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Sitting by my hospital bed, helping me find answers, and bringing my sister here… all the kind of things a person does when they care about someone. And what do I get if I walk away? A misguided sense of freedom where I have no real home and spend the rest of my life potentially warding off men only interested in my scent and not actually in me? It’s only a matter of time before one of those shifters decides not to take no for an answer.
For once, I feel like I have the perfect answer to a problem. Okay, an imperfect answer, maybe, but an answer I can live with. An answer that makes sense.
The fates gave him to us twice; take what’s ours, Tess,my wolf goads me. She shouldn’t be doing that, we rejected him fair and square, but sex with him seems to have thrown everything off course anyway.
“Mark me,” I whimper impulsively.
“What?” He looks at me like I’m insane.
“Mark me,” I repeat, my voice slipping out with a phone sex operator quality to it.
“That’s the orgasm talking,” he dismisses me. He starts to pull away, but I wrap my arm around the back of his neck to stop him from getting very far. I don’t want to lose my nerve and start second-guessing this decision. This is my chance to decide my fate for myself, and this is the decision I’ve made.
“Dominic,” I say his name clearly to make sure I have his full attention when I say this. “The orgasm has come and gone. And I want you to mark me.”
He sits up, pulling me into his lap. “You’re serious?” He searches my eyes like I’m asking for something unbelievable. And yes, I guess I kind of am. What kind of shifter asks someone to mark her after rejecting him? But right now, I’m delirious with good feelings toward him. The kind that makes me think this really is the best idea I’ve ever had.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. No bargains. No deals. No compromises. Make me yours and give me a new pack to belong to.” I sound breathless, my phone sex operator voice making an appearance again.
I can’t help it; the idea of him marking me is suddenly the biggest turn-on I can think of. I want it so desperately I’m wiggling in his lap as I wait for him to get on with it already.
“Maybe put a pause on that.” He winces, grabbing my hips to stop me from moving against his cock like I’d started to. “If I fuck you again tonight, I’m not sure you’ll be able to walk tomorrow.” That doesn’t sound altogether unappealing in theory, but I do have to admit I can already feel a soreness spreading between my legs.
“Dominic, please,” I beg softly. And we both know I’m not pleading for more sex.
There’s a hesitation to him, but his eyes trail down my throat and linger on my unmarked flesh. I’m offering him exactly what he asked for. The thing other men have tried to sweet-talk from me but never succeeded with. It’s not a decision I’m making lightly.
I am fully aware, in this moment, that I’m asking to belong to him in the age-old way of shifters. One of our few traditions that hasn’t died off in modern times.
A mark is everything to a wolf.
He opens his mouth, and with a sinking feeling I prepare for him to deny me. To refuse my request now even though he acted like he wanted this too. The sting is unimaginable as I brace myself for yet another rejection.
But then I see his teeth.
His canines are extended the way that only happens under two circumstances.
Shifting.
And marking.
I offer up a whimper of pleasure as he tilts his face to my neck, trailing his tongue over my sensitive skin. It takes everything in me not to start moving against him again, but I keep in mind his warning about walking tomorrow and do my best to hold still.
Dominic pauses one last time. Giving me the chance to back out, I assume.
I wait him out patiently.
With surprising speed, his teeth suddenly sink into my flesh, making me release a combination of a whine and groan that fills the whole room. It stings, but in a delicious, unexplainable kind of way that also makes me feel safe. Bright spots blur my vision, and I finally understand what people mean when they talk about seeing stars.
A moment passes. Or hours.
“Tess?” Dominic says my name, but it sounds far away and dreamy. Like we’re on two opposite sides of a cloud, and I can’t quite reach him. I try to murmur a response, but I don’t think anything more than some nonsensical mumbling actually makes it out of my mouth.
He gives me a couple more minutes before trying again. “Tess, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. I want to offer him more reassurance, but I don’t have anything left in me. If I thought I was spent after my orgasm, it’s nothing compared to now. Except, as much as I want to lie here and fade into oblivion…
“Can you let me up?” I ask him in a sleepy voice, patting his bicep.
