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Despite everything unknown between them, his pleasure-filled brain and his shivering body had taken over and without a thought to what he was about to do, he licked the spot on her neck where he wanted to mark her and bit down. The venom released into her body as she roared, her arms tightened around him as his bite prolonged her orgasm, leaving her gasping for breath.

Her second release triggered his own. Without pulling his teeth from her shoulder, he wrapped both arms around her back, his hands opening to hold her close, as he released deep inside her. The pulse of his orgasm so distinct there was nothing but Neri surrounding him. Everything else fell away.

For several minutes, sound became indistinct and his eyes stayed closed. When he caught his breath and his body stopped shaking from the intense orgasm, he blinked open his eyes.

Neri lay in his arms. Somehow he’d removed his teeth from her neck without hurting her and moved them both under the covers.

Neri arched and stretched, reminding him of a cat laying in the sun and basking in the warmth.

“How are you?”

Neri froze and blinked up at him. “Was it not good for you?”

Hunter answered without hesitation. “Being with you, making love to you was everything. But it was your first time, and I was checking to see if I hurt you.”

She smiled up at him and laid her head back down on his shoulder. He threaded their legs together and pulled her closer, his arms wrapped around her without an inch of room between them.

“Perfect. A little tired, but I think that’s because I don’t stay up this late.” Neri yawned.

“Sleep then, angel. I’ll take care of you.”

Her lips turn up in a smile as she pressed her face against his neck. “Okay. Night, Hunter.”

“Goodnight, Neri.”

Hunter listened to her breathing, noting the moment she fell into a deep sleep. He couldn’t help the smile on his face as Neri cuddled closer. Her skin warm and her breaths on his exposed skin reminded him he’d found his mate. He relaxed back onto the pillow and knowing the house was secure, closed his eyes and drifted off.

Before he was ready, sunlight flooded the room, and he although he wasn’t exhausted, he could use more sleep. As he yawned, he sensed it was mid-morning. They’d slept longer than he’d planned.

He savored holding Neri against him, but as she moaned against his neck, his body jerked awake and he glanced down to see her sleeping. There was no sign of distress, but as every moment from the night before flooded back into clarity and awakened his sated mind, his eyes widened as he searched for the spot on her neck he knew was there.

Holy fuck, I bit her and marked her as my mate.