CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«We\'re here,» he said.

Stating the obvious helped him gain some security, and he desperately needed something to say.

Lara didn\'t reply, but her eyes swept over his face, caressing his lips a little too insistently for it to be by chance. Still, she didn\'t bend forward to kiss him, nor did she close her eyes in expectation.

She unfastened her seatbelt and got off. Out, in the fresh air, she allowed herself to breathe. Only when she was sure about her own thoughts and actions did she turn to Nate and offer her hand.

Since he took it, she guided him upstairs.

She was an adult woman, and she could make decisions about her own life. It did feel a little embarrassing, but it also felt right.

«Come with me,» she whispered, pulling him toward her room.

She opened the door and dragged the man inside, and she closed it back to avoid the sensitive ears of the other inhabitants of the residence. Especially two pairs of over-sensitive, possessive ears.

Once alone with Nate, isolated from the world and a few steps from a comfortable single bed, all her self-confidence left. She stared at Nate, blank and undecided.

Not that she had changed her mind, just... She didn\'t know how to move forward.

Nate, on his own, was surprised, confused, wavering. He was so happy that he would have jumped forward to hug Lara and kiss her, even though he knew she most likely wanted to talk a little. He wasn\'t such a fool; he knew she wasn\'t clearly inviting him in her bed.

«Will you stay the night?» she asked, crashing his thoughts and ruining the last few neurons still working in his brain.

He did nod, more out of habit, but his mind wasn\'t understanding anymore.

He could stay there, sure. But where? In the bed next to her? In the corner? Was she inviting him to play cards until falling asleep at the table?

«Don\'t feel like you have to,» she added. «It\'s just... ehm... an option. You can stay if you want. If not, it\'s fine for me.»

«I don\'t feel obliged,» Nate murmured.

Still, he should have brought her to his room. The bed was larger.

He had made it clear to his mother to arrange a single bed for Lara to avoid the pups monopolising her nights. He wasn\'t really thinking about taking their place at the time, but it went well.

He was going to sleep there, which meant holding her close so as not to fall from the bed. He bit his lower lip to avoid smirking like a maniac and waited for Lara to take the first step.

He didn\'t want to hurry, yet he knew his self-control was not very reliable when his mate was involved.

«Oh, I should have thought about this earlier,» she whispered, widening her eyes and messing her hair. «I should have talked about this before dragging you here...»

Before she could start walking in circles, he caught her nervous wrist and pulled her on his chest. He pinned her chin with a finger and forced her to look up before crashing his mouth on hers.

Their lips met, and their tongues found each other soon after that. A sigh signalled him that Lara was agreeing, quite relieved he had taken the initiative. Was she worried, perhaps? About what? Not being attractive enough for him? She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, and he had to remember telling her sooner than later.

«Turn the lights off,» she moaned, and he complied even if he didn\'t understand the reasons.

The moon was disappearing, getting darker with each passing night. Only the stairs could help them see, and it was enough for Nate. For humans, not so much. Yet, he could see every detail on Lara\'s body with so much light.

She stepped back, pulling him by the shirt towards the bed. They fell on it, losing any inhibition as their hands started exploring each other without a break.

Nate leaned his weight on his left arm not to inconvenience Lara; his right hand trailed down to her knee. He pushed it up against his side, and she locked her legs around his hips. His fingers, then, caressed her inner thigh until reaching in between her legs.

He gently caressed her womanhood, light like a feather, from over the undies. That contact sent shivers through Lara\'s body, even though he had barely touched her.

She moaned, and Nate\'s eyes shined in the dark.

It had been a low, short sound. Just a single moan, followed by a deep sigh. Her quivering legs had made him realise, though, that she was earnestly liking it.

She liked being teased, touched for a moment only.

He saved the information in his head and returned to kissing her reddened lips. He was going to explore so much more during the night. He could find out much, much information about what she liked and what she didn\'t.

Too bad that his perfect plan was disrupted by the sound of a door - better said, two doors - opening not far from them. He stopped kissing Lara and just looked her in the eye before sighing.

She glanced back, confused at first. But then, she heard the handle of the door move, and she realised that she needed to lock the door from that moment on when she was with Nate.

The man got up just in time, and Lara sat on the bed and fixed her dress when two pairs of sleepy arms ran to her and hugged her tightly.

«Mommy is back,» Jaden said.

They hadn\'t even noticed the light was off until Nate switched it on.

«We missed you, mommy,» Scarlet added.

«What are you doing here?» Lara asked.

«We want to sleep with mommy.»

«Not possible,» Nate murmured, but they didn\'t even hear him.

He was unhappy. Oh, more than unhappy.

He had to bring his mate to his room.. Next time, he thought, he wouldn\'t make the same mistake.