Chapter Sixteen
Serena looked a bit shell-shocked. Like she couldn’t quite believe that it was over. Tristen grunted as his chest pulled tight while he fought to get to her. She was surrounded by people congratulating her. Her family, Marcus Haught, Eneko Alava and Isaias Durant all with their families. Several others. It was almost like he was being deliberately barred from her.
Alava saw him and moved quickly over to him. “What do you think you’re doing? Get back into that wheelchair, you shouldn’t be exerting yourself.”
“Oh, get out of my way.”
Alava frowned.
Jasmine, his mate, laughed. “Darling, if this was you and me, do you think a few bullet wounds would stop you?”
Alava grimaced. “At least let me help you.”
It would get him to Serena quicker if he didn’t argue, so Tristen nodded. He leaned on Alava, letting the doctor support him, as they made their way to Serena. As soon as they got to her, her face lit up. Tristen couldn’t help himself. The adrenaline of watching her getting beaten up still surged through his blood. He wrapped his arms around her and swung her up in the air. She laughed as she threw her arms around his neck.
His chest pulled and Alava gave a spluttering shout.
“Put her down this instant! You aren’t fully healed, you can’t do things like that, Cade!” Alava threw his hands into the air. “Why does nobody ever listen to me.”
Jasmine wrapped her arms around his chest and gave him a smile while his two children hurried to assure him that they would always listen to him. They simultaneously gave Tristen the stink eye, which only made him laugh.
Alava pointed at Tristen. “No exertion for a week. That’s a simple task.”
Robert came up behind Tristen and Serena and clapped them both on the shoulder. “What, does that mean no sex?”
“Of course.”
Robert whispered low. “I’ll hold them off. You two get out of here and go celebrate.”
Tristen glanced at Serena. She grinned back. She seized his hand and took off, laughing. Tristen ran after her, ignoring the protests behind them. Her chocolate hair streamed out behind her and he couldn’t help but grin as he ran with her. She was so beautiful. So perfect.
And she loved him.
His chest pulled again and he had to stop running. He panted for breath as they slowed to a walk, but he still grinned at her. Serena cuddled into his side, her arms wrapping around his waist. He recognized it as her attempting to help him without wounding his pride by suggesting he needed it. He grinned at her and stopped to brush his mouth against hers.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.” Serena’s smile beamed brighter than the sun. “Now… let’s go home really quickly so I can get dressed properly before the reporters swoop in. I’d hate for my victory to be ignored for pictures of my naked ass.”
***
The next few days, things moved quickly. With Serena secure in her new position as matriarch, there was a lot of work to be done. One main thing was getting everything settled with the McCloud clan. Tristen was pleased that he was readily accepted as a replacement for Robert.
A tougher decision, personally, was to retire from the navy. Even if in the end it was a relief, there was something… unsatisfying about how it turned out. He had signed up because he wanted to protect his country. And in the end, he couldn’t trust his own teammates. Gomez wasn’t the only one who had been intolerant towards him. If he couldn’t trust the people he worked with, how could he continue to work with them?
It also gave him the time and space he needed to be with Serena. He would stay by her side, protect her, love her. Serena was, really, the only thing he really wanted out of life.
Tristen smiled as she collapsed onto the bed. “Uuuuugh! I’m exhausted. And my feet hurt.”
He sat on the end and started to rub her feet. She sighed and arched herself to his touch. Tristen loved the sight of her there, in her form-fitting business suit, chocolate hair spread out around her. He ran his fingers lightly down the center of her foot and she shivered and jerked.
“Hey!”
“It’s going to get better, I promise. You’re new to this and so is everybody else. Sooner or later, you’ll wow them all with your intelligence and might.”
Serena lifted herself to one elbow and reached for his tie. A sultry look came over her face, one that made him tighten instantly. She walked her hands up the tie, pulling him closer to her. Her legs parted to wrap around his hips and she brought him down snugly on top of her.
Tristen chuckled as he closed his lips on hers. Serena tangled her fingers in his hair then pressed back to break the kiss. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“What are you laughing at?”
“What happened to being exhausted?”
Serena pursed her lips. “I’m not that exhausted. Unless you’re not feeling a hundred percent yet?’
Tristen kissed her in reply. These past few days had been difficult for them both. It had driven him crazy not to be able to hold her and make love to her like he wanted, but unfortunately, Alava had been right. He just wasn’t physically able to do it. Now when he breathed, though, there was no pull in his chest. There were no throbs of pain. Just a throbbing of a different type.
“I’m fine. And, my darling, I think you owe me a fantasy.”
Serena frowned. “Do you mean that I owe telling you one of mine, or doing one of yours?”
“Telling me one of yours,” he clarified. “I could have been clearer with that.”
Serena made a noise of agreement, then chewed her lip. He loved the way she got nervous when talking about her sexual fantasies. He supposed it came from the fact she’d never had anybody to talk sex with. It had been so taboo as she grew up that she wasn’t used to sharing her thoughts on the matter. A pink flush ran up her cheeks. Tristen waited patiently. There was also the fact that she thought simple positions were a bit scandalous.
“I want to have anal sex,” she blurted.
Oh. That was unexpected. Tristen had to laugh just from the sheer surprise.
Serena’s face went bright red and she threw her hands over it. “Ugh! Never mind that was stupid, I don’t know why I said that.”
