Safe Haven

ChapterSeventeen

Briar

The parking lot around us was barren, empty of cars and people. A cool breeze chilled me to the bone as I stood off against the mayor. The vile monster stared me down with a haughty confidence he didn’t deserve, but I matched it with my own brand of fury. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this was a dream, but I couldn't wake myself up.

“That baby is mine. It’ll give me the boost I need. The polls will sing my praises. Mayor Aaron Townsen, a true family man,” he said in a newscaster voice, arcing his hand through the air like he was showcasing a headline.

“You’re delusional. You’ll never touch this baby,” I countered. My hands instinctively covered my baby bump, and I stepped away from him.

“I exiled you,” he pointed out. “My words have power. All I have to do is tell them I want you to be mine. We’ll have a public claiming ceremony, do a press tour, the works.” His eyes were faraway like he was picturing just that.

“No,” I said. The mayor’s eyes changed then, turning black like a demon’s, before he lunged at me.

The dream shifted and I was no longer facing off with that monster, but watching as Ellis fell to the ground, his body lifeless and bloody.

“Ellis!” My scream was no longer in the dream, and I woke with a start. My body was covered with sweat as I bolted upright, shoving stray hair out of my face and breathing heavily.

“You’re not alone, Briar. It’s okay. That was just another awful dream,” Ellis promised. He pulled me back down to my pillow and ran a soft touch down the side of my face to smooth out my hair. I stared up at him, relieved to see him mostly healed now. “They’ll stop soon, I hope. Until then, we’ll always be here to remind you that you’re safe, the baby is safe, and I’m safe.” He’d been so patient with me; they all had. We’d been home for a few weeks, and they’d had a nightly rotation going so someone was always with me, though Ellis ended up in my bed more often than not. We’d both been through a lot and found solace in each other. It was a huge difference from the reluctant alpha he’d been before.

“I’m sorry.” The shaky words were little more than a hoarse whisper.

“None of that,” he chastised gently. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“It’s been weeks of this,” I argued. “You can’t be this patient, Ellis!” I ground out. “It’s not fair when you faced just as much! I shouldn’t be putting this on your plate as well.”

“I did,” he agreed. “It was awful. Which is why I get it, Briar.”

“Stop being so understanding,” I grumbled. He laughed and pulled me closer, locking my knee between his as he held me tight.

“You want me to be mad at you?” he questioned. It was silly, we both knew it, but I was so frustrated with myself that I needed an outlet.

“I don’t,” I countered. “I just. Gah!” The entire situation made me want to scream. They’d all been so amazing, but that asshole mayor was still haunting my dreams. I couldn’t shake it, and I hated that I’d given him that power. Ellis tipped my chin up and brushed his lips over mine.

“You’re not alone, Briar. Remember that.”

At least I finally believed the words coming from his mouth. I’m not alone. I have a pack standing behind me to support me, so why can't I shake this?

* * *

Ellis

“It’s not just you.Did you know that the reason I come out more during the day is to see that you’re safe? When I’m not with you at night, I pop in while you’re sleeping to make sure you’re okay. Sometimes I just need to see that you’re okay, even feel it,” I explained, knowing exactly what she was grappling with.

“Ellis…” she breathed, moving closer to capture my lips. It wasn’t sweet and gentle; it was desperate. Her hands gripped at my clothes, trying to rip them off of me like she couldn’t take the layers between us any longer. I helped her, freeing myself of my shirt before pulling hers off as well. I groaned when I saw that the shirt was all she had on tonight. The scent of her slick started to fill the air, its sweet musk mixing with the rich sweetness of her scent. It was pure fucking heaven, and I never wanted it to fade.

We’d been too scared to take our relationship further in the face of her recovery, but we both needed this connection right now. She was stronger and had been cleared by her new doctor.

“Fuck, you smell divine. I need to taste you,” I begged. She bit her lip, and I nearly came at the sight of how fucking perfect and innocent she looked. Her eyes watched with raw hunger as I shed my boxers. My cock was already hard and ready, but it would have to fucking wait. She reached for me, stroking lazily, as she gasped.

“This might hurt,” she joked, though there was a bit of uncertainty behind it.

“I’ll be gentle,” I told her, moving closer to press a kiss to her lips. She laughed as she kissed me back, breathless when I pulled away.

“Don’t be,” she pleaded. “I need to feel this one.” Thank fuck because gentle wasn’t in my blood tonight. I’d held back from her for so long that I could kick my own ass. And now, in this moment, I wanted to make it so neither of us could forget. This was our first time together, and it would be nothing like the sweet sex it should have been. No, this would be demanding and possessive, allowing us to reassure the other that we were here.

“Oh, you will,” I promised as I shimmied down the bed and spread her legs so I could settle between them. Grabbing a pillow, I tucked it under her hips before hooking one leg over my shoulder. I breathed in deep. The scent of her natural arousal was too intoxicating to pass up the chance. My mouth watered, and I couldn’t deny myself this treat any longer, licking a stripe over her needy pussy. She cried out as I thrust into her core, lapping at every ounce of her slick. Her hands tangled in my hair as I ate her out, moving away from her core to teasingly swirl my tongue around her clit. Her whimpers were beautiful. I kept up my rhythm, slowly working her up, as I slid two fingers into her in a way that had her grinding into my face. As she reached the edge, I pulled out, gripping her hips to steady her as I feasted on her cunt until she was shamelessly riding my face. If I suffocated this way, I’d die a happy man.

She found her spot, using me and my tongue to get herself off. It was fucking perfect, and when she came, her pussy flooding with her arousal, I lapped up every drop before backing away. There was just something incredible about being able to make your omegas shatter. I’d had similar experiences with Beckham and Miles and now her, and it was everything.

My omega was mesmerizing. Her chest was heaving as she stared up at me, breasts bouncing from the intensity of it. Swiping a hand over my damp face, I crawled up just enough to capture her hard nipple in my mouth, sucking hard then soothing it with a flick of my tongue. She gasped, aftershocks of pleasure causing her to shake as I kneaded and teased her perfectly rounded breasts. She was sensitive, and the noises she made rivaled those she’d cried out mere minutes ago. That thought had my hand trailing back to her clit, touching her with deft fingers until she came for me again.

Her eyes locked on me as I pulled my hand free, making a show of licking up every drop that had coated my fingers.

“Holy fuck,” she breathed out as she watched me. “Fuck me now, please. I can’t do this torture anymore.”

“Torture?” I mused as I lightly ran my fingers down her abdomen. She shivered at the attention. She was so responsive to my touches and words. I loved it.

“Yes,” she pleaded. “I need your cock, alpha.” Fuck. She knew just how to beg. Coming from my sweet omega, those words were far too seductive. “Give me your knot.”

“Gladly.” I settled back between her legs. Gripping the base of my cock, I slid the tip through her wet pussy, coating myself in her slick before slowly pushing into her center. She was impatiently trying to move, but I steadied her with a hand on her hip, refusing to let her speed this up. She might say she wanted to feel this tomorrow, but the reality was that soreness wouldn’t be fun. I wasn’t a small alpha by any means, and once my knot swelled, she’d be begging me for mercy.