Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
I shake my head, a giggle breaking free as I press my lips together tightly.
“Just curious is all.” I manage to choke out. He rolls his eyes and then looks down.
“Okay, yes, they may be a little tight.” He shrugs. “Do they look bad?”
Do they look bad? I want to bark out a laugh at the absurdity of the question. Burned or not, Hayes is still a fine specimen to look at. Especially in jeans a size too small, riding low on his hips. These jeans are far from bad, though I dare say he may find them annoying on the journey.
“You might be more comfortable in the nude.” I shrug, “But if you want to waddle around in women’s jeans, that’s your choice.”
He scoffs and looks down at his pants.
“These are not women’s jeans,” he argues. I nod, giving him a fake ‘I believe you’ look.
“Of course not, my mistake.” Then I clear my throat and look around. “We really should get moving, though, especially if we have any hope of finding Ezrah’s trail.”
He nods. “Yeah, I had a feeling you would want to go after him first.”
“The sooner we find him, the better for everyone.” I tell him. “Well, other than you, since you are trying to get yourself killed.”
He gives me a side eye before he looks away. No denial of what I accuse him of. And even if I know that’s what his endgame is, all of me had hoped he would try to deny it or change his mind.
“Right, let’s go.” He says, motioning for me to lead the way.
“Remember when we used to have meaningful conversations?” I ask him as I step by, leading the way.
“Vaguely,” He grunts. “Why want to have one now?”
“Why are you trying to kill yourself?” | ask, no holding back. There used to be no wall between us, no worrying about hurting each other’s feelings when we spoke as best friends What needed to be said was said, and we dealt with the emotions of it as we discussed the topic.
“I’m not.” He snorts and I shoot him a glare over my shoulder.
“Oh? So that begging to just let you go was just a joke?” I say, turning around to look at him.
Hayes looks down, a heavy sigh escaping as he slowly lifts his eyes to look at me.
“Can we not do this?” He asks, looking annoyed. “We aren’t friends, and I don’t owe you an explanation.”
My anger boils, but instead of giving into his desire to fight with me, I give him a tight smile and brush my hands over my shirt, looking away. “Noted.” I mutter as I spin and walk away. “Not friends. I suppose that’s the real reason you wanted me to leave.”
“I never wanted you to leave,” He calls out behind me.
“It’s fine, Hayes. I get it now.” I say and he groans loudly before I hear his footsteps, then he lands himself in front of me. His eyes filled with anger and annoyance as I cross my arms over my chest, daring him to keep talking. But he doesn’t.
“You didn’t want me to leave, but you wanted to never see me again.” I finally say amending my original statement.
“That’s not true either.” He grits out.
“I know, I know.” I roll my eyes, reaching out with both hands and pushing him gently to the side and out of my way. “You didn’t want to break my heart when you found your mate, blah blah blah.”
His hand grabs my wrists, his chest heaving as if he is suddenly struggling to breathe.
“That’s not completely true either.” He whispers, his voice hoarse.
“You plan on telling me any truths, then? I mean, if you plan on dying, do I not get the truth, eventually? Or do you just plan on hopefully telling me the next time you beg me to let go of you and drown in a mudslide?”
His lips pressing together tight before he shakes his head and curses under his breath, looking away from me for a brief moment.
“I couldn’t be around you knowing you felt the same way. What I needed was to find my mate or have you find yours, so I wouldn’t try to crawl into your bedroom window and claim you.” He growls.
“So me leaving, our friendship ending, is exactly what you wanted?” I swallow, unsure how to handle the words he is saying. What I want to do is melt into him, but I have to stay in my anger to keep my composure.
“What I wanted was to wrap my e hands in your luscious hair and make sure you couldn’t break away from my kisses. Mates would complicate any relationship we had and you,” He shakes his head. chuckling dryly. “Fuck Kyra. You would complicate any mate bond I was to have. It’s not that wanted you gone. I needed you gone. Do you not get that?”
“And do you need me gone now?” I ask, my voice low and my eyes trained on his, trying to read him.
“I don’t know what I need anymore.” He whispers, his gaze drifting to my lips as I take a step closer, titling my chin up.
“You need a reason to live.” I murmur, my lips a breath away from his before I rise on my toes and close the distance for us.
