He looked up at her. “Sabrina … before we go on, there’s something I need to explain to you.”
“Huh?”
Sitting up, he took her hands and tugged her so she was facing him. “There’s something you should know about being True Mates. About what it means.”
“What is it?”
“I know it’s been somewhat explained to you, about being fated to be together, but there’s more.” He paused and kissed each of her palms. “The first time True Mates make love without any protection, they always conceive.”
It took a second, but it dawned on her. Actually, it all made sense now, at least the part where Sofia asked her when she was due. “All the time?”
He nodded. “Yes. I can use protection, if—”
“No,” she said without hesitation. Oh God, a child with Cross? It seemed impulsive, but deep in her heart, she knew that was what she wanted. To hold a tiny little baby that was half him. To treasure and love and cherish. To be a family.
He sucked in a deep breath. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am,” she rasped.
A look of relief crossed his face. “I needed to make sure. Needed to ask you first. See, one of the side effects of carrying a True Mate baby is invulnerability.”
“I … what?”
“You won’t be hurt. From the moment the baby is conceived, nothing can hurt or kill the female carrying the child. It’s the magic of our child, shielding you from harm.”
The words sank into her. She wouldn’t be hurt. She wouldn’t die. And maybe his brother’s vision wouldn’t come true. “Why didn’t you tell me before? You said he saw me fall and die. We could have prevented it.”
“I … I wanted you to have that choice,” he said. “I wanted to make sure—”
“That I loved you before agreeing? But we could have changed everything.”
“That wasn’t a guarantee, even now we know the vision hasn’t completely changed,” he said. “And it wasn’t that I wanted to make sure you loved me. It was that I wanted to make sure this was what you really wanted.”
“Oh, Cross,” she cried, her heart soaring. “I’ve never wanted anything so much in my entire life.” She drew him closer for a soft, slow kiss. He responded by urging her mouth open and deepening the kiss. His delicious scent tickled her nose, and his mouth tasted so warm and masculine.
His knees nudged hers apart, and he pulled her to his lap. “I’ve been waiting for this forever,” he moaned against her mouth.
She rose up onto her knees, straddling him. “Me too.” Reaching down, she guided his cock to her entrance. When she felt the tip nudge at her, she sank down slowly, taking him inside her inch by inch until she sank down on his lap.
“God, you feel incredible,” he said through gritted teeth. His hands came down to her hips, guiding her as she moved experimentally back and forth.
Pleasure curled up in her core and she wanted more. She wanted all of it. Planting her hands on his broad shoulders, she moved faster, rising up and down on him, loving the feel of him sliding in and out of her.
A guttural growl escaped his lips, and his hand snaked into her hair, tugging her forward. His mouth slanted over hers in an urgent, consuming kiss. She opened up to him as his tongue snaked inside her mouth, devouring her. She ground her hips down harder, picking up the pace as her body tightened and coiled.
“Cross!” she cried when he suddenly lifted her up and planted her on her back. He hooked an arm under one leg, making her squeal in delight as he pushed deeper into her.
When she squeezed her thighs around his hips, he began to thrust with long, deep penetrative strokes that she met with eagerness. He drove into her, harder and faster until she was clawing her nails down his arms. He changed the angle, his strokes becoming shorter and teasing, drawing her out to the edge, but not pushing her over yet.
They rocked together, and she felt the peak about to overcome her. When his hand thrust between their gyrating bodies to where they connected and plucked at her clit, she let out a sharp cry as her orgasm crashed into her without warning. It sent her body shuddering against him so hard she thought she’d buck him off. His other hand slipped under her, cupping her ass firmly against him as he gave a few hard thrusts and then a long groan. She felt his cock twitch and pulse inside her, flooding her with his warm seed. Her eyes shut tight, her body tensing, then relaxing as he slowed down and fell on top of her. Her heart thudded wildly against her chest, knowing it was done. Or was it his heart she felt? With a soft sigh, she cradled him closer, rubbing his scalp with her fingers as they lay in silence.
When their heartbeats finally returned to normal, Cross rolled away from her, landing on the mattress beside her with a heavy thud. Curling up toward him, she rested her head on his chest.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and slipped an arm around her to pull her closer. “I love you, Sabrina,” he said.
“I love you too,” she murmured. It seemed like it was all a dream, but her sated body was telling her it was not.
“Are you sleepy?” he asked.
“Not at all,” she said, smiling against his damp skin. Looking up to meet his gaze, she asked, “Are you?”
His mouth turned up into a lazy smile. “No.”
She let out a small shriek when he covered her body and pinned her to the mattress with his hips. She took a sharp intake of breath when she felt his hard cock press against her. “Again?”
“I’ve waited a long time for you,” he said. As the head of his cock brushed against her slick entrance, she sighed. “And I want to make up for
