Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 92

Erin's POV

I stood frozen, my confession hanging in the air between us. My eyes fixed on Derek's broad shoulders and powerful frame as he turned away, walking toward the club's back exit.

The painful realization hit me again—Derek didn't love me. I was just a choice made by the Pack Alpha's wolf, driven by desire rather than emotion.

I bit my lower lip, fighting back tears. With hesitant steps, I followed him, keeping my distance. Derek was on his phone, one hand in his pocket as he spoke in that commanding tone that made my skin tingle.

He was calling his driver, I guessed. I pressed my thighs together, still feeling his touch on my body. My fingers unconsciously moved to my lips, which still felt swollen from his kiss.

When Derek stopped at the door, I wondered how he knew the club's back entrance so well. Had he brought other women here? My stomach tightened at the thought. I quickly pushed it away.

"That's his past," I reminded myself. "I also have a past with his brother. He never mentions that, so I shouldn't think about his past either."

---

As we stepped outside, the cold night air hit my bare skin. I shivered, wrapping my arms around my chest. My nipples hardened against the thin fabric of my dress, and I caught Derek's eyes momentarily drop to my chest. The corner of his mouth lifted in that half-smile that always made my stomach flutter.

His driver pulled up, opening the rear door. Derek didn't enter right away. He half-turned toward me, his eyes burning into mine.

"Still standing there?" he asked, his deep voice sending warmth through my body despite the cold. "Waiting for another invitation?"

I lowered my head and hurried to the car, very aware of how close we'd be sitting. Derek slid in after me, his thigh pressing against mine as he settled in. His body radiated heat, and I could smell his distinct scent - cedar and something uniquely male.

I shifted in my seat, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. The driver looked at Derek in the rearview mirror.

Derek's voice was deep and commanding: "Blackwood residence. But don't rush—the night has just begun."

I glanced at Derek from the corner of my eye. He was staring out the window, his profile sharp in the passing streetlights. The air between us felt charged, making it hard to breathe normally. My thighs pressed together as I remembered the touch of his lips at the club.

The car hit a rough patch of road, and I lurched sideways, falling against Derek's hard chest. His arm wrapped around my waist immediately, holding me firmly. I could feel the strength in his muscles.

Instead of pulling away, I took a chance and rested my head against his neck. His skin was warm, and I could smell his cologne mixed with his natural scent.

"I'll be good..." I whispered, feeling his pulse quicken against my cheek. "Please don't be cold toward me."

Derek's throat moved as he swallowed. His large hand started stroking my hair, fingers deliberately tracing the sensitive skin behind my ear. Each touch sent shivers down my spine.

"Is this obedience temporary, or do you plan to maintain it?" His deep voice vibrated through his chest against my body.

I smiled at the warmth of his palm against my skin, my fingers gripping his suit jacket. My breasts pressed against his side, and I could feel my nipples hardening. My body was responding to him in ways I couldn't control. The wolf inside me wanted to rub against him, to feel more of his touch, to claim her mate.

Derek suddenly pulled me closer, until I was practically in his lap. I could feel the hard muscles of his thighs under me, and something else - his arousal pressing against my hip. My breath caught in my throat.

"Stay by my side," he murmured in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "The pace of whatever happens between us has always been, and will always be, controlled by me." His voice was possessive, commanding, but there was something else there - a tenderness I rarely heard.

I nodded against his chest, feeling safer than I ever had. His musky scent surrounded me completely. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my ear and the warmth of his body against mine lulled me into sleep.

---

I woke up still pressed against Derek's chest, his arm holding me possessively. I breathed in the tobacco mixed with his cedar scent, and looked up to see him smoking a black cigarette. His gray eyes reflected the moonlight coming through the window.

"Are we... at my house?" I asked, my voice rough from sleep. I didn't want to move away from his warmth.

"Mm," Derek exhaled smoke, his eyes dropping to my lips. His fingers brushed my shoulder, lingering there before pulling away.

I forced myself to sit up, studying his face. The silence made me nervous. Golden flecks flashed in his gray eyes as they moved over my body. I felt heat spreading through me as he stared at my neck, then lower to where my dress had slipped, showing more of my chest. My face felt hot, and I lowered my head.

"Alpha, I should go now," I whispered.

Derek's fingers lifted my chin, making me look at him. His eyes were intense, almost predatory.

"In such a hurry to leave me?" His thumb traced my lower lip, pressing slightly into the soft flesh. I had to stop myself from opening my mouth and taking his finger in. He patted my head, his voice softening. "Be a good girl. Don't overthink things. Just remember who you belong to."

"Y-yes," I answered, my breathing getting faster. I pressed my thighs together, feeling wetness there.

Derek smiled, looking satisfied. "At the right time, in the right place, you may... use that term."

My heart pounded hard. "Mate?" I asked, hope filling my voice.

He nodded, tracing my neck with his fingers. His touch left a trail of fire on my skin. "Only when we're alone. Others don't need to know about us, not yet anyway."

I couldn't stop my smile. "Alright, I promise. Goodnight, mate." I said the words softly, already imagining saying them in front of everyone someday.

Derek pulled me to him. His lips claimed mine in a deep kiss. One hand held the back of my head while the other pressed against my lower back, keeping me firmly against him. I could feel every hard plane of his body, especially his arousal pressing against my stomach. When he finally released me, I was breathing hard.

"Goodnight," he said, his voice deeper than before.

I stepped out of the car, my cheeks flushed and my body still tingling from Derek's kiss. As I walked toward my door, the driver called out to me. He handed me a small package.

"The Alpha asked me to give this to you," he said, his eyes carefully avoiding looking directly at me.

I looked back at Derek in the car. "What is this?"

I opened the package to find food from an expensive restaurant. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten dinner. The thought that he had remembered made me smile.

I entered the house quietly, not wanting to wake my mother. The house was dim and silent - she was already asleep.

In my bedroom, I closed the door and leaned against it. My body was still humming from Derek's touch. I could feel his hands on me, his lips against mine.

I took off his jacket and pressed it to my nose, inhaling deeply. His scent made my skin prickle with awareness. My nipples hardened against my dress, and I pressed my thighs together, trying to ease the ache between them.

Moving to the mirror, I gasped when I saw myself. My hair was disheveled, my lips swollen from Derek's kisses, but what shocked me were the marks. My neck and the top of my chest were covered with red marks from his mouth.

I touched them gently, remembering how his teeth had scraped against my skin, how his tongue had soothed each bite. Heat rushed through my body at the memory.

"God," I whispered, pressing my hand against my stomach. I had never felt this way before - this constant need, this hunger.

I went to the window and watched Derek's car pull away.

"I truly love you, Derek," I whispered, resting my forehead against the cool glass.