When he set her down on her feet, one arm wrapped around her, holding her upright, he waited until she lifted her chin from her chest and looked into his face. He saw the rosy blush across her skin, and the glassy look in her eyes.

Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

He let go of her chin and deepened the kiss, eating her sighs straight from her lips. “It’s not enough,” he whispered against her mouth, turning to place kisses along her jaw, “I need more.”

“I don’t think I can move right now.” He heard the languid laughter in her tone, but he also felt the truth. If it wasn’t for his arm around her, Maggie would have a hard time standing on her own.

“I like knowing that I can make you weak in the knees.”

Her hand splayed against his back, fingertips digging into his skin. “You make me weak all over.”

He could feel his laughter vibrating through both of them, itching along his skin. And where his hands caressed her, it felt like they were magnetic, attracted to each other. His palms moved around her back and then down over her hips. “I’ll bet your thighs are pretty strong.”

“Not at the moment.”

“Then maybe we take this somewhere you can rest,” he felt her disappointment in the way she leaned against him, the downturn of her expression, but he knew how to change her mood. “Trust me?”

Her eyes met his and her smile warmed him even as the water beading on his skin chilled him. “Absolutely.”

“We need to get these wet clothes off you.”

“Okay,” she stood still and gave him a wistful smile, humming softly as if she was still enjoying the rush of pleasure through her veins. “Can you help me?”

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

His fingers worked at the back hook of her bra and when it popped open she sighed. The sound was enough to make his already hard erection painfully stiff. He tugged the strap down and watched as she pushed her shoulders forward, so he could easily slip the bra from her arms.

“Just drop it on the floor,” she moaned as his arm brushed up against the side of her breast, “I’ll pick it up later.”

“Whatever you want, Maggie.” He loved to hear her breathy commands. It made his jaguar purr inside of him.

Kiss ass.

If you make her happy, she’ll make us happy, it growled right back at him.

He could have said something back, but he was too busy getting down on his knees before her, the cool tile under his knees had the barest sheen of water.

“Cage, wait.”

“Wait for what?” He smoothed his hands from her knees and up her thighs, feeling her quiver at his touch.

“I don’t think-”

“Then don’t,” he leaned forward and pressed a kiss over her wet cotton panties. “Don’t think, baby, let me do this for you-”

“No, no,” she reached her hands down and one of them managed to find the top of his head even with her eyes closed and her head tipped back. “I can’t keep this up.”

He felt a cold wave wash over him and his hands stilled on her legs. “What’s wrong, Maggie? Tell me.”

“Noth- nothing,” she swallowed in a breath, “I just can’t.”

He stood, his hands gently reaching for her waist to hold her safely on her feet. He could still feel how off balance she felt. “Then tell me what to do.”

“If you,” she swallowed and swept her tongue over her bottom lip, “if you put your mouth… down there…” Her hand swept up from his elbow and around the back of his arm, “I’ll be done.”

“Done?” He could feel her distress. “How?”

Her other hand took the same path on his other arm and she turned her face away from him, keeping him at a distance. “I don’t,” she began, “no, I can’t…” She bit into her lower lip so hard he was sure she’d break the skin. “I won’t be able to come again after and I want,” she shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what was happening, “I need you inside me.”

“Maggie,” she didn’t move, “look at me.”

Her shoulders slumped just the littlest bit when she managed to meet his eyes.

“Hearing how much you want me, will never… never be a problem. Thinking that I would leave you wanting? That is.”

“But I-”

He seized her lips in a kiss, fierce and demanding. Leaving her breathless when he leaned back. “Trust me, Maggie. Let me show you what you were meant to feel.”

He saw the emotions moving across her face. He felt the trembling of her body under his hands. Cage hoped that she felt how much he wanted her. He wanted her to know everything that was locked away inside of him, but if he didn’t manage to get inside of his mate soon, he was sure he was going to lose his mind.

“Cage?”

His eyes slid closed. The sound of his name on her tongue had him so hard and hungry that he growled out his reply. “Yes?”

“I need you,” she sighed, and he felt heat roll through her body, “now. Take me now.”

He wasn’t going to wait any longer, not when he could scent how much she needed him. Opening his eyes, he fixed them on her face. And knew he needed her like his next breath.

So, he stole it from her lips.

