Shattered Emotions (17 page)

He smiled at her, and she did the same.

“That…that was amazing,” she whispered.

He’d known she’d never orgasmed before, and now that she had…goddess, he couldn’t wait to make her do it again.

“You’re the one who’s amazing,” he said as he slowly undid his jeans then let them fall to the floor.

Her gaze went directly to his groin, and he smiled.

“I see I’m not the only one caught on laundry day,” she said wryly.

He chuckled and shook his head. “It would seem that way.”

Maddox lowered his body over her but didn’t touch her. He merely rested above her, with his forearms bracketing her head.

“Scoot up, darling, and rest your head on the pillow,” he ordered softly.

Her eyes widened, but she did as he asked, her breasts rubbing along his body as she did so. He finally gave in to temptation and kissed every inch of skin he could as she moved beneath him.

Ellie’s hair framed her head, splaying on the pillow. Again, a long tendril fell down her chest, circling her breast. He was pretty sure that was his favorite lock of hair.

“Are you ready, Ellie mine?”

Though his cock strained, he didn’t move, not wanting to scare her.

“Always, Maddox. Always for you.”

She didn’t duck her head at her words this time, and he let out a breath.

Progress.

He gently took her mouth, letting her juices on his tongue meld with the sweet taste of her mouth. She moaned against him, arching her back as she did so.

The act forced his cock to brush against her pussy, and he groaned.

Dear sweet heaven, her core was so heated he could barely breathe.

He pulled away slightly and gathered her arms one a time and pulled them above her head, tangling his fingers with hers so they held hands. He focused his gaze on hers as he positioned himself at her entrance and slowly, oh so slowly, entered her.

She was the sweetest torture known to man, and he’d gladly die right there, knowing he’d found his heaven.

There would be more times for hard and fast, but now it was all about the exploration…the moment.

Her breath quickened as he pushed deeper until he was fully seated, his cock buried within her sweet heat, his balls tight in anticipation.

“Ellie mine,” he whispered then pulled back, her walls clinging to him.

He thrust back in then pulled out again, over and over until they found a rhythm that forced him to hold onto control. His wolf howled, knowing that this was true peace, true everything.

Their hands remained together, their gazes never wavering as he slowly thrust in and out until he watched the blush rise in her cheeks and her eyes darken, the rim of gold from her wolf glowing.

He howled as they came together, his seed filling her, cementing the first part of their mating. His fangs elongated, longing to finish the second part of the mating, but he held back, keeping his promise.

His heart shuddered as he felt Ellie’s soul wrap around his, their mating forming in the most fragile of senses. Yet, he could feel it was a strong bond, one made from their pasts and their future…one that would not be easily broken.

Maddox leaned down and took her lips, feeling his own tears on his cheeks as Ellie cried as well.

Why had he taken so long to do this?

He’d been missing…everything.

Goddess, he’d been a fool.

He slowly rocked within her core, the small spasms still shuddering around him as well as along his spine.

They’d started the first of their mating, and goddess, it was more than he’d expected.

He only hoped it wouldn’t be her downfall.

Chapter 14

The sun slid through the blinds, and Ellie snuggled deeper into the bed, not wanting to break the fragile peace she held on to so desperately. The room smelled of warmth, sex, and a mating bond that she hadn’t known would be so tactile…so full of life. A heavy arm wrapped around her waist, and she smiled. Her new mate wrapped around her, closer and more heated than a blanket. He smelled of warmth, wolf, and forest—only a bare hint of that brokenness that used to cloud him and his smile.

She could feel Maddox inside her heart, her skin, and her soul. Their bond flared, and the human halves of them entwined, settling into a newness that she wanted to explore.

This is what she’d been missing—what she’d needed.

They were finally mates in all ways that mattered—other than the marking. Their kind needed two forms of mating in order to remain fully together. The human halves needed to make love, Maddox’s seed cementing that bond as he filled her in the most romantic and erotic of ways.

