I buried my face against Sam’s shoulder, taking strength from him as he carried me toward the house. The moment he lifted me into his arms and turned to face my home, others poured from the doors. All my parents, Jezebeth, Momma R… they all leapt from the interior. I knew I was their destination, but I couldn’t look at them. Not at that moment.

“Sam,” I whispered.

“I have you,” he returned just as quietly. His chin brushed my forehead when he shook his head and deterred them. “Later.”

I sensed their frustration and anger, but no one said a word. No, they were quiet as he carried me through the house, his feet padding over the plush carpet and thumping on the polished hardwood. Not a sound followed us, but I knew the brownies kept pace, that they’d burst from their beds and now helped Sam navigate the house.

My bedroom door squeaked, telling me we’d arrived in my private sanctuary.

Sam murmured a low thank you and then the door clicked closed, sequestering us in my personal space. The familiar scents welcomed me, the florals and woodsy aromas that beckoned the part of me that embraced nature. The room soothed my wolf which, in turn, helped to calm the raging hellfire. I was still on edge and it wouldn’t take much to send me spiraling into a flaming gulf of grief and anger.

“Easy. You’re getting a little crispy, Caith.”

The growing warmth disappeared in a single heartbeat, gone before my mind even had a chance to process his words.

“Sorry.”

Lips were brushed over my skin. “It’s okay. Let’s get you bandaged and clean. Then we can talk about what’s next.”

I had only one firm thought about what happened next. Mating. He’d said he was staying and didn’t give a damn about anything else and he said… Mine. I needed him. Needed him to banish the grief and heartache and put me back together.

A dozen steps brought us to my bathroom and I smiled at the low, long whistle he released.

“Damn.”

I grinned. “I like my baths.”

“I see that.”

I didn’t just have one tub, I had three. Well, one hot with jets, a regular bathtub and then a soaking tub. Plus the glass shower with multiple showerheads. Lately I’d been using the jets. Between bar fights and trying to keep the bar a little cleaner—I did not want to lose my new brownies—I’d typically came home sore and in need of relaxation.

Sam moved across the room and soon I was carefully placed on the solid granite counter. He stepped back and turned as if to leave me and I snatched his arm, keeping him near.

“I’m just turning on the light.”

“No, leave them off. I’m not ready to…” I shook my head. “When I was a kid, I convinced myself that nothing was real in the dark. If I did something bad or if something happened that made me sad… If I couldn’t see it, it wasn’t real. It didn’t happen.” From the moment I left Georges, I’d kept my eyes closed and even now, the lids remained lowered. “Let it not be real a little longer.”

He froze for a moment and I wasn’t sure if his heart even beat, but then he released a long, slow breath. “Anything you need.”

When his warmth reached me, telling me he was close again, I opened my eyes. The room was dark, but a sliver of light filtered into the space from the bedroom.

I could see his eyes, his soft expression, and the proof of his caring. “Thank you.”

“Anything.” His gaze traveled over me, sliding from shoulders to hips and finally my lower leg. “We need to get your jeans off. Can you lift for me?”

I nodded and did as he asked and it took no time to slide the damaged material down my legs, the jeans peeling away to reveal new bruises and the deep gouges from Georges.

Georges… I trembled, fighting to suppress my cries.

“Shh… I have you. I’ll get you cleaned and bandaged.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that.”

“I know,” his glittering gaze met mine. “I feel your pain, Caith. I know.”

I swallowed hard. “How…”

Sam stroked my skin, fingers gently sliding over me. “I committed myself to you. I feel you. I know you.”

He said the words—the right words—but something niggled at the back of my mind. Something that said his change of heart was too good to be true. That…

“I hear you, but I sense…”

“I’m gonna be yours, Caith.”

He’d be mine, but would I… Why was I questioning things now? Why?

“You still want to…”

He carefully eased between my legs, his expression intent. “I wasn’t lying out there. On High makes its own decisions, but I’ve made mine and I want to be yours.”

Questions could be answered later because more tears burned my eyes, these coming forward and they had nothing to do with my lost friend. “Okay.”

“Good.” He jerked his head in a quick nod. “Let’s get you cleaned up. How long will it take you to heal? I know wolves are pretty quick, but with the others…” he raised his eyebrows in question.

