For all his scolding, Mateo doesn't stay with us. He gives Ezra a stern look before giving me a playful wink and walking out, closing the door behind him.
"Wait, come back,” I call out, but he only laughs in response from the other side.
"You're on your own, Kat," he sings out. Some help he was.
"Are you trying to escape me, Little One?" Ezra all but purrs below my ear. A shiver crawls up my spine at his words, and his hot breath on my neck makes tingles spread along my entire body.
He dips his head and grazes his nose along my neck, inhaling my scent again. My heart pounds harder than ever before. We're not out in the middle of the forest this time where everyone can see us. We're alone, behind a closed door.
His arm bands around my waist, molding my body to him. The heat of his chest seeps into my back, threatening to consume me. It is getting harder to think. I tremble, not sure what he'll do next.
Ezra pulls away and gently turns me around, his eyes searching mine. "Why are you frightened? I will never hurt you," he whispers.
I find myself lost, staring into his dazzling caramel eyes. Whoever thought brown was boring had a hole in their head. The way his eyes sparkle and shine captures my entire spirit.
"If I'm making you too uncomfortable, tell me," he pleads. He leans forward, lips brushing along the side of my cheek before he kisses the side of my mouth. "Am I?" he asks.
I swallow, trying to understand his words. "Are you, what?" I can't bring myself to speak above a whisper.
He kisses the middle of my forehead, so softly, so sweetly, I'm afraid I might melt into a puddle at his feet. "Making you uncomfortable." He pulls away and his hands curl around my hips.
His thumbs follow my curves again and I swallow. "A little," I admit with a tiny whisper.
He sighs and lets me go, stepping back from me. The instant we're not touching anymore I crave his warmth and I move forward, burying my head in his chest. I let the scent of him wash away any other thoughts.
His arms wrap around my shoulders and he kisses the top of my head. "Having trouble deciding what you want?" he teased me. "Don't worry, you'll know soon. Everything will make sense."
I look up at him. "What are you talking about?"
"I'd rather you find out for yourself." His head dips lower and his lips drift across mine, feather soft, barely touching.
It is not enough. I want more. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him closer to me and capture those lips of his. I'm not the best at it, I'm fumbling, but my lips moving against his lights a fire deep inside.
Ezra tenses, probably shocked at my reaction. A deep growl resonates from within him and he pushes me against the wall. His lips urge mine open, and his tongue invades my mouth, dominating my own and sweeping through like he owns the place. He tastes me like I'm a precious dessert he can't get enough of.
He moans, grabbing the back of my thighs and picking me up, settling me over his waist, directly on top of his need. I'm too far gone to blush and I wrap my legs around him, almost instinctively.
He slips his hands up so he's gripping my ass, and he pulls away from the kiss, his lips traveling from my jaw to my neck and to the base of my throat.
My heart hammers beneath his touch. I don't want to stop him. I don't know what this is, but the fire inside me is loving every second. He sucks at the skin of my shoulder and a little moan escapes me.
The door swings open and Mateo crosses his arms, shaking his head before lifting a finger in scolding. "This is not PG, and this is my room, guys, come on. Not in here." He raises a brow. "Do I need to go get the hose for you two?"
I can't face him and turn away, cheeks burning hot again. What am I doing? It is a good thing Mateo stopped this, whatever it is, before it goes further.
Stinging pain in my thigh attracts my attention. Ezra's claws have slipped from his fingertips, and they're piercing me. He's frozen in place.
Mateo pushes off the door frame and snaps his fingers. "Hey, Ezra, you alright, man?" he asks. His features harden. It is not often I see Mateo serious, but it sends a chill through me and panic flutters through my body. Ezra's face is still buried in my neck and his lips find my pulse point, kissing it lightly.
He pulls back to study me, and swallows. "I got carried away." His voice is a mere whisper. It is more his wolf than him, now it is only his fingertips pressed against me, not his claws.
