Page 123 of Heat Lightning

His words were distant, like we were underwater. Unable to pull out, I rocked him on my knot, mouth watering at the protruding bump appearing and disappearing with each shift of his hips.

Back and forth. Seal the bond.

Back and forth. Seal the bond.

I pushed my hand into his stomach to feel myself there. Again, and again, and again. Seal the bond, Atlas! Seal it!

Was that Max shouting? Or my alpha? Or was it me, finally releasing two years of pent-up need?

All I knew was my face was suddenly at his throat, and then his scent gland was in my mouth, and my teeth plunged in, and⁠—

Blinding light exploded behind my eyes.

I came. I came so hard I could feel my cock pulsing against the palm of my hand through his stomach.

Somehow, I ended up on top of him while he mewled and squirmed on my knot. His skin was sticky with his release. I’d clean it off with my tongue later, and then make him dirty all over again with another orgasm.

I released my hold on his neck, licking at the now permanent mark. “My mate…” I said, in awe. Overwhelming peace came over me, lifting the clouded veil of rut and soothing years of strain and stress. Tears splashed onto his chest, and I realized I was crying.

Max purred and threw his arms around my neck to pull me close. “Yes. And you’re mine.”

With the weight of the world finally lifted from my shoulders, all that remained was Max and the life we could have together.

Two years ago, I resented the circumstances in which we met and the inexplicable pull I felt toward someone I thought I could never have. Tied together through a bond neither of us chose, I thought it could only end in pain and separation.

And yet, even then, we were always meant to be. My mate fought for me and saved me, just as I’d saved him.

I pulled away to look at Max, glasses askew. “Thank you for saving me,” I said, kissing his sweaty forehead.

He smiled. “We saved each other.”

Yes, we had. Our bond, now forged in love, glowed bright and true.

This was healing; this was coming home.

THIRTY-FIVE

MAX

“I like you without the mask on,” I whispered long minutes later, face tucked into Atlas’ chest. It felt almost silly to say now, but I wanted him to know.

“Yeah?” His voice was raw, and he cradled me closer.

We lay side by side with my leg thrown over his hip to ease the weight of his knot still locked inside me. My skin tingled where we touched, like I was refamiliarizing myself with the way we fit together.

Atlas’ eyes were clear and alert, more so than they’d been in days, and there was a softness about him that I’d never seen before.

Combined with his unmasked face, it almost felt like we were meeting for the first time. Floating on the high of his pheromones soothing me, I smiled. “Yeah. I more than like it, actually. I love it.”

He raked his fingers through my hair and spoke softly. “I should’ve let you see me before. I never meant to hurt you. I thought—” he cut himself off and swallowed. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I’m sorry.”

Suddenly shy, I buried my face back in his chest. “I’m sorry, too, for what I said back at my apartment. I didn’t mean those things.”

His fingers never faltered in their steady rhythm. “Your zero to sixty is impressive. And here I thought I’d have to protect you from anyone who tried to hurt you, but you already know how to go straight for the jugular.”

I cringed and made to shift away, but he held fast. “Max. Look at me.”

Dragging my gaze to his, I grew misty-eyed at the overwhelming jumble of emotions he no longer hid from me.