I woke up alone.

After I gave Jude a hug, we swapped the guestroom for his bedroom. The switch had surprised me. It was the first time I had been invited into his personal space. The last time I'd been inside his room, he had been fighting off a red eyed changeling.

Light steps echoed from outside Jude's door for the tenth time. It was no doubt an Enforcer making rounds. Did they know that I was inside? The thought had me chewing on my lip. People were going to find out. If not, they already knew by now. I slipped out from beneath Jude's covers and made a beeline for his shower.

After last night's event, everything had returned to its usual place except for the fact that I was now sporting obvious markings on the skin of my neck. Each time I brushed against the little indents; it tingled. Jude gravitated towards the markings since he kept nuzzling against it.

Being around Jude shouldn't have made me nervous but it did.

I was trying to summon the girl that wasn't afraid of the big bad wolf, but she was currently MIA- the bitch.

Jude had noticed the difference. He couldn't read his fancy book without stealing glances of me.

A little smirk played on his lips, while I chewed on mine obsessively, trying to put old-me back together again.

It was torture.

And when the lights turned off, Jude tugged me against him, folding his big arms around my body and hiking one of my thighs over his hip. He slipped his arm under my neck. His chin found a spot against my forehead and when he whispered a throaty 'night', I was officially done.

Jude Slater didn't know the kind of damage he was inflicting.

Twisting the knob of the shower, I waited until the rush of water became hot. Steam fogged the bathroom. I stripped out of last night's clothes and dipped under the scorching water of the showerhead. My skin immediately warmed from the heat. Once I soaked my hair in Jude's shampoo and conditioner, I quickly lathered his body wash over my skin.

***

It was one of those days where Jude was outside, mingling with his Pack mates instead of working behind the scenes to make sure his Territory was running smoothly.

I stayed perched on one of the big trees, lining the paths that led to one of the bigger fields in the Pack. Today, Pack members slowed to a stop when they spotted him. He painted an imposing image as he stalked across the field but there was a slight curve to his lip that made him a touch more approachable. He didn't flinch when a woman carrying a child approached him with a big smile. The little girl immediately slapped the Alpha's sharp cheeks with a burst of giggles. The mother looked horrified as she apologised profusely but Jude simply eased her worries with a dip of his head and flashed that rare smile of his. The toddler appeared as equally enraptured with the Alpha as her mother when he walked by.

I leaped to the next tree, trekking Jude along the path.

Pack members would have easily detected me, but their attention was on Jude who moved with familiarity among them. A few women offered him some fruits but he refused each offer politely.

It only occurred to me then that his own Pack members worshipped this man despite his quiet but intimidating presence.

Even the little kids had no problem running into his legs to give him a big hug that he returned effortlessly.

I took one more glance of him just as he lowered onto one knee to help a little boy tie the laces of his shoes. I almost tripped on my way down as he peered over his shoulder. His gaze clashed with mine with a knowing smirk that twisted my insides into fluttery butterflies.

***

Pen and I found a perfect spot to sit under a large bulking tree. The roots protruded from between cracks in the earth, serving as a nice spot to sit. The girl tackled me into a bear hug that landed us right into a muddy patch of wet grass. Once she rolled off me, she shook her head in complete disbelief. "Oh my gosh, you smell mated." She noted. "So, it's like official? I see the marks on your neck. Don't hold out. Tell me everything."

"Ehhh I-I ummm-"

"Damn girl. What is wrong with you Aella? Just spit it out. You're getting all red in the face." She laughed.

"It's kind of a long story if I'm being honest."

"Holy shit girl. It has only been a few days. What have you been doing? Wait, did you two finally..." She made a lewd hand gesture that immediately had me rolling in a fit of embarrassed laughter.

"Stop! It is not like that!"

"So you two haven't been playing hide the sausage in your bun? or park big daddy's limousine into your garage or-"

I was officially losing breath from all the laughing. "Pen!"

She shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, your life seems to be exciting. After that trekking test we had, more of us got sent home and it had been quiet. No one has been telling us anything and that asshole Alexei has been diverting his answers. No one knows what has been happening and I had a hunch that something was going on with you considering I haven't seen you in days. Rumours are going around and some of the Recruits are getting anxious with the sudden silence. I actually like seeing Seamus's face. I know, don't look at me like that."

"I think Jude has been holding off the tests because of me." I guiltily admitted.

"Well, I'm happy that we get some rest. I officially met some other Pack members last week. I'm starting to notice that some are not as wary of me as they used to be. I think I might be even friends with Kian too." She added, grinning.

"Kian?" I thought back to the last time I'd seen him. He had wanted to speak with me but I hadn't had the chance to. "Would you mind asking him to come to Jude's office when you see him next? I need to see him."

