Page 60 of Step Alpha

So I don’t give her space because I’m afraid if I do, she’ll shut me out forever. Instead, I stroke my palm over her reddened ass. Grab a handful and squeeze roughly. I climb over her. “You look so pretty when you’ve been spanked by me,” I murmur darkly in her ear. My cock is thick and heavy for her, but I’m not going to try anything more. Rayne is a virgin. I’ve already pushed her enough.

She stays prone.

I nip her shoulder. Suck her earlobe. Stroke my hand up and down her slender back. When she still doesn’t roll over, I massage the back of her head. “Does it hurt?”

She shakes her head, her face still in the pillow.

“No, your healing abilities kicked into full gear, didn’t they? Let me see that bump on your head.” I gently roll her over.

There’s so much uncertainty in her expression, and I want to punch my own face for putting it there. I lightly trace the bruise she got in the car accident. “It’s better already.” I press my lips to it.

I haven’t kissed this girl on the lips. She just came all over my fingers, but I haven’t tasted that mouth.

I grip her jaw. “May I kiss you, Rayne?” There. Finally, the respect Coach Jamison drilled into us with women surfaces.

She swallows, those blue eyes trained on me, forehead wrinkled like she’s searching for the catch.

I’m so fucking relieved when she gives a tiny nod. I go slowly, lowering my mouth to hers, hovering over her body, so she won’t feel how big an erection I have for her. She doesn’t move at first. Receives my kiss but doesn’t kiss me back. I slant my lips over hers in one direction, then the other. I press my tongue into her mouth, fucking her with it, still slowly. It’s not a chaste kiss, by any means, but it’s not aggressive either. It’s just boldly exploratory.

After a few moments, she starts to return the kiss, her tongue tangling with mine, her lips moving. She groans.

She’s completely naked beneath me, her nipples beaded up into points, her hips starting to roll. The scent of her arousal still fills the room. Coats my fingers. It’s driving my wolf mad. If I don’t pull back soon, I’m going to lose control.

I force myself away from her. “Are you hungry, Rayne-bow?”

She chuffs out a laugh. “Yeah.”

I reluctantly climb off her. “You need a ton of protein right now. I’ll make some lunch.”

Rayne yanks the edge of the blanket up to cover herself. I hate that she needs to hide from me. I want to march back, snatch that blanket away and tell her she’s never allowed to cover what’s mine.

But that’s crazy.

She’s not mine. She can’t be mine.

Except the idea has caught hold. What if…

What ifRayneis the reason I felt so determined to come back to Wolf Ridge? I mean, it doesn’t really make sense. There’s no logic to my choice to get myself here, yet Ihadto come. Being in Durham was literally killing me.

What if…fuck!What if she’s my fated mate, and my wolf brought me back here for her transition?

Rayne the Runt,my mate!

I haven’t had the urge to mark her, but she hasn’t shifted yet. Her new scent hasn’t fully come in.

I need to know for sure. I’ve got to figure out how to get her to shift.

And no, I’m still not willing to get outside help. Rayne is my project. I’m hoarding her all to myself. No one else gets to know the transformation she’s undergoing.

I walk to the kitchen and pull out a package of bacon, turkey slices, a loaf of bread, and mustard and mayo. I make us each a pair of giant turkey, bacon and avocado sandwiches.

Rayne comes in wearing…a dress. It’s a casual dress–made out of black t-shirt material–with a short, flared skirt and long sleeves that also flare and yank over her wrists.

I guess it’s sort of a call-back to her goth phase, but it’s also fun and flirty. I’m utterly captivated.

“Did you wear that for me, Rayne-bow?”

She ignores the question and picks up the plate of food, carrying it to the front window to look out. “How bad is it?”

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