A Lycan caught in the headlights—my smile widens. He tries to take a step closer but second-guesses himself and almost ends up on the floor. The rise and fall of his broad chest increases, sending thrilling confidence through my barely covered body.

When it is clear I've made him entirely useless in terms of words, I take the first real step in his direction, and then I can't stop myself.

One stride after another. I approach the male who, once upon a time, made me want to run far from him with those promising words and blunt actions. Now the only thing I want to do is be close to him. Close to my mate.

I stop an arm's length away, knowing that when his composure finally snaps, I will be hauled forward and into the arms of the most mouthwatering man I've ever seen. Nothing in my life has ever mattered as much as this moment does, between his breaths I am overwhelmed. The feelings I've been accumulating for so long lodging in my throat and almost making me mute before him.

I listen to the steady beating of his heart. My chest warming as I think about it being for me, a different type of pleasure that sends the most devilish thoughts through my mind. I knew that once this man was inside of me, I would be done for. We'd be lost in a sea of lust that had been trying to drown us since the moment we'd laid eyes on one another. Even if I had denied it for entirely too long.

I lick my lips, his gaze follows.

My core clenches, the place between my thighs becoming soaked with excitement no man had ever been given from me. My heart lurches as I think about how painful it must be for him to know he'll never be my only, and for the first time, I fully allow my regret to flood through me. Acknowledging the fact that even though it had never been intentional, I had always known something was wrong with my actions. Giving myself to another had been a sin against someone that I could now, never see myself living a day without.

My lack of a moral compass was only a tool that allowed me to push past the uncomfortable feelings I'd had around other men. My attempts at loving others had never gone well because of Alarik. The Moon had created us for one another, and I'm taking in the fullness of what that means as his eyes soak me in.

I've been eye fucked before, but never like this. The man I'd always been meant to stand beside is in front of me, and he wants me—the bulge in his mostly torn slacks gives me very vivid proof. The animal growls coming from his chest only heightens my arousal.

I had always put down on vampires who 'got with' wolves because it was true—those dogs' stink. Any wolf I'd met had always left me with an unsettled stomach and the need to shove my face into a bottle of Febreze. But the Lycans were different. Not just Alarik, although his scent made me wetter than a river, no one I'd come into contact with on this territory hadn't made me want to gag.

Even if they all smelled of matted fur and dead animals, it would be something I dealt with, however. Even if I had to go through the pain of Ivan again, I would. Anything that has led me to this moment has been worth the pain, the suffering. We haven't fully bonded yet, but my cold and not beating heart still reaches for him.

Begging me to get closer, to make us both whole.

"Is this some kind of trick?" It's a gasped whisper between deep, desperate breaths. He's sucking in my scent like it is the only thing that can keep him alive and I fucking adore it.

Alarik is aware of what he would find between my thighs, my arousal soaking the air and making those muscles strain harder as he controls himself. The beast within is begging me for confirmation, holding off on his attack until he is sure I will be ending the torment he's gone through for so long. However, this is not the end—not to me anyway.

Sure, my mate would end his years of waiting but he'd begin something that I could have never dreamed of. I almost shed a tear as I wish he could experience the beating of my heart for him because nothing has ever made me happier than the rapid rhythm he sings for me.

"You're the one that teased me earlier, isn't it only fair for me to do the same to you?" A shudder moves through him at my voice, his stance changing from one of an unsure male full of anxiety to that of an Alpha. My Alpha.

I'd surprised him and his beast, but the way his body adjusts in just a few moments tells me he is back and the strange hold my sudden stripping had on him was over. My time controlling the situation is over, and hopefully, the waiting is as well.

His Luna is in front of him, ripe and ready for the taking.

"I don't think you have it in you to tease me, once my hands are on you, you'll melt—as you always do." A growled promise, my confidence is knocked from me quickly and the wicked gleam in his eyes tells me that whatever this male decides, is what will happen. I'm putty in his strong hands.

I'm unsure of what to say, suddenly I regret getting so close to the man as I cannot step back. One wrong move and I know he will pounce, not that I would be upset by that. When his dark gaze pulls mine in, I swallow the lump in my throat and take on more step to him. I kill the space between us, giving up whatever fear I'd had for so long as I replace my unsure expression with one of truth.

My smile turns that wicked glare into something sweeter and tasting him is the only thing my mouth wants to do.

