Licking her lips, Vivienne moaned. His claw lightly caressed her smooth belly before the paw pads disappeared completely, and his rough hand cupped her sex. She cried out, leaning her head back and trying to pry her hands from his. He didn’t budge. Instead, he simply rubbed his hand over her hot, aching slit.
Don’t tease me, Conall, she begged. I don’t want to be teased.
“What do you want, alainn?” he asked in a gravelly voice.
Vivienne squeeze her thighs together, hissing when his finger dragged slightly over her clit.
I want you inside of me. She moaned as his finger slipped into her tight opening, and worked her hips against it. I want your cock—not your finger.
She’d barely gotten out the last piece of her sentence before he slid his finger from her body and spun her spun around. As her cheek kissed the wall, she pushed her ass back, and waited.
Vivienne didn’t have to wait long. He unbuttoned his pants and unzipped his fly, freeing his erection, before lining it up with her slick heat, and pushing home.
They both cried out, especially when his hands went under her belly to pull more of her onto his cock. With one hand under her belly and one against the wall, Conall began to move. His thrusts were quick and powerful, hard jabs that shook Vivienne to the core as her fingers gripped his hips and took them. She even spread her legs wider, wanting more.
“Yes. Oh yes. I missed you, Conall. Ah!”
He nuzzled her neck, and she turned her face slightly, groaning when he captured her lips.
“Don’t—ever—leave—me—again.” He punctuated each word with a thrust of his hips, and Vivienne found herself confused before understanding settled in. He was talking about the way she’d left to meet Cronin, which she recognized in hindsight was a stupid idea. She’d been terrified, and her judgment drastically clouded.
She nodded.
“No, not like that—”
“Ever, alainn,” Conall reiterated. He ran his tongue down the side of her neck and she shivered. She would have collapsed but for his hand holding her up. “I will know where you are, always.”
Even as she moaned in pleasure, Vivienne managed to gasp out, “You’re overreacting.”
He nipped at her neck, and she whined softly. His nip was followed by a soothing lick, before he pulled from her body and turned her to face him.
Without a word, he picked her up. Vivienne held his gaze as she wrapped her legs about him. He thrust into her. Moaning in pleasure as he growled, she wrapped her arms about his neck and focused on his handsome face. He was so beautiful, even with him looking feral from the exertion.
Don’t leave me again, alainn, Conall whispered directly into her mind. I went half mad when I couldn’t find you, Vivienne.
I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.
Don’t do it again.
I won’t. I promise.
He kissed her, and she returned it, moaning as his canines nipped at her lip. His lower body began to move once more, and Vivienne clung to him, holding on as he sent her over one peak, then another. Coming down from her second, she said breathlessly, “I love you.”
Conall held steady for long moments before he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you.” He pushed his hips forward once more and she felt the swollen base of his sex push against her. He reared back again and thrust again, this time a bit harder. The base slipped inside her body, creating a feeling of close-to-bursting fullness. She welcomed it. “You are my other-half, alainn, the air I breathe. If anything were to happen to you, Vivienne….”
“Nothing will happen to me,” she replied confidently. “Love me, Conall.”
He did just that, pushing them both to the peak.
“Are we still going to do the mating ceremony on Sunday?” she asked softly, tightening her arms and legs about his body.
Conall chuckled at the anticipation and slight fear in her voice. “Barring a natural disaster, you will take me as your mate on Sunday.”
“I will take you?” Vivienne asked curiously. Reverting to her only knowledge of a similar ceremony—marriage—she queried, “Won’t you take me as well?”
The grin he passed her was nothing short of wicked. His brows lifted, and his lip curled up at one side. “Yes, and yes. Don’t worry, alainn. You will see firsthand.”
***
When Vivienne returned to Cedar Creek, she felt…accepted. She and Conall had been back for only a few hours before people began showing up. Zahira, Verity, and Latriel, she’d expected. The Elders had been her champions since her arrival. However, she had been surprised when some of the women who’d avoided her like the bubonic plague showed up with fruit-baskets, meats, baked goods—anything, really. Gifts. For her. When they first had arrived, she’d smiled and said she’d give it to Conall when he got back. The women been clear: it was for her, not their alpha.