Page 21 of Caught By the Wolf

Why?

Because she was his mate.

And he would protect her with his last breath.

CHAPTER NINE

Ella

Ella woke to the heavy, solid heat of Roman’s body curled around hers and the deep, satisfied ache between her legs that said last night had not been a dream.

She lay still for a long moment. His arm was locked across her waist, palm splayed over her stomach. Her first reaction was to move it. She didn’t like to be touched there. But then she stopped, curling her fingers around his hand instead. That reaction was pointless now. He had touched every inch of her last night.

Several times.

And it felt as if he wanted to do it again.

One of his thighs was shoved between hers, his cock hard and ready. His breath stirred the hair at the back of her neck. Every place they touched felt branded.

She was sore in the best possible way. Thoroughly used. Thoroughly wanted. The memory of his mouth, his hands, the thick stretch of him pushing inside her while he growled against her throat made heat flash through her all over again. He had not bitten her. He had not knotted her. He had held the claiming back by what looked like sheer bloody-minded will, and the restraint had made every thrust feel like a vow.

Mate, her mind supplied, and for once the word didn’t scare her.

She shifted carefully. Roman’s arm tightened.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was sleep-rough and dark.

“Bathroom. Then coffee. Then possibly another round if you’re up for it.”

“Doesn’t it feel like I’m up for it?”

She giggled.

He pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the nape of her neck and reluctantly let her go. “Five minutes. Then I’m coming to find you.”

She smiled into the pillow, slid out of bed, and padded to the bathroom wearing nothing but the marks he’d left on her skin.

The water hit her shoulders scalding hot, exactly the way she liked it, and Ella stood under the spray for a long moment. Every sore muscle had a good reason behind it now. She pressed a palm flat against the tile and let herself grin like an idiot when she heard the shower door open behind her.

Five minutes, he’d said before he’d come find her.

He lasted only four.

Cooler air brushed her back for half a second before his hands settled on her hips from behind.

“Couldn’t stay away, huh?”

“Never.” His voice was rough at her ear. “Turn around.”

She did, and his mouth found hers before she’d finished turning, one hand sliding into her wet hair to hold her exactly where he wanted her while the other gripped her hip and pulled her flush against him. He was already hard against her stomach, and she rocked into him without meaning to, chasing an ache that hadn’t fully faded from the night before.

“Greedy,” he murmured against her mouth, sounding pleased about it.

“You started it.”

“I did.” He walked her back until her shoulders met cool tile, a shock against overheated skin, then eased back just enough to look at her. Water ran down between her breasts. His gaze followed it.

“You sore, baby?” The question came low, almost gentle, even as his cock stayed heavy against her. “Tell me the truth.”