“Once you get the dirt and grass out—” My gut clenched. “It just needs to be clean and then it’s no more than a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

Sam moved around my bathroom as if he’d been in the space countless times. He dug through cabinets, snagged fresh towels and sought supplies with ease. It didn’t take him long to assemble the things he needed and then it became a study in endurance and control. No part of me wanted to strike out at him, but that didn’t stop instinctual responses. Like twitches and jerks, my fire and wolf fought the desire to slash the source of my hurt.

“Amazing,” he whispered as he washed out the first gouge, the wound healing the moment the last speck of dirt was pushed free.

Yeah, if I wasn’t the one in pain, I’d consider it amazing as well. Instead, I merely thought it fucking hurt like hell.

He moved from one spot to the next, dousing each with solution and dabbing them dry, plucking at bits of grass that remained stubborn. It didn’t take long to rid me of the worst of my injuries, the skin closing and sealing as always, until I was left with mere bruises.

“What about the rest?” He gestured toward the splotches of purple and green.

“They’ll heal on their own. My body handles the cuts and scrapes. It leaves everything else to take its natural course.”

He gently petted a massive swath of purple on my hip. “I hate that they’re here.”

“I know, me too.”

Sam reclaimed his position, body keeping my thighs spread and his scent sinking into my pores. “What now? I know what everyone else will want to do. I’m sure your family is aching to launch into battle and your friends are anxious to stand at your side. But what do you want to do? Before they get to you, what’s our next step?”

“Our?”

“Our.” He licked his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth. “This is it, Caith. You and me against the world. What’s going on has nothing to do with them.” I opened my mouth. Of course it did. “No, this is your pain. There’s plenty of anger on your behalf, everyone hates that you’re experiencing it, but it belongs to you and me. Whoever did this… They didn’t strike at you, the struck at us. We’re one now and I want you to tell me our next step. They can either join us or leave, but it’s your choice and I will follow you to the ends of the earth. You just have to say the word.”

“I could lead you into Hell.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go.”

So matter of fact. No hesitation, no flicker of unease. He’d simply follow me.

“I want to get clean, but I don’t want to be alone.”

“I won’t ever leave you alone again.” He gave me a soft kiss, there and gone again. “Which tub?”

“The one to the right. The soaking tub.”

Sam stared at me then, blue eyes flickering with a hint of red. “It’s big enough for two.”

I swallowed hard. “It is. I’d like you to stay with me.” I reached for him and plucked a blade of grass from his shirt. “You’re dirty too.”

Sam nodded, even more red venturing forward. He was easing toward that place, that precipice that separated On High from Hell. One step toward Hell and he’d tumble into my world. Permanently.

“I’ll start the water. Do you need help undressing?”

I shook my head. “No.”

I breathed deeply, taking in his scent and savoring the musk of his arousal. He wanted me, I knew that, but now he’d have me. And I’d have him.

Sam moved away, his steps taking him to the tub and I kept my gaze on him as he bent to turn the water on. In a slow flex of muscles, he stood and slid his shirt from his body.

Fabric removed, he slowly turned to me and held out his hand. “Coming?”

“Yeah.” I carefully eased from the counter, absorbing the stings of pain that bolted up my leg when I stood on my own. Yes, the injuries were gone, but quite a few aches remained.

He stared at me, gaze raking over my body and the bulge hidden behind his jeans grew, his cock straining against the fabric.

When I got close, he grasped my hand and tugged me to him, pulling me close until our bodies were aligned. “Have I told you how beautiful you are? My pretty wolf, my deadly demon…”

My wolf howled in approval, tail wagging and soft barks escaping. Our mate wanted us. He’d finally given in and accepted the truth.

“You’re mine.” I said the words aloud, hoping he’d confirm my statement.

“I am.”

Those large hands went to my hips and slid along my waist, to my ribcage, taking my shirt along with his travels. I raised my arms, allowing the cloth to slip free of my body and it gently drifted to the ground.

“So very, very beautiful.” His words were hoarse and filled with truth.

He worked at my bra next, the clasp giving way and releasing me with hardly a protest. While he cupped my breasts, I reached for the button on his jeans, snapping the closure and carefully lowering the zipper.

