Page 24 of Tide Touched

He leans back, meeting my gaze. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbles.

I look down. There’s a bruise on his side. ‘What’s this?’

‘Just wolves fighting. Come here.’ Carter kisses me again, and we fall into a steady pace, kissing and nibbling back and forth.

Carter presses my naked body flat against the bed. He hovers over me, then presses his mouth over my nipple and bites down, not too hard, just this side of stinging, sending bolts of pleasure to my pussy. His hand slides down my belly, straight to the wetness already pooling. He works his finger down my slit, taking his time. He even brushes over my clit, a small burst of fireworks igniting within me.

Carter’s lips move to my other nipple, as he works one finger inside me, then another, pushing, slightly stretching. As a moan escapes my lips, he bites down on my nipple and my back arches.

It occurs to me that Carter has never done the whole, ‘You like that, eh?’ thing. He doesn’t ask what I like or don’t like. He doesn’t seem to care one way or another if I come or not.

Carter pushes his fingers inside me, up to his knuckles and I groan, though oddly, the pleasure feels... hollow. In that moment, I know I won’t spend my life happy—not like this. Carter might not be as bad as I’d first worried. I could be okay, here, in this life—this little room, with small pleasures like limited books and three shades of paints. And being fucked. But not happy. Satisfied.

I will remain unloved.

While my pussy, my insides, are aching and groaning in need and pleasure, my heart beats slowly. Unexcited.

I reach out and hold onto Carter, my nails slightly digging into his shoulders. He switches to my other breast. I barely have time to inhale, readying myself, before his teeth clamp down on me again. ‘Please,’ I whimper.

Carter licks me over again, a smug look on his face. ‘Look at you, begging for me.’

I shove him lightly in the chest. He smirks, his fingers slightly curve in a beckoning gesture inside me. I let out a moan that has my eyes rolling back in my head. This time, his thumb brushes over my clit and stars burst before my eyes as I gush over his fingers, finally reaching orgasm with him.

When I meet his gaze, a little spark of joy dances in his eyes before he positions his hard cock, lining himself up, then pushes inside me. After that, his cock feels bigger, making me fuller than before, my body now sensitive and already throbbing and tingling.

He takes even, steady strokes, still slow at first, I notice, probably trying to go easy on me. I wind my hands up his back, to the nape of his neck, watching as his eyes slide in and out of focus. The way his chest rises and falls rapidly, watching my mate slowly come undone within me.

Carter’s hand finds my hair, and as his rhythm increases, his climax rising, he gives a too-hard yank on my hair. I bite back a whimper, and stare up at him, but his eyes are closed, his face bunched in concentration, barely containing his impending release.

I grip his shoulder, needing support, and a moment later, he spills inside me. He exhales, hard, his breath cool on my slightly sore nipples. Carter takes a breath, then slides out of me. He rests beside me on the bed, catching his breath.

I pull the blanket up to cover myself. ‘I should shove you off the bed,’ I snarl.

His gaze whips to me. ‘What?’

I set a hand on the back of my head. ‘That last tug hurt,’ I snap.

Understanding dawns in his icy eyes. ‘Oh! I’m sorry—’

‘Just go.’

Carter pulls his pants on then re-joins me on the bed, holding his hand up. ‘Before you shout at me, please just let me…’ He climbs up beside me and reaches for me.

I flinch, glaring at him.

Shirtless and sweaty, hurt flashes, plain as day, across his face. Carter lowers his gaze. He sits back on his feet, shoulders squared. ‘Hit me.’

I blanch. ‘What?’

A muscle feathers his jaw. ‘I deserve it. Go on.’

‘You’re crazy. I’m not going to hit you, Carter. Please, just go.’ I rub gently at the back of my head, my scalp sore, as a headache forms.

Carter’s blue eyes burn bright. ‘I don’t want to leave you hurt. Please tell me what I can do to help.’ After a moment, his gaze softens. ‘Katherine, I’m your mate. Please.’ He inches closer on the bed. When I don’t flinch or shove him, he inches closer again until he’s beside me. ‘Here.’ I let him scoop me up—naked—into his arms.

‘Just… don’t touch my head or my hair.’

‘Okay.’ Carter presses a kiss to my cheek, then another. His skin is cool, but almost comforting in how solid he is. For a while, he holds me like that until I drift off into a half-sleep.

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