Embrace the wild

Well, this is Awkward

Allie’s eyes fluttered open to the dim light of the bedroom. The first thing she noticed was the faint scent of something delicious. Her body immediately reacted to the smell. She pressed her thighs together, looking for friction. As she looked around, she thought Wow, okay, one smell and I get wet. The next smell was that of pine and smoke from the fireplace, which had a different effect. The second thing she noticed was Caith, sitting in a chair near the bed, staring at her like she was the only person in existence. Holy s**t. He was hot. She started at the top with his dark as midnight hair, which was long and a little shaggy. It seemed to embody the wildness she could sense from him. Next, his tanned skin on his forehead to the dark eyebrows that framed, oh my, she thought, and another wave of heat spread through her when she locked onto the blue eyes she had ever seen. She wasn’t even sure if they were blue; they almost seemed to glow in the dim light. He was staring directly at her. His lips lifted at the edges in a small smirk that said he needed how wet she was, but just looking at him. It was annoying. but also hot. She didn’t know what she would enjoy more, turning that smirk into a full smile or punching it off his face. Instead of morning violence, she went with communication.

“Oh,” she croaked, voice rough from sleep. “Morning, I guess.”

His eyes, sharp and predatory, never left her. “Don’t move,” he said, voice low and smooth—a command layered with warning. That was all it took. Allie’s mind spun as hormones surged; My ovaries are in mutiny—if he doesn’t c*m in us soon, we march at dawn! she thought. Grounding herself, she tried to remember she was a strong, independent woman—no man, not even one this gorgeous, would have her under his thumb. Focusing on his expression, she noticed the smirk didn’t reach his eyes. “Mine,” he growled, the word more claim than request. Allie forced herself to remain cool, but the corners of her lips betrayed her. “Mine, huh? That’s… reassuring. I mean, I guess I’d like to know who owns me before breakfast.”

Caith’s jaw flexed, muscles bunching. It set her whole body on edge again. She rubbed her thighs, defiant, determined not to let her blazing attraction distract her from taking control. If this gorgeous menace wanted her, he’d have to fight for it. And she really, really hoped he would.

“Oops,” she drawled, settling into the pillows, enjoying every twitch from him. “Forgot we’re playing the ‘I’m the big, scary, maybe-about-to-snap alpha male’ game. My bad.”

A knock at the door did nothing to ease the tension in the room. The smell of hormones and desire was strong. The door creaked open, and Fletcher and Seth stepped in, trying to act casual. Both froze almost instantly, sensing the heat in the room. Their eyes flicked between Allie and Caith, and then to each other, speaking volumes.

Caith’s hands twitched, barely being able to control his rage at the others being near her, seeing her when she was clearly turned on. The thought of them being able to smell her arousal was the last straw. “Out,” he said flatly, a warning coiled tight around the single syllable.

Allie raised a brow, smirking. “Relax, big guy. I know this is between you and me, and only you and me.”

Fletcher cleared his throat, shooting Caith a wary glance. “Uh… right. Coffee. We’ll just… wait in the kitchen.”

Seth gave a knowing grin, muttering, “Yeah, this is… awkward.”

Allie sat up, getting ready to move the covers back and step out of bed, before she stopped and looked at Caith. She lowered her voice and said. “You’re… really intense, you know that?”

He snapped his gaze to hers, teeth glinting in the firelight. “I am not intense. I am protective. You are mine. And anyone who looks at you the wrong way—” He broke off, flexing his hands in anger that he would even have to imagine it.

Her laugh was low and wicked. “Perfect—so, this goes both ways? I’ll try not to murder any females who try to flirt with you if you can promise the same.”

He leaned closer, his presence suffocating in the best and worst ways, and whispered, “You are the only female here, and I will kill anyone who doesn't understand that you are mine.”

Her smirk softened into something sharper, playful yet teasing. “Well, good to know. I like my mates intensely. Just… maybe keep the threats to a minimum before coffee, yeah?”

The tension in the room skyrocketed. Every glance, every subtle shift between Allie and Caith screamed they are bonded, they are mates, and everyone else is irrelevant. Caith could maybe control his violent tendencies towards his brothers, but he could not control the images of things he wanted, no, not wanted that he needed to do to her. He needed to possess her body, he needed her begging him for release, he needed to feel her tightening around his c**k. All of the blood that was in his body had flown south. The look on her beautiful face was making the small amount of control he still had crumble. Her long blonde hair was a mess; it looked like they had spent the night discovering each other's bodies. Her smooth skin looked perfect to wear his marks, but it was her eyes that were knocking through his control. Her green eyes reflected every desire I held for her back at me. I could smell her innocence, and that was the only reason I was trying to hold on to any thread of civility. But it won't last long, no need to retend. She will be mine to devour, mine to protect, and mine to keep. Almost as if she was reading my thoughts, another shiver racked her body, and the smell of arousal increased.

