Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale

24

A hand trailedup and down my spine in teasing, comforting movements. It felt as if I were lying against a giant heating pad. I wanted more of that warmth, wanted to dive into it and bury myself deep.

Then the quiet hit me. The beeping of the heart monitor that had been my constant companion was gone.

I jerked upright, panic slicing through me. The room swam as I blinked. It took a few tries to bring everything back into focus.

That was when I saw him. His multi-colored hair mussed, scruff dotting his jaw, hazel eyes full of concern.

“Colt.”

His name came out on a choked sob.

“Come here, LeeLee.” He tugged me against his chest.

“Is this real?”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “Very real.”

“Are you sure?” I didn’t trust my own senses.

“I’m okay. I promise.”

The tears came in earnest then, sweeping through me in vicious waves. Colt just held me tight, whispering sweet nothings over and over until the sobs subsided.

“I’m right here, LeeLee.”

“I thought I was going to lose you,” I choked out.

“Never gonna happen.” Colt’s words were a vow. I felt it in every syllable.

I tipped my head back so that I could take in his face. “Are you okay? Where is everyone? The doctor needs to check you over.”

“Already done. Clean bill of health. I’m almost fully recovered.”

My eyes flared.

“You slept right through it.” Colt’s mouth dipped to a frown. “You pushed too hard. The guys told me you were up for over twenty-four hours and that you almost got into a fistfight with Darius. What were you thinking?”

I frowned right back. “He didn’t get to be here. Not when he’s not on your side.”

Colt brushed my hair from my face. “So fierce.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

His brows pinched. “About what?”

“Locking you out. Thinking that you might not want me in your life…it hurt so bad—”

“I’ll always want you. Nothing I’ve ever wanted more.”

I swallowed hard. “I didn’t think about what might’ve been keeping you away. I let my hurt get the best of me.”

Colt’s fingers tangled in my hair. “That’s natural. You’ve been through a lot.” Darkness filled his eyes. “If I’d known what you were going through, I’d have come so much sooner, consequences be damned.”

“Colt—”

“I’ll never forgive myself for not being there when you needed me.”

“Don’t.”

His fingers slid down the column of my neck. “It’s true.”

I lifted a hand to Colt’s face, his scruff pricking my palm. “What if we decided to start over?”

Hope flared in those gorgeous hazel eyes. “You willing to give this bond a shot? Fully and completely?”

There were no half measures when it came to this bond. I couldn’t give pieces of myself here and there. I had to give myself completely or not at all.

I shifted up, brushing my lips across Colt’s. “I love you, Colt. I always have, and I always will.”

Colt moved on a growl, flipping us so that I was beneath him, and he was hovering above me. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

He nipped at my bottom lip. “Again.”

“I love you.”

Colt took my mouth in a powerful kiss. His tongue stroked in, demanding and comforting all at once. Colt was earthy heat I could sink into for the rest of my days.

I lost myself in the tangle of tongues. Each twist and flip had my belly dipping, then tightening, my core crying out for more.

“Colt,” I whispered against his lips.

He pulled back a fraction, searching my eyes. “Tell me what you need.”

My fingers trembled against his muscled back, the skin so incredibly smooth. “I need all of you.”

Those hazel eyes flared wide. “LeeLee…”

“Please.”

He searched my face for any hint of indecision. “You’re sure?”

I nodded. “Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Colt’s fingers dipped beneath my T-shirt, skimming against my stomach. It was such a gentle gesture, the barest of touches, but it had my body waking up and standing at attention.

“Need to see you. Been dreaming about it ever since that day in the attic.”

I blushed as I remembered coming alive beneath his and Dash’s touches.

Colt fisted the hem of my shirt, pausing as if expecting me to protest. I didn’t. And a second later, my shirt was flying to the floor.

Colt leaned against his elbow, gazing down. He traced the edge of my lace bralette with his finger. “So pretty. So perfect.” His lips spread into a grin. “Love how you flush everywhere.”

“The curse of being a redhead,” I muttered.

Colt chuckled, his head dipping low and lips skimming across my skin. “Could make a game of getting that pretty pink to spread.”

He pulled down one strap of my bra, then the other. His tongue flicked out, lashing against my nipple.

