IRIDA

The sigh that escapes me when Lykos molds his lips to mine is one of relief. The tension was starting to get to me. It's like the closer together we are the tension is heavier, until we touch. Then it disappears. I can barely hold back the moan that escapes me when he sweeps his tongue into my mouth and I scoot closer to him until I'm sitting on his lap with his hands on my waist. He slips one of his hands under my shirt, his fingers tracing up and down my spine. The feel of his skin on mine ignites a fire in me and I clench my thighs, forgetting they're wrapped around his torso and the growl that rumbles in his chest reverberates through out my body. My body has a mind of its own, my hips shifting of their own accord, drawing a loud groan from Lykos.

"You're playing with fire ???????? (little one)," he growls lowly against my lips, his other hand gripping my hip so hard I'm sure I'm going to have little marks tomorrow.

"You threatening me with a good time, big boy?" I tease him, surprised at the boldness that seems to take over me when I'm in precarious positions with him.

"I'm just don't want to rush you. I don't want to scare you away. Don't wanna lose you," he growls, the hand on his hip beginning to guide my movement, making me gasp at the feel of his thick hard length against my heat.

He covers my mouth with his, swallowing the next groan that climbs out my throat. He pulls away to pepper my neck in light kisses, sucking and licking at the spots that draw a reaction out of me, paying extra attention to them. I barely recognize the noises that tumble from my lips as I move my hips faster, seeking more friction. My hands slip under his shirt and run over his chest and his back, eager to feel his skin on mine and he purrs, loudly. As he licks and sucks on my curve of my neck I feel a sharpness there and I pull back to get a better look at him. He tried to dip his head to hide but I gently grab his jaw and tilt his face back up to see his fangs protruding.

"What's this about?" I mumble, tracing his lips with my thumb, brushing against his fangs and he darts his tongue out, licking my thumb and I bite back the moan that threatens to escape my lips.

"Uh, just something that happens when I'm extremely turned on and itching to mark my mate. Recent development," he answers quickly and I giggle.

"How does that work?" I ask, slipping my arms around his neck and resuming my little dance in his lap and he groans, screwing his eyes shut.

"Mating ritual. Shifters like me with more feral forms, we often mark our mates when we, uh, get together. It's a symbol that our mate is taken, it deepens the bond and serves as a promise of protection. Anyone who tries to mess with a marked mate knows they'll be found and taken care of," his voice goes from shy and awkward to feral as he speaks and I find myself even more turned on.

"By get together you mean consummating the bond, like sexually," I tease and he nods, his face going flush.

"We don't have to do anything though. I'm good with waiting," he says quickly and I giggle.

"So does that mean you feel an unbearable urge to mark me when your fangs come out?" I smile slyly at him, moving my hips slowly against him.

"Fuck yeah," he growls and I lean in to kiss him.

I slip my hands under his shirt, lifting it up and Lykos seems to follow my drift, taking it off swiftly before crashing his lips back into mine. I pull back to take off my shirt and Lykos's hand rests on mine.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He whispers, his voice husky and his eyes dark.

"Let's just take it one step at a time, or several. Relax, we'll take it slow enough," I answer with a smile and slide my shirt of my arms.

"Maybe we should go inside," he mumbles against my lips.

"I'm okay, really. No way to get cold with all the heat between us," I lick his plump lower lip teasingly and he purrs softly.

My hands roam across his muscular back and chest before settling on his shoulders, holding on for dear life. His hands trace my back and I arch into him, sliding my heat back and forth on his hard length. Every little noise that crawls through my throat slips into my mate's mouth as he brands me with his. I move my hips faster and his fingers find the clasp of my bra, pausing there as if asking for permission. I simply nod and press tighter against him. That's l the permission he needs before he makes quick work of it, sliding the straps off my shoulders.

"So fucking beautiful," he growls as he pulls back a little to look at me and my nipples pebble.

Suddenly his huge hand covers one of my breasts, kneading softly as if testing the weight on his hand before flicking my nipple with his thumb and the sensation shoots straight to my core. I throw my head back, pressing myself onto him, seeking more friction as my jaw goes slack. Lykos takes that as an invitation to suck one taut nipple into his mouth. My fingers weave into his curls and my moans of pleasure slip into the night sky above me. Just as my core's pulse grows stronger, Lykos presses my chest to his with one hand and grips my ass with his other.

"Hold it for me ???????? (little one)," Lykos growls.

He kisses me passionately as my movements become more erratic, his growls and purrs mixing with my moans and sighs of pleasure. Lykos stands quickly and effortlessly without loosening his grip on me, drawing a surprised gasp from me. My hands tighten around his shoulders just as my legs tighten around his waist and his other hand drops to my ass, kneading and pressing me against him even tighter. The moment he thrusts against my heat, pressing into me as he moves me back and forth on his covered length I see stars behind my eyelids. His lips trail down, settling at the curve of my neck, licking, nipping and sucking there.

"Do it, Lykos. Mark me," I moan in a voice that's unrecognizable to my ears and he growls loudly. "Do it, baby. I want you to," I whisper as I sense his internal conflict.

