“Crina, eyes up here, beautiful,” he said. And when her eyes returned to his face, there was a smug smile waiting for her. “Would I have these markings if we could fall apart?” he asked her again.
There was only one correct answer. “No.”
He stepped up to her again, his bare chest even with her face. Crina could feel the heat from his body, and with her wolf’s senses, she could hear the steady pounding of his heart. She wanted to touch him, to reestablish the bond between true mates. Only she had the right to touch Adam freely, just as only he had the right to touch her freely.
“Then touch me,” he practically growled, having heard the thoughts through the bond. “Because we aren’t leaving this suite until we’ve talked, touched, and kissed … not necessarily in that order. Frankly, I don’t care what order it happens in, but it is all going to happen.” Adam took her face in his hands and tilted her head back. His eyes roamed over her face, stopping on her lips several times. He’d told her many times in the past that he loved her lips. Several moments passed. “I need you, Crina. You are mine, and I am yours. Yes?”
She nodded, afraid if she spoke she would word vomit all over him. Why was this so hard? They were true mates; they shared souls. Didn’t that mean something? Wasn’t it supposed to make their relationship at least a little easier? Crina’s mind spun as she stared up at the man who’d stolen her heart.
“Please,” Adam begged, “talk to me.”
She reached up and placed her hands over his. The instant their skin touched, relief flooded over Crina through Adam’s side of the bond. Her eyes widened as she stood frozen, looking up at him. His side of the bond was completely open. Crina felt his fear of losing her, his longing to hold her at night, his need to reestablish the bond through the Blood Rites. She sensed his anger at her because she wouldn’t tell him what he’d done wrong. She felt the pain her withdrawal had caused. To him, it was as if she’d taken away his right to touch her, even though she was his mate. Crina saw his desire for her. It had never wavered, only grown stronger the longer they were together.
She started to drop her hands, but Adam grabbed them. “Don’t stop.” He pressed her hands to his bare chest. “I would do just about anything for your touch right now. Whatever you do, just don’t stop touching me.”
Crina ran her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, down his arms, and then back up again. She watched his face as she touched him, skin on skin. Adam let out a slow breath and leaned into her touch as if he couldn’t get enough.
Suddenly, he swung her up into his arms, causing her to let out a startled yell. “I lied, I do care what order we do this in. Touching and kissing first. Talking after.” He headed for their bedroom. His head dipped down while hers turned up so they could kiss one another.
Crina whimpered as his tongue pushed into her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck. She ran her hands up and sunk her fingers into his hair. A moment later, her back came into contact with their soft bed. Adam’s power was like the hum of electricity along a live wire. As he covered her body with his own, he smiled at her. “Sorry, beautiful, but it’s been too long. You don’t get to undress yourself this time.” His grin was wicked as he snapped his fingers, and then they were both naked.
Crina bit his shoulder hard. He knew she hated it when he did that. It was a dominance battle between her wolf and him as a fae. Her wolf didn’t like feeling vulnerable to him. That he could disrobe her with a thought was disarming.
“You can bite me all you want. Scratch me with those sexy claws. I don’t give a damn, just touch me and let me touch you.” Adam panted as he fought to hold one of her clawed hands and keep it from slashing his chest. Although, he really didn’t mind if she got a few good scratches in. That means she’ll lick them clean later. Adam smiled to himself.
She snarled at him and pushed hard until she forced him onto his back. Adam resisted at first, then yanked her toward him and used their momentum to keep rolling until they flipped off the end of the bed. He twisted to make sure he landed on the floor with her on top. Her claws sank into his chest, causing him to hiss. Still hurts, every time. He leaned up and took her mouth in a searing kiss. Distracted by his mouth, she didn’t notice Adam was using his magic to put them back on the bed. He’d have to move quickly as soon as her back touched the soft surface.
With the speed only a fae could possess, Adam grabbed both of her wrists in one of his hands and held them above her head. With his other hand, he held her chin. He leaned forward, staring into her eyes. “You are mine.” His voice trembled with too many emotions to name.
She tried to throw him off, but he was much stronger. Adam didn’t use his full strength when they played dominance battles. He would never hurt her. But he needed her to understand something. He may not be a wolf, but he was still her true mate. He deserved respect, just like her. She finally stopped fighting. “Yes.” She breathed out. “I am yours.”
“Who do I belong to, Crina?” Adam asked, knowing it would irritate her wolf.
“You’re mine,” both woman and wolf said at the same time.
Adam nuzzled her cheek down to her ear. His lips pressed gently as he whispered, “Submit to me, mate.”
Crina turned her head, exposing her neck. His bite mark was there. He loved seeing it on her. Adam found it interesting that he possessed so many dominant wolf-like traits when it came to Crina. He imagined that this was the work of the Great Luna, helping him be able to meet the needs of his mate, from a completely different race, with completely different needs. Adam had never craved touch until he’d become Crina’s true mate. He’d never needed someone or even wanted the closeness that having a mate brought. But now? Now, he couldn’t live without it. He’d been in complete and utter agony for the past month. They had much time to make up for.
He leaned his head down next to her flesh and ran his nose from her shoulder toward her neck. He repeated the motion with his tongue and then nipped her hard enough with his teeth that she snarled. “Payback, baby.” Adam’s voice rumbled as his hunger and need for her grew. He took another deep breath, pulling her scent into his lungs as he lowered his body farther on top of hers, pressing her into the bed. Crina’s breathing quickened, and Adam smiled to himself, loving that she was so affected by him, that he wasn’t the only one who was starved for this. “I love you, Crina,” he whispered as he nibbled on her ear. “From now on, you talk to me when I’ve done something,” he said, running his tongue down her ear. “Yes?”
She grunted an agreement.
“I want your words, beautiful.” Adam pulled his lips away from her. He knew this would get a reaction. They’d been mated long enough that Adam knew what pushed Crina and her wolf’s buttons.
Her wolf growled, and she attempted to raise her neck, to get closer to his mouth. Adam pulled away so his chest was no longer pressed to hers. He still held her wrists above her head so she couldn’t do more than attempt to arch her back to regain his touch. He shook his head at her. “From now on, you talk to me. No more shutting me out. No more taking away what we both need.” He raised his brow at her, waiting. Crina’s eyes glowed as she stared up at him. Her body trembled with her need of him.