She nodded but didn’t speak, just kept her eyes on my face.
My stomach dropped, I took her hand and led her into my cell at the back. I had a sink and towels in there. “Are you okay?” I hoped to the Mother she wasn’t regretting what we’d just done. I know I didn’t.
“I’m fine.” Coughing she cleared the croakiness from her throat and turned to face me. “I’m more than fine,” she said, her voice stronger. Her hand cupped my cheek. “Are you?” Her eyes searched mine. For what, I wasn’t sure.
I hoped my smile was reassuring and I pulled her to me holding her softness against my body. She was so warm, so right in my arms. I eyed the bed longingly. Sighing, I kissed the top of her head, breathing her in. “I’m more than fine, too. Being with you was incredible, Em.” Gently, I put her away from me. “But we need to talk. And if we stay naked, talking is the last thing I’ll want to do.”
She smiled, a mischievous twinkle entering her eyes as she dragged her gaze over me.
I growled low in my throat. “Ember...” And swallowed hard as my cock jumped under her perusal. “The sink, now.” I walked out before she could be defiant and touch me again. I’d be utterly at her mercy, now that I’d had a taste of my mate. My wolf whined and I hissed as his confusion flooded me. He wanted Ember as much as I did, but he was still unsure about the wolf she housed.
It’s alright, my friend, give it time. I know you’re not sure. I’ll wait for you.
But a heaviness dragged me down until I couldn't catch my breath. Unless our wolves were mates too, we couldn't fully bond. I could mark her, but it would destroy my wolf if her wolf wasn’t his mate. I would be bound to Ember while he would want a different female. I thrust that thought from my mind, not willing to deal with that possibility. Until the silver collars were removed there was no way we could know. Our wolf spirits were locked inside us and unable to fully bond with each other. Water splashed in the other room. Ember had explained the craziness that had happened with her wolf, but it didn’t explain the hows or whys. I didn’t think she even knew how her fire, or just Fire, as she had named her, worked. Fire always appeared when Em was in mortal danger. Gods, it was times like now I wished I had access to the internet or even an old fashioned fucking library would be good. Looking up what else besides a wolf lived inside my Firecracker, was something I should have done years ago.
I shoved my feet in my jeans and pulled them up my legs. I needed a shower but that could wait, I wasn’t wasting any time with my Firecracker.
A few minutes later Ember emerged looking fresh, though her skin was still flushed, her eyes bright and her hair mussed by my hands. I loved that just fucked look on her, but I remained quiet. There were things she needed to know…
I found it hard not to stare at the movement of her hips as she swayed over towards me. My mouth dried out, and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask when her last fertile time had passed. I pressed my lips in a tight line deciding that was a question for another time. Females, when reaching their one fertile time every six months had a certain scent, one which drove all the unmated males nearby insane. Any female about to go into heat sequestered themselves in a cell, and only the alpha of their pack held the key. Even with the locked cell, guards were put on the door, mainly to stop those wanting to get in from damaging themselves by trying to get through the metal door. It was a system that worked.
I scrunched my eyebrows together, thinking back. It dawned on me that very few women went into heat in gen pop. Neither had there been any pregnancies in the prison. If there had been, I would have known. I rubbed my face. How had I missed that before? Because I’d let my wolf take charge and he didn’t give a shit about that kind of thing. Dominance, keeping his brothers and pack safe, and the fighting