His mouth slanted over hers as he gripped the sides of her panties and pulled. The wet fabric clung to her hips and then her thighs, but once he had them around her knees he let them fall to the floor at her feet.

“Come with me, Maggie.”

She reached for him and he lifted her into his arms, holding her against his chest as he stepped out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. He didn’t care if the covers were on. It wouldn’t matter to him. The only thing that’s going to be on top of Maggie was him.

Get to it.

He shoved his jaguar away as if he’d pushed his palm into the beast’s face. Wait your turn.

Slacker.

She lay still on the bed, her eyes fixed on him, her breaths coming in pants from her lips.

“Breathe slower, sweets. You’re going to hyperventilate.”

Maggie reached out her hand and he crawled onto the bed at her feet. He flattened his palms on the inside of her ankles and smoothed them up toward her knees.

He watched, and her skin broke out in goose-flesh and his mouth started to water.

Goose is juicy.

Shut up, cat.

But then he was following his hands with his mouth, tasting her flesh with the flat of his tongue. She quivered with each stroke, tensed and tightened with each sweep.

“Cage…” He heard the plea in her voice. Felt the need clenching her fists into the sheets. “Oh, Cage.” She moaned as fingers reached the tops of her thighs, spreading her legs wide open on her bed.

The scent drove him wild. She wanted him. Needed him from the inside out, and damn if he wasn’t ready to make her scream. She glistened like dew. He leaned forward for a drink and placed an open-mouthed kiss against her folds.

Like a trap, her thighs started to close, but he held them open and this time swept his tongue in and savored a taste of her slick heat.

She sobbed, and his eyes looked over the soft curve of her belly, between her luscious breasts, and saw the pained twist of her features.

“Maggie?” When she didn’t immediately respond, he braced an elbow under him and lifted to meet her eyes. “What is it?”

“I want this so much,” he saw the open need in her eyes, but he also felt her words sinking into his heart, “but I’m not sure I understand about everything…”

He saw the hesitation in her face. Felt the tremor of worry through her body. “You’re my mate. How I didn’t know it before...”

His cat took a swipe at him and he didn’t argue. He’d been a fool.

“But you know it now,” she crooked her finger and he gladly crawled up closer until he sat between her open legs, “and even though I’m dying for you, I’m not sure about this… being forever. If my mom and dad are anything to go by, I’d be crap at making you happy.”

He’d never known her mother, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to track the woman down and give her hell for hurting her daughter. “All I need is to take care of you, make sure you’re safe, happy. That’s all I want.”

* * *

She heard the words. Saw the earnest look in his eyes. Everything in her gut told her that he was telling her the truth, and yet she couldn’t believe it.

“Can you be with me without… the mark? Is that even-”

“Possible?” His lips curled into a predatory smile, nearly a snarl beneath his eyes that bled dark like the night. “I’ll take whatever you’ll give me, Maggie. I’ll take seconds if that’s what you’re willing to share. I just hope one day you’ll understand how much you mean to me and you’ll accept what I’m telling you.” He shook his head. “I had given up finding my mate until you walked back into my life.”

She fought the hope inside of her. It would only be so easy to believe what he was saying, but she could barely trust herself some days. What if she ruined his life because she couldn’t find the courage to give herself to him?

Maggie grit her teeth and asked him. “What if I never get there? What if I don’t want to be tied to you forever?” Her heart raged against her as if it was a living thing. It wanted to shake her, hard.

She could hear her mind arguing with her. She’d loved him her entire adult life and even before that, but still she wouldn’t give in.

The same stubborn streak had gotten her in trouble as a teen and then kept her alive through detox and rehab, and now, she couldn’t decide if it was trying to save her life or ruin it.

Either way, she knew she’d made a decision.

“I want you, Cage. Of that I’m dead certain.”

“Then have me. I’ll give you whatever you want. If that’s just sex for now, then I’ll give that to you.” She saw his eyes travel over her body and strangely, she didn’t feel all that self-conscious. He said he loved her curves and seeing the look of lust in his eyes, she knew he’d told the truth.

Again.

And just like that, her eyes raking over his naked body kneeling between her legs, the fire reignited, roaring through her blood.

“Then make me scream, Cage. Show me you know how to make me come.”

He nodded, a kind of grim determination on his face. “Do you have-”

“In the drawer,” her eyes darted to the table beside her bed, “it’s not like you had someplace to hold them.” A little bit of sarcastic humor and she felt her self-confidence begin to rebound.

