Page 70 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

“Great. Well, you’re helping me break my curse. So I’m going to help you with yours.”

“It’s not a curse. It’s just reality⁠—”

“No.” Her expression turned angry. She grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands away. “If being near me calms your wolf, keeps your madness at bay, then I’m not going anywhere. We’ll break my curse. I’ll keep living with you. I can keep teaching at RCC. I like my job. I… I like it here.”

She blinked. Almost as if she was making a realization. One she was surprised to admit.

The wolf inside him was turning in circles of delight. This was exactly what he wanted. His mate, beside him.

“I won’t have you chain yourself to me. You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you. A bright future, once you get your magic back. Besides, you’re medicine. Not a cure.”

“Sometimes, when no cure exists, medicine is the best we’ve got. I can live with that.”

“Becca…” Her name was a fierce growl. Because maybe she could live with it. But could he?

The answer was certainly no. But he wouldn’t ruin this moment by saying so. Wouldn’t push her away just yet. Not when he needed her so fucking badly.

“Look, Axel. Why don’t we take it a day at a time, yeah?” She looked hopeful, like this was an endurance race she planned to win.

And fuck, he found it hard to argue with her. “Fine.”

“Good. Because I’d like to kiss you now.”

“That so?” His lips twitched. He loved her in this moment. Loved how she could take all his heartbreak and turn it into something light and playful, something good.

“Yep.” She nodded, eager. His cock immediately went hard. He pulled her to him and pressed their lips together. It was sweet at first. A kiss to bring comfort. To soothe.

Their mouths moved gently against each other, tentatively, lips slipping over lips.

Her chamomile and honey scent wrapped around him, making him forget his past, his pain, the fears he carried about the future. There was only the feel of her, the weight of her in his lap, warmth and flesh beneath his palms.

She sucked his bottom lip between her teeth and his breath hitched. Taking the invite for what it was, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, reveling in the taste of her. Their kiss turned wilder, becoming an outlet through which he could pour his emotions. Everything about his revelation. Offered up on the altar of her lips, her acceptance, her need.

If they only had this one afternoon together—he wouldn’t waste it.

He had promised her something earlier. He’d failed to get her knife. But that didn’t mean he would fail elsewhere.

Unbuckling his harness without breaking their kiss, he held her tightly while climbing from the UTV. His long legs ate up the distance to the cabin. It felt unbearably far as he carried her inside, to his room, to the bed he’d fantasized about fucking her in.

His bed.

Neither of them came up for air.

Their bodies were a tangle of roving hands and clashing tongues. Stilted breaths and racing hearts. Hungry mewls and low groans. He set her down on the rug, not caring that they hadn’t shed their muddy boots. That he’d be mopping the floor later.

The only thing he cared about was licking every inch of her skin. Covering her in his scent. Then burying his face between her legs and drowning in her cunt.

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He couldn’t wait another moment, so Axel broke their kiss to stare into Rebecca’s dazed expression. “I promised to make you come, little witch. You still want that?”

Her tongue darted out, licking over her swollen lips. His were quickly healing. A damn shame, because he wanted the evidence of her imprinted all over his body, starting with his lips. “Yes.”

“Good. Then get undressed. Starting with those muddy boots. I’m going to watch.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed. He half expected her to argue. That she didn’t meant she was eager. Something he wouldn’t dare squander.

He stepped back, tugging his own boots free, then stood to watch as she slipped off her jacket, letting it fall to the floor. Her shirt came next. His gaze fixed on her tits. Her perfect fucking tits, nestled in a lavender lace bra.