Chapter 154: Ella's Lesson

Ella writhed beneath me, her wolf's conflicted emotions palpable. She was pleased to have distracted me from my brooding, yet anxious about my intentions and excited by my dominance. Waves of defiance and desire emanated from her, and, since the mischievous wolf hadn't yet learned to censor her thoughts, her voice echoed in my mind: "Bossy Alpha. Trying to tell us what to do, as if it's his choice and not ours."

"Oh, but it is my choice, mate," I replied. Ella's eyes widened in shock, then accusation dawned as she realized what had happened. "You belong to me, and that means I decide whether or not you throw your precious life away for someone else."

"You shouldn't be listening to my thoughts when you know I can't control them," she protested indignantly.

"Then you shouldn't be thinking such naughty things," I countered, climbing onto the bed and looming over her. "Besides, I think you wanted me to hear that. You haven't been projecting your other thoughts, only that last one."

"Why would I intentionally provoke you?" she huffed, tilting her head and exposing her neck, rubbing deeper into the bedding. She might not understand her actions, but her instincts were clearly urging her to entice me, to showcase her would-be submission.

"Very alluring," I praised her wolf, a deep chuckle rumbling through my chest. My adorable mate preened, her confusion evident. "But if you didn't want to provoke me, you wouldn't have told me to shut up and rolled your gorgeous eyes at me either." I lowered myself between her legs, stroking her thigh.

"I don't know what you're talking about," her wolf insisted, turning up her snout.

"It doesn't matter if it was intentional; the result is trouble," I declared, nibbling her neck. Ella trembled with anticipation and barely contained lust; the scent of her arousal reassured me I wasn't pushing her too far. Granted, I hadn't been gentle the first time I claimed her after her shift, but that was before our world imploded.

Ella moaned as my teeth grazed her skin, arching her back and wrapping her arms around me. "You might be a tyrant, but you certainly know how to make me feel good," she confessed. "I'll never get tired of this."

"Oh, baby, you don't even know what this is, yet," I replied, shifting off her. I leaned against the pillows, then pulled her onto my lap, so quickly she gasped in surprise as she found herself face down. "Uh-uh, trouble, you're not going anywhere," I said sternly, keeping one hand on her back, the other caressing her backside.

"The first time we did this, it was to help you release your feelings. The second time was for fun," I reminded her, images of our first night flooding my mind. "But now, I'm going to give you a taste of what happens if you recklessly endanger yourself again, regardless of your reasons."

"Dominic, please don't," she pleaded, batting her lashes. Her wolf, however, growled in defiance, contradicting Ella's plea. "I didn't do anything wrong."

"Oh, I beg to differ," I rumbled, massaging her buttocks. "Your job is to protect yourself and our pup. The guards I assigned were willing to die for you, and your death would have made their sacrifice in vain. That's not what anyone wanted."

"But—" she protested, wriggling in a way that sent blood rushing south.

"And then there's the way you disobeyed me today—leaving the plane early, arguing about the doctor, and challenging me tonight," I shook my head. "I've been too easy on you. You've been pushing your limits since your wolf awoke, and I haven't given her what she needs, have I?" I inquired, my hand warming the flesh soon to receive my attention.

Ella looked up, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry, I promise I'll be good!"

Her wolf had other ideas: "Speak for yourself. Why should we follow his rules if he doesn't enforce them?"

"Would you shut up!" Ella snapped, either unaware or unconcerned that I could hear her. "You're only making things worse!"

The canine shrugged dismissively, confirming my instincts. Her wolf needed this as much as mine. "Mmm, I think we might have to make this a nightly routine," I suggested, mostly to gauge her reaction. "With such a naughty wolf at the helm, you'll need all the correction I can provide."

Ella's jaw dropped, but her thighs clenched. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Mm-hmm," I observed, slipping up her nightdress and slowly pulling down her panties. Seeing the wetness, I purred with satisfaction. "I can see how distasteful you find this idea."

Her own scent reached her nose; she pressed her hands to her face. "You shouldn't tease me! I don't even know what's happening to me!"

"It's okay, baby, because I do," I promised, raising my hand to deliver the first spank. "This is the way of wolves; it's natural that you crave it."

Ella cried out at the first spank, but her arousal spiked with her adrenaline. By the tenth, she begged for mercy; by the twentieth, she was lashing out, fighting like a wildcat. By the thirtieth, she slumped over my legs, crying pitifully, even as our shared desire overflowed.

When it was over, I slipped my fingers into her wetness, then to my lips, sucking her honey. "Such a delicious mate," my wolf crooned. Ella moaned with embarrassment but rocked her hips into my hand as my fingers returned. It barely took anything to make her come; she was already so aroused. "Good girl," I praised her, stroking her until she came down from her high. "Think you can take some more?"

Ella shuddered and nodded. I moved behind her, pulling her to her knees. I impaled her with a single thrust, making her cry out as my hips collided with her bottom.

I took her fast and hard, eventually pulling her to my chest, strumming her clitoris and sinking my fangs into my mark as we both cried out in ecstasy. I spilled myself into her, as she clenched around me, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Afterwards, nestled against me, my hand on her pregnant belly, our son rolled in her womb, pressing against her uterus, making her gasp and murmur. He seemed roused by our activity, yet through the bond, I sensed only tranquility from him. He liked his mommy euphoric and content; he liked my touch.

Ella felt it too, and regaining her speech, she turned, grinning up at me, overflowing with love and triumph. "I knew I could get you to come to bed."

"Oh," I beamed. "Is that what this was? Did you pull one over on me, trouble?" I teased, tapping her bottom.

Ella hissed, cheeks crimson. "Well, not the way I planned, but it worked all the same."

"Such a clever, sly little mate," I praised her, understanding that while she hadn't expected this outcome, she was right. If she hadn't come to get me, I'd still be watching that horrible footage. I needed rest to win this war, and my beloved Ella had found a way to ensure I got some sleep. My last thought before sleep—how lost I'd be without her, and how incredibly grateful I was never to be without her again.