beastie.”
His skin rippled again, teeth lengthened. He staggered across the room, his hands held up again, warding her off, warding the beast off. “Stop! Jaylin, I couldn’t live if it did anything to hurt you again.”
She stalked after him, refusing to relent, determined to prove to him she was safe with him. “I trust it, and you have to do the same. Allow the change, Aidan.”
“No!”
Jaylin blew out a frustrated breath. Stubborn, infuriating man. “Are you going to allow him to stop you? I’m offering myself to him and now he denies me. All you have to do is show yourself. Prove that you two are still one.”
Blue overtook his eyes as he hissed through sharp teeth. “Jay—”
The first syllable of her name was the last thing he said as the cougar took charge. Seconds later, the animal prowled toward her.
Feeling no fear, knowing that this wasn’t an animal coming toward her, but a wondrous beast that loved her just as much as the man did, she dropped to her knees in front of it. She gazed into the blue eyes of the feline and smiled. “I see you.”
Unlike before, when only a rabid animal had glared back at her, Aidan’s kind, yet frightful eyes softened the animalistic stare. She cupped the cougar’s face, running her hands over its fur, and kissed the tip of its nose. It rubbed its face against her cheek, a purr vibrating through its powerful body.
“You will never hurt me. Believe that now.” She offered her neck again. “Erase them.”
The rough texture of the cougar’s tongue slid across the four puncture wounds. Tingling surrounded the injuries and across the front of her neck as the skin knitted together, erasing any evidence of the attack.
She lowered her head. “Now make me yours.”
One moment the beast was before her, the next Aidan appeared again, naked and on his knees. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Crazy for you.”
“I could have hurt you again.”
“You never hurt me in the first place. A cougar did. That animal is gone.”
He swallowed, but finally nodded his agreement. “Are you sure about this?”
“Aidan O’Connell. I love you. More than fear of death. You’re the one made for me. The one who’ll make me complete, and only with your mark will I ever be whole.”
He looked down at her with stunned amazement as he cupped her head between his hands. “I never thought this day would come.”
She kissed his palm. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through. I’ll spend the rest of my life making that up to you.” She smiled. “Now please stop talking and make me yours.”
Chuckling, he lowered his head, taking her in a deep kiss. She felt no hesitation as Aidan lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the bed. She was ready for her life with him, as his mate, no matter what tragedy he or she faced. All that mattered was that they would spend their eternity together.
He lowered her onto the mattress, his hands shaking as together they pulled her shirt over her head and tugged her pants and panties down her legs. He kissed his way down her stomach and she parted her thighs, aching for his touch, ready to feel his tongue pressed against her. Tension radiated off him. He was holding back. She ran her hand over the top of his head.
“Let go.”
From between her legs, he looked up the length of her body. “I’ve spent so long fighting the Drall, I can’t seem to stop.”
She rubbed a finger over herself and held the glistening tip to his mouth. He opened and sucked the digit into his mouth. “That’s yours. Forever. Take it.”
The beast rose in his eyes. The blue irises warmed her just as much as the green ones did. A tidal wave of emotions tightened her chest and she reached down to caress his cheek. Again she said, “I love you.”
The grin he gave her was full of happiness. “And we love you.”
Then his head dived down. She gasped as all his fight was gone. It was all tongue, lips, and suction. She threw herself into the moment for the first time. Not worrying as the coil started to tighten deep inside her, her breathing became staggered, her hips bucked unconsciously against his mouth, seeking release. She wanted this more than anything she ever had in her life—wanted him.
“Aidan! I’m about to—” She inhaled sharply her as he immediately pulled away from her, that tingling feeling seconds before release