When I woke up I was strapped down. Even before opening my eyes I began struggling.
Strong hands grabbed my shoulders and held me immobile. “Laleesha.”
Dominic’s soothing voice, his firm hands. We were in his car, just the two of us, no Biter. I went limp, and he released the seatbelt. I took a breath. Just Dominic.
“Where are we?” I whispered.
The car was parked in gravel just off the road. Beyond the guardrail at the edge of the gravel, the ground dropped away to rolling hills. Farther away, mountain peaks glowed with the golden light of dawn.
“We’re on the way back to Sophie’s. That’s okay with you?” He peered into my face. His hands hovered near me, but instead of touching me he crossed his arms.
He blamed me. “I didn’t want to take her money, really I didn’t.” I couldn’t stop my voice from rising in panic. No one would ever believe me.
“Shhhh.” He touched me then, leaning over the center console to wrap his arms around me. I closed my eyes. Safe.
His body was warm against mine, even through my shirt and apron. The dull ache where Biter hit my cheek subsided. The sting of my cut wrists became less intense. In his arms, I felt shielded from my troubles. He gave me hope that maybe things would work out okay.
I pushed him away from me and sat up straight. That everything would be fine was just wishful thinking.
He watched me without saying anything. I couldn’t face his tender eyes. Averting my face, I nervously linked my hands. The movement made me wince.
Seizing my wrists, he turned them so the cuts showed. They’d stopped bleeding, but the wounds were ugly.
“What happened?” he asked quietly.
“I used my utility knife to cut where he’d tied my hands.” I shrugged like it was no big deal.
I didn’t want to talk about it. Remembering the feeling of being completely under Biter’s control raised beads of sweat on my scalp. But I’d worked myself free. My heart swelled with the feeling of accomplishment.
A flash of pride lit Dominic’s face. At least, that was what that look meant, wasn’t it? And for me.
Lowering his head, he licked my wrists. I snatched my arms away from him and shrank back against the car door.
“I’m sorry.” His voice, husky and abashed, vibrated inside my chest. “My bear—” He made a “what can you do?” gesture. “You’re injured. That’s what they do.”
He’s not crazy, I reminded myself. I’d seen Cara’s hand change.
My wrist tingled where he’d licked it. The sensation spread through my body, finally centering in my core. He’d licked other places too.
The look in his eyes changed. He also remembered.
We stared into each other’s eyes. I held my breath, waiting. Did he want me? He’d come to rescue me, but did he come for me or for my shifter baby?
“Laleesha,” he whispered.
How could he do that? He made me melt inside with just a look. When he said my name, I wanted to throw myself on top of him.
Would it be so bad if I did?
I swayed toward him. Reaching out, he touched my face, avoiding the puffy side. Gently he stroked along the edge of my jaw. When he came to my chin, he tilted my face up.
“What happened there?” He nodded at my cheek.
“Biter hit me.”
Anger flashed over his face, then regret. “I should have been there. I won’t leave you alone again.”
A gush of heat went through my whole body. My thoughts were a jumble of anticipation and fear. I wanted him so much. The feel of his hands on me made me feel warm everywhere inside, not just between my legs but in my heart too. It scared me to want him so badly. I’d never had anything worth keeping before. I couldn’t believe that he wanted me the same way I needed him.
He kissed me. I closed my eyes and surrendered. For this moment all that mattered was his mouth on mine. When he slipped his tongue inside my mouth, I welcomed it. His kiss was demanding, forceful. My breath came faster.
He let go of me. I barely had time to sigh before he shoved his seat back and lifted me onto his lap. I twisted my arms around his neck and glued my lips to his.
It made me twitchy the way his hands roamed all over my body. I still had my work apron on. He untied the belt and slipped his hands up my shirt. He teased my nipples with his thumbs until they were hard little marbles. The heat from his hands went straight to my pussy and made me ache for his hard length.
He squeezed one hand down the back of my pants. I trembled with excitement, remembering how he’d put his cock in me everywhere. He put his finger in me there again, sliding it gently home. I squeezed. My pussy was dripping wet, so ready to be touched.
I moaned.
“Touch yourself,” he whispered, his finger working my ass.
I hesitated, shy about doing myself in front of him.
He nibbled along the side of my neck, tiny bites interspersed with long wet swipes of his tongue.
