Page 48 of The Secret Mate Society

"Mmm?"

"Whatever happens tomorrow...Thank you for tonight."

My arm tightened around him involuntarily."Don't thank me yet."

But he was already drifting off, his breathing evening out as exhaustion finally won.I lay there in the darkness, listening to his heartbeat slow to the steady rhythm of sleep, trying to ignore the way my body was responding to his closeness.

This was dangerous.Not just because of the Council or the rogue wolf, but because every minute I spent with Ethan made the mate bond stronger.Made it harder to imagine a future without him in it.And that was a luxury I couldn't afford.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.Another text from Ageratum.

Council wants to meet with you first thing.Come alone.The human stays put.

I stared at the message, my jaw clenching.They were going to want answers I couldn't give.Explanations that would expose everything I was trying to protect.But I had no choice.If I wanted to keep Ethan safe, I had to play their game.

At least until I figured out how to change the rules.

Chapter21

Ethan

Iwoke sometime in the night, Calder’s strong arms still wrapped around me.It took me a moment to realize where I was and how I’d gotten there.But the moment I caught his scent, that warm masculinity with a hint of car grease, I knew I was safe.However, that wasn’t the only thing I noticed.There was a definite stiffness against my ass.It surprised me, considering how much he’d fought against the idea of liking men.But at the same time, cocks rarely listened to sense.Still, I didn’t want him to wake up and be uncomfortable, so I tried to pull away.

However, the moment I did, I felt his arm muscles tense, holding me tight against him.He buried his face in my neck, breathing deeply.“No,” he murmured, holding me against his chest.“Warm…”

His voice was thick with sleep, but the way he held me felt deliberate, possessive even.I could feel his heart beating against my back, faster than it should be for someone who was supposedly asleep.The hard length of him pressed more insistently against me, and I had to bite back a soft moan.It had been too long since I’d gotten this kind of attention.

"Calder?"I whispered, testing to see if he was really awake.

A low rumble vibrated through his chest, almost like a growl.His lips brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck, not quite a kiss but close enough to send electricity racing through my veins.

"Smell so good," he murmured, his voice rough and gravelly.His nose traced along my hairline, and I felt him inhale deeply again."Can't...can't let go."

My pulse quickened as his grip on me tightened.This wasn't the hesitant, conflicted Calder from earlier.This was something more primal, more desperate.I could feel the tension in his body, the way his breathing had changed.

"Calder," I said again, turning slightly in his arms to face him.

His eyes were open now, but there was something different about them in the dim light.They seemed to catch what little moonlight filtered through the curtains, almost glowing.The intensity of his gaze made my breath catch.

"I'm sorry," he said, but he didn't release me.If anything, his hold grew tighter."I should let you go, but I..."

"But you what?"I asked softly, my hand coming up to rest against his chest.I could feel the rapid thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palm.

"I can't," he admitted, his voice breaking slightly."I know I should, but I don’twantto."

The raw honesty in his voice made something warm unfurl in my chest.Here was this strong, protective man admitting his weakness, his need.And that need was for me."Then don't," I whispered, surprising myself with my boldness.

His pupils dilated, and for a moment I could have sworn I saw flecks of gold in his brown eyes."Ethan..."

"I want this too," I said, pressing closer to him, the truth spilling out of me before I could stop it."I want you.I have for a while now.”

The admission seemed to break something in him.His mouth crashed against mine with a hunger that took my breath away.This kiss was different from the one in the rain, less desperate, more claiming.His tongue swept across my lower lip, and I opened for him eagerly.

A groan rumbled low in his throat as I tangled my fingers in his dark hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss.His hand found the hem of my t-shirt, his calloused fingers trailing fire across my skin as they explored the planes of my stomach.Every touch sent shockwaves through my system, making me arch against him.

"Fuck," he breathed against my lips, his voice wrecked."You're driving me crazy."

I could feel how hard he was through the thin fabric of his boxers, his arousal pressing hot and insistent against my hip.My own cock was straining against the confines of my underwear, desperate for friction, for contact, for him.