“More,” she moaned.
Her plea eased my wild emotions, and the only thing that mattered was her, making this good for her. “I’m gonna take care of you, kitten,” I rasped. “I’m gonna make you feel so good.” Then I slid inside her, slow and steady, until I’d given her every inch.
She gasped and rolled her hips. “Please, don’t stop.”
As soon as the words fell from her lips, my hips jerked back and powered forward. I tried to ease up, to not fuck her like a beast, but Roxy shoved her ass back, setting the pace, hard, and deep.
My head spun as our bodies slammed together, over and over, her scent, her cries of pleasure for more calling to the beast in me. This time, though, I had control, because we were one, like we should be.
Tingles shot down my spine and along my shaft. My cock thickened, making me gasp and jerk my hips, and when I slid out, I tugged Roxy back with me. I quickly thrust forward again, staying deep, and swiveled my hips.
Roxy fisted the covers and cried out, about to come. I planted one hand on the bed beside hers and hooked the other across her chest, gripping the opposite shoulder. Then dragging my nose along her shoulder, I growled a warning and quickly sank my fangs into her flesh, this time with care.
Roxy screamed and came hard around my pulsing cock, wringing my orgasm from me, taking me with her. My seed shot deep inside her, filling her up while we rocked and slid against each other.
Finally spent, I held her to me and shifted her so we were lying on our sides, my arms wrapped around her while we were still locked together. I kissed her new mark, licked it gently, then pressed my mouth to her ear. “I love you, Rox, my precious mate, so fucking much.”
She took my hand, threading our fingers together. “I love you too. Gods, my heart is full to bursting,” she said, her voice shaky.
My warrior mate was still soft and sweet, and yeah, she could kill a hoard of rogue demons on her own, but she still needed to be treated with care. I pressed my hand to her chest. “You may not need me to protect you from the monsters of this world, Rox, but just know, I will always protect this beautiful heart of yours.” I brushed her hair back and kissed my mark again, gently. “Just knowing it holds a place for me is an honor beyond measure, and one I promise I will never take for granted.”
I finally slid from her body, and she turned in my arms. Her blue eyes glittered with emotion. “You hold more than a place in it, my love, you are my heart.”
Then she wrapped herself around me, as though she couldn’t get close enough, like she was trying to make up for centuries of us being apart, holding me with all her might.
I held her back just as tightly and reminded myself that we had an eternity ahead of us.
Epilogue
Roxy
* * *
Two years later
December 10th
Holding the door frame, I swung into the common room. “Anyone know where Lothar is?” Was I talking too loudly? I felt like I was talking way too loud. Gods, my heart was racing so fast.
“Check the pit,” Rome called from the alcove where he had all his tattoo equipment set up.
“Thanks!” I rushed off, then broke into a run, because I couldn’t hold this in another moment. The smile on my face probably made me look maniacal, but I didn’t care.
The sounds of fists meeting flesh reached me before I rounded the corner and ran into the huge cavern.
War, Jag, and Relic stood to the side, watching on while Lothar worked with Brick in the fighting pit. Brick was still young, a pup as far as I was concerned, but he was a good fighter, quick, and like all young hounds, a complete hussy.
“Rox, hey,” Relic called, a huge, affectionate smile on his face.
“Hey, Scrappy,” I said, grinning, using the name I’d given him when he was a tiny pup.
He was chuckling as he strode over, then slung his arm around my shoulders. “You look happy with yourself.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” I said as I turned to face him and reached up so I could hold his precious face in my hands. “You know Mommy loves you, don’t you, Scrappy?” I said. It was a running joke we all had, but for some reason, my eyes started stinging. I was pretty sure I was going to cry.
Relic laughed, then his smile slipped a little when he noticed. “Rox? Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“And no one can ever replace you,” I said, still trying to carry on the joke and failing miserably because another tear streaked down my face. “And that you’ll always hold a special place in my heart.”
