When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 83 ARTEMISIA

"Is that why you said you didn't want me as your mate?" My tears well up with tears as he nods.

"Is that why you treated me like I was dirt? To make me hate you? And so make me reject you?" I ask, desperation taking over.

"Yes," he admits. "But it didn't fucking work. You couldn't stay away from me as much as I couldn't stay away from you, and we just kept fighting and provoking each other which made things even hotter! It was a disaster. Also, I thought I had reached my goal, and you were about to reject me, but I completely lost my fucking mind. Goddess, I even hurt you."

Breathing gets harder and harder as I feel like a tentacle wrapping around my throat to cut my air. "What's about the she-wolf you wanted to be with?"

"Oh, princess," he chuckles, the pet name piercing my heart as he doesn't slur it. There has never been anyone else. I didn't even think of looking at other she-wolves. There has always and only been you for me."

His words hit my heart like daggers, making me cover my mouth with my hands as I fear starting to sob like a baby at any moment. "You are lying!"

"I'm not, babe. You are everything I was waiting for," he declares, making my stomach churn.

"What about Harper?" I ask, clenching my eyes closed.

I feel him skid forward, making me move even closer to him. "Artemisia, look at me."

As I open my eyes, he lifts his hands to get mine from my face. "Harper is a poor soul I used to make you jealous. She is nothing to me. We had nothing going between us. I kept calling for her just to send her away again. She was just in the right place at the right time. Before she hit on me at the construction site, I had not even ever heard of her. Drake was so fucking raging that she had the guts to flirt with us while you were just a few steps away, and I took it as a chance."

"Oh, my Goddess," I breathe out, distorting my face as I keep myself from crying.

Moving his arms up my back, he pulls me into him fully, hugging me. He presses his lips against my neck, the sparks feeling suddenly soothing against my skin.

He breathes me in while he comforts me as I calm down, clawing onto his shoulders.

Even as I have calmed down, I remain in the same position, to stay in his arms, holding on to him.

My heart mends slowly with every caress he lets me feel on my back, every sweet word he whispers into my ear, and every featherlight kiss that he presses onto my skin.

As I feel confident enough to utter a sentence without my voice failing, I push myself off him lightly. He observes me curiously, and I can spot a bit of fear about my reaction in his eyes. "So, you don't hate me? I don't disgust you?"

"No," he shakes his head, clenching his jaw. "I love you, Artemisia. And you are the most wonderful creature that I ever had the pleasure of lying my eyes on. I have never been attracted to anyone like I am to you."

My heart skips a beat, and I gasp, not feeling ready to hear such words coming out of his mouth.

"What about my wolf?" I finally ask, still fearing his response after all the things he confessed to me.

He simply shrugs, caressing a strand of hair out of my face. "She'll come around. If not, Drake is going to get her out of the dark place she is forcing herself to stay in right now. He knows how to get a beautiful female wolf to purr." "You are such a jerk," I laugh uncomfortably, tears already back in my eyes.

"I know," he smiles while continuing to caress my sides.

Shaking my head, I lower my gaze to avoid his eyes burning into mine. I can feel him shift forward, kissing the top of my head as he gives me time to collect my thoughts.

My senses are clouded by the

itching thought that I don't care if it will cost me my life if I get to be with him. And, myself, can recognize how totally idiotic this sounds, and I

it.

totally blame the mate neve

Moving my hands back onto his chest, I roll in my fingers, wrapping them into the fabric of his t-shirt. As I look back up at his curious expression, I can already feel the heat creeping up my cheeks. "Fynn?" I ask uncertainly, making him hum in response as he studies my face.

"The deal... The deal that you have with your brothers..." I feel my heartbeat increasing, my breathing getting laboured. "Do you think you could break it?"

As soon as my question left my lips, his form into a smug grin, taking my breath away. "Whenever you want me to, mate."

Gulping, I look at him for a heartbeat before I whisper, "Break it now!"

I can't even think fast enough to register him darting forward, claiming my lips with his.

Moaning against his mouth happily, I enjoy the friction of his fingers on my skin as he travels up to bury one hand into my hair as the other one keeps caressing my thigh.

I wrap my hands around his neck, pulling my core back on his bulge which has already gotten bigger.by now. Starting to rub myself against his hardening dick enticinglyol make him groan into my mouth.

I giggle as he moves up his hand to grope my ass, pressing me onto him even more.

"Finally, I'll have you screaming my name because I make you," he growls, making my core throb in pleasurable anticipation.

Closing my eyes to let myself be consumed by our kiss, I feel his claws elongate, scraping my skin.

How I don't feel panic about him hurting me instantaneously is really beyond me, but I guess it is the mate bond continuing to play tricks on me.

He moves my dress up to my hips, ripping my panties off me effortlessly.

Without disconnecting my lips from his, I start opening his pants, lowering the waistband of his boxer briefs.

I moan as I finally feel his dick in my hand and start to stroke him slowly.

"Fuck," he growls, jerking my head back to nibble at the skin of my throat.

Moving his hand around my leg, he gropes my ass in relish, pushing me up, before gliding his fingers between my legs. I gasp as he sinks a finger into my wet folds, making me press further against his chest.