Chapter 17
“Don’t be petulant. If you want a spanking, all you have to do is ask.” There was a flash of the Dom from the night before in his expression, then it was gone. But that combined with the threat of a spanking turned me on. By the way Trey’s nostrils flared, he knew it, too. After a long moment of silence, Trey blew out a breath. “Later. First we need to talk about this.”
“I don’t know what there is to talk about. I stopped being able to shift. I was a shit alpha anyway. I’m weak and useless. They cast me out. I had nowhere to go, so I showed up here, hoping you’d take pity on me.”
Trey’s hand moved so fast I almost didn’t see it, and my hip was stinging from the powerful smack before my brain even registered the movement. I sucked in a hard breath, confused by the feelings suddenly rushing through me. Part of me was ashamed I’d disappointed him, but part of me was turned the fuck on by the hit and the display of dominance from him.
“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, to show you. You are not weak, Asher. You’re stronger than you know. You came here, knowing I could give you what you need, and you were brave and strong enough to ask for it.” His tone was firm, but then he wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck, and his voice gentled. “But I’ll keep telling you and showing you until you believe it.”
I broke. Right then and there. I didn’t start crying this time, but my whole body sagged as every feeling and emotion I’d been working to suppress for years came rushing in. My voice sounded small and hurt when I spoke. “I’m scared. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I lost my bear. I want things, things with you, that my head says I shouldn’t but that my heart and body and soul crave.”
Trey gave an easy tug, and I went willingly into his arms. I let him hold me, reveling in how it felt just to be squeezed tightly. I don’t know how long we sat there like that, but at some point, everything in me relaxed. This felt right. No matter what my head said, no matter what my clansaid, this was where I was supposed to be.
Eventually, Trey spoke. “And as for your bear, he’s obviously not gone. You were able to alpha Duncan and his children today. I don’t know where or why he’s hiding, but he’s still there. And we’ll figure out how to coax him back so you can shift again.”
That made me cry. It was too much to hope for, really. I’d never known anyone who’d lost their ability to shift. Hell, I’d never even heardof it happening. But Trey’s quiet confidence that my bear was still with me made me believe it, too, and so I cried. Not sobbing, but I let the tears flow until I could sniffle them back and get myself under control.
“There you go, cub. That’s it. Feel better?”
I nodded, my face rubbing on the soft but now slightly wet cotton of his T-shirt. I let out a huge sigh, and it felt like I was letting go of a lot more with the breath. “I want to stay here with you, Alpha.”
With his fingers on my chin, he nudged up my face so he could see me. Then he pressed his lips to mine in an almost-chaste kiss. “Thank you for trusting me, Asher. I won’t say it’ll be easy. But I have no doubt that, together, we’ll work through things.”
“Yes, sir.”
That got me another kiss, hotter and more possessive. I opened, letting him in, letting him lead. He devoured me, lips, teeth, and tongue and I was pliant in his arms, taking only what he gave. I was panting by the time he pulled back, and my dick was semi hard. Trey gave me a wicked grin.
“Now, how about that spanking?” he asked, his voice impossibly deep and dark. It turned me on even more.
“Yellow.” The word was out of my mouth before I thought about it, and Trey instantly released me, pushing me so I sat on my own, and for a split second, I was scared I was in trouble. But then he took both of my hands in his, and his eyes held concern.
“Talk to me, cub.”
Ugh, so much talking. I wasn’t used to it, but it was clear I’d have to get better at it and fast. Which, to be honest, was a nice change. I licked my suddenly dry lips and took a minute to get my thoughts in order.