The words seemed to spark something in him and his face turned feral. His teeth grew longer, turning to fangs, and then he bent over my back. Before I could react, he’d clamped his canines down on the juncture between my neck and shoulder.
I gasped, eyes going wide as his teeth sank into me. Kaden was marking me as his. It hurt, but in a good way, and the pain mixing with pleasure pushed me over the edge. Another climax swept through me, but it was different from anything I’d ever felt before. My body shuddered around the orgasm, Kaden’s cock slamming hard as I felt his seed spill deep inside of me. His cock kept pulsing, his fangs sinking deeper into my skin like he wanted to imprint on me forever.
Finally, he released me. I watched in the mirror as he became fully human again, sweat gleaming on his skin as he hovered behind me. I couldn't believe it and touched my neck to confirm the bite mark was really there.
Kaden had just claimed me as his own in the most primal way.
As if I was his mate.
Chapter Eighteen
I woke slowly, a lazy sort of heat enveloping me. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize why. My eyes popped open to the ceiling of the inn Kaden and I were staying at. Sunlight streamed into the room, letting me know that we’d slept well into the morning, possibly even into the afternoon.
I carefully cataloged the heat of Kaden’s naked body alongside my own. His arm was still flung over my waist from where he’d pulled me close last night. When I glanced down, I saw the half-healed mark from where he'd bitten into me. A little thrill ran through me at the memory. Kaden had marked me as his own as if I were truly his mate. But would he regret it now that the night was over? Like the first time, when I'd been in heat?
I held still for a few moments, scared to move, trying to figure out what to do. Kaden had been notorious for leaving when things got too emotional for him. It was practically his signature move by now. I didn’t want him to run away after everything that had happened last night. Or worse, tell me none of it meant anything, and that we couldn't do it again.
“What are you thinking about?” Kaden’s low voice rumbled close to my ear, and I carefully controlled my reaction so I wouldn’t jump.
“You,” I said truthfully.
His eyes looked clouded with sleep, and I continued holding myself as still as I could, waiting for the moment he realized where he was, and who he was hugging close to him. But he just smiled at me, the look so open and un-Kaden-like that I frowned at him.
“What's that face?” He pushed himself onto one elbow and arched an eyebrow. His hand slid across my stomach, and I shivered at the sensation. We’d touched everywhere last night, but it still felt like the first time. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of it.
I turned over in his arms, chasing the last of whatever he was willing to give me. To my surprise, Kaden didn’t immediately jump out of bed and run away. He trailed his knuckles along my side, seeming to enjoy the way my muscles flexed under the attention.
He must have seen some of the confusion on my face. “What is it? You look like you’re waiting for me to bite you.”
“You already did that,” I said, waiting for him to tense up at the reminder of what we’d done last night. "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
Kaden dipped his head and pulled me closer to him. He kissed me slowly, his mouth lazy as it claimed mine, and I melted against him, eyes dropping shut to revel in the sensation.
“I’m done,” he said, looking me in the eyes, his gaze possessive. “I’m done pretending I don’t want you. I meant it last night. You’re mine. No one else can have you.”
I shivered at that, my heart doing a funny extra beat, and Kaden's body moved over mine. His kiss deepened, his hard cock nudging between my thighs, seeking entrance. I opened up and he slid inside easily, my body already wet and ready for him from the moment I'd woken up. We both sighed as he filled me, and then he began fucking me slowly. Lazy morning sex, with the sun streaming down on us, while he held himself up on his strong arms and plunged in and out. I did nothing except let him pleasure me, and he gazed into my eyes the entire time. He never looked away, soaking up each moan from my lips, then watched me fall apart all around him before joining me with a groan.
When we were done, he pulled me back into the circle of his arms. I reveled in the feeling for a few moments before the real world began intruding along the edges. Doubts crept in, and I wished he would fuck me again to chase them away, but I knew we'd have to face them at some point.