The Wolf’s Pregnant Rejected Mate (Bluebell Valley Wolves #2)

Chapter 9 - Tess

There was no sign that the demons were around anymore. Tess kept close to the rocks that led up to the cabin, grabbing handfuls of twigs right off the elderberry tree she’d spotted. The berries weren’t fully ripe yet, but they would sate the growing gnawing in her stomach. The T-shirt she’d made a temporary basket out of was nearly full of the eggs, berries, and other plants she had gathered. She watched the forest, determined that as soon as the wind picked up, she was heading back.

The cabin door slammed above her, making her jump. Tess quickly glanced down at herself. Though she wore the boxers and undershirt, she’d left the protective blanket in the cabin. Best to call it a good harvest. She started to climb up the first rock, careful not to spill her haul.

Ryder landed just behind her. She jumped again, yelping. His hair stood up on all ends, and his eyes were wild. They narrowed, and he let out such a growl that it sent shivers straight to her toes.

A sound like that should scare her. Instead, It made something inside her clench.

He grabbed her arm and all but shoved her up the first terrace of rock.

“Watch it!” Tess cried, balancing her precious gatherings. “You’re going to make me spill!”

He was utterly silent as he hovered behind her, pushing occasionally when she struggled. When they got back to the cabin, he took her food haul from her and placed it in the middle of the cabin. Fury radiated off him. Tess found herself shrinking back, bracing for the inevitable screaming.

When he opened his mouth, though, his voice was even. “Don’t leave the cabin. Especially not by yourself.”

Oh, he was going to do it that way, huh? She knew this trick. Pretend to be calm until something unrelated happened, and then all hell would be unleashed. She retrieved her blanket.

“I’m aware of the risks,” she snapped. “And we won’t last if they starve us out.”

That should do it. The shouting should start now.

But it didn’t.

“Tess.” Ryder’s voice deepened. He reached out, then stopped. “I understand why you did it. But I would never forgive myself if I failed you. You must see that. I am going to get you home, but you have to listen to me.”

Tess’s hands froze. She stared at the floor, the impossibility of what he was saying running through her mind. Did that mean he actually cared for her? Not just because of Mica, but because he thought she was worth something on her own?

“But you don’t even like me,” she mumbled.

“You drive me crazy,” Ryder said. “More than I want.”

She lifted her gaze to his. Her heart pounded, and her wolf growled, bold and demanding. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. “You drive me crazy, too. And I meant what I said before. I know you don’t want me as a mate. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never find one. That doesn’t mean I want to give up everything. If you don’t want to hold me, that’s fine. But if you do, don’t hold back because you assume what I want.”

Ryder’s eyes darkened as his gaze swept down her. “Fuck.”

“Ryder—”

“I know you don’t like the word. But that’s what it is.” He stepped closer and reached for the tie, holding the blanket in place. “Tell me, Tess. Tell me you want me to fuck you.”

Tess’s cheeks burned… and so did the rest of her. “I want you to fuck me.”

He loosened the blanket and let it fall to the floor. Then he carefully, slowly cupped his hands around her face and drew her in for a brief, tentative kiss. Tess reached out, placing her hands on his chest. The heat of his skin seeped through the T-shirt into her palms. They tingled at the contact. Ryder kissed her again, his eyes open and staring into hers. Slowly, he tugged the overly tight undershirt over her head. His fingers traced the imprints that the seams had left on her skin. He explored her, watching the progress of his hands.

The soft reverence in which he touched her nearly brought Tess to tears. He looked at her as though she was beautiful. She’d experienced men lusting for her before. But never desiring her. It always felt like they were after a warm squeeze to stick themselves into, a conquest. Never about wanting her.

Her hands remained on his chest as her breathing became more rapid. “What do I need to do? I don’t want to just lie there.”

“You can undress me,” Ryder murmured. “You can touch me. You can touch yourself, show me what you like. Most of all, tell me what you dream of. Tell me about your fantasies.”

