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His teeth hold me pinned in place with his knot, but they don’t sink into my flesh.

“Yours,” I choke out.

Pain sears through me as fangs tear into me, but it only lasts for a split-second because on its trail comes unfathomable bliss. Nathan surges inside me, filling me up with so much cum I feel ready to burst, grunting and groaning against my shoulder.

I barely notice the sting when he releases the bite, and when he laps at the wound, I shudder as more shocks of pleasure hit me.

“My mate. My perfect, incredible mate.”

I hold him close to me, knowing it won’t be long before his knot releases and he takes me again. “My wonderful mate. Thank you for trusting me,” I murmur back.

Always.

The word isn’t said aloud, but I hear it just the same, reverberating inside me. A soul-deep, magical connection tying us together.

I smile and send him my love back, desire swirling between us through our unexpected bond.

We’ve only scratched the surface of our shared need, and my own unearthly desires spur me on.

His eyes flash with heat as I squeeze around his cock.

I flash him my own fangs. “Give me more.”

44

I climb the stairs, stopping to fuss with the jam jar of flowers as a stem flops over, then hesitate outside the bedroom door, listening.

Samantha’s heartbeat, steady and slow. Breathing, soft and relaxed.

She’s still asleep. I don’t want to wake her, but when we were making our plans, she made me promise not to let her sleep in past noon.

When she passed out after my sixth time knotting her, the rut finally subsiding, knowing I’d satisfied my mate, I carried her back to the house. I did my best to tend to her in my shifted form without waking her, but my claws kept getting in the way and shredding the washcloths.

There’s a blurry memory of tasting my cum mixed with her essence, shuddering with arousal and taking myself in hand to keep from mounting her and disturbing her rest.

My cheeks heat. The burning, feral need was extinguished when my rut ended, but now there’s an awareness of her that simmers inside me.

I’m pretty sure it’s from a mate bond. For all our careful plans, neither of us anticipated the mental tether that snapped into place with my bite. I’d worry about it, but I can sense how much she likes it.

Now, there’s an echo of Samantha’s inherent sensuality from her succubus side. I certainly felt her hunger after my claiming bite, as ravenous as my own, and that was what let me truly fall into a rut.

The food will get cold if I linger out here, so I open the door, wincing as it creaks on its hinge.

Samantha lets out a sleepy sigh, shifting a bit. Adoration thrums through me as I set down the tray of food on the nearby dresser, then slide into bed beside her.

Careful not to startle her, I slowly curl around her back, cradling her against my chest. Tears of happiness and gratitude prick my eyes, and I blink them away as I press a soft kiss to her bright red mating bite.

Samantha melts against me, her breathing speeding up a little as I kiss the spot again, and her eyelashes flutter.

“Mmm, I like that,” she murmurs, stirring to consciousness with a sleepy smile.

“Me too,” I rumble back, stroking her bare thigh.

“What time is it?”

“If I said it’s only 11, would you rest longer?” I ask.

I’m met with a breathy chuckle. “That late, huh?”