Page 254 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“I forgive nothing,” Cade answered, making my heart sink. “We’re both victims of that woman. How could I possibly blame you for trying to survive any way you could, after the hell you went through at their hands? This is what we’re going to do,” Cade continued, taking my hands and giving each of them a kiss. “We’re both going to go to therapy. We’re going to get better and be better. For our pups, and for each other.”

“I already started,” I admitted. “Because of you. Because of what you said to me.”

“Good. We’re going to get out of here tomorrow. We’re going to get your things, and you’re going to move in with me. I’m going to mark you right here,” he told me, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, his finger moving on my shoulder lightly, making me shiver. “And then, when and only if you’re ready, I’m going to make you my Luna and you’re going to rule alongside me. Not behind me. You’re a brilliant woman, Bells. I need your input, and I need you by my side, always. We’re going to be partners, and we’re going to make decisions together...” he trailed off for a moment before he corrected, “after these executive decisions I’m making for both of us, right now.” I laughed, or I cried. I didn’t know. All I knew was that I was happy for the first time in a long time. “We’re going to have these pups, and then we’re going to have some more, and we’re going to live happily ever after, because we fucking earned it.”

“I like that. I want all of that,” I answered, my lips wobbling. Fucking hormones. A sudden sadness came over me. “I wish Adam could be here.”

“Me too, Princess,” Cade said, pulling me into his chest and letting me cry a little bit. “We’ll do some research on this planething. There has to be a way to find him and get him back. We’ll work on it, okay? Together.”

“Okay,” I sniffled pathetically. I wasn’t used to being taken care of this way, but I could get used to it. I looked up at him from where I was resting my head on his chest. “Cade?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“Do we have to do all of what you said in that order?”

“Which part did you want to change?” he asked, pulling back a little so he could read my face.

I drew circles on his chest as I took a deep breath, and answered his question.

“Do we have to wait until I’ve moved in with you, before you mark me?”

“But, that’s tomorrow?” Cade asked, confused.

“I know. It’s too far away.” I gave him my best pout. “Can we do it tonight?”

“I—Goddess,” he breathed out, his chest heaving, his hand wrapping around my hip and gripping it tightly. “I want to, Bells, but I think you need some rest, baby, and the door doesn’t lock.”

“I know. I do. But, I thought... Can you mark me now? Without sex? I-I’m scared something else will try to come between us. We were robbed of eight years already. I don’t want to wait another minute.” I looked away, suddenly feeling silly. “Never mind. I’m ju—” I stopped talking when Cade pulled my chin back up to look at him.

He searched my eyes for a moment before he crashed his lips to mine.

I moaned, and wrapped my arms around him to bring him closer, parting my lips for his probing tongue. The intensity of the sparks made it feel like the first kiss, and yet it was familiar at the same time. I didn’t know if this was what I was supposed to feel with the bond, or if this was because the bond wassuppressed, or hijacked as Chris explained, for eight years and it would eventually fade, but I never felt any of this with Brandon.

Eventually, Cade pulled back and let me breathe as he started kissing down my chin and neck. I could feel his erection growing against my thigh, and I whimpered with need. If I wasn’t so fucking exhausted and overwhelmed, I’d be riding his cock right now.

Cade found my marking spot, the mark Brandon had left disappeared the day he died, leaving not even a scratch. That should have been my clue that it wasn’t real. So many things should have told me he wasn’t my mate. I lost so much time.

All of those thoughts left my brain the moment I felt Cade’s lips suck on the spot, preparing it for his mark. I moaned and arched up against him.

“Cade,” I whimpered. “I need you.”

This wasn’t going to work. I needed his clothes to be off and his cock inside me. Fuck sleep, I was going to combust if he didn’t touch me.

Cade moaned and cursed under his breath as he pulled back. He looked around the room, thinking for a moment, and then he stood up and picked me up. He walked quickly to the bathroom and locked the door before sitting me down on the sink, and turning on the shower. I tried to hop off, but my legs gave under me when I tried to make them hold my weight.

“Stay there,” Cade caught me and put me back on the sink. I shimmied out of my gown as I watched him remove his clothes with hungry eyes. “Legs around me, Princess,” Cade ordered.

I did as asked. Then, I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him carry me into the shower. His hungry lips were on mine as he pushed me against the shower wall.

“Oh, Goddess, that feels good,” I gasped as the water fell on my heated skin and his fingers found their way to my center, while he devoured my neck.

“The shower or me?” he asked between placing nips on my shoulder and sucking on my marking spot.

“Both?” I replied, before I felt his finger spear my core. “Definitely both,” I moaned.

“Thank the Goddess. You’re so ready for me, Princess. I need to be in you so badly.”

“Fuck me, Cade. Mark me. I’ll combust if you’re not doing both in the next twenty seconds,” I warned him as I tried to impale myself on his cock as he lined it up to my entrance.

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