you.”
His features had returned to normal, though a dark trace of the beast still lingered in his voice. She liked it. “Good. Because I believe you and I have unfinished business.”
He cupped the back of her head and drew her mouth to his neck. “We do. But when you mark me, I want to be inside you. Fucking you.”
She nipped at his neck. “Do it.”
He shuddered, his dangerous growl shivering along her skin. Two steps later they were at the bed. He dropped her onto the soft surface, following her down. Within a heartbeat, she found herself pinned beneath him.
“Mine,” he snarled, fangs mangling his words, and tore her clothes from her. Her breath escaped her on a squeal of delight, one that turned to a moan of need as he thrust a hand between her legs. Clever fingers found her clit, teasing and stroking as he moved over her, claiming her lips with his. With a hard sweep of his tongue, he thrust within to taste her surrender.
She moaned and arched beneath him, one leg thrown over his as she sank her fingers into the heavy muscles of his shoulders. “Yours,” she whispered into his mouth, surrendering herself to him.
He’d fought and killed for her. He was her alpha. And soon, she’d mark him so everyone knew it.
His fingers worked her clit with relentless focus, pushing her closer to the brink with every touch. Her pussy was soaked with arousal, her empty channel aching to be filled.
“Please,” she whimpered, riding his hand. “Need you.”
He growled again, thrusting two fingers deep into her. The sudden penetration made her gasp, arching her back as she begged wordlessly for more of his touch. For everything he could give her... the pleasure she knew was coming.
The heat enveloped her again, but this time it wasn’t a mindless haze of relentless need and pain. And agony as she reached for something she didn’t have and couldn’t find. She hadn’t even known what it was before.
Now she did.
It was him.
It was Rath.
“Please... please...” she whispered, her pleas becoming a litany as she kissed the side of his neck and then nipped at his shoulder.
“Shar’ai,” his tone was primal, fierce, and perfect. “My beloved mate. You. Are. Mine.”
He pulled his fingers out of her, replacing them with what she truly needed, the thick head of his cock.
Arousal slickened her folds, coating him as he positioned himself at her entrance. With a snarl, he claimed her, his hips driving her down to the mattress.
Glorious pleasure exploded inside her and she shuddered, wrapping her legs around his hips.
He took her hard, every thrust a demand, every withdrawal making her ache with the need to have him fill her again.
Her orgasm built with breathless speed, and soon she was racing with him, meeting every driving motion and adding her cries to his.
Her pleas became wordless, the ability to frame a word deserting her. Instead there was only him, and the need raging through her... controlling her. She clawed at his back, blunt nails making him hiss and rear back to look down at her. When he saw her face, he growled with triumph, the sound making her shudder anew as he rocked his hips against hers.
He sped up, the change in pace the only thing that registered to her over and above him. He was her everything, all she needed and wanted. With a snarl, he flipped them over, sprawled on his back so she rode him. His hands on her hips urged her on, driving her down as he impaled her on his cock. Unable to keep up the pace, she whimpered and collapsed across his broad chest.
His hand cupped the back of her head as she ran her lips against his neck and shoulder.
“That’s it, shar’ai,” he rasped. “Mark me. Claim me as yours.”
His words spurred her anew, and she clamped her body around his cock, taking him as deeply as she could. When she was full, she bit down, letting instinct guide her as she claimed him as her own.
“Mine,” the word was torn from her throat as she bit down.
Rath howled and bucked, his cock thickening as his knot swelled. She came then, shuddering over top of him as wave after wave of raw ecstasy tore through her. She barely remembered letting go, his hand tightening in her hair to pull her head back. Then he bit her, and she screamed, her body forced into another explosive climax as he came deep inside her.
It felt