Rising Storm (Westin Force #2) - Julie Trettel Page 0,69

between friends and foe weren’t quite as clear as they were previously, and we had new concerns knowing they were watching an entire clan now.

Although we’d found no real evidence, it was hard to imagine they weren’t already watching us too. They’d be fools if they weren’t, because we were definitely watching them.

I’d declined going to the Crate with the guys. Ben had too. Neither of us could wait to get home to our mates. It wasn’t that long ago that I would have laughed alongside the others and called Ben whipped. Now, I just felt sorry for those without mates because they didn’t understand what it was like to have someone to come home to.

I let myself into the apartment as quietly as possible. Emma was naked and restless in her sleep. I stripped out of my clothes and slid into bed next to her. She whimpered without waking and curled into me. I wrapped my arms around her and finally breathed a sigh of relief as I drifted off to sleep.

Emma

Chapter 22

I awoke, surprised by how soundly I’d slept. Ever since Painter had left on deployment, it had felt like I barely slept at all. Exhaustion must have finally caught up to me.

Since I was going to be working for Shelby now, I had made it a point to give her and the babies time to themselves over the weekend. It made for a long Saturday and I wasn’t looking forward to another tedious day at all. Even time in my fur surrounded by the scent of my mate in his nest in the woods hadn’t calmed me.

I yawned and stretched, freezing when I hit a hard, firm body instead of the soft mattress or pillow. I rolled slowly, knowing it was him, but needing confirmation.

A huge smile crossed my face as I took in the view of my very handsome, very present, very hard mate. Painter. My heart swelled to the point I feared it might burst. I was so happy to see him home and safe.

A moment of panic had me checking him from head to toe. To my relief there were no bullet holes this time, no bandages, and no signs of injury. Not even so much as a bruise. I sighed in relief torn between wanting to wake him to talk and just wanting him. I knew I should let him sleep. It had been late when I finally went to bed, and I never even heard him come in sometime during the night.

I was so happy to see him that I couldn’t just lay there any longer. I did try. Just seeing him laying there, perfectly naked with the covers wrapped around his legs and leaving nothing to my imagination was too much. I didn’t just want him, I needed him like I’d never needed anything or anyone in my life.

He had mentioned so many times how delicious I tasted. I licked my lips wondering what that must be like. Every sexual experience I’d ever had, I’d had with him. I’d tasted his lips. I’d tasted the salt of his skin. But I’d never tasted him.

I grinned imagining what that would be like. I scooted lower in the bed as I stared at him, taking in his physique. He was built like Michelangelo himself had sculpted him, and he was all mine. I wanted that. Having him away this last week had shown me that. Spending time with Shelby had only confirmed it.

I wanted to bond myself to him in every way. I wanted babies with him someday. I wanted the entire package. I had let myself mourn my gorilla family, and I would continue to do so. Not knowing where they were or how they were doing, if they were even still alive killed a part of me inside. But I knew it was time for me to move on. This was where I was supposed to be, and this was the man I was meant to share my life with.

Feeling empowered by the love I now cherished, I leaned over and tasted him for the first time. Smiling, I licked him again, and again. He groaned but didn’t fully wake. I took him all in my mouth and then sucked. His eyes popped open, wild, and confused at first.

He looked down and smiled as I purred against him. A jolt of awareness shot through him. I could feel his muscles tense. It encouraged me to try new things, different angles, memorizing