Page 48 of Witchblood

“Liam,” I breathed his name like it was a magic word. He reached out and flicked a blanket over me, protecting my naked body from the chill wind, and helping me feel less vulnerable.

“There you are,” Liam said, as he ran his fingers over my face and through my messy hair which hung loose over the both of us. It looked dark and tangled in the pale light. I could barely see his eyes, clear and pale blue, though little more than ice in the darkness. I trembled against him. Freezing and detached, needing to be closer to him, needing every part of him to cover me.

I leaned down and captured his lips, diving into the taste of him, as though I were trying to crawl inside him. He returned my kiss with just as much ferocity, hand wrapped around the back of my neck, locking me in place against him. I gripped at his arms, nails digging into his biceps. “Please, Liam, please…” I begged when I released his mouth.

“Anything, baby,” Liam whispered, “Anything. I’m here. Let me be your home, provide you protection, and love.”

“Please,” I pleaded, not even knowing what I really wanted. Just that I needed him. Had to have him. He was the raft in the sea of chaos weathering the storm of madness that had taken over my brain. Something had awakened in me. A lightning rod of energy, desire, and power. It was like the monster I’d seenApabecome had been absorbed into my skin and needed release or it would eat me alive from the inside out.

I began tugging at Liam’s clothes. “You. Please. I need you.” I tore at them then, shredding the sweater, though he helped by peeling away the last piece and shucking it off with a small flex to lift himself and me off the mat. His chest and stomach bare, I pressed myself to him, curling myself against his searing heat. Still I shook with the cold power throbbing within me. “Liam…” I whined. Needing him to do something, though I wasn’t sure what. He was so cautious.

“Anything,” he repeated.

“I’m c-cold,” I stuttered. “Help me.”

His hands knotted in my hair and pulled me down for another kiss. It helped a little. Like the warmth of him leaked into my mouth, but it wasn’t enough. “I don’t want to scare you,” Liam murmured between kisses. “Please don’t run again. I won’t survive.”

“I won’t,” I promised, shoving at his pants, needing his skin against mine, his heat to wrap around me. I couldn’t imagine being any place other than with him. Forever. “Please.” I was so cold.

He rolled us then. A smooth shift of space and he was on top, out of his jeans, skin against mine and the blanket over the both of us. I should have been terrified. He could have held me down and hurt me. My heart did skip a little beat, but it wasn’t in fear. His weight poured heat into my limbs, awakening them to the tingles of energy, mine and his. That monster inside continued to paw at me, demanding freedom.

Liam was hard against my stomach. The length of him radiating heat like a furnace. I suddenly wanted it so bad. Wanted him, like I’d never wanted anyone before. My cock ached with the need to be touched and all I could think about was what it would feel like to finally have Liam inside me. Would his fire drive away the cold? Could it quiet the monster? Soothe the madness of energy swirling through me?

He wrapped his hand around my cock and began to stroke me slowly. His palm was slick with something, but warm and beyond heavenly.

“Anything,” Liam whispered, stealing kisses as he found a smooth rhythm. I thrust into his grip. It was good, but not enough.

“More,” I demanded of him, feeling bold.

Part of it was the fox, only that small bit seemed more relaxed, ready to pounce if necessary, not afraid. The fox assured me that it was okay. We were in the right place. Right where we needed to be. He wouldn’t hurt us.Mate.The fox decided even if I was still confused. I felt my eyes roll back in my head as Liam’s hips bucked against mine, creating more friction.

“Please, please, please,” I couldn’t stop the word from falling from my lips. I knew what I wanted. But part of me was still terrified. Not of Liam, but of my reaction to the act. No. I wouldn’t think of it that way. It wasn’t just a separate action. This was Liam. I was in his arms, wrapped up in his energy, begging for his touch as we made love. Yes, that was okay. That felt right. “Take me,” I whispered into his lips. “Make love to me.”

“You’re sure?” He asked, his eyes searching mine. I probably looked like a mad man beneath him. Writhing in pleasure, begging for more, yet terrified of getting exactly what I wanted.

“I need you inside me.” The energy was too much. Whether it was us, or whatever had awakened within me, something needed to break. If it didn’t happen soon, I would shatter. “Please. In me. Warm me.”

“I have lube,” Liam said, “but no condoms.” He ran his grip down the length of me again, twisting a bit and tightening at the base before sliding back up again. “I can make you come like this.”

“No.”

“Sebastian, I only want this if you’re ready. If we do this and you run…I can’t…”

“I’m ready.” So fucking ready I was about to push him over onto his back and ride him. “I can ride you, if you prefer. I just need…” Oh God did Ineed.

Liam’s stroking eased a little as I heard him fumbling with the tube of lube. “I need to prepare you. I know it’s been a while.”

But that wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want sweet and gentle right that minute. I just wanted him surging into me.Claimingme. Fuck. Was that what this was? This gut-wrenching need? The fire and ice? He cooled the energy flame, all while warming my soul inside and out. Yes, that felt right.

“Claim me,” I demanded.

Liam stopped breathing. His eyes were all over my face, searching for what, I didn’t know.

“Claim me,” I demanded again. “I am giving myself to you. Just you, Liam. I am yours, you are mine.”

His blue eyes flashed yellow and he stuttered back to life, shoving me down and pushing my legs up over his elbows as he steadied himself above me.

“Mine,” he growled, the wolf rising to the surface at the chance to claim its mate. He wasn’t gentle with himself as he covered his cock in lube. He used one finger to probe at my hole, slicking the entrance with lube and gently slipping inside. It had been a long time, but the discomfort was familiar enough, brief as it might be. He didn’t try to add another, or stretch me, just slid the finger out and pressed the large head of his cock to my hole. He pushed in and I pushed out, telling my body to let him in. I needed this like I needed air.