Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
SKYLAR
The second Riann opens the door to her bedroom, I snatch her into my arms and refuse to let go.
I've been holding back since she took my hand at the mixer, and I can’t keep my distance anymore.
The feel of her against me, her head on my chest as my heart plays happily against my ribs, is better than I could have imagined.
The air around us is electric. Or maybe it’s my body buzzing in anticipation of what’s about to happen. We still have to discuss the bite—I'd never forgive myself if we went into this with Riann still having doubts—but I’m ready to give her everything. All of me.
My mark. My life. My soul.
I just need to know that she’s one hundred percent certain this is what she wants.
“So, er… this is my nest,” she says, and I want to look. I really do. But the whole room is drenched in marshmallows, and it’s going straight to my head. All I see is the huge bed in the corner and the pastel mountain of pillows that I'm going to lay her down on.
Riann gasps as I drop my hands to her hips, dragging her straight toward me, her pussy pressing hard against my thigh.
“I love how you fit just under my chin,” I growl as she giggles. Her arms come up around my shoulders, and she lifts herself onto her tiptoes to reach my mouth.
“I've been waiting for this,” she confesses as her nose brushes mine.
“You have no idea how much I've been holding myself back,” I say seconds before she presses her lips to mine. My hands slip further around her waist, dropping to grip her pert ass, and my fingers brush the end of her dress.
“How can you wear something like this when it’s freezing outside?” I ask, my voice heavy with a mix of frustration and desire.
“I'm sure you can find a way to warm me up,” she teases, wiggling her ass as she backs into my hands, all while sweeping her tongue over my bottom lip. “I'm so cold, Skylar,” she whines with a smirk. “You don't want your mate to be cold, do you?”
Something inside me snaps, and my alpha instincts roar to life. Suddenly, I'm not just Skylar Morales who traveled across the country to find the woman she loves. I'm also an alpha who’s in her omega's nest, preparing to claim her.
She squeals and tightens her arms around my neck as I march her backward toward the bed, kissing her every step of the way. Her joy bubbles in my mouth as I purr sweetly for her.
She’s my mate, there’s no doubt about that, but does she really want to be my omega? Even after all her assurances, does she really want to give up her rare status as a delta to be with a female alpha?
As soon as we reach the bed, I take a seat and drag her into my lap, her legs straddling mine.
“Why is your mattress so squishy?” I growl as I brush my lips along the smooth column of her neck. “How are we going to sleep if we're lying on a cloud?”
“Who said anything about sleeping?” Her fingers lock behind my neck. “I'm not wasting any of the precious minutes I get with you.”
“I like the sound of that.” A smirk hitches the corner of my mouth upward. “Because there's so much I want to do to you, and we’ve had so little time to do it.”
“I don't know.” She scrunches her nose. “I think we’ve managed pretty well so far.”
I chuckle against her. “Preciosa, we've barely scratched the surface of what I can do to you.”
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
I hesitate, my fingers drifting over the soft skin of her thighs. I still don't want her to brush over the decision. Being bound to an alpha is life-altering—more than normal in her case—and the first step toward forever with me.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” I ask, my fingers stilling against her skin.
Any hint of amusement disappears from her expression, replaced by a soft seriousness. “Yes, Skylar. This is what I want. You’re what I want.”
A smile tugs at my lips, my heart beating in my throat as I lock eyes with her. She wiggles her hips, grinding on my lap as she gets comfortable. I stare at the smooth curve of her neck, precisely where I plan to sink my teeth into her, and my thoughts won’t stop spinning.
If I go back to work and suddenly introduce Riann as my mate, there may be repercussions. I can already imagine the curious questions I’ll get from Dr. Song.
I can always lie and laugh it off. ‘No, Dr. Song, we didn't have sex twice in the clinic. What gave you that idea? Oh, you mean the fact that I was walking around drenched in slick and marshmallows? It was for science.’
I'm sure that would go over really well.
If I lose my job, I’ll have to find another one. We might have to move, start over in a new city, but I’ll find a way to make sure she’s happy.
I’ll do anything for her.
I press my lips to the side of her neck, and a soft moan escapes her. “Are you ready?”
She tenses against me, her breaths turning short and ragged. “I am.”
Nerves jump in my throat as I realize it's actually happening.
We're really going to do it…
“What about here?” I brush my thumb over the spot I’ve fantasized about since I decided to claim her, and goosebumps erupt over her skin. It’s high and obvious on her neck, somewhere everyone will be able to see it.
Her breath stutters as she nods.
I tuck myself in closer, my hand coming up to cup the back of her neck. “Are you sure, preciosa? Are you sure you want to be my mate?”
“Skylar Morales, if you don't bite me now, I swear to God…”
I laugh as I give her one last squeeze before lining my teeth up. Another nervous breath, another jump of my heart, and I bite down hard enough to taste blood.
A loud cry rings from her, and guilt pierces my gut for causing her pain.
She writhes against me, her fingers digging into my thighs as I feel the bond snap into place.
My alpha senses explode, fiery hot, ready to burn my skin off my bones, and she’s suddenly there, in my mind.
Her excitement, her love, her pain exploding through my head, so visceral it’s like the feelings are my own.
When I pull back, a perfect bloody imprint of my teeth is gouged into her flesh, and I instinctively lick over the oozing wound to clean it. It’ll sting for a bit, but my alpha saliva will help speed up the healing and seal the bond.
“Riann,” I groan against her skin, her name sounding like a hymn. And fuck, am I ready to worship her. “My mate. My omega.”
I take a deep breath, breathing in her familiar marshmallow, but my heart trips over itself when I register the scent. It’s softer, more delicate than it was before, but still rich and sticky-sweet. Any hint of an edge it had to it is gone, and it slams into me hard enough to rob my lungs of air.
I only thought it was perfect before, but now…
The way her scent grips me and refuses to let go, taking over my mind like a drug made especially for me…
She isn’t just my omega.
She’s my scent match.