Chapter 332

My heart absolutely pounds in my chest as my mate kicks off his boots and pulls his shirt over his head. When his hands move to his belt next, deftly unbuckling it and then unbuttoning his pants, beginning to shove them to the floor, my mouth goes dry.

And I forget to breathe.

Because, I mean, up until now I have felt very brave.

But quite suddenly I am on very, very new ground. And it’s quite scary here.

Jackson feels my fear, probably hears the frantic thrum of my heart, and smirks at me as he straightens up, standing before me completely naked for the first time.

And if there was any breath left in my lungs it would all woosh out at once because he is…he is one hell of a specimen.

God damn it, but he’s gorgeous. I let my eyes move slowly all the way over him, from his beautiful face all the way down to his feet. And god, hell, but I’m pleased by what I see.

“Breathe, Clark,” Jackson murmurs, stepping close to me and wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling my slick body tight against his and running a hand over my wet hair as I stare up at him. “It’s all right.”

Obedient, I suck in a deep breath, staring to shake a little bit, which makes him grin.

“Where’d that brave girl go?” he whispers, smiling down at me. “The one who was ready to take on the whole school and give the Captain and the rest of the military a piece of her mind? What, she’s scared of a naked guy?”

“No,” I snarl, giving him a hearty smack on the chest that makes him laugh. “I’m just adjusting, okay!? You naked is…impactful, all right?”

“There she is,” he murmurs, taking a moment to stare down into my eyes.

But just a moment – because half a second later, Jackson lets out that wicked snarl I love and snatches me up into his arms, stepping into the shower so that the water pounds down around us, his mouth finding mine like it belongs there.

I moan into him, not bothering to muffle it, my legs going around his waist as Jackson lifts me up against him, one hand sliding slick over my back, the other lifting to wrap in my hair low behind my head. I gasp as he tightens the strands in his fist, tugging my head back just slightly, baring my neck to him.

It’s the most delicious agony as he moves his mouth from mine and licks his tongue down the length of my throat, pausing to press his teeth – just delicately – over that soft place he loves just between my neck and my shoulder. I shudder, hard, my hips shifting me tighter against him, but he lifts his head and kisses me again – fervent and a little out of control.

Jackson and I lose ourselves to each other then in the water, his heartbeat soon coming to match my own for pace and urgency. He kisses me like to take his mouth from mine for even an instant is a sin and each move of his lips against mine, each press of his tongue, has me falling even deeper into a dizzy spell of want.

Because the effect he has on me – it hasn’t changed, not since that first time he kissed me in the darkness on that cliff. Just like that first time, I want him – instantly, badly, on a very visceral level. I want him to set me down immediately on the cold tiles of this shower, and lay his body over mine, and sink himself so deeply inside of me that I forget my damn name.

Except this time, Jackson and I are closer. Our bond is established, and open, and so, so much deeper than it’s ever been. So when my wolf howls to his, telling him how badly we wants this, his is already there, pressed against her side, baring his teeth, snarling in that fierce way she so loves.

Jackson groans, his shoulders trembling slightly, and pulls his mouth from mine, though I can tell it takes a great deal of will and effort to do it. He breathes deeply, staring into my eyes, searching them.

“Do you want this?”

His question is just a whisper.

I only hesitate for a second before I nod, fervent, water spilling down my face and his. My eyes drop to his mouth and I can’t help raising a hand to it, running my thumb over his bottom lip, tracing the line of water there and thinking how badly I want to drink it – that anything, anything that touches him first is sacred.

“I do,” I whisper, leaning forward to press my mouth to his again, but just for a moment before I groan and pull away, half an inch. “Do…do you?”

Because it’s always been him pulling back, wanting to wait. And as much as I am desperate for him right now in this moment, I don’t want to force it. Not if he’s not ready.

Jackson takes a moment and I raise my eyes to his beautiful sapphire gaze – so stunning that I get lost in it, almost missing his very small, very subtle nod.

But then I register that nod and my eyes go wide.

