Chapter 9

Allison

A ragged, breathless gasp tore from my throat as the solid, heavy length of Roman’s body pressed firmly against my aching core. The sensation was overwhelming—an intense, consuming heat that anchored him to the very center of my universe. It was a possessive, ancient magic, the physical reality of the mate bond locking us together, screaming at me to open up and submit to the Alpha hovering over me.

Roman buried his face in the crook of my neck, his entire body trembling violently as he held himself absolutely still, waiting for me to adjust. His chest heaved against my breasts, his skin burning hot and slick with sweat.

But as the seconds ticked by, the initial rush of white-hot desire began to collide with a cold, paralyzing wave of reality.

I’ve never done this.

The sheer size of him, the raw, primal silver glowing in his eyes, and the terrifying speed at which my life was changing since midnight suddenly crashed down on me. My inner walls didn't relax; instead, they clamped shut in sheer panic. My chest felt tight, and my breathing turned shallow and erratic.

"Roman," I choked out, my hands moving from his shoulders to press flat against his chest, trying to create even an inch of space. "Roman, stop. Wait."

He froze instantly. A violent tremor shook his massive muscular frame as he fought the roaring, predatory urge of his wolf to simply push through. His jaw clenched so hard the bone looked ready to crack, sweat dripping from his chin onto my collarbone as he forced his lower body to stay completely still.

"Allie?" he gasped out, his voice completely wrecked, rough and laced with the agony of forced restraint. "Talk to me, baby. What's wrong?"

"I can't," I whispered, tears finally leaking from the corners of my eyes, pooling into the charcoal pillow beneath my head. I couldn't look at the silver fire in his eyes. Shyness and sheer terror were short-circuiting the bond. "I thought I was ready, but I'm... I'm too scared. It's too fast. Please."

For a fraction of a second, the dominant Alpha aura around him flared, his wolf angered by the sudden rejection. I braced myself, my heart hammering a frantic, terrified rhythm against my ribs.

But then, the heavy, suffocating pressure vanished.

With a low, gravelly groan, Roman slowly pulled his hips back, completely removing the heavy weight pressing against my core. He rolled off me, shifting onto his side on the dark satin sheets, his chest heaving as he stared up at the ceiling, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

The silence in the bedroom was suffocating, broken only by our ragged breathing. I pulled the edge of the charcoal duvet tightly up to my chin, curling my knees to my chest as a deep, hollow wave of embarrassment washed over me. I had ruined it. I had rejected the future Alpha.

"Roman, I'm sorry," I whispered brokenly, looking over at his rigid profile silhouetted against the glittering city lights. "I just... I need time."

Roman didn't answer right away. He took a long, shuddering breath, forcing the volatile silver in his eyes to recede until a thin, stable ring of deep blue returned around his pupils.

Then, he turned to face me.

He didn't look angry. He looked entirely exhausted, his face a mask of raw intensity as he reached out with one large, calloused hand. His fingers brushed gently against my wet cheek, wiping away a tear before sliding down to wrap firmly, yet tenderly, around the back of my neck.

"Don't you ever apologize to me for that, Allison," he growled softly, his voice still a ruined, gravelly mess from the unspent tension. He pulled me closer until my forehead rested against his bare chest, right over his wild, racing heartbeat. "I told you I wouldn't move until you told me to. If you're scared, we stop. Period."

My inner wolf purred softly at his reassurance, the golden thread in my chest radiating a warm, comforting wave of relief. He wasn't leaving. He wasn't angry.

"My wolf wants to claim you, Al," Roman murmured into my hair, his large arm wrapping around my waist, pulling my cocooned body flush against his solid frame. "He wants it bad. But I am not going to rush you into something you aren't ready for. I've waited three years; I can wait a little longer."

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the deep, familiar scent of cedarwood and whiskey, the lingering panic finally draining from my limbs. We hadn't crossed that final line, but as I lay there in the dark sanctuary of his arms, the bond felt heavier than ever.

We were safe in this bed, but tomorrow, the real world was still waiting. And as the early morning hours began to tick away, I knew the storm outside his penthouse was only getting closer.