pulsing as he coats my pussy with his cum.

For a long, breathless moment, we remain frozen in time. Then Mateo collapses down, resting his damp forehead against my sternum. I run my fingers through his hair, humming low in my throat. I haven’t quite gotten the hang of my omega purr, but Mateo’s shoulders still relax under my touch. He slips his arms under my ribs, and I bite my lip to hold back my moan as he maneuvers us around until he’s flat on his back with me still locked around his knot. I try to slide to one side, but Mateo’s hold keeps me from moving.

“I love feeling you like this, baby,” he mutters, sounding half asleep.

“Crushing you?” I answer with an ironic chuckle.

Mateo’s laugh bounces me, and we both moan as the motion sets off another wave of pleasure. When it fades, he presses a kiss to my hairline.

“No, safe in my arms.”

sixteen

Lydia

Iwaketothefeeling of Mateo’s lips on my shoulder. The storm passed in the night, letting gray streams of watery sunshine filter in through the gauzy curtains above the bed. We ended up sleeping on our sides, Mateo curled around my back and his arms holding me tight. I hum lightly as he kisses my scar again, the horrible red oval from Darren’s last attempt to trap me. I push thoughts of my past aside as I close my eyes again.

“I know you’re awake, baby.” Mateo’s husky sleep voice makes goosebumps rise on my arms, and I have to press my lips together hard to keep from laughing.

“Nope, still fast asleep,” I manage to get out.

Mateo growls playfully before digging his fingers into my sides, making me squirm and squeal as he tickles me mercilessly. He only relents when I’m breathless and teary with laughter. As I catch my breath, I turn onto my back and look up into Mateo’s face as he leans over me. His hair is somehow perfectly messy, his soft brown eyes twinkling with love and playful affection. His perfect lips are wide with a crooked grin, the expression so natural and beautiful that I can’t help but return it.

“There’s that smile I love,” Mateo coos, kissing the tip of my nose.

He swallows my giggle as he slants his mouth over mine, my head spinning and stomach dipping with familiar butterflies. I feel the brush of his tongue against my lower lip, the growing hardness against my hip, and the wetness gathering between my thighs.

That is, until my phone’s ringer cuts through the still air.

We both look up at the sound, and my breath catches. I haven’t checked it in almost a day, so I know it’s still in Do Not Disturb. Which means that Gabby is calling, and that can’t mean anything good. Mateo lets me up and I quickly find my bag and fish out my phone. It’s stopped ringing by the time I pull it out, but as I look at the screen, my mouth goes dry. My notifications are a mess of missed calls and messages from Rhett and Jason, all variations on ‘call me, we need to talk.’ There are several missed calls from an unknown number, but that doesn’t surprise me. In the age of robo-calls, it’d be weirder to not have those.

“What’s the matter?” Mateo asks.

I look back at him sitting on the edge of the bed, concern pulling his brow down low. I bite my lip and shrug. None of the messages hold any clues, which only makes me all the more nervous. A new message from Gabby comes through as I’m clearing out notifications.

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