Chapter 123

Eighteen: Joselin Joselin's P.O.V.

The feeling of a hand trailing over my hip, pushing the blanket down a tiny bit, made me stir. I rolledonto my back with my eyes closed, knowing by how dark it was that it was still either nighttime orvery early. Either way, I needed way more sleep to recover from last night.

The bed moved as Tobias shifted his weight, and an uncontrollable smile spread across my lips.Happy. This was what it felt like to be happy.

His hand trailed down further, pulling the blanket away from my body. I bit my lip, keeping my eyesclosed even though I knew he could see and hear that I was awake. The stubble on his jaw slid upthe inside of my thigh, and I gasped at the sensation.

"Good Morning," He whispered against my skin before licking up my slit, giving my clit an extrastroke of attention.

"It is a good morning,” I whispered with a laugh as he turned his head and left an open-mouthedkiss on my thigh. "Have you not had your fill?" "Never." He growled, focusing back on my clit withhis warm tongue and skilled fingers teasing my entrance.

I fought the need to keep my eyes closed as he enjoyed his breakfast.

Instead, I forced them open, glancing down at the most sensual sight of my life.

My nipples were pebbled, and down the valley of my breasts, I watched as Tobias enjoyed himself.The little groans and sounds he made in response to my taste and the way he responded to mymoans, and the rocking of my hips against his lips drove me crazy.

His fingers curled inside me as he thrust them firmly and quickly, and I cried out as he brought meto my climax. My head fell back against the pillow, and my legs and hips trembled as my energy hadbeen stolen from my body.

Small sighs left my lips with each breath as he worked his way up my stomach, taking one of mynipples in his mouth before holding himself over me with his lips gently touching mine.

"You are breathtaking.” He whispered before stealing a kiss, and I leaned up, following him when hepulled away. My eyes fluttered open, surprised to see the brown eyes I loved. It wasn't his beastinfluencing his words. They came from him.

"I can't believe this is real.” My reply was met with a goofy grin, making my heart flip.

"Believe it, sweetheart.” He kissed me once more, a deep, punishing kiss that sent a thrill to my core.I wanted to wrap my legs around him and pull him deep into me. But he had stayed firm eventhough he had been right.

I had begged him to fuck me, to slide in and fill me with his cock. But he refused with a smile eachtime. The closest he had allowed himself to get was to slide his shaft in the wetness between mylips, brushing my clit with every stroke.

"I was called in, but I'll see you later.” He whispered, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip. His eyesflickered over my face before he forced himself up and promptly pulled the blankets back uparound me. "Get some more rest."

I couldn't resist watching him get dressed. My smile was unavoidable as he walked over and kissedmy head before hurrying to leave the room.

Tobias leaving me here in his house, trusting me completely, made me feel giddy.

I woke up a few hours later when the sun was high in the sky. The disappointment that Tobias hadnot returned yet was in the back of my mind, but I was too happy to dwell on it. He had a job to do,and so did I. Soon, I needed to talk to Aurora about being my pledge to join the council andteleporting, but she was still away. She and Henry had taken a vacation, wanting to reconnect.Based on how tense things were between them before they left, I would say they probably hadn'teven left the bedroom on their trip.

I wanted that in my life. I wanted to stay in Tobias's bed for as long as possible and enjoy him.Everything about Tobias's room was neat and organized. I chuckled when I thought about my towerback at the castle. Compared to him, I was a hoarder with all my supplies and books. I wondered if itwould bother him to always have my things around.

My hands tightened on the blanket as I immediately stopped that train of thought. Too fast and toosoon. Things were going great, and I needed to enjoy what we had before jumping into somethingmore.

I slid my black dress on, leaving my panties on the floor for him to find later, and made my waydown the stairs and out the door. I had become more confident in traveling through the darkness,but it was the last thing I wanted to do today. I didn't want that creature to ruin my good mood.

I was also excited to walk through the pack lands covered in Tobias's scent, to have everyone knowthat he was mine.

Several heads turned to watch as I passed them, but most avoided me just as any good neighborshould. I highly doubted they were friends with Tobias. So, that just made them nosy and irritating.The city was more crowded than usual as I reached the shops, and the large number of visitors tothe city meant I had to be on alert at all times. It was probably why Tobias had been called in soearly.

