Finally, gasping for breath, she pulled back. Her eyes stayed on mine as she dropped her towel to the floor. I gripped her bare hips and leaned forward to press a kiss at the base of her neck, right where the drop of water had touched her earlier. Her breath hitched as I trailed kisses along her collarbone.
“You’re so beautiful, doll,” I murmured against her skin. I could feel her trembling in my arms, and I stood quickly, causing her to step back. I pulled her back to me and turned her around. Yanking down the covers behind her I helped her lay down and then I covered her up. I toed off my boots and yanked down my pants. She grinned playfully at me while she watched me strip off my clothes.
Down to just my boxers I climbed in the bed and rolling her to her side I pulled her back against me. I reached behind me to hit the controls on the wall and the lights went out. She snuggled back into me and I pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.
“What are your parents like?” she whispered. She was tracing her fingers lightly over my arm that I had wrapped around her stomach.
“Overwhelming,” I told her, and I chuckled. She pinched my arm and I laughed out right. “Sorry, doll. They are overwhelming. My mother loves everyone, and she can meddle like no other. She will ask you everything about you, but mostly everything about us. She pries like no other, but she is so sweet that you’ll tell her everything she wants to know. Just you wait.
“Dad is different. He is quieter than her, sterner. He’s the alpha though, so it comes honestly to him. He’s still loving but stepping out of line with him is never a good idea. Our pack is very close and easy going, but the rules don’t get broken. He believes in immediately correcting a problem, no questions asked.”
I felt her shiver in my arms again, and I suspected that this time it was from apprehension. “Don’t worry, they’ll love you,” I whispered in her ear. She nodded a little jerkily. “Ask Tegan, Mom will fawn all over you and Dad will just be strong and silent. No big deal, I promise.”
“Okay,” she still sounded unsure. I rolled her to her back and leaned in to kiss her. It took her a moment, but finally I felt her relax into the kiss. I didn’t give her another chance to worry as I kissed and touched her, reveling in her little noises and sighs. When I finally sank into her, I knew her mind was only on us and I worked hard to be sure it stayed there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zee
The closer that we got to Alex’s childhood home the more nervous I became. I had been a bit of a mess since going home that morning to get clothes for the trip. Delilah and Silas had been there. Neither had acknowledged Alex. In fact, they had talked about him as if he wasn’t standing right there with me.
“He has you brainwashed to join his cult then,” Delilah had said flatly when I told her that I was going to marry Alex. I figured telling Delilah that it was actually a mating would just push her that much more over the edge.
“No Delilah,” I had tried to speak calmly. “I love him. He hasn’t forced me to stay with him. I’m choosing it.” Alex had squeezed my hand tightly, and I shot him a small smile. That of course was when Silas had chosen to chime in.
“Classic cult mentality,” he had whispered loudly to Delilah. Delilah seemed to agree because with her face set firmly, she told me she would not support the marriage. With that Delilah and Silas ignored both Alex and me for the rest of the time that we were packing up some of my things. As we left, I tried once more to talk to Delilah.
“I love you Delilah,” I said quietly, trying to catch her eye. “I know you might feel like I’m abandoning you for Alex and that’s why you’re latching onto this wild idea of a cult, but I will always be your sister. I’ll always be here if you need me.” Delilah had not spoken a word, but I’d seen the lone tear as it left a trail down her cheek.
“Hey, don’t worry,” Alex’s voice shook me from my memories, and I looked over at him. He was dressed in blue jeans as usual, but he had traded in his typical black shirt for a long sleeve button down in charcoal grey. Over it he wore his black leather coat. He looked edible and it made me second guess my clothing choice again.
“Maybe I should have worn a dress,” I looked down at my own blue jeans and the red wrap sweater with my black wool trench coat, and I regretted the choices. I looked like I was going out with my friends shopping, not like I was going to meet my future in-laws. I started debating whether or not to have Alex pull off somewhere so I could rummage for something better to wear.
“You look beautiful,” he told me, reaching for my hand. He pulled it to him and pressed a kiss to the back of it briefly. “We’re a casual pack, especially since so much of our time is spent outside. You’ll fit right in.” I wanted to believe him, but Tegan had already told me about all the females that would be after him the moment he stepped out of the
