I realized what I must look like, naked with sneakers, covered in dirt and cum, but I was perfect. “Yeah, I’m okay.” I smiled before he shut the door, easing myself down to lean on Kade’s chest for the ride home.

Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

________

ESME

I opened my eyes to morning light, aching. Like I’d had the worst and best week at the gym in my entire life. “Fuck,” I rolled over and came face to face with Kade, who was already awake, and looking at me like he was unsure. It was just him now.

When we’d gotten back to the house he’d brought me straight here and fucked me again. Twice. I’d fallen asleep from exhaustion still knotted. But he wasn’t inside me now. “Morning.”

“Hey.” He reached out to touch me hesitantly. “Are you all right?”

“A little sore, but I kind of expected that. You don’t volunteer to have some feral chase sex without getting bruises.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Esme.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I lost control. When you ran, the rut snapped into me, and I couldn’t break it.”

“Kade.” I slid across the sheets to him. We were both still covered in dirt and sweat. “You didn’t hurt me. You listened to me, even while you were in rut. I’m fine, and I’m very happy.”

He searched my face, looking for any sign of the lie that wasn’t there. Finally, he closed his eyes and reached for me. “God, you’re perfect.”

“You were worried?”

A kiss warmed my forehead. “You haven’t seen your bruises. And I remember what happened after the rut kicked in, but it’s different. Like it was a dream. Yes, I was worried.”

“Don’t be. It was incredible.”

He held me close, and I took the time to breathe him in. This was the real Kade. The one who was soft and loving. Letting the beast inside him out was just a small fraction of this man.

“It’s your turn,” I told him.

“My turn for what?”

“I’m hearing everyone’s stories about how they came to the pack, and now I want to hear yours.”

A soft purr rose in his chest. “It’s a pretty average story, baby. I’m a kid from the suburbs. Normal, nice family. Rebellious teen decided to get a tattoo and fell in love with it. I dropped out my senior year and never looked back. Worked my way from studio to studio getting better until Ben and the others walked in, and it clicked.”

“That quickly, huh?”

“That quickly.”

Slowly, I sat up, wincing. “I’m sure there are details there you’re not telling me. I’ll get them out of you, eventually.”

“All right, little one. You can try. But I promise it’s boring as shit.”