Page 23

CHAPTER 23

S he loves me. She chooses me.

The knowledge that Bella loved him filled both sides of Malrik with joy—joy and something more. Need. He drew her closer, his thumb stroking the delicate curve of her neck.

“Bella,” he whispered.

Her name came out half groan, half prayer. His lips brushed her cheek, then moved lower. Her sweet scent intoxicated him, adding to the desire flooding his body. His teeth grazed the tender skin of her throat and she gasped softly, her hands clutching his arms. A rumbling purr of satisfaction rose from his chest as his mouth continued downward, nibbling at her collarbone.

She tilted her head back to allow him better access, then suddenly pushed him away.

He growled, not understanding why his mate was rejecting him, but then she grabbed his hand and tugged him urgently away from the cottage.

“Not here,” she whispered, gesturing at the open, sunlit garden. “Not with my father and Agatha just inside.”

She tugged on his hand again and he realized she was trying to pull him towards the woods. He immediately took over, and she laughed as he half-pulled, half-carried her into the shadows of the trees, his cock already hard and straining at the annoying trousers.

They didn’t make it far into the woods before he couldn’t wait any longer. With a low growl, he pressed her back against a wide tree. She looked up at him, eyes glazed with the same desire that pounded through his veins. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders.

“Need.” He stroked her neck again, his mouth watering, and she shuddered. “Claim.”

His ability to form words had vanished, his beast too close to the surface. She didn’t seem to mind.

“Yesss,” she hissed, and her eyes held a challenge. “Take me. Claim me.”

Her scent changed, growing deeper, richer, and his cock throbbed in response. He tugged at her coveralls, pushing them down impatiently, needing to feel her skin against him. Her nimble fingers flew to his waist and his pants dropped away. His cock sprang free and her fingers closed around it.

“Impatient little mate.”

“You have me pressed against a tree,” she pointed out. “What else do you expect me to touch?”

He laughed and the sound seemed to echo in the woods, but there was no one to hear it other than the two of them.

“I want to feel you,” he growled.

“Less talk, more action,” she said, but he heard her breath catch when he shoved her coveralls down and his hands finally touched her bare skin.

His mouth followed, tracing the soft curve of her stomach, the fullness of her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth, suckling eagerly, and she moaned and clutched his head. His hand slipped between her legs and her thighs parted, giving him access.

Wet heat met his questing fingers and he growled, thrusting a finger inside that slick channel and seeking the place that gave her the most pleasure. He knew when he found it because she moaned and her hand tightened on his cock, stroking him until he was afraid he would explode in her hand. He took her other nipple in his mouth and she shuddered helplessly.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He grasped her hips, lifting her higher into the air before pulling her down over his cock in a long, slow slide. Her tight little channel fluttered wildly around him as she tried to adjust to his size, and then she cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he was lost to the pleasure, thrusting helplessly as the beast roared its triumph.

With each stroke their bond intensified, strengthening until he was certain it could never be broken. He felt his climax approaching, the pressure building to impossible heights, but he fought against it, determined that she would come first. His teeth ached with the need to bite, to claim her, but instead he forced his lips to her breast, nipping lightly at the tender flesh.

She exploded, convulsing around him, and he roared his pleasure. As his cock jerked inside her, his seed flooding her welcoming body, he found her neck. He bit down, claiming her, and her body shuddered helplessly as another orgasm swept over her. Her body clamped down on him as his knot expanded, and his own release seemed to go on forever. When they were both spent, he lowered them carefully to the ground, still locked together.

She sprawled across his body, her head pillowed on his chest, while he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. The sun filtered through the leaves, warming them while they rested in the peace of the forest. He’d never felt so satisfied, so content.

“My mate,” he growled softly, stroking the mating mark. His claim, clearly visible on her pale skin.

Her eyes widened and he felt her quiver through their still joined bodies.

“Oh! That feels so strange. But so good…” She reached down between their bodies to where his knot stretched her open and let out an amazed chuckle. “You knotted me.”

“It is the way of the beast,” he said, and then a pang of regret swept over him. “Does it displease you?”

“Displeases me? Of course not.” She twisted, trying to get a better look and he groaned as the movement made her body clamp down around him. “Oh my.”

“You should not move,” he growled. “Not unless you want to remain here longer.”

“I’m in no hurry. Are you?” She gave him a teasing smile.

His hand closed over her ass. “I could remain like this forever.”

“As delightful as that sounds, we do need to return to the cottage in time to meet Seren.”

He murmured his agreement, but then he bent her back over his arm and licked the mating mark. She shivered again.

“That feels so good,” she whispered.

“Only when your mate touches you. Only me.”

“Only you.”

She tilted her head, offering him her neck again and he licked the bite, then teased the sensitive flesh with the tip of his tongue. Her breathing increased, her hands stroking his skin, and his knot expanded again, drawing another one of those soft helpless sounds from her lips.

He reached between their bodies and found her clit, swollen and sensitive, and stroked gently as he continued to lick and tease the mark. Her body quivered, her hands tightening on his shoulders. She was close, he realized, and he stroked harder, faster, until she came in a rush, her body milking his cock and triggering a second orgasm in him. More of his seed spilled inside her as he groaned and buried his face in her neck, completely overcome by the intensity of their union.

Their bodies were still locked together, but she managed to raise herself up and look down at him.

“Is it going to be like this every time?” she asked.

“Perhaps.” The thought pleased him.

“But how do you do anything?”

“I’m sure the knot subsides eventually.” He shrugged. “Or we learn to do more things while we are joined together.”

The idea intrigued him and his knot swelled again, making her gasp and arch her back. His hands came up to cradle her breasts as she rode him and when his teeth found the mark again, they climaxed together.

When it was finally over, she collapsed against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he felt his cock finally slip free. Their combined fluids trickled down her leg as she snuggled into his arms.

“That was incredible,” she said, yawning.

“It was. But we must return.”

“I know. But I’m so comfortable.” She looked up, and he saw the worry in her eyes. “Do you think Seren will really accept our bond?”

“I will make sure of it,” he said firmly. “But first, I should make sure you are clean.”

His hand dipped between her legs, and she gasped.

“Malrik, if you start that again…”

“I know.” He tried to sound regretful, but his heart sang with her pleasure. “But I cannot leave my mate in this condition.”

He dipped his pants in the nearby stream, then washed her gently, ignoring the demands of his cock. But when he finished and rose to his feet, he couldn’t resist teasing her, stalking towards her as she backed up, laughing, against the tree.

“Enough, my beast,” she said firmly, putting her hand on his chest.

Her nipples were taut and rosy from his attentions and he longed to lick them again, to feel her shiver with desire against him, but the words died in his throat as a familiar scent came to him. Seren.

He grabbed her coveralls, helping her into them as she laughed at his urgency.

“The Vultor are coming,” he warned and her eyes widened in panic as she tugged frantically at her clothing while he dragged the wet pants up over his still hard cock.