Tess bit her lip. She let her hands move over Ryder’s body. His gaze darkened, and his breath came faster as they touched one another. Feeling bold, she pulled his shirt up and then undid his jeans. He was starting to harden already. Tess pulled his jeans down to the floor. Should she take him into her mouth? What if she wasn’t good at it?

“Tell me what you want, Tess,” Ryder whispered. “Tell me what you’ve fantasized about.”

“I’m not sure where to start,” she admitted, blushing.

Ryder chuckled as he hooked his fingers in the waist of her boxers and slowly pulled them down. “Don’t be shy. Pick anything. I promise I won’t be shocked.”

He knelt, kissing her hip as he pulled the boxers off.

“I want to try everything,” Tess blurted. She tangled her hands into his hair. “I want to be kissed all over. I want it soft and sweet, but I also want it rough. I want to be dominated, and I want to dominate. I want you to eat me out, and I want to deepthroat you. I want everything .”

Ryder kissed her hip again, then worked his way down her thigh slowly. Tess had to curve her body in to see him over her breasts and belly. She panted, waiting.

He smiled and gestured to the nest of blankets. “Lie down. Let’s start with something a little more soft and sweet, shall we?”

Tess nodded, her throat dry. This was really happening. Excitement and nerves coursed through her both. Her natural inclination was to hide herself from his view, to be ashamed of her body. Yet when he looked at her, she didn’t feel ashamed.

She laid down, getting comfortable. “Do you want to use my mouth first?”

Ryder shook his head. “No. I’m not going to last long enough for that. Open your legs and touch yourself for me.”

“Are you sure?” she stuttered.

He grinned at her, sliding his hands up her legs. He gently pressed her thighs apart, kneading his fingers into her skin. “Show me.”

Tess reached down. Her position wasn’t right, so she propped herself up more. She opened herself up and slid her fingers over herself. Ryder’s gaze was focused on the movement of her hand as she found her clit. It was sensitive, already at a hard little point. As she started to stroke it, Ryder’s breathing became more rapid.

He was so beautiful. The chiseled line of his jaw, his steady eyes, the intensity of his strong body. How could someone like that really be interested in her? And yet—he was here. His hand joined hers. He pushed two fingers into her, and his thumb joined hers on her clit. Tess stiffened, gasping out.

“Does that hurt?” Ryder asked, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

“No. It feels wonderful.”

Ryder grinned. With his other hand, he took hers and moved it to her breast. “Play with them, Tess. I love the way you look right now, but I want to see your hands on your body.”

Tess moaned, rocking her hips into his hand. She wanted more. But she obeyed him, cupping her breasts in her hands. She squeezed them, enjoying the sensation of movement. Ryder’s thumb moved in a faster pattern, making her clench. She could feel his fingers inside of her, moving as well. How could it feel so damn good?

“Ryder,” she panted. “Come here. I want to touch you.”

Ryder leaned over her, bracing himself up on his elbow as he continued to finger her. Tess groaned as her core tightened, sparks of pleasure jolting through her. She jerked when he rubbed his thumb a little too hard over her clit.

“Oh, that’s too much,” she gasped. Her hands pressed to his chest.

He started to pull back, but she caught him and pulled him back, lifting herself to catch his mouth in hers. His hand had stilled inside her. She didn’t care. She loved how close he was to her—loved the feel of his mouth on hers. He was here. He was touching her, desiring her. And if this was all she was going to get, then she was going to enjoy every moment of it.

She wrapped one arm over his shoulders and used her other to prop herself up, worried that she’d be too heavy for him. Ryder laughed into her mouth and pulled back slightly.

“Hold on,” he murmured, his breath washing over her face. “You said it was too much. Tell me what you want.”

“What you were doing before,” Tess answered. She rolled her hips toward him. “Gently.”

He nodded and started to stroke her again. Tess’s head fell back as pleasure washed through her. She had to lower herself back to the floor. Ryder kissed her neck, sending sparks through her, and moved down her body. He caught her breast in his mouth, swirling his tongue around her nipple. Tess buried her hands in his hair.

