Page 57 of My Grumpy Alpha

"And what happens if you bite?”

"Claim.” Suddenly nothing’s funny anymore, the burn reaches out toward my fingertips like I have a campfire in my chest that’s constantly pushing its flames through my body until I pass out.

“Claim forever, trapped, mated, no point, but no more pain.” I exhale deeply.

“There would be no more pain.”

Soothing cold hands touch my forehead. I grab the wrists, even they feel nice and cool—even though I know it’s a dream I cling to them, my claws detract like they want to mark the pretty skin, but I would never do that.

Never harm someone so cold when I’m so warm.

I smile.

“This is nice.”

"Eli.” Her voice is low. I like it. She sounds like a mountain spring. I wonder if anyone's ever told her that?

“Eli, what do I actually need to do?”

"Naked,” I whisper.

“The pain goes away when I’m with…her, but she’s not you. You’re just a dream. You aren’t Ava, if you were, you wouldn’t help. I don’t deserve help. Chased her away. Made her run. Made her”—I wince—“so angry on purpose, she doesn’t know, she’s not good for me, I’m not good for her. But I can imagine her andin those brief seconds, the pain lessens. Always like this, worse now that”—I clench my teeth—"now that I’ve tasted her, that I’ve had her.”

"Then why not ask her?” she asks.

My eyes roll to the back of my head.

“My burden.”

She pulls away. I barely manage to open my eyes again when I see a top go flying, then breasts, beautiful breasts, I reach out but get my claws slapped away. I haven’t transformed—that only happens if I mate and even then, who knows?

But my claws look huge to my own eyes.

Next, pants are removed, shoes.

"Are you wearing Shrek underwear?” I burst out laughing.

“My imagination, while in pain, is wild. I’ll give myself that much.” I moan loudly, obviously the clouds are moving past the full moon, scraping against it the way they scrape inside my body. I can see it in my mind's eye, the clouds swirl around the moon, the moon is me, it can’t help but react in a primal way.

My fangs descend again.

It’s a nice dream still, one where she doesn’t run, where I don’t have to fake it.

“Do I have permission?” Dream Ava asks.

"To exist?” I laugh at my own joke.

“To fuck you.” She answers right back.

I smile to myself.

“I love my imagination.”

“Yeah, okay big guy, just try not to pierce my skin with those claws, what am I even saying right now? Just be careful, no puncture wounds, no biting, or I’ll bite back.

I go even more rock hard than I can ever possibly remember.

“Please fucking do, please bite me, oh shit.” I start to move my hips.