Page 27 of Hunted Ink

With one hand on my hip to hold me in place, he slammed into me one final time with a broken moan. I could feel him throbbing inside me, depositing his seed. My womb welcomed him in with open arms, a warm tingling sensation that ran all the way down to my toes. As his knot expanded, he draped himself over my back, nipping at his mark on my neck. “I love you so much,” he whispered.

I tried to say it back, but my lips had gone numb.

The sheets were a total mess of sweat and cum from so many orgasms I’d lost count, but I was barely conscious enough to care at this point. “Rest now…” I mumbled, eyes drifting shut, knowing the next wave of my heat could start up at any moment.

Time lost all meaning after that. I handed over my care to Apollo, trusting in him fully to do whatever needed to be done. When I grew needy, he fucked me, and even when I stopped thinking about food and water, he made sure I ate and didn’t get dehydrated. At some point, the sheets were swapped out with a clean set, though I had zero recollection of it happening. I’d never had someone take care of me through a heat like this. It was something I could definitely get used to.

I woke up eventually, feeling much better. The fever had broken, and I became aware of the ache in my abused backside, and for once, I didn’t immediately need my hole filled. It probably helped that there was a delicious smell permeating the apartment. “Mm, China Garden,” I groaned as I pushed myself upright. I would recognize the smell of my favorite restaurant anywhere. I blinked in the dim evening light. Frowning, I looked around, disoriented. “What time is it?” What I really meant was what day was it.

“It’s just after 8pm Friday,” Apollo said, appearing in the doorway with a brown paper bag stuffed so full they could barely staple the top shut.

“Friday? But…” It took a second to do the math. “But that means it hasn’t even been 24 hours.” I’d never had a heat last less than three days.

We shared a look as that sank in, a small flutter of excitement trilling through me. Neither of us said it out loud, but there was only one reason for a heat to be so short…

Apollo sat up in the bed beside me, the two of us leaning against the headboard, shoulder to shoulder. He passed me a set of chopsticks and a plastic container off the top. I pulled off the lid, the fragrant aroma of cashew chicken and vegetables wrapping around me like a hug. “My favorite! How did you know what to order?” I asked.

“I wish I could claim we have a psychic connection, but the truth is, your friend texted you to check in, and I saw your phone light up on the floor. I told him you were fine, and he offered to place an order for you.”

“Joel’s the best. Did you… happen to meet him?” I felt guilty that I hadn’t introduced them yet, but my time with Apollo was so limited that I tended to hog all of it to myself. I really should learn how to share.

“No, a delivery driver dropped it off.”

Just as well, I decided. Joel would’ve wanted to hang out and get to know my mate, but the whole apartment no doubt stank like sex. That would’ve been an awkward introduction between the two people who mattered most to me in the whole world. As it was, I would need to do an extensive deep clean before Norman came home.

There was only one piece of crispy ginger beef left. Apollo gestured to it with his chopsticks. “It’s not really enough to save for tomorrow. One of us should just eat it.” We looked at each other, then back at the golden-brown piece of glazed perfection.

“I don’t need it,” I said, even as I found myself reaching for it.

“Are you sure?” he asked, smirking as he let me have it.

“I’m honestly so full. I stopped eating for sustenance about 15 minutes ago. It’s purely for fun at this point. Wheeee!” I squealed half-heartedly as I shoved it into my mouth. I knew I would probably regret it when I tried to roll myself out of this bed, but for now, I savored the sweet ginger flavor, sighing in totally satisfied bliss, every single one of my needs met.

“And now for a shower,” Apollo announced, hopping out of the bed like moving wasn’t a problem for him.

I groaned resentfully. “Carry me,” I whined, flopping back on the bed dramatically.

He immediately swooped me up in his arms, and I yelped in surprise, clinging to his shoulders. “I was kidding!” I said, laughing as he carried me out of the bedroom toward the bathroom. “I can walk. Put me down!” I kicked my feet, squirming to get free, but he only tightened his grip.

“Shh, my wolf needs this.” Aww, it turned out his beast was the king of aftercare. Who was I to tell him no? His wolfy instincts were obviously still in control post-heat. I relaxed in his arms and let him do whatever he wanted. There would be plenty of time to return the favor later.

Apollo set me down on the counter. “Stay,” he demanded like the pushy alpha I knew he wasn’t.

He got the shower to the perfect temperature, then retrieved me from the counter and carried me beneath the spray. He proceeded to soap me up, giving me the best massage I ever could’ve asked for, tending to my overworked muscles. It was like a spa treatment, the way he lathered the shampoo into my hair, scrubbing my scalp gently, and when I groaned in pleasure, I felt his wolf rumble with pride for providing for me. And when every nook and cranny had been pampered, he carried me back out and wrapped me in towels.

No matter how much I loved the treatment, I could feel reality pressing in from all sides. As safe as I felt, it was all an illusion. Dreading the response, I asked, “Do you need to get back?”

There was the briefest pause in his movement as he dried me gently with the towel. “Soon,” he said, “but not yet.”

And as greedy as I knew it was, I kept him as long as he let me.

Chapter 18

Apollo

Helping Kedi through his heat had meant everything to me—and to my wolf—but there was a price to pay. I’d returned to the compound with an excuse ready. Anticipating the worst, I’d made sure my arrows and knives were bloodied, as well as a spatter on my clothes for good measure, using my own blood, of course. I’d sliced up my flesh, knowing I would heal. When Pater met me at the door, I claimed I’d come across a small pack and it had taken all night to track them all down. Lucky for me, Pater lapped it up, beaming with pride at his good little hunter. It made me sick.

I didn’t know what I would’ve done if Kedi’s heat had lasted any longer, but as it was, it had been over in less than a day. That meant he was probably pregnant. My wolf was thrilled, and I tried to join him in his excitement, but instead, my stomach churned with acidic dread. I was even more desperate to find a way to end this before they uncovered all my lies and left my child without their father, or worse… found out about my mate.