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“More,” she ordered.
Marcus laughed, but he took direction well. He pulled back and thrust until he could go no further. He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. Yes, that was his wolf. Intelligence and strength—she saw that too. This closeness and intimacy with Marcus—she liked it, and now some things she’d seen on her TV made more sense.
Marcus pulled out of her, and she gripped his shoulders in a silent but urgent protest.
“Steady, sweetheart. I won’t stop.” And as if to prove he meant it, he thrust into her again, hitting the same spot that made her see stars. He retreated and invaded her body, and she strove to meet his strokes. The faint pain from the start had dispersed, and instead, each of his thrusts lit her nerve endings.So good. Now she understood why people did this sex thing. It was wondrous.
“More,” she demanded.
Marcus’s husky laugh thrilled her, as did his obeying her instructions. The sensations tugged into a tight knot in her abdomen.
She was vaguely aware of renewed rain on the roof, but the knowledge drifted away, and everything about Marcus consumed her. That ball of pleasure grew and continued to contract, pulling at her senses and making her feel as if she danced on a knife’s edge. Marcus kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers while he continued thrusting into her. The pressure coalesced to the point of no return, and the tangle of sensations in her exploded, shattering and streaking down her legs and body.
Her breaths came in harsh pants against his lips, and she tore her mouth from his to breathe. Weirdly, that tangle of sensations had built again, and she groaned, unsure if her body could take more. Instead, she licked down his throat, and the strangely pleasurable spasms that continued in her lower body seemed to make Marcus move faster. She gripped his shoulders and savored the salt on his skin. She nibbled his neck, and he pushed into her with greater strength.
The pleasure intensified, and she bit down as she attempted to contain the scream that tried to exit as she climaxed again. Marcus groaned and stilled above her, his entire body shaking. Ria tasted blood in her mouth and instinctively lapped across the wound she’d created. She wasn’t sure why she’d bitten him, but he didn’t seem to mind. His bigger body shuddered against hers every time her tongue stroked the mark.
Gradually, Marcus’s trembling ceased, and he drew away, parting their bodies. He stood and removed the condom, then walked from the room. She stared after him, wondering what happened next. On TV, the couples cuddled, and she thought that might be nice because she felt sleepy.
Somewhere close, water ran from a pipe, slightly louder than the rain that struck the roof. Ria closed her eyes, more relaxed than she’d ever been. This sex business was a lot of fun, and she looked forward to doing it again with Marcus.
11
She’dclaimedhim.
Marcus’s heart sang with happiness, although confusion filled him too. He’d thought she understood the mating concept, but when she’d bitten him, she’d surprised him. Every part of him had screamed to return the favor because he had no doubts. She was an innocent in so many ways and years younger. He’d chosen to give her time.
He removed the condom, relieved nothing hinky had happened. Rory and Ramsay had both told him they’d knotted inside their mates, but that was a complication he could do without. A relationship with Ria came with enough problems, not that this worried him.
He had nil doubts.
Marcus grabbed a flannel and dampened it with warm water. He strode back into his bedroom and found Ria curled on her side and fast asleep. Her striking-colored hair spilled across his pillow, and she seemed impossibly youthful. Beautiful. His fingertips stroked his new mark, and a shiver ran through him, a spike of sensation following close behind. Hell. This woman.
Given he was now in his thirties, he’d wondered if he’d ever find his mate. Ria was much younger in experience and age, but she was his to keep safe. He crawled into bed and tugged the covers over them, but Ria didn’t waken. Marcus wasn’t tired, his mind too busy working out how Ria could have a more normal life yet remain safe. His first thought, once again, was to speak with Saber and lay out the facts. There must be some way to protect this incredible woman from harm and exploitation. Given that she’d hidden for years, she’d had few opportunities for formal education.
If she wanted, the community could and would help her.
Thenextday,therain eased off, and although the clouds remained dark and forbidding, Marcus asked Ria if she’d like to run with him to her place. They could see about retrieving her possessions, and while they were down that way, check the stream. While a vehicle crossing was impossible, they might ford the water on foot if the level wasn’t too high.
“Yes,” Ria said with enthusiasm. “I’d love to shift to my cat form.”
“Let’s go now before it rains again.” Marcus whipped his T-shirt over his head and bent to tug off his socks before he knew Ria was staring. “What?”
“Looking at you makes me happy.”
He grinned. “Hurry so that I can look at you.”
“Not much to see. The scientists told me this.”
“They were idiots and lacked imagination. I enjoy watching you. No one else’s opinion matters. Now hustle, woman, or I’ll go without you.”
Marcus finished disrobing and walked outside. Ria joined him a short time later, and after shutting the door, he curled her against his side and nuzzled her neck. She laughed and let him for an instant before she backed away and shifted.
Marcus shifted too and silently noted her process was slower than his and uncomfortable. Once her transformation completed, she was smaller than the adult black leopard shifters who lived in Middlemarch. Her coloring made her stand out. She bore black, orange, and white patches in similar shades to her hair. Given the colors of the landscape, she’d blend well, which was something.
He set off at a trot and took the straightforward route along the gravel road. With the bridge out, traffic was unlikely, and they’d hear a vehicle in time to hide should someone drive this way. It took twenty minutes to reach Ria’s road.
Ria let out a low grunt, and Marcus slowed. She took the lead, and he followed, his wolf supremely happy at spending time with his mate. Ria led him to a gate and jumped over, before turning to see if he had followed her. He had, and he nuzzled her flank, silently urging her to continue. They sloshed through puddles, trotted along a grassy, tree-lined ridge, and finally stopped at a rocky outcrop.
