Last night’s memory flashed through his mind, the moment when Tyler had tried to dominate Maddis. Their wolves’ rough and passionate display had been something to witness. Maddis, however, had firmly asserted his strength and control, leaving no doubt that he wouldn’t be overpowered, not even by his own Mate.
Bella’s shock at Tyler’s temporary retreat had been palpable, especially when Maddis hadn’t receded afterward. Instead, he’d hovered over her, his intense gaze locked onto hers as he growled, “Mine,” in a way that left no room for argument. The rawness of their Bond in that moment had taken even Bella by surprise.
Now, Luke held her close, his chest rumbling with a soft chuckle as she finally gave up her struggles and relaxed into him. “You can fight all you want, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “But you’ll never win. You’re stuck with me now.”
She groaned in mock frustration, her face still buried in his chest. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it,” he teased, his voice full of affection as he tightened his hold on her.
Bella sighed, her arms wrapping around him in surrender. “Maybe I do,” she muttered softly, the admission making his heart swell.
“Good,” he said simply, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. His eyes softened as he looked at her, the teasing fading for a moment. “Because I love you too, Bella. More than you’ll ever know.”
Luke smirked as he thought back to Maddis’s antics. His wolf had wanted to claim not just Tyler but Bella too, in their human form, no less. It wasn’t entirely unheard of, but it was unusual. Wolves rarely pushed for that kind of connection, yet Maddis seemed as eager for Bella as for Tyler.
He’d managed to pull Maddis back with a firm but understanding later, buddy. To his surprise, Bella had done the same, showing a rare and playful authority over her wolf counterpart. He filed it away to discuss with her another time, intrigued by what it might mean for their Bond. For now, Maddis was asleep, sated but no less possessive of their mate.
Bella’s squirming beneath him as she tried to wriggle free was starting to test his self-control. He held her a little tighter, wanting to see how much she’d fight back. She froze when she realized the effect her movements were having—his fully erect c0ck pressing against her abdomen. Her response made him laugh: “You bastard!” she half-shouted, swatting him hard on the back.
Her indignation only fueled his amusement, and he couldn’t help but laugh harder. Rolling them over, he pinned her beneath him for a moment. “What? You started it,” he teased, his grin wide and unapologetic. “Grinding all over me like that—what did you think was gonna happen?”
Bella rolled her eyes and pushed herself off him, muttering something under her breath as she flicked the sheet over him. “Down, boy,” she quipped, smirking as she climbed out of bed.
Luke chuckled, resting on his side to watch her. She was sitting naked, unconcerned by his gaze. He loved that about her—she’d never been shy around him, and her confidence made her even more alluring.
“Where are the children?” she asked, her tone shifting to maternal concern.
“With my parents,” Luke replied, “playing with Halley.”
She nodded, seeming relieved. He seized the moment to tease her again. “So…you want to shower and grab some food? You must be starving after all your seductive tactics last night.”
Her eyes widened, as he’d expected. Luke laughed at her reaction, knowing she was realizing how deeply she’d thrown herself at him the night before. “You climbed into my bed all hot and bothered,” he reminded her with a wicked grin. “You practically begged me to—”
A pillow to his face cut off the rest of his teasing. She swung it repeatedly until he stopped trying to dodge and lunged at her, pinning her down with ease. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did you already forget why you came to me last night?” He feigned shock, his voice full of mock disbelief.
“You’re an a*s,” Bella muttered, but the smile on her lips betrayed her.
“Mm, I know,” he said with a smirk, leaning down to nuzzle her neck. “You used to say that all the time. Guess some things never change.”
Finally, he climbed off her and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, shower. We’ve still got stuff to deal with.”
“Like what?” she asked, following him into the bathroom.
Luke turned on the shower, adjusting the water to the perfect temperature before stepping in and pulling her in after him. What started as a simple shower quickly became an excuse for him to touch her everywhere, his hands wandering under the guise of washing her. Bella squawked in mock outrage, trying to bat his hands away as he grinned devilishly.
“Stop it!” she whined, laughing as she half-heartedly slapped his arm. “You’re insatiable.”
“Guilty as charged,” Luke replied, his tone teasing as he kissed her shoulder.
Eventually, they managed to finish the shower—though not without several more playful swats from Bella—and dried off. Luke couldn’t help but think about the future as he watched her wrap herself in a towel. They still had loose ends to tie up in the human world: a job for her to quit, a boyfriend to break up with, and an apartment to pack up. He could easily handle most of it, but he knew Bella would want to face some of those challenges herself.
For now, though, they were here, together, and the Bond between them was stronger than ever. Luke smiled, his heart full. They’d handle everything else in time.
Luke’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Bella as she acknowledged her poor choice of words. He gave her a slow, deliberate nod, the tension easing ever so slightly in his posture. Still, his annoyance lingered, a reminder of just how much her words had pricked at his possessive instincts.
