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“Look at you,” I praise, teasing his inner thighs with my claws. “All spread out for me. You’re soaked. You’re making a mess on our bed, Helios. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“It’s your fault. You aren’t doing anything about this heat! I bet if⁠—”

I wrap my hand around his throat to silence him and lean down, my cock slipping inside his tight, warm channel more, which has my mate struggling to breathe.

“—You better be very careful what you say next.” I nip at his bottom lip, my orgasm tightening my sack, pulling closer to my body. “Bad boys don’t get fucked if they bring up other men when their mate’s cock is about to be nine inches deep inside them. Do you want to be a bad boy, Beloved?”

Defiance glimmers in his eyes. “Maybe. What’s in it for me?”

I growl, sliding in another inch, my lungs struggling to expand to get much-needed air. He really does feel incredible. I wasn’t sure what to expect, considering neither of us has done this before, but oh my fucking god, I don’t want to leave the warmth of his body.

Ever.

“Me,” I answer, pressing my forehead against his again, my favorite place to be when the rut becomes harder to keep at bay. Every hard breath, a growl rumbles in the depths, the monstrous side of me coming closer to the surface.

I’m about to break.

His teeth sink into my shoulder, and I toss my head back, roaring to the ceiling. The bulb shatters in the lamp, encasing us in darkness. The sunlight peeks through the break in the curtains, casting light across his cheek.

Unable to stop myself, I reach with my thumb to touch the bright spot, hoping I’ll be able to feel the sunlight upon his skin. I can’t, but that’s alright. I have the rest of eternity to see him in the sun.

“You feel too fucking good. How do you expect me to last when you’re so tight?” I slip a hand down his body, then up again, my fingers pausing at his nipples. “Now, be a good boy for me and take the rest of my cock because I don’t think I can wait anymore to be inside you.”

I ease forward again, and we both groan in unison.

“Alaska, wait. Oh god, you’re huge. I can’t. I don’t think I can do it.” He shakes his head back and forth, his features scrunched from the pain.

“I know, Beloved. I know I’m big and I know it has to hurt, but you’re being such a good boy for me,” I whisper into his ear. “You’re taking your mate’s cock, and I’m almost in. You feel beyond anything I could ever dream of. If you want to stop, I’ll stop. We can wait.” We can’t. Not really. We’re on a deadline, but I’ll never rush us completing the bond.

Hurting him is never an option.

“I can’t imagine how uncomfortable you are right now. It’s new for both of us,” I croon, rubbing above his pec where his heart beats.

I fucking love that heart. Its beat is something I’ll never be able to go a day without hearing. The ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, brings me the peace I’ve been craving for two hundred years.

“And you are doing such a better job than I am,” I add, rubbing up and down the middle of his chest.

He finally opens those beautiful green eyes that have made me feel hopeful again. “Really?”

I feel him relaxing around me, and I’m able to let out a slow breath. I’m barely keeping it together. I’m one ‘Alaska’ away from falling and slamming into him when he moans my name.

There’s no hiding my vampire nature at this point. He can see it all. I can’t hide the red hue in my eyes, the sharpness of my cheeks, fangs, or claws. My mind is filled with snarls and possession, wanting nothing more than to bite into his neck and have his blood rush down my throat.

A whisper of reason is the only thing holding me back from claiming my mate. My primal instincts—even through the rut scratching at my fucking soul—aren’t enough for me to hurt Leo.

I’ll struggle to hold myself together just so he can fall apart. His comfort, his pleasure, and his happiness are all that matter to me.

I smile down at him, caging his head in with my arms, rubbing the tips of our noses together before locking our mouths together. He hums, wrapping his arms around my back, those fingers curling into my muscles to let me know how much he wants me.

He wants me.

Being wanted like this has to be one of the best feelings in the world.

My hair becomes wrapped around his wrists, his fingers digging into my scalp while our tongues duel. The kiss is messy. A lot of our kisses are, and I fucking love them. I love the taste and feel of his tongue on mine, his lips exploring me. I want it all.

I want all of him.

“Really,” I finally break away long enough to reply. “I’m barely hanging on. I’m shaking. I’m hardly keeping it together.” I push his curls off his forehead. “You feel so fucking good,” I moan, one hand gripping his hip to keep him still.