“Honey.” Tristen kissed the knuckles hiding her face from him. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. Listen to me. I’m glad that you can tell me these things, even if you’re embarrassed about it. I want to explore all of your fantasies. Anal isn’t something we can just do on a whim, though. We’ve got to build up to it, start off with toys and things. I’m not going to rush and hurt you.”
She peered between her fingers. “Okay. What do you want to do tonight then?”
In response, he unbuttoned her shirt. “Why don’t we stick with something a bit tamer for tonight? I mean, you are exhausted,” he added with a teasing tone.
Serena rolled her eyes, but held out her arms to him. He finished undoing her blouse and lifted her bra off her beautiful big breasts. Her nipples were tight and pink, and he took one in his mouth, sucking gently as he reached for her pants. Those he didn’t bother undoing before he pulled to her knees. He pushed his fingers between her thighs, seeking out her sweet spot. She moaned, arching her hips towards him, as her fingers tangled in his hair again.
He stroked her gently as he moved to her other breast. Her hips bucked rhythmically, letting him know what pressure she wanted as he continued. Her arousal hung in the air, making the heat in his own body hotter. He hardened as she moaned.
Her skin was soft and warm under his tongue as he licked up her neck and brought another deep kiss to her mouth. She reached between their bodies and unbuckled his jeans. Her arms stretched out to their fullest, but even when he thrust his hips forward, she could only get them mid-thigh.
Tristen sat back to get rid of them, but Serena suddenly gave a little ‘oh!’ of excitement so he looked up at her.
“Can we do it doggy style with our clothes still on?” she asked, her eyes bright. “Or is that too kinky?”
Tristen bit back laughter. He shook his head and kissed her again. “We can do that, yes. Up. On your hands and knees.”
Serena bounced up. Her exhaustion was apparently forgotten as she got into position. Her pants were still at her knees, and Tristen gripped her ass. He separated her cheeks as he bent over her, finding her clit with his tongue. Serena shivered and moaned in the way that he loved. He pushed his tongue deeper, making sure he got her good and wet.
In their position, she was able to reach with one hand and stroke him. Her touch was light and quick, just the way he’d shown her he liked. It was Tristen’s turn to moan. He turned slightly so she’d have better access. His skin felt like it was on fire, and he hardened further under Serena’s ministrations. He kept up his own work until she was whimpering, hips moving back and forth. Her movement made it difficult for him to do his work, but he wasn’t about to complain.
When she started to tremble, Tristen pulled away from her. She watched him, eyes bright, as he moved into position behind her. Her legs were forced to stay closed because of her pants around her knees, and he groaned as he pushed into her. She was so slick and tight that he knew he wasn’t going to last long.
“Oh, yes,” she sighed, back bending as he came fully inside of her. “I love you.”
Tristen grunted, too concentrated on not finishing at that moment to reply. He hoped she knew that he returned the sentiment to her. Fully and without any hesitations. He was hers. Always and forever.
He gripped her hips as he started to move. Serena rocked with him, her head throwing back and falling down in time. His nostrils flared as he thrust hard inside of her. He reached around with one hand to play with her clit and got a gasped outcry as a reward. Serena’s fingers dug into the sheets. The sight was so sexy that Tristen had to stop looking.
His head fell back, all his muscles tensing as he thrust harder. Serena panted, whimpered and begged him not to stop. Sweat beaded his forehead as he fought to do as she wanted. He grunted with every thrust. Soon he was blind with pleasure. Every thought was focused on keeping moving. Then Serena clamped down on him. Her head was thrown back and she let out a howl that started him.
He followed her quickly. Waves of pleasure washed over him. All his muscles seemed to release and he dropped over her. He kissed her neck and shoulder as she held herself up with trembling arms. They swapped passionate kisses as Tristen slowly exited her. He collapsed onto the bed next to her, and she rolled herself into his arms.
Sweat slicked their skin, and Serena shed the clothes she still wore and lay spread out on the bed. The sight of her body was enough for him to run his hands over every inch of her. His chest had a slight tightness to it, though. Apparently, he wasn’t as healed as he thought. Oh, well. He’d be able to please Serena if she wanted more, even if perhaps it wasn’t the best idea for him to continue.
Serena grinned at him and nuzzled into his neck. “That was really good.”
Tristen nodded in agreement. “Oh, and I love you, too.”
Serena snorted. “That’s a bit delayed, isn’t it?’
“I don’t know about that. I think I did pretty good just remembering it. We were in the throes of passion; a guy’s brain sometimes just shuts off.”
“I see…” Serena stretched, pushing her breasts out. Both her nipples were so hard and ripe for sucking that he had to whimper. Concern crossed his mate’s face. “Are you hurt?”
“Only because I can’t do everything I’d like to do to you right now.”
Serena’s breath caught in her throat. “Oh… Oh! I don’t think I’m ready for round two.”
Tristen did chuckle this time. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly. “I’m not either, don’t worry. We’re in no rush. You and me, we have forever to look forward to. I am going to be here by your side, from this day until the one that I die.”
Her hands wrapped in his hair again. Her eyes sparkled as she rolled over and slung a leg over his hip. She pulled herself tight against him and smirked.
“You better be,” she purred. “Because I’ve got you and I have no intention of letting you go. I have never been happier than I am in your arms.”
“Me neither.” He claimed her mouth as his hands began to explore. “I’m not going anywhere, Serena. I love you.”
“And I love you,” she moaned back. “My lover, my protector. My mate.”
*****
THE END