Page 46 of Tangled Hearts

I looked over at Max with my brows raised.

Mates?

Well, that was new, but it also felt right. Being with Oria felt right. She was mine.

14

MAXTON

My back ached from being in bed too long with Oria. When Ryder woke up, he had an easy exit, but she needed more rest and if suffering for a few more hours let her sleep more, I was ok with that. I ran a hand through her blonde locks, content to just be near her.

How long had I dreamed of doing this exact thing with her? When I had awakened earlier, I didn’t want to open up my eyes for fear that everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours was a lie. I almost asked Ryder to pinch me, but didn’t want to seem too sappy.

Oria made a little noise as she rubbed against me. The feel of her breasts brushing up against my side and her hips rolling had me imagining what she would look like riding me. My body responded immediately to another sigh from her and a roll of her hips.

Gods, please help me. I wanted to go slow with her, but my body wasn’t letting me think right. I held out for two hundred years without having sex, I could go a few weeks without it… right?”

My chest burned as I rubbed it. Was it our bond trying to surface, it had to be because there was no other explanation for what I was feeling. Was she feeling it too? Gods, I hope this was our bond coming. I didn’t need a bond to know she was mine, but it would make all these years’ worth it, if I could feel it once more.

Oria moved against me again, her hand traveled down my abdomen. I was helpless against the rush of desire that hit me, making me want to forget about courting her and just make her mine.

I cleared my throat, hoping to wake her up. It was torture keeping my request. Why had I decided to do it?

“Max?” Oria’s groggy voice brought me out of my inner debate.

“Yeah, Sol,” I said, looking down at her sleepy face.

She scrunched her face when she tried opening her eyes, pushing her face into my chest.

“What time is it?”

“I don’t know, but I guess it's right before midday.” I grinned at her adorable expression as she got used to the sunlight.

She moaned, rolling onto her back, looking over at the side Ryder had occupied.

“Of course he wouldn’t be here resting,” she murmured, looking back at me.

My stomach rumbled, making her smile.

“Come on, big guy, let's go eat,” she said, stretching as she stood up.

The pants she was wearing were molded to her like a second skin that I should have been used to seeing on her, but they showed everything. One thing I missed was being able to lust after her and not get hard. That was the only good thing about being a cat.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. When did controlling myself become so hard? It was as if I was a teenager all over again and the breeze would make me hard.

“I love to see you struggle,” she said with a smirk, as I stood up and these idiotic pants made everything noticeable. “I also love gray sweatpants.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but if she liked them then I needed a dozen of them.

Where does one get gray sweatpants?

“I’ll ask where I can buy more,” I chuckled.

“Please do.” She stood on her tippy toes, and I leaned down for a peck on the lips. “I’ll give you a proper kiss after I brush my teeth.”

She ran out of the room when I growled. Her laughter filled the halls, making me feel content. I went down the stairs, hoping there was food. When I smelled bacon, my stomach rumbled.

I headed to the small bathroom to do my business and rinse my mouth out with stuff that burned.

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