“I want to see you, too.” I kept my voice low, unwilling to shatter the seductive web.

“You will.” It was a promise, a vow in two simple words.

didn’t speak any more. Our hands and fingers communicating for us as layers were disposed. His shoes were gone, his jeans vanishing, my panties joining the growing pile.

Sam carefully helped me into the rapidly filling tub and glorious heat caressed my skin. He didn’t leave me alone for long, his large body lowering into the soaking tub across from me. It was the perfect size for us to share and I knew I’d made the right decision. The regular tub would have been too small and the tub with jets would have taken too long to fill.

The second he was settled, his legs straight before him, I drifted close. The water buoyed me, allowing me to glide through the liquid and gracefully change position. I relaxed into my place, legs straddling him. The only difference was that nothing separated us now. No, his thick cock was nestled against my slit, the thick length teasing my lower lips with what was to come.

He stroked my thighs and caressed my hips, fingers playing over my skin with practiced ease. His thumbs dipped low, heading toward my mound while his grip encouraged me to gently rock against him.

“Caith.”

His dick teased me, the head rhythmically tormenting my clit, each stroke sending a tremble of arousal through my blood.

“My mate,” I voiced my wolf’s desires.

“Yes.” There was no hesitation when he confirmed my claim.

I whimpered and my inner wolf echoed the sound. I tried to rise, anxious to take him inside me, to be possessed by him, but his grip didn’t allow me that much movement.

“Slow, sweetheart. I want to savor every moment, every breath, every tremble, and every sound.” That brought forward one of those trembles and he grinned wide. “I want you to come. I want to give you everything. Will you let me?”

He wanted to give and I wanted to take.

“Yes,” I hissed.

That ended words for a while. There was nothing to say when the pace increased or when he released me to cup my breasts or when he captured a single nipple and teased it with his tongue. He did all of that and more.

My senses were roiling in an uncontrollable storm, flitting from nerve to nerve as he stoked my arousal and gave me pleasure. He plucked one nipple while sucking the other, his tongue flicking the nub and nibbling it with blunted teeth. And then his free hand… It delved between my cheeks, teasing that forbidden entrance. I’d never trusted anyone enough, never allowed…

I’d let Sam, though. If he wanted to claim me there, I’d let him do anything he wanted. He was my other half, my mate.

I pressed against him harder, increasing the pressure and accelerating the pace as I sought completion. Sam released me with a low pop and he stared into my eyes.

“That’s it. Take what you need. I want to give you everything.”

Those words were worth more than anything.

He rubbed my asshole as I worked myself along his thickness, taking each snippet of bliss and adding it to the increasing mound of pleasure until it became a mile-high mountain of bliss.

“Sam,” I whimpered.

“Right here.” He pressed the tip of his finger past the first ring of muscle, tormenting me further. “I’m right here. Always.”

I gasped and whined, the arousal increasing until I felt consumed with the sensual heat. “So…”

“Take it, Caith. I want to see you fall apart in my arms.”

I increased my pace once again, doing as he begged and taking and taking and taking more until… It was within reach, so very, very close…

“Caith,” he growled my name, so like my own beast, and that’s what it took.

My release bowled over me, body trembling, muscles dismissing any hint of my control and spasming. My pussy ached, clenching on nothing and desperate to be filled by him. I shuddered with the sensations, my orgasm taking over and I rolled with the bliss that consumed me. My back entrance tightened on his slight invasion and I craved him there as well. I wanted to belong to Sam in every way possible.

“Sam,” I sobbed.

“I have you.”

And he did have me. Wholly, completely, I belonged to him. I slumped forward, unable to support myself, and reveled in the slick slide of skin on skin.

“Oh, Sam.”

He stroked my back, soothing me as the last of my orgasm drifted away. “I have you.”

I shifted on his lap, his hard cock glancing my sensitive clit, reminding me he was still hard. I eased back enough to meet his gaze. “I want you.”

“And I want you.”

I licked my lips, enjoying the fact that his attention dropped to my mouth and his cock twitched against my needy flesh. “I won’t stop, Sam. I’ll take you into me and I won’t stop until I have my fangs in your flesh and your release deep inside me. We’ll be one before we leave this bathroom.”

