Page 13 of Hex Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: All Hallows’ Eve #7)

Max

M ax cupped the side of Tamsin’s neck, his breath sawing in and out of his chest like he’d run a marathon or two.

Mates .

They hadn’t said the word, not since he’d shattered the charm.

But who needed to speak it when he was drawn to her like a sailor to a siren’s song.

His whole world had gravitated to her, resetting his orbit.

The moment they landed back in the hotel room, his breathing became easier.

When the portal closed, it was almost like he could finally focus.

It was just him and Tamsin. She was in his arms, steady and warm.

No competition. No interruptions.

“I’m sorry.” Tamsin gazed up at him, unshed tears in her eyes.

He froze for a moment, then rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. “I dinnae expect an apology, Tam.”

“You’ve got it, anyway.”

“Do ye feel?—”

Her pale wolf eyes were intent on his. “That we’re mates?”

He nodded, suddenly at a loss for words. He let his hands drop to his sides. If she rejected him now?—

“Yes. I feel it.”

Better to get the bandage ripped off quickly, he thought. “Are ye going to reject me? That charm?—”

“No.” She shook her head and closed her eyes, letting out a breath. “No.”

Relief poured through him, filled him with hope that this may work. That she might want him half as much as he wanted her. At least I know why I was so drawn to her. Wanted to get under her skin.

The damn charm had blocked the bond. Had fought against them every step of the way.

Max moved closer. “I’m going to kiss ye now. If ye want me to stop, ye need to say it. Because I want ye too badly otherwise.”

“It’s the bond—” Tamsin began.

He shook his head before she could finish. “It’s ye. It’s always been ye.”

Her eyes grew heavy-lidded and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you waiting for, then?”

Always challenging him, even in this. Even now.

And he loved it.

She whimpered as he leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers, gently at first. He didn’t want to give her an excuse to run away.

Again. But her fingers splayed out over his shoulders, as if she was trying to feel as much of him as she could, as if she was urging him closer.

As if she needed this as much as he did.

He took his cue from her and deepened the kiss, opening his mouth and sweeping his tongue against hers.

She smiled against his lips, and then he was falling.

Falling ?

A second later, his back was pressed to a soft mattress. He broke the kiss, dazed. “What the?—?”

“A little portal from there to the bed.” Tamsin pushed herself up, tugging at her skirts so she was able to settle astride his hips. He stared at the smooth expanse of thigh that was now exposed.

Fuck.

He shut his eyes, the pressure of her settling on his groin making him grow harder than he’d ever been in an instant. “Holy hell.”

Tamsin smiled and leaned forward, splaying both of her hands over his chest. “I guess I’ll get to see what you’re wearing under that kilt of yours, after all.”

He swallowed and counted to ten. Then to twenty.

“Come now. Ye havenae even bought me dinner yet.”

“Dinner? Hmm, that’s a good idea.”

“Wait, what?—”

She swooped down, taking his mouth in a kiss that quickly turned ravenous.

One of his hands cradled the side of her face, while the other stroked down her shoulder, curving inwards across her chest. His palm delicately traced the side of her breast, his hips arching as he spread his hand out to rub his thumb over one of her nipples, only for him to groan softly in frustration when he felt nothing but fabric.

He pulled back slightly. “While ye look amazing, that damned dress?—”

Tamsin grinned, then sat up, shimmying her body in a move he was sure intentionally had her core further pressing up against the hard length of his cock.

She shifted one hand behind her back, and in the next breath, the shoulders of her dress fell.

She’d unzipped the gown. But hadnae she needed my help to zip it up?

He was soon distracted by her bending forward, by her breasts spilling out of the dress. His mouth went dry at the sight.

“Gods, Tam. Ye are so beautiful.”

She bit his lip.

“Hey!” He raised a hand to his mouth in surprise.

“Stop talking, more kissing.”

He wasn’t about to argue with that, even if his lip did hurt a wee bit.

He tugged on the back of her neck and she came easily, moving forward, their lips meeting in a clash of passion.

He slid one of his hands along her waist, curving inwards once more to cup one of her breasts—gloriously bare this time—his cock jerking as her nipple hardened in response.

She moved slightly, tilting her head to press small, wet kisses in a slow and agonizing path from his mouth to his neck. His body was on fire, and Tamsin was intent on making it worse. Or better. It was difficult to say at this point.

He pushed up with his hips, earning a breathy moan from his cranky witch. She sat back in response, pushing his shoulders against the mattress. “Max. Stop it.”

He repeated the movement, gasping as he felt her heat through her clothing and his kilt. His hand tangled in her hair while his other hand cupped her hip, trying to press her down further.

Tamsin gave him a nonplussed look. “I am in the middle of something.”

Max debated his next move. He could let her have her way with him…which seemed like a long and drawn-out process. Or, he could hasten things, just a bit.

“Stay still,” she muttered.

He shook his head sadly. “Nae can do.”

Then he phased out of his physical form. Tamsin’s hands dropped to the mattress, and she faceplanted in surprise at the sudden absence of his body. He reformed next to her in the bed, under the comforter, head lying on a pillow. He folded his arms over his belly, giving her a genial smile.

He was still hard as a rock.

Tamsin looked over at him, hair falling across her face. “Did you just turn phantom ?”

The way she said it, it sounded like he’d done something bad. But she’d portalled them to the bed. So fair was fair, right?

“I might have.”

She yanked on the comforter, and Max gave a slight yelp as cold air lashed at his naked body. “Tam!”

