It was both a threat and a promise, an admission. He was struggling just like her.
Radley lifted up, his core strength holding him aloft as he wrapped a fist full of hair around his hand and jerked back, arching her forward almost painfully, With a snarl, he dug his teeth into her neck, not hard enough to mark, but enough to send bolts of pleasure through her veins.
“I said, ‘come’,” he commanded. “Now!”
Cricket shattered at the threat in his tone, her body convulsing in a fit of pleasure just before his guttural groan joined with hers and he followed right after. His length jumped inside her, spilling warmth that prolonged her own release, until they were both panting heavily against each other. Small aftershocks had Cricket twitching in his arms. She’d never felt a release as powerful as that, had never finished like that with her previous lovers. She’d certainly never done it on her own.
Not sure what to do once they both calmed down, Cricket fought the urge to stiffen, but when Radley nuzzled against her throat, she couldn’t help it.
He paused. “I won’t apologize.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to,” she whispered, tentatively holding onto his shoulders. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
He leaned back and met her eyes. “You don’t regret it?”
Cricket melted. She felt herself literally soften on his lap. “No,” she admitted. “You?”
“Hell no,” he growled, but then he sighed. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying each other’s company while we have the chance.”
Something panged in Cricket’s chest. Sadness, maybe. Because this was all temporary. As much as she’d enjoyed herself, as much as she wished it were otherwise, they were moving on borrowed time. Snapdragons didn’t sully themselves with wolves. They were prim and proper and married for duty. Even if they won the race, she couldn’t see a way where Radley and her sharing any sort of relationship would be possible, not in her father’s eyes.
Cricket met Radley’s gaze. “No. There’s nothing wrong with it.” But something in her didn’t want it to end. Not yet. “I’ve got some more time you’re welcome to fill.”
He grinned and she wasn’t sure if she liked that she’d been trained so well, he couldn’t see the sadness behind the words. One day, she wished someone would be able to see behind her mask and know how she felt without her having to say a word. One day, she hoped someone saw more than her last name.
Radley stood them both up and without worrying about who saw them, he strode through the house, both of them as naked as the day they were born.
Poor Danny, Cricket thought. He’d certainly get an eyeful. She just hoped he wasn’t anywhere around to see them.
“Again,” Radley growled in her ear, sending a shiver along her spine, as he carried her inside her room and slammed the door behind them.
“Again,” she agreed.
But still, the wolf never picked up on her sadness. . .