42. Oz #2
“Bite me,” I command, rocking my hips hard against his. My cock slips from the suction of his skin, but he grabs both of us and strokes hard, gripping our bases tightly.
Wild surges forward and clamps his teeth at the spot where my neck and shoulder meet. Light and love flow into me, and my heart kicks again.
A golden thread spins in my mind’s eye, wrapping my heart up with Wild’s and then—
Pain and pleasure mix as bliss explodes through me. I bellow as I erupt, shooting seed all over him as the bond twists and forms in my chest. My body jerks until there’s nothing I can concentrate on except that pleasure.
And then he’s there, his heart thudding wildly.
Wait.
Thwomp.
Thwomp.
Thwomp.
Not his heart.
Mine.
“Mine,” I say aloud as I pant, realization flooding through me.
Wild pulls his teeth out of my shoulder and presses my hand over my heart, his on top of mine.
“Forever, baby. You’re mine forever.”
* * *
“Marcy! Prickly pear margarita or jalapeno?” I call out to Wild’s mama from the depths of the kitchen.
They arrived precisely fifteen minutes after that insane claiming. My neck still burns with the healing wound, but I honestly can’t wait for someone to notice.
She looks up from where she’s got her arm looped through Willa’s, their heads together as they whisper sweet nothings. Or whatever those crazy girls do.
“Prickly pear, sweetheart!”
Smiling, I whip up a prickly pear for her and a jalapeno for Willa. Sailing out the double back doors, I deliver the girls’ drinks on a mustang-shaped tray we found in the pantry. It was a mating gift from Artur and Emmet, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Marcy beams up at me. “You are the absolute best, Oz. Thank you, honey.” She takes the margarita and sips delicately at it.
She’s beautiful, totally stunning with dark hair and brilliant green eyes. I see some of her in both Willa and Wilder. Mostly it’s that sassy, can-do attitude she and Willa share.
Marcy moans at the flavor of the drink but flashes me a big smile. “Oz, honey, can we help in the kitchen please? I am truly not accustomed to—”
She’s interrupted by the sound of scales slithering up the wooden staircase from down below. Marcy stops talking, and Willa rises, cheeks flushing a darker green.
Kohdiy pauses at the top of the stairs, hood flaring behind his head. He rattles his tail softly, a sound I’ve come to learn is meant to be calming. I still find it wholly alarming, but Willa tells me it’s his way of saying hello.
Good thing, in a way, because he’s a male of very, very few words. It doesn’t seem to bother her in the slightest.
I smile at him. “Hey, friend. Can I get you a drink?”
He nods. “Water please, Oz.”
Willa looks at me. “Scratch that. Jalapeno marg, please, Oz.”
Kohdiy snorts out an irritated sound but slinks toward her, lips threatening to break into a smile.
Wild’s in front of the fridge, pulling out a tray of cheese and fruit. He grins at me, green eyes dropping to the claiming bite. He reaches up to where I bit him and rubs at it.
Heat shreds through me, and my knees buckle. Slapping a hand on the countertop, I hold back a groan as he grins.
“Oh yeah, baby, I’m gonna like being able to mess with you like that.”
“Mhm,” I manage, trying desperately not to come just from that little tease. Fuck, being connected like this? It’s intense in a way I never realized. I need to talk to Hadrian about this. Is this even normal?!
Wild’s on me in a second, pressing me up against the counter. His mouth comes to the bite, and he licks it.
A shudder wracks me, and my knees give fully out, but like always, he’s there to catch me, pinning me to the countertop with those big hips.
“Fuck,” I manage. Looking up, I smile wryly. “Maybe we shouldn’t have done that on a day when we had company, because all I want to do is go back to bed.”
He brushes his lips over mine. “Naw, baby. I love a good tease. And I’m gonna tease you all night until they leave.”
Boy oh boy. How did I ever get this lucky?
Wild pulls away long enough to grab the tray of cheese and fruit. He winks at me as he heads out on the back porch. Marcy and Willa cheer at the appearance of the snacks.
