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A pulse between us. A consent, an understanding.

“We’ll take this slow, Allie,” I promise her, breathing deep and trying to slow down the urgent race of my blood. “There’s nothing too complicated expected of us, only our union and our willingness to fulfill the bargain’s terms.”

“Fair enough,” she allows. “I have another question.”

“Mmm?”

She looks me up and down. “You seem to be built generally like a human.”

I arch a brow.

“Well, aside from the obvious.” She rolls her eyes and I chuckle. “I’m just wondering if there's anything I should be… um… aware of? Anything that’s not quite…”

“Are you asking about my cock?”

Her face flames, and the sudden rush of blood beneath her skin makes my fangs ache, desperate to know what she tastes like. Not that I expect I’ll get to find out anytime soon. Unless I truly want her to run screaming back to the human world through the nearest portal.

Baby steps.

Allie gives a jerky nod, apparently beyond the ability to voice the question.

I step closer to her and reach out to rest my hands on her hips, lean in to bring my lips to the curve of her ear. “I have a knot. You won’t take it tonight, but someday you will. We’ll work you up to it.”

The shiver that runs through her shakes her whole body, and I’d think it was fear if not for the answering wave of arousal I can scent on her.

My reaction to it is swift, violent, and entirely unexpected. Knowing my mate is here, in my arms, dampening her panties at the thought of taking my knot within her, it’s too much. My fangs push out even further, my skin feels like it’s burning, and I don’t have to glance down to know I’m fully erect beneath my trousers.

I have to get a grip on myself.

“That’s going to be… interesting,” Allie murmurs, sparing a glance down at my fabric-covered erection. “Nothing else I should know about?”

“I may be larger than you’re used to, with human men.”

The comment earns me a delightful peal of laughter from my mate.

“Oh, is that so?” she asks, placing a hand on her cocked hip. “And what? You’re ready to stuff all that big, bad length of yours into your witch?”

The challenge in her voice is a shot of pure sexual temptation into my blood. The impertinent little thing has no idea what she’s in for, and I would educate her.

My lips curl back, showing the full length of my fangs. “Yes, Allison,” I say, dropping my voice and infusing it with deliberate provocation. “I would. But only when she’s hot and wet and ready for me.”

I prowl closer, herding her back under the cover of the surrounding pines. Allie’s breathing ticks up, her pupils dilate, and like a startled fawn she darts her eyes from side to side as if looking for the best place to run.

Oh, how I wish she would run.

Again beating back the half-animal thing inside of me that can only think dark, depraved things when I look at her, I take a step forward, and then another, until I’m close enough to touch.

“Are you already, little witch?” I rest one hand around the base of her throat, holding lightly enough that she could move away if she wanted to.

“Am I what?”

My hand pulses tighter and, Goddess help me, Allie leans into my hold.

“Are you ready for me, Allison Ashblood?”

With that, I draw her into me, crashing my mouth into hers and swallowing down whatever reply she might have made.

As the kiss deepens, my tail moves of its own volition to stroke the inside of one sweet thigh beneath her skirt. She squeals a little, pulling away to look down at where it disappears under the unbelievably appealing, delicate floral fabric.