My core pulled tight, wanting, needing.

“Colt,” I whispered.

“Need to prepare you, LeeLee. Can’t rush it.”

But I wanted to. Wanted him, all of him. And couldn’t wait.

Colt’s lips closed around my nipple, and he sucked deep.

I nearly bowed off the bed, a whimper leaving my lips.

His hand slipped beneath my sweats and under my panties. “I’ll ease the ache.”

My legs fell open on instinct, begging for anything he’d give me.

Colt slid two fingers inside, his thumb circling my clit.

My breaths came faster.

“So tight. Can’t wait to feel you milking my cock. God, LeeLee, I could come just thinking about it.”

A pleading mewl left my lips.

Colt’s teeth grazed my nipple, and my hips bucked.

“Be a good girl and stay still,” he commanded.

I tried with all my might to keep still as Colt teased and toyed, but soon, my hips were moving again, rising up to meet the thrusts of his fingers. Wetness spread between my legs, and Colt inhaled deeply.

“God, your scent. Nothing like it.”

My face flamed.

Colt’s eyes locked with mine. “Never be embarrassed. I love knowing I turn you on. That this scent is just for us.”

Another rush of wetness pooled between my thighs.

Colt grinned. “I have to see that pretty pink between your thighs.”

He moved so fast I barely saw it, tugging my sweats and panties off and sending them to the floor. He spread my thighs, settling between them.

I squirmed, wanting to cover myself.

Colt gripped my thighs, his eyes going hard. “Never seen anything more beautiful. Glistening. Pink. So ready and wanting.”

My core spasmed at his words.

Colt’s tongue flicked out across my clit, and all embarrassment fled. I just wanted more. He teased and toyed but always stopped shy of where I needed him.

Another whimper slipped free, and Colt’s gaze shot to mine. “Ready, LeeLee?”

I swallowed and nodded.

“Need the words.”

“Ready,” I whispered.

Colt stood, and my breath hitched.

“Condom?” I squeaked.

His fingers trailed up my leg. “You can’t get pregnant unless we’re fully mated. We have to claim you.”

“Claim me?” I asked.

Colt’s fingers traced designs along my skin. “It’s a different process for each supernatural, but there’s always a mark. For me, it means my teeth sinking into that sweet skin with a mating bite.”

My heart picked up speed, some deep part of me craving that bite.

His lips twitched. “And we aren’t susceptible to human diseases.”

“Oh.”

A smile stretched across Colt’s face as he stepped back and shucked the joggers he wore.

My eyes went wide. There he was. All of him. His dick standing tall and thick, pressed against his belly.

“You keep looking at me like that and this’ll be over before it’s begun.”

My eyes flew to his face.

Colt smiled, stalking back toward me and climbing onto the bed. He hovered over me. “Legs around me.”

My limbs moved on instinct, and his tip bumped against my entrance.

“Colt,” I whispered.

“Love you with everything I have,” he said against my lips.

Then he slid in. My mouth dropped open. Everything was sensation. A bite of pain, but so much more. Heat and delicious pressure.

“Fucking heaven,” he muttered, his face pressing into my neck as he struggled to breathe.

A moan escaped me.

“You okay?” he gritted out.

I tried to get words out, but I was feeling so much. Instead, I just made a nonsensical sound.

Colt pulled back. “LeeLee?”

“More,” I whimpered.

His lips met mine in a soul-stealing kiss, and Colt began to move. Slow, easy thrusts at first, those hints of pain melting into nothing but heat.

My heels dug into Colt’s ass, and he arched deeper into me, making my eyelids flutter.

“Eyes on me, LeeLee. Want to see those stars when you come.”

My inner walls spasmed, and Colt cursed.

He picked up speed, my own hips rising up to meet him. We found a rhythm that turned a flicker into a flame.

“Not gonna last,” he ground out. “Too fucking good.”

My muscles began to tremble, and my legs shook.

Colt’s hand dipped between us, finding my clit. He pressed down, and everything around me shattered in a spiral of light.

Colt shouted something undiscernible, thrusting impossibly deeper.

Wave after wave pulsed through me as my fingernails dug into Colt’s back. All I could do was hold on because I knew nothing would be the same.