After returning from Rain’s parents’ house, it had been late, and Quinn was stuffed full of a huge meal of enchiladas and rice. She had thanked Ruth for cooking, and she laughed when she said those were Cash’s freezer meals they’d broken out for the occasion. Regardless, it was delicious and it helped Quinn lock in the memory of the evening. In her mind it would always be her first Thanksgiving with the family.

She was thankful there were people like them in the world. People who were kind, welcoming, and loving. She was thankful that she had new friends in Cassie and Allison, and couldn’t wait to meet more of the family. Mostly, she was thankful for the man that no matter where she was in the room, had his eyes on her.

Rain touched her often just to reestablish their connection and let her know she wasn’t alone. He would lean over and tell her how gorgeous she was, making her blush. The man that had told her more times in one day that he loved her than she had heard in her entire life.

They were lying on the futon in the spare room, still fully clothed, talking about the family. Rain kept laughing as he told her what he talked about with his brothers and dad. He liked being home, she could tell.

“So, big question,” he said. “What did you think of them?”

Quinn gave a little laugh. “You know I was the one being interviewed, right?”

“Nope, the Fates picked you. It was everyone else that had to impress,” he explained.

There it was, that absolute certainty that she was perfect for him.

“I loved them, Rain. They were amazing and I already feel like I have new friends. I’ve never been so relaxed around new people. I was comfortable, and I’m never comfortable around people I don’t know.”

“That’s good, baby. It makes me happy that you are feeling at home.”

“I am feeling at home, that’s what’s so weird. I’ve never felt at home anywhere. But here, I feel like I could live outside and still be safe.”

“That’s because outside is full of my relatives, and you smell like me. There’s no safer place in the world that you could be,” he said gruffly.

He was right. She was safe. Safe to be whoever she wanted to be in her life. Safe to make decisions that were scary and uncertain, knowing she had a family to support her. Most importantly, she was safe to love a man without any concern that their love might end.

That kind of safety was a gift that should be grabbed with both hands and held tight.

“Rain?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Take me to the Four Seasons?”

“You want to go home?” he asked leaning up to look at her.

“No, that’s not home. The dorm isn’t either. I’ve never thought of Yakima as home. But here, this feels like home. This is where I want to come back to when I get homesick. But the hotel? That’s where we were together for the first time. I want it to be the place we make us permanent. Bonded.”

Rain looked down at her, his expression hard. His hand came up to cup her face. “You’re sure? We can wait.”

“Wait for what? I love you and you love me. Waiting is for other people’s rules. I’m making my own rules, our own rules from now on. I want to be with you, I want to spend every day of my forever with you.”

He growled wordlessly, leaning his head against hers. His mouth moved to hers and he kissed her hard.

“And,” she started to whisper when he broke the kiss, “I don’t want to have to be quiet.”

Rain’s growl vibrated through the room and she couldn’t help but giggle. Cassie was right, that was fun.

* * *

Never in the history of getting some, and Quinn assumed there was some kind of record book kept, has a man managed to pack, notify appropriate family members of departure, and drive three plus hours to get a woman to a hotel room.

She knew that she shouldn’t laugh, but the intensity of Rain’s focus was amusing . Every time he paused to look at her, that yellow glow was in his eyes. This time the glow was almost pulsing, like it was matching his heartbeat.

The drive back to Seattle should have had Quinn falling asleep, but she was too excited and nervous to close her eyes. When they hit Olympia, Rain called the hotel and checked them in, requesting that the key be waiting at the front desk. Being a Rochon, they didn’t hesitate to jump at his request.

Quinn wasn’t sure if she should talk and alleviate some of the tension. But every time she looked at Rain his jaw was clenched and she could see the glow emanating from the side of his eyes. His bear was in full effect.

Using the drive to her best advantage, and being ever practical, Quinn thought through her decision over and over. Luckily for her she got the same answer every time. She loved Rain and wanted to be with him. She had no more doubts.

When they reached the Four Seasons, the car came to a screeching halt in the valet area. Rain popped the trunk and at least this time they had luggage. It was a little easier to conceal their purposes when there were props involved.

Rain tossed the keys to the valet and grabbed the ticket from the man standing at the podium. He looked at the bellhop who was putting their two measly bags on a cart and said, “Hold until I call.”

The man was dignified and nodded. Quinn blushed to the roots of her hair. If that wasn’t code for “we’ll be fucking” she didn’t know what was.

Rain grabbed her hand and she had to trot to keep up with him. The clerk behind the desk recognized Rain somehow and held up a key card. Barely pausing, Rain grabbed it with a nod and took them straight to the elevator.

He seemed stiff, and to an untrained eye he might have looked angry, but Quinn didn’t feel any anger coming off of him. No, it was pure sexual desire, and it was pouring out of him. She’d been in a constant state of readiness since they had gotten in the car. She knew that Rain could smell her because there was no doubt that her panties were damp. She’d resisted the urge to rub her breasts in the car because she didn’t want to distract him and die in a fiery car crash.

Now, standing in the elevator, Quinn could almost feel Rain touching her even though he was standing facing the doors, that muscle in his jaw still flexing.

The silver doors slid open and they fast marched down the hall. They were heading to the same room they had before and Quinn loved that he was being romantic. Not that he wasn’t usually, but the raw heat coming off him wasn’t so much about romance as it was about claiming.

Rain had the key in the slot and the door open in a flash and in an instant, Quinn found herself pressed against the back of the room door, her hands pinned above her head and the only light in the room was coming from Rain’s eyes.

“Oh, boy.”

