Chapter 259

Agnes

We collapsed onto the bed in a tangled heap. Limbs, lips, desperation, fear. Our lovemaking had never been like this before, so intense and filled with so many emotions. Every sensation was heightened, probably because a part of me knew that this might be the last time we did this, that this entire crazy plan was a mistake.

In a strange, guilty sort of way, the desperation just made everything feel that much better.

Elijah’s hands were everywhere at once, pulling at my shirt, fumbling with the buttons. Each touch felt like fire thrumming through my veins, which… for all I knew, it probably was. When his hands shook too much to get my shirt off completely, I sat up and helped him, yanking the fabric over my head and tossing it aside before reaching for his belt.

As I fiddled with his belt buckle, Elijah caged me beneath him, my legs splayed to the sides as his body pressed me against the mattress. He kissed my mouth, my jaw, my throat.

“Agnes,” he breathed against my skin as his lips trailed down to my collarbone. “I need you.”

I needed him too. Needed to feel connected to him, needed to prove to both of us that we were still here, still alive, still together. At least for now. As if making love now could seal our fate, ensure that I would return to him.

Once I finally managed to unbuckle his jeans and slip free his cock, which was already hard for me, his hands found the clasp of my bra, and I arched my back to help him remove it. The cool air hit my skin, but it was quickly replaced by the warmth of his mouth on my breast, his tongue circling my nipple until I gasped.

My fingers worked at his shirt buttons then, clumsy and trembling. When I finally got it open, I ran my hands over his chest, feeling the familiar planes of muscle. I tried to memorize each bump and contour beneath my hand, even that one pesky little scar beneath his left pec from an old injury from his youth.

“I love you,” I whispered, pulling his face up to mine for another kiss.

“I love you too,” he said against my lips. His voice was raw and throaty, like he was holding himself back. “So fucking much.”

We worked together to get the rest of our clothes off, hands shaking slightly as we pulled at the fabric like wild animals. When we were finally naked, skin against warm skin, Elijah rolled me beneath him once more. For a moment he just paused and looked down at me.

“You’re beautiful,” he said softly, his hand moving downward to trace the curve of my waist. “So beautiful.”

I reached up and cupped his face, running my thumb along his jawline. “Make love to me,” I whispered, not caring if I sounded desperate and pathetic, like I was begging for his cock. Maybe I was begging for it. I’d get on my knees if I had to. “Please.”

He kissed me again in answer, slow and deep this time, pouring all of his love and fear and desperation into it. I could taste the salt of tears—mine, of course. Even now, he wouldn’t cry. Always strong, always the pillar in our lives. I hated that I had to put him in a situation where he had to feel so terrified inside, but still appear strong and confident on the outside.

I hated all of this. But I didn’t hate him.

His hand slid down between my legs, finding me already wet for him. I moaned softly into his mouth as his fingers moved against my clit, gentle circles that made my hips buck upward.

“Elijah,” I gasped, my hands fisting in his hair. I wanted him now. I didn’t want to wait any longer.

“I know,” he murmured as he positioned himself at my entrance. “I’ve got you.”

When he pushed inside, we both went still for a moment, just feeling the connection. My muscles contracted, then stretched and smoothed out, and I let my eyes flutter shut briefly just to focus on the sensations of him filling me.

He began to move then, slow and steady, each thrust deliberate and deep. Each stroke of his thick cock felt like a bucket of warm honey being poured over my head and pooling downward. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, and he groaned against my neck. His pace quickened slightly, but he was still being so careful with me, so gentle.

“Harder,” I whispered. “I won’t break.”

But maybe I would. Maybe we both would before this was over.

He shifted the angle slightly, and I resisted the urge to cry out—for fear of anyone overhearing us—as he hit that perfect spot inside of me. My nails dug into his shoulders as he picked up the pace, driving into me with more force now.

“That’s it,” he said roughly. “Let me hear you.”

I could hardly be quiet anymore. Every moan, every gasp, every whisper sounded like a gunshot in the quiet room, and I had to bite down on Elijah’s neck—right over the mating mark I had left there not that long ago—to keep myself from howling out loud.

Elijah’s hand found my clit again, rubbing in time with his thrusts, and I felt myself climbing toward my peak. In those moments, everything else fell away. Everything. I could have stayed like that forever.

But what goes up must come down, and before I could stop myself, I came with a soft cry, my pussy clenching around his cock. He followed moments later, burying his face in my neck as he spilled inside me with a low groan.

We stayed like that for a while afterward, just holding each other. Elijah’s weight was comforting on top of me, solid and real. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, still racing from our lovemaking.

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” I said softly, running my fingers through his hair.

“Me too,” he replied, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “But we can’t.”

I knew he was right. The clock on the nightstand showed ten-fifteen. We would have to leave soon. And then, if all went according to plan, I would be walking into that facility with our daughter within an hour.

Reluctantly, we separated and began getting dressed. I pulled on fresh underwear and reached for my shirt, but my hands were shaking so badly I could barely grip the fabric.

Elijah noticed and gently took my hands in his, bringing them to his lips to press a tender kiss to my knuckles.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Look at me.”

I met his eyes, although I could hardly see his expression through the tears.

“You can do this,” he said. “I know you can.”

I took a deep breath, letting his and my wolf’s certainty bolster me. He was right. I could do this. I had to. My wolf told me that Thea and I would be safe, and… I refused to let anything happen to Thea. Even if it was the last thing I ever did, I would always ensure her safety.

No matter what.

At that moment, I made a silent resolution. I refused to fail tonight. I would walk into that facility, I would get close to my stepmother, and I would end this before it even started. I would save the innocent people trapped underground, I would protect my daughter, and I would come home to my mate.

I had to believe that. I had to believe that this plan would work.

It had to.

And I wouldn’t allow it to go any other way.