Page 52 of Captive Witch

My wolf preens in my chest, and fur ripples beneath my skin, bursting to the surface in an instant. I bolt after him, loving the way the wind ruffles through my fur and the feel of the earth beneath my paws.

I recognize the smell of the lake before we reach the brush and bound straight into the water, just behind Gideon. His hands wrap around my waist and pull me to the surface, and he crushes his mouth to mine.

My fingers bury into his hair, sealing my body to his, and I wrap my legs around his hips as he works to tread the water. Slowly, he swims forward, his lips never leaving mine, then he walks through the shallow water to lay me on the grassy bank. He pulls away to stare down at me, and the star-filled, inky sky paints the most gorgeous view behind his head, creating a halo of twinkling lights. His silver-specked storm gray eyes travel over my face, then his fingers reach to brush against my cheek.

Closing my eyes, I turn my face into his touch, loving how right it feels to be beneath him. I kiss his palm, inhaling the scent of his skin. “I love the way you smell,” I breathe.

He chuckles under his breath. “Oh? And how do I smell?”

“Like citrus and woods and… caramel.” Looking at him, I smile. “And sometimes like smoke and whiskey.”

Leaning down, he drags his nose from my collarbone, up my neck, to my ear. “I love the way you smell too, little witch. Like a forest nymph, spruce and cloves and sage.” He nips the lobe of my ear, sucking it between his teeth for a moment before whispering, “Like a fresh start.”

I suck in a sharp breath, warmth spreading to my core as his touch makes a fiery trail from my cheek to my hip, his finger lightly tracing the line of my jaw, the curve of my neck, the swell of my breast.

His hand slides down between us, his breath hot in my ear as his fingers dip inside me. “Wet for me as always, little witch.” He curls his fingers as he pumps in and out, and I suck my lip into my mouth, biting down on the soft flesh, as waves of pleasure course through me.

“Gideon…” I moan, my hands on his shoulders, his corded muscles beneath my palms. Tipping my head back, I clamp my eyes shut, riding the building pressure growing between my thighs. “I… Gideon, please.”

“Please what?” He brushes his nose against mine, his lips a breath away from kissing me.

I slide one hand down his arm, reaching down between us to grab his shaft. Squeezing, I pump him from hilt to tip, over and over, a smile tugging at my lips when I hear his sharp intake of breath. He moans against my mouth, and I position him at my entrance, wanting him—needing him—to fill me.

Growling, he grabs my ass, tilting my hips to him, thrusting inside me in one smooth motion. I cry out, gripping his sides, my nails digging into his skin. Colors explode behind my eyes, the mate bond taut inside me as his chest presses against mine.

His hips move, filling me, then pulling away. Every time the emptiness threatens to overwhelm me, he pushes back inside, surrounding me with every piece of him. His body pressing me into the earth, his cock buried deep within me, his arms on either side of me. His scent enveloping me just as thoroughly as his skin. His soul—his jagged edges fitted perfectly to mine, as if we were cut from the same thread of fate.

His pace quickens, his hips grinding against me and hitting that one spot that sends bursts of pleasure split through me. He brings one hand up to cup my breast, my nipple between two of his fingers as he squeezes me, pinching.

“Harder,” I whisper, gripping his hips and pulling him tighter against me, needing him closer, deeper.

“Fuck,” he grunts, slamming inside me as he buries his face into the crook of my neck. Sliding down my body, his thumb rubs hard circles on my clit, launching me over the edge and sending me into a climax that steals my breath.

He pumps into me a few more times, and warmth spills inside me. Rolling onto his side, he rests his cheek on the top of my head, and everything feels so… right. I cuddle into him, wrapping my arm around his chest and throwing my leg over his.

There’s so much more we need to do… so many answers we have yet to uncover, but right now, in this moment, I know that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, and there’s a special kind of peace in that.

“I think it’s time to go home,” I say, nudging him after catching my breath.

He hums, his eyes closed but a smile playing on his lips. His arm tightens around my waist. “Five more minutes.”

Chapter twenty-two

Gideon

“Gideon,” Adara laughs against my chest.

I smile into her hair, taking a deep breath. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”

We shift and head toward the house, nipping at each other’s heels as we race toward the yard. Shreds of my clothes litter the tree line, and shifting back, I walk over to find the journal right where I left it on the patio chair. Taking one of Adara’s hands in mine, I hold it out to her with my other hand.

“Here, I think you deserve to read this first.” Bringing our hands up, I press a kiss to her knuckles.

She chews on her lower lip, taking the journal from me and pressing it to her chest. “Later.” Looking up at me, she gives a small smile.

I nod, then pull her toward the back door. The house is still and quiet as we head upstairs to get some fresh clothes on. “I’m going to go find Frank. I put the girls in the spare room, if you want to check on them.” I kiss the top of Adara’s head, leaving her to search for a pair of socks.

I step into the kitchen, finding Frank at a new table situated before the windows. The long oak tabletop is thick, the jacobean polish dark and rich. Six black painted chairs are situated around it, Frank taking up space in the one at the far left. He looks up when he sees me, a smile pulling up one corner of his mouth. “Glad to see you both home, boss.”

---