I couldn’t stand the overwhelming need I could see shining in Sinclair’s eyes, not when it was tinged with shadows of doubt. He had no idea how much I wanted to claim him, how I dreamed about it, fantasized about it. How much every cell in my body ached to make him mine.
But he would.
I crushed Sinclair’s mouth beneath mine, claiming the first kiss between us. Or at least the first kiss he had been awake for. I had kissed him once before, as he lay in his hospital bed and I knew I would never be able to claim him.
The knot in my stomach unfurled when Sinclair opened his mouth and kissed me back. My heart danced with excitement as I showered kisses around Sinclair’s lips and along his jaw to his ear.
“I’m going to claim you, Sinclair. I’m going to make you my mate.”
I wasn’t asking, not anymore.
“Yo-you know when a hyena is claimed, their mate becomes their pride.”
“Yeah?” I stared down into Sinclair’s expressive eyes, watching wariness and a spark of hope dance through his eyes. “A pride of two, huh?”
“That’s why hyenas have a reputation for not belonging to prides. Without a pride, we’re nothing and so few shifters ever find their mates, that we just kind of run wild.”
I trailed a finger down the side of Sinclair’s face. “And what happens when a hyena belongs to a pride?”
Sinclair’s grin was a surprise.
“Everything,” he whispered on a breath.
I grinned, too. I wasn’t sure if the emotion flooding me could be defined as happiness, because I had never been this happy before.
“I’m going to claim you, Sinclair, make you mine for all time. Say you will be mine.” I wanted to make slow, sweet love to Sinclair and show him that I was the right choice to make, the right choice to keep.
I just didn’t think I could go slow.
“I’m yours,” Sinclair whispered. “I’ve always been yours.”
I rolled to the side of the bed and began pulling his clothes off, first his shirt and then his boxers and jogging pants. When I was done, I leaned back and stared in awe of the beauty lying before me.
“You’re the most breathtaking creature I have ever laid eyes on.”
Sinclair blushed and my heart clenched at the display of emotion. Sinclair was gorgeous and wasn’t even aware of it. That only added to his charm.
I climbed back onto the bed and scooted up between Sinclair’s legs. “You’ll tell me if I hurt you?”
Sinclair nodded rapidly.
His body was trembling when I spread his legs apart. When I skimmed my hands over Sinclair’s smooth skin, the shaking only intensified. This was exquisite torture, to have an effect on someone like this. I stole a glance up to see Sinclair watching me.
“What do you want, Sinclair? Just ask and it’s yours for the taking.” I felt a desperate need to please my mate in any way possible.
“Claim me, please,” Sinclair panted out.
We weren’t leaving this room until I did.
“Lube?”
Sinclair waved a hand to his right. “Nightstand.”
I reached over and pulled the drawer open, searching around until I felt the bottle of lube under my fingertips. I grabbed the bottle and pulled it to me. I snapped the cap open, squirting a generous amount onto my fingers, and then tossed the bottle aside.
I pushed Sinclair’s knees to his chest and held them there. “Can you hold your legs up?”
Holy fuck!
