“That won’t happen. I could never regret this, not with you.” His resolve is wavering, I can tell. “I thought you were dead. Corbin he… he trapped me in a nightmare. That’s how he took me.” Jared strokes up and down my spine, soothing me. “Then when I was running, and he caught me, I thoughtIwas going to die. I’m not making this decision out of fear, I promise. Tonight made something clear to me—I love you, Jared. I don’t want to go another moment without completing our bond.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am. Are you?”
He turns off the water, then hoists me into his arms and steps out onto the bathroom tiles. “Nothing would make me happier than being called yours for the rest of our lives.”
Jared’s lips meet mine in a tender kiss, then he gently sets me on my feet and grabs a fluffy white towel to dry me off. I wrap the soft towel around myself while he uses another one to remove the water droplets from his own skin. Jared secures his towel round his waist, then leads me through the bathroom door. “Let’s go to bed, my mate.”
The mattress dips slightly as we sit opposite each other. Jared cants his head, lips pursed in thought. “How exactly do we complete the bond?” he asks, stroking a hand over my bare shoulder and down my arm.
I intertwine our fingers. “You’ll need to partially shift into your demon form so you can give me your bonding bite. You’ve been practicing shifting with Huxley, right?”
“Yeah. I’m still a little slow with my full shift, but I’ve got my partial shift under control.”
“Good.” He still looks nervous, so I squeeze his hand. “Don’t worry, it’s not something you can do wrong. Your instincts will take over, and it will feel natural.”
The tightness in his shoulders dissipates. “How did you know that was my next question?”
“Because I know you.” I lean forward, my thumb stroking over his cheekbone as I place a gentle kiss to his lips. Even though I know it wasn’t real, I’m still shaken after The Raven showed me Jared’s death. I can’t help but touch him, grounding myself with the reminder that he’s really here, that we’re both safe now.
“What about you? You don’t have a shifted form, so I’m assuming witches do something different?” he asks, hazel eyes alight with equal parts anticipation and a thirst for knowledge.
“That’s right. Witches don’t have a bond bite. I’ll leave a sliver of my magic in your heart, and a small mark will appear on your chest, kind of like a tattoo.”
“Good. I want that.” Jared kisses me softly, and I melt into him. After a moment he pulls back just long enough to murmur against my lips, “I don’t know if it’s the demon in me or the man—probably both—but I want your mark on me.”
Our lips meet again, but it’s different this time. Rather than sweet assurances that we’re both still here, still alive and together, this kiss is longer, deeper. It’s the sort of kiss that leaves you breathless and desperate for more.
I fall back against the pillows, and Jared follows me down, moving over me until our bodies are aligned. Our tongues tangle in a sultry dance as my hands glide over the expanse of his defined back. He growls into the kiss as I lightly drag my nails over his golden skin, and the sound rumbles deeper as his partial shift emerges. Wanting to get a proper look at him, I pull back, nipping at his full lower lip when he chases my mouth.
The tip of his forked tongue flicks out to soothe the sting, and I use his distraction to admire him fully. Onyx-black horns jut back from his hairline, and his eyes shine a little brighter, the green slightly overtaking the brown in each iris. I gasp, feeling a light prick at my sides where my towel has fallen open, telling me Jared’s claws have emerged.
“Shit, sorry.” He shakes out his hands, and the claws disappear. Concern pinches his golden brows together as he runs his palms over the dips on either side of my waist to check for any damage.
Capturing his wrists, I rush to reassure him, “Relax, I’m fine. You surprised me, that’s all.” He’s understandably shaken after finding me covered in blood, and it’s obvious his instincts are pushing him hard even after getting my injuries cleaned up.
He settles on his side next to me, smiling sheepishly. “Guess I’m still a little jumpy. Way to kill the mood, huh?”
“Jared.” I run my hand along the length of his arm and up the side of his neck to cup his cheek. “There’s no right or wrong way to do this. It’s only us here, and we’re safe. Just be with me.”
He sighs, nuzzling into my palm. “Mate bonds are completely new to me, but you’ve grown up knowing about them, imagining what would happen when you met your mate almost like a fairytale. Nothing between us has gone how you expected—I literallyfaintedwhen we met. I wanted to make this one part perfect for you.”
My heart squeezes. “You’re right. Our story isn’t what I expected—it’s better. I wouldn’t change anything, not even tonight, because now the monster from your nightmares is locked away, and we’re here ready to start the rest of our long lives together.That’swhat matters. The reality of being with you is a thousand times better than anything I ever could have imagined.”
His smile is dazzling. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now make me yours.”
The words are exactly what he needs to hear to pull him out of his own head. His eyes glow a little brighter, a sure sign his demon instincts are taking the wheel. Jared seals his mouth to mine in a claiming kiss, no less skilled with his shifted tongue than his human one. Large hands explore my body, skimming over my hips and thighs, then up my sides to cup my breasts.
A wicked smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I replay how strongly Jared reacted when I touched his horns the first time he shifted. I wonder if they’re as sensitive in his partially shifted form? From the gossip I’ve heard around town, they should be.
At the first brush of my fingertips over the shiny black horns, Jared’s entire body stiffens for a fraction of a second, then he moans into my mouth, hips bucking.
“Good?” I ask, still lightly stroking the lengths, careful to avoid their sharp points.
“Y—yeah.” He rolls his hips again, his cock hard and heavy where it rests between us. I increase my grip, and he moans long and low. “Fuck, I can’t think when you do that.”