"Ok. Now, you said it was a long story. What else happened with you and the Alpha?" She went flat on her back, releasing a long sigh. She positioned her arms behind her head as we both watched the clouds float by.

"Well, I met my dad..."

***

By the time I finished speaking with Pen, the sun was on the verge of setting. Streams of amber light covered the green fields, making the scenery beautiful.

I hurried back to Jude's bedroom where I found him sitting on the edge of the bed, talking rapidly on the phone. My heart stuttered at the sight of him in the evening glow. His gaze found mine instantly as I entered his room, closing the door behind me with a soft click. His gaze hungrily darted over my figure to one of his cotton shirts I had stolen earlier from his clean collection in his drawer. I paired the article with my tight jeans Pen had brought down with the rest of my essential things bundled into my duffle bag. I placed the said bag into the corner and toed off my boots, leaving them near the coat rack.

"I'll speak to you soon." Jude ended the call, tossing the device onto his mattress. "I was looking for you." He moved towards me with predatory grace. I let him come to me. "Come here." He said gruffly, opening his arms.

I didn't hesitate. I practically flew into them with complete abandon, enjoying the feel of them around body. His face buried into the sensitive spot of my neck. I swallowed a gasp as he suddenly lifted me up until both my legs latched around his trim waist. His hands were warm as they travelled to the back of my thighs. A small gasp escaped my lips as he abruptly turned, laying me flat on the bed where he crawled and covered my body with his heat. "Felt you the minute you were in that tree." His tone held humour as he skimmed his lips to the lobe of my ear, "You could have fell off from up there." He nipped the skin of my chin.

My body arched under his touch, "But I didn't."

He growled into my ear, his lips trailing across my cheek until they met my lips. "Don't do it again."

"You're not the boss me." I weakly protested but his lips muffled the words, stealing a kiss.

I was aware of his fingers as they roamed along my arms. Jude had a way of treating me like porcelain.

"More." I tugged on his lower lip as his tongue swept into my mouth.

He responded in a moan, tangling his fingers into my hair as he deepened the claim.

I arched into his touch, savouring the velvet feel of his kiss. I was hypnotised. His lips briefly left mine. I protested, opening my eyes to meet his titanium gaze. His lips were pink and a touch swollen. His fingers stopped at my sides, sliding the fabric of my shirt between his fingertips as he waited. "Things are getting heavy. Maybe we should stop?"

I watched his throat bob as he waited for my answer. He didn't want to stop. Neither did I.

"I want this." I pressed my lips to his full lower lip, sinking my teeth into the soft middle before flicking my tongue against his parted lips. He groaned, rescinding more of his weight to settle between my legs. His arm slid behind my head, grasping my hair into his fist. His other hand toyed with the buttons of my shirt, eliciting shivers along my spine. "What are the magic words, Aella?"

I clearly wasn't thinking right. His sexy voice whispering in my ear was too much and the way he kept sliding his lips against mine but really not doing anything with it made me push into him. I was sure I'd still be squirming under him if he merely drawled the words peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"I d-don't know." I rasped, sliding my hands under his shirt. His skin was smooth and warm under my dancing fingertips. His body tensed but he made no move to do anything else.

The man was holding out despite feeling his arousal pressed against my thigh.

"The words you're looking for is 'make me come' my little mate."

I groaned into his collarbone. "Jude."

His chuckle against my jaw made me equally frustrated and needy.

"Say it for me Aella, my sweet sweet fairy. Don't be shy with me."

I wasn't a shy person but this moment with Jude was turning me into some kind of stuttering fool. The other times we'd been intimate, the needing had happened. I had let my hormones take over. This time was different. There was no needing and I was writhing under Jude with a clearer mind. Jude knew it was different too because even though his pupils were dilated, his scrutiny was alert and patient.

But this was Jude.

And I trusted him with my body.

So, as any respectful girl with a hunk of a man laying on top of her waiting, I did what any other girl would do in my position.

I grabbed the hem of my shirt and tugged it off, along with my bra I damn near ripped in the process of attempting to look seductive. The air noticeably shifted as I hauled off his shirt. He didn't hesitate to help me pull it off over his head, throwing the material beyond his shoulder.

Then his lips were on mine.

Any coherent thoughts disappeared like smoke dissipating as my lips parted with a gasp.

His hair was silk in my hands. I wanted him closer. The thick pricks of his stubble scraped across my cheeks deliciously and I was completely lost with his heated touch and unrestrained appetite.

I protested when his lips nipped the line of my jaw, making it ache. He merely chuckled, then his lips were trailing along the sensitive slope of my neck, towards the valley of my heaving breasts. His thumbs lightly danced along the underside of them, until he slowly dragged his thumbs up, sweeping them over my puckered nipples.

I shuddered under his hooded assessment.