* * *

Rain was trying, seriously trying to slow down. From the moment she had said yes, even though he couldn’t really recall her exact words, he’d heard nothing but the incessant pounding of his bear in his mind.

The animal wanted out, but more so he wanted his mate. He drove fast but carefully, his goal to get her safely in this room. Now that he had her, he needed a moment. If he didn’t, he’d have his cock and his fangs sunk into her in the next minute.

“Rain?”

“Shh, one second,” he begged.

As Quinn waited his eyes dropped down and saw her breasts lifting with each panting breath she was taking. He had smelled her readiness the entire trip. She was wet and ready for him and it had taken hours to get to Seattle. He could have stopped somewhere else, but it was too important, too meaningful to not make this moment together everything it could be.

“Quinn?”

“Yeah?”

“You know I love you.”

“I do, Rain. I really know it because I feel it,” she said.

“I don’t want to scare you. I know I’m being a little… aggressive.”

Quinn giggled and he looked up at her. “Rain, did you ever stop to think I might like it?”

He frowned. “No.”

Her laugh this time was husky. “Well, think again. I want you, Rain. All of you. I want you to make me yours. Show me what it means to be your one and only.”

Rain let out a growl that he was sure the neighbors heard and he didn’t give a fuck.

He kissed her then. Hard and fast, pressing their bodies together and heard her moan. Lifting her into his arms, he strode to the bed, never breaking their kiss. Their mouths fought for control and luckily, no one ever won.

Moving on autopilot, Rain made sure to pet and kiss every part of her as he removed her clothing. There would be time later to savor the smoothness of her skin, the scent of her. Right now he had limited control and was going to make sure his mate was in the throes of ecstasy when he made her his.

Taking just a moment, he stripped out of his clothes and couldn’t help but moan as he released his cock from his jeans.

“Is that for me?” she teased, licking her lips.

“Not now, I wouldn’t be able to last. You know good and well I could smell your pussy the entire time,” he said crawling over her.

“Did you? I had no idea,” she teased.

“Liar. My cock has been hard for four hours. I should be seeking professional help by now.”

“I’ll help you. What can I do?” Her voice was seductive and it had his balls clenching. His bear didn’t like all the talking and was mad they weren’t already bonded.

“You can lay there and let me make you feel good. You can come screaming and shouting my name. You can tell me that you love me as I make you mine.” It was a request, but he formed it like a demand.

“I can do that,” she purred.

Rain slid between her legs and didn’t hesitate to seal his mouth over her hot pussy. She gasped and grabbed his hair, her fingers scratching his scalp. He wasn’t sweet or gentle. He ate her like he was starving. Quinn was bucking her hips against his mouth and locked her knees to his head when he scraped his teeth over her clit.

“I can’t hold on, Rain,” she cried.

“Not yet,” he ordered.

Quinn panted and writhed under his mouth. Rain could feel how close she was to the edge and needed her just dangling, just about to fall. He didn’t want to hurt her and it was going to kill him to do it. Anything he could do to lessen it was worth the extra time.

Sliding up her body he resisted her sad cry that he wasn’t going to make her come that way. He kissed her, sweeping his tongue into her mouth. “Taste that? That’s you, and you’re fucking delicious. Tell me who you are, Quinn.”

“I’m yours, Rain. All yours. Forever,” she panted. Her eyes were staring into his soul and he could see hers shining back. Not her animal, but the center of her that was meant for him.

Pushing his cock against her opening, he slid in just far enough to make her gasp, holding back for the right moment. “And I’m yours, forever. You are my love and my life, Quinn.”

Rain watched her eyes relax at his words. She believed him, and more importantly, he could see she believed that she was lovable and worth it. She believed in herself.

Pushing forward Rain seated himself deep inside her and started thrusting. He set up a pace that was fast and forceful. Quinn wrapped all her limbs around him as she met each thrust. It didn’t take long and Rain felt her pussy start to tighten around his cock. He was ready and was right there with her. As her moans turned into a keening scream, Rain sunk his fangs into the soft flesh where her neck met her shoulder.

The hot rush of her blood into his mouth was the most blissful sensation he’d ever felt. His cock was jetting his cum inside her as her blood rushed through his body. Rain’s DNA was mixing with her blood, changing her forever. Sealing them together forever.

Rain kissed and sucked at the mark as Quinn’s nails continued to score his back as her pussy milked him of every drop of his seed.

Their climax was slow to wane, with both of them panting and gasping for air. Muscles were twitching and hearts were pounding, though now they were beating as one.

* * *

Quinn’s mind was a torrent of thoughts. She’d done it. She’d chosen him and he had chosen her. He’d also bit her which hurt for a millisecond then made her come like a locomotive. It was painful and hot and made her entire body burn with a pleasure like she’d never felt before. It was a whole body, whole soul orgasm that made her want more. She didn’t know if she could feel that again, but knew she’d spend a lifetime searching for it.

Her heart was pounding; and she could feel it all the way to her toes. But deep inside her she felt like it was Rain’s heartbeat too. Like they were now synched together.

“I love you, Rain Rochon,” she whispered in his ear. It was easier to say now. The words were soft and light in her mouth. It was easy to speak the truth when it came with no doubt.

“I love you, Quinn. You’re mine and I’m yours. Our life, our future, our rules.” He was kissing her face, her neck, licking at her wound. The bear in his eyes was promising the same thing that the man was pledging.

“Our love, our rules,” she promised back.

Theirs was not going to be a relationship many understood. They would always raise eyebrows, they would always raise questions, but Quinn knew that their path was only going to be made by them.