He felt a ripple of sensation across his back as he took in her appraising—and approving—look. His hands flexed with the need to hold her, to pleasure her, to claim her.
“Okay, so I’m glad that’s quite like what I’m used to,” she said. “But we’ll definitely need to be sure my body is ready for…you know.”
He didn’t know. Did she mean children?
The idea of starting a family with her was…overwhelming. He couldn’t even name all of the emotions that rose within him at the thought.
“Our bond will need to strengthen for at least one of your solar years before your body will be ready to bear my children,” he said. “Nothing will happen in that regard until then.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “I meant ready to accommodate your hugeness.”
“Oh.”
Of course that’s what she meant. And now he had most likely scared her away by bringing up such an important topic so soon.
“But that’s really good to know.” She smiled at him, and said, “A year seems like a good amount of time to settle in together before we take that step.”
Was she still interested in proceeding? He barely dared to hope, and yet, she wasn’t moving away.
She reached behind herself and undid some sort of clasp, letting the scrap of fabric around her chest fall to the ground. Her last undergarment joined it, leaving her naked before him. She stepped closer, resting her hands on his chest.
He hadn’t scared her off. Still, he had to be sure she hadn’t changed her mind.
He wanted to ask, but all that came out when he tried to speak was, “Mine.”
She nodded, her voice breathless as she responded.
“Yours.”
That was all he needed—all he could stand.
He grabbed her and spun them both around, their inertia taking them onto the bunk. Before they hit the bed, he caught his weight on his elbows to keep from crushing her.
He captured her lips with his, his tongue demanding entry. She welcomed him, her arms tight around his back. She slid one of her legs up his, pulling him closer. He doubted her body was ready for him, though.
He grasped her leg and pushed it back on the bunk, pinning it in place with his thigh. With his hand already close, he reached for the softest folds of her skin.
She gasped at the initial contact, back arching toward him. He growled his approval against her mouth. As he thrust his fingers into her slick heat, he deepened the kiss.
Her hips moved against his hand, and the plaintive notes of need she made nearly drove him crazy. But he waited until he was sure she was ready before positioning himself at her core.
His energy shifted within him, coiling in a way that was new. He broke off the kiss to look into her eyes.
“Mate,” he said.
“Mate,” she whispered back.
12
The moment the word left her lips, Serac plunged into her. Her core stretched to welcome him, gripping tight. She was really glad he’d prepared her body for him.
He hadn’t prepared her for the cold.
It radiated out from him, rolling along her skin like fog. She should be shivering, but all she felt from it was…pleasure. The cold was like a caress, sweeping over her skin.
He let out a groan, holding still for a few moments. When he started to move his hips, she felt it like the ebb and flow of the tide. Each stroke reverberated through her nerve-endings, lighting her up with a white-hot energy like fire and lightning combined.
The feeling intensified along with his thrusts, crashing through her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, raked her nails down his back. He reached for her arms and pulled her hands up next to her head, interlacing their fingers.
Her heart was beating so fast it almost hurt. She could feel Serac’s racing in time with hers. She could feel…
She could feel him on the edge of her senses—a light, a warmth, a feeling of longing and welcoming and blossoming love.
She let herself fall toward him, wanting all of that and more. Wanting to give him everything.
Serac leaned back, his eyes blazing white. A softer glow emanated from both of their bodies, shining in the center of their chests. The light streamed out between their hearts, pulsing with each beat, a tether that grew brighter with each thrust.
Goosebumps rose across her skin everywhere. Her entire body tingled, charged with an energy that went beyond the physical pleasure he gave her. She felt it coil deep in her belly, then burst free, soul-deep ecstasy flooding through her.
Serac clenched his eyes shut, light still escaping along the seam of his lids. His thrusts grew frenzied, taking her higher as she pulsed around him, pulling everything she could from him as he spilled himself in her.
He thrust deep and held there, exhaling puffs of fog. All around them, tiny slivers of ice hung suspended in the air. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, watching as it joined with his. She should be freezing, but she felt perfectly warm.
“That was so…” She smiled. “Cool.”
He chuckled, then kissed her again, this one much more tender. He rolled off of her, but kept his arms around her and held her close.
Was it done? She could only remember him kissing her neck. Still, she felt…different. Her body was energized and the air on her skin seemed to have lost its chill, even though she could see frost on the walls.
The link she had felt to Serac was muted. She could still sense a steady contentment and happiness coming from him.
“What is it?” he asked.
His eyes were closed and she hadn’t said anything. Maybe he was sensing her emotions as well.
“In my books, the mate mark is given through a bite,” she said.
“A bite?” He shook his head. “I would never bite you.”
“Then how am I marked?”
He laughed, then propped himself up on his elbow. Gesturing to his neck with his other hand, he pointed out a small, silver crescent-shape at his nape. She hadn’t noticed it before.
“Only a bonded pair shows this mark,” he said. “And each pair’s mark is subtlety different from all others.”
“I have one, too?”
“Yes. An identical match to mine.”
She wanted to run to the nearest mirror and look at it, but then he traced his fingertips over her neck in the same spot. Goosebumps rose on her skin, desire spiking at his touch. He let out an unsteady breath, then leaned down and kissed her.
His longing flowed through her, amplifying her own, feeding from it. She clutched at his back, drawing him closer.
A persistent beeping broke into the moment.
Serac pulled away and sighed. “We’re almost to the exit point.”
“Darn.”
“But we’ll have the trip back to Earth,” he said.
“And the rest of our lives after that.”
Excitement and nervousness fought within her. She hoped he couldn’t feel the second part. Everything had happened so quickly between them.
She saw his eyebrows furrow and reached up to trace the lines, easing them away. Quick didn’t mean it was wrong.
“This is the beginning of our greatest adventure,” she said.
He grasped her hand and kissed it.
The beeping grew in volume. Serac sighed, then nimbly rolled off the bunk to his feet.