only one he allowed close and even he gave them a wide berth, pulling Chris downstairs to manage things.
This must be part of the mate bond. Liam had given her details here and there, explaining why a wolf was so distracted before a bond was accepted. They felt extremely jealous, threatened by others, and if their mate was injured, they were volatile. They didn’t want anyone touching them, or even near them.
Zoe thought he’d been exaggerating but she never would have guessed her easygoing mate could be this on edge, ready to fight anyone and everyone no matter how close they normally were.
She still didn’t say anything even when he took her into his room, and then the bathroom. In seconds he had them both naked and under the hot water. Liam was fixated on her skin, washing the blood off so he could see exactly where she’d been hurt.
There was nothing left other than a few red marks that stung. It was fascinating if she were honest with herself, and Zoe wished she’d been able to watch it more closely, but she was more worried about Liam at the moment.
“I’m fine,” she promised him, taking his hands in hers. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” His words were still more wolf than human, and it sent a thrill through her.
Zoe gasped when he suddenly grabbed her thighs and lifted her up, whirling them around so he could slam her against the wall.
“Did you mean what you said?” Liam asked, fingers digging into her thighs as he positioned her just right.
“About what?” Zoe couldn’t help her grin as she trailed her fingers through his hair.
“Don’t play games with me right now.”
“I want the mate bond,” she murmured against his lips, sighing when she sank down, impaled by Liam. She felt so full, and Zoe didn’t think she would ever get used to it. “Liam, I want to claim you.”
His hands slid up her thighs to grip her ass, fingers digging into her flesh as Liam stared into her eyes. His own were full of silver mercury and Zoe suddenly felt self-conscious when he didn’t say anything.
“Is that something you want?” she asked, holding on tighter.
“Do you want me to claim you?” Liam rested his forehead against hers again, staring into her soul.
Zoe hadn’t thought she’d ever want something like this—something so permanent and deep. There was a connection between them that was impossible to ignore. It was as real and physical as the beating of her heart.
Others might not be able to see it or hear it. They certainly couldn’t touch it, but it was still there.
This kind of connection was something she’d always wanted, but never thought she could have.
“You showed me that I don’t have to rely on only myself,” she said, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Liam, you were there for me whether I wanted you to be or not, and that kind of thing always seemed impossible, but it made me realize that maybe I could have all that without losing myself in the process. You never asked me to change.”
“I don’t want you to change.” His head bent and she closed her eyes, enjoying the trail of kisses he left from her neck all the way down to her breasts. “I love who you are, Zoe.” His teeth were sharp against her nipple, making her gasp. “I want you to claim me.”
Her fingers tightened on his hair when he nibbled her other breast. “And I want you to claim me.”
Liam’s groan made his cock flex inside her. Zoe rolled her hips, needing more friction, more of him—just more.
“I don’t want to be alone anymore, Liam.” She kissed him, lifting herself up so she could ride him, feeling each stroke like it was a zap of electricity. Her entire body tightened around him, the pleasure building. “I want the mate bond.”
That tether between the two of them seemed to stretch and then snap into place, bigger and stronger than before. His sharp inhale pushed her over, his hands slamming her down hard at the perfect moment, and then she felt his teeth sink into the silver mark on her shoulder where she’d been bitten.
It hurt and then that pain faded as she came, moaning his name. Instincts pushed her again, and Zoe felt her gums ache. Before she knew it, she was biting into his neck, carefully avoiding the important veins.
Liam came so hard she peaked again, a second orgasm rippling through her as