"Do you still want to finish..." I hesitate, but he pushes my words out when his hands move to land on my shoulders. "Do you want to finish the mating, still?" His palms move over my skin and I feel myself fall into a comfortable calm, my racing thoughts slowing as he gives me his warmth.

"That, and so much more." The words are gruff, but I don't have time to focus on that because Alarik is pulling me upwards.

My legs wrap around his thick waist, my fingers find his hair and our lips crush one another with a desperation I have never known. Never in my life have I been this hungry, this needy for another being but our bodies attack one another with vicious sounds. Growls and moans mixed into our sea of need. When his tongue sweeps across mine I whimper, my core begging for him.

Alarik grabs my ass, kneading it and making sure to give a few soft passes across my most sensitive area. I shudder in his arms, mouth gaping at the sensation that almost wipes me out. This was about to ruin my life; I could feel it. Sex with Alarik was going to rock my world, end any possible thought of being with someone else and I was shaking in anticipation. My mouth moves from his, making a trail down his neck as I crave the feeling of my teeth buried in his neck.

He stops me, one hand burying itself in my hair and reminding me of the first time I'd been wrapped around him at the other pack's house. I should have known then that I would never win the battle between us, that his overbearing need to love me would come out on top. Secretly I'm thankful for his inability to take my repeated no towards our relationship as an answer, as crazy as that sounds.

My mouth is open, lips were swollen as my teeth ache with need—every inch of me seems to be following that pattern. I will not be at peace until he is buried inside of me and his teeth are deep in my neck, again. My mate stares at me with the most curious of gazes, and I can tell he's trying to ground himself. Trying to make sure this is real, and even I have my doubts that this is real life. I'm in a dream that I never want to end, a state I want to stay in forever.

One of my hands moves from his hair, making a slow trail down his neck and towards his chest. I rest my hand over his heart, letting out a soft sigh at the feeling of his life beneath my palm. The groan that leaves his plump lips almost kills me, my hips beginning a slow movement as my core begs for friction.

"I've never seen anything so beautiful." His words hit me hard. I barely keep tears from clouding my vision as I take, I soak in the attention he gives me, the way he grips me as if I will not be there in a few moments.

I would never leave this man's side, something inside of me continues to repeat this as my words continue to stay lost. My once smooth-talking ways are ripped from me by the unbearable need to be taken by this godly male. How had I resisted for so long?

"Are you sure this is what you want, Eira? Once we start this...I won't stop, this will make you mine forever. I will be yours, meaning you can't get rid of me. No matter how hard you try." I can tell he just wants to dive into this headfirst, not worry about the consent of me giving up my sense of 'freedom' that I had foolishly fought so hard for. But he doesn't. Alarik waits, not very calmly, for me to answer him.

Again, I'm having issues gathering my thoughts. Making a sentence that doesn't leave us both confused seems like the hardest task ever, in this passionate and scary moment. I dig my nails into his chest, dragging them down as I try to give a sensual smile—but I'm sure I look like a loon as I attempt to eye fuck him.

"I love you."

My back hits the bed, my eyes are wide in shock at the quickness of the male staring down at me with the most ravenous and yet...tender gaze. His fingers brush over my skin, neither of us speaks as he begins removing the rest of his ripped pants. All I can do is stare, mouth-watering at the sight as he becomes bare in front of me.

When Alarik crawls onto the bed I don't know if I should say it again or if that would send him over the edge, his wolf was at the surface after I'd given him my words. Had I known telling him that would finally get me laid, I might have done that much earlier. Anything was worth saying if it got this handsome man on top of me.

His wet kisses make their way up my thigh, eyes on my face as I try to hide the pleasure his simple touch brings me. That wicked mouth skips over the one part of me that wants him most, and I watch helplessly as he climbs further up my body. With one swift motion, he rips the front of my bra and soon it's removed from me entirely.

His mouth finds my hardened nipples, giving one his full attention while the other gets the softest whisper of his touch. I groan, holding back my begging words that threaten to spill out for all to hear.

"Alarik..." I cry as he moves to my other breast, a grunt is his only response. Soon he's moving slower, I feel his canines extend against my sensitive skin as he begins pulling down my lacey underwear. I want to die as he spreads my legs and looks directly between my thighs.

