Page 21

MALIK

I lost track of the amount of time we stayed there, a tangle of flesh and sweat and earth, our bodies joined while we familiarized ourselves with one another’s bodies.

The way Aria’s breath hitched when I scraped my teeth over the mark I’d left on her delicate neck. The way her eyes rolled back when I ground my pelvis against her clitoris. How her legs tightened around my waist when my knot began to go down, like she didn’t want to let me go yet.

At last, the swelling diminished enough that I could roll to the side. My shoulders hit the damp earth, and I pulled Aria onto my chest. Dirt and debris fell from her honey locks, and, with a smile on my lips, I plucked a twig from her hairline.

She giggled. Looks like I need a shower.

I thought I’d never heard anything as beautiful as Aria’s voice, but then I heard her in my head, through our bond, and that quickly became my favorite sound in the world. It was almost enough to soothe the primal, ridiculous aversion that rose up inside of me at her mention of a shower. Almost .

A growl rose up my throat, mercifully silent, though I knew she felt my body stiffen beneath her. Every nerve ending inside of me protested the mere thought of her washing my scent from her body. It was insane and animalistic and unreasonable.

Or not…? She ventured, cocking a brow at my reaction. Is everything okay?

Blood began rushing to my cock again, involuntarily, and I tipped my head back, clamping my eyes shut. I’m sorry. I don’t feel entirely in control of myself, right now…

That’s okay. Aria settled more firmly against my chest, rubbing her hands along the slabs of muscle. She hummed contentedly, even as my hardening shaft brushed against her backside.

I gently hoisted her higher so that her sex rested against my abdomen rather than my hips, intent on at least attempting a conversation with her before plunging inside of her again.

The task was made infinitely more difficult when I felt the slick mess leaking from between her legs.

I fought the urge to use my fingers to push my seed back into her body.

She smelt like me. Like her scent had been infused with my own, and masculine pride swelled inside of me at the prospect. She wouldn’t be able to walk in a room without every male present scenting my spend in her womb, dripping down her thighs, coating her pussy…

A pleasing shiver coursed through me. Marking her, claiming her, finding her, worshipping her… It was my life’s purpose now. The greatest thing I could ever or would ever achieve.

I don’t think I’ll be able to let you out of my sight, I murmured into our bond, coming to the realization myself as I spoke the words. Not for a while, at least. I’m feeling…

Protective? She chuckled, bending down to peck a kiss to my neck. For the first time in my life, my scars didn’t prickle at the proximity of another’s touch.

That’d be an understatement. I swept my hands up and down her bare spine, memorizing the lean muscles leading to the dimples above her ass. How are you feeling, little dove?

Her head lifted from my neck, and she crossed her hands on the center of my chest, resting her chin on her fingers. She never ceased smiling. “Perfect.”

She seemed to mean it. I vaguely remembered hearing her cry out when I first sheathed myself inside of her, but her tight walls adjusted quickly. She took me so well, like she was made for it.

You’re not sore? I prompted, brows furrowed in concern.

Aria shook her head. Fit as a fiddle. See?

To demonstrate, she wiggled her hips, slipping down my abdomen until her center rested above my pelvis once more. Her slick, swollen lips parted to allow my cock to slide between them, nestled perfectly against her seam. All the while, mischief danced in her eyes.

My hips jerked beneath her weight, and I ground my teeth to gain a modicum of control over the pressure already bubbling at the base of my spine again. I could blame it on the full moon or the potency of our mating bond, but milky drops of pre-cum already dripped from my tip.

Before she had the chance to prematurely tease another orgasm out of me, I rolled to the side once more, taking Aria with me.

She gasped before erupting into a fit of giggles as I pinned her to the forest floor. Her blonde waves unfurled around her in a brilliant halo, and I allowed myself a moment to admire the sight before I flipped her onto her stomach.

Her giggling stopped, eyes wide as she glanced over her shoulder. Ass in the air, the position gave me an unobstructed view of the puckered hole at her backside, gleaming with the secretions that dripped from her other entrance.

She was a mess. Beautifully, freshly fucked.