Soon, when they both were ready, they’d each bite down into the flesh part of the shoulders where it met the necks and mark each other. Their wolves would then be mates just like their humans. The physical reminder would fade over time, letting them have the opportunity to mark again and again, feeding their bond and enjoying the sensual side effects, but the bond would never fade. As time moved on, their bond would strengthen and grow new layers, forming into a relationship that was unique to them.

She understood his reservations on that accord though and would gladly wait for her wolf’s mating to assuage both of their fears. He wanted to ensure his own pain wouldn’t seep into her. He was afraid that she’d break under the stress of what his position in the Pack entailed. For some reason, she wasn’t scared of it. The goddess had taken everything in her life, or at least had allowed it to be taken through Corbin, yet she trusted fate and all that came with it to ensure the bond would be strong enough for both her and Maddox.

It didn’t make any sense, yet she couldn’t find the power to fear their mating.

Ellie could feel his steady breathing behind her and knew he had to be asleep. Good, he hadn’t been sleeping recently, at least not enough. His stress over North and her safety had stressed him to the point that she could see the faint lines around his eyes deepen with each breath when he was awake. She knew the demands of being the Omega weighed heavily on him, and now she hoped that she could ease that burden.

If he let her.

Well, to hell with that, she’d make him. They were mates, and he’d just have to deal with the fact that she wanted to be part of his life.

Maddox had brought her fire back—something she’d thought she’d lost long ago. She’d be damned if she lost it again.

She closed her eyes again and sank deeper into his arms. The world around them was falling apart, but for the moment, all she wanted to do was lie in his hold and forget her problems. It might sound selfish, but she’d never had that place to do so before. She’d never had that safe place.

Maddox was her safe place.

She felt a gentle brush of lips along her shoulder, and she moaned. Ellie moved closer toward him and smiled as his cock pressed along her backside.

“Good morning,” he grumbled.

“Not a morning person, are you?” she teased and wiggled again.

He gripped her hip but didn’t hold her still. No, like the night before, he let her set the pace and where she wanted to be. Goddess, she felt safe with him.

She wouldn’t regret that decision.

He bit her shoulder gently, and she held herself still. Her wolf clawed at her, wanting that mark that neither she nor Maddox was ready for. He kissed her where he’d nibbled and ran a hand up to cup her breast.

“No, I don’t like getting out of bed, especially now that I have a delectable, warm woman next to me.”

She smiled and turned in his arms. They’d made love three times the night before, and she was delightfully sore, but if he so desired, she’d take him with wild abandon.

It was odd how quickly things changed yet stayed the same.

Her mate smiled, the curve of his lip slightly tugging at his scar. Though others would have been afraid of the mark upon his face, it only showed her how much he’d endured—how much he’d survived. She wouldn’t have taken the unscarred North, even if he’d been her mate. There had always been a choice. Maddox was for her.

Maddox brushed her hair from her face and kissed her gently. “I’d wake us both up in a manner that would make you blush, but I think you’re too sore for that.” He nibbled on her lip, and she sighed.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Never be sorry for anything we do here.” He kissed her again and pulled back. “I like you all rumpled, by the way.”

She laughed softly and shook her head. “You’re pretty rumpled yourself.” She ran her hands through his too-long dark blonde hair. “You need a haircut though.”

He raised a brow and scoffed. “I see how it is. One day as my mate and you’re already trying to clean me up.”

He said it in a teasing manner, so she didn’t feel chastened. Instead, she loved the way he didn’t treat her with kid gloves, even if he’d treated her softly the night before. There was a difference in trying to heal and trying to box her away never to be heard from again. She was just happy Maddox seemed to know the difference.

Maddox kissed her again then softly smacked her bottom. “Now, let’s get cleaned up and started on the day. I want to do another patrol before we discuss our next plan.”

She nodded, hating the fact that their small interlude would be over. Their realities were catching up with them, and they’d have to find a way to not only clear her name but protect their Pack as well.