He reached for the blanket, but she was there, shoving at him, pushing him back against the pillows. Then she threw the blanket off the end of the bed. “Stop ruining the view!”

Her darkened gaze lingered on his body, and his blood scorched his veins, all the fight leaving him. “When ye look at me like that?—”

Her voice was a low growl. “Stop. Talking.”

Suddenly, Tamsin’s hand cupped his cock, pressing her palm along his shaft as she rubbed up and down its length. His breath sawed through his chest at the sight of her touching him, at the feel of Tamsin’s hand wrapped around him.

My mate.

The bond hadn’t solidified yet. But once he was inside her body, it would permanently tie them together. He couldn’t fucking wait.

“You feel so soft, so smooth,” Tamsin muttered. Then she moved down his body, laving the length of his cock with her tongue teasingly. His head lolled back on the pillow, his body completely at her mercy. She continued to work her hand over him, before she kissed the head of his erection.

“Fuck.”

“We aren’t doing that just yet.” She gave him a teasing smile and ran her tongue over the head of his cock once more, licking the slit and tasting his precum. “Mmm. I think I’ve found my dinner.”

Max cursed, his hands rising to her hair. She swirled her tongue around the head of his cock again before the heat of her mouth finally, finally closed over him. Ecstasy beat a sharp rhythm in his blood as she bobbed her head down, taking him in, right to the base.

“Holy hell!”

He bucked into her mouth, groaning as she sucked him deeper, her cheeks hollowing as she did so. “Tam, stop!”

But she didn’t.

His damned stubborn mate. Two can play at that game , he thought.

Once again, he phased out, but this time—this time he appeared behind her. On his back.

She went upright, still on her knees. “What the?—?”

He shoved her skirts over her hips and positioned his head between her legs. Fuck. Yes. This was what he wanted. His mouth was a mere whisper away from her soaked panties. Tamsin reared back, and he grabbed onto her thighs. “Take yer dress off.”

He could hear her breathing, her thinking. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Ye were being greedy. It’s my turn. Take yer dress off.” He thought for a second. “Or not.” He tugged her hips down and swiped his tongue across her panties, teasing. She let out a breathy moan—it sounded even better than the one he’d imagined earlier—then lifted off him.

“Tamsin—” His voice was a low growl.

But she simply tugged her dress from her body and shucked off her panties. He watched as she turned back toward him, desperate to taste her. But she moved at the last moment, coming astride his face, while positioning herself so she could take his cock in her hungry mouth.

Which she did.

Shit. His head lolled back, giving him an excellent view of her pussy, which was swollen and glistening above him.

He tugged at her hips, pulling her against his mouth as he swiped his tongue across her pussy, spreading her lips so he could taste her properly.

He licked again and again, his tongue lingering on her hard clit.

Her moans filled the air, vibrating against his cock as it slid in and out of her mouth.

“Ye taste so good,” Max groaned against her, thrusting his cock into her hot, wet mouth. With each lick, her taste branded him; made him crave her. Want more. Need more.

He sucked on her clit, drawing it into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue.

“Fuck! I’m going to come.” Tamsin’s body grew taut, and his cock popped out of her mouth as she threw her head back, bucking against his face.

His fingers clenched on her hips, and she shuddered, riding his mouth as her body exploded in pleasure, and he greedily drank her in.

Max shut his eyes, doing everything he could to not come over his legs like a teenaged lad. But the feel of her pussy clenching against his mouth, the soft cries as she orgasmed against his lips…

He barely held on.

He was panting as she lifted off his body. “That was—” Then she looked at him, at his clenched fists, tight jaw. “Max, I can?—”

His gaze wild, he swallowed, the taste of her still in his mouth. “I need to be in ye. Now.”

Her eyes dropped to his cock, to its swollen length, and her eyes darkened. She reached out and leaned down, as if she were about to suck it again. “ Nae yer mouth,” he bit the words out as his hips jerked in response to her holding him.

She shot him a wicked look. “Mmm. My pussy, then?”

“Hell yes.”

“You want to become mine?” She moved so she was astride him, facing him. She guided his cock to her soaking pussy, where she rubbed herself over his length.

He almost wept in frustration. “Ye are a tease.” He didn’t know how he was still capable of thinking, much less speech.

She tilted her hips, causing his cock to slide deep into her warm, wet heat. “Oh, hell.” He could come from this alone.

He started counting again. But just as Tamsin finished the long, downward stroke, she was moving up, his cock sliding almost entirely out of her body, the cool air a harsh but erotic contrast.

“Ready?” She grinned, and then slammed down, taking his length in one hot, furious glide to matehood.

“Tamsin!” His fingers came up to clutch on to her hips, and it was all he could do to breathe.

Something crunched under his back. But he couldn’t think; only feel.

He tried to hold still, to prolong the inevitable.

But she didn’t give him any mercy; she rolled her hips against him, and pressed forward, grinding her clit against his pelvis.

“I’m gonna come,” he warned.

“Good. So am I.”

Unable to deny himself any longer, he began to thrust upward to meet her downward slides, their bodies slamming together in bliss. He pressed his thumb to her clit and she scratched his chest as her pussy began contracting around him, squeezing him so tightly that any semblance of sanity vanished.

“Tamsin!”

Pleasure exploded from the base of his cock, his balls tightening with each thrust. He came hard, harder than he knew he was even capable of, driving deep within her core, his soul reaching for hers as he did so.

His pleasure skyrocketed as the mate bond snapped into place, his soul finding its home in the woman astride him. And hers in his.

Together.

At last.