Torren leaned up and kissed her, sucked her lip and released her. “Okay. Promises.”
“I’ll come to every fight. I’ll have your back. I’ll handle the money. I know people. I have connections through the club. I can set up fights when you need them. I’ll print my own HavoK T-shirt, for me. Pink logo on a black shirt, and I’ll wear it proudly. I’ll advertise for your fights and make sure they’re as organized as they can be. I’ll keep what happened tonight from happening again. I’ll make fair fights. I’ll be your teammate and make sure you never do this alone. Because I see you, Torren. I hate that you have to do this. I hate the scent of your blood. Hate that the floorboards downstairs are stained because of your pain. But what good will it do if I ask you to stop? I understand now that I’ve seen you fight. You telling me is one thing, but seeing it is different. To hold your ground and stay off that gorilla throne you have to do this, don’t you? You have to fight to keep HavoK stable. To keep sane, so you can continue the work you do protecting Vyr from the world, and the world from Vyr.”
Torren swallowed hard and murmured, “I think you see me very well.”
“Okay. Then I accept you, Torren. All of it. I accept the gritty parts and the soft parts. I accept the protective parts, the loyal parts, and I accept the things you have to do as a man to stay steady. You’re perfect to me.” Her eyes burned because his chest was heaving and he looked so emotional. “I. Accept. You. I’m not running. I’m here. I’m right here.”
Torren was shaking now. He ripped his gaze away from hers and then back. “My turn. When you dance, I’ll be your bodyguard. You have bills to pay, you got in a hole, you have your dad’s medical stuff to take care of, and I’m not asking you to quit what you’re doing just to make me comfortable. You aren’t telling me to quit fighting, so I accept you back. I’ll be quiet. I’ll talk to Carl about hiring me as security, and if he doesn’t, I’ll still show up every night and make sure you’re safe. Make sure you always feel safe. Make sure no one touches you. I’ll collect your money after you dance because you shouldn’t be on your knees doing that. You’re a fucking queen, Candace. If I ever see your crown slipping, I’ll always straighten it back.” Torren swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple dipping into his thick, tattooed neck. “You’re perfect to me.” He kissed her gently, then eased back by an inch and whispered. “I. Accept. You.”
Chills rippled up her body, and inside she went as warm as magma. It was a strange sensation, but the best feeling she’d ever had.
She didn’t have to be ashamed. She didn’t have to be anyone other than herself with this man. They were both flawed, but lucky for them, both of their demons played well together. And that’s what finding a mate was, right? It was being able to be real with a person. It was giving two middle fingers to that instinct to hide. It was stepping into the light, flaws and all, and staring that man in the eyes and daring him to leave, knowing he wouldn’t. She wasn’t too much for him, and he wasn’t too much for her.
She’d never felt such a sense of belonging than she did right here, in this moment.
He pulled her close, their bare chests creating warmth between them. He slid his hand up her spine to the back of her neck and gripped it, hugged her tight.
With a happy purr, she nuzzled her face to the uninjured side of his neck. And on a whim, she nipped him. Just a hint of teeth, and then she released his throat. My big silverback. My man.
Torren yanked her back, and then his lips crashed onto hers. His hips went graceful, rolling his hard dick against her. She was already wet and prepped for him, so three more pumps, and she was done with playing. Candace lifted slightly, gripped his thick shaft, and slid over him slowly, watching his focus on her intensify as she did.
“Fuuuuck,” Torren rumbled, one hand hard on her hip, guiding her, and one hand gripping the back of her hair.
When he bucked and went deep on the next stroke, Candace was already gone. She took all of him so that he hit her clit just right. The sharp pain was back in her chest, but just for a moment, and then it was that warm sensation. Ecstasy. She rocked faster, kept him deep, teased him as his muscles twitched. He pulled her closer, and he moved against her, hips meeting hers time after time.
He felt so fucking good inside of her. Perfect. Like everything. He really was her match.
Needy sounds escaped her throat every time he bumped that right spot. Torren was being gentle. Oh, she was smashed against him, but he was pure power and could crush her. He was staying in control, being just rough enough to keep it fun.
“Oh, God, Oh, God, Candace!” he gritted out.
And then suddenly, she was flipped to her back on the couch, and Torren was even deeper, thrusting so hard, so fast, ramming her upward until her head was at the arm rest. Holy shit, he was beautiful. Muscles rippling above her, abs flexing against her stomach as he stroked into her. Big rutting beast of a man losing control over her. Faster, faster, deeper, and the sounds in his throat said he was close with her.
He grabbed her hand and slammed it on the armrest above her head, pinning her in a submissive position, but she liked it. She snarled and arched her back as her body exploded around him. Torren yelled out as his dick throbbed hard inside of her, matching her release. It was so intense she closed her eyes and gripped his hand as hard as she could.
And then there was his rough beard against her neck. One second of that, and then there was pain, a sharp, driving ache at the curve where her neck met her shoulder. It was quick and shocking, and her orgasm pulsed harder when she realized what he’d done.
Claiming mark. Holy. Shit. Torren had just claimed her. He’d marked her so the whole world knew she belonged to HavoK. That she belonged to the new Kong. He’d just picked a mate, and this scar was a subtle fuck-you to any gorilla who tried to make him the head of a family group.
He’d picked her instead.
She wanted to cry out his name, just cry and scream in relief, hug him for years, and then have sex again right away, and…and…and…
Torren cupped her head again and lifted her quick, pressed her face against his throat, begging in silence while his dick still pulsed inside of her, filling her with warmth.