He didn’t question her. He didn’t ask to go without. No, Cage Gamble leaned over and pulled open her top drawer and looked inside.

“There’s nearly a dozen in there.”

She shrugged and reached out her hand. “Can you blame me for being a little over-prepared?”

He dangled a blue foil packet from his fingertips. “I like the way you think.” Taking a hold of his shaft with his left hand, Cage slid his hand up to the tip and then slowly reversed the action, and she watched the long shaft of his cock twitch in his hand. Tearing open the packet he rolled the condom on with one hand while the other kept a hold of the base of his erection.

Maggie felt something in her throat, and when Cage met her eyes she knew what it was.

A moan.

That he heard. It was written in the smug smile on his face. Leaning over her, he tucked his hands under her and drew her closer, her thighs spreading wider with the motion.

She saw him look down at her, his eyes moving over her in a caress.

“Look later,” she egged him on, “much later.” She saw the thick rise of his erection curving toward his taut belly. “I need you.”

The smile that graced his lips made her flesh ache and tighten all over her body. Like that moment right before diving into deep water roiling with foam, she sucked in a breath.

“I want to see.”

His smile deepened, and he rose up higher on his knees, moving one hand under the small of her back, he used the other to place the tip of his erection against her folds.

Tears gathered in her eyes as he pressed forward, and the wide head of his cock pushed just beyond her opening.

“Oh,” it was a shock, a surprise that took her breath away. Barely inside of her, she was already full, working to relax so that she could accommodate his size.

He leaned closer and another inch slid deeper into her body and she sighed, reaching out toward him.

“More, Maggie?”

She nodded, and he pushed deeper, his free hand brush over her stomach. Another inch and his hand moved up to her breast.

She wanted to close her eyes and be lost in the sensation, but she wanted to watch him more.

Wanted to see his eyes glitter like gems as he leaned over her. Wanted to see the beads of sweat on his skin, watch them collect and slide down his face, collect and spill from the stubble on his cheeks.

And when he sank his last long inch into her body, when he bottomed out in her heat, she felt the groan that rolled through him.

She felt the purr that came from somewhere deeper.

Maggie drew in a breath and when it passed back through her lips she heard the same purr from deep inside her soul. The surprise was likely written across her face, but before she could say a word, his lips were on hers, drinking her in.

His hand moved to the side of her face, holding her in place for his kiss, turning her head so that he could sweep his tongue in to tangle with hers. Once he’d found just the right angle, she felt his hand drift down over her neck and then down to her breast.

Cage swallowed her gasp as his finger closed over her nipple, pinching it ever so slightly so there was only a swift sting of pain before he released some of the pressure as he drew himself out of her. The next stroke of his hips he tightened his fingers around her nipple again, giving it the tiniest twist.

Her hands reached for him, finding every possible inch she could and holding nowhere. She was searching, exploring.

And with every sweep of his hips, every thrust into her body, she squeezed him tight with her fingers and the slick heat between her legs.

Maggie wanted to hold him close and yet, bring him deeper, hold him inside of her forever, but when he pulled out of her she knew that in the next moment, he’d be deep inside of her again and it made the loss bearable.

Until it became nearly impossible to breathe.

She sighed his name deep in her throat and he pulled away, looking down into her eyes.

“Are you there, Maggie? Are you up there in the air about to fall?”

She dug her fingers into his arms and chanced a glance down and saw him pushing into her body again and again.

“Oh, yes,” she moaned, “so close, so-”

Her head fell back on a cry and a tremor shook her to the core. It wasn’t what they were destined for, but it came close to pushing her over that edge.

“Harder, Cage. I need it harder.”

And he gave her what she needed.

“Look at me, Maggie. Fucking look at me.”

And she gave him what he needed. Her eyes on him. Wide and open like her body under him.

Another bead of sweat worked its way down over his temple and down to his jaw. He moved his free hand to the mattress by her hip and pushed harder into her body as if he was trying to climb inside of her.

She panted and begged him for more… for so much more… and he gave it to her and as she watched, that bead of sweat trembled on the edge of his jaw until she lost her battle to hold on.

It fell, traveling through the distance between them like quicksilver. When it landed on her skin, shattering into a thousand bits against the lush curve of her breast, she shattered too.

And took Cage with her.