Page 45 of Renegade Queen

Tank sank to the bed, cautious not to crush me under his massive frame and instead scooped me up to nestle against his chest. I could hear his heart pounding as he lazily ran his fingers through my long blonde hair, twisting the lengths between his fingers as he gently kissed the top of my head.

“That was incredible,” I whispered, not knowing how to put all my emotions into words that seemed adequate enough.

Balancing my chin on Tank’s chest, I looked up at him as he pulled the covers around us, tucking us in. The bear was still at the front of his mind. I could feel it looking back at me, even though it seemed to have stopped trying to take control for now.

“Erm, I need to… you know. Clean up and stuff,” I mumbled, feeling heat hit my cheeks and hating that it was there. I was supposed to be better than this.

“Nope.” Tank tucked the sheet tighter around me and then wrapped me in his arms, nuzzling the top of my head. “I want my scent all over you in the morning.”

“Is this you being not quite as okay with sharing as you seemed earlier?” I asked.

He hummed quietly as he sank closer to sleep. “I don’t care if they share a piece of your heart, Alyssa. But I love knowing it’s me coating your skin, even if it’s just for a little while.”

I closed my eyes, feeling content for the first time in a long time. If we’d done this back in the human realm, this moment would have been as close to perfect as it could ever be. But here, in Nymeria, with so many problems constantly circling us, I couldn’t help but feel a slight bitterness that I was about to do something that would taint this moment forever. I just had to hope that Tank would be able to forgive me for it.

Chapter 21

Dean

Dean

Leaning against the corridor wall in the shadows, I waited for what I knew was coming. It was what I’d do, and I knew Alyssa thought the same way I did. I’d seen it in her eyes as we’d told her goodnight.

When the door to Alyssa’s room creaked open and she quietly slipped outside, I was almost tempted to stay quiet. To silently trail her to where I knew she was going. That way, she couldn’t try and make me stay here.

The magic I’d felt downstairs hadn’t only enraged me to the point of needing to find someone to tear into. It had scared the shit out of me, making me feel utterly helpless, and I had a feeling that whatever Alyssa was keeping inside far exceeded what we’d felt down there.

She could make me stay behind if she really wanted to.

“I thought I’d have to listen to you two fuck all night,” I said, moving out of the shadows. She wasn’t even surprised to see me standing there.

“Some people might think that was a bit creepy,” she pointed out.

“But not you.” I crowded in closer, pushing her against the other wall as I stepped into her space, my hands unbiddenly clasping her waist. “Do you like knowing I was out here wishing it was me between your thighs?”

I had no idea where this was coming from. Yes, I wanted her. But I’d never had the balls to act like this with a woman before.

“Of course.” The pack in her hand fell to the ground as her fingers hooked into my waistband, hauling me closer so our bodies pressed together. “What woman doesn’t want to feel desirable?”

“The things I’d do for you,” I whispered, ducking my head and trailing my lips across her throat.

A need to bite, to mark, rose inside me, and I pushed it back down.

Not yet.

We had other things to do tonight first.

But soon.

I wouldn’t let Alyssa slip away from me.

I felt the rush of her pulse beneath my lips, and when I pressed a featherlight kiss to her pulse point, she gasped.

It was a shame I was about to ruin it.

“It’s you, isn’t it? The one they’re waiting for to come and save them. The one they want sitting on their throne. You’re the missing saviour they’ve given up hope of coming for them.”

She pushed me away then. Fear flashed across her eyes, and I fucking hated seeing it on her face.