Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(92)

“I know.”

He rested his forehead on hers. “Then move in with me, Madisyn. Or let me move in with you. I don’t want to pressure you. I don’t. But going at your pace is a lot harder than I thought it would be.” Especially since he was used to being in control and directing how things would go. “If you really can’t live here, I’ll accept that. I will. But I need to feel that we’re making a home somewhere, not just sharing the same bed every night.” There was a difference.

She slid her arms around his neck. “I truly doubted I’d ever say this, but I want to live here.”

His mouth curved, and something settled deep inside him. “You do?”

“I do. I like it. Like the quiet. Like the land. Love my rockery. Which you were counting on.”

He chuckled. “I was.” He snaked his arms tight around her and pressed his mouth to her temple. “Thank you, baby. You know this will make you an official member of the Mercury Pack, right?”

“I know,” she said as his gaze returned to hers. “But after spending time with the pack and learning how it operates, I’m not so worried about whether I can fit in. Your Alphas don’t treat others as subordinates; they treat them as equals. As family. It’s really one big family. A family who argues but resolves any conflicts. A family who supports each other and works as a unit to keep it strong.

“Shaya and Nick both head it, but everyone counts. Everyone’s considered equally important, whether they’re a Beta or just an average member like Kent. I can’t promise to be a very obedient member of the pack, though—I have to be clear about that.”

He inhaled deeply, mouth quirking. “Oh, I was already well aware of that.”

“And although I’ll support the pack in many ways, I’m not giving up my job at the shelter.”

“No one would ever ask you to. And you already support the pack by working at the club. Of course, you could give that up if it was what you wanted.”

“You mean you would like me to give it up.” She almost laughed at his impish grin.

“Okay, I admit I struggle with watching people flirt with you. But that’s my issue. I’m not going to make it yours. If you want to keep working there, do that. It’s up to you.” He hugged her tightly again. “You have no fucking idea how relieved I am that you’re agreeing to join.”

“Oh, I think I have some idea.”

Yeah, but she didn’t realize that a big reason Bracken was so eager to have her in the pack was that he wanted her to have their protection and support. She’d been on her own for a long time, and he needed to know that if anything ever happened to him, she wouldn’t be alone again. He needed to know that she’d be surrounded by people who would take care of her and get her through that soul-wrenching loss. But he didn’t say that, because just the thought of such a thing ever happening could put a damper on the evening.

He swooped in and stole yet another kiss, indulging himself and devastating her mouth. “Now I need you again.”

He took her in bed this time. Slow. Deep. Gaze locked with hers. And when she shattered around him, pussy clenching and milking his cock, he buried his face in her neck and came.

Standing in her kitchen the next day, Bracken splayed a possessive hand on the table. “You’re not donating this to the shelter.” Because his lodge was fully furnished and she wasn’t particularly attached to the majority of her own furnishings, she was content to take only a few items with her. She’d decided to donate the rest to the shelter, which he agreed was a good idea. But the table? No.

Looking up from where she was packing, she said, “There’s no room for it at your lodge. Besides, you don’t need it. You have the island in the center of your kitchen for people to dine at, remember.”

“It’s coming with us,” Bracken stated. He wasn’t budging on this. “The first time I took you, it was on that table. I might not have officially claimed you that night, but I claimed you in my way.”

“I know, and I’d truly rather keep the table. But there’s nowhere for it to go.”

“It’s not a huge table. It would fit near the wall by the patio doors.”

She frowned thoughtfully. “Actually, yeah, it might.”

“I’ll make it fit.” He traced the gouges on the wooden surface. “I like looking at these markings.” Liked that they sparked memories of her losing control as he ate and fucked her pussy—not only on that first night but on many others.

She snickered. “I know.” Taping up a box, she sighed and glanced around.

“You’re going to miss this place, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “It’s been my haven for a long time.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t feel like I need one anymore.”

Smiling, he crossed to her. “That’s because you don’t.” She had him now. Had the pack. She was safer than she’d ever been. It warmed him that she knew that. That she felt it.

Derren stalked into the room. “Aside from a few of the boxes in here, everything else has ‘Shelter’ scribbled on it.” He, Eli, Zander, and Jesse had all pitched in to help load her things into the moving van they’d hired.

“Good. The table’s coming too.” Bracken turned back to Madisyn. “After we’ve taken this last load to the lodge, me and the guys will take the rest of the stuff to the shelter.”