He was still connected and part of him never wanted to leave her body, wanted to remain right where he was, forever.
She still bore fur on the backs of her hands and on her chest, and he loved it.
He realized that the tightness he felt within his abdomen was his mating frequency. He was attached to Olivia in that way, just short of a true bond, as though his frequency didn’t want to let go of her either.
“I think we almost completed the bond.”
She blinked slowly, as though searching within her own body. “You’re mating frequency is surrounding mine and you’re right. We must have come close without even realizing it.”
He nodded. He should have said something like, ‘Well, thank the Goddess for that’, but he couldn’t be flippant, not right now.
He felt the need to say something, but words wouldn’t come. They were stuck somewhere, maybe in his past, maybe in his marriage to Emily.
“Olivia,” he began.
“Yes?” She was breathing better now. Color suffused her cheeks. She’d never looked more beautiful.
He leaned down and kissed her. Maybe if he couldn’t use his words, he could make do with his lips. He let his feelings rush forward as he pressed his lips to hers. When she opened for him, he slid his tongue inside and took possession of her mouth.
He wanted more. That’s what he knew. He wanted more but he didn’t know how to ask, how to shape his desire into words that would make sense.
She held him close, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, stroking his biceps and back, showing how much she loved his body.
Finally, he drew back. “This time with you has meant so much to me. You’ve been one of the biggest surprises of my life.”
She caressed his hair, still damp from the shower, then trailed her hand down the dagger tattoo. “I would say the same thing. I mean, I lusted for you all the time I ghosted you. But I never imagined it would be so exciting and unbelievably satisfying. I’ve never had sex like this before.”
He nodded. “Me, neither.”
“Really?”
He chuckled softly. “Only with you can I come more than once.” But did it mean anything?
She smiled. “It’s been a long, wonderful night.”
“You ready for sleep?”
“I am.”
Zane finally disengaged his mating vibration from around hers and at the same time withdrew from her well. He left the bed to bring her a washcloth to tuck between her legs. She thanked him sleepily, turned on her side, and closed her eyes. He was pretty sure she drifted off then and there.
He stayed where he was for a good long moment, staring at her lovely features, at the fur on her hands, both of which were tucked beneath her cheek.
Who was this woman?
He had her memories living inside his mind now, and he let them flow once more, a reliving of her life that took only a few seconds. What he felt above everything was the loneliness she’d endured, especially as a child.
He knew that recent events had changed her future forever, especially because she would now be connected with the shifter packs of his realm. She would enjoy a sense of community she’d never known before.
When he finally left her bedside, and hopped back in the shower, he took his time. His long hair was always a pain and right now he needed to work some damn crème rinse through to the ends.
He also needed to think, because he felt his mating frequency making even greater demands than ever. Rationally, he wasn’t ready to bring this woman permanently into his life. Yet other parts of him longed for her. Should he give in to those cravings?
Memories of his unhappy marriage still haunted him. He knew he was in large part responsible for what had happened between himself and Emily. But he was a man of commitment, and he’d been prepared to endure their almost constant quarreling for the sake of upholding his vows.
Then Emily had died.
And now Olivia shared his bed.