His hips thrust against mine faster, hitting all the right spots and suddenly I'm racing towards the edge of my climax. Just as my legs start to shake and my core starts to clench I feel the pinch of his fangs sinking into my neck. My orgasm barrels through me, rocking me so hard all I can do is bite his shoulder and scream into it.

A second later I feel Lykos's thick length pulse and jerk as he cums with a loud growl that's muffled by my skin, his teeth still lodged in my neck, his tongue licking around them. It takes several minutes for us both to ride our orgasms out as the bond between us deepens, an invisible cord coiling tighter around us, binding us together. I can feel his emotions and sense his thoughts much clearer. He slowly pulls his fangs out and licks at his mark making my body shake at the force of the sensations that zap through my body.

"Fucking perfect!" His voice echoes in my head except it sounds rougher and I pull back to look at his face.

"Did you just-" I start before he cuts me off.

"I'm guessing you heard that, that's Aniketos, my wolf," his usual husky voice rings in my head again.

"So you can hear my thoughts?" I send towards him, testing to see if he'll hear me.

"Kind of. I can hear you through the link if you communicate with me and vice versa as long as we're not too far apart since the mate bond is still incomplete," he explains and I nod.

"Pretty cool," I giggle and I feel a warmth spread through my chest and I just know that's him.

"Come on, we're going inside," he says through the link as he bends, taking our clothes and his duffle in his hand without letting me go before he stands up again and heads into the penthouse.

"I need to shower and change," I say, making a move to climb down but he tightens his grip on me and opens his duffle, grabbing some clothes and walking me to my bedroom.

"I need one too. Don't worry, I'll be very respectful," he says as he finally lets me go once we're in the middle of the room.

I pick out a change of clothes and two towels only to find him in the shower with the water already on. I bite my lip to hide my smile. I quickly dispose of my dirty clothes and his into the laundry basket before I step into the glass door, closing it behind me. My blood runs hot and I clench my thighs at the sight of Lykos's sculpted body absolutely naked with water dripping down his skin. He must feel my reaction because he turns to me, his eyes darkening as they drink me in before landing on my thighs and he growls, wrapping a strong arm around my waist and pulling me to him.

The feelings I sense raging inside Lykos only serve to fuel my arousal as mine do the same to him. He kisses me passionately before taking a step back and grabbing the soap and the wash cloth. Once the wash cloth is generously lathered up with soap Lykos holds me in place as he runs it all over my body, through every bump and dip to the very soles of my feet. He traces my magical tattoos in awe as he cleans me up.

When I try to do the same for him he simply shakes his head and mumbles something about tonight being about me. When he's done lathering himself up he rinses the washcloth and steps into the water, pulling me into him. His hands generously and attentively roam over my skin as he rinses the soap from it, lingering on my breasts and the spot between my thighs.

"I need to taste you ?????????? (darling). Can I?" He mumbles against my lips while his fingers tease my nipples lightly.

"Mmh yes please," I moan at his ministrations and anticipation.

Lykos sinks to his knees, his mouth peppering kisses on my skin on his way down until he gets to my lower abdomen. He lifts my leg over his shoulder, grabbing me tight against him. He blows lightly on my wetness then traces his tongue through my folds before he dives in like a starved man. The movement of his shoulder draws my attention and I look down to find him stroking his hard length with his free hand. The sight sends a jolt right to my aching core and I moan out loud. He devours me fervently until I explode into his mouth and by the growls muffled by my slick folds, I can tell he's found his release. Once he's licked me clean he rinses both of us before turning the water off.

I put on a pair of shorts and a tank top stop at the mirror in my bedroom with Lykos right behind me. My eyes land on the curve of my neck and instead of bite marks I find two circles, one golden and one silver, with the head of a wolf, a lion, a dragon and a flame in a shimmering purple and blue color inside the circles. The mark rests slightly higher than where Lykos bit me. When my fingers graze the mark my skin erupts in tingles but when Lykos's fingers graze over it electric sparks burst through my body and my body automatically shivers and leans into Lykos.

"You like it?" Lykos's voice is a quiet whisper in my ear.

"Yeah. Did you get one?" I ask as I look at him through the mirror.

Lykos simply shifts me to the side a little to reveal a shimmering mark on the curve of his neck. Two circles, one blue and one a silver grey inside the blue one. Within the circle are symbols that represent the five elements and a seven pointed star in the middle. I find myself both entranced at its intricate beauty and proud that he has my mark on him.

"That's beautiful," I whisper turning to him and running my fingers lightly over the mark, causing his body to jolt against me and a loud purr to rumble from his chest.

"I-is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?" He asks, his face flushed with embarrassment and I can feel his strong need to be close to me coming off him in waves.

"Of course, come on," I take his hand and walk towards the bed.

Lykos wraps an arm around me and pulls my body flush against his. I feel a wave of comfort wash over me and a warmth bloom in my chest. I turn the lights off with a wave of my hand and snuggle deeper into Lykos's warm embrace and a satisfied sigh escapes my lips.

"I'm glad you came back," I whisper into the darkness and for a moment I almost think he hasn't heard me until I feel his heart pounding wildly.

"Always, my ?????? (heart)," his husky voice echoes in my ear evoking shivers from my body, causing his arm to tighten around my waist.

It doesn't take long for me to fall into a deep peaceful sleep, surrounded by my mate's warmth.