I curled a leg over his hip and arched against him. The boxers had to go. I wanted to feel every inch of him. They were in the way. Hooking my fingers beneath the band, I shimmied them down over his thighs, then used my feet to push them off. So much better.
I tunneled my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and held on for dear life. His every touch set my body on fire. And when his fingers swept up my inner thigh, I rejoiced. I reached down and caressed his length. His hips bucked against mine, his teeth finding the crook of my neck.
I’d grown up among werewolves. I knew that he would sink his teeth into my throat and mark me. I also knew I had to return the favor. But first came the fun parts. His arms wound around me and before I could suck in a breath, he swept me up from the floor and hoisted me up onto his hips. Limbs tangled, he moved toward the stairs, pausing now and then to push me up against the wall and ravish my mouth.
Every inch of me wanted to slide down on top of him, to take that final step. But the torturous wait was half the fun. Finally, we stumbled into his bedroom, and he eased me down onto the mattress.
He took his time, his mouth and fingers driving me insane. With a frustrated growl, I caught his ear between my teeth. “Mathis. Stop teasing. You know what I want.”
He reached into his nightstand and extracted a square packet. After a moment’s pause to cover himself, he caught my hips and thrust into me.
Oh, God. Finally. I threw my head back against the pillows and cried out when he started to move. I almost came undone right then, but I held on, determined to ride the pleasure out.
His fingers threaded through my hair and cupped my cheeks. Then, while holding my gaze, he leaned down and gave me a slow and tender kiss.
“Mathis, please,” I whimpered.
He nodded, then unleashed all restraint. My back bowed off the bed, and I cried out as he picked up speed and strength. The first stirrings warmed my stomach, then spread up through my chest and through my limbs. My whole body tingled with the threat of my release. But I needed to wait. Wanted to wait. Wanted to lose myself with him.
“Juniper,” he grunted. “The mark.”
I nodded, biting down on my bottom lip as I staved off my orgasm. I needed to time it perfectly. Wanted to finish when he sank his teeth into my throat.
He shifted his weight and brushed his lips against my jaw. When I felt the hard press of his teeth against my flesh, I mimicked his position. The first bit of pressure was all it took.
I fell over the edge, colors lighting me up from the inside. Riding it out, I closed my mouth over his throat and bit, my eyes rolling back as I reveled in the sensations he inspired within me. I felt him shudder above me with a low groan that vibrated against my neck.
Slowly, my world pieced itself back together. I opened my eyes and met Mathis’s gaze. I couldn’t help it, I giggled. That was amazing.
He pressed a hand to my cheek, then leaned over and kissed my forehead.
My heart was fit to burst. Especially when I caught sight of my mark against his flushed skin. Though the indent would heal, the magic of the moment would remain. Every werewolf would know him as mine, and me as his.
The perfect end to a perfect night.
With a soft smile, Mathis dropped down next to me and gathered me into his arms.
Pretty sure I’d died tonight. Because this was heaven.
8
Pain jerked me out of a deep sleep.
I gasped and rolled over, my arms curving around my stomach. Something was wrong. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Oh, God. I tossed back the covers and rolled off the bed, sinking to my knees on the carpeted floor. My hands clutched at my sides, my head bowed as I sucked in a ragged breath. My body twitched, and I toppled over into the nightstand.
“M—Mathis…” I groaned, my voice caught in my throat.
Another wave of agony ripped through me seconds before my bones began to snap. Crying out, I gripped the blanket and pulled myself up. Through the window, I watched as the sun descended behind Whistlers Mountain. No…no… This wasn’t happening!
The witch promised! All I had to do was become Mathis’s mate. I’d fulfilled the spell!
Another crack.
I cried out and fell backward. “Mathis!”
“Juniper?”
Relief brought tears to my eyes. For a moment, I’d feared he wouldn’t wake. Footsteps hurried across the room, and when I blinked open my eyes, I found him kneeling in front of me. Concern lined his face, his eyes wide.
“The witch…” I gasped.
I crawled onto all fours and bowed my head. Muscles shifted beneath my skin, my bones reshaping into a wolf.
“Not supposed to happen…”
His hands fell on my shoulders. “You’re just shifting,” he murmured. “It happens early on.”
No, this was different. The sun was setting. The magic felt different. Forced.
I shook my head, then screamed when my two back legs forced themselves inward. “Not the same.” I panted for air, my brow dotted with sweat. “She lied.” A low growl tore free of my throat. “Sunset.”
A ferocious snarl echoed through the room. He understood.
“Juniper, fight it!”
I almost laughed. Fight it? Fight the magic? Was he kidding? This wasn’t right! We were mates, we wore each other’s marks to prove it.
In a final burst of magic, the shift overcame me. I screamed my way through it before collapsing on the carpet. My chest heaved as I fought to regain control of my body.
“Juniper?” Gentle fingers threaded through my fur.
I blinked open my eyes and stared up at him. For a moment, everything seemed normal. Until the rage kicked in. My upper lip curled over my fangs, and I leapt to my feet, my teeth snapping next to his fingers.
Mathis jerked his hand back just in time, a stunned expression on his face. “Juniper…”
I shook myself out, then turned with a threatening growl. The witch was dead. She just didn’t know it yet. I didn’t look back. Instead, I bolted out of the room and down the stairs. But I was trapped. He’d locked every window and door after our run. I paced, listening to the sounds of Mathis quickly dressing upstairs.
Screw this.
I took three massive steps backward, then launched myself at the nearest window. The glass shattered around me, the shards slicing through my skin through my fur. Still, I didn’t stop. I had one goal in mind, and I didn’t care how I accomplished it.
Once outside, I turned and bolted through the town. The sun sat low on the horizon. Maybe I still had time. Maybe I could prove to her that we were mates.
Or maybe I’d rip out her throat and choke on her blood.
Both scenarios sounded good to me.
I skidded to a stop and slid on the ice in front of the shop entryway. Sure enough, the lights were on, and somebody was home. Hell, someone had even cracked the door open. Courteous little witch.
I nudged the door with my nose and stalked inside.
There she sat, behind her massive desk, yet another book in her hands.
Head lowered, I released a terrifying growl, a sound unlike anything I’d ever made before.
“Evening Juniper,” she called out. “My, you do make a pretty wolf.”
I snarled, my teeth snapping at the air.
“Now, now. No need for that.”