For a moment, he struggled to focus, his wolf and the man getting lost in the feeling. The sensation of her feeding was unlike anything he’d ever experienced—pain and pleasure intertwined, a raw, primal connection that left him shaking with the force of it. His wolf growled possessively—the need to satisfy, protect, and provide for his mate overwhelming every other instinct.
She clung to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she took what she needed, and Finn couldn’t help the low groan that escaped him. The intimacy of the moment was almost too much, a visceral blending of their souls that left him raw and exposed. Every nerve in his body was on fire, his senses heightened to the point of madness. He could feel the warmth of her breath against his neck, the rapid thrum of her heartbeat against his chest, and the softness of her curves pressed against him.
Her form trembled in his arms, and the sheer vulnerability of it undid him. She wasn’t just feeding—she was trusting him, leaning on him in a way she rarely allowed herself to do. And yet, that trust came with a weight that nearly brought him to his knees. He wanted to be strong enough for her, to be the anchor she didn’t even realize she needed.
His wolf pushed at the edges of his control, desperate to claim her again and again, to mark her, to show her in every way that she belonged to him. But Finn held himself back, even as the ache of it tore through him.
But the bond between them was relentless—a living, breathing thing that pulsed with a need as old as time. It demanded more, begged for more. And Finn could feel her need, her desire, echoing his own. She was trying to fight it, trying to hold onto the walls she’d built around herself, but they were crumbling. And every crack in her defenses sent a jolt of satisfaction through him.
He closed his eyes, his breaths uneven as he fought to hold onto his control. “Lizzy,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
She pulled back slightly, her lips brushing against his skin as she whispered, “I think I have an idea.”
Finn opened his eyes, meeting her gaze, and the sight of her nearly undid him. Her pale, green eyes were glowing, her cheeks flushed, and her lips—still stained with his blood—were slightly parted as she panted for breath. She was beautiful, fierce, and utterly his.
The headiness of the moment was overwhelming, almost suffocating in its intensity. But Finn didn’t pull away. He couldn’t. Because as much as it scared him, as much as it left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, it also felt right. She was his mate, his other half, and there was no part of himself he wouldn’t give her.
“Lizzy.” His voice was a low growl as he battled with his control, his beast wanting to own and consume their mate. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile, but there was a softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “You’ll survive.” Her voice was light but tinged with something deeper. This was the female he saw emerge any time they got even a little carried away, the female that he’d shut down for fear of taking things too far. She was sexy and confident in his attraction to her. This was the Lizzy he always wanted to bring out.
Finn couldn’t help but laugh, the sound rough and unsteady. “I’m not so sure.” His hands tightened on her waist. “But if I don’t, at least I’ll go happy.”
She rolled her eyes, but the tension between them didn’t ease. If anything, it thickened, the air around them charged with an energy neither of them could ignore. Finn could feel her wolf through their bond, restless and hungry, mirroring his own.
His control was hanging by a thread, and he knew it. But no matter how much he wanted her, he’d let her set the pace. Because she wasn’t just his mate—she was his everything. And she was worth every ounce of patience he had.
“You’re mine,” he thought fiercely, pulling her tighter against him. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, to keep you strong.”
She stared up at him, the paleness that had been there now replaced with a radiant glow. Her cheeks flushed, and her chest rose and fell with her rapid breaths.
Finn cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tear that slipped free. “You’re not alone.” His voice was rough with emotion. “You’ll never be alone, Lizzy. Not as long as I’m breathing. And you’ll always have what you need.”
She nodded, her breath hitching as she leaned into his touch. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Finn pressed his forehead to Lizzy’s, his breaths coming in slow, controlled pulls. He needed to ground himself, to keep his wolf from surging forward and taking over. Every instinct in him—the man and the wolf—roared with need. Need to complete the bond in every way, to have her scent all over him, and his on her. He wanted to remind her of the depth of their bond, to show her that she was his in every way that mattered.
Lizzy’s scent—a mix of wild jasmine and the faint coppery tang of his blood still lingering on her lips—filled his lungs. It was intoxicating, wrapping around him like a tether, pulling him deeper into her orbit. His hand slipped under the hem of her shirt, resting on the flesh of her waist, his thumbs brushing up and down her flat, toned stomach. Her skin was warm beneath his hands and soft as silk. Her heart beat against his chest, steady but quickened, matching the rhythm of his own heart.
Her breath was soft against his lips, a faint tremble there as though she was holding back, unsure. He wouldn’t let her doubt—not herself, not him, notthis.
Finn released her one hand and lifted it, tilting her chin up gently, his thumb brushing along her jawline. Her eyes, wide and full of emotion, searched his, and he saw everything she felt reflected there—uncertainty, fear, longing, and trust.
“I need you, I want you, and I’m yours for the taking,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “Always.”
The tension in her body eased slightly, and when she nodded, he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in the lightest of touches. It was a question, a promise, and when she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, pouring every ounce of his love and devotion into it.
Her hands slid up his chest, tentative at first, but as his lips moved against hers, she clutched his shirt, pulling him closer. The world around them faded, the hum of the forest dulling until there was nothing but her—the softness of her lips, the heat of her breath, the way her body melted against his.
Finn wrapped his arms around her, one hand tangling in her hair while the other pressed against the small of her back, anchoring her to him. She fit against him perfectly, because she’d been made for him, and the thought sent a bolt of possessive pride through him.
“Lizzy,” he whispered against her lips, her name a reverent prayer.
Her response was a soft sound, somewhere between a sigh and a moan, and it undid him. He pulled her closer, letting his hand slide low and under the hem of her shirt again. He moved it up her spine, feeling the warmth of her skin against his palm.
The kiss deepened, slow and consuming, their breaths mingling as the bond between them flared brighter. Finn was aware of every detail—the way her fingers curled into his hair, the slight hitch in her breath when his fingers danced along the flesh of her back, the way her heart raced in time with his.
The taste of her was still tinged with the iron tang of his blood, but beneath it was something uniquely hers, something that made his wolf growl with satisfaction. She was his, and she’d taken what she needed from him, but he wanted to give her more.
