he yanked me closer. Hungry lips pressed against mine, and his tongue dove into my mouth. Excitement and desire sparked through me. Heat spread through my gut. I pressed up onto my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
He growled and hooked his arms underneath my legs, hoisting me from the ground. I almost moaned from how good it felt to have his lips on my skin. It was every bit as passionate and fiery as I’d imagined. Maybe even more so.
My back hit the wall when he slammed me into it. He braced his hands on either side of my head, pinning me in place. Growling, he leaned down nicked my neck with his teeth. I gasped, shuddering beneath him. Had he bitten me? And why had it felt so damn good?
“You shouldn’t have run off without telling me, Norah,” he growled into my ear, and then he nipped me again.
I moaned, eyes rolling into the back of my head. He grabbed my wrists in one hand and held them above my head, his fingernails digging into my skin. His fiery eyes flashed as he leaned in with a glimmering smile.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“I’m doing what I should have done several days ago. I’m claiming you as mine.”
Chills swept down my spine just as need coiled tight in my core. I arched my back, tugging him closer with my thighs, which was about all I could do with the way he had me pinned so securely against the wall. My movement must have driven him as wild as he was driving me because a moan of need escaped from his throat.
He kept my wrists pinned in place as he shoved his trousers down to the floor. A moment later, he’d ripped mine off me in one fluid motion. I couldn’t help but notice he was pretty fond of tearing clothing in half.
“I’m not going to have any clothes left by the time you’re done with them,” I whispered to him.
“Good.” A delicious smile curved his lips as he angled closer, pressing his hard length against my core. “Frankly, I’d rather you never wear an ounce of clothing again.”
“I don’t think the Academy would approve.”
“Fuck the Academy.” He leaned closer and dragged his teeth along the delicate skin of my neck. I shuddered beneath him, warm wetness pooling between my thighs. His length still pressed against my leg, growing harder with every passing beat.
His lips trailed hot kisses up my neck and against my ear. I dug my fingernails into my palms, my arms trembling with the need to wrap myself around him. Squirming, I rubbed my core against his length, desperate for him to take that final step, to pierce my need, to fill me up until nothing else existed but the space where our bodies entertwined.
He tensed, his breath hot on my neck. “You really do like playing with fire. Don’t you, darling?”
I nodded, unable to speak out loud.
“I want to fuck you, Norah.” He pulled back then, gazing into my eyes. “But I know what that means. I know I’ll be the first, and I know there’s some confusion about whose mate you’ll truly be. So, I will stop this. Right here, right now, and I’ll walk away. If you tell me that’s what you want.”
“I don’t want that,” I breathed without a moment’s hesitation. “I want you.”
With a satisfied growl, he released his hold on my wrists and cupped my ass. My arms twisted around his neck, instinctively. I held on tight as he slowly pushed inside of me. Liam trembled with chaotic energy, but he took his time. He paused when I winced, waiting until I gave him a nod. When he pushed in deeper, it felt as thought I might be ripped wide open. Pain lanced through me, and I whimpered. Liam paused once again, his eyes locked on mine.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
I bit my lip, and then nodded. “Please don’t stop.”
After a pause, he pushed in further until his shaft was fully inside of me. A delicious heat spread through me, building when he slowly rocked back, and then plunged inside me once more. It was a pleasure unlike any I’d ever felt. Our bodies collided, coming together until it felt as though we were one.
Timidly, I ground against him as his pace began to quicken. A low moan rumbled from his throat in response, and a thrill went through me at the sound. It made