Sparks explode through my body, flooding me with warmth as my heart pounds in my ears. Hayes remains still and my stomach drops out, my cheeks heating in embarrassment and disappointment before I pull away. I stumble backward, my hand coming over my mouth as Hayes reaches out and catches me.
“I’m sorry.” I murmur, looking everywhere and anywhere but at him.
“Kyra.” Hayes says softly, “Shit, shit, I am sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” It’s a lie. I know exactly what came over me. The damn mate bond and the memories of how much I cared for him. It was idiotic and I realize that now that I am in my right mind.
“Kyra,” He says again, his arm yanking me to him as my eyes grow wide and I let out a confused squawk.
“Uh,” I look up at him, feeling the air fade away around me as I watch his eyes scan my face and land on my lips before they crash into mine.
Electricity surges from my lips to my fingertips as I melt into him, forgetting everything else. He is harsh and hungry as his hand slides up my face, guiding me, no, holding me in place. His calloused thumb rubs over my cheek, my lips parting as I slip my tongue out to taste him.
Hayes’ mouth opens, his teeth catching my tongue before releasing it and chasing me with his own. My arms slip up and over his neck, his hands moving as he holds me tight and kisses me like he wants to consume me. Butterflies dance in my stomach, my limbs feeling like they melt on the spot if I can’t have more of him. I need more of him.
He breaks away in a flash, his heated breath panting over my lips as I lift my lust laden eyes to meet his. There is nothing but desire and unbridled need on his face, no regret or hesitation and yet, he presses his lips together and leans back.
“I need you to stop.” He says, his voice a husky growl that brings an uncontrolled shiver up my spine.
“Why?” I whisper, leaning into him as I press my head to his chest, trying to catch my breath.
“Because I can’t,” He whispers. His hand glides up my side, over my arm and across my shoulder. Then he tickles over my skin with his fingers caressing over my collar bone before he gently places his hand over my throat and up my chin, lifting my head. “Say no, or I will not stop.”
“I thought you hated me,” I whisper, that snarky part of me unable to remain hidden.
“Hate has nothing to do with this,” he murmurs before he captures my lips again.
I inhale sharply, my hips rolling into his as I moan in pleasure. His lips are softer than I imagined they would be with how sharp his tongue is. But I relish the way he doesn’t hold back. The way his lips may be soft, but his grip on my neck and around my back says he is hardly keeping himself together.
He is coming undone just as much as I am. Hayes must be feeling the bond, too. What other reason would he have for not being able to restrain himself? Not that it matters. What matters is the way he fingers at the hem of the oversized shorts I am wearing.
My breathing hitches when his hand slides up my thigh, softly rubbing my skin, his fingers brushing along the outside of my hip where, had circumstances been different, I would have the line of my undergarments. There is no stopping the way my skin goosebumps with his touch and he lets out a barely audible growl of delight, his chest vibrating.
My head falls to the side, his lips moving to my chin, then my neck as he nuzzles and presses kisses to my soft flesh. I drag my hands to his chest, resting them gently as I roll my hips toward his hand, practically begging for more than the soft massage he is giving my outer thigh. I can feel his smile against my neck and my chest flutters with excitement.
“Mmm,” I hum.
Hayes’ hand leaves my leg for a moment and I want to whine, but his lips find mine again, his tongue tangling with mine as he wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me.
I wrap my legs around him, allowing him to carry us wherever the hell he wants. I gasp when my back presses against a tree, his hard body pressed against mine in a delicious way.
“Last chance,” He whispers, breaking away to press his forehead to mine.
I miss his touch already as I shake my head violently, unable to speak the words. His hand disappears, and he reaches between us before he deftly slips my shorts to the side and his eyes meet mine. Heat floods to my lower belly as I watch him observing me.
I moan as he presses forward, his own pleasured groan making me sink into him deeper. My whole world feels like it is shifting on its axis. Everything I thought I knew seems to disappear as he rolls his hips into mine and I let out a loud groan. I press my head to his neck, taking him in the strides he gives me as I cling my quivering body to his.
“Fuck,” he grunts, his speed picking up as I gasp along with his every movement. I can feel pleasure mounting, the way it seems to build steam and makes my toes curl before I throw my head back, exposing my neck to him.
“Hayes,” I murmur, unable to say his name with any more force than a breath. “I’m so close.”