Elowyn's lips moved as she passed a bag to Lucien, her words lost beneath the roaring in my ears. My pulse hammered like war drums, drowning everything in a crimson tide of possessiveness. Every cell in my body screamed for them to leave, to vanish from Atlas's presence… from my territory.
Elowyn's gaze dropped to Fenwick. "And you—you're coming with me to the coven's safe house." She clicked her tongue. "These two need privacy to complete their bond, before we have even more chaos on our hands." With a snap of her fingers and a flash of violet light, Fenwick's human form collapsed into his fox shape, still bound in rope. She seized him by the scruff, stuffed him unceremoniously into her leather satchel, and slung it over her shoulder with ease.
Elowyn cleared her throat. “I suggest, Atlas, she claims you as you claimed her. Please report to me how that is done so we can spread the word to the other Mothmen. It will save the headaches for later.”
Atlas's chin bobbed against my shoulder in agreement while Lucien gaped at us, his head swiveling like an owl's. Elowyn beckoned him with impatient fingers, but his luminous eyes remained fixed on our display, unwilling to miss a moment of whatever the hell this was.
“That’s it, walk away!” I yelled at their fleeting figures. “You can’t have what’s mine, you creepy twat waffle of the village!”
I was going to die of embarrassment.
Elowyn pivoted on her heel, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Better stake your claim quickly," she called back, "or I might just decide he's fair game. And trust me, darling—I don't mind sharing my toys."
Power flooded through my veins, making me feel invincible. With one quick twist, I slipped from Atlas' grip and spun to face him. Before either of us could think, I launched myself upward, wrapping my legs around his waist and crushing my mouth against his.
Atlas staggered backward, his heels catching on the cabin steps. Without breaking our kiss, he managed to navigate us through the doorway, slamming it closed with a powerful kick that echoed through the small space.
I tangled my fingers through the soft, downy fur crowning his head. His antennae coiled around my wrists, sensing everything—my racing pulse, the heat radiating from my skin, the desperate hunger I couldn't hide.
Atlas' wings enfolded me, cocooning us in a world of our own. His hands, large and gentle, cradled my back, holding me close as our kiss deepened. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, against my chest, echoing the rhythm of my own racing heart. The fever that had been tormenting me seemed to calm, replaced by a warmth that spread from my core outward, like honey on a lazy summer day.
I pulled away slightly, just enough to look into his eyes. They were bright pools of red in the dim cabin light. "Atlas," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "What's happening to me?"
He brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch tender. "It's the matching, Kassie," he said, his voice a low rumble. "It wants to be completed. I felt it when I needed to claim you.”
I took a deep breath, my lungs filling with his scent. Earthy, like the forest after rain, with a hint of something sweet, like honeysuckle, something I wanted to devour, sink my teeth into. I felt dizzy, drunk on him.
"I... I don't know what to do," I admitted, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “I just know I need to have you.”
He smiled, a soft, reassuring smile that made my heart flutter. "Just follow your instincts, Kassie," he said. "They'll guide you. And I'll be here, every step of the way."
I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his. His antennae uncoiled from my wrists, gently tracing the line of my jaw, the shell of my ear. It sent shivers down my spine, igniting a trail of fire in their wake.
My body moved on its own, grinding against him as he pulled his pants down to feel my heat against him. He worked on my clothes as well while I worked on this fevered feeling in my body, as he moved us to the bedroom.
Atlas’ grip on me tightened, his breath hitching slightly. I could feel his desire, hard and insistent, pressing against me. It sent a thrill through me, knowing that he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
My lips found his again, hungry and demanding. His mouth opened, inviting me in. Our tongues danced, exploring, teasing. His taste was exotic, like a faraway land I'd never known but always longed for.
His hands moved lower, cupping my ass, supporting me as I wrapped my legs tighter around him. I could feel his wings shifting, the soft rustle of feathers filling the room. They enclosed us tighter, shutting out the world until there was nothing but him and me.
As we entered the bedroom, Atlas went to push me down to the bed, but I pulled on his shoulders enough to sling his body around, so he landed on his back. He landed with a grunt, his legs hanging off the bed, his eyes wide with surprise.
“I’m going to fuck your dick like there is no tomorrow,” I purred. “Then I’m going to take what I want.”
Atlas let out a shaky breath, “Ah, okay, yes, ma’am.”
Damn, he was cute when he didn’t know what to do.
I slid down his body, letting my breasts brush against his fur-covered torso. Between his legs, I found his opening already slick with arousal, the tip of him emerging. When I reached in and drew out his length, Atlas made a sharp sound of pleasure. His shaft was already glistening wet. I ran my tongue across my lips, then took him into my mouth.
Atlas hissed, his hands dove into my hair. “Fuck, Kassie, damn! Too fast.”
But it was my turn. For strange, deep reasons inside me, I wanted him to be pleased before I sank my teeth into him, take him, claim him so no one else could. As I felt his cock flutter in my mouth, I broke free. He whined, his fingers digging into his leg, to keep himself from begging me to suck him off until he came.
I wiggled backward onto the bed, my thighs trembling as I positioned myself above him. His cock stood proud between us, glistening in the dim light. The strange, iridescent coils that normally wrapped his shaft like living jewelry unfurled like curious tendrils, reaching for my inner thighs. They brushed against my heated skin with feather-light touches, leaving trailsof tingling warmth wherever they made contact. My breath caught as they explored higher, teasing and preparing me for what was to come.
I claimed him with a voice that wavered. "You're mine."
