After Beta Milo from the Silverfur pack came to ask Cornelia to dance (and she rejected him), James' mood became unstable as he was fighting to control his wolf that craved violence.
James was gripping Cornelia's waist to the point of hurting, and she saw that he was on the verge of snapping.
At first, Cornelia wanted to scold him and tell him to stop being unreasonable, but a moment later, she realized that James grew up in a hostile environment that taught him people were sinister and always plotting something. In all that mess, she was his happy place, and he couldn't bear the possibility of losing her, even if it was only in his head.
How can she scold him for that?
Cornelia wanted to comfort him; to assure him that things will be alright and that no one can take her away, but how can she do that with all the audience? They needed to leave this party and find privacy.
"My leg is aching. Can you help me to my room?"
James' eyebrows shoot up. "Of course."
He wanted to hold her hand or support her by wrapping his arm around her shoulders, but then he got an idea. "How bad is it?"
"Oh, it's bad. I don't think I can dance anymore."
James' eyes flashed with mischief, and in the next moment, Cornelia was in his arms.
Cornelia panicked, and she would bury her face into his neck to hide, but he was carrying her princess style through the crowd that was watching them already, so she made a pitiful face while twisting her leg awkwardly.
Alpha Edward kept an eye on James, and he didn't miss the spectacle. He was about to ask James about the status, but then he heard James' voice in his head, 'Don't disturb me tonight unless it's an emergency.'
Alpha Edward frowned in the direction where James and Cornelia disappeared. From where did that confidence come from? Sure, James had his share of women, but that was only for fun, and Alpha Edward didn't care if James would transform those hookups into something more, but this was important!
Alpha Edward wanted a word with James, to give him advice or maybe swap places with him, but James had left already, and the only thing Alpha Edward could do was hope that James won't blow this opportunity.
Instead of going upstairs, James paused in the hallway and spoke to an Omega in a loud voice, "Can you get us some ice? Miss Cornelia hurt her ankle."
"Do you need me to call a pack doctor?"
James refused. "No need. After icing and rest, she will be fine. Get us some painkillers as well."
Omega didn't think anything was off. Based on James' physique and identity, Omega knew that James trained a lot. Werewolves who train are prone to injuries, and it would be normal to know first aid to some degree.
"I will bring those in a minute," Omega said and scurried away.
Cornelia looked at James gratefully. If they just went upstairs, people would think they were going to get frisky. And that was not wrong, but like this, thanks to James speaking loudly, at least a few people heard that Cornelia was hurt, and they will connect that as their reason for leaving.
Cornelia bit her lower lip to suppress her smile. Was he protecting her good reputation? Silly man. The only opinion she cared about was his.
Omega brought two icepacks and a bottle of pills, and Cornelia accepted them, still in James' arms.
She loved that he could carry her with ease, like she weighed nothing.
James wanted to take Cornelia into his room, but she gestured in the opposite direction.
"I'm in the secure wing," she said, and he didn't have any objections.
James closed the door behind them and took a split second to scan the room. It had one bed, an attached bathroom, a sofa, and a desk.
Cornelia thought he would take her to bed, but he moved toward the sofa.
James put her to sit there, and then he got on his knees.
Cornelia stared at him as he carefully removed her shoes, one by one. He looked at her feet for a moment before reaching for the right one that had a little swelling in the ankle area.
He caressed her ankle gently while inspecting it visually.
For such an injury, a werewolf wouldn't need ice or medicine, but she was a witch, so he asked, "Does it hurt?"
When she didn't respond, James lifted his gaze to see her staring at him without blinking.
"Cora?"
"Yes?"
James started kneading her foot, and his index finger traced the grooves of her big toe, tickling her, but she didn't want him to stop.
"Do you like this?" He asked.
"Yes," she said, feeling a bit dazed. They were alone, and he was on his knees, tending to her injury like it was the most important thing in the world, and how could she not be affected?
Cornelia sucked in a breath when he put her toe into his mouth. His tongue moved over the pad of her toe, and she gripped the sofa's edge.
He wanted to lick her all over, starting from her toes, and he did.
James arranged kisses and licks, and he grazed her with his teeth while making his way up her leg. By the time he reached her knee, she was breathing heavily.
He loved that he had this effect on her, but what he loved even more was that she was allowing him to explore her freely, to touch her everywhere and see where her pleasure points were hiding. James had already discovered many spots that made her soft like clay for him to mold, but he knew there were more, many more, just for him to find.
James continued kissing and nipping her skin while pushing her skirt higher, and the scent of her arousal muddled his mind.
He pushed her panties to the side and touched her there.
"Fuck!" He cursed under his breath. She was wet and hot, and his, and he didn't bother with undressing her, for now.
James grabbed her hips and pulled her toward him, until she was sitting at the edge of the sofa.
Cornelia held her breath at the intensity with which he stared at the cradle of her thighs while spreading her legs as far as they go. No matter how many intimate moments they shared, he always looked at her with the hunger of a man who never tasted meat.
She saw him licking his lips as he leaned closer, and then he lapped at her love nectar with urgency, savoring her taste of wild berries, his favorite.
Cornelia fisted his hair and cried his name, desperate for a release he was happy to provide her with.
James smiled smugly when he lifted his head, and he licked her juices from his lips while looking at her disheveled appearance. When did she mess up her hair? It didn't matter.
He unbuttoned his pants impatiently, and the moment his erection sprang free, he was already pushing inside her.
That was it, the Heaven he was looking for.
"I love you, Cora... only you... my only one..." He murmured while thrusting into her.
She gripped his shoulders and threw her head back to stare at the ceiling, happy to be with her mate, alone, just the two of them, just how nature intended it to be.
The party, Alpha Edward, three women who hoped James would return and give them his attention, and those nobodies who wanted to dance with Cornelia... none of those mattered anymore.
