Then doubt clouds his expression. He jerks back off the bed and rubs a hand across his jaw. "Layne, we can't."
I crawl forward on the bed, loving the flare of panic on Sam's face, the way he closes his fist around the condom packet. His irises change from blue to yellow and back to blue again. "I'm not afraid of your wolf," I whisper. "I won't scream this time."
He takes a step back and shakes his head. "I-I can't. Don't have control."
I follow, stepping off the bed and reaching for his waist. Grasping the two sides of his open jeans, I free his erection and drop to my knees at his feet. With my gaze lifted to his face, I open my lips and take the thick head of his cock into my mouth.
He surges forward, growing even longer. The groan that leaves him has an animal timbre to it. His fingers burrow into my hair. "Layne… you're so beautiful."
I've never felt so feminine, so attractive. I want to make him feel like a king. I'm no expert, but I know fellatio isn't rocket science. I take his cock as deep as I can before I pull back.
He whimpers as I retreat, fingers tightening in my hair. Mm hmm. Preliminary test results suggest he enjoys having my mouth on him. I grip the base of his cock for aim and another shudder goes through him.
Aha. Evidence also suggests squeezing pleases my man. I move my mouth and hand in concert with one another, tasting a drop of his salty essence.
His thighs tremble, the rumble in his chest grows louder. I love the sound of his ragged breath laboring above me. Before I can finish him off, he knocks me backward. His arms and a soft rug cushion my fall.
"Need you." His guttural tone is almost unrecognizable. I hear the crinkle of foil and he rolls the condom over his stiff member.
"I need you, too," I murmur, reaching to pull his face down to mine.
He enters me in a single thrust at the same moment our mouths mate.
I cry out, not because it hurts, only from the shock of pleasure that pierces my very being. Every nerve ending electrifies, every pleasure center blooms. I become as desperate as he, scratching and scrambling to take him deeper, to bring our bodies closer. I snap my hips, rubbing my clit along the base of his shaft with each of his thrusts. He fills me and pulls back.
My breath catches and then I emit a keening, needy sound.
"More," he growls, his eyes utterly golden. He pumps harder, faster.
As if I'm the beast, not he, I nip his shoulder, lick his ear. My nails score his ass as I pull him down into the cradle of my hips.
"So. Good." His words sound through clenched teeth.
My eyes roll back in my head.
"Can't stop. Can't stop. Oh God, Layne, I can't-" Sam lets out a completely animalistic snarl and buries himself deep.
My arms shoot up around his neck and I meld my body to his as my climax hits at the same time. Fireworks explode behind my lids. Every muscle in my body quakes as my core tightens and releases around his shaft.
Sam bites me, too hard.
I gasp, but the sensation brings on a second round of earthquake level tremors through my body. The pain is eclipsed by pure pleasure.
Sam tries to lift his weight from my body, but I cling to him, so he lifts me too.
"Don't ever let me go," I beg, before I realize how pathetic it sounds.
He licks the place he bit me. "I won't." His voice is still rough and deep.
He stands with me still attached to his body and settles us on the bed, where he nuzzles my hair and kisses all along the side of my face and neck. When I finally release my stranglehold on him, he pulls away and surveys the bite mark on my neck.
I bring my fingers to the place, surprised to find the skin broken.
"I marked you."
"Yes."
"It's the way a wolf mates. I didn't mean to, but one of my fangs grazed your skin when you were orgasming."
I push up on my elbows, my post-orgasmic fog parting as my brain comes back online. I can't figure out how to interpret the data Sam just provided. "You mean, mates, like... marries?"
He nods and scrubs his hand across his jaw in the way I've already come to love. "I'm… fuck, I'm not sorry. I'd like to apologize, but-" A smile tugs at his lips, as if he can't hold it back.
I can't help but return it. "You're not sorry?" I blush at the hopeful lift in my voice.
He shrugs. "My wolf got what he wanted." He flicks his brows at me. "You."
"Okay." I can't figure out what else to say. I'm not sorry, either, even though I don't know what it all means.
Sam's wolf mated me.
He knows I'm living on borrowed time and he doesn't seem to mind, so why should I argue?
He licks the wound again. "Does it hurt, sweetheart?"
"No."
He settles beside me and pulls me snugly against him. "Good. It's not too deep. It might not leave a scar." He's grinning again. "You're officially my mate. Hope you don't mind."
I snuggle into his warm arms. "I don't know what it entails, but it sounds okay to me."
He kisses my forehead. "I know neither of us wanted a relationship. You're sick and I... might not live long, either."
My heart squeezes, but I push away the fear. I want to enjoy this. Just for this moment.
"But meeting you, marking you, feels like the only right turn my life has ever taken. Does that sound crazy?"
"Yes," I murmur. "Wonderfully crazy. Like you."