Chapter Twenty-Four

Alec laid her on the bed carefully. His body screamed for him to consume her, but his heart wanted him to take his time and show her how much he adored her. He brushed his hand down the tightness of her stomach and tugged at the top of her panties as he glanced up at her.

"We're going to work this out. Let it all go and release yourself to everything I have in store for you, pretty girl."

She smiled and reached for him. The expression didn't reach her eyes but was still beautiful. His mate had the weight of the world on her shoulders. He was going to work to remove it, brick by brick.

He pulled her panties down and leaned over, pressing his lips to her sex and breathing in deeply as she shuddered. Her fingers slid into his hair as he nudged her thighs open for him. He had been waiting to taste the feisty woman before him since having her on his tongue so many years ago.

"You can do what you like, but I'm having my turn tonight too," she whispered and he nodded before pressing his tongue to her center. The plan had been to slowly bring her to the edge, but the salty flavor of her skin left him almost frantic. He took a shallow breath and began to lap at her slowly at first, then faster.

She dug her fingers into his scalp and rocked her hips against him, the sound of her moans almost undoing him before he really had time to enjoy her. Something about her left him paralyzed with need and consumed with a desire to have her wrapped around him. In the midst of his lust, anger sparked as he remembered Dax coming into his lands and affronting his woman.

Alec reached up and slid his fingers into her wetness, her body hot and sticky with the need for a hard fucking. He pressed into her slowly as he kissed the top of her swollen lips. She shuddered and the Alpha reared up inside of him, a small voice whispering, 'mine' over and over again. He growled and sucked her into his mouth, pumping his fingers into her roughly as she groaned and whimpered.

He regretted the moment when she locked up. Her muscles contracted and she was beautiful to watch. She whispered something, but he couldn't make it out because of the blood pumping through his system. She deserved the world and he was going to start giving it to her. Surely there was so much more he could offer her.

"Come for me, baby. I need to taste you." Alec murmured against her skin and lapped at her hard. She jerked and screamed his name loudly, her legs squeezing tightly around his face. He continued his assault, memorizing the deliciousness of her sounds. He didn't stop until she pushed at the top of his head and begged him.

"Enough. You're going to be the death of me," she whispered, and lifted her legs. She turned and left her backside to him as she cuddled up in his bed. He stood and let his eyes run over the length of her, his breathing labored as he enjoyed knowing that she would be there for as long as they lived.

"Marry me." He climbed onto the bed and tugged at her shoulder, her expression one of shock as she turned. "Marry me and become mine in the eyes of the humans as well."

Sliding his hands up her thighs, his heart almost stopped at the tears collected in her beautiful copper gaze. Alec took hold of her hips roughly and arched his back, lining himself up to enter her again. He hovered just above her as she closed her eyes and undulated her hips, massaging the top of him.

"Give me the pack, the Alpha position and become my wife," he commanded her.

"You're asking a lot of me, you cocky bastard." She reached up and took hold of his shoulders, pulling herself to him and sliding down the length of him as he groaned loudly. He reached up with one hand and wiped away her tears as he wrapped his other arm tightly around her, wanting to feel the pressure and heat she provided.

"I need you in my life. I won't let you go again. Anything you ask of me, consider it done." He moved to kiss her as he began to work himself in and out of her tightness. She pressed her fingers to his lips and moaned in ecstasy.

"Yes. The pack is yours. I am yours." She bounced twice on him as her fingernails dug into his skin. "You are my Alpha."

He rolled them forward, pressing her back to the bed and fucking her slow and deep. Her hands caressed every part of him and it didn't take long before he felt like the world was spinning precariously fast around him. Fear swept in briefly at the idea of loving someone so much and needing them. What if something happened?

She pulled his face toward hers for a kiss and smiled at him. "Stay right here with me. No need to plan for tomorrow."

"You're right, lover." He kissed her deeply and let himself go, completely hers.

Alec caressed the side of her face as she slept beside him, everything right with his world and yet the threat of death sat just outside the door. He needed to gather his wits and go after Dax.

He moved from her side, careful not to wake her, and walked to his closet in search of pajama pants.

He couldn't help but glance her way as he walked from the room, the feminine silhouette she created leaving him breathless. Alec ran his fingers through his hair and tried to work out his next move. He needed to call Jared and get the other man involved, but it was too early.

Alec walked into the kitchen and made a quick cup of coffee before sitting down at the table and pulling Sonya's files toward him. He flipped through the advertising files that she was working on and smiled. Her work was impressive to say the least, not that he was at all surprised. The woman seemed to be capable of everything she tried doing. How he had convinced her to be his was a complete mystery.

His hand hovered over the small manila folder with his name on it, the haunting discovery of his past rearing to life. How many times had he wanted to know the truth of his heritage, but couldn't find the answers anywhere? It was as if the gods had dropped him off on the side of the road as an infant and left without a word.

"A hybrid. Interesting." He opened the file and picked up a letter that Victor had left for Sonya. He turned it over, not wanting to read something that was personal to his mate without her encouraging him to do so. The information was vast, but most of it was simply observations. Nothing in the file spoke to the feelings and emotions that he suffered, or the time he simply disappeared.

The fact that he was able to stand before the Blacks and the Browns was a huge win. If the gods had never looked down on him with approval before, they definitely were now. He would need the actual files from the hospital to prove it to his people. They would know he was cunning enough to try and work a lie past them.

The funny thing was, he didn't need to lie at all. He was the Alpha and whatever he said went.

He glanced behind him at the sound of Sonya walking toward the table.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked and set the paper he was holding down to reach for her instead. She crawled into his lap, her body covered in one of his favorite T-shirts. He slid his hand into her hair and pulled her down for a long kiss, not really caring what her response was. The room seemed brighter now that she was up and with him.

She broke the kiss and pulled her legs up to lay over his as she wrapped her arms around him. Her lips brushed his neck and he shuddered.

"No. I felt your absence and wanted you," she responded.

"More sex? You're insatiable, kitten."

"I'm a tiger and sex is always welcomed, but honestly, I just wanted to be close to you." She rubbed her nose along his jawline and cuddled against him. Alec kept his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as if it were possible to join physically.

"I was reading the files that you brought over. I'll need to call Dr. Phillips and get proof of these claims. Your people might not need them, but mine certainly will."

"I'll call Mark. It might come better from me. I'm sure my father pulled the Alpha card on the good doctor. There's no way Mark would have tested your blood without your consent."

"Unless your father forced him to."

"Exactly. I'll call later today and get it to you."

"Okay, baby." He kissed the top of her head. "We need to get some more rest. Come back to bed with me and I'll hold you while you sleep."

"No, I need to get going. I'm meeting my brother today and I need to work with Parik on the communication to our people about why I've released the pack to you. I don't want confusion and I would imagine it's already happening, seeing that I've claimed you as Alpha of the Browns."

"Agreed, but you sure I can't talk you into staying for breakfast? I make a mean omelet."

"I bet you do. If I stay I'm not going to get anything done today. I'm going to tie you up and lick you to death."

"Oh right. You didn't get your turn, did you, girl?" He squeezed her rear and growled against the soft flesh of her shoulder.

"No, but I'm going to get you when you least expect it."

"I can't wait," he whispered and pulled her down for another long kiss. She stood a few minutes later and walked to the bedroom, pausing to look over her shoulder at him before disappearing into the darkness.

"You can read the letter my father wrote me. I think it must be his second greatest gift to me."

"What's the first?" Alec asked.

"You."