“Really?” I ask, the word hitching in my throat as anxiety hits me again. “Are you – are you sure Jacks? You wanted to wait –“

He gives a tiny shrug, his own throat working. “I didn’t want to wait forever. I just wanted to wait until it felt…right. And it feels right, doesn’t it?”

I stare at him again, truly considering the question, wanting to give it the full thought it deserves. But it doesn’t take me long – because again, I’ve always been ready - would have gladly let him throw me down and take me in the dirt that first time he kissed me. Jackson – I’ve been desperately wanting him for a long, long time. And if he’s finally here with me?

“It’s right,” I whisper, smiling softly into his face, running a hand through his hair, so soft and dark now that it’s wet.

He smiles, closing his eyes and leaning into my hand for a moment, and then he kisses me again, more gently this time, deliberate and soft, every move of his lips reflecting the great well of emotion that I can feel building on his side of the bond. And I wind my arms around his neck, delighted and thrilled and…well, and terrified.

But that’s normal, right? When you’re about to lose your virginity?

To be scared and…a little freaked out that you don’t know what to do?

Jackson laughs a little, breaking away from me, and shakes his head a bit. “Don’t be scared, Ariel.”

“Why not!?” I sputter, laughing shakily, honestly a little glad for the levity in so intense a moment. “I can be scared! It’s new! I’ve never done this before!”

“Well if you’re scared,” he murmurs, dipping his head and again pressing kisses to my neck, “we don’t have to –“

“Jackson McClintock,” I snarl, pulling back and pounding two little rabbit punches against his chest. “If you say you’re finally going to have sex with me and then you take it back I swear to god I’m going to tear you to pieces –“

He bursts out laughing, shaking his head, his whole body shaking with joy and mirth. “I’m not taking it back,” he says, grinning wide. “I just – there’s no rush, Ariel, I don’t want you to be frightened. If it’s scary, we can wait –“

“No,” I snap, a little fierce growl building in me. “I – I don’t want to wait – I just…” I hesitate, biting my lip.

Jackson nudges my nose with his, quite gentle. “What? Tell me.”

“I don’t know…” I shake my head, a little frantic. “I don’t know…how to do it…”

He laughs a little, though none of it’s mocking, and starts to bend, clearly intending to put me down. I squeak in protest, very happy to be up in his arms – my favorite spot – but he growls, authoritative, demanding that I obey. So I put my feet down and consent to be placed on the floor, where I reach out for him, my hands landing on either side of his waist.

“You don’t need to know what to do, Ariel,” Jackson says, his voice hitting that low register I very much like.

“Yes, I do!” I protest, my breath coming fast again as I start to freak out. “I – I mean – I have to participate, don’t I?! I’ve never done this before and –“

“Ariel,” he growls, his voice low with command. My eyes go wide, because Jackson has never used that particular tone with me, and I look up into his eyes.

“Listen, tiny,” he murmurs, slipping his hand lower to catch my chin between his fingers and tilt my face up to his. “You handle throwing the Games into disarray, confronting the Captain, potentially getting us kicked out of the school, any magical wildfires that come along, and with all probability the future of this war. But,” he turns his head slightly, a smile turning the corners of his lips. “When it comes to fucking you? I’ll be in charge.”

My eyes go wide as I just…gape at my mate, discovering that I like him bossy.

That I like it very, very much.

“Now,” he murmurs, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me tight against him. “Am I your Alpha or not?”

I bite my lip, grinning a little, trusting him utterly. “Yes,” I whisper.

“Good,” he says, dipping his head lower. “Then trust me, mate. And do as I say.”

I breathe out all in a rush, ready to cede him complete control and pulling myself closer. But my eyes suddenly go wide as I suddenly become aware of…him. Between us, pressed hard and thick against my stomach.

Jackson pauses, frowning at me, going still when he feels my surprise and dismay.

“Jacks,” I whisper, staring up at him wide-eyed.

“What?” he asks, going still a bit.

But I shake my head at him, completely freaked out. “Jacks, this isn’t going to work.”

“Ariel,” he whispers, frowning down at me. “What are you talking about?”