They quickly showered together, Maddox being ever so careful with her soreness, ate a quick breakfast, and threw on their coats and everything else for a patrol of the area. The sun lightly warmed their skin, even as the cool wind bit.

She couldn’t scent another wolf around them, only the vague remnants of the battle that had left North in pain and had forced the ex-Talons to leave and find sanctuary with the Redwoods.

Cailin had called to tell them that North was in their care, but that had been it. No other communication had been initiated to rest their fears. They could only pray that he’d be okay while she and Maddox hid away.

Damn it, she didn’t want to hide. Not anymore.

There had to be something she could do to fix this. There had to be a way she could contribute to the Pack’s safety and eliminate her brother’s hold over her for good.

Maddox tugged at her hand, and she glanced at him. She had far more to lose now, yet far more to gain and hold on to. She wouldn’t stand by and let them take it away from her.

“Ready to head back?” Maddox asked as he looked away, his senses as alert as her own.

“Yes, then we need to decide what to do,” she whispered, aware she was giving orders, where before she’d have been the one to either follow them or hide.

He nodded, and they made their way back to the cabin, tension crawling over her back and settling in her belly. They sat in the living room, facing each other on the couch as she tried to calm herself.

“We need to go to the Central’s den,” she blurted.

Maddox closed his eyes and nodded. “I know. We’ve always let them come at us, and that’s only proven we’ve been weak.”

She shook her head and took his hand. “No, you haven’t been weak. You’ve made decisions to ensure the stability and sanctity of your Pack. While the Centrals were dark and used magic to let themselves become corrupt and evil, you’ve stood tall and lived in the white and gray. Your souls aren’t tainted to the point of loss.”

He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his palm. “Yet we’ve lost so many because we can’t go dark, because we don’t want to risk others just so we can win quickly.”

“At least you’ve fought, Maddox. What have I done?”

He growled softly, and she froze. “Never think that about yourself. You stood up for yourself for years.”

“No, I let Corbin reign over me.” Her voice shook, but she didn’t back down—not anymore.

“You lived, Ellie mine.”

“And for what? I lost my family—the ones that could love—because I couldn’t fight back.” Tears fell down her cheeks, but she didn’t brush them away.

He kissed her cheeks, licking up her tears before pulling away. “You did fight back, Ellie. Don’t you see? He kept you alive because of the fire in here.” He pressed his palm between her breasts over her heart. “You’re stronger than you think, baby. You fought to protect me when I was at my weakest. You saved me, and you saved Josh, Reed, and Hannah. You got all of us out of the den and protected them, even though you knew you’d probably die in the process.”

She tried to pull away from his hold, that familiar shame unable to be washed away so easily. “Josh still turned into a partial demon, and your Pack was still hurt from it.”

He pulled her to his chest, and she let him run a hand through her hair. “You saved them, Ellie mine. You fought to protect those who needed it. You’re stronger than you think,” he repeated. “You’ve been strong all along. It’s not the strength of what you could have done, but the strength of your past actions that prove you deserve something far greater than what you’ve got.”

“Maddox…”

He kissed her softly, shutting her up quite nicely.

“I know you don’t see it, but you’re one to look up to, baby girl. My family already does as do countless others in the Pack—the ones who see past the hurt and stigma of who you were forced to live with for so long. You’ve got the heart of those who protect others, and I’m never going to let you forget that for as long as I live.”

She looked at him as if she’d never seen him before. It made no sense. She’d always thought she’d been weak to allow Corbin to control her for so long, but maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe her rebelling and trying to free others had been something more than just guilt.

Ellie took a deep breath and wrung her hands. “I don’t know what to think.”

Her mate kissed her cheeks again before pulling back. “Just know that I will always be here for you—even if I wasn’t before because of my own inadequacies. My family will always be on your side as well.”

“Why do I feel that I’m only strong now because I have you by my side?” she said, finally voicing the thing that had been nagging her.

Maddox let out a dry chuckle, and she narrowed her eyes at him, not understanding what could possibly be humorous at the moment.