The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Chapter 87

MAXIM POV

My hands have a mind and hunger all of their own. I want her soft stomach, her breasts, her thighs under my hold. My lips rake up and down her neck and upper back. Orange scented bliss, her copper curls catch shards of daylight, lighting up her pale skin tone.

The only disadvantage to this position is not being able to see her perfect brown eyes. But I get her soft breathy gasps and her fingers clutching into my hair instead.

When I told her I wanted to make love, this is what I meant. Waking up together, her eyes sparkling with life at the realisation we were now entangled. Her raspberry coloured little blush completely matches the shade of her pert little nipples. A fact I will always mentally revisit every time Tess colours up

now.

She doesn’t remember everything from before, but it’s so close. Teetering on the edge.

Just like me. For there is no way I can hold on for much longer. Not when every time my cock fills her she lets out that desperate little sound. Or says my name. She’s so wet for me, her sweet pussy clenches me yet takes my length right to her limit whilst softly stroking her clit. We both need that sensation, that completeness so fucking badly.

I know it is both of us because my beautiful, bright pink–flushed little mate is buckling. Her entire body tightening in my hold. It’s such a beautiful sight it almost puts me off my stride. I’m fucking captivated.

It’s worth as many arrows in the leg as she wants to fire at me if I get to hold her so closely. All the times I’ve fallen asleep with her in my arms, I think I’ve secretly wanted to make love like this. To wake up and meld together, cuddle, kiss. Naturally collide and create our own version of adoration.

My balls tighten, dick stiffens another level, my capacity to think narrowing by the second. All I know is I want to fill her. My wolf is practically chanting fill her, keep her, love her. Because every move I make is an act of love. There is no fucking. No mindless rutting, banging, whatever I used to think I was doing before. It’s adoring her.

“Maxim – Oh–OH!” Tessa cries, her tight little body slackening and tightening again under my hold, before her hand yanks me forward and twists to kiss me. Her lips firm, demanding mine.

She wants to kiss me whilst she comes and my heart skips at my sweet little mate. She’s shaking, lips quivering, her desire to be even closer to me when she orgasms is what tips me over the edge.

Together we crumble and groan into each other, my cock spurting deep inside her. I stutter “Tess, Tess,” unable to fashion any further words. We slowly come to a halt, panting, kissing softly, looking at each other without reservation.

Slowly, I withdrew from her. Then immediately feel the urge to do it all over again.

For now, we’re laid together, both flat on our backs, staring at each other with the softest smile upon her face. hate that the real world has to intrude. But it’s coming. Tess is too clever to think we will be left alone in this room forever too.

I give her another soft kiss whilst her relaxed face turns to her usual seriousness. “So…does Prince Remy know you’re alive?”

“Not yet. I was planning to make him jump with some spooky ghost noises over the mind link.”

She uses her hand to hide her smile. I get an eye roll for my effort. I don’t think Tess realises how new this is to me too. Before, she wouldn’t lie next to me in bed and chat.

She would be too shy, too quietly in her own head. I despise her adoptive family for crushing that side of her. It’s painful to consider how when she regains her memories, this relaxed, more talkative version of my mate might shrink away.

Only for my wolf to puff up in my chest. Tess can overcome whatever she chooses. Nothing is set. I’ve grown under her light, why can’t we help her too?

She must notice my contemplation. “We’re going to have to head outside aren’t we?”

I take her little hand in mine, both staring at our gently entwined fingers in between our bodies. “Annoyingly, yes.”

1/4

Chapter 87

“People are going to think all kinds of things about me. And you?

“They can think what they like.” I bark, placing her hand to my heart.

Tessa rolls and kisses my cheek. “Well, you know who helped me with the ropes and helped me get to you?”

“Who, Kai and Silas?”

“No. Warden Marshall. He said some lovely things about you too. He fetched the parcel with the armour in. Took me the royal route to the cliffs. Then we weaved the first rounds of the net, firing the arrow back and forth between us. He risked a lot.”

“Hmm. If you say so.”

Tess sits up, her beautiful body immediately drawing my gaze, long copper hair tumbling down her back in luscious waves. “He really did. I think he might really care about you.”

I’ve been down that road before. Thinking Donlon, with his one–eye, fatherly smile and sarcastic advice could be admired as a role model. That didn’t work out.

Deflecting with a “Hmm?” I reach out and dance my fingertips down her spine until she cries out with a wriggling chuckle. She reaches around to catch my hands only for me to seize her jaw and kiss her. “Love you. Still seeing the good in people after everything that’s happened.”

“I only see you,” she whispers softly, like she never intended to say it aloud.

I stroke her cheek and stare into those serious brown eyes. Soon she’s blushing before readjusting her nightgown to cover the bite on her hip. “I’ll get washed and dressed.”

With a sigh I sit up too, watching her hips slink their way into the bathroom. My thigh has healed and my ribs are breathable. She really took care of me. Before attempting to fire up the mind link I close my eyes for a second.

It’s still unreal to accept Alpha Hale pushed me from the cliff. I should be dead. I fell, I couldn’t save myself. Utterly powerless is a sickening feeling. Made, not only my own fear, but my wolf’s too. A combined panic. I imagine I’ll be getting that dizzying, violent horror in my dreams for a while yet.

I exhale and rub my cheeks roughly. Tess was there. She saved my life. By the skin of my teeth I am still here and it is not to be wasted. So let us start the next phase of our lives. The one where we’re both alive and kicking despite the former Alpha’s best efforts.

/Alpha Remy?/

/What the actual fuck?/ fires back and I smirk with satisfaction, one hand behind my head on the pillows. /One second!/

Being resurrected is kind of fun.

I hadn’t considered what Remy might be up to during his first day as Alpha. It’s probably absolute chaos over at the packhouse. Hearing the shower start

I immediately regret linking him so soon. There is a naked Tess on the other side of the wall. I haven’t even kissed her stomach yet dammit.

/I’ve got all new mind links with the Wardens and it’s fucking my head up. Maxim? Is it really you?/

/It is. I’m sorry about your mother./

I’m not sorry about Alpha Hale taking a deep dive, there is no point pretending otherwise.

/Thank you. I’m going to need to see you immediately. Come to the packhouse. Hazel too. She’s been beside herself with grief over you./

That’s nice but unnecessary. Although I wonder if Tess would like to get Pawesome back. She seems most pet she cannot even remember owning.

/I don’t know-/

put out that someone resembling an ex has a

/I need to have you by my side. This is a shitstorm. I’m not naive, I know all the good ideas I’ve impressed everyone with have come from you./

Chapter 87

All I can hear is the shower water and my brain is struggling to complete any task. Tess has me thunderstruck. Get a grip Maxim

/I need three things from you first, if you don’t mind./

/Try me./

/Tess is to be publicly exonerated. Allowed to continue her studies with the other students. She’ll be with me today, studying from tomorrow!

/Okay. No problem. Next?/ Remy’s voice is laced with concern. I wonder if he thinks I’m going to want some kind of parade in my honour.

/I want that mangy cat back./

Remy chuckles down the mind link. /Hazel will be more thrilled by that than you being alive. I think you like that ratty fleabag really./