Running both hands through my hair, I loose a breath, trying to get my bearings before I rejoin them.
When I do, Marcy smiles up at me, her green eyes drifting to the bite on my neck. “I’m happy for you two, sweet boy.”
Willa gasps and leaps up, clapping her hands over the bite on Wild’s neck. “Wilds, oh my gods! Why didn’t you tell us immediately?! When did this happen?”
Kohdiy lets out a displeased-sounding noise like he hates her question. Maybe he thinks she’s just too nosy.
“Today,” he says proudly, smiling at me. “We did it today.” He lifts his hand to show them the ring. “This too.”
Marcy’s eyes fill with tears, and she stands, pulling me in for a hug. It’s so unexpected and lovely that I wrap my arms, wings, and tail all around her for the most gargoyle-y possible hug I can give.
“Another son,” she whispers into my ear. “I could not possibly be luckier.”
Tears fill my eyes at that too, because it's been a long time since I was anyone’s son. It’s been a long time since I wasn’t on my own. But now? I’ve got a whole entire family again, and it’s really fucking nice.
Dinner’s as joyful an affair as every time we get together with Wild’s family.
I’m sipping my third spicy margarita when Marcy grins at me.
“Oz, how’s it going with the spa? I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but I swear you two don’t rest on your laurels.” She beams at Wild, who smiles back.
“Mama, you know it’s my job to give Oz whatever he wants.” He flashes me a quick wink.
“And boy, do you know how to deliver, baby.” I wink back.
Marcy laughs and lifts her margarita. “For real, though, Oz. Tell me everything! Wild told me you got financing approved, but last I heard, you were working on plans to upfit one of the spaces downtown?” She looks between Wild and me. “Do I have that right?”
“Yeah!” It’s hard for me not to dive into an entire story on our upcoming plans with the space, but I want some of it to be a surprise once I unveil it. Mostly, I want to be the center of attention and command the Gulch Gossip front page for at least three to six weeks.
I jump up. “I can’t spill all my secrets, but I’ve got a cutesy little vision board. Let me grab it, and I’ll show ya.”
Wild snorts out a laugh. “Get ready, Mama. We are now a vision board household.”
I hear her whisper a question to Wild about what vision boards are, and it makes me laugh as I head back inside. The board’s back in our room, but when I round the corner to head there, I slide to a halt.
Kohdiy’s coils take up most of the hallway, and he’s got Willa pinned to the wall with a hand on her hip and the other holding her right arm above her head.
She spins and flushes, gasping when she sees me.
He doesn’t bother to look away. No, he’s staring intently at her, his rattle resting over her feet.
“Don’t mind me,” I chirp. “I was just going to grab something, but I can do it later!”
Spinning on my heel, I dash back toward the deck, only slowing at the door to the exterior. Wild looks up at me, both pale brows raising as he sips his margarita.
Marcy chuckles. “Wills disappear again?”
I shrug. “Haven’t seen her, but I couldn’t locate the vision board just now. I’ll show you later.” I wave a hand at Marcy’s near-empty glass. “You ready for another one?”
“Ozifer,” Wild says, his tone full of warning. “You coverin’ for my sister doin’ something she ought not to be doin’?”
“Absolutely not!” I scoff. “How dare you insinuate my involvement in any of Willa’s shenanigans. You’ve said it yourself, that girl does what she wants.”
Or who, I tack on mentally.
Marcy leans forward, lifting her glass. “Well then, shall we cheers to a monster who knows her mind, who’s fearless and kind, honest and beautiful inside and out?”
“Yes, I am.” I lift my glass to hers.
When Wild joins us, I beam at him.
“Love you, Wild or Wilder.”
“Mhm,” he says, and it may not be a giant declaration of love. That’s not Wild’s way. His love is quiet and understated. It’s in the way he brings me coffee every morning when I wake. The way he cooks every meal for me. It’s in the way he allows Ginger to sleep on his head without complaining.
This love is mine, and I feel so very, very lucky to finally have it.
THE END