Shay could only muster another contented hum as he pulled away. She barely registered his absence before she succumbed to her weariness.
Drakkal liftedhis hand from Shay’s hip, looked her over—kraasz ka’val, there is no sight more beautiful than my mate—and turned away to walk into the bathroom. Her scents were in his fur, both that exotic sundrinker-kissed fragrance and the smell of her arousal, and he was reluctant to dilute those smells by washing, but it would need to be done eventually. He’d still detect those scents even after he bathed, he would still becarrying the mark his terran had left upon him—just as she’d be carrying his. That would be enough.
For now, his mate was weary. He would bathe with her when she was ready, and not a moment before. But he needed to drink.
Though he could still feel its flicker low in his belly, the lustful fire that had turned his body into a living furnace had finally subsided. Shay had done what his own hand could not. Her body had fit his perfectly, her oils had been a balm to his aching cock, and herpussyhad granted him the release he’d so long craved. He was not so foolish as to think his hunger ended—even now, he craved more of her—but he’d be content for a while. He’d finally joined with his mate. He’d finally laid claim upon her.
And she’d accepted.
When he reached the counter, he turned on the water, bent down to shove his face beneath the faucet, and drank deep. The cool water eased the lingering heat inside him and fought back the dryness in his mouth. He stopped only when his belly was full.
He stood straight, braced his hands on the countertop, and glanced at himself in the large mirror set behind the counter. His fur was tousled, damp in places due both to her sweat and her oils, and the green of his eyes was darker than normal. His gradually receding cock still protruded from its sheath. All it would take was a single look from Shay to coax it back out fully.
Drakkal ran his fingers through his mane, tugging it back. He’d never knotted inside a female.
That’s not quite right—I’ve neverletmyself.
Even when he was young, when he’d firstthoughthe’d found his mate, some part of him had known it wasn’t real. Something had always held him back, something more than simply not being ready to bring a cub into existence. Though itfelt a little foolish to think it, he told himself now it was because his body had always been awaiting Shay, even if his brain hadn’t known it.
And that felt…right. It felt true. She was the only one to get all of him, and he gladly gave it.
Tonight was only the start. She will have everything. She…and her cub.
Shay hadn’t changed her position when he returned to the bedroom; she was fast asleep. He couldn’t hold back a pang of disappointment, but it was accompanied by a swelling of pride—he’d pleased his mate to exhaustion. He gently moved her, only to stop as he discovered her thighs were sticky with his seed. His cock twitched, and a rumble rolled up his throat. She was his, and he wanted to have her again—right now.
He forced himself back to the bathroom instead and fetched a warm, damp cloth before returning to the bed to carefully clean his mate’s legs and sex. She barely stirred.
After he finished, he tossed the cloth aside and took a few moments to appreciate her body again, sweeping his eyes over her slowly from bottom to top. She looked so beautiful, small, and delicate, but he knew that appearance of fragility belied the immense strength she harbored inside. His gaze lingered longest on her shoulder. The spots where his fangs had broken her skin were still red, but his saliva had stemmed the blood flow.
Without modern medical attention, the bite would likely scar, and that thought only further swelled his chest with pride. It would be physical proof of his claim—a sign to all that she washis.
Drakkal gently slipped his arms beneath Shay and lifted her, moving her up to rest her head upon one of the pillows. He climbed onto the bed once she was settled, rolled onto his side, and drew her against him, tucking her back along his front. Thecombination of her body heat and delectable scent had his cock stirring again.
Not now, he grumbled in his head.
He shifted his head forward, pressing his lips to her sweet, soft hair, and draped his right arm over her middle to palm her rounded belly. Something small but surprisingly strong pressed against his hand for an instant.
Drakkal lifted his head and stared toward her stomach, his heartbeat marking the passage of time in the otherwise silent room. Seconds passed, creeping toward a minute.
The push came again, lingering a little longer this time.
Drakkal’s lips spread in a wide smile, and he gently brushed his palm over Shay’s belly. Pride and protectiveness tightened his chest; he finally understood his purpose, finally knew what all this meant. The deep emotions he felt toward Shay and the unborn cub strengthened, bolstered by new dedication, and he embraced them even if he couldn’t fully identify all of them.
“Your mother is my mate,” he whispered, “so you are my cub. Mine to protect.” He caressed Shay’s belly again. “Neither of you will want for anything again. Because you are both mine…and I am yours.”
FIFTEEN
Shay awoke to a painfully bloated bladder and something tickling her nose, but despite how much she had to pee, she really,reallydidn’t want to get up. She hadn’t been this comfortable in longer than she could remember—she was warm, cozy, languid, and she knew if she changed her position at all, she’d never find this comfort again.
She could ignore her bladder for a little longer, but the sensation on her nose was too irritating. The last thing she needed was to sneeze and pee herself. She wrinkled and wiggled her nose. When the tickle persisted, she made a discontented sound and turned her face, rubbing her nose against what was somehow both the hardestandsoftest pillow ever.
But pillows didn’t rise and fall with deep breaths, and they didn’t have heartbeats, and they most definitely didn’tpurr.
The scents of leather, cloves, and unbridled masculinity surrounded her. Shay tensed and opened her eyes. The room was dark, too dark for her to see, but she knew. Oh, sheknewwhose chest her face was buried against.
I slept with him. He stayed in my room, slept in my bed…with me.
Drakkal was pressed against her, front to front, with his arms wrapped around her securely and one of her legs between his. Heat radiated from him.