"It's going to be a tight fit." My mate murmurs before burying himself in my wetness, that tongue bringing me to places I never imagined as I reach down and use his hair to hold on for dear life. I'm crying out, begging for mercy as the man pushes one large finger into me.

My orgasm hits me without warning, the simple action sending me over the edge as I shake beneath him. He's growling, licking up everything my body gives to him as I ride out the rest of my unearthly pleasure. Time to tap out.

"Are you ready to become mine?" His deep voice brings me back from the brink of oblivion, our eyes meeting as he moves to cover my body with his. I'm still ready for him, that one orgasm doing nothing to help the deep-seated hunger raging within me. The closer he gets, the more I ache for him.

My legs spread wider to accommodate his broad frame, allowing him to settle between them as I feel his hardened member resting against my thigh. He groans at the skin on skin contact, dipping his head to press hard kisses into my neck that I know will only lead to those teeth making a home in me.

"Oh yes..." I moan, my eyes closing as his open kisses and curious hands bring another round of torturous pleasure. Alarik pulls away, his eyes meeting mine as he reaches down to line himself up with my entrance. If it could, my heart would be beating out of my chest at this moment as our eyes stay locked. A small smile moves onto his lips, which are still coated in my arousal. How much sexier can a man get?

"I love you, Mate."

Alarik thrusts into me, a flash of pain and agonizing ecstasy sending a strange sound from my throat. His body is rigid above mine once he's seated inside of me, his impressive member filling me as I watch his eyes switching between colors. The man and the beast having a fun little game while I am full of the male.

So fucking full, I groan softly. Still, he doesn't move.

"I've waited so long for you, for this." He presses his lips against mine for a moment, before pulling away and leaning his forehead against mine. Those fingers move to dig into my hip before he gently pulls out, and I almost reach for him in fear of him leaving forever—then he's pushing into me again and I am lost.

Nothing in my entire existence has ever felt like this. No one has ever made me feel like this. With each thrust I find myself holding onto him tighter, my lips pressing into shoulders and chest...finding every inch of skin they can reach as I cry out with every sensation. Alarik's moans are the hottest thing I have ever heard.

"Can you feel it?" He asks, lips against my neck once more as he begins putting more force into each thrust. His body is dragging me higher and higher, every movement one more step towards the ledge. "Our souls preparing themselves to become one?"

A long cry leaves me as he becomes more demanding, taking more of me and giving me little time to take in the actions he's placing upon me.

"YesYesYes!" My words are loud, everyone in this packed house would know what was happening in the Alphas room. One long growl leaves that broad chest, his rapid movements not slowing as I feel him licking across my shoulder.

He's tasting me up and down, telling me how perfect I can before he seems to find what he's been looking for between my neck and shoulder. I almost beg him to bite me, but I don't have time to get the words out before those long teeth are at home inside of me.

It's a flood of emotion I can barely contain as I maneuver to sink my fangs into his flesh as well. His body doesn't stop as the sweetest of feelings rolls through my chest, the blood flowing into my mouth gives me a high effect that I never want to come down from.

I can feel it when he enters my mind when his own emotions move through me and I can fully understand how the mating bond feels for a Lycan. My body is overcome with everything at once, and I can't stop the second orgasm from wracking through me viciously as he continues plowing into me. Growls and moans and cries mixed into our mating, the most perfect moment of my life.

Something I will never forget as the weight on my chest seems to lift and I clench around Alarik. He pulls his head away from me, staring at me with my blood coating his lips as he chases his beautiful release.

He growls one more hard thrust and his body still inside of mine with a long groan leaving those perfect lips. I press our mouths together, our taste mixing so satisfyingly. Alarik doesn't pull out of me, even when his body finally eases from its once tense position. Our eyes are locked.

"I've dreamt about the sounds you'd make me inside of you, but now that I have heard them...I will be hearing them from you every day." I release a stupid giggle at his bold statement, that once serious expression he is so good at holding melts into a handsome smile. I cup his cheek with my small palm, enamored by his ability to be so perfect.

"Full of stamina, are we?" My mate gives me a shrug, and I notice that the part of him inside of me has remained...painfully hard. The mocking look I am giving him drops as I realize I'd just mated with a sexual deviant.

That wolfish grin has my head spinning as he pulls out of me, and his deep laughter is the only thing that prepares me for when he enters me again. My Lycan mate was going to be the death of me.