“Maddox can be a bit of a wild card,” Mateo agrees. Ezra nods his head. “I'm sorry, I should have known better than to leave him with you after we chased you back here,” Mateo apologizes, and Ezra sets me down on the ground. He looks dazed and hurt.
“I should have known better,” Ezra mutters, stepping back from me.
“I might go see what Marge left for dinner, you good Alpha?” Mateo questions, studying the other man. He must have been satisfied with what he saw because he nods and leaves through the open door.
Ezra waits until Mateo is gone before he faces me again. He takes my hands in his and brings them to his lips, gently kissing them. "I'm sorry, I let things spiral out of control."
I wave him off. "I'm fine, Alpha. It's not like you really hurt me." I prod the spot where he'd grabbed me and blood doesn't even well. "See?"
He studies my skin then nods in apparent approval. "Do you want to watch a movie with me?"
“I’m fine, not like you hurt me,” I tell him, his brows furrow and he nods his head once.
“Come, do you want to watch a movie with me?" he asks.
"As long as it isn't another Disney one," I snicker.
Ezra drapes his arm across my shoulders, pulling me from Mateo's room and down the hall toward his room. I pause outside his door.
He hugs me tight, his hand rubbing my shoulder gently. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Kat. We can watch one downstairs or in your room, if you prefer. I’m in control now, it won’t happen again," he promises, stopping and waiting for me to decide.
"Kat!" My mother's frantic voice interrupts us, drifting from downstairs. She doesn't wait for an answer as we hear her climb up the steps.
Ezra peers over my shoulder at her and goes to meet her.
"I swear, Alpha. If you have touched one fucking hair on her head, Alpha or not I will kick your damn ass," she threatens with a deep growl, stomping up the remaining steps.
"Calm down, Shirley. She is right here; I will never hurt your daughter," he tells her when she finally gets to the top and can see us.
She lets out a breath and then rushes over, gripping my arms. "Did he hurt you? Are you okay, sweetie?" She gushes embarrassingly, as she checks me over.
"Mom, I'm fine," I protest with a roll of my eyes.
She stops and mindlinks me. "You didn't tell him, did you? Oh, thank the Goddess. I thought he would kill you for sure," she says, her voice warm with relief.
Considering his protectiveness of me, she thought I hadn't told him yet. "He knows, mom," I say out loud.
She freezes and her eyes widen. They dart to me and then to Ezra before she gulps. He leans against the door, arms folded, and watches us. "You know?" she whispers, and yet still manages to sound skeptical.
"Yes, I know she hasn't got a wolf yet, and I don't care, wolf or not, she is still my-“ He covers whatever he is going to say with a cough and clears his throat. "She is still my Pack member," he assures her.
"You don't care?" She repeats herself. Mom looks dazed like she'd been told she won the lottery or something.
Ezra shakes his head. "No, Shirley, I don't care. It changes nothing,"
She spins on her heel toward me, searching my face. "And he didn't hurt you, threaten you? You can tell me, Kat," she asks, concerned, just as I hear my father's voice downstairs.
"Shirley!" Ezra groans, I chuckle at his frustration as he glances over his shoulder. "Up here!" He calls out to my father, and I hear his footsteps running up the stairs.
"Shirley! What are you doing?" Dad asks my mom, who turns to face him. He gives me a brief smile and wave. "Hey, Pumpkin." My face flushes at the nickname, gosh these two can be embarrassing.
"He doesn't care," my mother mutters, more to herself than anyone else.
"I told you he wouldn't. You need to learn some trust. Come on, we need to head home. Some of us have work in the morning," dad scolds her.
"Mom, I am fine, everything is fine. Go home with dad," I order her.
"You don't want to come home?" She asks, looking at me and blinking like an owl.
I glance at Ezra, who straightens up, pushing off the wall, waiting for my answer. Not anymore I don’t. I give a decisive shake of my head and he gives me a warm smile. My heart races at just the flash of it. "No, I want to stay. Am I allowed to?" I ask her.