Creamy semen and glossy arousal glazed her lips, and I acted on instinct, clamping my hands on her hips and stooping low to taste her.

My tongue swept her from front to back, gathering our combined mess into my mouth.

She tasted sweet, just like her scent, mixed with a tantalizing dose of natural musk and saltiness.

I could devour her for hours. One day soon, when I possessed more control over the animalistic parts of myself, I would.

But right now, I needed to be inside of her again.

Aria yelped when I nipped at the little bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs before rising to kneel behind her.

Her mouth parted, her breaths heavy as she stared at me over her shoulder, long, slender back on display.

I didn’t dare pump my fist over my cock, too aware that the smallest bit of friction would send me careening over the edge.

Eyes shuddering closed, I felt the magnetic pull of the moon’s beams pour over my naked body. When I opened my eyes again, red lined the edges of my vision. Claws sprung from my fingernails, and my cock swelled impossibly larger.

I teetered on the brink of transformation, somehow maintaining my human form, and gave myself over to the wildness inside. Leaning over Aria’s back, I lined up our hips and sheathed myself inside of her in one fell thrust.

A ragged, breathless cry tumbled from her lips as my cock met initial resistance, her walls clamping down to protest the abrupt intrusion. I didn’t pull out, remaining seated deep inside of her while I curved my chest over her back.

That’s it, little dove, I growled, placing one hand in the dirt beside her trembling one. Her fingers curled into the damp earth, her entire body shuddering beneath me. Take it.

Aria nodded, seemingly unable to form a response beyond a soft moan. I withdrew halfway, only to pump back inside of her with equal fervor. Two thrusts in, and my orgasm already threatened to swell like a hot wave through my body.

I paused, if only to prolong our second mating a few more seconds, and used my spare hand to sweep a curtain of blonde hair over her shoulder, leaving the back of her neck exposed.

My canines descended at the simple sight of the knob at the top of her vertebra, separating her neck from her spine, and a low groan rumbled into our bond. Aria. I need to mark you again…

She glanced over her shoulder, eyes heavy with lust. Anywhere. Everywhere. Do it. Please.

I didn’t waste another second. My teeth closed around the back of Aria’s neck, sinking hard and deep into her skin.

She moaned, a filthy, sinful sound that I felt in my bones as her blood seeped around my teeth and lips.

The heady, un-ignorable pressure between my hips surged, and my nerve endings jolted as I bound my little mate to me a second time.

This time, the mark was reminiscent of our ancient ancestors. The first wolves who mounted their mates from behind, brutal and efficient, teeth clamped on their scruff. When I pulled away, the sight of it decorating the delicate knob at the top of Aria’s spine pushed me over the edge.

I began rocking my hips as release barreled through me, a never-ending phenomenon that came in wave after wave. My movements became stunted as the blood swelled at the base of my erection, locking our bodies together once more.

Aria’s body gave out beneath me, but I caught her with an arm around her waist. She trembled, goosebumps peppering her skin as her walls clamped in rhythmic beats around me .

“ Goddess, ” she sighed, going limp in my arms.

I slowly lowered her to the earth, rolling to my side and pulling her against me. Her back pressed flush against my chest, and my hand cupped her breast, memorizing the fluttering heartbeat beneath it. My other hand rubbed quick circles over the bundle of nerves at her center.

You’re so good. So perfect. The words flooded into our bond before I could stop them, not that I wanted to. I’ll take you home now and clean you up. Then I’ll... Fuck . I gasped, arching my hips in an attempt to push deeper inside of her.

My knot dragged against her tight muscles, and another wave washed over me. Goddess, I was ruined by this female.

Aria groaned, reaching up to stroke my cheek and guide my lips down to hers. We kissed, slow and languid as I spilled more seed inside her womb, satisfying the primitive urge to watch her swell with my pups.

When the latest wave receded, she broke our kiss and grinned against my lips. You’ll take me home, then what?

I chuckled, the sound echoing through our bond, and nuzzled my face, scars and all, into the crook of her neck. I’ll take you home, then we’ll never leave the bedroom again.