His body was heavy over hers, so much bigger and stronger than she’d ever be. Even if she gained full power, she’d never match him in strength. Her body trembled. She moved against him, feeling him at her sex. He was huge and throbbing, and she felt a momentary panic.
“It’s all right,” he said, nibbling down her neck to sink his teeth into her shoulder. The sting flashed through her, landing between her legs, and she arched against him. He chuckled and moved down to her breasts, taking time with each one until her nipples felt like they were as needy as the rest of her aching body.
“Paxton,” she whimpered. “I think I’m ready.” He had to do something about this terrible ache inside her.
“I’m not.” He nipped at each of her ribs and spent time on her healed wound. “Are you all right?”
She moved against him, wanting all of him. Now. “I’m all healed,” she said, tunneling her fingers into his thick hair. “I’m fine.” Except she wasn’t. She was about to disintegrate if he didn’t make this horrible ache go away.
He enclosed her left hip bone and sank his teeth in, leaving his mark. It didn’t hurt, but he made his point. “I love you, Hope. I’ve waited for you, for this, my entire life, and I won’t be rushed.”
Her heart swelled. Then his words caught her. “Wait a minute.”
He lifted his head as if somebody had denied him a treat. “What?”
She wanted him so badly it was difficult to think. “Mating might make me stronger…or you weaker.” She had to tell him the full truth. “I’m human. What if I make you human?” It was unthinkable. He was a strong warrior, much more powerful than even she had realized.
“Then I’ll be human.” He licked her rib cage. “It’ll be the two of us, living a life together. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I don’t care if it’s as demons, Kurjans, or humans. It’s you and me, Hope.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded. There was no other path for either of them. He filled her, all of her, and she didn’t want it any other way. She didn’t know if soulmates existed, but he touched something deep inside her. Maybe it was her soul.
She let him continue his wandering and then sucked in air as he settled himself between her legs and shoved them wider apart. His shoulders held her where he wanted her, and she’d never felt more vulnerable in her entire life. She slid her hands down his face, scratched her palms with his whiskers, and dug her fingers into his powerful shoulders.
His body was impossibly hard, like solid steel. Pax was a true warrior, and he was about to be hers.
He settled his mouth at her core and started to play, almost as if he was pleasing himself. His shoulders were unrelenting as they kept her thighs far apart. She liked the dominant side of him, but she’d never admit it. Although based on her body’s responses, he probably already knew.
“God, you taste amazing,” he murmured, sending vibrations up through her entire torso.
Need coiled high inside her, making the pressure unbearable. Her breasts ached as much as her core, but he wasn’t in a hurry. If anything, he seemed to enjoy the little keening sounds she kept making. She’d never felt this alive. She knew for a fact that she’d never been this alive. How was it possible to feel such raw, pure pleasure? “Paxton,” she cried.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered. He used his fingers and his teeth and his lips and then his tongue, and all she could do was feel the different sensations quickly coming at her, driving her higher and higher until she was afraid she couldn’t breathe. It was unbelievable.
Finally, something sharp crossed her clit, and she screamed, falling over the edge and fracturing into a million pieces. The orgasm tore through her, stealing her breath. When she whimpered, coming down, he kissed her clit.
“Oh, we’re gonna do that again,” he said.
She reached for him, feeling more vulnerable than ever. He held himself above her, caught sight of her eyes, and leaned down to kiss her gently.
“I’ve got you, Hope. I’ll always have you.”
A tear slid out of one of her eyes. The male was everything to her, and she trusted him. Completely. He licked the tear away and then kissed both of her eyelids. She widened her thighs and reached for his hip to run her hand around his butt. Even his butt was tight and firm and muscled. She smiled and leaned up to nip the skin between his neck and shoulder.
Pain flashed in her mouth, and she winced before touching her tongue to a sharpened canine. Holy crap, it was a fang. “I have fangs,” she said. Finally.
His eyebrows rose, his cock pushing at her core. “You do. They’re adorable.”
She frowned. Even with her entire body on fire and needing him more than she would have thought possible, fangs were not adorable. “They’re dangerous.” She struck between his neck and shoulder, digging deep. Blood instantly bubbled into her mouth, and she sucked, knowing his taste already. He was spicy, and he was strong. He chuckled, but the sound was pained.
She retracted her fangs. “Did I hurt you?” she asked, quickly licking the wound closed.
“That’s not what hurts.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “I’m keeping that bite mark for the rest of my life. No healing cells will touch it.”
Was it possible to feel this happy? She smiled.
“You can play more with those later,” he said. Then he kissed her again, his body slowly penetrating her.
She returned his kiss, running her hands over his entire back. So much strength, so much power. She had seen both in him, but she hadn’t felt him. Not like this. He pushed more, and she winced. He was so big. He kissed her again and then bit her ear. The pain slashed through her, and her body relaxed, more wetness spilling from her.
“You like that.”
Apparently so. She widened her thighs even more. He reached the barrier inside her and paused. Then he kissed her and shoved deep inside her with one hard push.
Pain rippled through her, and she sucked in air. Heat flashed on her palm, adding more pain.
He paused, leaning down to capture the tears sliding from her eyes. She breathed out, slowly forcing her body to relax. As she did so, a low throbbing pulsed through her.
“There we go,” he murmured. Grasping one hip, he gently pulled out and then thrust back in. Electricity arced inside her as if live wires had become tangled.
Her eyes widened. “Do it again.”
“Gladly.” He pulled out and pushed back in, his movements powerful and controlled.
Fire roared through her, and she lifted her knees, pressing against his hips. It was all the encouragement he needed. His grip tightened on her hip, and he started to move slowly and then quicker, faster, harder inside her.
She closed her eyes to feel the incredible fullness of Paxton. She marveled that she could even feel his heartbeat inside her. She tilted her hips, and more ecstasy flowed through her. He started to pound harder and faster, taking them both up. This was new for them both, but they moved together as if they’d done so for years. For centuries. For lifetimes.
She climbed, and pleasure detonated from where they met. She cried out his name, digging her nails into his skin. As the climax tore through her, stealing everything she’d ever be, she slapped her hand over his heart, searching for stability. Murmuring, she came down.