I couldn’t wait for him any longer. Unzipping my pants, I slid them down to my ankles. He stuck a second finger in my ass. Oh god, that made me want to cream even more. Reaching down between my folds, I smeared my juices all over my throbbing clit.
“Make yourself come,” he told me, his eyes glittering.
I arched back on his hand and clenched his fingers, opening up my pussy to my hand. Breathing hard, he tilted his head to watch me. Knowing I was turning him on made me more excited.
My strokes slowed as I made sure he could see every lingering touch I gave myself. Keeping that slow pace got tougher as the heat inside me built up. I rocked on his hand and caressed myself until I was panting with excitement.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said hoarsely.
His fingers were rough in my ass now, and I liked it. I loved being owned by him, loved the way—
I gasped. My clit pulsed hard, and I held my hand motionless. Pleasure so strong it felt like pain coursed through my whole body.
“Dom!” The cry tore from my throat.
My body felt like a puppet’s, loose arms and legs flopping at the end of strings. Only my vibrating core was solid.
I rode the wave as it swelled and peaked. Dom’s hands on me went still and tight, grounding me, steadying me as I came down.
When the pounding of my heart eased up and I stopped gasping, he flipped me so that I was sitting in his lap. He ripped off his shirt and eased down his pants until his rock-hard shaft rested against my skin. Gripping the steering wheel, I raised up off his lap.
He drew the fat head of his cock back and forth along the damp folds of my pussy. “Do you want my cock? Do you want me to put it inside you?”
My desire rose as though I’d never come.
“Yes,” I sighed.
I wiggled against him. He let me swallow only the tip before holding me back, my cheeks cupped in his palms. He teased me with his head until both our breaths were ragged. Then he slowly sank his cock in me.
He started pumping. I clung to the steering wheel, moaning at the goodness of his length inside me. He stroked harder and faster. Grabbing a tit in each hand, he squeezed in time with his pumping.
He moved harder and faster until he was slamming into me. Braced against the steering wheel, I took all of him inside me.
The line where my flesh ended and his flesh began dissolved. His heat was my heat; my cries sounded from his mouth. His fingers digging into my tits were absorbed in my skin. With each pump of his cock, our thighs melded together and then separated.
When he licked the back of my neck, I tasted the salt of my sweat.
His thrusting slowed. His engorged cock slid along my swollen channel. Sensation poured through all my senses. His smell, the air moving in and out of his lungs, the smooth leather beneath my hands, the morning sun shining in on us, the taste of desire…
He gave a powerful thrust, and there was an explosion of heat inside me. My core shattered in a second climax. The spasms rocked me so hard I had to hug the steering wheel for support.
“Relax into me,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck.
I released the steering wheel and melted into his lap. His cock inside me generated a wave of heat. I leaned back against his hard abdomen. His skin was sticky with sweat, and I didn’t care. All that mattered was him beside me.
His hands on me now were gentle. He slowly stroked my tits and my belly and my thighs, calming me.
Tears welled up in my eyes. The way he made me feel was strange, new and special.
He turned my head and trapped my mouth in a kiss. His cock hardened. Holding me still against him, he moved only his cock. The delicate movements inside my inflamed pussy set me off a third time. My involuntary spasms squeezed out the last of his cum.
His grip on my head relaxed. He exhaled a breath that tickled my ear. His arm dropped down to my waist, and he held me loosely but securely.
I didn’t have enough experience to know if that had been a forever kiss or a for-now kiss. I wanted it to be forever. But my doubts bubbled up. A man like him couldn’t really want to be with someone like me.
“Marry me,” he whispered.
I didn’t want his pity. I didn’t think I could bear it if he was just being nice to me because of my baby.
His arms tightened. “What’s wrong?”
Twisting on his lap, I hid my face in his chest. I didn’t know how to explain myself. Worse, I was afraid he’d laugh at me if I said I loved him. He talked about mates but didn’t say what that meant. It would kill me to share him.
“Laleesha?”
“I’ve got to go back and face Sophie,” I mumbled.
He squeezed me for an instant before letting me go. “I’ll be there with you,” he promised.
He helped me tidy my clothes and set me back in my seat. I fiddled with fastening my seatbelt, avoiding his eyes. His shirt back on and his cock tucked away, he started the car.
But before pulling back onto the road, he turned to me. “You don’t have to answer me until you’re ready. As long as it takes, I’ll wait for you.”
I wanted so hard to believe him.