Page 22 of Furever Bound (Hollow Oak Mates #7)
MADDOX
T he kiss deepened with a hunger that had been building between them for days, and Maddox found himself drowning in the taste of vanilla and possibility as Sera's hands fisted in his shirt to pull him closer.
Her response was everything his wolf had been craving—eager, genuine, completely present in the moment rather than performing for an unseen audience.
"Finally," she breathed against his mouth, her voice carrying relief that suggested she'd been fighting the same attraction that had been driving him to distraction.
"Finally," he agreed, sliding his hands into her strawberry blonde hair to angle her head for better access.
The silk-soft strands caught the afternoon light streaming through his study windows, and he realized he'd been memorizing details about her from the very beginning—the way her passion flashed green in her hazel eyes, the slight furrow between her brows when she concentrated, the unconscious grace with which she moved through his space.
When they broke apart for air, he rested his forehead against hers, close enough to count the freckles dusting her nose and to feel the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath skin that smelled like vanilla and autumn.
"We should probably talk about what this means," she said, though her hands remained tangled in his shirt and her body stayed pressed against his with unmistakable intent.
"We should," he agreed, making no move to increase the distance between them. His wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin, wanting more than conversation, wanting to claim what was his. "But first, I want to show you something."
He guided her to the couch where Ember had been watching their interaction with obvious phoenix approval, her copper feathers practically glowing with satisfaction. The afternoon light caught the protective crystals she'd arranged around her perch, casting rainbow patterns across the study walls.
"Close your eyes," Maddox said, settling beside Sera with careful attention to her comfort level. "And tell me what you sense about this room, about the energy here."
"Is this some kind of supernatural test?" she asked with humor that didn't quite hide her nervousness.
"It's me showing you that your abilities extend beyond manifestation triggering," he replied, his voice gentle but serious. "Your intuitive gifts are remarkable, Sera. You just need to learn to trust what you're sensing."
She closed her eyes and went still, her breathing deepening as she focused on impressions beyond ordinary perception. Maddox watched her face as awareness shifted across her features, noting the moment when supernatural sensitivity engaged.
"Warmth," she said slowly, her voice carrying wonder. "Not just temperature, but... safety. Like the house itself is protective rather than just private space."
"Good. What else?"
"Ember's energy feels ancient but benevolent. Almost maternal, which is strange for a bird." She paused, her expression growing more confident. "And you... you feel like home. Like coming back to something I didn't realize I'd been missing."
The last observation hit him with emotional force. She felt like home to him too—the missing piece that completed something he hadn't known was broken.
"Open your eyes," he said softly.
When she did, her hazel gaze held depths of understanding that proved her psychic development was accelerating in response to their supernatural community's concentrated energy.
"I really can sense these things," she said with amazement. "It's not just imagination or wishful thinking."
"Your abilities are responding to being in an environment where supernatural energy is accepted rather than dismissed," he explained, reaching for her hand to maintain the physical connection that seemed to ground both of them.
"Most psychically gifted humans spend their lives thinking they're overly imaginative or slightly crazy because mainstream society doesn't acknowledge what they're experiencing. "
"Whereas here, people with psychic gifts are valued community members rather than curiosities to be studied," she said, the bitter edge in her voice suggesting she was thinking about Elena's clinical assessment of her abilities.
"Here, you're valued for who you are, not what you can do," he corrected, bringing her hand to his lips to press a kiss against her knuckles. "The abilities are part of you, but they're not the only part that matters."
The tender gesture made her breath catch, and he felt the electric connection between them intensify as physical attraction combined with emotional intimacy. His wolf wanted to claim and possess, but his human understanding recognized that building trust required patience.
"Maddox," she said, his name rough with want that made his control strain against itself.
"Tell me what you need," he said, studying her face for signs of uncertainty or hesitation.
"I need to know that this is real," she admitted, vulnerability bleeding through her usual confidence. "That what I'm feeling isn't just supernatural recognition or crisis bonding or some kind of psychic manipulation."
