Page 69 of Knotting Autumn

My hands wandered to his chest, slipping under his jacket and over his tense muscles.

“Autumn?”

“Mmnmm?” I answered, leaning into him so I could suck in his scent.

“Vixen, how are you feeling right now?” His hands went to my waist, and I wanted to purr.

I needed Thorne. Giving into that desire, I pressed my lips to his collarbone and then up his neck in a row of soft kisses. “I feel like I need you to fuck me.”

My blunt statement shocked me out of my haze. Leaning back, I blinked at him. “I don’t know, maybe my bond with Sawyer is making me crazy, but yeah, I’m feeling really, really turned on right about now.”

“Dammit,” Thorne growled.

A rush of surprise echoed through my bond with Sawyer, causing me to jerk away.

“I think he’s awake, and he’s… I don’t know. Shocked? Oh, fuck!” An echo of pain ricocheted down our bond. “He’s hurting, Thorne!”

“I’m sorry, love.” My fated mate gathered me against his chest, and I clung to him, whimpering. “You’re going to have to let him and Cole work things out. If you go in there, it’s not safe. You could trigger yourself, or even get hurt.”

“Trigger myself?” I laughed. “I think that’s too late, babe.”

Thorne kissed my temple. “I know. I wish there was something I could do.”

“If you’re not going to let me go help him, then you’d better fuck me, because shit, this is not fun.”

A flush filled my cheeks and down my neck. I could feel my skin getting hotter by the second. The cold mountain air had been keeping it at bay, but it wasn’t enough.

Sagging into Thorne, I let him take my full weight. “I don’t feel good. I’m really hot. How did I miss it? I feel like I’m burning up.”

“I’ll make it better, I promise.” He pressed a kiss to my temple.

“Sawyer needs me!” The desperate thought took hold, despite all reason. Pushing at Thorne’s chest, I tried to get back to the cabin on unsteady legs.

“Autumn, let me help you. We talked about this,” Thorne begged, wrapping an arm around my middle.

Snarling, I turned my anger on him. “Take me to him right now.” Digging my nails into his arms, I fought to get away from him.

“I want to help you, but I can’t if you won’t let me,” Thorne said, holding onto me as tight as he could without hurting me. It would be so easy to kiss him, drag him down and let him fuck me until this feeling faded, but I could feel Sawyer through the bond. His distress was growing by the second, calling out to me.

“Thorne,” I said, trying to be reasonable despite the chaos in my body and mind. “I understand the risk, but he’s my mate too and I have to help him. I feel like I’ll die if I don’t.”

“I can’t take the risk that he hurts you,” Thorne said.

“It’s not your choice. But you can come and try to keep me safe. That’s the best I can do,” I argued.

Thorne’s grip relaxed as he accepted defeat. Shoving away from him, I dashed back the way we came.

Stumbling toward the cabin, a wave of lust washed over me. Hot desire curled through the bond, leaving me breathless.Thorne must have felt the echo of it because he let out a groan behind me.

Closing the distance between us, Thorne gripped my waist, holding me upright. Thoughtlessly, I twisted to face him, grabbing his face and kissing him. An inferno roared to life between us, whatever was happening within me stoking the same desperation in him.

My hand fumbled with his pants, undoing the button before I remembered what I was doing.

“Cabin,” I panted, turning and dragging him toward the door.

We stumbled up the stairs, both drunk on hormones and mate bonds. I had no idea what we would find inside, but the chaotic swirl of emotions coming from Sawyer told me something was happening.

I shoved the door open, and we tumbled inside.