Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Twenty Three

Thane rose, and by his signal, I rose too. He took my hands. I knew it was all an act; I should be trying harder; we had the whole pack to convince now, but I couldn't help but think about 'the marking'. The fact that everyone here would watch us. How was this normal? Thane drew me closer to him. "Don't fight me," he whispers, low enough that only I could hear him, and then his lips met mine. The kiss was gentle at first and then demanding; he consumed me, and all I had to do was play along, even if my eyes teared at the knowledge that he would be doing this here, right now. Maybe I could just close my eyes and pretend it was just the both of us. That wouldn't be hard, right?

His lips finally left mine, and I was sure my lips were swollen and my cheeks flushed.

"My mate would be marked and claimed tonight he announced, and the whole crowd erupted. I watched the faces of the people waiting to see me naked. "But it would be done in private," he says, and the applause died down.

I couldn't help but feel the relief that clouded me 'Private'-none of them would see. The unease I was feeling had started to dissipate. I didn't know what convinced Thane to do this; maybe it was Axel, or maybe he did mean what he had said earlier.

"But this is the tradition," a voice from the crowd called out, and Thane nodded, his eyes staring intently at someone Following his gaze, I noticed he was staring at his father. "It is a stupid tradition that should have died a long time ago; my mate here is not comfortable with such a tradition, and neither am I," he finished. I did see the slight flinch from Alpha Slade; even if he tried to hide it, he hated this, and I realized what Thane was doing; he hadn't

he had done this just to annoy his father even stopped this because of my comfort or his; no, he had done this just to

more.

The music continued and the crowd returned to their dance.

"I might not mark you before the eyes of all these people, but they do expect to see a mark on you by the morning. Come with me."

I didn't mind obeying; I followed silently as he led me back to our room. Whatever the cause had been that had given him a change of heart, I was still grateful.

"You were right," Thane said when we were in the room. "I might not be able to control myself, and that's why I need someone here, someone to stop me if I go too far-more than you can take.".

I had noticed his careful choice of words. Just then, Axel walked in. He was going to watch us. I nodded.

The red dress exposed my shoulders, and now I wondered if that had been one of the reasons Axel chose it.

I moved closer. This was all part of the deal; this was expected of me, and I could understand

Chapter Twenty Three

that.

Thane moved my hair to the side, baring my neck. He inhaled, his hands trailing on my skin, sending sparks through my body.

"You ready?" he asked, and I nodded. "This would hurt," he warns, but I already knew that.

"I know. I am ready."

He leaned into me. I felt the graze of his sharp canine against my skin, and it raised feelings in me, something deep, settling at my core.

Then his canine dug in, and all I felt was pain-hot, white, blinding pain. The pain didn't fade away quickly as I expected, I felt his sink deeper, and finally he was out, but his eyes-those amber eyes-were darker. I noticed the change in them, the want in them. I could feel his firmness settling between my legs.

In a second, he ripped off my clothes. I should be worried, but I wasn't, I wasn't alarmed, he slammed me against the wall, his finger slipping into my panties to my already wet core, i felt his movement down there and I moaned out, his fingers dug into me, three of them at a go and I gasp as he filled me up pulling in and out, fast and hard, I rocked against his hands, holding onto him, he kissed my lips, bitting at my ear, I groaned, rocking my hips faster, the moans came out louder, I couldn't seem to care who else was in the room, but then Thane was taking off his clothes too.noveldrama