Killian had been talking about testing other alternatives to The Offering. After what happened withhis mother, he didn't want to be responsible for any other woman being put in that same position.She had been chosen as a breeder for the previous king and was raped to produce an heir. It wassomething no one should ever have to go through or even be worried about. After the war, his firstchange was to eliminate the option of choosing breeders.

It was a fated mate or a mutual mating. Everything else was forbidden.

After that, Natalie had the idea to invite all willing, unmated wolves to the mating mixers eachquarter.

I hadn't believed many would show up, but after fighting side by side with the Lycans, the wolveswere more open to attending social gatherings with them.

I was ecstatic that I didn't have to attend any of their mating mixers.

Witches didn't have mates, so I didn't need to waste my time dressing up and mingling with peoplewho didn’t want me there.

It would just make everyone uneasy if I were to be there. At least, looking like this, it would.

It wasn't a long trek to the castle and back to my tower. I had been hoping to run into Natalie andTobias on the way but didn't.

Instead, I was greeted by one pissed-off redhead arguing quietly with Aisha. I could barely hearthem mention the word pledge, and I knew Rona was trying to make the council revolt against mesince she wanted the selection for the empty seats to be filled immediately.

The two women stopped talking when they noticed me. Aisha sent me a knowing smirk while Ronascoffed with disgust as she glanced me over.

"Well, if it isn't the talk of the castle. Going out on a date with one man and ditching him foranother..how scandalous.” Her fingers tapped against her biceps as she crossed her arms. "Seemsyour reputation is still intact, Josie. It must be so nice not to care what other people think. You keepgoing from bed to bed, regardless of what will be said about you the next day."

I licked my lips with a smile as I tilted my head. "I see green is still not your color. It's fitting for you,though. Nothing green survives in the heat of Hell, but you'll find that out for yourself soonenough.”

Aisha's eyes widened, taking a subtle step away from us but watching on in amusement.

"For someone who just got laid, I'm surprised you're so bitchy this morning. Was it something I did,or did Tobias already dump you.” Rona's feigned innocence made my lip curl in disgust, but shewasn't making it easy to remain civil. I wanted to light her on fire and watch her burn. "You don'treally think he would want someone who looks like you, do you?" "Were you born with your hornsupside down, or did your mom just drop you on your head too many times?" I moved past her,walking in a calm and confident stride, not wanting her to see that she had any effect on me.

I didn't bother to listen for her comeback, but I knew she had one. She would never leave aconversation without the last word.

The next time I saw Killian, I would ask his permission to kill her. Even if I had no evidence that shehad broken any laws, she needed to go.

I tried not to dwell on it for the rest of the day. I couldnt reach Tobias without tracking him down inperson while he was working to clear the air, but that was crossing the line. So, I waited patientlyuntil the mating mixer was in full swing downstairs to leave. There was no need for either of us to beat the mixer, and I had hoped for another night alone with Tobias.

The night before had been perfect, but it was my turn to tease and taste him. I pulled on my sexiestunderwear and a cotton, black three-quarter sleeve dress that left my shoulders exposed and fell tomy mid-thigh.

He would lose his mind when he saw it on me, and I felt giddy at the idea of him taking it off of me.The kitchen was catering the mating mixer as usual, and I loved going down during these events tosteal a serving of finger foods for myself, even though I wasn't participating in the event. The staffdidn't seem to mind, but I did receive raised eyebrows this time when I packed enough for fourpeople to ensure Tobias would be satisfied.

I had just popped a bacon-wrapped cheese ball in my mouth when one of the servers pushedthrough the swinging door to refill their tray. His head of brown hair stuck out to me right awayamong the crowd, and I stepped to the side as another server opened the door again, allowing meto see him more clearly.

He held a water bottle in one hand, the other adjusting his suit jacket as a woman spoke to him veryanimatedly. She was beautiful, with her caramelcolored hair falling just below her collarbone andflawless skin.

Rona's reminder of my appearance popped back into my mind, but my main focus was on why theman who claimed I was his was here.