The Dancer (Dark Side of the Moon #1)

Chapter Seventeen

Quinn

Elias is more protective than usual, and I fully understand his reasoning. He wants to keep me safe and will do anything to ensure that happens. My heart breaks at the mere thought of my mate being hurt or killed. I can’t stomach the idea of anything bad happening to him only so that he can keep me safe.

I would offer myself to Warren, the Alpha who claims I belong to him, to keep Elias safe. But my mate already knows me too well and has Maddox watching my every move.

“Stop doing that,” Maddox grumbles over the rim of his coffee mug.

“What?” I am trying to act innocent, but I am sure it is falling flat.

“Thinking. I can hear your thoughts as if you were screaming at me. You’re not going to that asshole, and Elias isn’t going to lose the fight.”

I watch him intently. “How can you be so confident?”

Maddox smiles softly. “Did Elias tell you anything about our father?”

I shake my head. “He just said he used to be the Alpha and is dead now.”

“Our mother passed when we were young and I was ten when our father died, Elias was barely sixteen. He was thrust into the pack Alpha role without any idea how to handle the situation. He also became the only family I had. He raised me on his own, started Whychwood Industries, expanded the pack, and so much more. I can’t think of anything my brother can’t do once he sets his mind on it.”

Wow.

I am stunned, silent. Thinking of a young Elias doing all of this on his own leaves me in awe of the man. It also makes my heart ache for him a little bit. It must have been hard having to go through that alone.

“What lies are you telling my mate?” Elias’s voice breaks the silence in the kitchen, drawing our attention.

It’s clear to see he is agitated. I wonder what the council meeting was about.

“I won’t lie to her. She is family now.” Maddox grins. “I was simply telling her you’re an old Alpha, stuck in your ways. And that I hope she can get the stick you have stuck up your ass out at some point.”

I see what he is doing, trying to get his brother to focus on anything except the upcoming fight and whatever else happened today.

“Little shit,” Elias groans with a small smile. “And I’m not old. I’m mature.”

“Whatever, old man,” Maddox says with a wave as he leaves out the back door he only recently replaced.

I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.

“Are you laughing at my expense, Little Mate?” Elias questions, stalking in my direction, and I shake my head.

I can’t help but smile as I dodge to the other end of the kitchen, putting the island between us.

“He’s right, you know,” I muse, fighting a smile. “You’re almost thirty-one, practically ancient.”

“I’ll show you,” he growls, and he is beside me in an instant.

A large hand wraps around the column of my neck, holding me in place but not applying pressure. Leaning over my body, he presses me back against the island, my back bowing, my breasts thrust forward. His other hand lifts my left leg to hook it around his hip, his engorged cock rubbing against the apex of my covered sex.

A mewling sound falls from my lips before I can stop myself, and I am no longer smiling. Lust courses through me, and I want to rip all our clothes off and fuck like animals. I wonder if it will always feel this way.

“Do you want me to show you how well this old man can fuck you?” he rasps lowly in my ear.

“Yes.” My voice is barely above a whisper, arousal stealing my sanity.

He thrust against me, the fabric separating us, frustrating me to no end. Elias chuckles at my frustrated growl before lifting me in the air. He carries me to our bedroom, kissing me all the way, stripping us out of our clothes, and leaving a trail of discarded items as far as we go.

Instead of placing me on the bed and fucking me like I want, he carries me through to the bathroom, where he sets me on the counter. I watch him start the shower, the muscles in his back bulging and rippling beneath his ink.

“I want to wash you,” he says with mischief in his eyes. “I want to clean you up so I can dirty you all over again.”

I nod quickly, like I would say anything else, and he chuckles. He carries me into the large glass enclosure before allowing me to stand. His hands are soaped up as he touches every inch of my body, not missing a single spot. He washes and rinses my hair with more care than I would have ever associated with a man his size and kisses me leisurely afterward.

Turning me to face the wall, he bends me forward and kicks my leg apart. I don’t have time to brace myself before he thrusts into me, spearing me with his erection. Moans fall from both of us, hanging in the enclosed space.

“How is it even better now?” Elias rasps behind me.

“More,” I mewl in reply, even though I don’t have to ask.

He isn’t about to stop.