“You only need to unbutton until I can see your skin here.”His knuckle brushes the spot just over my heart, causing me to shiver.
I follow his direction, undoing buttons halfway down my front until my soft flannel falls open.
“We will live as one.Connected always.Her life, my life.Her blood, my blood,” Warner announces, and then he leans down, pausing to whisper against my ear.“A small cut.Is that okay?”
He meets my eyes, and I nod.
I’m down for all of this.If mating Warner means fucking him in front of all these people, I wouldn’t be happy about it.But I’d do it.
A cut is nothing.
His lips brush my exposed skin, just where the curve of my breast begins.A gasp escapes at the sting.
He bit me.As Warner straightens, I notice a small red drop on the bottom of his lip.
“I have to bite you?”I ask in shock, realizing it’s my turn.
“Or scratch me.Whatever way you think you can draw blood.But it needs to be by your hand.Your own will.”
“No wonder you didn’t give me a rundown beforehand,” I grumble.
Warner smiles, but I spy a flicker of worry in his golden eyes.His fingers circle my wrist, tugging me close and lifting my hand until it lays flat on his bare chest.Right over his heart.
“Imagine my love for you exists here.Right underneath my skin.You just need to get to it, and then it’s yours.Forever.”Warner is using his tempting tone, as if he needs to convince me to do this.
Because he’s not sure I will.
The doubt spurs me on.I’ll show him.I’ll do whatever I need to do to convince Warner I want him forever.
“Which is better?”
“Sorry?”
“Nails or teeth?”I stare into his eyes, determined, undaunted.“Which is better?”
His expression goes slack with vulnerability, and then a fiery need scorches through his suddenly black gaze.He leans down, lips against my ear, breath hot as he whispers to me, “I want your mouth.Use your teeth.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around his waist, pulling us flush, and pressing my mouth to the taut skin over his heart, kissing him just as he kissed me.
Then, with my puny human teeth, I bite him.The second I feel the skin give, I release my violent hold and swipe my hand over my mouth.
“That’s not sanitary,” I announce, holding on to my prim tone as Warner beams down at me.
He has my teeth marks in his skin, and he’s clearly overjoyed by the fact.
Warner’s hands cup my cheeks, thumbs tracing over the curves of my face.“Will you say the words?”
“Oh yeah.Sorry.”I clear my throat and recall the few short sentences.“We will live as one.Connected always.His life, my life.His blood, my blood.”
“It is so.”With Roderick’s words, a crack splits the air, and I gasp at the sensation of a hook catching under my rib cage.
The crowd cheers, and I swear I can feel their individual jubilation inside me.As if I am connected to them all.
Warner gathers me in his arms, holding me close.“You are pack.You belong to us now.”
Family.Can’t seem to escape it.
Not that I want to.
