Page 33 of Dark Goodbye

“My left arm is uninjured. I’m fully capable-.”

“Capable or not isn’t the issue. I want to take care of you, tend to you, keep you safe as I should have done three years ago.”

“Feeding me isn’t going to change the fact that I ran away for a reason.” Her voice is soft, as if she doesn’t want me to hear her words, but I do hear them. I hear every fucking syllable.

“We will talk about that at some point, but not tonight.”

Spoonful after spoonful, I slip the strengthening broth between her lips, but the intimate moment that I was trying to cultivate is now gone. A stone wall sits between us, growing thicker every minute. Soon, there’s nothing left to feed her, nothing left to connect us.

Sigh heavy on my lips, I take the tray into the kitchen and stand there staring at the wall. There has to be some way to connect to her before her heat starts. Though I plan to take full advantage of her altered state, it would be nice to begin on good terms.

By the time I walk back in, I still have no plans, nothing to endear her to me. Pausing in the doorframe, I stare at the defiant smirk on her lips, the way her brows draw forward. She greets me as if I’m an adversary and not the Alpha that wishes to fuck her into oblivion. Perhaps to her, that’s one in the same.

Locking eyes with her, I work at my shirt, smiling as her gaze turns from hostile to molten with a second or two. No matter what her words might say, there’s a part of her that wants me, craves me, and I plan on utilizing those urges to the fullest.

With a quick jerk of my hand, I toss it onto the growing pile and start to work at my pants. My erection rubs against the rough material, drawing a ragged gasp from between my lips. Ladria mirrors my movements as she sucks in a large breath and wriggles against the sheets.

Precum pearls at my slit as I tease the pants down, giving her a show as I undress for the night. At the sight of the pearly fluid, she licks her lips, and pulls at the restraints. Her eyes dilate even further, but don’t quite get to heat level. It’s as if her body is fighting its own natural reactions.

Tossing the pants over with the shirt, I walk over to my side of the bed and set my alarm for the next day. Ladria wriggles as I slip in between the sheets and rest my head against the pillow.

I don’t touch her, despite how badly I want to. Instead, I focus on my breathing, forcing the air in and out of my lungs until I’m able to close my eyes and sleep. Dreams flood my brain, all of them starring Ladria and the delicious things I want to do to her.

* * *

When I wake up, the first thing I do is look over at Ladria, studying her soft features in the rising light of the suns. She looks so peaceful, so delicate. Reaching over, I unlatch her injured shoulder and then the other, ignoring the soft moan that intersperses the snores. Dark circles rim her eyes, denoting just how hard it was for her to sleep last night.

Guilt niggles at me as I put her arm through its paces, moving it while she’s still asleep. I know that I’m tormenting her, but I never wanted it to be at the expense of her physical health. Sliding my fingers up to her cheek, I glide my thumb along her lips.

“You need to wake up, little omega.” She gives a soft grunt and rolls over onto her uninjured arm. Chuckling, I pull her back into my arms and run the tip of my nose along the shell of her ear. “That is unless you want Mogen to be the one to bathe you.”

Ladria’s eyes fly open as she turns and spears me with a shocked stare. “You wouldn’t.”

“When are you going to learn that I do what I say and mean every word that comes out of my mouth?”

“If I get up now, does that mean I can shower by myself?”

“Nice try.”

Before she can protest, I scoop her up into my arms and drag her against my chest, forcing her head to rest above my heart. She feels so perfect here, so irrevocably mine. Sure, I could have slapped the leash back on her and let Mogen oversee everything, but then I’d miss out on these small moments that I’m sure will help bind us together.

Setting her on the edge of the tub, I reach over and fiddle with the knobs until steam fills the room. I inspect her bandage, making sure it’s still sealed around her wound before kneeling down to grip the edges of her gown. Inch by inch I expose her, resisting the urge to kiss the bare flesh.

Next are the sensible cotton panties that are far too plain to be sexy, yet on her, they’re somehow far more erotic than I could ever imagine. Hooking my thumbs under the band, I slide them down, revealing her mound to my hungry gaze. How desperately I want to lick her, taste her, drive her as insane as she’s making me.

Her face is mottled pink as she turns to face the water, averting her eyes from mine. Despite living away from Stanlion, she still seems so innocent, so unsure, but that can’t be accurate. Perhaps she’s playing me, appearing one way when in fact it’s the complete opposite.

Little does she know, I don’t care if she’s pristine or not. I will have her either way. From what I’ve heard of her situation, there were only betas there, no one that could satisfy her like I can. Picking her back up into my arms, I bring us both under the warm spray.

I push her against the cool tile until her legs lift of their own volition and wrap around my waist. The heat from her pussy scalds the edge of my shaft as I slide against her lower lips.

“Please,” she whimpers, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

“Please more or please stop?”

Ladria stares up at me, a myriad of emotions washing across her face. “Stop. I-I’m not ready. I haven’t even been stretched. Please. Don’t do this. Not like this.”

Disappointment swamps my brain as I pull back, letting her slide between my large frame and the wall. “I’ll never force you, Ladria. I meant what I said. I’ll only take you when you’re ready and willing, but more importantly, begging. Now let's get you washed up.”