He pulled himself out of the pit he’d wallowed in since he’d left the hospital. With more confidence than he maybe should have, he parked behind her little blue car and strode to her door. One thing was for damned sure, he wasn’t giving up on them without a fight.
The front door burst open before he reached it, and Maple stood there, blocking the way. The smile on her face stole his breath. He hadn’t been expecting it, and it slammed through him, reigniting the hope he’d held earlier that morning. Maybe he’d read her wrong.
The second he was within reach, she flung herself at him, and her lips were on his. He tried deepening the kiss, but she pulled back. In an instant, her hands were on his shirt, tugging it up as she backed into the cottage, bringing him along with her.
“I thought we needed to talk?” he asked as he whipped the shirt up and over his head, tossing it to the side, not caring where it landed. If she wanted him naked, he’d strip on the spot. To hell with talking. He’d convince her to stay afterward.
Twenty-Four
Maple had planned on having a good talk with Jaxon when he arrived at the cabin. He’d told her he loved her, but they hadn’t spoken about the future. She could guess at what being fated mates meant, but she needed to hear it from him to be sure. One look at his determined features and his purposeful stride, however, had wiped the thought out of her mind. His deep moan when their lips met sealed the deal.
When she pulled back, his hungry gaze roved over her. He followed her lead and took his shirt off, baring his chest to her, and it was all she could do not to wrap herself around him in that instant. They both still wore way too many clothes, though, and she wanted him naked.
“Jeans,” she said in a not so subtle hint as she tugged her own shirt off and sent it flying to the floor to land with his.
He brought his hands to the snap, flipping it open and lowering the zipper as he advanced toward her. “I thought we needed to talk?” he asked again, then lowered his jeans and stepped out of them. His cock jutted out before him in a mouth-watering invitation.
“We do. After.” She sounded like a loon, speaking in one and two word sentences, but her brain couldn’t formulate more.
Somehow, between the kitchen and the door to her bedroom, her pants and undies came off. Whether it was his doing or hers, she had no idea. She didn’t care. He devoured her mouth with a kiss that took her breath and ignited every cell in her body with a need so deep she ached. He kept advancing, urging her back until her legs met with the edge of the bed. He scooped her up, bringing her down in the center of the mattress.
Maple welcomed his weight as she wrapped her legs around him. She didn’t want slow and sweet. She needed him inside her, fast and hard. “Now. Please, Jaxon,” she begged as she tipped her hips up, meeting him.
He kissed her again, his tongue delving into her mouth as he positioned himself at her entrance. Then, with a drawn-out groan, he thrust into her, sinking balls deep with one powerful stroke. For a moment, Jaxon stayed there, stealing all reason with his lips on hers and his cock filling her. When he finally pulled back, he released her lips and locked his gaze with hers. “I love you, Maple,” he said before slamming all the way in again.
She gasped and couldn’t quite help her eyes rolling back a little as sensation flooded her. “I love you, too,” she finally managed.
Jaxon stilled, and a rumbling sound vibrated from his chest. His whole body tensed.
Maple’s breath caught in her throat. Excitement rushed through her, making her pussy clench around him, earning her another growl. “That’s your wolf, isn’t it? It wants to claim me.”
“Yes,” he ground out between his teeth as he took a deep breath through his nose. “It won’t, though. I won’t let it.”
The muscles in Jaxon’s back bunched with his restraint. Once again, he was protecting her. This time, it was her free will and not her physical body, but he was doing it, just the same. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his shoulder, then nipped his skin, teasing the wolf as well as the man. “Do it,” she demanded. For better or worse, he was hers, and she wanted all of him. That included his wolf.
His cock jerked inside her. “I can’t undo it, Maple. Be sure it’s what you want. I’ll never let you leave me again.”
His warning had her heart racing. There was no doubt in her mind about what she wanted, and that was him. She bit him again. Harder this time.
Jaxon groaned and drew his hips back before slamming into her. “Maple,” he pleaded.
“I want you, Jaxon. Take me. Claim me. Make me yours forever,” she said, then bit down as hard as she could.
In the next instant, Jaxon growled and flipped her so that she was facedown on the bed. He took her hips, lifting her onto her hands and knees before burying himself balls deep inside her. Their moans filled the room as he pulled back and drove himself home over and over.
Her whole body shook as he fucked her, making her bounce forward with each powerful thrust only to pull her back with his hands on her hips again and again. Skin slapped against skin until she couldn’t
