She swallowed hard. “No. Just a new appreciation for the phrasehung like a horse.”
“You can take it.” Finishing rolling the condom down that intimidating length, he settled between her thighs, notching himself against her. “I was made for you. Every inch.”
He pushed forward, and her whole world contracted to that single sensation. He filled her utterly, and nothing had ever felt so right.
“That’s it.” Conleth’s abs stood out in sharp ridges, as if it was taking all his strength to keep to that slow, steady pace. “You’re taking me so well. Just a little more. Fuck, you feel incredible.”
He rocked forward one final inch, finding a previously unsuspected spot deep within her body that was apparently a direct connection to a higher plane of existence. All thought drained away. She clutched at him, raking her nails hard down his back.
Conleth’s whole body jerked, making her cry out in helpless pleasure. She assumed he’d done it deliberately, but then he reared up, bracing himself above her on locked arms. Still buried to the hilt, he stared down at her with wild eyes, jaw clenched.
Worried that she’d actually hurt him, she started to lift her hands away. Conleth moved faster than sight, twisting to catch her wrist. Breathing hard, he put her palm flat against his chest, over his heart.
“Do it again,” he whispered.
A little tentatively, she flexed her fingers, pressing her nails into taut muscle. The sound that he made was pure animal. Hepulled back, then thrust into her; not carefully this time, but hard and savage.
Thatwas what she wanted. Surrendering to her own need, she clawed at him, and was rewarded with another deep, soul-rocking thrust.
“Yes,” he gasped. His hands tightened on her hips, pulling her even further onto him. “I’m yours, Paige. Take me. Mark me. Oh fuck,yes.”
He drove into her at a brutal pace, all restraint gone at last. She was swept away in moments, lost to the relentless surge of sensation.
As she shattered around him, he snarled, burying his face in the hollow of her neck. Through the pounding waves of climax, she felt the sharp press of clenched teeth.
Yes, some wild part of her urged. Even at the height of orgasm, she had a sense of there being somethingmore, tantalizingly out of reach. In that moment, shewantedhim to bite her, more than she’d ever wanted anything in her entire life.
But he didn’t. His body locked, every muscle going rigid. She felt him pulse deep inside, finding his own release. With a shuddering gasp, his weight settled onto her. For a moment, they simply breathed together, hearts slowing.
With a reluctant sigh, Conleth pulled away, getting up to deal with the condom. Seeing the livid stripes she’d left on his back, she felt a twinge of guilt.
“You look like you went to bed with a tiger,” she said. “I didn’t mean to scratch you up so badly. Sorry.”
Coming back to the bed, he spooned around her. “Don’t be. In case you couldn’t tell, I enjoyed it.Verymuch.”
She grinned, snuggling back against him. “Yeah, I did get the impression you liked it. Was that a shifter thing?”
“Let’s just say I found it extremely satisfying at a primal level.”
“Mmm.” Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy. “You didn’t bite me, though.”
He brushed a kiss against the back of her neck. “Did you want me to?”
She had, if she was being totally honest. He’d said the mate bond wouldn’t form if she wasn’t ready for it, but in that moment, shehadbeen ready.
“I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t,” she mumbled, sleep pulling her down. “There’s still so much we have to figure out. With Archie, and my mom…”
“It’s all right, Paige.” He pulled her tighter against his chest, arms a solid barrier between her and the world. “I’ll be here. Whenever you’re ready.”
He waited for a long time, listening to her slowing breaths. When he was certain she wouldn’t wake up, he disentangled himself. Paige stirred as he pulled away, flinging out a hand as if searching for him in her dreams.
“It’s all right,” he murmured. He drew the sheet up, tucking it around her shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Sitting up in bed, he found the tablet he always kept on his nightstand. Paige shifted again, mumbling an indistinct query. He stroked her hair, feeling her relax back into sleep.
Then he opened a new document, and started to make a plan.
CHAPTER 31
