52

Liam was proud, his wolf was even proud of their mate. He could see the respect in James’s eyes after she stood up to Lilian. Even Garrett, who had watched everything unfold, was shocked.
“Leave us, James. I need some time alone with Nicole. We’ll talk more when I’m ready.”
With a nod of acknowledgement, James turned to leave, his gaze bearing admiration for Nicole and concern for Lilian.
Liam’s wolf purred. He had seen the fire in her eyes, the strength in her stance, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. However, at the same time, he felt ashamed of himself.
Everybody had been telling him to do his best to ensure that he didn’t lose Nicole, and instead of taking the advice, he had almost gone feral before her.
His heart thrummed in his chest as he began to think of ways he had let her down. Who disgraces themselves and unleashes the beast in them before someone they’re trying to impress? He asked himself.
He was expecting her to recoil and flinch because she had made it clear time and time again that she was afraid. And he knew that if she decided to move away from him again, he would be so hurt.
Liam wanted to be careful and guard her delicately, knowing quite well that the littlest thing could scare her away. It wasn’t up to 24 hours since he discovered her as his mate, and it was as amazing as it was terrifying.
Because now he was certain that if she left she would lose it, and at the same time he was grateful that somebody like him could be deemed worthy by the moon goddess to have somebody like her as his.
Yet something in him told him that she would never stay; that he did not deserve her, not after how he treated her when she arrived and how he had been treating other women.
Maybe Garrett was right. Maybe he wasn’t capable of being whatever it entailed, but he was going to try. He was going to do his best.
His mind was plagued with so many thoughts. There was Nicole, Dark Moon, Garrett, Lilian, and the witch, with all threatening to tear him apart.
As James left, Nicole turned her full attention to Liam, her heart full and happy. She stepped closer to him, reaching out to gently touch his face, her touch a soothing balm against the turmoil that had threatened to consume them both.
“Liam, I’m here for you,” she whispered, her voice filled with tenderness.
Liam closed his eyes, his body leaning into her touch, seeking solace in her presence. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Nicole,” he admitted, his voice raw with vulnerability. “I let my anger consume me.”
Nicole’s fingers caressed his cheek, “It’s okay. We all make mistakes, Liam. What matters is how we learn from them and grow. I know Garrett means a lot to you, and so does your sister. They are also reacting in our best interests.”
Liam chuckled wryly, “If you say so.” He wanted to soak in as much of Nicole’s presence as possible. She just seemed to make all his problems go away.
Nicole clung to Liam, her body pressed against his, seeking solace and comfort in his embrace. She could feel the tension slowly ebbing away from him, the rage dissipating as he held her.
In his arms, she found solace, safety, and completeness. She pushed away all the fears that plagued her so she could be present for him.
Although he tried to hide it, Liam felt a wave of emotion wash over him. The fear of losing control, of potentially hurting someone he loved, haunted him. He buried those emotions deep within, not wanting to burden Nicole with his problems.
He wanted to be the pillar of strength she needed, the anchor that would keep her grounded. He was ready to do anything to keep her from going away.
Gently, he brushed his lips against her forehead, his touch a tender caress. He whispered sweets, nothing into her ears. His voice was a soothing balm to her wounded soul. He wanted her to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was there for her and that she could trust him completely.
His wolf wanted more. It wanted its mate. It wanted to complete their bond and proclaim her as his Luna. But Liam knew better. He knew better than to allow his wolf to guide him in times like this. Most importantly, what Liam wanted was for Nicole to yield to him, completely and willingly.
“Liam,” she whispered, her voice laced with lust. It was a mirror of what coursed through him.
He knew he needed to go, he needed to answer questions that were being shot at him through the pack bond. Because of his slip-up, it had somehow spread through the pack that she was his mate.
He regretted it because he wanted them to have ample time to explore and get used to the idea before the pressure from the pack members came in.
Especially for Nicole, he wasn’t sure that she was ready to commit to anything.
“Let’s go,” She said, her voice husky. “Let’s go back to your room.”
She extracted herself from his arms and tried to drag him through the corridors and back to his room. But he pulled her back into his body, greedily inhaling her scent. He wanted her, and he wanted her there.
Liam’s hands roamed over Nicole’s body. His touch was reverent and desirous.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” He whispered, looking into her hazel eyes. He didn’t think he wanted to be apart from her ever again.
Nicole sighed and then connected their lips again.
“Thank you, Nicole. Thank you for being there at that instant. I would have done something that I would have regretted.”
“Don’t thank me,” she said, holding him.
