Chapter 51 CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CAIUS
Before I can change my mind, I say it again.
“Earlier today you offered to kiss me in exchange for fighting with us. Is that still something you want to do?”
“You said you didn’t want that.”
The tension in the room is so tight, you could cut it with your claw. I’m standing perfectly still, careful not to break this bubble. I want her so bad, it’s driving me nuts. Every time I make a decision concerning how I’m going to act around her, it all changes when I come around her.
“You want to kiss me knowing it won’t mean anything to me?” she asks and I shrug.
I’m desperate right now for any crumb she throws my way. She climbs out of the bed and I hold my breath. I shouldn’t have come here but I can’t leave.
“Just a kiss?” she asks and I nod.
“And what if your wolf pushes you to do more? To mark me?”
“I won’t.” I manage to say.
She comes closer and stands in front of me. She moves close and my body surges when her nipples touch me. I hold myself still, waiting for her to make the move. We’re both playing with fire. I know why I’m doing it, why is she?
She puts her arms around my neck and I bend and take her lips. My body ignites with the need to possess her. Her mouth is warm and soft. A low growl rumbles in my chest before I can stop it. I lift her without thinking, hands sliding under her thighs, and press her back against the wall. Her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me closer.
The heat of her body against mine sets my wolf on fire, clawing and begging to be let out. I kiss her harder, deeper, tongue tracing the seam of her lips until she opens up for me with a soft, needy moan that makes my blood burn.
Her fingers slide into my hair, tugging hard enough to sting, and I tilt my head to devour her more thoroughly. Every brush of her tongue against mine feels like a wish come true. The only thing that could make this more perfect is if I could smell her arousal. If she wasn’t moaning in my arms, I would doubt that she wants this.
My hands roam her body, testing how far I can go before she stops this. One palm slides up her ribcage, thumb brushing the underside of her breast through her thin shirt, while the other hand grips her hip, holding her firmly pinned to the wall where I grind slowly against her.
The friction draws a gasp from her throat that I swallow greedily. I break the kiss to trail my mouth along her jaw, then lower down, my lips and teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her neck where her pulse hammers. The need to bite down and mark her sends blood to my head. I nip her, not breaking skin but enough that her breath hitches and her claws dig into my shoulders in warning.
“Maeva…” I moan, growling into the kiss.
I expect her to ask me to stop. That was a bold and stupid move. When she doesn’t stop kissing me, I turn and carry her across the room, my lips never leaving hers. I lower her onto the bed, following her down, my body covering hers as I settle between her thighs.
My hands slide under the hem of her little gown to trace bare skin, fingertips mapping the curve of her waist and her spine. I give myself a mental pat on the back for buying it and thank her silently for wearing it.
I kiss her again, slower this time but no less hungry, savoring the feeling. My hips press forward in a deliberate rhythm leaving no doubt of what I want. I want her bare beneath me. I want to taste every inch of her until she is trembling with desire and crying out my name.
Her hands suddenly press firmly against my chest pushing me back. It’s the hardest thing I’ve had to do in a long while but I stop. I move back and I step away from her. So she doesn’t ruin this thing that just happened between us, I open the door and I walk out.
Doors slam shut as I walk down the hallway and out of the pack house. Good, because I didn’t need to see anyone. Instead of going home, I walk to my mother’s house. The walk from the pack house to my mother’s house gives me some clarity.
She definitely wanted that to happen and she enjoyed it. Which can’t be possible if she’s on the blockers. The witches haven’t slept when I arrive at the cell. Moira doesn’t acknowledge my presence which doesn’t surprise me but I’m not here for her. I look at Elaine who smiles seductively at me.
“Let’s take a walk.” I say and she stands up immediately.
“Why?” Moira says, standing up too.
“When it’s your business, I’ll make sure to tell you.” Elaine says and opens the cell door.
We walk in silence out of the house and into the forest.
“You smell like her.” she says after we’ve gone far enough.
“Yeah, I was just there.” I say. There’s no need to act like I don’t know what she’s talking about.
“I want to talk to you about blockers.”
“Ahh, I see why you asked to go for a walk. I’m disappointed.”
“You’ll survive.” I say and stop walking.
“What do you want to know about them? I’m guessing you’re tired of your mate being on it.”
“How do I break it?”
She smiles. “Blockers aren’t meant to last forever so they eventually expire but if you’re in a hurry, you can prepare the potion or get her to kiss you.”
“Once broken, can she take another one?”
She laughs. “No, it could kill her. Blockers are only given once, if it’s broken then there’s nothing else to be done. There are side effects of breaking it through kissing but I’m here, I can help her.”
The way she says it suggests that help is not what she’ll be offering.
“You’re sure there’s no way for blockers to be repaired once broken. Not even Moira can find a way around it?”
“Very sure. Not even the high priestess can find a way around it.”
My suspicions are correct. Maeva can feel the bond. That was why she kissed me when we were in Clayton’s house and earlier tonight. Somehow, the witch found a way to make it look like the blockers still work. I chuckle at the thought. She had me fooled. It says a lot about her strength.
“I think Moira told her about the vision.” Elaine says.
“What vision?” I ask.
She waves her hands dramatically. “One of our sisters had a vision. In that vision, she saw you claim and mark your mate. The rogues attacked and your mate died horribly. It was on the blue moon, exactly how long it would take for the blockers to expire.”