I lift a shoulder.
“But if you want more time, you have it. If you need me to prove myself, I will.”
His intention flows into my chest, powerful and true. He’s waited for me almost his whole life. Maybe his mind forgot, but his heart never did.
Now I understand that mine didn’t either. Not really. But I didn’t have a choice, so I made my own way. Like he did. And we found each other again. Neither of us innocent anymore, but maybe better off for it.
“Are you still mad that I didn’t wait for you to have sex?” For the first time in the cave, I feel naked.
“Not mad.”
“Disappointed?” I cross my arms.
“Jealous.”
“We weren’t together. We didn’t know we were mates. Neither of us.”
“I know.” He rises to his knees and gently takes my hands, pulling them away from my chest. “I feel what I feel. But it’s not on you. And I don’t want you to regret anything. I wanted everything in your life to be good and perfect.”
The memory floats up between us. The crone’s bed, her soft quilt, the horrible pain, and the cool tea.
“It wasn’t. But it wasn’t bad, either. It’s the path I had to take to get here.”
“To me,” he says.
“To you,” I agree. “Do you remember? Abertha’s cottage? After the attack?”
“I do.” He tucks a flyaway behind my ear. “You were so brave.”
“You were so strong.” And in my memory, I see how very young he was, too.
He brushes a kiss across my lips and lowers himself back to his knees, drawing me down to wrap my legs around his waist. He’s hard against my belly, but this isn’t about that. He squeezes my hands, and through the bond, I feel his nervousness and hope.
He bares his neck and casts his gaze down. For me.
His vein throbs.
I have a choice, but it feels like I made it a long time ago. When—I’m not quite sure. But it’s natural for my fangs to lengthen. My wolf yips and bounds. She’s all on board.
I open my mouth and test his skin with the tips of my fangs. He shudders in my arms. His longing teases my nostrils.
He wants this so bad. Worse than I have ever wanted anything.
It’s knowing that—the truth of it pulsing through our bond—that lets me let it all go—the fight with Haisley. The night in the blackberry patch. The dumb rules and frustrations and bull crap that I blamed him for over the years.
It was all his fault, but it’s not the whole of it.
I remember curling beside him in bed. I remember him reverently braiding my hair. We’ve been without each other too damn long. And I want him back.
I sink my teeth into his neck, and his groan of pure pleasure echoes off the ceiling. He tastes like a copper penny. His blood sizzles on my tongue, and then it lights my every nerve on fire, and I’m burning now, hotter and brighter than ever before.
“Mate,” I moan.
He blinks at me with bleary, blissed-out eyes. He holds me tight, and I lap at my bite, healing the wounds as I admire them. They’re not as big as mine, but they’re perfect all the same.
I wriggle in his arms. Why are we kneeling here?
“What’s wrong?” he murmurs. “What do you need?”
“You know. I’m hot.” My skin is on fire, and my insides are cramping, spasming on air.
“Do you want the pool?” He stands, lifting me, and strides over to the pool to lower me in. The water is cold, and I sink down until it licks my chin, but it’s not enough.
He steps in after me, and I turn, climb him, gnaw at the beautiful mark I’ve made. He rinses my hair with palms full of cool water.
“Killian.” I rise up, try to sink down on his hard cock, but he twists to the side.
“You need to build your nest. And you’ll need food and water. I have to go back up and get some. It’ll only be a minute. Okay?”
He’s frowning, and he’s talking nonsense. Except the nest. Yes. We do need that.
I push out of his arms. He lets me go, but he follows close behind. We’re dripping on the rock, and I slip, but his hands are already on my waist, steadying me. The pile of blankets is not very big.
“Don’t move. I’ll be quick.” He’s at the crack leading out of the cavern. My wolf snaps at him to stay.
“But you’ll need food.”
My wolf growls. I swear it sounds like she says if he leaves, she’ll chew his leg off.
Killian stays. I fix the nest. Thick wool blankets on the bottom, fluffy comforters on top. They smell like detergent and lavender sachets, which isn’t perfect, but it’s acceptable for now, especially with the scent of the cave in my nose. It’s dark and private and full of the essence of wolves from ages and ages ago. It’s pack.