"It's real," he said simply, the words carrying weight that transformed them from reassurance to vow.
"What's between us started before either of us understood supernatural connections.
It began with conversation and intellectual sparring and genuine attraction to who you are when the cameras aren't rolling. "
"And the mate bond?"
"The mate bond is recognition of what was already developing naturally," he explained, his thumb tracing patterns across her palm. "It doesn't create artificial feelings—it identifies authentic compatibility that could grow into something permanent."
"Something permanent," she repeated.
"If that's what we both choose," he said, careful to emphasize choice rather than inevitability. "We build what we want to build, at the pace we want to build it."
The reassurance that she retained agency in their developing relationship seemed to relax something in her posture, and when she leaned closer, it was with confidence rather than uncertainty.
"I choose this," she said, her tone one of decision-making. "I choose you, this community, building something real together. Whatever comes next, I want to face it as your mate."
The declaration sent satisfaction racing through his wolf with an intensity that made his breath catch. Instead of responding with words, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again, this time with purpose that went beyond testing attraction.
Sera melted into him with a soft moan that vibrated against his lips, her hands sliding beneath his thermal shirt to explore the hard planes of his chest. Her touch was electric, sending shivers through his heightened shifter senses.
"God, you feel incredible," she whispered against his mouth, her fingers tracing the defined muscles of his abdomen. "I can feel your heart racing."
"My wolf recognizes you," he said, his voice rougher than usual as her exploration grew bolder. "Every instinct I have is telling me you're mine."
"Show me," she challenged, her hazel eyes dark with desire. "Show me what that means."
Maddox didn't need to be asked twice. In one fluid motion, he lifted her onto his lap so she straddled his thighs, her strawberry blonde hair falling like a curtain around them.
The position brought her core directly against the growing hardness beneath his jeans, and they both groaned at the contact.
"Is this what you want?" he asked, his hands settling on her hips to guide her movements as she rocked against him.
"Yes," she breathed, her head falling back as pleasure built between them. "I want you, Maddox. All of you."
His control snapped at her words, and he captured her mouth in a kiss that was pure hunger. She tasted like vanilla and promises, and when her tongue tangled with his, he felt his wolf surge beneath his skin in approval.
"I need to touch you," he said against her lips, his hands already sliding beneath her sweater to find the warm silk of her skin. "Need to taste you."
"Please," she whimpered, arching into his touch as his palms skimmed up her ribcage to cup her breasts through the lace of her bra.
He made quick work of her sweater, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside before taking a moment to appreciate the sight of her. Her bra was simple ivory lace that complemented her fair skin, and her nipples were already hard peaks visible through the delicate fabric.
"Beautiful," he murmured, lowering his head to press open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone. "You're so fucking beautiful, Sera."
She shivered at his words, her hands fisting in his dark hair as he worked his way lower. When he reached the valley between her breasts, he used his teeth to pull down the lace cup of her bra, exposing one perfect pink nipple to his hungry gaze.
"Oh god," she gasped as he took the peak into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive flesh before he sucked gently.
The sound she made was pure pleasure, and it went straight to his already aching cock. He could feel her wetness through her jeans as she ground against him, seeking friction that only made them both more desperate.
"I want to see all of you," he said, his voice thick with desire as he reached behind her to unhook her bra. The garment fell away, revealing her perfect breasts to his appreciative gaze.
"Your turn," she said breathlessly, tugging at his thermal shirt until he helped her pull it over his head.
Her hands immediately went to his chest, exploring the hard muscle and the light dusting of dark hair that led down to his jeans. When her fingers found his nipples, he hissed at the unexpected pleasure.
"Sensitive," she noted with satisfaction, her nails scraping lightly across the flat discs. "I like that."
"Everything about you makes me sensitive," he admitted, his hands roaming her back as she continued her exploration. "I've never wanted anyone the way I want you."