He reached between us, his fingers teasing my pussy, fingers encircling the base of his dick as he urged me to lift slightly. The blunt tip of his cock kissed the center of my heat and then he encouraged me to move in a different direction. He pressed down gently, silently asking me for entry and there was no way I could deny him. Not when my heart beat for him.

Large hands gripped my hips, carefully increasing pressure until there was no denying his wishes. He stretched me, stroked me in places that made me whine and shudder as he filled me completely. The slight sting of his invasion merely added to the joy his possession created.

“Make me yours.”

I whimpered. The big bad gel was letting me…

“Make me yours and then I’m going to possess you every way I can. I’m going to coat you in my scent.” He gripped the back of my neck and then fisted my strands. “I’m going to claim you so other men know you’re mine.”

That had me shuddering, my waning arousal flaring back to life. That was what I needed, what my wolf craved. We’d lay the claiming bite, but we’d always be overpowered by our more dominant mate.

Yes…

I instigated an arousing rhythm, body rising and falling, his cock stroking me with each entrance and exit. The head pressed against my G-spot while each meeting of our hips tormented my clit. It was a glorious wave of desire and need, the sensations sliding along my nerves, burning me with a different type of heat. Each time he filled me fully, I groaned and each time I experienced his loss, I whined.

My wolf continued to howl and chuff in the back of my mind, the beast’s happiness more than evident in its response to Sam. My pussy clenched around him, milking his flesh and begging to have him spill inside me. I wanted him in every way possible. Every. Way. My nipples were hard and achy, the brush of our chests sensitizing them even more.

“Sam…” I lifted my hips and lowered once again, slamming our bodies together with a gut-wrenching sob.

“Right here,” the words were pushed past his gritted teeth.

“You’re going to be mine. You’re going to,” I groaned, rotating my hips and shuddering with that rush of pleasure. “You’re going to come inside me and be mine.”

He answered with a deep groan.

“Close again.” I was. So very, very close. My gums burned, fangs straining against the tissue. “Sam?”

“With you, Caith.” He tilted his head to the side, baring his neck. “Yours.”

His cock twitched within my sheath, jerking with his impending release and I knew it was time. After countless years, I was going to claim my mate, my one and only. Was he a wolf? No. He was one thing and one thing only.

Mine.

Sam’s grip on my hips tightened and he gritted his teeth, tension filling every line of his face. “Caith.”

He was there, on the edge and I knew my bite would send him over. Hell, it’d take us both over. The last buckle on my control burst and my fangs rushed free of my gums in a blinding rush. Suddenly I had my wolf’s fangs and the animal’s overwhelming desire for Sam’s blood.

I curled my lips, showing just what he was in for and the big, bad gel actually begged.

“Please.”

I struck, capturing his shoulder between my teeth and sinking them deeply into his flesh. His blood flowed over my tongue just as my orgasm rushed me. My nerves sang with my release, my wolf howling while my hellfire heated my skin. My blood was on fire with the sensations, screaming in joy.

Sam’s rough shout echoed my feelings and he trembled and shook, the joining stealing his body’s control.

were one now. Nothing would tear us apart. Nothing could tear us apart.

He was mine.

And I was his.

His muscles jerked and twitched, mine doing the same as our connection settled into place and slowly calmed. His breathing was heavy, his chest brushing mine and each caress had me trembling anew. I eased my fangs from his flesh, lapping at the skin until the rush of blood was completely gone. It was sweet and coppery, seductive and alluring to my wolf and the dark part of me wanted to bathe in the sensations.

Eventually I eased back, removing my mouth entirely, no longer connected by that meeting. His cock remained deep within me, continuing to stretch me with his continued hardness. I practically purred with that fact, anticipating another round of lovemaking.

I licked my lips as I met his gaze, capturing each snippet of blood that remained. It was too precious to waste and I wanted to savor every drop. I wasn’t sure when I’d get the chance to take again, so I’d enjoy what was given.

“That was,” he hummed. “Amazing.”

I nodded my agreement.

“Is your wolf happy?”

I nodded again. Speaking was overrated.

“Do you know what that means, then?”

I shook my head, struggling to follow his words.

“It means,” his muscles flexed and tensed as he leaned forward. “It’s my turn.”

Yes, please.