Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
He allowed his sometimes-bossy mate to push him down onto the couch. Fox paused long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss it aside before straddling his lap. Winter pulled him close, kissing across his chest and up to his neck while running his hands across his warm, sweaty back.
Fox huffed out a breathless laugh. “No nuzzling. You need this. Bite me, Winter.” A hand shoved into the thick tangle of Winter’s hair, trying to force him to the main artery in his neck. “Do it. Bite me.” But the command was soft and desperate this time.
Winter licked across the tender skin and Fox moaned, thrusting his hips forward to rub his hardening cock against Winter’s. He licked again slowly, dragging out the moment. Winter loved when his mate was needy like this, as if he were the only thing in the world Fox could ever want.
“Winter,” Fox whined. He sneaked one hand between them, pulling at the button and zipper of Winter’s jeans. Wicked man.
As Fox’s fingers brushed his cock, Winter sank his fangs in deep. Warm, liquid life gushed into his throat and Winter swallowed Fox down. Pain immediately receded and a different hunger rushed in. His mind and heart were happy to have Fox safe, but now his body needed to make its claim.
A low groan of pleasure rose from Fox’s lips as he stroked Winter with trembling fingers. Fox tasted wonderful, strengthening their bond even more, but Winter needed more than blood right now.
Lifting his mouth after just a couple of swallows, Winter licked across the wound, willing it to heal. Fox whimpered and tried to force his mouth back to his skin, but Winter wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he rolled them, pressing Fox into the cushions and covering Fox’s mouth with his own. His sweet mate didn’t seem to notice the taste of blood as they ripped at their clothes, shoving them out of the way.
All conscious thought stopped as they rutted against each other. Fingers bit into flesh and sweat eased the desperate slide. Fox’s broken pants and little cries of pleasure were balms for Winter’s ragged soul. He would never get enough of this man, never feel complete without the brush of Fox’s soul along his own.
His orgasm barreled down out of nowhere and Winter shouted, coming hard on Fox’s stomach. His lover followed close behind, blunt fingernails scoring his back as if he needed Winter even closer.
Winter nuzzled his face into the hollow of Fox’s neck again, kissing the still healing wound he’d created. “I love you.”
Fox’s arms tightened around him. “I love you too. I’m sorry I scared you. I should have known the explosion would wake you.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” Fox snapped. “You nearly walked out into the sun. What were you thinking? How would you have saved me if you were burned to a crisp?”
“I called Wyatt for help,” he mumbled against Fox’s throat. “It was just when I saw you…”
Fox sighed heavily. “Winter, look at me.”
He reluctantly lifted his head from Fox’s body to meet his worried gaze. “I’m sorry I’m so overprotective. You’re fragile.”
His mate’s expression cracked into a small smile. “Not that fragile. You need to remember that I want to be a vampire. I want to spend centuries with you. I just need a little more time as a human. Maybe a decade. And during that time, I’m going to be extremely careful so that we can have our centuries together.”
“I know. I panicked.” Winter turned his head to kiss the center of Fox’s palm where it had been resting against his cheek. When he met Fox’s eyes again, the worry was still there, creating a churning of guilt in Winter’s stomach.
“I love you more than magic, Winter Varik. If my staying human even for a decade is going to leave you existing on the edge of panic, change me now.”
Winter lurched backward, rising to his knees to stare speechless at his lover. Fox had finally uttered the three words he’d been longing to hear since he’d realized Fox was his mate. He’d been dying a little every day in this torturous wait to make Fox a vampire, to make him more resilient and stronger.
But not like this. Fox was a witch. He’d been waiting his entire life to learn magic, and he had one of the best teachers in the world. He deserved to have this time. Winter could wait ten years.
“No,” he said firmly, inwardly proud that he didn’t choke on the word.
“What?” Fox shoved into a sitting position, his hand wrapping around Winter’s biceps. “I thought—”
“I can wait. I trust you to be careful with your life.”
Fox smiled brilliantly up at him. Winter’s personal shining sun. “My life belongs to you.”
“And I want that life filled with the happiness that comes from doing magic. Stay human a while longer, my perfect mate.” He brought his lips down for a kiss to the tip of Fox’s nose. “When the time is right, I’ll be there waiting for you.”