“I know.” She holds my gaze, pushing the soft fabric completely away, revealing her generous curves and velvety skin. I stare, fascinated to see that even its dark tone can’t hide the marks of my teeth and claws. “I want to.”
Fuck.
I don’t even try to be gentle. Just roll her under me and bury myself deep inside her glorious cunt in one long, perfect stroke.
She cries out, her back arching, and wraps her legs around me.
“Yes,” she gasps. “God yes, Pierre…”
We end up fucking for hours with no heat driving us. No biology forcing our wild hunger. Just true mates, wanting and needing each other more than our next breath.
When we finally collapse…sweaty, satisfied, thoroughly wrecked…I pull her close and hold her.
“This is insane,” she mumbles against my chest.
“What is?”
“This. Us. Everything.” She tilts her head to look at me. And I let myself drown in her ravished beauty. “Three days ago I was riding here to save my father. Now I’m…”
“Mine,” I finish. “Now you’re mine.”
“Yeah.” She smiles softly. “Yours.”
My chest swells. She’s mine. She chose me. She’s staying.
The curse is as good as broken.
I start dreaming our future… how I’ll spoil her, the life we’ll have together in our castle. Maybe we’ll even venture out eventually so I can show her the kingdoms I once ruled. How we’ll have pups. How fucking gorgeous she’ll be pregnant with them. Round and soft…
But when I look back down, I find Belle staring at nothing, her expression distant and maybe even a little sad.
“Belle?” My voice cracks a bit. “What’s wrong?”
She’s quiet for a beat. Then answers, “My father.”
Two words. That’s all it takes for my perfect fantasy to shatter.
“What about him?” I ask around the tightness in my throat.
“He’s alone with my siblings.” Her voice is so small it breaks my heart. “I was the only one taking care of him. He’s older, you know…”
She trails off, but I hear what she’s not saying.
She’s worried. About the father she left behind. The father she came herefor.
“I just…” She swallows hard. “I’d like to check on him. Make sure he’s okay.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Because I know what’s coming next. She’s going back. And if she goes back… Our bond. Everything I just found, just claimed as mine…it will all disappear.
But when I look at Belle’s face, I can clearly tell she’s worried. There’s guilt and conflict written all over her lovely features. And I know I’ll do whatever’s in my power to erase that.
“Okay,” I hear myself say. “We’ll check on him.”
She looks up at me, surprise and relief taking over her sad expression. “Really?”
“Really.” I force myself to grin.
Belle throws her arms around my neck, covering my face with kisses. “Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
