Aria
“Now squat.”
I glare at him over my shoulder. “You just want a fucking view of my ass.”
He grins, completely unapologetic. “And? Get to it.”
Laughing despite myself, I do as he says. “Happy now?”
“Very. The view’s incredible.”
My legs are shaking like fucking jelly. Is this training or some twisted form of punishment? I’ve been holding this position for what feels like a goddamn eternity. My thighs are burning, and my stomach growls like a pissed-off bear. Oh, right…I didn’t eat breakfast. Smart move, Aria.
Lucas is just sitting there, and I swear, that asshole is staring at my ass.
I hear him clear his throat. Finally. Slow, deliberate footsteps approach, the kind that scream, I’m in control, and you’re not. His arms wrap around me, pulling me up. Relief washes over me like a warm shower.
“You did great for endurance. Next time, we’ll go for two hours.”
Two hours? My mouth hangs open as I try to steady myself, but he keeps me locked in place like a goddamn human anchor.
“Easy now,” he murmurs, his voice rich and infuriatingly calm. “This is for your own good.”
“Yeah, sure, for my good. Meanwhile, I was dying over here…. while you were staring at my ass the whole time.”
He smirks, and damn it, that stupid smirk should be illegal. “Perks of being your master.” His grip tightens, pulling me closer to his stupidly hard chest.
Goddess, his scent is intoxicating. I hate how fucking good he smells. My arms somehow find their way around his neck as I tilt my head, staring at him with a coy smile. “What else do you have for me today, master?” My voice drips with faux innocence.
His Adam’s apple bobs. I catch the flicker in his gaze as his hands slide down to my ass, squeezing like it’s the most natural thing in the world. A soft moan slips from my lips before I can stop it.
“Have you ever been taken from behind?” His breath fans my neck as he nibbles the sensitive skin there, sending shivers straight down to my core. “I want to bend you over that couch, shove your panties aside, and fuck you senseless.”
My thighs clench hard as heat pools between them. God help me. “Please,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, but I know he hears it.
He chuckles, low and smug, like he’s got me exactly where he wants me. “I haven’t even started, and you’re already begging.” His hands knead my ass, and I swear my toes curl so hard I might break a nail.
Then his lips crash into mine, and my stomach flips like I’m on a goddamn roller coaster. I press against him, the softness of my breasts molding to his chest. His hands trail up, and before I know it, my shirt is off, my bra unhooked, and his eyes darken with raw hunger.
“Perfect,” he murmurs, his hands cupping my breasts, thumbs rolling over my nipples. Sparks shoot through me, and my back arches involuntarily.
“Fuck,” I gasp as his lips wrap around one nipple, sucking slow and deliberate.
And then, like the universe has a personal vendetta against me, my mind-link buzzes. ‘Aria, where are you?’ Lily’s voice is way too chipper for my current situation.
I groan, my head lolling back. ‘What the fuck, Lily?’
‘It’s the box. It’s gone,’ she blurts out.
‘What?’ I manage to choke out…Lucas’s tongue doing sinful things that make it hard to form words.
‘You sound… weird.’
‘No shit. Just tell me what happened,’ I snap, cutting her off before she can piece together what’s happening.
‘Mia took it to the restroom, and now it’s missing.’
Great. Fucking great. Lucas’s lips move lower, his teeth grazing my skin, and I bite back a moan.
‘Aria?’
‘Shut up, Lily.’
Lily laughs, her tone all smug. ‘This is fucking crazy…’ Her voice trails off. ‘Fuck.’
My chest tightens. ‘What is it?’ I ask, thrown off by the sudden shift in her tone.
‘It’s the box,’ she blurts out. ‘Beta John found it.’
I blink, my stomach twisting. ‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s standing in front of everyone, holding it right now,’ she rushes on, her words tumbling over each other. ‘And he’s asking who the hell is responsible for the severed finger.’
“Fuck!” The word flies out before I can stop it, and Lucas pulls back, his eyes narrowing like a goddamn predator.
”What’s wrong?”His tone sharpens, all playfulness gone.
“I…it was..” I stutter, trying to find an excuse. “You’re driving me crazy,” I mumble, but his expression says he’s not buying it.
“That’s a lie, Aria.” His grip on me tightens. “You’ve been acting weird all day.”
I laugh nervously, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re imagining things.”
“The finger,” he says, and my stomach drops. “The one in the box. What the fuck is Beta John talking about?”
“How do you-”
“Gail told me,” he cuts me off, his voice laced with frustration. “And don’t forget, we’re marked. I can read your wolf’s mind if she lets me. So stop bullshitting me and tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Shit. I’m screwed.