"You have no idea how good you look right now beneath me." He whispered, watching intently as his hands cupped my breasts. I moaned as his fingers tweaked my sensitive nipples until they were a perked. "Can you come like this my sweet one?" He pinched the pink buds, stealing a gasp as his lips descended, sucking an engorged peak into his mouth.

I quivered from the slick movements of his mouth, gripping his hair, "P-Please..."

His tongue was merciless as he licked his way to the other nipple, sucking it deep between his lips with a contented moan.

His fingers latched onto my jeans, yanking them down with one push. Then his fingers touched the silk covering the spot between my thighs. I was humming with arousal as he slid a finger over the damp piece, circling it over the bud of sensitive nerves. "You're so wet for me. You've soaked right through your panties. Do you like my fingers playing here? Do you want more? Want me to shove your panties to the side and touch your pussy?"

I sipped in a tremulous breath as he released one nipple, kissing his way down until his tongue flicked along my hip. His fingers played with the sides of the delicate silk, but his eyes were on me, his expression darkened with hunger.

"Eyes on me Aella."

I swallowed the lump in my throat as he slowly drew my panties down my thighs. His eyes were still on mine as he tucked the silk into his back pocket. I bit my lip, "Those are mine." I muttered but the protest was weak. He had lured me into a deep spell. I couldn't glance away.

"Not anymore." He conjured a charming grin. It was impossible to think that this man was capable of the savageness he was associated with. All I could think about in that moment was how good his fingers felt sliding along the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. He spread them abruptly until the back of my knees rested against his propped elbows.

His gaze broke away, lowering to the spot between my thighs. "Don't scream too much." He teased, just before he clamped right on my clit, sucking it in with force that made my eyes roll back.

My back arched from the first touch of his tongue. His hands squeezed my hips tightly to stop me from wriggling away from his sleek ministrations. His knuckles were white as he lashed his tongue against the pink nub. I was spiralling to the edge; I could feel the tingles rushing to my centre. He sucked tightly again, now working a finger into the lubricated hole dripping with his saliva. "Eyes on me." He released my clit, staring at me as he worked his finger in and out of my pussy.

"That feels so good." I mewled, gripping his hair. His fingers rubbed circles against my swollen nub until I was squirming in desperation.

"So fucking wet." Jude hissed before he was pulling my clit back into his mouth again with a low groan, muffled into my skin. I bit my lip, moving my hips against his merciless, lashing tongue. "I'm going to come-"

He sucked harder and I gasped, feeling myself erupt into a full-body orgasm. Jude held tightly onto my thighs as he kept his tongue on me, swiping the wet heat against my slit.

"Fuck you're so damn sexy." Jude released my clit with a growl, before crawling over me and planting his lips against mine. He tasted like me. I was so lost in his ministrations, it took a while for me to realise that he was still hard, throbbing against the top of my thighs. I grabbed onto his length, rubbing it against my wetness. Jude froze, breaking his lips from mine until he was panting against me with his eyes scrunched up in pain. "Please..." His hands fisted the covers tightly until his knuckles turned white, "Keep going."

I squeezed his tip. He hissed out a breath. A trickle of sweat dripped from his temple as his body shuddered. His hips rocked with my fingers and I felt that he was close.

"I want you in my mouth." I whispered.

Jude's eyes snapped open. He cursed between gritted teeth. "You're going to kill me."

"I want to taste you."

Jude shivered but managed to straddle my chest. His fingers were still wet with my arousal as he pinched my nipples and slid his thickness between my breasts, gliding the wet tip onto my tongue. I hollowed my cheeks and drew him deep into my mouth until he was shaking against me. He was big, so I wrapped my hands along his length, pumping it as I played with the tip of his cock with my tongue.

"Baby, I'm going to come." He made a move to withdraw but I held onto his ass, sliding his length deeper into my mouth. He suddenly trembled so hard; a filthy curse escaped his lips as warm spurts coated my tongue. He was still shuddering as I swallowed, giving his tip a slow lick and a peck.

I watched as he slowly licked his lips, watching me so intensely under his lashes, he looked utterly destroyed.

His cock slipped from my lips. He rolled onto his side, breathing heavily. I shifted over until I was half on top of him, taking in his flushed cheeks and tousled hair. His lips were still so shiny with my essence. He looked completely wiped out. When he finally opened his eyes, albeit reluctantly, they were noticeably softer. More grey. Content. Satiated.

"Goddamn woman." He pressed a smile into my neck, wrapping his arms around me until my head was tucked under his chin and his legs were intertwined with mine. "I'm wiped."

My eyes felt tired, but I used the last of my energy to nip his chiselled jaw, "Let me rest for a few minutes before we hop into the shower." I managed to whisper despite fatigue pulling my eyelids down.

I felt his head move against me. A nod. Then his chest depleted into a contented sigh as his fingers wrapped around my hair. "Close your eyes."