Chapter 49: Ada's Mate

Ada

No! My heart starts beating rapidly. This cannot be it. Just as he disappears into the darkness of the garden, my anxiety takes over and I run after him.

“Blake, don’t go!” I call after him. “Please stop.”

“Go back to your party, Ada,” he says when I catch up with him.

“I will after we talked,” I pant as I struggle to breathe through the panic. I do not have time to decipher why I feel like this, all I know is that I cannot allow him to walk away.

“There’s nothing more to say,” he shrugs. “I didn’t make the decision to manipulate you into feeling guilty or make a choice. I’m stepping aside so you and Reese can be happy and guilt-free.”

“You have no right to make that choice on my behalf,” I say angrily. “After everything we’ve shared, you’re just going to walk away as if nothing happened, no hard feelings.”

“Yes,” his blue eyes blaze into mine. “Just like that. Because this situation is impossible, Ada. There’s going to be a loser no matter how it plays out. I’m not like Reese. He doesn’t know the price he might have to pay when he risks it all and loses, I do. And if it makes me a coward to walk away, so be it. But if I’m your mate and you decide to reject me, I will take it like a man. But I cannot stay here and fall deeper in love with you. Me walking away is the solution for everyone. You and Reese can be happy and I won’t have to pick myself up once again.”

And just like that, my anger simmers down to ashes. I am being selfish and unfair and I am too caught up in my own misery to realize what they are going through. They are the ones risking a broken heart or a rejection. I will be the one walking away with a mate.

“Blake, I’m sorry,” I whisper as I take a step closer to him. “The mate bond is not supposed to be a fight for my hand and right now, it feels like it turned into it. That shouldn’t have happened and I’m sorry.”

“Relax,” he smiles at me. “You didn’t turn it into a competition. Reese and I did. We should’ve stayed on the side-lines and waited until your wolf woke up. But between protecting you and getting to know you, the lines became blurry.”

“It’s not like I’m innocent,” I smile playfully. “I licked the cupcakes.”

“That you did,” he laughs heartedly, and the deep sound makes my heart flutter.

“So, you will stay?” I ask hopefully, without knowing why it is so important to me that he does.

“No,” his words are soft as he lays his palm against my cheek, and I lean into his touch. “It’s better for everyone that I leave.”

I am so disappointed that I want to cry and I wish I knew why. What is wrong with me? Reese is a great guy – if not the perfect guy – and he wants to commit to me. Blake and I have been fighting more than getting along. And we have not spent as much time together as I have with Reese. But somehow it feels that I connected with him on a deeper level.

Blake smiles at me once more before he turns around. I am standing on our perfectly cut lawn, surrounded by roses and willow trees, as the pressure on my chest increases. Every fibre of my being protests as I watch him leave. He is right, this is the easier way for everyone then why the hell does it feel like I am about to lose my sanity? Why is it getting harder to breathe?

“I want you more!” The words blurt out before I could stop and instantly, I want to kick myself. What the hell am I thinking? I am complicating things while he is trying to uncomplicate them.

Blake stops in his tracks and slowly turns around. I take a deep breath and close the distance between us.

“I don’t know why,” I say softly when I am standing in front of him. “But I want you more than I want Reese. He’s a great guy, but he’s not you. I don’t know if you’re my mate and I could f*ck up everything with this confession, but …”

I do not get any further because Blake smothers my words as his lips capture mine. I sigh in contentment and drape my arms around his neck in desperate need to be closer to him. The anxiety and uncertainty from a moment ago have completely vanished and all I am aware of now is Blake.

His strong hands as he caresses my back. His warm, luscious lips that are demanding cooperation which I gladly oblige to. He places his hands on my hips and pulls me closer to his own desire and my knees buckle from delight.

I do not protest when he lays me down on the grass and lays down next to me. I eagerly participate and allow him access when his lips trail down my cheek to my neck. My ragged breathing is the only sound as he starts unbuttoning my blouse.

The night breeze is cool on my skin as he removes my blouse and I welcome his warm touch when his hands graze over my skin. I lift myself just enough for him to unhook and remove my bra. Tenderly he glides his hands over my breasts and my nipples instantly harden from his touch.

I bite hard onto my bottom lip and moan softly when his lips cover my breast. Desire pools deep inside of me and eagerly I start tugging at his shirt. He lifts himself for only a moment and I peel his shirt off.

Impatiently I push him on his back and straddle him before I indulge myself by leaving warm kisses over his chest. I gently trace his scar with my tongue and his fingers dig into my hips. I take his nipple into my mouth and bite gently and a muffled groan escapes from him.

He sits upright and pulls me close to his chest as he captures my lips. The friction of his naked skin against mine creates havoc with my hormones. His hands are roaming my back as I curl my fingers in his hair and increase the intensity of our kiss. I want to stay like this for an eternity, I realise as his tongue slips into my mouth.

Without breaking our kiss, he rolls me onto my back and when he starts undoing my pants, I follow his lead. Simultaneously we remove the last of our clothing until we are completely naked in the moonlight.

“Are you sure about this?” His voice is low with desire and in reply, I smile softly and place my fingers behind his back so that I can pull him closer for a kiss. I am not sure of anything anymore but I have no doubts or hesitation about what is happening now.

I lay back and pull him on top of me. He trembles slightly when I scrape my nails down his back and dig my nails into his perfectly shaped behind. I feel cold and neglected when he pulls away and reaches for his jeans.

He takes out a condom but before he could unwrap it, I reach for his erection and stroke him gently.

“Dear goddess,” he groans as I take his length into my mouth and pleasure him. His breathing becomes harder and shorter as I increase my pace until he grabs me by my shoulders.

“Please stop,” he pants. “I won’t last much longer.”

I slowly release him and he pulls me onto his lap so that I am straddling him. We share a lingering kiss as he puts on the condom. His one hand is tangled in my hair as he keeps my lips against his while his other hand gently strokes my nether region. Slivers of delight jolt through me as he keeps on rubbing and stroking. I moan in pleasure against his lips as my body starts trembling.

I lift my hips slightly and reach down to centre his erection at my core.

“Blake,” I pull away so that I can look at him.

Without breaking eye contact I slowly lower myself onto him. Pain stings through me when he completely fills me and I clamp my eyes shut.

“Ada,” he sounds concerned. “Are you …”

“No talking,” I say before I capture his lips. His arms go around my waist and back as he pulls me closer, but he does not move an inch.

After a moment, the pain has gone and I slowly start rocking my hips. The more I move, the better it feels until I am consumed with the exquisite feeling of him moving in and out of me.

“This feels so good,” I pant as I capture his lips.

His arms tighten around me and he joins my rhythm. I am only aware of him around and inside me and our panting that fills the night. My muscles clench tighter and tighter as I near my orgasm and I bury my face in his neck when I finally reach my sweet release.

My body starts quivering and he thrusts into me twice more before he starts jerking. Numb from delight, I rest my head against his and he kisses me slow and tenderly.

“I’m going to sneak inside and take a shower,” I cup his face between my palms and kiss him deeply. “I suggest you do the same.”

I climb off his lap and grab my clothes before I scurry away.

“Ada,” he softly calls after me, but I ignore him and keep running.