My mother hadn’t seemed unhappy, so I’d never questioned how she felt with her mating, had never asked or spoken about it with anyone. It just… was.
And as I thought about my parents, it led me to think about my brother, who took after my father so much it was terrifying in its intensity.
So this was what really being mated was all about.
Banner wanting to touch me, doing those deliciously erotic things to me when Odhran and Cian could easily hear us, smell our arousal thickening the air, and Banner not caring one bit.
It was incredibly perfect, and I found I loved it. I loved public displays of affection.
I pulled back and tipped my head to look into his face. He was partially shrouded in shadows, his masculine features almost severe in appearance from the cuts of waning moonlight.
I lifted my hand and placed my palm flat on his scruff-covered cheek, the short hairs coarse against my skin, yet at the same time silky. My body instantly came alight, all thoughts but feeling Banner consume me the only thing I could think about.
“My wee, sweet lass,” he said in a husky, grumbly voice. “How I yearn for ye, ache in the worst way.”
My breath caught, and I felt my heart lurch in my chest.
“I’ve been in countless battles,” he murmured, his focus on my lips. “I’ve felt pain beyond measure, felt as if death were close tae taking me under and intae the abyss.” He took a step closer, and because there was hardly any space between us, it brought our bodies flush together. “But the pain I feel”—he breathed low, heady—“in my cock, Luna love…”
My eyes fluttered, threatening to close, my breath stalling, the very image his words conjured making my entire body tingle.
“Darlin’, my cock hurts so fooking bad, I’ve been walking around with a hard-on since scenting that addicting cunt.”
Oh gods. I couldn’t think straight at the sound of him saying those obscene words. But I didn’t want him to stop.
“This pain”—he groaned and had my wrist in his oversized palms a second later. He led my hand down between our bodies and pressed it right over his huge, hard, and massive cock. The length jerked, seeming to grow harder and bigger under my fingers—“is unlike anything I’ve ever felt in all my centuries, lass.” He lowered his head close to mine so our lips brushed together. “And I canna deny that even if it’s fooking uncomfortable, I love the reason for it.” He brushed his lips back and forth against mine. “Because it means I finally found my mate and she’s here with me right now.”
His cock jerked against my fingers, and I rose on my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and added pressure to our mouths, kissing him, feeling like I couldn’t breathe, like I couldn’t breathe unless I went all the way, unless I finally sealed our bond.
I wanted Banner to claim me. I wanted us to start our lives together. And I want it now.
He groaned and deepened the kiss, and as the seconds passed, I felt his control slipping, heard his growls of pleasure, felt the vibrations in my body. I kissed him back hard, just as fiercely as he was kissing me, but still he kept control, showing me who dominated the situation.
I moaned, and he broke the kiss, taking a step back, his body bigger, his shoulders broader, his wolf looking at me through my mate’s glowing blue eyes.
“I ache for you too, Banner.” My voice was barely audible, more breathless than anything else. But his low groan told me he heard me nonetheless, and I knew he was right here in this moment with me when he took a step closer.
I stared in his eyes and knew he’d give me whatever I wanted, and I’d do the same.
I thought of Banner taking me into his home, leading me up the massive, grand staircase and into his bedroom. I imagined him laying me out on that huge bed with the numerous furs and thick blankets and doing whatever he wanted to me.
Every part of my body came alive. And then my bloodlust roared up. My mouth watered, my teeth tingled and elongated, and I felt my eyes start to change. The space between us started to glow red from my vampire side rising up.
I let my gaze lower to his thickly corded neck and moaned. The only thing that could sate my hunger was this male.
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what I was going to say, especially as I saw him start to breathe harder, as I watched his fingers curl and relax at his sides.
He closed his eyes, shook his head as if to clear it, and then gritted his teeth so hard I swore they were going to crack.