The Alpha (The Pack 3)

“Light-Weight,” I enunciated clearly and barely repressed a squeal when he swatted my ass.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” He rumbled, walking me to the door as I clung to his broad frame.

“The big, bad wolf who can’t hold his liquor,” I taunted, completely unafraid of him and he knew it. He leaned in and nipped the sensitive skin of my neck and I gasped.

“Your mate,” he maintained, sending a thrill through me. “I will be whatever you need me to be for the rest of our lives. Friend, lover, protector – ”

“Designated driver,” I interrupted and his chest rumbled as he laughed.

“Designated driver,” he agreed, unbothered by my teasing. “I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to drinking with your father. But I also know this, I want you by my side for as long as we live. I want to wake up with you, fight with you, laugh with you, and have pups with you.”

He stopped moving and I realized we were standing outside a motel room door. I let go of his shoulders, placing my hands on his cheeks where rough stubble tickled my palms. “Yes,” I said seriously, “So long as you also promise to ravish me as long as we both shall live.”

“Oh, that’s a promise,” he agreed, his eyes gleaming as he pressed a hard kiss to my lips, pulling back long before I was ready. The door behind me opened and I held on to Dom, afraid I was about to go backwards, until I realized he’d opened the door. “Now, on to the ravishing.”

I squeaked as he tossed me onto the bed, kicking the door shut with his foot. His shirt landed next to me a second later and then he was poised above me, his muscled chest filling my field of vision.

I ate the sight of his chest hungrily, the dips and hard planes begging me to run my fingers over them. Golden skin gleamed in the dim light that managed to bypass the heavy curtains. I reached for him, unable to resist when I had a sudden thought.

“Are you sure?” I asked, my fingers hovering above the heavy pectoral muscle where I’d left my own mark.

He kept himself braced above me, his head lowering as he looked at me. “Isn’t that my line?”

“Probably…usually?” I gave a halfhearted shrug. “Not the point. I know I’m sure. I had the opportunity to keep going, leave this life behind, but I came back. I know you’re what I want.”

“And somehow, you think I’m not equally sure?” He asked as he settled his weight on one arm and reached for the light switch on the bedside lamp. He flicked the light on, illuminating the room, and the first thing I saw were my clothes hanging in the closet.

“What?” I sat up, almost clocking him in the chin, his insanely fast reflexes saving us both. “When? How?”

“It’s a little presumptuous, I admit,” he confessed, settling himself against the headboard as I explored the room, our room, I corrected myself, seeing his clothes back behind mine. “I want us to be together and I know staying in the same apartment as your dad would be awkward.”

“You think?” I tossed over my shoulder, checking the little kitchenette and seeing my favorite foods stocked. I stuck my head in the bathroom and saw my shampoo on the counter. “You thought of everything.”

“I can’t take all the credit. Anna assisted, and Trent. Your father too.”

I padded back to him, lifting my eyebrows at his mention of my dad. “You are a miracle worker.”

“Monster wasn’t too happy with me, at least until he realized he got your room with you gone. Then he happily dumped your stuff out the window.” Dom grimaced. “I think I got all the dirt off.”

“You did this when I was sleeping,” I stated, knowing it was the only time he could have. He nodded sheepishly. “So, you think we’re going to live happily ever after in a motel room?” I was perfectly okay with the idea if it meant I got to curl up next to him every night, but I also wanted to know if he had anything else up his sleeve.

“No,” he denied immediately, shaking his head. “No. This is a short term lease,” he added adamantly. “A temporary spot until we find something we both want.”

“What about your house?” I questioned, crawling across the bed towards him.

His face took on a cagey expression and I chuckled, “What did you do? Give your house to your sister?”

“Maybe?”

I busted out laughing, settling my legs on either side of him as I straddled him. “I would expect nothing less from you,” I told him, my hands running over his chest as I leaned down to press my lips against his mark.

“Who is seducing who here?” He questioned, his hands spanning my waist, his fingers slipping under my shirt to stroke the skin.