“Mine.” I gasp, already so close.
“Yours.” He agrees, setting a punishing rhythm. “Always yours.”
The pressure builds impossibly fast. My teeth throb with every heartbeat. The spot on his neck seems to pulse, calling to me.
Billy’s movements become erratic, and I can feel him fighting the same urge.
“Billy,” I moan. “Please. Mark me. Make me yours.”
He drops his head to my neck. His breath is hot against my skin. I mirror him, finding that perfect spot.
“Together,” he rasps against my skin.
“Together,” I breathe.
His teeth graze my neck.
Mine press against his skin.
“Now,” he growls.
We bite at the same moment.
Pain. Pleasure. Everything.
The bond snaps into place with an almost audible click. The world tilts on its axis. Suddenly, I can feel him, not just his body moving with mine, but his soul. His emotions crash into me: love so fierce, it steals my breath. Satisfaction so deep, it makes me want to sob, and a need that matches my own.
The feedback loop is devastating.
I feel my pleasure through his mind. He feels his through mine. It builds and builds until we’re both screaming, coming so hard, we see stars.
When it’s over, when we’re lying tangled and sweaty and completely wrecked, I can feel his heartbeat like it’s my own. His contentment purrs through the bond, mixing with mine until I can’t tell where I end and he begins.
“Wow,” I breathe.
“Yeah.” He traces the mark on my neck with reverent fingers. Each touch sends aftershocks through me. Through us. “I can feel you.”
“Me too.” I touch his mark, watching him shiver. Feeling him shiver. “Is it always like this?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t imagine it gets better than this.”
“I love you,” I say, the words flowing easily now that I can feel the truth of them in his mind.
“I love you too.” He pulls me closer. “My mate.”
“My mate,” I echo.
Our bond pulses with perfect contentment. Complete. Whole. Right.
We did it. Despite everything. And nothing will tear us apart again.
CHAPTER 16
BILLY
Something’s different.
I wake before Carla, my bear alert and attentive in a way that has nothing to do with danger. She’s curled against my chest, the mate mark on her neck still fresh, and her scent...
