“I mean them. More than anything. Please, Brax.”
His pleading undid me. Any restraint I had left snapped like a twig. I kissed him hard, pouring two years of longing into it, and he met me with equal fervor.
I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. “Are you sure? Once I mark you, that’s it. You’re mine and I’m yours. Forever.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. “I feel it, Brax. Right here.” He placed my palm over his heart. “I didn’t see it before, but I do now.”
My bear roared with approval, pushing at me to complete the bond. I kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the feel of his lips against mine. My hands mapped the planes of his body, memorizing every dip and curve. He was perfect. Mine.
I worked my way down his neck, placing open-mouthed kisses along his throat. His pulse hammered beneath my lips, and I could scent his arousal building again already. My omega was insatiable, and I loved it.
“Need you,” Kip panted, his fingers digging into my shoulders. “Please.”
“I’ve got you, my love.”
I kissed him as I circled his entrance. His slick eased the way. He tensed slightly when I pushed two fingers inside, and I soothed him with gentle touches, letting him adjust to the sensation. When he relaxed, I pressed inside slowly.
“Oh fuck,” Kip breathed, his head falling back against the pillow.
“Good?”
“So good. More.”
I worked him open carefully, adding a third. His cock was fully hard again, leaking against his stomach. Every time I crooked my fingers just right, he made these delicious little noises that went straight to my dick.
“Ready for me?” I asked, though I could barely think straight anymore. My instincts screamed at me to claim, to mark, to make him mine in every way possible.
“Yes. God, yes. Need you inside me, Brax.”
I slicked my cock and positioned between his legs. Our eyes locked as I pressed forward, breaching him slowly. The heat of him enveloped me, and I had to pause, overwhelmed by the sensation. Nothing had ever felt this right.
“Move,” Kip urged, his legs wrapping around my waist. “Please move.”
I did, setting a slow, deep rhythm that had us both gasping. I’d imagined this moment a thousand times, but reality shattered every fantasy. The way he felt around me, the sounds he made, the desperate way he clung to me—it was perfection.
“Harder,” he demanded, and I complied, driving into him with more force. The bed frame creaked beneath us, but neither of us cared.
I felt it building between us. The bond snapping into place piece by piece with every thrust. My bear was going wild, recognizing its mate, demanding I complete the claiming.
“Now,” Kip panted. “Mark me now. I’m close, and I want—I need—”
I understood. I leaned down, my lips finding that perfect spot where his neck met his shoulder. I licked the area, feeling his pulse race beneath my tongue.
“Mine,” I growled against his skin.
“Yours,” he confirmed. “Always yours.”
I bit down, my teeth breaking skin, and the world exploded. The bond snapped fully into place, flooding me with sensation. I could feel everything, his pleasure, his love, his absolute certainty that this was right. His orgasm triggered mine, and we came together, the bond amplifying every sensation until I thought I might shatter from the intensity.
I licked the mark clean, sealing it, and collapsed beside him, pulling him against my chest. Both of us were trembling, overwhelmed by what we’d just done.
“Holy shit,” Kip whispered.
I laughed breathlessly. “Yeah.”
He turned in my arms to face me, and I could see my mark already forming on his skin. A perfect claiming bite that would tell the world he was mine. His fingers traced over my chest, right above my heart.
“I can feel you,” he said with wonder. “Like you’re part of me now.”
