I was holding her, and in answer, I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. “You’re mine.”
“Good, because you’re mine, too.”
I kissed her. She tasted of sweetness, tea, and of the herbs that had made her healthy. I could feel her within my soul. My bear grappled as I held her. Tasted her. I picked her up, unable to stop touching her. She wrapped her legs around my waist. Thanks to the bond and the magic within the coven, I was able to keep her safe. For this moment, she was whole. We both were.
I would take every step I could to make sure she knew that I was the right choice—if she’d been given one.
“Kiss me, Rome. Be with me. Always.”
I retook her lips and carried her to my bedroom. She had never been in here. We had made love outside under the stars before. I had fed her in my kitchen. But she had never been in my bed. Now, she would be. In our bed if I had anything to say about it. Of course, she would be the one to make that ultimate choice. I would never again take away her will.
“Be with me, Rome,” she repeated.
“Always, Sage. I’m never letting you go.” I hadn’t meant to say that last part, but as the bond flared between us at my words, I knew she felt the same.
“I can feel you. Deep inside.” She blushed. “I mean the bond.”
“Since we’re both still clothed, I knew what you meant.” I paused. “Is that okay? I know it will take some getting used to. Bears come by it naturally, but I know as a witch, you’ll have to figure out what works for you.”
I gently placed her on the bed, and she reached up, resting her palm on my chest, over my heart. “I like the feel of you around my heart, Rome. I like the idea of you knowing where I am, and that you’ll be able to find me. That I’ll always know how to find you if you’re hurt. That I’ll always know you’re there. That might be too much for others, but not for me. Be with me, Rome,” she repeated. “Let’s make this our choice. No one else’s.”
“I don’t want to scare you.” I swallowed hard. “I’m a bear, Sage. I could hurt you.”
Her eyes darkened. “Be yourself, Rome. And I’ll try not to hurt you, either.” She winked as she said it, and my bear roared, craving her more than I ever thought possible. I lowered my head and kissed her again before gently nipping at her collarbone and neck.
She moaned, tugging on the bottom of my shirt. I leaned up and pulled the shirt over the back of my head. She groaned and looked at me, licking her lips. No words were needed, not between us. We could feel each other along the bond.
I lowered myself again and took her mouth, this time greedily. Far harder than before. She moaned again, scraping her fingernails down my back. I grinned; my bear happy yet needy.
I tugged at the bottom of her shirt. She sat up, and I pulled it over her head before I did the same with her bra.
Her eyes widened, and I kissed her softly as I pulled away to look down at her beautiful breasts. They were heavy, full, her nipples a dark red. They were more than a handful and perfect for the size of my hands. I groaned then leaned down, taking one supple nipple into my mouth.
“You taste fantastic,” I ground out before I latched on to her other nipple, using my free hand to palm her breast and play with her. She slid her fingers into my hair, moaning. I looked up as her head fell back, her long hair cascading around her.
She looked like a goddess. My goddess. My mate.
I was so fucking excited to have her, to have her body and soul as part of me.
This was where we should have marked one another. This was where we should have become true mates. I needed to push the thought of how it had happened out of my mind and focus only on the woman in my arms. I looked up at the slight scar on her shoulder, the one that would be there until the end of time. The one that told the world that she was mine. I licked the slight ridges. Sage shivered and pressed her thighs around my hips. “Rome. That feels…” Her voice trailed off.
“Yes. I could probably make you come by sucking on it. Do you want me to try?” I asked.
She let out a shaky breath, even as her thighs clenched around me. “Not yet. I need you inside me.”
I groaned. “That I can do.” I kissed her again. And then I licked and nipped down her body until I reached the top of her leggings. I slowly pulled them off her legs, taking her underwear with them. I tossed them over my shoulder, and then I knelt in front of her, pressing her silky thighs down as I spread her. She was pink and wet and perfect. I could barely hold back a growl. My bear pushed at me, wanting to taste her sweet honey.
I latched on to her clit, sucking and licking and letting the sweetness coat my tongue. She tasted of perfection. I wanted to continue tasting and eating her until she came on my face, over and over and over again. She let out a breath, her back arching as she kept her hands on her breasts. I held her thighs spread, knowing her taste would be all for me.
I rubbed my beard along her thigh, and she shivered before I latched on to her clit again and sucked, twisting my lips and darting my tongue. She moaned, her whole body freezing for an instant before she came, her pussy tightening around my tongue.
I groaned, lapping up her orgasm. She continued coming on my face, writhing as she whispered my name. I lapped at her again, spreading her folds more as I continued exploring her sweet pussy.
Then she tugged on my hair. “Please, I need you.”
I gave her one long, sensual lick, stood up, and slowly undid my pants. She held one hand over her breast, the other over her pussy as she stared at me.
“Rome.”
I grinned and patted her hip before I undid the button of my jeans. “Roll onto your stomach, Sage. I want to see how deep I can go.”
She licked her lips and then slowly slid onto all fours. She put that pert little ass in the air as I pulled off my pants. I nearly came right there, gripping the base of my cock.
Sage looked over her shoulder at me, her eyes dark with need. “Rowen gave me herbs. I can’t get pregnant unless we want to.”
I groaned, remembering that we were mated now. I could get her pregnant with my seed. I hovered over her, my dick playing between her soft folds. As I slowly licked her mate mark, her whole body shook.
“Good. We will make our choices about that later. Together.”
“Please come inside me. I can’t wait any longer. Make me yours just like you are mine.”
I nodded, the need the same inside me, I latched on to that mate mark and bit down gently so it was ours. I slid home, and her pussy clamped around me like a vise. She pushed that soft ass of hers back into my hips.
She was so tight, so warm that I nearly came right then. I put one hand on her hip, the other looped around her body, keeping her steady. And then I started to move. She slid back to me, meeting me thrust for thrust as I pumped into her, needing more. Needing everything.
She panted, called out my name, and I continue moving, knowing I was close as my balls tightened. I was afraid I would come before she did again, and I couldn’t let that happen. I reached around and flicked her clit with my finger, and she came, clamping around my dick.
I shook, the need far too great. I pumped deep inside, hard, once, twice. And again. And then I roared, shouting her name and shaking the windows with my bellow. As I filled her with my seed, with everything I was, I realized I was alpha. I was bear. And I was Sage’s mate. She was mine.