She leans back and stares into my eyes. “I’m sorry I pushed you away,” she whispers. “I think my tiger knew from that first day in my office. Or from the first night at Sanctum Obscura. But I wouldn’t listen to her. I wouldn’t let myself believe it. I’ve spent so long trying not to listen to her.”
“You weren’t ready,” I say, because I can only imagine how hard it was on her, not knowing what was going on. Not understanding the mate bond yet feeling its pull all the same.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to,” I admit, hoping she can see the truth in my eyes. “I was so confused about why you didn’t recognize me. Why you didn’t recognize my scent or seem to feel the bond. And then I tried giving you clues. I thought maybe you would begin to realize, and that would give you time to get on board with me before I sprang it on you. Maybe I should have taken the mask off when we were at your place, but it never felt right. I was so afraid I would lose you forever. And then when I tried, I had left it on too long, and you threw me out on my ass.”
Maya’s cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink as I pull her in closer again. I weave my hands into her hair and angle her head to kiss her. It’s a soft kiss, sweet and reserved. Testing.
“I am so sorry, Maya. I know it was wrong. I know it wasn’t fair to you. But I wouldn’t change it either. Because it got us here.”
“Promise me there won’t be any more lies?” she asks.
I nod and whisper my agreement against her lips before kissing her again. I hope she hasn’t figured out how to smell lies yet. I’m not purposefully keeping her potential origins from her; I just can’t overload her yet. Especially when it’s only a potential at this point.
“Come on, we can talk more tomorrow. Let’s get cleaned up,” I say when we break apart. Maya smiles up at me, and Fates, she is so beautiful it hurts.
The steam envelops us as we step under the hot spray. Sofia has left some products here, but my wolf balks at the idea of my mate smelling like my sister, and I’m in complete agreement with him. I leave Maya to grab her overnight bag, somehow not caring about the fact that I’m dripping all over the floor when I leave.
Maya’s eyes are closed when I return, and a soft smile graces her beautiful face as she stands under the spray. Water runs down her curves and between the valley of her breasts. I want to trace it with my tongue, but this is about looking after her.
I wash my body quickly and then refocus on my mate. Squeezing her shampoo into my hand, I lather it up and work it into her hair. Maya moans softly as I massage her scalp, and it goes straight to my cock because I am incapable of being around this female without being as hard as steel. I work conditioner through the ends once the shampoo is rinsed out, and then I take Maya’s shower gel and squeeze it onto the poofy thing she uses for washing her body.
Moving slowly, I scrub her thoroughly, starting with her arms and then moving up to her shoulders, her elegant back, her pert breasts, and her toned yet soft stomach. I drop to one knee and place Maya’s right foot on my thigh as I wash her leg. Then I set it back on the floor and repeat the process with her other leg.
Maya watches me as I move further upward to wash her pussy, and then she hooks her leg over my shoulder.
“What are you doing, Kitten?”
“You said no more talking,” she says, her voice soft yet sure, like how she spoke as a therapist when she wasn’t letting me slack off. She tangles her hand into my hair and pulls me closer to her perfectlittle cunt. “You didn’t say no more orgasms.” Her sweet scent invades me, and I’m powerless to deny her. Not that I have any intention of denying my mate anything.
“You want me here?” I ask, brushing my thumb over her pussy. Maya hums her acquiescence, and rightness washes over me. “Such a good girl. You want to come on your mate's tongue?” I ask.
“Yes, please, Sir,” she breathes out, and pride swells in my chest that she didn’t rebuke my claim.
“And you asked so nicely. Play with your breasts, Kitten. Don’t come until I give you permission.”
I lick her from her entrance up to her swollen clit before circling the bundle of nerves and sucking it into my mouth. Maya holds my head against her with one hand as she lets out a loud moan. And then I devour her, reveling in her delicious taste and the way she takes what she needs. The way she’s already stepping into her true self.
She’s not a sweet little submissive anymore, even though she’s still calling me Sir. She’s forceful and demanding and so fucking perfect. When she comes all over my face moments later, she screams my name, and it’s everything I’ve ever needed.
But I’m not about to let her disobedience slide. I nip at her inner thigh. “Didn’t I tell you to wait until I gave you permission?”
Maya lets out a groan before reaching for my cock when I stand again. “Sorry, Sir. It was too good. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Is that so?” I ask, trying to remain growly and dominant when really I’m ecstatic that she came so quickly. That she couldn’t resistbecause I brought her so much pleasure. “I was going to fuck your pussy again, but maybe you need a little punishment?”
“Yes, please,” she moans, squeezing her thighs together. Fates, it really is incredible how right we feel together. How our pleasures intertwine until one can’t be fully satisfied without the other.
“Let’s get out of the shower first, and you can let that smart mind of yours wonder what I have in store for you. How does that sound?” I ask before turning off the water. Maya whimpers, and despite the heat in the steamy room, her nipples are pebbled and aching for attention I don’t give. Not yet anyway.
I wrap a fluffy towel around her and grab another for myself. Maya shivers and releases little moans as I dry her, paying attention to everywhere except her pussy. Then I dry myself, watching as her gaze drops to my hard cock and she bites her lip.
She might not be ready to commit to a mating claim, but Maya has liked what she's seen since day one.
“Did you pack any toys this weekend?” I ask, knowing full well she did. I saw them when I was getting her toiletries. Maya flushes that beautiful shade of pink again before she nods. “Were you planning to use them with me? Or by yourself?”
“I’m not sure.”
