When He's Ruthless (The Olympus Pride 4)

She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “I’m not shocked or disgusted by anything that went on here tonight, if that’s your worry. But it’s ever so cute, albeit confusing, that you’d mistake me for queasy.”

“Not sure I like that condescending tone, but fine.” Luke pulled out his phone. “I need to make this call to River, and then we’ll head home.” His eyes glinted with promise, reminding her of his earlier vow to claim her tonight.

Blair smiled and lowered her voice as she said, “I hope you don’t mind biting and scratching, because me and my animal want you all marked up.”

His eyes blazed. “Right back at you, baby.”

Having had years to plan how the day of their claiming would go, Luke had had it all planned out in his head—beginning with driving to Sylvan territory on Blair’s nineteenth birthday, handing over her birthday gifts, helping her move her things to his place, and then cooking her a romantic meal before he finally took her to bed.

Of course, that plan had been upended by the mere fact that he brought her here early.

Enter the new plan. Which he hadn’t properly laid out in his mind. What he’d most wanted was to ensure that the day was special. As such, spending time interrogating a human on the very evening that he finally claimed his mate had been nowhere on Luke’s wish list.

He thought about delaying the claiming until tomorrow, but his cat would never stand for it. He doubted Blair or her inner female would either. And with so much currently happening around them, there was no guarantee that tomorrow would be any calmer.

At the very least, he wanted her to be able to wash the day away. So Luke didn’t pounce on her the moment they returned to what was now their apartment. Ignoring his cat’s protests, Luke resisted the urge to take and dominate. He gently herded her into the bathroom, slowly stripped each item of clothing from her body, shed his own clothes, and then ushered her into the shower stall.

Squinting slightly in what appeared to be confusion, she went along with it. But there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she’d attempt to take over if things didn’t eventually move fast enough for her liking. His girl had little patience.

As they stood under the hot spray, Luke stroked and soaped her down, every touch reverent with a sensual undertone. He wanted to kindle small flames of arousal inside her; wanted a slow burn to steadily wind her tight until her body was primed for what would come next.

His own body was ready to roll—his blood hot, his skin tight, his dick aggressively hard. The drive to claim her beat at him with a fierce intensity, fueled by the knowledge that he’d very soon answer that drive, rendering his hold on his control a brittle thing.

He’d dreamed of this, of making her officially his, for months. Craved it. Burned for it. Obsessed over it. Until it felt like it was all he lived for.

He massaged her scalp as he shampooed and then conditioned her hair. He spent most of that time gritting his teeth, because her soft hands slid over his body as she washed him down. Each caress was lazy yet still undeniably erotic.

She teasingly skimmed her palm over his cock and then ever so gently whispered her fingers over his balls. He nearly lost it right then. Something he couldn’t afford to do. He’d hurt her if he wasn’t mindful of her inexperience. Her first time, their first time together, wasn’t going to be a quick fuck against the shower wall.

Out of the stall, he looped a thick, soft towel around his hips before then holding up a towel for her. Once her feet met the floor mat, he dried her off, gently batting away her hand when she attempted to take over.

She stared up at him, a slight glaze in her eyes, a flush of arousal staining her cheeks, and the scent of her need lacing the air. He couldn’t resist dropping his head to swipe his tongue over her lower lip. She slyly captured his tongue and suckled, the teasing little witch.

Luke fisted his hand against the urge to snap it around her throat. “Behave.” He kissed her slow and deep, wrestling back the need to ravish her mouth. She palmed the back of his head as she met him kiss for kiss, her free hand yanking the towel from his hips. Her soft fingers curled around his cock and squeezed tight.

He growled. “I said, behave.” He tugged her hand away. “You can play with my dick all you want another time. But not here and now.” It would eat at what control he had left, and he couldn’t afford to lose it.

Once they’d dried off, he lifted her, carried her into the bedroom, and sat her on the edge of the mattress. “Lay back.”