Walking her out to the living room, he stopped by the front door and helped her put her shoes and jacket on. Grabbing the throw off the couch they walked outside. Cage sniffed the air and told Sophie, “Wyatt is out in the woods keeping watch tonight for us.” Assuring her of their safety and privacy.

The short walk down the path led them to a clearing by the lake. The moon shimmered over the water and the reflection brightened the shore.

Releasing her hand, Cage spread the blanket on the ground. Leading her to the middle of it, she sat and looked at him expectantly. Cage took a step back and suddenly looked nervous.

“I’ve never done this in front of a human before, you’ll have to give me a minute,” he admitted.

“Performance anxiety?” She couldn’t help but tease.

“Haha, very funny,” he laughed back.

Cage gathered his courage and started removing his clothing. “I like this part,” Sophie said with a giggle.

“Well, shifting in clothes isn’t like the Hulk. They don’t always tear, sometimes they just bind up and it can hurt,” he explained.

Sophie quieted as she watched Cage reveal his skin. He was a stunningly built man. Strong all over, muscles on top of muscles. His size made her feel safe, and she knew that he’d be able to take on the world for her. As long as there wasn’t a gun involved that is. He tore off the bandage on his arm, exposing a red, closed wound underneath. Seeing her eyes on it he explained. “Um, yeah, we heal faster too,” he said chagrined.

“Good to know,” she muttered.

Once Cage was standing naked in front of her, he relaxed and let his bear come forward. The change washing over him as he gave over to his other half. In a glittering display, his bear pushed out of his skin, dropping to all fours in front of a wide-eyed Sophie.

He reminded his bear to play nice. They were always of one mind, but sharing the space was often a negotiation. His bear listened and sat down on its haunches. Trying to look less intimidating, he chuffed and sniffed in Sophie’s direction.

Getting to her knees, Sophie watched as the huge bear sat down. Even sitting, it was massive. Knowing Cage was in there helped, but her natural survival instinct was to curl up in a ball and hope he didn’t eat her.

Getting to her feet, she took a step closer to the big bear, then another until she was standing in front of the beast. The bear leaned forward and sniffed her again.

“Cage?” she couldn’t help but whisper.

The bear huffed again and his eyes glowed yellow. Those looked familiar. Tentatively reaching out towards the giant head, she saw the bear hold still like he didn’t want to frighten her. Her hand touched the coarse fur on top of his head and a low rumble vibrated through her hand.

“Hi,” she whispered.

The bear butted its head against her stomach and Sophie laughed. Putting both hands on his big head, she rubbed her fingers through his hair. The bear dragged his head back and forth against her. “You’re awful sweet for a bear.”

A big paw hooked around her leg pulling her closer into him. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. They both took a moment, getting to know each other. Then Sophie pulled back and said, “It was very nice to meet you, but can I have Cage back?”

The bear huffed and pushed back from her, he gave her hand a lick and then started to shimmer. In a blink, Cage was kneeling in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her chest.

“Thank you, honey. He’s quite content now. He liked you a lot.” Cage assured her.

“I liked him too, but I think I’d rather cuddle up to you like this,” she whispered.

“Were you serious earlier, I have to be sure. Do you want to be my mate? To shifters, mates are more permanent and binding than any marriage. I want you to make sure, before we complete the claiming,” he said, looking up to her with worry etched across his handsome features.

Running her hands over his face, she traced his strong cheekbones and let her fingers run over his smooth lips.

“I’m sure Cage. I love you, I want us to be together, forever.”

“Honey, I love you so much.” He stood and scooped her into his arms. Walking to the blanket, he gently laid her down following until he was braced over the top of her.

“Do you trust me?” he whispered to her.

“Yes,” she answered with all the love in her heart, trusting the rightness of those words and knowing the universe had fated them to be together.

Cage kissed her, delving into the sweet recesses of her mouth. Twining his tongue with hers, tasting her as she did him, Cage began peeling her clothes away. “I promise to keep you warm,” he said, nipping at her lips which caused her to laugh.

Her clothes were quickly removed and Cage was worshiping her body. He palmed both of her breasts and pushed them together so he could suck each nipple in turn. Squeezing and tormenting them with his fingers before sucking her breast deep into his mouth.

Sophie moaned and cried out into the night. She didn’t feel the cold, Cage had her body burning with desire.

“I promise to provide you with everything you need.” Kissing his way down her body, he spread her legs and licked up her sweet wetness.

“Cage,” she cried out. Her pussy was wet and she needed Cage’s mouth on her clit. The need to come after the night she’d had was a physical necessity. “Please, make me come, I need it,” she begged him.

Cage responded by licking her again, this time stopping to plunge his tongue into her heated core. Lapping up her juices he growled into her pussy, the vibrations pulling a squeal out of her.

“Do it again,” she panted.

Cage growled and rumbled against her swollen folds again, causing her to shudder. “My mate, likes that,” he growled again. “I’ll never get enough of your taste, baby. You’re sweeter than honey.”

Sophie was losing patience, she didn’t want to come without him buried deep within her. “Cage, I need you inside me.”

Cage sucked hard on her clit one last time before flipping her onto her hands and knees. The movement so fast, it had Sophie gasping.

“I promise to always protect you and cherish you,” he pledged, running his hands over her body, touching each nook and hidden pleasure point.

“Tell me what you want, Sophie,” he ordered.

“Make love to me, Cage,” she begged.

“Nice and slow? I can do that,” he teased.

“No,” she cried out.

“What? Tell me, Sophie, exactly what you want me to do to you,” he taunted. Then running his hands over her ass, he squeezed her cheeks and spread them apart, exposing her pussy to the cool night air.

Sophie was crazed with need, his hands massaging her ass and spreading her pussy with each tug had her insides clenching.

“I’m going to teach you how to talk dirty to me, Sophie. I like it, I like thinking about how tight and wet your sweet cunt is for me. How sweet your pretty nipples are when I suck on them. When I finally get control of myself, I want to see your hot mouth wrapped around my cock.”