He cut her off with a kiss. It was all he needed to hear. It was all he wanted. His lips moved against her, slowly, as he tried to convey how much he missed her. He loved how she responded slowly and delicately.
Liam held back a groan. Her lips were delicious. It had only been a couple of hours and he missed her so much, but most of all, he wanted to show her how much she meant to him.
It was more than the bond they were to share as mates. Desperate for more, he linked his arms around her. Her arms went around his neck as she rose on her tiptoes.
His mouth left hers, trailing down the side of her neck and soliciting a whimper from her. His wolf growled at the sound of her whimper. It didn’t matter how long or how many times they had been together.
She was always pliable under his touch. He found his mark and grazed it, she whimpered and moaned. The sound fueled him, encouraging him. Telling him that he was getting it right.
“Liam,” she whimpered. He breathed out, pulsing with a new surge of need as her fingers dug into his hair.
“We-” she said.
Normally he wouldn’t care, he would have taken her against the wall, allowing the whole park to hear her scream, but that was a treatment other women would get. Not his mate. Not the woman he was in love with. His teeth nipped at the lobe of her ears.
“Should we go inside?” he said, his voice strained. His was burning with need.
She shook her head, “No,” she growled, her wolf was impatient.
Liam chuckled, loving the sound of her needs. It was amusing to see her pine for him the way he did for her. They always matched each other’s energies in some ways.
“Fine. But, I’ll be careful, and we’ll be quiet, won’t we, Nicole?” he muttered, rearranging her in front of him; making her know and feel how big and hard he was. For some reason, he despised the idea of other wolves lurking around him.
She moaned, grinding on him. He pulled away and stared into her lust-crazed eyes.
Fuck! He thought. How the hell was she so responsive every damn time? He met her gaze, trying to hide his feral hunger. He moved against her and she trembled. Her face contorted with need. Hunger flooded her eyes.
“I need you, Nicole,” he whispered. His hand found its way to her hair, fisting it in his fingers, pulling at it to expose her neck.
“I’ve been obsessed,” he said, against her pulse, nipping at her skin with his teeth. “I realize that now.”
Liam never thought he would feel that way. He didn’t think he was worthy of feeling that way for a woman, not after everything that had happened.
Yet Nicole has affected him in ways no other female werewolf could. She was his. Made especially for him. He wanted to do things for her, everything and anything if only she let him.
She whimpered as his teeth continued to nip her.
“I need you, Nicole. I know I do. It’s been like hell without you. I’ve missed everything. And it’s just some hours. It’s like I cannot do without you. It’s a crazy addiction.”
Her eyes fluttered open and close.
“What do you want,” he muttered, moving against her again.
Damn. He wanted to fuck her. Venerate her body. Give her pleasure. With his hands. His mouth. His cock. He wanted to treat her like she deserved to be treated, like a gift. But it could only happen if she let him.
He wanted to make sure that she was okay. More than okay. Not good, but happy. Satisfied. That she accomplished whatever she dreamt of. He wanted her with him forever. It sounded too much to ask.
Damn! Nicole was for him. No other person would ever be able to be compared to her. She was perfect. She shifted against his hardness and he hissed. A groan slipped out of his mouth.
With a labored breath, he stroked her, wishing she could say the words and give him full access.
“Liam,” she breathed. “Don’t stop…. I… I need you too.”
He groaned out in pleasure as his lips found hers again. He set her on the table against the wall. I loved the way she looked meshed into him. Without care, he ripped off her pyjama shorts to get a view of her beautiful pussy. She was so wet, her shorts were soaked.
Fuck. Those beautiful folds. It was made for him to worship. He wanted to make her scream. But it wasn’t the appropriate place.
So he covered Nicole’s lips with his and braced his hand on the wall as he slowly drove into her. The feeling of her was intoxicating. He growled into her mouth as she clamped his hard length.
He was panting before he began to move. It was a slow, rough stroke that had him shutting his eyes in pain and relief; torture and pleasure. He detached his lips as the need took over. Raising her ankles and wrapping them around his waist, he began to ram into her.
Nicole clamped her lips shut to hold back her moans as he pounded into her. Liam didn’t think he had ever seen anything more beautiful. It didn’t take time before he poured himself into her.
As Liam panted. He came to a realization. Nicole had asked for freedom. She wanted to leave after the witch was defeated. But that was before they discovered themselves as mates. He didn’t think he would ever be ready to let go of Nicole. She was his forever. And he was ready to do anything and everything to keep her.
All he had to do was nurture her until that time, while proving to her that he couldn’t do without her. And also letting her realize that he was truly her safe place and nothing could change that.