But as wonderful as this was, a sense of frustration swept through her. He was doing all the work. She wanted to give him pleasure, too. What should she do?

“Ryder,” she gasped. Her thighs were trembling, and when she tried to squeeze them, his body was in the way. It was getting difficult to think; he was pushing her farther than she’d ever been able to go on her own. “Ryder, I want to touch you. Please.”

He took her hand and guided it to himself. “Gentle,” he said, his voice husky.

Tess wrapped her hand around him. He was hard, solid. She moved her hand up and down, propping herself up so she could see what she was doing. To her amazement, he seemed to grow even bigger in her hand. Ryder’s eyes closed, and he let out a shaky grunt.

“Fuck, Tess. That feels so good,” he said.

Tess giggled, not minding the swear this time. He returned to his efforts in her, and soon, they were both panting, both coated in their own desire. Ryder’s hips jerked. Tess bucked.

Their eyes met.

“Tess,” Ryder growled. It was a demand, a question, a plea all rolled into one.

Tess nodded. “Yes. Ryder, please!”

His hand moved, his thumb giving one final sweep over her clit. Then it was gone. Tess whimpered, aching for more. Ryder took himself in his hand and positioned himself against her entrance. His jaw clenched as he eased himself in. He stretched her as he entered, a dull ache accompanying his movements. Tess clutched at his biceps, whimpering again.

“Am I hurting you?” Ryder asked through clenched teeth.

Tess shook her head. She didn’t want him to stop. “I want you. Ryder, I need you.”

She watched his face, fighting to keep herself still as he slowly pushed himself all the way into her. It felt… wonderful. The ache was there but not as bad as she had expected. Ryder laid down over her, their bodies pressed together. His weight on her body felt as though they were melding into one. She wrapped her legs around his hips and experimented with movement. Ryder’s eyes slid shut, and he let out a groan. His head dropped to her shoulder as he moved with her. They were slow, deliberate. The tension inside her grew stronger, the motions sending shockwaves down her legs.

“It feels so good,” Tess panted. She traced patterns down Ryder’s back.

A thrill swept through her. He was inside of her. They were moving together. Their motions grew stronger and faster. The tightness in her core kept building, pushing her higher than she thought was possible. Her back arched, and she held her breath.

Everything seemed to release at once. She clenched harder as spasms of pleasure burst through her. A cry ripped from her throat, and her fingers dug into Ryder’s back. He gasped, jerked, and let out a deep growl that rumbled through her chest. His movements became jerky, and something hot splashed against the insides of her thighs.

Both grew still.

Tess clung to Ryder, riding out the shockwaves. Ryder carefully pulled back from her and then grinned. He kissed her and rolled to his back.

That was it. She was no longer a virgin. Tess lay panting, the chill of the air stealing over her. She missed Ryder’s warmth. Every inch of her body seemed to have turned to jelly. And it was such a feeling that she searched herself, waiting. She should feel something, right? Some overwhelming sense of change. She shouldn’t feel like the same person anymore; she should feel irrevocably changed.

And something was different. But it wasn’t some overwhelming sense that said she was a different person. Instead, there was a soft, gentle sense of satisfaction.

“Are you okay?” Ryder asked, rolling to his side. He smiled down at her.

“Yeah.”

Her stomach rumbled, and they both laughed. Ryder reached across from her and grabbed the makeshift basket that contained the food she’d gathered. Tess enjoyed the feeling of him being so close as they sorted out the food and started snacking.

“Thank you,” she said.

Ryder grinned and kissed her. “No, thank you . That was amazing, Tess.”

Her heart fluttered, and her wolf preened with happiness. A new emotion swelled up in her, and she shoved it down. This was no-strings. It meant nothing except to have the experience. She was not going to let herself feel anything else. No matter how good it was to have Ryder smile at her like that.