Riley clung to Tao, digging her nails into the hard muscle of his back, as he hammered into her, slamming deep. He was always rough, but this was different. Almost animalistic, as if his wolf was feeding his need to claim her. His thrusts were brutal, his pace was ruthless, and his features were set into a savage mask of raw hunger and pure possessiveness. And Riley loved every minute of it.
Feeling his climax creeping up on him, Tao scraped his teeth over her throat, right where he’d leave his mark. She moaned, arching into him, showing him she wanted it. That was all he needed. Tao sank his teeth down hard, licking and sucking to make a permanent, definitive mark that told the world she belonged to him. Her pussy heated, tightened, and rippled. She screamed, fisting his hair and digging her heels into the base of his spine. Then she reared up and bit down on his neck, claiming him right back. Tao jammed his cock deep and erupted, pouring himself inside her.
That was when it happened.
The breath slammed out of Tao as pain crashed into his head and chest. It felt like the world had tilted and faded. His vision dimmed and blurred. The only solid thing was the female beneath him . . . and the mating bond that suddenly bound them, strong and vibrant and complete.
Using what little strength he had left, Tao rolled onto his side, keeping her close. His wolf pushed against his skin, wanting to be near his mate. Tao hadn’t been lying when he said he wasn’t sure if she was his true mate; he also wouldn’t have cared if it had taken imprinting to permanently bind her to him this way. One very big advantage of their being true mates was that they wouldn’t need to wait for the bond to form. He loved feeling it, feeling her through their connection. He especially loved that their scents had mixed into one unique scent that would tell the world she was mated and belonged to him.
Shuddering with aftershocks, Riley licked her lips. “That was . . . intense.” For lack of a better word, she thought.
Tao stroked his thumb over the bite on her throat. “The bond is fully formed, that’s why.”
Riley blinked, still a little in shock to discover they were true mates. Her raven was high on happiness. “Doesn’t it usually take certain steps to make it fully form?”
“Sometimes, but not for us. Maybe it’s because we made those vows before we claimed each other—there was nothing to mess with the frequency of the bond.” He’d always worried the bond would make him feel trapped, but he felt far from trapped. He felt whole and calm and happy, a little like in his dream, but better. And to think he might never have known this because he could be a dumb shit. “I can’t believe I tried to have you thrown off our territory.”
Her mouth curled. “I’ll never let you forget it.”
Tao was sure that Trick would never let him live it down either. “Our kids will enjoy the story.”
“Kids?”
“You want kids, right? I know we technically already have two—”
“I want kids.” She’d just been a little surprised by the enthusiasm in his voice.
“Good.” Threading his fingers through her hair, he kissed her. “It would be better if our little girl wasn’t a raven. She’d have all the boys chasing her just to play with her hair.” He found it mesmerizing and suspected other males would too.
Riley just rolled her eyes. “Think the pack will be surprised we’re true mates?”
“I doubt it. I doubt your uncles will be either.” Maybe Ethan and Max had been right and Tao had sensed on some level that Riley was his. He’d feared finding his true mate for so long that he supposed it was natural he’d feel threatened by her. Yet again, he’d been a dumb shit. “I guess we’ll find out in the morning. I want tonight with you.”
“Sounds good to—” She frowned as he flipped her onto her stomach. “Well, that was a little abrupt.” One finger sank inside her, swirled around, and then trailed up to the puckered hole at the back. She froze. “Tao . . .”
“I need this. I can’t explain why I need it so badly, I just do.” As if then he’d have claimed every single part of her. “You’ll love it, baby, I promise you. Trust me.”
Riley kept her forehead pressed to the bed as he slowly and gently prepared her, using first one wet finger, then two. It burned, though not in a bad way. But when she finally felt the head of his cock start pressing inside her a little while later, she wondered if it would be much fun after all. “Tao, I really don’t think this is going to work.”
He rubbed her back. “Your body’s made to take mine anywhere and everywhere, Riley. You know that. Just relax.”
Relax? She snorted. “I’d like to see you relax while you can feel a freaking barrel pushing into your rectum.”
He chuckled. “Push out as I push in; that’ll make it easier. Good girl.”
As his cock slowly sank into her ass, she held her breath. The pressure of his size and thickness burned, but he rubbed against all kinds of nerves that made her clit tingle.
Buried to the hilt, he slapped her ass. “Breathe.” When that ass clamped around his cock, he realized that hadn’t been the best idea. “Sorry, baby, but I can’t wait.” He pumped his cock in and out of her, claiming it just as he’d claimed her mouth and pussy. He could feel her pleasure through the mating bond—a pleasure that amplified his own and made his cock swell, ready to burst.
As she began to throw her hips back at him, Tao knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He reached around and rubbed her clit with his thumb and finger the way she liked it. Moments later her head fell back and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Tao slammed into her once, twice, and then exploded again.
She sank into the mattress. “Happy now?”
“Fucking ecstatic,” Tao slurred. “And drained. Shower, then sleep, then more fucking.”
“I can work with that.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It was rare for Tao to wake before Riley did, and waking to the feel of her breast filling his hand was guaranteed to make him smile. That smile widened as he felt the mating bond pulsing with life between them.
She belonged to him now. Utterly and completely. And he knew he’d kill, lie, steal—whatever it took—to keep it that way.
Feeling the wonder and vibrancy of the mating bond, Tao could appreciate just how difficult it could be for a shifter to survive the loss of it. It wasn’t as if Riley were linked to him; it was like she was part of him, something he could feel inside him and around him. Something that warmed, anchored, and strengthened him. If anything took Riley from him, it would destroy him on every level.
He kissed her shoulder, but she didn’t stir. He wasn’t surprised. He’d woken her a few times through the night and he’d taken her hard each and every time. She hadn’t once turned away from him or demanded he let her sleep, which was a true wonder to him. But then, Riley was a true wonder to him.