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“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs as he moves back up, kissing my stomach, my breasts, my mouth.
He tastes of whiskey and me, he feels like grace and power and forever. I kiss him ravenously, losing myself to it all as he positions the head of his cock as my entrance. I pull back enough to look into his eyes, our breaths mingling just as totally as our heartbeats.
We hold each other’s gaze as he enters me with one slick movement, burying deep inside me. We both exhale, then groan as our foreheads meet. We’re one. He’s branding me, I’m holding him.
Then we’re moving, our rhythm instinctual, understood. Apart enough to glory in the friction, together with smooth inevitability. Me arching and spreading to accommodate. Jace’s hips pushing deep so that every part of me is his.
It’s slow. It’s sensual.
It’s…everything.
When I come apart, it shatters me. Breaks me. Makes me whole.
And Jace is right there with me. He shudders and groans as hot fluid fills me, searing me from the inside out. We hold each other as the waves rip through, never losing eye contact.
Holding on with hands and heart.
As the soul-searing orgasm abates, Jace rolls to the side, taking me with him so we’re facing each other.
“Carli…” he whispers.
I smile as I cup his cheek. “Jace.”
We gaze at each other, no other words needed. Our bodies said it all.
With a soft, tender smile, Jace closes his eyes, his hand coming to rest on my stomach. His breathing evens out, and I know he’s fallen asleep. His legs are tangled with my own, our lips almost touching. We’re so close together both physically and emotionally, my eyes start to well up. I can’t lose this man…I just can’t.
Pressing a soft kiss over his swollen lips, I whisper, “You will survive this.”
* * *
With our hands clasped tightly together, Jace and I make our way to the clearing by the lake. The full moon is bright above us, illuminating our path. We don’t say a word, but when Jace looks at me from time to time, I see everything in his gaze. That he loves me, he loves our baby, and if anything might happen, I have to remember our good times.
I give him a reassuring smile. As we get closer, the sounds of everyone else there grows louder. Black Valley and Silver moon have gathered to watch the battle. It’s customary that everyone attends. After all, if no one’s there to watch such a fight for Alpha, does it even happen? Reluctantly, Jace’s hand loosens mine, and he lets go before walking to the middle of the circle. I stay outside, hugging myself and forcibly pulling myself together before I break down. Seeing him at this moment I’ve been dreading is horrific.
“Hey,” Danika appears beside me, touching my shoulder.
“Hi.” I nod at her, but don’t take my eyes off Jace.
“He’s going to be fine,” Danika says, but how can she be so sure? They’ve been planning this fight for some time, but so has Devon and the Black Valley pack. When Devon broke into my apartment, I realized how much strength they have within them. And how badly Devon wants this.
My eyes shift to the other side, where Black Valley pack stands, and I notice Beth. She’s leaning against another shifter, twirling her hair around a finger. I swallow my bile. Devon doesn't take too long to join Jace in the middle, and the crowd roars. I can’t hear them, but they knock fists, and Devon spits something out at Jace before taking a few steps back to shift.
I feel sick. In fact this whole thing is sickening. It’s an archaic aspect of shifters, with consequences that will reach far beyond this circle, this moment. Will my life change after tonight? Will Jace’s? What about my safety?
Keeping a firm arm around my belly, I plant my feet harder on the ground so I won't be pushed by anyone around. If Beth decides to come onto this side and finish what she started with me, I’ll take her down. I’ll fight for this, just like Jace is.
Leaving me no time to think of it more, I watch Jace shift into the majestic wolf I’ve come to love. His body grows and changes, I see the power he holds vibrating inside his bones. Devon growls before him, he’s smaller, but no less strong. Jace bares his teeth in return, his front paws digging into the dirt.
“When will it end?” I ask Danika over the noise, already needing this to be over.
“When someone admits defeat,” she replies stoically. “Or dies.”
Chapter22
Jace
Ican see Carli from the corner of my eyes. I focus on Devon in front of me, but my thoughts are with her. I forcefully snap out of them. I can’t afford any distractions right now. This moment has come way too fast, I have no time to worry about Carli or the baby, and now I wish I’d said goodbye to my girl.
