Page 28 of Hers to Rule

Mari clung to him with her face pressed into his shoulder as he started to move. He lowered his head and growled into the side of her neck, the low vibrations against her skin making her shiver. The feline spirit within him took over, and the predator knew exactly what she needed in that desperate, forbidden moment. His claws sharpened and dug into her ass, not quite breaking the skin, in order to hold her still for his deep, feral fucking.

Mari came again, her back arching, the magic scintillating along every nerve from her core outward in waves that only grew stronger as they went on. His teeth scored her collarbone, his breath hot as it fanned over her skin.

She leaned back, bracing her hands on the table and lifting her hips, offering the animal inside him even more—everything, if he would take it. Raising his head to stare down at her as he fucked her, his eyes glowed golden, almost molten with heat. He grinned, his sharp fangs long and dangerous. She held his fierce gaze, knowing the challenge she offered him by doing so. The beast responded with a low and harsh laugh that was nearly a purr.

One clawed hand moved to wrap around her throat. His grip was so exceedingly aware of the delicateness of her skin, even as unrestrained as he was in this moment. His other arm wrapped around her waist to anchor her hips, holding her exposed to him and supported at the same time. All the while, his powerful thrusts never paused; his relentless surging drove her higher, wrapping her in his consuming desire.

Rio growled when she called out his name as she came again. Her body shuddered with the intensity of her release, her magic finally boiling over. He groaned as the pleasure washed over him, leaning to bite her shoulder as she bucked under him, his sharp teeth slicing her skin. The burning heat of his sudden desperation seared her to the deepest corners of her soul.

He roared as his climax overtook him, his whole body locking around and over and inside her. Her voice broke as she cried out wordlessly, overcome by his pleasure as it tore through her. The power rushed out of her and spiraled out into the wards.

As her breathing returned to normal, Rio’s hold on her gradually eased. He pulled back a bit to examine her shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt.”

He shook his head slowly and started to back away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

She stopped him and waited until he met her eyes. “If you hadn’t, I don’t think I could have let it all go.” She smiled, showing him the truth of her words and that she wasn’t afraid. “I think, on a primal level, the cat knew that.”

“Really?” The hope and relief on his face melted her heart.

“Yes.” She showed him her neck, where he hadn’t left a single mark with his claws. “You’ve never given me anything but exactly what I needed.”

Chapter 9

When Greta returned a few minutes later, she checked the wound. “Your magic healed the bite as soon as his teeth released. It won’t scar, and the mark will fade in a week or so. Hardly any bleeding even.” She shrugged. “In terms of a love bite from a shifter, it couldn’t have been better placed and wasn’t excessive.”

She leveled a serious gaze Rio’s way where he stood behind Mari. “You do have to be careful. She’s not a shifter, and she’s not a gargoyle. You could do real damage with even a fraction of your bite power. But I agree with her assessment. The puma knew what he was doing.”

“I’m not so sure,” Rio said. “It didn’t feel in control.”

“Then you didn’t hear what I said.” Greta moved back to her case and started preparing her tools again. “You could do permanent damage with a fraction of your bite power anywhere on her body. But you didn’t. You were restrained. Controlled. Because that bite was clean and caused minimal damage.”

“But I didn’t know that, so how could the cat?” Rio asked.

“Shifters in general, and cats in particular, are very intuitive about their sexual partners,” Greta said. “I’ll bet he knows a lot you’re not aware of on the surface.”

Mari turned to grin at him. “He’s been taking notes. Very detailed notes.”

Greta cackled. “I would love to read that book.”

Cisco appeared beside Mari, silent as the grave, with his wings flared. His eyes took in her breasts with a hungry glance and then the tattoos on Rio’s wrists. The arousal simmering in Mari’s body suddenly blazed. It took all of her willpower not to climb him like a tree.

Cisco grumbled with approval. “Excellent work, as always, Greta.”

“Thank you.” The life witch beamed. “Just one thing left. You’re right on time.”

Mari looked from Cisco to Greta, a blush rising in her cheeks. “Did the nipples go so badly you had to call in backup?”

Cisco rested a strong hand on the back of her neck. “I was always going to be here for this part, to make sure you were okay. What happened with the nipples?”

“I short-circuited or something. Rio helped straighten me out after.”

Cisco glanced over Rio’s quiet form and then turned a serious look Greta’s way.

She shrugged. “Most likely, it was a feedback loop that started because she’s not very familiar with how her magic works. We all learned a lot from the last ones.”

“What do you suggest to make this easier for everyone?” Mari asked.

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