Allie tilted her head, a sly edge in her gaze. “You keep glaring like that, and I might start thinking you’re a real threat. Don’t get me wrong—I’d like that. But you are kind of terrifying." She was trying to lighten the mood, but it only served to turn me on. I liked seeing the small amount of fear in her eyes. I like knowing she knew I could hurt her if I chose to. Seeing that trace of fear was almost like an afrodesac

He smirked, a dark, predatory smile that made the air in the room feel electric. “Good.”

Allie tried not to smile in response. A man of few words, she thought. I guess when you look like that, you don't need to learn how to communicate with words. Your body does all the talking. The thought of him having conversations with other females with his body sent a surge of jealousy through her. She needed their names, phone numbers, and a detailed description of their communication. Or maybe not a full rundown, bullet points might be better. She wasn't sure if she would be able to control her reaction to a complete rundown. Holy s**t, jealousy sucked; she had never felt more insecure in her innocence before. What if he has had other women who are better looking, sexy, smarter than her? Oh, this wasn't good. She needed to think about something else, quickly.

Caith growled softly, the sound vibrating low in his chest, and the corners of her mouth twitched again. If she was thinking these thoughts, he was definitely thinking the same. He wanted her; he wanted her badly. As long as he wants her, she has nothing to feel insecure about.

The smell of coffee drifted from the kitchen, but Caith stayed glued to his spot in the room. As soon as Allie stood up, Caith was immediately at her side. He grabbed her waist to steady her, and the instant his hands touched her, it was like lightning. The shock at the intensity caused Allie to sit to the side and get out the door. She knew it was a coward to move to run away, but sometimes you needed to run, so you could fight another day. Heading towards the smell of coffee and food with Caith as her shadow, she came into his kitchen with a stop. Large men were everywhere. They all had the same instincts as Caith, and all of them were just as handsome. She recognized a few from the moments in the bedroom just a short while ago. Turning towards Caith and watching him assess my discomfort, he immediately comes to my side. He looks into the kitchen like he is getting ready to kill whoever made me feel uncomfortable. When he decides there is no threat, he moves to make a cup of coffee.

“Seriously, you don’t seem the coffee type,” Allie tossed, eyebrow quirked. “More like you gnaw the throats of anyone looking my way before noon.”

“I do drink coffee,” he said, voice low, teeth clenched. “Just not while plotting murder. That requires focus.”

She tilted her head, one brow arched. “Plotting murder before coffee. Breakfast with a side of apocalypse. I approve.”

Fletcher cleared his throat. “Uh… you need sugar? Cream?” Looking up towards me while Caith waits for instructions with two coffee cups in his hand. “Cream, please, thank you.”

Seth lounged in the doorway, mouth tilted in a sly grin. “Yeah… so, maybe we should slap up some plastic walls between you two and the rest of us.”

Caith’s eyes snapped to Seth’s, sharp as knives. “Do not,” he warned. Every word was a low growl, but not loud enough to shatter Allie’s amusement.

Allie chuckled softly, leaning closer to him. “Oh, relax. I think your growl’s cute. Sort of like a… very scary kitten.”

His jaw tightened, one hand twitching. He was on edge. It was almost like they didn’t know what to expect when finding a mate. They had to know this was all very normal, right?

Fletcher groaned. “I’m officially never eating breakfast here again. Ever. I just… can’t.”

Seth’s grin widened. “Yeah. We might have to start putting up barricades. Or, I dunno… just accept that our alpha has a mate, or whatever she is.”

Allie rolled her eyes, leaning into her mischief. “Mate, yeah. Now, the property of a glowering man who could incinerate a kitchen just by thinking too hard.”

Caith leaned closer to her, his breath brushing against her hair. “Property? Sheer possession isn’t the half of it,” he said, voice low and dangerous, eyes burning like coals.

Allie c****d her head, grinning wider. “Ambition’s hot. Burnt toast, though? That’s criminal, even for you.”

The brothers froze again, exchanging glances. Fletcher whispered to Seth, “Yeah… they’re definitely mates.”

Caith ignored them, eyes locked on Allie, hand brushing hers almost by accident but too deliberately to be casual. Every movement screamed mine. He handed her the coffee he had just made for her and motioned for her to sit down at the table.

Allie leaned into him, smirking. “You know, you’re a bit intense for a morning person. But I’ll forgive it. You keep me alive, I keep you entertained. Fair trade.”

Fletcher pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’re not even going to try to stay here. We are all heading into town and will wait for you to let us know when you both get this s**t under control.” As if he spaced out for a second, he followed the other out of the door and looked back at Allie and said, “Have fun, you two.”