Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(42)

“I almost lost you, too,” she said finally, surprising herself. Ryder’s hand stopped moving, his fingers right under her breast.

“Leah…”

“I know we’re being careful, or at least trying, but I can’t lie to myself anymore. I almost lost you because you were trying to save my life. I’ll never be able to repay you for that…but I don’t know what I would have done if you’d died.” She was grateful he couldn’t see her face.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you either,” he said after a moment of silence. “I just don’t know.”

“What are we doing, Ryder? How can it hurt this much yet feel so…right?”

He kissed the side of her neck, and she let out a sigh. When he buried his face there, she had to press her lips together before she said something monumentally stupid like she loved him or something.

“I can’t form a bond with you, Leah. I…can’t.” His voice broke and he let out a growl. “You have no f*cking idea how much I want to, damn it. I want you in my bed. In my life. I want you as my mate, but I can’t.”

She froze, her body suddenly cold. He’d never said that before, even if he’d hinted at it. If only he’d have enough trust in her to tell her why he couldn’t. It broke her, even though she knew that she couldn’t have him either. What would happen to him if she created the bond? What would the Coven do to him then?

“Maybe…maybe we could try without the bond?” She winced, prepared for his refusal. “We can do as we are…just without the bond.”

He didn’t speak for so long she was afraid she’d said something wrong. Or maybe he was trying to find a way to let her down easily.

Instead, he slid his hand down her stomach to cup her sex. She gasped and rocked into him.

“We can try, Leah. We can damn well try. But if it hurts too much, if you need more, you need to let me know.”

And he would let her go. He didn’t say it, but she knew that’s what he’d meant. They would have fun, have some sort of emotional tie and relationship, but they wouldn’t bond. She could do that and hope that one day he would tell her why he couldn’t bond with her. She deserved that much. But for now, she would take it.

“Okay,” she whispered. Then he slid his fingers between her folds and rubbed her clit. She gasped, arching off his body. He wrapped his other arm around her and cupped her breast. His large, calloused fingers plucked at her nipple and she tilted her head toward him, needing his mouth.

He obliged, sliding his tongue along her lips so she would open for him. She sank into the kiss, rolling her hips as he f*cked her with his fingers and played with her breasts. He teased along her entrance before sliding two fingers in, then sped up before slowing down to tease her once more. She gasped, aching, needing more, but he didn’t stop his motions, didn’t let her go over the edge. His cock dug into her back and she rubbed against it, wanting him to come along with her. He groaned and rocked his hips, as well. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub, but she didn’t care. She just wanted him to take her to the top and let her fall in ecstasy. When he pinched her clit, she shook, her body bowing as she came hard against his hand. He didn’t stop and she almost came again. Then he removed his hand and pushed her forward slightly so he could get out of the tub.

She felt cold at the loss of him but didn’t have time to dwell on it. He had her out of the tub and in his arms in a blink. She moved so she could wrap her legs around his waist and rock into his cock again.

He groaned into her mouth and gripped her ass with his hands. When one finger played with her hole she stiffened, then leaned in to him as he slowly worked her, gentle and yet heated.

“I’m going to f*ck you there one day, little witch. Do you like the sound of that?”

She nodded and kissed him again, loving the way he growled and wanted more of her. When he sat her down on the edge of the counter and leaned in front of her, she gasped.

He spread her legs wide and licked his lips. “Keep your legs open. Can you do that? Can you keep your legs steady when I lick your pretty cunt?”

She bit her lip and moaned. “I can try.”

“I’d say there is no try, only do, but that might break the mood.” He slid his finger up and down her slit even as she gasped a laugh.

“We need to watch that movie,” she said as he slid one finger into her, curling up so he rubbed along that bundle of nerves that made her eyes cross.

“Later. First I need my feast.” Then he leaned forward and lapped at her, eating her until she could barely breathe. His beard brushed along her inner thighs and lower lips until she couldn’t formulate words. He f*cked her with two fingers, then three, even as he kept his mouth on her, sending her quickly over the edge once more.

Even as she called out his name and clenched around his fingers, he kept moving. He stood up, grabbed a condom from the drawer, and slid it over his length. Ryder gripped her hips, and she held onto the edge of the counter so she could slide off.

“Fuck me, Ryder.”

“I can do that, little witch. I’ll f*ck you until we’re both breathless and sated. Just make sure you f*ck me just as hard.”

“I can do that. Just get inside me. Now.”

He grinned at her, tightened his hold on her hips, and thrust into her hard. In one stroke, he filled her so full she could barely breathe. She wrapped one leg around his waist and slid the other up his body so it rested over his shoulder. He held onto that ankle, kissing and licking her calf and behind her knee as he f*cked her hard on the counter. She gripped the edge until her knuckles went white, rocking her hips ever so slightly and tightening her * so she squeezed his cock. He must have liked that because his eyes glowed brighter and he picked up the pace.