Cordelia
Brenda, one of the shifters, frees me from my net. Harold and the police chief take over holding Frank, and Malcolm rushes to my side.
“Baby,” he whispers, looking at me, touching my face. “Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay.”
“I am now,” I tell him honestly. “You came for me, Malcolm. You saved me.”
“I will always save you,” he promises, and you know what? I believe him.
The next few hours are a blur of giving statements, taking pictures, and sharing information. I explain who Trish and Frank are, where they’re from, and that he’s a drug-dealer-turned-shifter-abductor. As it turns out, people in Perfection don’t take kindly to anyone hurting shifters, and the police chief assures me that both Trish and Frank will be going away for a long, long time.
And it’s all because of Malcolm.
It’s all because of my mate.
He noticed my lights weren’t on and was worried the power was out or that I was trapped in the rain, so he came to check on me. If he hadn’t, Trish and Frank would have gotten away with it. They would have taken me away and no one would have ever seen me again.
I have Malcolm to thank for saving my life.
And now that I’m safe, I’m finally, finally ready to give myself to him.
Completely.
Soon everyone is gone and it’s just me, Malcolm, and Harold.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done,” I tell Harold, and he hugs me.
“You’re like a daughter to me, child,” he says. “I will always be here for you.”
“That means the world to me,” I say, and it’s true. This is the first time I’ve ever felt like I’m part of something big, something huge, and I’ll never forget the way tonight feels. My entire life, I’ve felt like an outcast who has to hide her identity. Not anymore. No more hiding. I’m in a place now where it’s safe to be a shifter openly, and that’s an incredible feeling. Harold pats my shoulder, and then he turns to leave.
“You kids be good,” he says, stopping at the door. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he winks, and then he leaves. Malcolm closes the door behind Harold and locks it before coming back to me and wrapping me in his arms.
“I was so scared,” I murmur.
“I know, baby, but you don’t have to be scared anymore.”
“I’m not,” I tell him honestly. “Because you saved me. You didn’t even know just how much trouble I was in, and you went above and beyond to rescue me. The way you gathered the entire neighborhood? That was incredible. I can’t believe this is just a strong community that everyone just came as soon as we needed them.”
“Shifters look out for our own,” he tells me.
“I can see that.”
“Cordelia,” he says. “I love you. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know.” I’ve never told anyone I love them before. Not in a romantic way. I’ve been in relationships, sure, but I’ve always held a little part of myself back.
Not anymore, though.
I’m tired of holding back.
I’m ready to go all-in with Malcolm.
“I love you, too,” I tell him, and then I kiss him long and deep and wonderfully. My heart feels full in this moment. I feel joy and passion and excitement, and I feel a deep sense of satisfaction. This is where I’m supposed to be. I’m supposed to be here in Perfection, and I’m supposed to be here with Malcolm.
I run my hands up his chest. He got dressed again, but I suddenly feel like he’s wearing too many clothes, and I start to tug at his shirt.
“Cordelia?” He asks, raising an eyebrow. “It’s been a long day, honey. We don’t have to do anything.”
“I want to, Malcolm,” I whisper. “I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes flash yellow, though, and I know he’s hoping with everything he’s got that I tell him I’m ready, that I want this. He wants to hear me say that I want him and I’m more than ready to do that.
“Make love to me, Malcolm. I need you.”
Almost instantly, we’re naked. Our clothes are sprawled on the floor and he’s kissing me, touching me. He runs his hands up and down my sides before moving to cup my breasts.
“So perfect,” he murmurs. Then he drops to his knees in front of me and sucks on each nipple in turn. I grab his hair, pulling him closer to me, wanting more of this, of him. I need more. As he sucks and kisses my breasts, his fingers slide up my legs. Then he moves his hand between my legs, finding that special spot, and I groan.
This is how it’s supposed to be.
This is how I’m supposed to feel all of the time.
Like I’m fucking beautiful, like I’m gorgeous.
He is our mate.
I’m supposed to feel like my entire world is spinning and on fire and that Malcolm is right here to experience it with me.
We can feel this forever.
My swan whispers to me, and this time, I don’t fight her. This time, I accept the fact that she’s right, that she’s known all along. I accept that Malcolm and I are meant to be and that he’s not going anywhere.
He’s sticking with me through thick and thin and battles and wars.
No matter what I face in this life, he’s going to be with me.
And then he slides his fingers inside of me and my brain feels like it’s going to explode.
“Come for me, Cordelia,” he whispers, nipping at my breasts. “Come apart for me, baby. Let me feel you.”
“Malcolm…”
“That’s it, baby,” he murmurs, and then he flicks my clitoris, and my entire world feels like it’s exploding. The orgasm doesn’t just roll over me: it crashes, bringing me more pleasure than I’ve ever felt before in my life. Malcolm kisses my nipples the entire time, sliding his fingers in and out of me as I come a second time.
I grip his hair, holding him, needing him to anchor me in this moment.
And then it’s over, and he looks up at me with a smile.
“That was the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
“Well, get used to it, baby. I plan on making you feel this way every day.”
“Every day? I don’t know if I can handle that.”
Malcolm chuckles and gets to his feet, pulling me back into his arms. He kisses me, running his tongue over my lips and then nipping at me.
“Malcolm, I need you,” I whisper, reaching for his cock. He’s hard, and as I start to stroke him, he begins to get even harder. “Inside of me,” I tell him. “Now.”